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Radioactive Bears
Jun 27, 2012

Creatures of horrid visage and disposition.

*

The trade city Straza. When the mists fell on Theobrom and it's lands, Straza barely escaped the danger. Now, standing on the border of the no man's land, it found a new position as the port of call for those venturing to the dead nation.

Where most struggled to recover from the war, Straza boomed after it's end. With the rise of magpies, and the renewed magicite trade they brought, Straza had found plenty where most had found want. It was even home to perhaps the most official of the many magpie guilds on Rhizan, where many clans would register to make their travels into Theobrom's ruin easier.

In the early morning, the smell of ozone and spice was fresh on the air, wafting from the docks and the mists not far from the city borders. Before the trains arrived, but after the ships, the city still looked slow to the untrained eye. Still, merchants shook off their sleep, and prepared their wares. Magicite dealers prepared for the day, and mechanics got ready to keep the city running a few days longer.

The Straza Guild Hall


The guild master looked over the application in front of him. Already he had run out of reasons to deny it. Using the name of a fallen magpie clan was bad luck. Everyone knew that. So why did he keep finding this application on his desk? And with what looked like fresh-faced rookies to boot. He only recognized a single name among the members. The far, far fewer members. With a sigh and a practiced consternation, he stamped the sheet in front of him.

“I still think you're making a mistake, but you're registered.”

He leaned back in his chair, eying the group in front of him. “I can only hope that you have better luck than the last clan to bear this name...”

Straza Train Station


The train was a new arrival in Straza. A technological advancement stolen from Theobrom after the fall. Every day fresh-faced adventurers, those looking for new opportunities, and weary magpies returning with news and scavenged treasures came into the city. This day was no different. The magicite core of the train whined and hissed over the especially heavy load. With magicite hard to come by, and many places struggling to get by, the amount of travelers into Straza had only increased over time.

People packed into the crammed car by scores, some even hiding up in the baggage compartments to find room. A single viera pushed past the throngs of passengers, handing out a scrawled flier advertising her services as a bard. Several children, many who had not seen anything but humes in their home, flocked around the stranger visitors to the city state. A few dirty, dangerous looking sorts hung around in the back cars, returning from picking at Theobrom's bones.

A murmur of conversation travels down the train cars in waves. The train has arrived, but something is happening on the tracks...

**
Welcome to the thread! In your first post, put the location you are starting in under your character's name, either the train station, the magpie guild, or somewhere else. Also link to, or repost your sheets!

Radioactive Bears fucked around with this message at 17:21 on Jan 2, 2016

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Radioactive Bears
Jun 27, 2012

Creatures of horrid visage and disposition.
*

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Station


They had arrived. Moh had never in her life seen a crowd like this, and she would be glad to be away from it soon. As the train slid to a halt, she turned and nodded politely to her seat mate. She hadn't caught the moogle's name but they had provided a welcome distraction from the press of humanity around her. How the people didn't go mad from it was a wonder.

"Good day and safe travels." She stood and bowed as best she could to her companion, than glanced about for a sign of Lancer. They had gotten split up at the boarding station and she did hope he had found his own way on board. As strange as he was, he seemed to have a much better understanding of the ebb and flow of civilization; an understanding she very much wanted to have at her side. Delicately maneuvering past the other passengers, she made her way off the train, aided in no small part to the reluctance of others to bump into her. It would seem Viera were not a common sight and most of the folk did not wish to get in her way. Well enough.

Stepping down onto the station proper, her ears swiveled to catch the tell-tale sound of Lancer's armor. Nothing. However, something did seem to be generating some quiet murmurs. Trouble on the tracks of some sort. Logically, she should stay put and let the authorities look into the matter. Curiosity, however, had no interest in keeping her nose out of it. Moh began striding ahead to see what the commotion was all about.

Shardix fucked around with this message at 07:38 on Jan 3, 2016

PurplieNurplie
Jan 14, 2009
Lancer
Straza Train Station

Not many places to hide on a train for a walking reminder of the horrors of war. Unless, of course, you're also a combat automaton designed to work independently in any situation.

