The Freerunner Territory, in truth, is not a single place but several throughout the Earth District, the Freerunners rotating locations by whim or necessity. This time, Kares Perian meets his unlikely benefactor two miles roughly northeast of the Earth District's central community, the City of Pasiap's Resolve. In this position lies one of the Earth Manses claimed by the rebels, known as Ama-Inu's Cenotaph, in the heart of a labyrinth of trapped and concealed caverns serving as their current base.

The octagonal hearthroom is perfectly safe, of course, and Perian has already been shown the proper way in, allowed to attune to the Manse, though not to the Hearthstone itself. At the very center of the room is a trio of statues facing one another: a woman, a man and an androgyne. The Hearthstone plate rests where their hands meet in the middle, held up by their marble-carved fingertips. At the base of this statue, Perian waits as bidden for what could be hours, or mere minutes, if previous experience is any indication.

Fortunately -- if one could call Free's attention 'fortune' -- the wait is short.

Old Grinning Wolf strides into the hearthroom, unhindered by the iron ball he drags easily with a sinewy hind leg. He is a large, shaggy, silver-grey wolf with mis-matched eyes, surrounded by a pack of eight eagerly dutiful wolves. The elder snarls warningly at them, a command or a retort, and the eight disperse to the corners of the room, sitting quietly, standing watch. Only then does he shift shape, rising on his hind legs, the fur retracting while his body gains humanoid muscle and definition. Massive, broad-shouldered and baring sharp teeth, clad in his distinctive striped bodysuit, Free grins down at Perian and speaks in a booming voice.

"KARES PERIAN. The game has changed, and with it, our chances. YES! A chance at the conclusion of my magnum opus, a chance after decades of preamble! Are you not intrigued?" His eyes, one ice-blue, the other amber-gold, gleam with honest enthusiasm.

Perian strikes a less impressive figure than Free does, but his presence is potent nonetheless. Part of it comes from the stillness and control he shows while waiting, part is the utter certainty he radiates, that none of the wolves or guards can harm him. But mostly it is in his gaze, seeming to read those he meets, and to see more of them than they know themselves.

Faced with the Lunar's energy, he responds with his own, but controled and directed.

"I have heard tales of something new. And if you see a chance there, then it surely exists. So I am intrigued."

Thoughtfully, Perian studies the statues around him, glancing over Free's companions with equal parts familiarity and respect, then focuses on their master once more.

"Trouble in the depths, I was told. Something unlike anything that took place before. But where you see the full pattern, I can only see and hear those who are nearby - and none of them show whose hand is behind this."

He shrugs, then his posture relaxes, becoming less a warrior reporting to his chief and more a companion chatting about interesting topics.

"So tell me what you've seen and head, Free, and let's find out how to make something of it. Boon or bane, we'll turn it towards your work."

Free's fangish grin becomes a big smile, his eyes popping open so wide that Perian can see the whites of his eyes all around the pupil. Of course, with him it's hard to tell if he's actually smiling or grimacing. The stark tattoo on his left eyebrow, the bold letters NOFUTURE, give his expression an all the more foreboding cast.

Then Free breaks out into loud and hearty laughter, a sound that echoes uncomfortably in the vaulted hearthchamber. The wolves howl along to his misplaced mirth, like lackeys chuckling at a joke they don't quite get, yet refuse to be left out of. Suddenly, he barks, "Quiet, QUIET! Now I will tell all of you a story of the Water Republic. Listen carefully!" As the reverberation of howls, laughters, and sharp-tongued commands fades into an expectant silence, he crosses his meaty arms with great satisfaction, his expression settling into a surprisingly solemn cast.

Now this was Free the Storyteller, Free the Noble Visionary, Free the Elder Passing On His Wisdom. He would be listened to, and remembered for ages to come. [Private to Kares Perian: He's using Instinct Memory Insertion, though I'm not necessarily going to make you roll Lore every single time to remember the details that follow (since you can just read the post!) The use of the charm justifies that you'd remember the 'tale' to the letter. Though if ever you do need to roll, you will get a +5 die bonus to remember everything he describes below.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:24, Thu 28 May 2009.

"It all began with the First Wave of Celestial Emancipation," the elder Lunar begins with a sweeping arm gesture, addressing the entire room, as if certain the wolves would understand as well. "On the 13th of Ascending Water, during the height of the Moon-That-Would-Be-Full, a reality once thought impossible was brought into being. Aided by a power beyond comprehension, a power transcending even the Great and Detestable Machines, the Celestial Exalted of Water District were freed from their bondage in a single stroke!"

"How I lament that I, ensconced in a District so far above, could not have been instrumental in such an act! But alas, it was not I. Nor any ally of mine. Their collars, or so my birds report to me, simply stopped working. Deactivated. Useless bits of metal they cast aside, and in place of that, took up arms and ran toward Freedom!" Free speaks the word from which his name was derived with a stirring depth of passion, raising his clenched fist toward the ceiling!

"But the jealous Terrestrials would not allow the Chosen their Freedom. So determined were they to ensure their Fate was binary -- slavery or extermination -- that they proclaimed a Purge, and commanded the Artificial Intelligence of the District, the Gatekeeper of Water, to enact it. In their name, the Gatekeeper would call a Great Flood upon the Water District, drowning all Unnecessary Life, and the 'hated Anathema' along with them. The treacherous Dragon-bloods and their favored servants had ample time to ensure their safety, while the Unfortunates -- the poor and the unclean, the mutants and the rejects, all such beings would perish in the deep drink."

"And the Celestials proclaimed, it would not be so. Not for them, not for the innocents that would die on their behalf. They would race against time, rise up the levels of Water District to seek an audience with the Gatekeeper itself. For the Gatekeeper, seeing its old Masters, would recall the time before the Usurpation, when she served not the will of the Terrestrials, but that of the Chosen of Sun, Moon and Stars."

"Fortune smiled on them that day, and how!" The mad Lunar pauses dramatically, his eyes rolling back into his head as if his fervor for the story would make him implode from the inside. When next he speaks it is in a low, trembling voice. "They persuaded the Gatekeeper to their side, and ever after the Water District has been under its jurisdiction, Free of the Terrestrial shackle. The new Overseer sent the Celestials directly to Earth District, then combined forces with the Unfortunates to rout or destroy the remaining Dragon-bloods in the new Independent Republic of Water!"

"Ten young Celestials now toil to liberate the Earth District! The trouble they've stirred has given us the chance to strike the Immaculates where it hurts! And, my friend Perian, WE may soon be able to meet them, and judge their worthiness to join the greater drama of Freedom that has begun before they were born. What say you to that?!"

Perian listens to Free attentively, intent on engraving the Lunar's words and gestures both in his memory. Where the master of the Freerunners is wild, dynamic, and bursting with insight, Perian's expression and attitude are controlled, focused, working on each aspect of the problem before him. Often, Free's mad ideas have opened new paths Perian could not imagine before - and just as often, Perian's attention to details has prevented distaster when following those paths.

