Nanaret has by now replaced her moonsilver serpent staff in its backtube, before she followed the Freerunners into the makeshift clinic. She remains close to Higura, her arms folded in front of her as she alternately listens to the conversation, watches Talia work, and eyes the Freerunners arrayed around the room. She has unbuttoned her dark coat for the moment, revealing the jade breastplate underneath, and the sheaths of her hook swords. Her shaded glasses are in the breast pocket, so that her yellow night-eyes are fully visible, taking in her surroundings with her usual mix of curiosity and scrutiny.

"And, the deterrence force?" she speaks up after a moment, once Irjin has paused in rambling about the Scorpions and Zerabia. "You not yet answered me, either. What we expected to accomplish in Sector 5? You mentioned the riot. So must be important. What stance the Freerunners hold in the conflict? I not meaning mistrust... this time. But I feel should be certain what place we must take. Our comrades, they fight now the Inner Temple Immaculates. So we are also in position ask something from you."

Higura stays on hand in case Talia needs assistance with the wounded. While this occurs, he continues to hear out the various statements made with rapt attention.

Listening to both Xurizu and Irjin's explanations and theories, Higura nods his head gravely. "There are many threads seemingly converging at once. This could be bad - it might make everything we have planned for unravel at once, if we are not careful. The plan we have drawn with our comrades has called for striking at multiple points at once, to both overwhelm the enemy and force him to prioritize... If we are hit with the same strategy ourselves, this could prove rather crippling."

With that, Higura nods his assent to Nanaret, adjusting his spectacles before turning back to Irjin. "And I do agree with Nanaret as well. Obviously ourselves and your organization share some goals and have similar aspirations, but a real alliance cannot be formed until we know we both hold the same stance on these matters. Knowing your stance on the riots and the position you would wish to take will be crucial."

"Naturally," replies Irjin calmly, facing the combined interrogation of Higura and Nanaret with hardly a blink of an eye. "I had no intention of leaving this matter unclear. You'll have to forgive me; this will be long-winded."

"To explain. First of all, the current unrest in Sector 5 was not instigated by the Freerunners. At least, let us say, not directly. In truth the people of Sectors 4 and 5 have been unhappy with their lot in life for quite some time before now. These are strong, hard-working people, who labor to mine and refine the raw materials plentiful in Earth District, and toil to create the masses of mundane equipment for miners, crafters as well as the average Peace Force soldier. They work hard for little reward, rarely benefiting from the fruits of their own labor. Like cogs in a great machine... but they've grown neglected."

"Then comes the recent events. Rumors of a mass breakout of Celestials. News of 'sightings' spreading like wildfire. We heard about that stunt you pulled in B25, too, stealing away the Celestial kept there... leaving only a single dazed man who couldn't even give a proper account, and their local Immaculate Master dead. And the Freerunners have also benefited. The idea of so many Celestials escaping their bonds, now that's enough to strike fear in the Philosophy believers that have chosen to use them as tools to fuel their war machine. We've made a several successful strikes against Immaculate-run facilities since then, but always with a tactical goal in mind. We knew we wouldn't stand much of a chance in a long, drawn out battle unless we could confirm the existence of the Free Celestials, and get into their good graces." He bares his wry toothy grin at the gathered Celestials, and shrugs a little helplessly, as if to suggest his lack of surety that he has succeeded at this... yet.

"Now, while we do not directly have a hand in the Sector 5 incidents, it seems the rioters have been inspired by our actions, which they believe heralds the reckoning of their unfeeling, uncaring masters. We do have some contacts in the area where the unrest has become rather heated. We are also concerned that the lack of organization of the workers' protesting will more likely than not work against them. As they are, any Peace Force riot-deterrence squad would make very short work of them."

"So--our intention is two fold." Irjin holds out one hand, palm up. "To enter the zone of conflict, reach our contacts there and extract them should they require it." Then he raises his second hand. "And the second, perhaps rather overly optimistic goal, would be to bring some order to the chaos so to speak. To cool the rioters' heads. Give them a clear, long term goal to fight for, and to approach it intelligently rather than in the height of emotion. How and IF this is possible is something we will assess when we get there."