As the train hissed and stopped, Lancer had only a strong grip to thank for keeping him atop the roof of the speeding machine. Thankfully, it wasn't far from the outskirts where he had met Moh to Straza. It hadn't been too long since that brigand attack. Ever since she agreed to join him, he couldn't stay at ease. He was used to working alone. He was used to people being afraid of him. For some reason, she didn't mind him. It was probably her life of seclusion, but regardless, he couldn't help but feel he was about to step into something ridiculous.

It seemed there was some commotion. Not too surprising, in a city with the hustle and bustle of Straza. As the people stirred into action, Lancer jumped from the train onto the roof a nearby building. A vantage point. Crouching low and behind a nearby chimney to stay out of sight, he takes a bird's eye view of the platform. What exactly was going on down there...?


Awareness of 7 to see what's crackin' on the platform. The game is starting! Huzzah!

PurplieNurplie fucked around with this message at 00:25 on Jan 3, 2016

KittyEmpress
Dec 30, 2012

Jam Buddies

Suriti Skiti
'Straya Train Station

As the trained pulled into the station, Suriti just got done explaining the great Valley Of Moogles, where it's said all good moogles go when they die to their Viera seatmate. They'd actually gone over a multitude of topics about Moogles, including, but not limited to - diet, exercise, culture, religion, diet, notable historical moogles, diet, magicite and magic in moogle cultures, and then the afterlives of Moogles! It was all very, very interesting to say the least, some of the most interesting information to ever be taught to any outsider, because clearly their cultures were not nearly as interesting as a good Moogle culture! What other culture handles disputes between members by flying at each other and smacking their chests against each other, to see which one fell down or got pushed away first? And it was so non-violent too, almost no one got hurt by it! Suriti was just so proud of their people!

But then she stood up and bowed to Suriti, and gotten on her way, while Suriti floated up and down, trying to find a way to squeeze out into the rush of passengers, before finally just flying up and above everyone's head, their fluff ruffling the many people's hair as they flew out of the car of the train, panting as they did so - but something was happening, and they could see their Viera friend's ears going towards it, so they had to go and see what was happening! After all, a moogle who is too busy to help a friend, is no moogle at all!

quote:

Name: Suriti Skiti
Job: Entertainer
Race: Moogle

Attributes:
Power - 3
Resolve - 6
Dexterity - 9
Mind - 9

Force: 2
Finesse: 4

HP: 21
MP: 11

Skills:
Perform - 5
Nature - 4
Lore (Monsters) - 1
Lore (Magic) - 3
Language - 5
Healing - 4
Lore (History) - 3

Abilities:
From The Heart
Center Stage - Perform for Negotiation
Unusual Species - +2 Mind, Arcana Type, Float (Temporarily float over gaps. Can carry up to one passenger!)

Equipment

Ordinary Bow (Tier 1, Ranged, An ordinary wooden bow, the type that used to be used for hunting.)
Overalls (Tier 1, Light Armor, Cute moogle overalls
250 gil

Davin Valkri
Apr 8, 2011

Maybe you're weighing the moral pros and cons but let me assure you that OH MY GOD
SHOOT ME IN THE GODDAMNED FACE
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Cideny de Yuebin
Straza Guild Hall

Surviving a probe crash from orbit after the worst disaster in Rhizin's entire history. Completely losing contact with everything and everyone he's called home and family. Having to settle in one nation and learn alien languages and customs, then having to do that again--twice--after some stupid petty thing from some stupid petty person. All worth it in the end, to bring him here to accomplish his mission. And yet--!

He's felt fear, anger, hatred, and let all of those wash over him as best he can (those are for...lesser beings), but never really annoyance. And yet this excuse for a functionary hemming and hewing over a certain someone's guild application is annoying him now. Not that he's about to show it.

"Thank...you..." he manages to nod and mutter through clenched teeth.

He's four hundred years old, he can show annoyance when he wants to. Because of course he had to change the local currency for the fifth time to get into the city, of course this little man who wants to pretend he's important would stall his mission, OF COURSE he'd have to share a guild with THAT GUY--

but it's all worth it. For the mission. For Rhizin. For his own self respect. Take a deep breath and imagine the lunar stillness.