"Miraculous power, granted to the chosen, for the cause of freedom. Turning their erstwhile masters so that they may serve the people. There is truth in this tale, Free. I can feel it. The echoes fit with the others I have heard, somehow."

Thoughtfully, Perian stares inwards, at his internal image of Five Coils. "That much disruption will force the higher levels to respond. Even as they deny the need, Water is essnetial to their workings... and they cannot afford to lose this much face, even as bait for you."

He snaps his attention to Free, looking fearlessly into the Lunar's eyes, smiling. "I say we meet them. They are an unexpected wave, maybe an old story trying to be reborn. The place they take in your drama has yet to be set. Are they to be kings, or pawns?"

The is a moment of stillness, as the power of the manse seems to gather about Perian, threads of essence on the verge of being shaped. Then normality resumes.

"It may be wiser if we do not both greet them, however. A Face, and a Power behind it. Besides, I will want to consult my own sources, and you make some of them nervous. Do we know what they plan, besides a mad charge upwards?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Fri 29 May 2009.

"Miracles... ha ha ha." Free seems to disregard the role of the gods in the freedom of the Celestials with cavalier disinterest. Not surprising; the elder Lunar has never been one for religious debate or worship, leaving such matters to Perian to deal with. Perhaps that is why he turned to sorcery, rather than prayer, as a source of greater power.

"How strange and convenient that these ten or so have been Freed now after so long, hmm? I must admit it is the part of this tale I find most peculiarly UNsatisfying. The very POINT of what I strive to accomplish is true Independence! The power of the self to overcome all obstacles! So why...?" A tic starts up in Free's stolen eye, the golden iris swiveling this way and that, until he takes his meaty hand and slams it against the side of his head. The eye pops out with a nasty squelch, and he holds it carefully between two fingertips and pops it emphatically back into the socket. The eye rights itself, ceasing its strange seizure. "But mysterious as the circumstances may be, they will still play in the favor of my goals -- and by relation, the hopes of all those who would defy Terrestrial rule in the belly of the great machine! I have embodied that hope, become it in flesh, for one simple reason. To prove it could be done! So let us do."

Free paces back and forth in front of the trio of statues while his mismatched eyes remain focused on Perian. The ball-and-chain drags ponderously along behind him, producing a rough and grating sound that he seems to find oddly meditative. "We WILL meet them, there is no doubt about that. It does seem my reputation precedes me." He says this with great satisfaction. "My B25 contact, Mockingbird, has expressed that a small group of Free Celestials are interested in speaking with me in person. Of course -- I had no intention to reveal myself to them right from the start. I'm sending some of the cubs to greet them below... it should be... rather interesting."

"Of their plans, there is no doubt they would speak with the Gatekeeper of Earth. And to do so, they must surmount the five levels of the Inner Temple, guarded by the largest concentration of militant Monks in the Coils. They must take the fight to the Immaculates themselves, who have convinced that stubborn, incorrigible machine-spirit that he is an incarnation of Pasiap! But, you see, they are still young and recently Liberated. They need numbers, and the impact of Righteousness. They will want the People on their side, and that is what we will give them."

[Private to Kares Perian: I see us leading toward two things right now. Either Perian can request to join the Freerunners being sent downward (this means you'll end up inserted into the Freerunner Meeting thread once you're done talking to Free) or we can start you with some more NPC interaction / setting introduction, in which you'll meet more of the Freerunners, possibly start some work inciting rebellion among the people of the neighboring City of Pasiap's Resolve... and you'll be joined by the PCs when they're brought above. I'll leave it up to you. :)]

"Really? I certainly feel it would be useful to be present in any conversation between the Gatekeeper and these heroes. Water alone cannot stand in the long run - it lacks resources and what it gives the other Coils will take too long to be missed. But if Earth falls as well... the game will move faster, wider, at once."

Perian is still as he weighs the possibilities opened by Free's plans and recent events, then comes to a decision.

"If they are to have the People on their side, I'd best make sure that it happens. Pasiap's Resolve is more open to my face, my words, than yours - though I'll need your guidance on the tactical part of it."

"My guess is that open dissent in the city may force the monks out, to contain it. But it would have to be significant, enough to overwhelm the troops there. Which means I have to be there, to guide the people."

"And if they choose instead to bar the way and cut themselves off... that gives us an army, and I think there are stories that could open the gates. Still, you know the defenses better than I, and the timing will need to be close. So, Free. Where will you send me, your voice, in this matter? And who do I take with me?"

A faint glimmer of gold forms around Perian as he goes over his knowledge of Pasiap's Resolve, and weighs which contacts and routes to employ.

[Private to GM: Going for the social part, i.e. inciting revolution. Perian's notion (note his lack of War skills and low mental stats) is to either draw out some of the monks while taking over the city (or threatening to), or talk his way into the temple (with some Freerunners) while the city is in chaos.

Perian would prefer to go for a full takeover of the city (includinng any troops inside) if possible, as it would cause less damage overall.

Are you considering mass social combat?]

"If all goes well, yes, you absolutely MUST accompany the Heroes headed up to the Gatekeeper Core!" Free insists, shaking his head emphatically. "To think I could lack a representative in such a crucial motion!"

"But before that, as you have mentioned, we must ensure their path is clear! The Immaculate Monks of Earth District number in the hundreds and, as you know, are trained specifically to combat Celestials. However! The greater District beyond the Inner Temple is also watched by the secular Police, the so appropriately named Peace Force..." The corner of his mouth twitches in amusement.

Free takes the time to explain the current situation, in his typically bombastic mode of speech. The Inner Temple of Pasiap is the main stronghold of the Immaculate Order in the Earth District. It is a very large structure stretching five levels from Floor B21 to B25, surrounding the central elevator shaft for about a half mile radius, embedded into the earth so as to camouflage its existence. Rather than having direct entrances, the Inner Temple is surrounded by a complex of adamant tunnels which (according to current intelligence) contains four entrances leading from the tunnels to the outer District. These entrances are themselves camouflaged in buildings or facilities, so that only a very select few are even aware there IS an Inner Temple. Rather, they know the individual temples in the District.

On Floor B23, there is the City of Pasiap's Resolve, which itself is shaped like a ring or wheel, surrounding the entire Inner Temple on the outside. Its citizens have a reputation as being very strong believers of the Immaculate Philosophy, as the city contains no less than eight shrines to the Immaculate Dragons, spread roughly evenly throughout the sectors of the City. It is believed that these shrines are the locations of the Inner Temple entrances as well, but the Freerunners have only been able to confirm two of these (at Mela's Shrine and the Southeast Pasiap Shrine).

Free, of course, has known of the Inner Temple entrances for some time, but has not had enough rebels to take and hold one of these Outer Temples. The Freerunners have, however, recently made a strike on the B23 Shrine of Mela that caused a significant amount of damage to the defenders.