"As for yourselves. Celestials, you are our guests. You can walk away at any time. You can seek the upper floors and leave us to our messes. That's your choice. Not mine." Having more than spoken his piece, he pauses to let the listeners ruminate while observing the progress Talia makes with Wrack and Nelly.

As Irjin makes his report, Higura listens, his brow creasing and his frown deepening as the news come in. Not because he does not wish for a revolution - he is, in fact, deeply on the side of the workers of the Coils, who wish to end their subservience and become more autonomous. There is nothing wrong with such a thought, or at least, the Doctor cannot find something wrong with it. What worries him, however, is the method that might be employed to get there... One that might bring forth higher costs than the workers first thought.

"I see." Higura begins, once Irjin finishes. "That is indeed a worrying thought, Mister Irjin - both for your contact, and the workers themselves." He pauses, looking back towards his comrades, first Xurizu, then Talia, and finally Nanaret. He turns back to Irjin, and shakes his head softly. "I do not believe I am completely qualified to speak for everyone here - we are all standing shoulder to shoulder on equal ground, so of course, my companions are perfectly allowed to disagree with what I am about to say."

"Even from the start, I never believed our freedom was enough. All of us could, potentially find a quieter area of the Coils, and live in hiding. Or we could simply try to quietly make our way to the surface, making a little waves as possible and escaping with our lives. But I, for one, does not wish simply to be freed." He takes a deep breath looking once more in the direction of the Freerunners.

"Perhaps it is because I have been allowed to see and feel the lives of the Coils - the whole of different strands and stories that make it what it is. But I cannot simply turn my back on this place and its people, corrupted in purpose as it might have become. That is why I cannot simply turn my back on your contact, or on the people of this district. Their anger and frustration has led to this point, this act of desperation. But I cannot simply sit and condone it. I think like you do, Mister Irjin - I think that there is a way to fight for their freedom, and wanton chaos will not grant them that. Hostility will continue to spark more hostility until one side is destroyed."

"Once again, I cannot speak for my comrades. Their actions are their own, and their paths are theirs to decide. But I will help you. I will help you get your contact out, and I will help you try to calm the populace. Perhaps my training and abilities will be of some use in that endeavor."

"It's even more startling when you consider the one confused man is one of the Celestials involved in the rescue," Xurizu adds as a rejoiner at the appropriate point of Irjin's speech.

"But I agree with Higura, who has expressed it better than I could.  Simply skipping on upwards will solve very little.  It is that thought which guided our strategy in the first place ... the attack on the Inner Temple whilst we attempted to contact you.  A life of hiding does not sound very attractive to me, and that is all we could really accomplish without stopping to help some of those we meet on the way."

I have no grand designs, but perhaps I can make amends somewhat.  For people like Halima.

"I go where Doctor Higura goes," Nanaret asserts, her yellow eyes regarding Irjin intently, "but even so, I aid you still. I am not much for inspiring words. But if things are dangerous, I help in my own way."

"But you must consider our need afterward. No more test or tricks. We too have allies in dangerous position. Will you bring us to Free, when this is done? Or alert him to our necessity? They too are Celestial Chosen, but only four of them against the entire of the Temple. Possibly few more if reports from Water Gatekeeper are correct."

"They counting on us, as well. We must bring them support from outside. Understand? We... help each other. And together, take on the Temple, and the Gatekeeper." The Changing Moon nods her head sharply. This is about as eloquent as Nanaret can get in terms of negotiation, addressing the circumstances boldly and plainly. "This how far we willing to go for Freedom. Not just for us but for all."

Irjin bows his head slightly, grateful for the sentiments stated. "I am pleased by the answer, if only because there really is no fully safe place to wait. I would have brought you straight to the Boss, but dealing with this situation is also part of my mission. Don't worry -- we were planning on doing what we could no matter if you could join us or not. You would not have been our crutch. Only a potential advantage."

Then he raises an appeasing hand to Nanaret, cool and collected against her usual scrutiny. "I suspect the District will very soon be embroiled in a conflict of grand proportions. Free has already begun tapping into all the support he can. By the time we're done here... I think there will be very few among us who will not want to ally with you. Let us hope it is all for the best."