Craning his head to look out the window, any annoyance on his face disappears back into reservation and quiet. "Is there something happening outside?"


quote:

Goals:
Short 1: Secure some stabilized synthecite
Short 2: Determine extent of Lunarian influence in the last war and the Theobrom catastrophe
Short 3: Find something that pleasantly surprises him
Long: Bring people from Rhizin to the Moon and back

Mechanics:
Class: Engineer
(HP Bonus 16, MP Bonus 0, ACC bonus 1, AVD bonus 4, Skill Points 26)

Statlines:
PWR: 3
RES: 5
DEX: 8
MND: 9

Destiny: 1
Force: (3+5)/4=2
Finesse: (9+8)/4=4

HP: (16+5)*1 = 21
MP: 0
AVD: 4+(8/2) = 6
ACC: 1 + 1 = 2

Abilities
Innate: Invent
Libra
Pandora’s Box

Skills
Awareness 3
Inquiry 5
Language 2
Lore (History) 3
Scavenge 3
Systems 5
Synthesis (Tinkering) 5

Equipment
Lunar light survival cestus (Sword swinging is hard on the moon. Tier 1 Brawl DEX) = 150 GP
Lunar survival laser rifle (No powder needed! Tier 1 Ranged DEX) = 150 GP
Thin Stardust Robe (Rated for vacuum, not blades! Tier 1 Medium armor ARM 4 M.ARM 4) = 100 GP
Potion x 5 (Tier 1 consumable, 100 GP)

ProfessorCirno
Feb 17, 2011

The strongest! The smartest!
The rightest!
Berry


Cideny gets a friendly slap on the back!

"Relax, guy! Hahaha, this kidder, always so uptight and angry about everything! We're all real eager to start, even if we don't all show it. Some of our recruits aren't here yet mind you; either because they don't know they're recruits yet, or because...well, they just aren't here yet!"

Berry cranes his neck to look out the window.

"What're you talking about, anywho? I dunno that I see anything..."

quote:

Attributes
Power - 2
Resolve - 5
Dexterity - 8
Mind - 10

Force: 1
Finesse: 4

HP: 19
MP: 14
ACC: 2
AVD: 8
ARM: 8
M.ARM: 8

Skills
Athletics - 5
Lore (EVERYTHING) - 5
Negotiation - 5
Language - 5
Perform - 2

Abilities
Innate: Encyclopedic
Charismagic
Sagacity

Equipment
Simple Red Jacket (Tier 1 Medium)
Staff (Tier 1 Arcane)
Slotted Buckler (Tier 2 Shield; magicite slot)
Gil: 100

Spells
Burn Ray
Ruse

Indigo Cephalopods
Oct 26, 2012

Justice Rains From Above
Rune of the Mist
Outside Straza Guild Hall

They told Rune she couldn't enter the guild hall. People were uncomfortable being around her. Not that it made a difference where she was. Even outside with her hood drawn, everyone recognized her and kept their distance.

It was fortunate that she was able to find two of her recruits already in Straza, and so had them deal with the registration. It was good to get them used to the bureaucracy early anyway, they'd have to deal with it a lot.

She noticed people's attention being pulled towards the station. Something was happening, and Rune was worried it involved the recruits coming by train. Gripping the sheath of her blade, she began to move.



Bleh, that took too long. I've been tired.

Radioactive Bears
Jun 27, 2012

Creatures of horrid visage and disposition.
The Train Station

As a few brave passengers aboard the train step out, it becomes apparent that the train hasn't reached the platform just yet. The befuddled engineers are too busy standing around one end of the tracks to stop this terrible breach of train safety regulations, chatting busily among themselves as the train platform waits up ahead.

Obvious to everyone outside, is why. Several feet of track is missing in front of the train. Lancer, from his perch, sees that it isn't just the tracks that have gone missing. Safety rails around the tracks, and even an old iron gate to the north of the station seem to be victims of whatever happened here as well.

“Never seen anything like this,” an older hume in train conductor's clothing says to Suriti and Noh. “Been on this line near a year and we haven't had a problem like this. Guess that's the problem with new forms of transportation. You ain't ever sure what's going to go wrong until it does.”