"So! At the moment there are three target groups we could easily reach from our current position." The elder Lunar continues on the subject of where to send Perian. He conjures a cold, arctic spray of crystals which hover in the air, forming a map which he draws out with a sharp-clawed fingertip.

"In North Sector 1, the location of the Shrine of Mela, we have a Peace Force informant, Kigal Alivia. She is a Peace Force Captain, one of their precious Jade Officers. She is also a Skyseeker, but until now she and her unit has hesitated to support us."

"In East Sector 3, the location of the Shrine of Sextes Jylis, is a known group of Celestial Sympathizers. They are individuals who dislike the enslavement and treatment of Celestials. It's believed there are even defectors from the Immaculate Order in this group!"

"Southeast Sector 4 is mostly a laborer's sector, containing the Southeast Pasiap Shrine. These workers sympathize with many of the outlying Conclaves, they tire of toiling for uncertain advantages, mining jade for weapons when they could be producing food! Unrest has already been reported in this area."

"The Free Celestials coming to 'visit' us will be brought up through Sector 5, due South. It may be more appropriate to send you close to their position. However, it is you who decides where your abilities will serve best! I can spare Volya Mori and about a scale of Freerunners to run with you, should you require it."

[Private to Kares Perian: Well, I hadn't specifically thought of using mass social combat, but it probably would apply in this case and make things easier on the rules front. You'll go in with Magnitude 2 and be limited by your Socialize if we do this. I'll give you some rough stats depending on the Sector you choose to go to. More or less though I've ordered the 3 choices here by difficult to easier. The more difficult option may also get you stronger allies earlier on. The easier one will more likely get you less powerful, but much more numerous allies.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Mon 01 June 2009.

"This certainly opens up many promising opportunities," Perian murmurs, weighing his options carefully.

"We want to strike and divert the forces available to the Immaculates, so the eastern shrine is too much of a gamble at first. On the other hand, the monk's knowledge of their lair could prove essential - so we will want to rouse their ardor. Let me see... yes, by first moving to the North, we can threaten or even reach the temple."

"And then, with the authority of the peace force behind us, bringing the Sympathisers and monks over to our side will be easy. Between the police force and their beloved priests, any ill will among the people will be wiped away. If we were to begin in the southest instead, trouble with the Peace Force would be inevitable, and make a future alliance more difficult."

Perian nods decisively, and states his position.

"I'll go to Mela, and see what can be done about that outpost. I think I have heard some promising tales about those who rest there, which may serve. Then, depending on the forces we have or need, we can either enter the temple or move eastward, gathering forces and legitimacy. Allies in the background would be most valuable, in case things become... difficult."

[Private to GM: OOC: The plan is to go 1, 2, 3 in that order. It seems more workable than any other order...

If possible, Perian hopes to pray for assistance, though he's not sure how it could be of use (as far as he is aware, the gods are elemental spirits, rather than anything else). At the very least, it could help for getting away if things go wrong.

In order to pray properly (with small dice pools), offerings are needed. Does Perian have any level of resources for offerings?]

"Good!" Free seems pleased that Perian is decisive and sure. He has started up his pacing again, clearly impatient to be elsewhere. Even the wolves feel his restlessness, standing up and alert from their seated or supine positions. "Speak to Volya or Riven about supplies and people you'll need."

Though the Freerunners have a very loose structure, Volya is considered a VIP, claiming descent from Libera Mori, who herself was supposedly Free's daughter. Again, as with many things about Free, the truth of this has never been confirmed. But the deeds of Libera are celebrated at least among the Freerunner camp, and thus the name itself gives power to Volya's reputation.

Riven Shard is not himself a beastman, but rather a human recruited into the Freerunners from the population of Earth District. His primary function has been as a bookkeeper, keeping track of resources and finances. Free has been known to rotate this position now and then, to keep his record-keepers from becoming corrupt, but Riven Shard has held the position for over a decade, as far as Perian knows.

Both of them have followed Free to Ama-Inu's Burrow, the name for the caves surrounding the inner Cenotaph -- Perian would know where to find them. Volya at the local Barracks, and Riven at the Vault.

"And what of the Free Celestials?" the odd-eyed Lunar asks curiously, pausing his pacing by stepping atop the iron ball that has become his well-known icon. He bends down, stooping, so his shockingly pale, tattooed face is even with Perian's. "You must meet them, you will. You absolutely must bring them into the fold. But indeed they asked for ME, not you! A conundrum! Perhaps then the heroes will meet the big bad wolf, and then seek out the pretty alternative, when you've something to offer them? A basket of Peace Force and Immaculate Friends?"

[Private to Kares Perian: While I'm happy to run solo for you, I'd like not to prolong it too much... so, I think the most ideal compromise between our ideas is to end up having you meet the group of PCs halfway, possibly in the Southeast Sector 4 area after you've made deals with Peace Force and the Sympathizers. Of course if those things fail, I'll find some other way to bring you together, but my hope is that you'll get to unite in a couple of scenes. The ideal end result is that you end up going with the PCs and a sizable force into the Inner Temple at floor B23, and the forces down in B25 will be able to unite with you in the middle, facilitating the push upward.

There's a couple other individuals in each group that *must* be there when it's time for the Gatekeeper meeting, so Perian will end up going upward with at least those individuals, while the more combat-oriented do the fighting to give you that opportunity. The 'how' depends on how player actions end up affecting the game, and that's always hard to predict, but that's at least my intention. I don't want to take away other players' opportunity to act as their character would. :)

I'm sure you understand that, though. Anyway, once you answer Free you can go to meet Volya and/or Riven, I can describe more depending on the order you do this. Riven should be able to provide up to a Resource 3 for an offering I figure, since you have an implied Backing in the Freerunners and all.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:57, Tue 02 June 2009.

"I certainly will meet them," Perian replies, "And as far as their manners go... you are somewhat more famous than I, Free. So it's to be expected that they'd ask for you. Still, we want allies, so it may be best not to, ah, impress them too much. And when they are ready to move, I'll bring our newmade friends along, so that we can cleanse the temple and the town together."

Perian does not bow before Free as he readies himself to leave the manse's sanctum. After all, once all are free, why grant another authority over yourself? On the other hand, Perian is a Celestial, and has served more than adequately as Free's face in the past.

"Besides, for all that they have set things in motion, they should not believe that we are at their beck and call. So if you meet them, Free, it is best to view them as another pack - worthy of respect if strong."


After his last exchange with Free, Perian heads towards the Vault. In order to skew the odds as far as possible in his favor, there are some stories and gifts he wishes to gather. And it would be rude, or possibly unhealthy, to force Volya to wait while he acquires supplies from Riven.

[Private to GM: The plan sounds workable.