While Talia finishes what little healing work she has time for, Irjin allows the Celestials the run of the place to rest and recharge, showing them to the kitchen for some drinks and leftover food (not the best cuisine ever, but edible: a surprisingly hearty rice gruel, a block of day old bread, some spicy roasted meat that seems to be a type of pork.) "Don't get too used to this dump, though," the Freerunner leader warns good-naturedly.

The Freerunners have already quickly begun packing up and arming themselves, taking only what is immediately necessary and what they can easily carry, in preparation to move out. The lift from which the group escaped the Scorpion Strikers has been blocked off, and the door mechanism sabotaged. Now a small team of Freerunner demolitionists are in the vicinity, currently debating between rigging explosives or making use of the two scavenged units of heavy artillery. Or both.

"It's a shame," Irjin explains, shrugging. "The lift was one of our secrets, but we'll have to bury it now. Well, eat and take a breather, and then we'll move out."

---

OOC: Assume you get the equivalent of 2 hours rest in terms of Essence regen. This also counts as a scene change, so you'll have to reactivate scene longs.

Talia brushes back a few stray strands of hair from her forehead.  "Well, I've done everything I could; now the only thing to do is rest."    She tilts her head, listening to the commotion outside. "Sounds like our party's about to start."

Since there is no way to know when the opportunity will arise again, Higura does not protest in any way when Irjin offers rest and food. As such, the doctor spends the allotted time to eat and have some rest, taking a short moment to have a breather before the group is ready to move out.

Of course, it now seems that this breather might even be shorter than first thought. Already, the outside sounds seem to reach through to the inside of the safehouse, announcing the coming of possibly difficult times...

"You are right." Higura answers to Talia's announcement, his features already taking on a much more serious expression. "I hear something about the Peace Force... I cannot make out the rest." He turns towards the others, his expression darkening even still. "I do not know what they seek here, but if rioters and Peace Forces meet, everything will turn into a bloodbath. We cannot allow this to occur."

Nanaret spends her two hours or so taking care of mundane needs: eating and resting. She doesn't quite sleep, but she does sit and attempt to work on her meditation exercises, which Higura had recommended to her. Breathe in; breathe out. Focus on the head, feel the tension draining out. Focus on the limbs, relax the muscles. Push the tension downward, until the body feels lightweight, and the heart beats slowly and steadily.

Her thoughts wander, with the lazy-drifting-feeling of her body.

Higura's theory was that Ranavalona should not be approached as a separate entity from Nanaret, but rather a part of her own psyche, fragmented and traumatized, and given its own life. Ranavalona had died unhappy, he said; broken, bereft of pride, of home, of all she loved and conquered. At the end she had only one thing left to cling to, and that was herself. Her identity. Locked in her shard until she could get another chance at destroying all those who opposed her.

"Ranavalona is you. And you are she. Thus, you can control her." So many times Higura has told her this. So many times she has failed.

In time, Nanaret does clear her mind, imagining his voice guiding her. Peels away the troubles in her mind until only a glowing, silver-blue core remains, and she contemplates the ever-shifting light of her Essence until it is time... for? Her eyes open, dark eyes this time, human eyes, and she unfolds herself from her cross-legged position, listening.

Stepping out from the bedroom she 'borrowed', she joins the others. "Doctor Higura, Talia. The streets, they filled with fear and anger. Where Irjin and Xurizu?" Shrugging into her coat, she buttons it up to the neck and puts on her weapon harness and belt.

"Irjin is here," says the Freerunner leader, raising his eyebrows as he steps into the shelter's common room to join everyone else. "I think it's time to blow this place, rather literally. I trust you've taken everything you need?" He asks this not only to the Celestials, but to the 20-odd Freerunners surrounding him. They are all shouldering their gear, or traveling light with weapons at the belt or thrust into their coats. A series of grunts of assent and other positive syllables chorus at Irjin's question.

"All right. Vilstrad, Gust, Datona, you know what to do." The three so named scurry off in the direction of the lift. Then he glances again at the Celestials, to explain further what would be happening next. "We've got a few gliding chariots stored here. A rare treasure, you must know. Fire District this surely is not, but the 'Runners have been fortunate." He leaves it to the imagination how they acquired the vehicles. Probably 'borrowed' from shipping lanes or the rare Peace Force glider patrol. "Wrack and Nelly are already loaded up in it. Black-Eye and Cynical are going to take 'em out of here. That leaves the other two for us... and they'll be packed."