Outside Straza Guild Hall

Biggs and Wedge, two of Rune's recruits, argue about team uniforms nearby. Wedge is insistent on capes. Wedge wants headbands. Neither reach a compromise before Rune slips past, blade in hand. She begins pushing her way through crowds between herself and the station, but a group of harried guardsmen give her pause on their own way to the Hall. Rubberneckers and passersby crowd an alleyway leading to the train station, and it's apparent why.

Someone has dismantled several walls and gates between the guild and the train platform.

Inside the Hall

“Probably just the trains getting overloaded again. Too many bodies on those things and not enough magicite to power it all. You know how it goes.” The guildmaster says, leaning over in his chair and drawing his blinds to close. “Well, I'm sure you're both very busy.” He says, staring at his office door expectantly.

Outside the door, it appears that there are new arrivals to the guild. Or at least, visitors. Several guardsmen, red-faced and tense, are arguing with an attendant just outside the door. You don't catch everything they're saying, but you catch enough. There is something happening in some nearby ruins, and they need magpies to go check it out. Sounds pretty urgent...

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Station


She never ridden on a train before, but it was obvious there should be more track ahead. Curious.

"Sir, allow me to go ahead and ensure all is well." Before the old man could protest, Moh moseyed ahead towards the break. She kept a respectable distance between herself and the train proper as she scanned the area. She glanced back and nodded towards the moogle, who had apparently decided to come along. "Ah....Suriti!" She finally remembered the moogle's name, thankfully. That would have been embarrassing. "Did the moogle knight Kupek have any sage wisdom about this sort of strange happening?" Suriti seemed very very adamant about detailing as much of Moogle history as possible, and Kupek had featured prominently as an individual fairly tripping over mysteries, and had much sage advice about them.

Davin Valkri
Apr 8, 2011

Maybe you're weighing the moral pros and cons but let me assure you that OH MY GOD
SHOOT ME IN THE GODDAMNED FACE
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Cidney de Yuebin
Straza Guild Hall

"I'm not angry," Cidney manages to grumble through a mask of serenity without the guildmaster overhearing. He's busy with the windows anyway, the old--

"Well, let's get back to Rune and tell her that we have her charted, sealed and ready." He gets up, bows, spins gracefully on one foot and pushes open the door. "And we should...oh? Seems like we might have something to do already..." He's a little disappointed that his first job as part of this new guild isn't going directly into the heart of Theobrom, but, well, these things take time, he understands, of course. "Perhaps...several somethings."

KittyEmpress
Dec 30, 2012

Jam Buddies

Suriti Skiti
'Straya Train Station

The moogle was popping up and down, tiny bat wings carrying its chubby body up high, and then dropping it down as it gave out - not quite able to see all the way to all the missing bits and pieces of the non-track, but able to get a good view of the lost bits of track. The natural spark, the wonder of adventure, there was a gleam in the little moogle's eyes, that only grew larger as it's new friend started asking it about the glorious and wonderful and wise Kupek, "Kupek says two wonderful and glorious lessons - these would be Kupek Lessons one hundred and fourty two, and three hundred and seventy six, respectively!" Oh yes, Suriti had all of Kupek's lessons memorized, and could perfectly tell the tale of their entire rise as the greatest of Moogle adventurers - at least until Suriti themselves!

"One hundred and fourty two says, 'should you lose something on the road, do not look behind or try to find it, move forward, and enjoy knowing someone else can benefit from what you've lost!'" Suriti's tone becomes less giggly and high pitched, almost... serious, as they give their first lesson, "It's a lesson about how in life, things can be gained or lost, and often times what you gain is something someone else lost - so you should give back! Buuuut!" Suddenly the high pitched tone was back, and the moogle suddenly pull closed it's eyes, "Lesson three hundred and seventiy six says 'should you see something strange on the road, do not fear it, do not avoid it, embrace it, explore it, and in doing so, become more learned, more well rounded. kupo!!" The moogle nodded a few times - an action that was more of it dipping up and down mid-floating... and then suddenly started speeding off towards the missing tracks, "Adventure awaits, Moh-Friend, kupo!!"