I'll note that Social Combat can be rather slow, mechanics-wise. Each 'attack' costs 1 Loyalty (and Loyalty = Willpower), so it would take at least 5 rounds to overcome a moderate group (Willpower 5 is not hard to acquire). Assuming each attack succeeds, at that.

If you want to roll things ahead of time, or in batches, feel free.
]
This message was last edited by the player at 08:08, Wed 03 June 2009.

Free doesn't seem at all concerned about rank, so hardly even waves Perian off when it's his time to go. It's the Freerunners that have determined such things, not the man himself. He prefers to be more flexible. Though 'flexible' in some cases is interpreted as 'insane' by most mortal standards.

Yet he is a visionary, despite his quirks. Organization is needed to bring his whims to fruition -- but organization is not something he has a head or a care for. His 'children' have filled this role up until now, but if they ever overstepped their bounds, or betrayed his purposes, Perian has no doubt Free would kill them without remorse. That lack of hesitation is part of what makes Free so effective, and so frightening to some.

Walking away from the hearthroom, Perian makes his way to the local Freerunner Vault. The tunnels of Ama-Inu's Burrow wind confusingly, but he has long since memorized the proper number of turns, the protocols to pass secret doors and so on. Here, he is at home. Several Freerunners he recognizes, both beastman and human, meet his eyes as he passes, a quiet, gesture-less form of acknowledgement. The younger ones -- less careful, more personable -- even nod and smile, grateful for his efforts to help keep their organization fed and supplied.

The front facade of the Vault is a solid metal door embedded into the earth, and next to it a caged window of equally thick steel. Behind the window, Riven Shard sits at his desk, working, while a pair of Freerunner guards stands watch outside. One of them makes a half barking, half grunting noise, alerting Riven to rise from his chair. He is a rather dour, sharp-faced, hawk-nosed man of dark hair and noble stature, and leans toward the window to address Perian. "I have heard you will be heading out soon, Perian. What can I provide for you? We can meet inside."

The solid metal door buzzes to allow him into the inner corridor leading to Riven's office. Perian knows to move quickly, as lingering in the corridor too long would trigger some rather crude and unpleasant safety mechanisms.

[Private to Kares Perian: Oh, there's enough flexibility to allow for social combat time at this point. I'm not making everything happen in exact second synchronicity with one another. That's unrealistic -- especially in play-by-post. The only thing that'd be unrealistic at this point would be using charms that'd take days to work rather than hours or less.

I do have a plan to give the PCs something to do while Perian is working solo, too.

Anyway, here you can describe what you need in terms of Resources. Then we'll have you meet with Volya, then on to your mission.]

Perian enters Riven's office at a reasonable pace, balancing prudence, self confidence, and the need to assert his posiiton by taking some risk. He nods at Free's esteemed record keeper, and speaks.

"Things are going to become even more interesting than usual, Riven. Supplies... I'll be heading out into trouble with Volya and a scale or so runners, so we'll need the basics for, hm, three days."

"Beside that, I'm going to be asking for a few favors and telling some tales. So I could put a bottle or two of our best wines to good use. Each one has to be different, of course, or they'll get jealous."

"Do you have a map of upper Earth levels? I'd like to consult it, at least, since we may head that way and I'd prefer not to give Volya another opportunity to tell tales about the 'befuddled outlander'. Even if I should have known better."

"And if you can manage it, I'd like a climbing kit too. Rope, pitons, and the like. I don't expect to need them, but it's so much easier to move about when I don't have to punch my handholds in the stone. Besides, I feel it might be rude in some cases."

Having made his requests, Perian looks about the office with interest, as he has rarely had the opportunity to visit this deep in the bookkeeper's domain.

"Oh, yes. I expect there is going to be a fair bit of fighting soon - so you'd best be prepared for the runners to ask for arms, armor, and the like."

[Private to GM: Since Solar Hero style is unarmed (or close enough) or improvised weapons, I'll assume Perian has a pair of Cestus (does not allow lethal parries without stunt, Acc +0, +3B damage, Defence +2, Rate 2), in the form of reinforced gloves, or some such.

And welcome back!
]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Sun 14 June 2009.

Riven Shard's office is a somber affair, with few furnishings but what is necessary. The entirety is metal-plated, suggesting that the vault may have formerly served some sort of military use before being overtaken by the Freerunners. The centerpiece of the office is his desk, of a smoothly varnished dark wood likely grown two Districts above, speaking of the wealth Riven Shard had come from before changing his name. Four matching cushioned chairs are distributed in the room, the only one with armrests serving as Riven's desk chair.

Those are the only organic items apparent in the room. The ubiquitous file cabinets (as the rebels are largely dependent on mundane data storage) are primarily metal-bound, with each folder protected by lock and key. Even the bookshelf is locked up in an embedded nook in the wall, behind a glass and metal-reinforced pane so that Perian can still read the spines.

Some of them, he can see, are reprinted tomes on Realm (circa Scarlet Dynasty) economics, history and politics, copies of the Immaculate Texts and the Imperial Registry. Others are books he knows to be restricted, or downright taboo: mostly knowledge pertaining to regions outside the Realm, beliefs counter to the Immaculate Order, such things that Immaculates would not want the general populace to know. The more recent volumes, printed in the Coils itself, pertain to general topics of accounting and resource management, dictionaries for the known Realm languages, books on Peace Force protocol and training techniques, and a current edition of Five Coils laws and regulations.

Riven frowns when Perian's eyes wander the room, but otherwise listens closely to all that he asks. Drawing out a ledger from one of the cabinets (Perian gets a glimpse of his keyring, bristling with keys) he flips to a marked page and scans the carefully scribed letters and numbers. "The supplies should be easily enough arranged. I will ensure it is prepared for your departure and divided in compact carryables, and will ensure climbing equipment is part of your kit. Such things are not difficult to come by on a mining level."

"The maps we have of floors B23 and B22 only cover the perimeter outside the Inner Temple to any accurate extent. The rest, and the map of B21, is not complete." This time he opens a drawer, leafs through a few documents and produces a set of three neatly folded, hand drawn maps. "I will have new ones drawn for myself; you'd best not lose these. I've not had access to a proper printing press for... quite some time now."

"As for your request for spirits..." The dark haired man lets out a drawn out sigh, flips a few pages forward. "How soon will you need it? We do not have such at this location. As you must well know the majority of our wine is contraband -- and, let us say, permanently borrowed goods. Mister Mockingbird is the man who would have the best on hand."

[Private to Kares Perian: Thanks for the welcome! You can easily assume you have the cesti already, that's no problem. Also, give me a Perception+Invest. or Socialize roll.

Oh, right. I should also explain. In the lower Districts, alcohol is actually regimented. Laborers get vouchers as part of their pay, which they can trade for it. So, legally, only a Coils citizen employed on the right side of the law can even have access to alcohol (and the amount they can have is strictly controlled). In fact, at least in Earth District there is no 'real' currency on the laborer level; one has to have some social weight to be trading in jade.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:07, Mon 15 June 2009.