"The demolitions team has this place rigged to blow. The Scorps below ruined the point of a safehouse, which, after all, ought to be safe. So we'd best be clear of this place before the place goes down. Afterward, it's over to the intersection of Glass and Sunder. We'll have to cross right into the riot zone to get to Twenty Three and Kestrel -- our people. Any of you Celestials happen to be skilled with ranged weapons?" Irjin pulls on a duster and gestures for them to follow him to the garage.

---

OOC: what I usually call a 'gliding chariot' or other similar names is inspired from Dreams of the First Age, Lords of Creation p.25. So they generally hold more passengers than a Chariot of Infinite Heavens and float lower to the ground. The ones found in Earth District are generally older and slower machines in some form of disrepair, so that and being in urban locale means it won't be incredibly fast. Still faster than on foot though :)

[Private to Number Twenty Three; Immaculate Kestrel: I'm setting up to intro you guys, but it may take a couple more posts still, just sit tight. :)]

Xurizu doesn't really have any belongings to pick up, so he soon looks alert.  Especially when Irjin starts to talk about demolishing the place.  As he makes his way through the building to the gliders, he starts to listen more intently to the sounds of the disturbance rising around the sector.

"I can use them," Xurizu says, indicating the cloth wrapped bow on his back.  It is a little large to be a normal bow.  "Why do you ask?" he enquires.

"And before we go into the fray, and communication becomes harder ... how do we identify the people we're going to check up on?  I would prefer not to start my acquaintance with them by attempting to kill them."

The garage Irjin brings Higura, Nanaret, Talia and Xurizu to is musty with disuse, though all the same, the dust has recently been stirred up. The Freerunners have gone through the contents of the garage like a host of scavengers, packing up whatever is useful into backpacks and compartments, leaving heaps of junk behind. A flickering lamp bulb lights up the entirety, showing that even the walls have been stripped, baring the wood beams underneath the plaster.

The three gliding chariots are parked there in a line. The one closest to the garage door has already been started up, powered by the rare and precious essence capacitors owned by the Freerunners. Only Irjin himself owns a true Hearthstone to power the machines; the others have been rigged up as best as the rebels could achieve, which is still a great deal considering what they had to work with. Resourcefulness goes hand in hand with survival.

Irjin answers Xurizu as he leaps into the driver's seat of the second chariot, inserting a faceted gem into the ignition socket. "Oh -- I ask because when we're riding, it's a hell of a lot more convenient to use a ranged weapon than a close ranged one. We've got some heavier weapons, too, if you prefer..." Though many of the Freerunners have crossbows, or even standard bows, a muscular pair carry what look to be fuel bolt launchers, or some variant thereof.

"As for the contacts, believe me, you won't be able to miss them. Kestrel is a young lady with brown eyes and pink hair. She looks delicate, but don't let that fool you. She's playing bodyguard for one of our rarities, an ex-bureaucrat. Former auditor. The verdict's still out on what gender he is. Always goes around in a hood, black hair and ...well. Let's just say you won't forget hir voice."

"We need to get 'em out of there," the Freerunner leader emphasizes, and gestures to the empty chariot seats. "All right, ten to a vehicle, other than the four headed back to Territory. If you can't find room to sit, then stand with the harnesses. No complaining! We're moving out."

The doctor listens intently when Irjin gives his instructions as well as his description of the new contacts, in answer to Xurizu's question. He makes a mental note of what the people they are looking for look like, and ponders carefully when Irjin mentions the need for ranged weapon specialists. At that, the doctor ponders for a while before speaking out.

"I... cannot say I am proficient with such weapons, no." He says, frowning slightly. "Though I suppose the enemy might try to sabotage us by getting to close range, when they assess our defenses... When this happens, I will make it my duty to keep potential boarders away from our long range specialists."

With that, Higura gives a resolute nod to his comrades, lingering slightly when he regards Nanaret, and immediately prepares to sit on one of the vehicles as Irjin ordered.