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Station


Moh cast a brief glance over her shoulder for any sign of Lancer, before quickly darting after the moogle. No doubt he would make himself known when the time was right. For now, while she could not fault Suriti's eagerness, if their was foul trickery afoot it would be unwise to let him...her...them....rush into it alone.

PurplieNurplie
Jan 14, 2009
Lancer
Straza Train Station

With a bird's eye view, Lancer takes in the sheer scale of the...scene. It was hard to call it destruction, seeing as how everything was missing, instead of charred, ruined, rusted out, any of the telltale signs of sabotage or some kind of accident. It was almost as if the tracks, their railing, and the large gate seemed to disappear of their own will. He also sees Moh, along with a new friend, rushing off into the unknown. What was it about this girl that attracted so much trouble?

At this moment, Lancer had a decision to make. Of course, he needed to follow Moh, especially now that she was responsible for someone else's well-being as well. It seemed inopportune to jump down now. Not much room to maneuver on the tracks, if something were to happen. Not to mention, if they encountered trouble, he could give them the element of surprise.

He scales the rooftoops, Jumping as necessary to cross impossible vertical or horizontal gaps. As a dragoon, scaling a city isn't usually hard enough to require it. Straza, especially, was a dense place, with lots of buildings, and lots of places to land. He probably would be spotted, a suit of armor clanking around high above the world, with a red cloak flowing behind him, but at this point, his highest priority was following Moh, and not stealth.

As he moved, trying his best to keep his attention divided between the pair and what was ahead of them, he could only wonder what the cause of all this was. His first instincts were, as he thought initially, sabotage or an accident. But the missing pieces were too precise, and too random. Something strange was going on here. But what was it?

PurplieNurplie fucked around with this message at 03:48 on Jan 13, 2016

ProfessorCirno
Feb 17, 2011

The strongest! The smartest!
The rightest!
Berry
Straza Guild Hall

Berry immediately puts himeslf next to the guards.

"What's that? Magpies, you say? Excellent news! You just so happen to be talking to the lea - well, highly placed lieutenant - of one such group!"

He swings his staff to the side, hooks a chair with it, and swings it on back, sitting in it, all in one motion, then gives the guards his best grin.

"Cid, go find our samurai - we've work! Gentlemen? Tell me about this job!"

Indigo Cephalopods
Oct 26, 2012

Justice Rains From Above
Rune
On the way to the Station

Rune is stopped by a large congestion of people on her way to investigate the commotion. She pushes her way through to what has their attention.

"By the Gods, what....?"

Rune touches and inspects the dismantled gate.

"What could have done this?"

Whatever the cause, it must also be behind the commotion, Rune figures. She continues pushing her way through the crowds of people on her way to the station.

Radioactive Bears
Jun 27, 2012

Creatures of horrid visage and disposition.
Straza Train Tracks

The conductor responds to Moh with a confused grunt, and ignores the moogle and vierra as they hurry toward the station. The tunnel inside is open and free, and what they find inside is only more perplexing. Whatever has stolen the tracks from the station has come this way, several lengths of track missing entirely from inside, and several guards standing in a rough perimeter around the station. It looks like a few pieces of the track are embedded deep in the walls. Rubberneckers shuffle to get a glance inside.

For Rune, the scene is even stranger. On her way to the station, Biggs and Wedge close behind, several other pieces of surrounding buildings are missing. Doors hang open, missing their latches and hinges, and several walls have fallen askew, missing their nails and screws. People mill about, attempting basic repairs to close their homes and businesses in the dark alleyway. The sunlight from the open tracks ahead paints a picture not much better, with several lengths of the track missing from where Rune can see.

Lancer, meanwhile, flits about the rooftops of Straza. It appears to him that whatever occurred on the track took a drastic turn after leaving the station. Huge gouges in the earth, and several twisted bits of train track lie near broken walls and barriers as something made it's way through...

Straza Guild Hall

The two newly minted magpies filter out into the lobby without so much as a goodbye from the guildmaster. The beleaguered secretary is trying assuage several of the guards as they write up a formal request, but the tension is clear in their posture.

Berry sidles up to the group, and several members jump in their skin.