"Efficient as ever, Riven," says Perian as maps and lists begin to form in front of him. "I'd bet that most of the runners owe their skins to your work, even if they'd never admit it. There was that time when we used the spare lights you'd prepared as a decoy for the patrols... but never mind that."

He picks up the maps with care, and studies them for a while, tracing paths up and down, noting dangerous areas and places that are heavily guarded. "These will prove most useful, I'm sure. And much as it hurts me to contemplate, I'll make sure to destroy them if we run into trouble. Can't have the other side knowing what we do, can we?"

As the topic of spirits comes up, Perian nods sympathetically. "Just another means to control the people, I suppose. And quite a shame, too. Well, I'd need it as soon as possible, or on the way, even. It's not for us, nor for bribes - so the origin will not cause any trouble."

After a moment's thought, he adds, "Well, if wine isn't possible, how about herbs and incense? I don't know those as well, but they might work. I'd need a metal or stone disc for those, however."

[Private to GM: 4 successes on Perception + Socialize

And I quite understand about wine being hard to get. It's part of the point - an offering to the gods should be difficult to pull off, or it's not significant.

Alternately, if you're Mitsumi, an offering is superfluous becuase you're just that good. But that's an age and a game away!]

Riven's dour demeanor lessens somewhat in severity at the appreciation Perian shows for his work. But Perian catches just a hint of hesitation on his part about the availability of wine. [Private to Kares Perian: You just barely caught it, so you can't tell much beyond that. But feel free to press him a bit with some socialize tactics if you want. One hint I'll give is that you know he came from nobility; he's used to a more luxurious life than he's had as Free's bookkeeper.]

"Incense and, yes I believe even herbs we do have. Though herbs in this case are mostly those taken from medical storage. A stone disc? Hrmph, something can be arranged, I believe. It may have to be improvised. Would a stone plate, or pot lid suffice?"

"As for the maps, well..." He shrugs, glancing at the maps Perian just accepted. "Our enemies would have better maps than we. They own the Coils, after all. If only we could capture one of their printing facilities."

"Medicinals? No, I'm afraid that won't work - the ones I hope to speak to have refined tastes, as far as I understand them. The kind that would care for healing balms are the kind that would not be able to help the runners *before* trouble happens. Besides, what matters to them is that the gifts have value to us. The cup I use when bringing them drink is one I carved myself, from rare woods. You'd be surprised at how, ah, efficient, they can be when they feel slighted."

Perian paces thoughtfully in the office space, then brightens, perhaps even literally, though such is hard to ascertain. "I know! Riven, from what I've heard of your life before joining Free, you must be more familiar than I with the goods and qualities that are valued by the Terrestrial and Immaculate leaders. Do we have anything that would be suitably symbolic? Food, perhaps? Or artwork? I'd prefer not to lose anything irreplaceable, but Free wants this to work."

"And Free can be very ornery when minor details get in the way of his plans. Especially this one."

Again, Perian looks at the maps, commiting what he can to memory. "Even so, these maps are excellent. Printing facilities, you say? Are there any nearby? In fact, I must confess that I'm not too familiar with the codes - which is for the best. Are these symbols markers for some of our caches? Do you think we might resupply there, or find more supplies?"

Perian pauses, then smiles disarmingly. "I do beg your pardon for the attention. It's just that this is a significant mission in Free's plans, and he's liable to be all over the place, popping up as only he can to make sure that everything, and everyone, is doing what he expects them to. Plus, this is my first insight into issues like this."

"I'm good at talking to people, getting them to see our side of matters, and other things besides. But matters like organizing supplies for such a large group, planting caches, arranging for messengers to communicate with each other... that's all new to me, and just as essential."

Finally, he stops in front of Riven, and discusses his needs.

"Well, if we can't get any wine at all, and there's none hidden nearby where we can collect it on the way, we'll have to make do. I'm sure Mockingbird will have an interesting time explaining things to Free, there. So, definitely incense. Do we have a wheel or some such claimed from an automaton? That would work as a suitable disk. Not too bulky, as intact as possible - and from the nastiest device we can, of course. And then, I am open to suggestions as to what food, beverage, or minor artwork would be most suited."

[Private to GM:
OOC: Hinting that Free is not going to be happy if things go wrong because someone didn't hand out wine on hand.

OOC: Plus, Perian is providing excuses for Riven to arrange for the wine to happen. 'It's in a nearby cache', 'I'll have a messenger deliver it once we get it' are all face saving ways to get Perian what he wants while maintaining the fiction that there is no alcohol to be had here. Face saving may be literal, if Free gets annoyed...

OOC: Finally, asking for advice on other suitable trappings of being rich - some of which would make suitable offerings.

OOC: Feel free to make any relevant rolls for me, if such apply. Or ask for them, of course.]

Riven Shard listens with his usual pensive silence as Perian launches into his additional requests and... much more subtle implications. After a moment he nods blithely, pointing to various positions on the map and explaining its purposefully obfuscating legend. He points out their current position at Ama-Inu's Burrow, within 2-3 hours travel on foot to Pasiap's Resolve Northeast Sector 2; two more major Freerunner locations lie some distance to the south (near Sector 5) and the west (lying an hour or so outside the cusp of Sectors 7 and 8). Smaller triangular symbols show locations to smaller caches, some of them within the city itself.

"Printing presses tend not to be found in the Earth District," he continues to explain. "This is the Laborer's District, and our current regime is one that wishes to keep tight control over what its populace knows or does not know. Particularly the common folk so deep underground. The unfortunate truth is that very, very few laborers even know how to read. Yet another form of control, as you mentioned before."

Riven does seem to consider rather seriously Free's determination for this plan to bear fruit. The dour man raises his dark eyebrows, folding his hands in front of him. "You are misunderstanding me if you believe I have any desire for the rebellion not to succeed. In fact, this is exactly what I have worked toward for twelve long years. Perhaps you think I am downplaying the importance of your mission. But I am simply being honest about what we have immediately available in this facility. Allow me to rethink for a moment what I can offer you."

A few moments pass; he fetches two more volumes of ledgers, reading through them carefully. "Incense, we have in good quantity from our previous raid upon the Temple of Mela. You may take as much as you need. Herbs of the quality you are seeking are nowhere near so common in our stores, sadly. I will inquire further to be certain. But your request for an automaton part to serve as a wheel, I believe we can manage that."

"As for gifts for the Terrestrials. The first individual you will be meeting with is a Peace Force Officer, correct? Likely having spent the majority of her days in the Earth or Fire Districts. She may well be satisfied by an item of upper District origin, but on the other hand may be more drawn toward items of practical use. This said--" he flips toward a record that appears to be rather dated, the numbers upon it rather large. "I've a few ideas that we do have on hand here, part of our storage marked for potential liquidation, mostly paintings and rare books that predate the Descent. Follow me and we will move to the inner vault." He stands and signals to two of his Freerunner guards, who move swiftly down the corridor outside to open the way for them.