Nanaret leaps up onto the chariot Higura sits in, and takes a standing position instead, insisting of course on staying close to him. "Am not trained with long range," she answers belatedly. "However can still pick up and use a bow. Just not aim it well. So better is left to those with true skill."

As she braces herself for the vehicle to start moving, Nanaret channels a touch of Essence into her skin, strengthening it against whatever dangers may come. [Private to GM: 3m into Hide Toughening Essence for +6L/6B soak.]

"Afraid I'm not much good with ranged weapons.  I suppose I'll have to follow the doctor's lead, and knock off anybody who gets too close."  Talia climbs into another of the chariots, glancing over the jury-rigged power system.  "Hmm, pretty nice work."

"Right, and speaking of the enemy... We're not going to be firing on anyone or anything unless we're attacked with hostile intent. And if you can manage it, try not to kill anyone? Especially not the citizens. But I shouldn't have to say that." Irjin gives the driver's seat up to a subordinate as the chariot's thruster vents activate. Another pilot takes up the position in the third chariot, and the garage is filled with the irregular thrum of Essence engines that have likely seen better days.

The Freerunner Leader glances over his spectacles at Talia. "If you are interested in the machines, we could always use more mechanics, especially a Celestial."

Another pair of strong-arms push open the shed doors before leaping up onto their respective vessels. The rear two chariots are definitely on the heavy side in terms of load, with all the bodies and gear crammed on them, and hover fairly low in the air. Motes of dust are stirred up by the thrusters, heralding a chorus of sneezes from more sensitive noses.

"I sure hope Vil's got his timing right this time," Cynical grumbles from the first chariot, then punches in a few controls on the dashboard. "At least this time we're goin' first. Good luck, Lead!" Cynical and Black-Eye turn with a thumbs-up, nod reassuringly at Irjin that yes, we know what we're doing, and the chariot carrying the wounded Freerunners putters along several yards out before making an awkward left turn and speeding away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:09, Mon 13 July 2009.

As Irjin gives his instructions, Higura nods heartily, obviously agreeing with the Freerunner's views. "Understood, Mister Irjin. Hopefully the crowds will be willing to listen to reason, and we will not have to save them from themselves as well..." The doctor shakes his head one last time, then quickly salutes the other Freerunners before quickly stepping into one of the chariots, keeping his body low to minimize the driver's need to compensate for extra weight.

This is it. There is a chance that the area we will be stepping in will be a warzone...

As the vehicles prepare to speed away from the Freerunners' hideout and towards their destination, Higura finds himself watching the figures around him, wondering for a moment in what state the city - and its citizens - would be in once they arrived at their destination. "Things could get messy right upon arrival." Higura begins, pushing his voice so it carries over the roaring sound of engines. He glances at the faces around him, Celestials and Freerunners alike - right now, there is no distinction. All they are here are comrades.

"We will have to focus our efforts in keeping the crowds under control if necessary, I believe. I will try to speak to them, and appeal to their reason... But this might not work, or work only partially. No matter what happens, we have to try to minimize damage first - this should be our immediate priority." With that, Higura nods one more time, lowering his head to get ready for the ride...

"I think may be very difficult, try to convince or stop anything, if your voice not easily heard," Nanaret says with a small frown.

Higura can tell her expression, and even posture are apprehensive, as the 'chariots' begin to make their way down the alley. She has never been terribly fond of magitech, one of the few things which both she and Ranavalona agreed with. Though her heart is troubled by more than just machinery with patch-job repairs.

"Humanity, controlled by base instinct... you remember, Doctor, in the Pit. People become crazy. They forget what it mean to have empathy. Lost in the haze of the fight, the struggle for survival. Even the audience, they sense this desperate rhythm. It makes their hearts beat with thunder. It makes their eyes see red. And they enjoy it -- they cheer to see a man die. When came time for Purge, they too wanted first to survive. I remember. They trample one another to live. They push up the steps even if Peace Forces hold cannons in their faces. They slaughter or be slaughtered, cling to faith to 'save' them."

Nanaret shakes her head, breaking out of the strange trance-like state that briefly possessed her. " We could not save them all... only stopping the Purge, had any chance. Root of the cause is much deeper now..."