“We might be...” The man wearing a captain's badge says warily, “we're in the middle of writing up a request.” The guards give the approaching mercenaries a long glance, and tense up. “We need discretion though. No talking about it in the open. Is your group or team or whatever you magpie sorts get up to discrete?” He continues, his eyes boring a hole into Berry with a feverish intensity that usually comes with a lack of sleep.

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Tracks


Moh took in the scene, curious as to what could possibly have lodged iron tracks into stone wall like this. Some great beast perhaps, or a mage gone mad. She approached the guards and dipped her head politely.

"Good day, sirs. It is obvious some sort of trouble has come through here. Is there ought I can do to assist you? I apologize if I am perhaps acting inappropriately. Hume ways are still new to me. Nevertheless, it seems to me that whatever caused this mess is no doubt dangerous. It behooves me to lend what aid I can." Her earnestness was quite apparent as she spoke in that curiously accented voice of hers.

Davin Valkri
Apr 8, 2011

Maybe you're weighing the moral pros and cons but let me assure you that OH MY GOD
SHOOT ME IN THE GODDAMNED FACE
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Cidney de Yuebin
Straza Guild Hall

Cidney sees Berry talking to the captain and has already moved in before Berry can stuff his boot in his mouth.

"We are both discrete and discreet," he says with a slight bow as he injects himself into the conversation. "Well...most of us, anyway." He gives the briefest of off-color glances at Berry before turning back to the captain, placid as ever. "So...about these ruins. Do they have something to do with the noise we're hearing outside?"

I think fishing for more info without making it look too much like I'm fishing for more info is Awareness, right?
[22:19:56] <Davin_Valkri> !r 2d6+3
[22:19:58] <Krysmbot> Davin_Valkri, 2+3 = 5...complication!


Too forward, too open...He immediately regrets opening his mouth for that last sentence.

PurplieNurplie
Jan 14, 2009
Lancer
Straza Rooftops

Lancer moved quickly across the rooftops, scanning the surroundings. He had an answer to his question of what caused it. Not a perfect answer, but one that Moh needed to hear. Something was tearing through the city of Straza, and it was doing it fast.

With an expert Jump off a particularly high roof, he dove and slammed into the ground. Ignoring the panicked onlookers, he dashed toward the last place he saw the intrepid pair.

Heading into a long service tunnel, his suspicions only seemed to be confirmed. Whatever it was, it must've burst through the wall here, and ran out from the station and through the outskirts of the city. He still had questions. Where was it now? Why hadn't anyone seen it? What was its goal?

Approaching Moh, the moogle, and the guards, he leaves no room for pleasantries.

"Moh, there's missing tracks all over, and damage in a line leading away from the station. Something is causing this. Something big, and probably something dangerous. Most importantly, something moving. If we hurry, I think we can catch it." He gives a nod to the two, and lets the guards see the insignia on his cloak as he turns away and motions for the two to follow him. "I know about which way it's probably heading. I just hope we stop it before it leaves this place a ruin..."

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Tracks


There he was! Lancer certainly liked to make a dramatic entrance. Moh listened attentively as he explained the situation, and nodded as he finished up. He was right; they had to find the thing behind this destruction and stop it as soon as possible.

"Suriti, shall we go?" She cast an abashed look to the guards and gave them a quick bow. "Apologies for the rudeness, I'm sure you understand!"

KittyEmpress
Dec 30, 2012

Jam Buddies

Suriti Skiti
'Straya Train Station

Doing a small spin in the air Suriti seemed more than a little excited.. despite the fact that as Lancer approached, it quickly moved behind Moh, hiding behind her ears from Lancer, and shivering more than a little! But its voice did not carry the fear it held in its heart at the giant armored 'person', no the little squeaky voice was not at all fearful, "A-adventure awaits! Monsters and madness must be stopped! We will be heroes and great!" The moogle's bow was removed from its bag through a few strategic... bounces, and then caught with the moogles.... feet?

"Suriti will stop evil monsters!.... with friend-Moh?" This time the moogle wasn't running off, not after Lancer at least. In fact, it was practically hovering around Moh like a scared child - or a vicious, vicious guardian of her.

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Tracks


Moh nodded at Suriti. "Yes. We'll stop it. Or them. Be brave, Suriti. Lancer is a skilled warrior, and I will protect you."