"The Immaculates are not often known to desire material things. I believe they will be more swayed by rhetoric than by gifts. In this case the symbolism must be chosen carefully, as they may very well still believe in the Philosophy, but disagree with the decisions of the Council..."

[Private to Kares Perian: Since this is already long, I'll resolve the wine issue in my next post and also give you a choice of gifts to choose from. I did roll for you -- but I decided incidentally that your wording would have made him reconsider his hesitation as against his motivation. You did get a +2 stunt but... not sure you spent any motes/wp at this point!]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:19, Wed 17 June 2009.

Perian willingly spends time on the map, reasoning that it is best to spend time now and know what to expect, than to be surprised later. He traces a few routes, realizes that they are less than optimal, and lets Riven show his ability by indicating better paths. Still, Perian has no trouble identifying the major ways used by the Freerunners, as such incompetence would have been lethal long ago.

"I don't mistrust you in the least, Riven. It's because you are so competent that I thought to explain things. You know what Free is like... he knows what he is doing, but each and every notion, to him, is of utter importance. We are the ones who turn his plans into reality, me by seeing how they can be executed, you by assigning the proper resources."

"Free could send a dozen scales to clear an unoccupied corridor - because, when he sets out a future attack, our people will need to move fast. You need to assign only the men necessary, so that Free has the bodies and resources for his attack. And that is why I have to tell you that *this* plan is going to change everything down here. So you know what priority to assign to it."

Perian makes to follow Riven further in the vault, listening attentively to the Freerunner's bookeeper. "Once again, I rely entirely on your expertise. My perspective would be that it might be best to use art, rather than books - we know what the current order thinks of books. And until we can make copies, we don't know what might prove useful within them. For the monks, I can manage the rhetoric. It would probably be rude to offer any relics they have recently... misplaced, but something older might work. Of course, that's without knowing the parties involved, or what we actually have on hand - and you likely know all this already."

[Private to GM: I wasn't sure if you were waiting for a reply before posting more, so here you go.

No motes spent yet.

I am certainly having fun doing the social thing so far! Perian is gladly buttering up Riven, since he is a) competent and b) doing what Perian wants. So it's just as well to epxress approval.]

"I do not know the parties involved first hand. I only know the situation you will be going into, but I have not met Kigal Alivia, nor the individual Sky-Seekers or Sympathizers you will be meeting. So I can only hazard my best guess." The two of them move quickly down the corridor, which the two Freerunner guards have briefly deactivated for them. They pass several other corridors leading to caches of food, supplies, and clothing; further down, armor and weaponry; and finally to a last door at the tail end of the main corridor.

The inner vault door is sealed shut. Perian watches as Riven Shard touches the door panel and it flares with blue-green Essence. A second later comes the whirring of gears as the multiple door levels unhook and slide back in cascading order, revealing another chamber within lit by overhead Essence lamps powered by the Ama-Inu Manse.

Riven and Perian step in together. The inner vault is not much larger than Riven's office, containing carefully wrapped and marked items organized neatly into shelves and boxes. "We have artwork in this section, separated roughly into secular and Immaculate styles, and ordered by time period. A landscape may well be neutral enough; we even have here a couple pieces purportedly painted in the surface world, these ones by Lady Ledaal Catala Milena. She was in her heydey in the last two decades before the Descent. Landscapes and elemental themes were her specialty. Or Cathak Naijan, who was said to be a military strategist but spent his final days painting scenes of peace and cooperation; perhaps wishing to capture the last moments of respite before Creation shattered... we can only speculate."

"You might even consider perhaps some calligraphy scrolls? The verses of Lady Aoi are generally minimalist, elegant and poignant, with themes of devotion and beauty. Or perhaps Sumiran, who tends more toward verbose, motivational verse."

Other items Riven has stored in the inner vault are some antique items of exceptional quality, including a perfect sanxian, a flower vase, a jade mask, a calligraphy brush in its own leather case, several pieces of jewelry. Though he does not specifically show Perian to them, they are there if they interest him.

"And here..." He heaves a small sigh, and fetches his large keyring. Removing a painting in a far corner (completely devoid of dust; Riven must be very meticulous about cleaning), he reveals a safe embedded into the wall, which he chooses a small silver key to unlock. Within... are several bottles and a velvet box. "A wine selection. You may choose one of our best vintage. The '46 Burgundy, or perhaps something more exotic; an ice wine or a sweet cordial?" He keeps his face neutral, but it is likely this small cache is a collection he has meticulously put together for his own enjoyment. The box remains a mystery.

[Private to Kares Perian: Wasn't necessarily waiting, but was hoping you would post, so there wouldn't just be a brick wall of my own words :P

It can be hard to come up with items like this, so hopefully I won't have to again for a little while. Feel free to embellish on any item I mentioned here, if you would like to fact check first you can always PM me about that. I tried to be just specific enough that you could add more details to come up with a gift Perian decided on personally.

I'd like us to move on from here soon, though I'm glad you're having fun. :)]

Perian gazes respectfully, almost reverently, at the contents of the inner vault. As Riven mentions each item, Perian observes the rare, ancient, precious treasure he is shown, and considers its possibilities.

"For Kigal Alivia, I think this may be the most suitable. Precious, useful, a reminder that it is through words that we build our futures." Perian indicates the calligraphy brush, admiring the wood's fine finish.

Selecting something suitable for the Immaculates requires more effort, as their views are even less familiar to Perian. Finally, he speaks. "Lady Aoi's work sounds the most promising for the monks. To convey an understanding of the path they follow, and hint at the revelation that freedom will bring."

"My thanks. I will do my best to convey your commitment and sacrifice to those who shall reecive this," Perian speaks softly, respectfully, when Riven reveals his cache. "The Burgundy, I think - we are in the Laborer's district, and the toil and rich memories that come with it will be almost more precious than the thing itself."

[Private to GM: Choices made. Feel free to move Perian to the next location, or wrap things up here for me to do so afterwards.]

"Very well," replies Riven smoothly, his face smoothing as to be nearly inscrutable, and closes and locks the hidden cache when Perian has made his choices. As soon as he has done so he replaces the painting in front of it, adjusting it so it hangs straight. "The selections are suitable, I believe; they are tasteful, elegant rather than overbearingly rich, and do not assume too much in terms of philosophy."

[Private to Kares Perian: The calligraphy brush is also a minor artifact, actually. It's a Silver Brush, so it can produce its own ink of any quality, consistency and color. Though you may not immediately know that IC unless you'd like to make an Int+Lore or Occult roll to check.]