Talia lifts an eyebrow at Irjin's offer.  "Well, maybe we'll just see how things go."  At the back of her mind dark, unformed thoughts dance, speaking of the benefits of alliance and of power waiting to be seized.

She gazes forward, eyes flickering back and forth, on watch for trouble.  "If we can't stop the current, maybe we can direct the flow."

"I didn't plan to start shooting," Xurizu reassures Irjin.  "I just felt such questions are best asked while the conversation can be held at a ... more or less ... civilised volume.  Before things become hectic."

"If the mob does turn out, redirection might be our best course of action, although that would likely lead to a high cost on both sides.  My forte is definitely not crowd control, however."

"We'll just go in and assess the situation up close," Irjin says grimly. "If we can at least get to our people, that's something. Though I've heard the rioters have invoked the Boss and the 'Runners, even you Celestials. People think we endorse this. If we can't do anything to quiet things now... we'll have to think about after."

The Freerunner leader makes a quick headcount, then gives the signal to move. The remaining two chariot drivers accelerate slowly until the garage is cleared, then pick up speed down the alleyway, headed for the next side street, then toward Glass and Sunder. "All right, heads down, we can't be sure when --"

Before Irjin can finish his sentence, the first in a series of explosions rock the building they just exited. A controlled demolition, but nonetheless a spectacular one, as the entire safehouse crumbles apart wall by wall and caves in on itself to block the compromised lift inside it. The gliding chariots hurtle away from the blast radius, and the clouds of brick-dust and smoke that rise in its wake. "Argh, close enough?!" grouses the rear chariot pilot, a woman with streaks of blue in her blonde hair, between coughing, waving off smoke and struggling to maintain control.

---

OOC: ok... Wits+Athletics rolls to see how well you hang on for the ride, which may be er, turbulent. thread will be ending shortly so I may roll 'em myself if you don't get the chance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Wed 15 July 2009.

"I will be difficult, Nanaret. But still, we must try."

"People's feelings get tangled when such conflicting occasions arise. Sometimes, it causes them to become incredibly selfish - that is one of the many responses people have when they are faced with the ugliness of their own situation. Sometimes it makes people do heroic things, and sometimes it makes them do terrible ones. The people of this district are uncertain how to channel their rage and their sense of injustice and betrayal, and thus situations like this arise."

"Ill advised as it might be, however, these people are still human. They were born under an oppressive boot, and thus oppression is one of the only response they actually have learned, when it comes to coping with things they dislike. Perhaps it will do nothing, but someone ought to still give people a chance to see different options. We have to at least try to show them that the path to freedom is not necessarily the blood-soaked one they see."

As Higura finishes his sentence, the first of the explosions goes off, shaking the riders and enveloping everything into a cloud of thick smoke. Reflexively, the doctor keeps his body low and hangs out for dear life, clinging to the chariot with both hands and feet...

[Private to Gatekeeper:   19:33, Today: Yaishin Higura rolled 4 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,9,9,4,5. Wits + Athletics (+1 wp). ]

"I agree, Doctor, very much. But I think want to do something, is not same as actual getting it done. What I mean is... how to say..."

Nanaret's attempt at communicating her thought is interrupted quite rudely by the explosion that rocks the now former safehouse. The Lunar winces and crouches down when the explosion starts making the chariot ride rocky, latching one hand on the side of the chariot, and the other to the arm rest of Higura's seat. She at least manages to keep from falling backward, or off the chariot altogether.

"I mean," she continues... then dissolves into wheezing and coughing for a moment when she inhales a cloud of stone dust as soon as she opens her eyes. It takes several more seconds for her to recover from that, until finally she wipes her eyes and mouth of grit and says, "Need some way to get many, many people to hear you. I mean, can talk to few people on the street, but what about rioters on further streets? I am making sense?"

[Private to GM: 2 sux on Wits+Athletics. I... was assuming that 2 would be enough not to fall over (per knockdown rules)]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:29, Thu 16 July 2009.

Talia ducks as the safehouse explodes behind them, clinging as well as she can.

[Private to GM: 15:50, Today: Talia Zerith rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8,3,6,6. wits+ath.]