Turning back to Lancer, she gave him a nod and followed his lead.

Radioactive Bears
Jun 27, 2012

Creatures of horrid visage and disposition.
Straza Train Station

Inside the station, an older guardswoman leans on her pike near the tracks where Moh and Skirti mosey up. The vierra's question take her off guard, and she dips her helm up before looking over the two. “Aye, that you might, girl.” She says in a friendly drawl, “I know the captain just went looking for folks to go on an expedition. You with one of the Magpie clans?”

She jumps when Lancer impacts the ground nearby. Her face goes hard and pale when she sees the insignia on the Dragoon's mantle, but she says nothing. All Moh receives in reply to her goodbye is a weary nod.

Straza Guild Hall

The captain looks uneasy, but the answer is clear on his face. It looks like they are very much connected. The other guards soon pipe up, talking over one another. “I hear is those bandits we chased out of abandoned train yard a few nights back.” One says, “They say that they went right to the ruins. Maybe woke something inside up, I figure.”

Another pipes up in irritation “It ain't no bandits, Holly, it's them wolves. It's mating season, and they've been stuck in those mists so long they got changed. Hear a few peels of a bell'll scare 'em right off, though.”

The youngest, just joined the guard by the looks, clears his throat uneasy. “What about the unstable magicite? Could it have spread?” He looks a little downcast at the notion. “My sister was a Magpie for a time. He used to tell me about how dangerous those veins were...”

The captain holds up a hand with a stern expression, and the chatter quickly cuts out. “I don't mind taking a chance on you. Just you remember to keep things under your hat. None of that usual Magpie flashiness.” He says, still holding a disapproving gaze on Berry.

You've rolled a complication while looking for information! So have a lot of information! One of these bits of info might be true, but at least two are definitively false. Plan wisely...

Davin Valkri
Apr 8, 2011

Maybe you're weighing the moral pros and cons but let me assure you that OH MY GOD
SHOOT ME IN THE GODDAMNED FACE
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Cidney de Yuebin
Straza Guild Hall->Outside

Don't get angry at them, Cidney, for they know not what they do. Leave it to a bunch of uneduca--simple people with simple needs to obfuscate a perfectly simple question--! Ah, yes, now would be a good time to go before he feels like screaming for them to get their stories straight.

"Thank you for your information," he says as sweetly as he can. "Rest assured we'll do everything in our power to see it resolved!" He motions to Berry to start heading for the door, then starts marching stiffly out to tell Rune the good...and not so good news.

Wolves, bandits or magicite...would definitely help him if the issue were magicite. Hmm...

PurplieNurplie
Jan 14, 2009
Lancer
Straza Train Station

Together, the three ran out of the service tunnel.

"Like I was saying, whatever caused this was heading in a specific direction. The destruction it, or they, has been causing points to it looking for something or someone."

Double checking the correct direction, he jerks his head and starts off again. "If either of you have any bright ideas as to what it might be, where it's going, what it wants, whatever, now would be the time to share. Otherwise, we're flying blind." He says, running at seemingly unnatural speed, for a suit of armor of his size.

Pedestrians part the way for the three as they pass, some shouting curses as they merely end up shoved aside, some shocked at the entourage, and some just going about their business; quite the colorful cast of folk here in Straza, Lancer thought as they hurried toward...whatever it was they were looking for.

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Station


"Suriti, hang on to me. Your wings are strong, but we must move quickly."

Hustling next to Lancer, she glanced aside to him occasionally as he spoke.

"I haven't got a clue! Perhaps a behemoth?" She laughed as she ran. "Whatever it is, I must admit to looking forward to facing off against it. A shame about the damage, but if we can put a stop to it, that is quite well."

ProfessorCirno
Feb 17, 2011

The strongest! The smartest!
The rightest!
Berry
Straza Guild Hall

Berry, for his part, shrugs.

"Those all sound completely manageable, and I'm happy to sign off on the contract. If you desire, you can even stipulate the need for subtlety and our closed mouths in said contract. In fact..."