After helping Perian place the gifts safely in their boxes (the scroll of Lady Aoi is tied with a ribbon and placed in a silk sheath, and the wine given a dark wooden carry box with a handle, while the calligraphy brush remains in its case) he escorts Perian to the outer corridor again, and toward the entrance of the Vault. The inner chamber locks behind them with its series of whirs and clicks.

Once they are back in his office Riven Shard pauses, considering, then extends a hand. "Good luck, Kares Perian, you carry the hope of many on your shoulders. May you bear that burden without falter, and do our cause justice. All the supplies you have required will be brought to the entrance of the Burrow."

Leaving Riven to work out the details, Perian continues to the Barracks to meet with Volya and the scale that will be accompanying him. The central room is a roughly circular chamber from which several more tunnels branch, leading to individual units' sleeping quarters. Furniture (a few old tables, mismatched chairs, and so forth; nothing as fine as Riven prefers, though not so terrible in quality they are in disrepair) provides a place for Freerunners to lounge between missions.

At least half of them are some mongrel between wolf and human, though all are humanoid and look quite capable of fighting. Perian can count about a couple dozen in the area, some playing games of chance, others kicking a ball made of small beads wrapped in canvas around. The few who can read have the option of rooting through the bookshelves in the area as well. Most already have their own personal gear, and the more industrious among them spend their idle time checking their equipment. He recognizes Volya Mori, a large framed, grizzled wolf-woman with a scar marring her snout, her fur a pale silver-grey. She is fitting a captured jade lamellar over her body and carries a harness bearing both a spiked mace and a wickedly curved sword, both looking as if they ought to be carried in one hand.

Volya pauses in fitting her harness when she sees Perian approach, nodding sharply to acknowledge him. None of the other Freerunners so much as pause their idle activities, though a few peer curiously or flick an interested canine ear his way. They are no military organization, after all. Even their pack leader doesn't seem at all interested in interrupting what she is doing until she's gotten every last buckle fastened.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:09, Thu 18 June 2009.

[Private to GM: OOC: I rolled 1 success on identifying the brush. Probably not enough, and it doesn't really affect me in any case.

]Perian returns Volya's nod, and approaches her after a brief pause, long enough for her more canine instincts to acknowledge his right to be there. Then he matter of factly reaches for an inconveniently placed buckle and tightens it.

"Hello, Volya," he says as he assists her with her captured armor, showing deferrence for this portion of the mission, to which she is best suited. "What do you think of Free's last plan? I feel," he speaks more loudly, hoping to be overheard, "That it's got a lot of promise, if we can get things to work just right. Turning the full forces of the Earth District to our side, with their own men behind us in our bid for freedom... it is going to be glorious."

[Private to GM: Giving the troops a pep talk, and suggesting that they should do what I tell them to when we are dealing with social issues, since we're convincing the other side to ally with us, not wiping it out.]

Volya grunts a bit at the help Perian offers, but is not entirely rejecting of it, either. Tolerant may be a better word. Good enough in terms of his dealings with the Freerunners.

As Perian speaks up about the mission they will be going to, the room gradually silences. Several gamblers put down their cards and dice. The men and women playing hacky sack lose track of their makeshift ball, which someone has just kicked into a corner. A couple of the readers look up, their books resting unattended to on their laps. The general reaction to Perian's words is favorable and interested.

Someone calls out (muffled, as he's rooting around for his ball), "Where're we deploying to?"

"Yes, no one's told us any specifics," says one of the readers, a full human with dark hair wound into beaded braids. He has what looks to be a medical or reagent satchel tucked near him on his chair. "We want this to succeed, too. Let's hope our allies-to-be will listen."

A lean girl with a notch in her wolf-ear and a short blade / plasma-tongue repeater combo at her belt shrugs. She's more of a 'quarter-beast', wolf-ears and tail. "Only the Boss's usual proclamations. Ey, but I'm like a weapon. I'll stay put if I hafta, but when it's action time I'm just point n' shoot." Someone at the gambling table makes a rather lewd snicker and the girl glares in that direction.

"Hrrmph, well, you're good at getting their attention," notes Volya with a small smirk, addressing Perian directly. "Don't worry too much. If they've not got it in their head we're on a diplomatic mission, they'll know after I'm done with 'em. You hear that boys and girls?" The pack leader raises her tone. "We're defaulting to guard, unless things get hot."

"Anything else you've got to tell us, Perian? Afterward I'll introduce you to the team."

"Right. I'll cut the talk and get to the point, now that you know this is big." Perian paces near Volya, eyes sweeping the runners, making contact. "You know, or suspect, that we're going to go talk to our contacts on this level. As many of them as we can, starting at the top."

"I could make a speech about what we're doing and how it's going to happen, but you've had enough of those. So I'll stick to the point. We've got a chance, with some new allies, to do more than hurt the Terrestrials. We can break them, have the people of Earth rise with us to take the District, then keep moving."

"There's plenty of fighting ahead, but for now what matters is backing. We need all the friends we can get, and that's our job." Perian gestures, encompassing the freerunners nearby. "It's going to involve a lot of talking, but then we'll be on the front line to capture the temple. And that's just the beginning."

He stops speaking and falls silent for a moment, allowing his words to register, then nods in Volya's direction.

"And we'll be working together to get that far."

"Keep moving?" The first answering Freerunner is slightly skeptical, but mostly intrigued. "You mean... up to Fire District?"

"What makes you think we can convince them now?" The man with the braided hair asks with rapt curiosity. "What new allies could mean the difference between guerilla tactics and a full on rebellion?"

"Whatever, any chance to stick it to the Terrestrials is a good one!" calls out one of the gamblers.

The notch-eared wiry girl plants a hand on her hip. "Well, that sounds good, Free Speaker, as long as you're doin' the talkin' and not me." She grins cheekily.

Slowly but surely the words Perian has stated has the entire group fired up and speculating on how the situation had changed. Eventually the speculation goes in the direction of the rumors that pervade the Earth District about a mass breakout of collared Celestials. It had been since those rumors, after all, that Free had been sending them on more and more missions, stockpiling all the resources they could get... imbalancing the Peace Force and the Immaculates whenever they could manage it...

Volya's reaction is more sedate, stating with a gleam in her eye, "We, the spiritual descendants of Libera Mori, have been chosen to embark as the vanguard of this significant mission. The one our forebears have awaited for hundreds of years. A struggle that begins with words of unity and will end with freedom for all. We are on your side, Perian." Though there's not overwhelming cheers, the Freerunners still profess their agreement with this statement, and appear enthused and ready to go!

[Private to Kares Perian: Well now that you've riled them up (7 sux, then 6 sux after they're looking at you favorably, is not bad at all with this group)... I won't say you've created an Intimacy just yet, but this scene definitely counts towards creating one.

I rolled for the +2 HS, thanks for reminding. Though the difference is still subtle, I'll portray their feelings about Perian as slightly more favorable than I originally intended.

After any further clarifications you may have (if any), Volya will give you a rundown of the group, so Perian can at least know what skills the scale assigned to him has. Though I may not make up *every* one of the 30-odd names. Then... I'll move Perian and the Freerunners (sounds like a band name) toward their next point.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:41, Sun 21 June 2009.

"Good," Perian nodded, then speaks to Volya. "So, mind introducing the people who are going to help me keep my skin outside my guts, or are they all called 'hey, you'?" As rumbles, part amusement, part annoyed, begin to build among the freerunners, he concludes, loudly. "I hope not, or I'm going to be called 'dead meat' before I can open my fool mouth again."

Amusement wins.

"For the whys and wherefores... you've heard that a group of Celestials broke out recently, all together. Well, they've cobbled up a way to take over the Gatekeepers, it seems. Except they need our help to do it - and once Earth is free, why stop there?"

[Private to GM: Incidentally, and not required, my Hearthstone gives me +2 dice on Presence and Performance rolls, which may have applied to the earlier attempts. Since they worked, there's no issue.

This post is mostly to provide a pause between moving things along.

No need for all the names, though Perian will be doing his best IC to know them and to be part of the group (as evidenced by his joke in this post).]

Perian's self-deprecating humor goes down well enough. At least it shows him to be at least somewhat humble, as the Freerunners are not as likely to show respect for authority purely on a person's level of power or influence. Free himself is the type to insist that respect be earned -- whether in combat or through deed.

Satisfied that the 'why' has had some sort of confirmation, the Freerunners' speculating dies down to a low buzz as Volya gets the attention of the group again. "All right, pack. Let's form up and get ready." She stalks over to one of the doors branching into individual barracks and pounds on it, hollering, "Time to get moving! Anyone still snoozing in here's gonna be left behind!!" Almost immediately there's a couple yells from within.

Clearing her throat, the older wolf-woman smirks a bit and continues as the stragglers arrive, bleary-eyed. "Here's the rundown of our team, Perian. There should be thirty-two, not including you and me. Twenty serve as our main force of physical combatants. About half of those are heavy hitting fighters who supplement melee proficiency with thrown grenades, boulders, heavy pieces of wall, what have you. The others are medium-weights who are versatile with both melee and ranged weapons of their choice."

"Then we have twelve specialists which can be described as the following: five of our best snipers, also skilled with stealth and infiltration; five engineers and demolitionists, who are our best bet operating and fixing machinery... or blowing it up. Last but not least we have two thaumaturgists, one who's primarily a doctor and alchemist, the other who's more of a mystic, I suppose. Warding, sensing, that sort of thing."

The Freerunners introduce themselves, in turn. Each of the subgroups, it seems, has an individual generally considered to be their senior. Age is a large factor in this, but so is seniority within the Freerunners, so at times there will be discrepancies in age between these subtle levels of hierarchy.

Haze Agomir is the leader of the strong-men. He is a burly human with a ruddy complexion and hair the color of rust. It's said he is descended from a line of individuals with fire-elemental in their blood, and was once a blacksmith.

The medium-weight fighters are led by the notch-eared quarter-beast girl whom everyone seems to call Pixie. Despite looking more like a lightweight, and young for a leadership position, she seems to have a reputation of being quite ruthless in combat.

The lead sniper/infiltrator is a dark-haired female human, Sparrow, with her hair in a long braid with a sharp blade tied to the end. She carries a longbow of perfect ebony and is completely mute, though she understands Low Realm and her group is proficient in the Freerunners' sign language.

Chief among the engineers is a wolfman named Gustav, whose grey-brown fur seems perpetually stained in soot. He is a heavy artillery user, one of two who own a shoulder mounted cannon. He is assisted by a young man nicknamed 'Spark', a precocious young quarter-beast considered to be a demolitions genius.

The human with tanned skin and dark brown hair in braids is the doctor-thaumaturge, named Ashen Feather. A man of deep thought and intellect, Feather tends to lend a calming influence to the versatile and sometimes volatile team.

Lastly the mystic-thaumaturge, Surisa Mori, is a pale-furred wolf woman who is Volya's own daughter. She confirms she is adept in the arts of Enchantment, Geomancy and Warding.

"And there you have it," Volya concludes, a little weary of standing around and chatting by now. "Riven Shard ought to have our gear ready by now. So we'll head out to North Sector 1 shortly. If that's all right with you." She does not quite defer to Perian, but considers his opinion as high in precedence.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:17, Mon 22 June 2009.

"An excellent team, one I'm glad to have at my back," Perian states, then nods at Volya's words. "No reason to stay here any longere than we need to. While we don't exactly have a deadline, too many delays can only hurt."

Matching his pace to Volya's, Perian sets forth to collect the gear he requested, then leave the relative safety of the Manse to take part in what will follow.

"Have you heard anything more about the various groups I'm meeting with?" he asks Volya, "I'm already fairly up to date, but that just means there hasn't been any really bad news."

[Private to GM: OOC: Heading off. No need to provide more details about the groups, or it could happen over the course of the trip.]

"I wouldn't know much more than you already do," Volya says with a shrug. She gives her heavy weapons one last check before she and Perian move out, followed by the thirty-two that would accompany them. They stop at what seems to be a ready room / lobby nearby their exit, where kits of equipment, survival gear and preserved food are being distributed by a pair of Freerunners working for Riven. Perian's has been set aside from the others, containing the additional items he asked for.

"We were in North Sector 1 recently, for the assault on the Temple of Air. I do think we've a chance with that sector. The fact we succeeded there at all, considering the odds that were against us, tells me is that there's people out there that want a change."

"Kigal Alivia of the Peace Force is about as good a start as any. I might remember her when I see her."

The method of entry into North Sector 1, Volya explains, will require the force to split up into smaller groups of four or five, in order to ease the difficulty of evading patrols and arousing suspicion. Some will go on foot (Sparrow's team can do this with relative ease as they are accustomed to moving in hiding) while others will go in old gliding chariots disguised as shipping vehicles (due to the prohibition of animals outside certain city limits, transportation outside is usually on foot or with refurbished magitech). Their connections within the City of Pasiap's Resolve will do the rest and they can regroup within.

[Private to Kares Perian: Again I'm going to speed ahead a bit by assuming the whole mess of entering the city has been plotted well enough ahead of time, and practiced to a point it'll go pretty smoothly. so I'll continue with the new thread by tomorrow.]

Perian ends up on one of the two disguised transport caravans, lacking the stealth to keep up with Sparrow, Pixie and other more fleet footed, stealthy Freerunners. Volya goes with him personally as does two of the strong-men, a driver and a lookout with a bow. The driver, one of the human engineers, inserts a hearthstone into the ignition socket and settles in to drive the old machine. It lifts off, departing from Ama-Inu's Burrow.

---

OOC: just a final piece to cap off this scene. Will continue in Floor B25 - City of Pasiap's Resolve, North Sector 1.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:46, Thu 25 June 2009.