Berry leans forward and immediately begins pointing out different clauses that could be used, how to generally write out the contract, additions that could be made, etc - naturally, with a few key loopholes. The best thing about being helpful is how much you can help yourself along with others!

Lore: Contracts!: 2d6+5 12

The contract written (and signed), Berry is quick on Cid's heels. "See? No problem. We've just barely started and we already have a nice job lined up. Come on, stop being so glum! Let's go fetch our samurai, maybe a few other schmucks, and check out that ruckus!"

KittyEmpress
Dec 30, 2012

Jam Buddies

Suriti Skiti
'Straya Train Station

The big floofy poof ball of a person still seemed terrified of Lancer, but then quickly started giggling in its overly giddy way, "Ooh! Ooh! Moh~ride~ kupo!" It seemed extremely excited as it... floated upwards, and landed on the Viera's head, holding onto her ears. Lighter than would be expected, it was like having a feather pillow on one's head, the clothes it was wearing and the scrolls carried in its pack seeming heavier than the actual moogle.

"We shall slay this behemoth, that has dared to hurt the innocents of the world, and be celebrated as heroes for the ages~ kupo!" The enthusiastic moogle seemed utterly assured of their victory from it's seat.

Radioactive Bears
Jun 27, 2012

Creatures of horrid visage and disposition.
Station

The group of three rushes through a crowd of looky-lous, but find their progress stymied. Though the path of destruction was quite clear, whatever caused it grew much quieter in it's escape. At first, a few shop signs and fallen walls and windowsills are all that mark the path leading out of town. Eventually, there isn't any sign of what occurred here at all, and the group is forced to follow where the culprit might have gone using your intuition and the evidence at hand...

Anyone who wants to can test their Awareness to try and continue tracking whatever tore up the train station. Otherwise, the trail has gone cold, and you'll need to solve this mystery by other means.

Guild

The dizzying collection of clauses and agreements drafted up by Berry baffles the guards. The aide who was assisting them can barely keep up, but they draft the contract dutifully before handing it to both parties. With no real training in the fine art of contract negotiation, the captain reluctantly signs off, his eyes slightly glazed over after the flood of contract law that assailed him and his men. “You, uh, you do that, lads.” He responds to Cid, trying to find his bearings.

With that, Berry and Cid are left to their own devices, and the secretary takes a copy of the contract for the guild's records. Now all you need is to find the rest of your guild!

You can meet up with anyone you'd like, just say so.

Shardix
Sep 14, 2011

The end! No moral.
Moh
Straza Train Station


Moh slowed, then stopped as the trail began to grow sparse. After all that destruction, she found herself perplexed that the perpetrator had seemingly vanished into thin air. It was clear now that whatever had caused it was no mere rampaging beast. There was an intelligence at work here, and that would mean the culprit was all the more dangerous.

Her ears turned this way and that, trying to catch wind of unnatural sounds. Closing her eyes, Moh took a deep breath and pushed away distractions, searching for the underlying spiritual eddies that followed violent actions.

Awareness: 9

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PurplieNurplie
Jan 14, 2009
Lancer
Straza Train Station

With a weary grunt, Lancer stopped on a dime alongside Moh.

"Not too much exercise for you and your friend there, I hope?" He says, chuckling. Then, just like that, back to business.

"I'm going to head back up, see if a bird's eye view can't find us our quarry." He says, pointing up to nearby roofs and shingles still not destroyed. "Meanwhile, here on the ground you and the Moogle should look for tracks, unusual sounds or smells, anything that could point to something or someone in particular; the sooner we can narrow down what exactly it is we're looking for, the sooner we can answer every other question we have about it."

He Jumps, after nodding to the two, up to the nearest intact roof, scanning the horizon, everywhere his eyes could roam outside of town. What were they looking for? Why did it, or they, come here, to Straza, and now? Where did they go? How did it move so fast and cause so much damage? Questions, questions. Too many questions. Somewhere, out there, over the frankly beautiful horizon...was something dangerous. Something that wanted something, or someone, so badly it tore up a major metropolitan center's train station and chunks of the city. Unsettling. But also...exciting. Perhaps something was starting, something that could never be undone...



Awareness of 8, just total our rolls together, right? Easy peasy :v:

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