Ibuki looks around. [b]"Aeron, Yellow, Valtyra, maybe we should look after Muga. I could use a drink too and some scrap could be found there probably.
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" I was going to suggest the same thing, it would be irresponsible to leave him alone here and even more so to split our forces when we have a goal in mind. If this leader is strong enough to subjugate a gang he will not be easy prey. I could care less for s drink here until I feel we are.. safe. " Yvell moved to find Muga.
Ibuki, Yvell, Aeron and Valtyra exit the gatehouse and move into Scrapwall in search of Muga.
Inside, Scrapwall is a maze of streets and crevasses mixed with large open areas of relatively clear terrain. In some places, jagged but shallow sinkholes filled with strange, smoking ooze spew fumes into the sky, while in others, makeshift streets of ripped- out steel paneling have been laid down against the elements to prevent thoroughfares from being reduced to toxic mud pits by the occasional rainstorm. Different gangs control various regions, marking their territories in unmistakable ways. The temperature within Scrapwall is always a few degrees higher than beyond the walls, and the air carries with it a miasma of chemicals and rust and grit that marks all inside.
The few patrons at the side-bar are fairly talkative. Muga hears about the Redtooth's Raiders, one of the gangs in Scrapwall. The necromancer leader of the Smilers has captured Redtooth's brother and is probably doing experiments on him. You also hear about Kulgara, one of the Lords of Rust leaders. She went on a berserk spree again, killing some Scrappers in the Arena with her chainsaw. Also, the fighting between the Smilers and Redtooth's Raiders is getting more heated.
He beats all the ratfolk at arm-wrestling, though one of the Scrappers, wearing a cloak that covers most of him, he has a bit of trouble with. Muga manages to defeat him.
Yvell simply follows where it seemed thirsty or hungry persons would tend to congregate. Using the tracks in the ground from Muga's path to find him. He knew his current status among the gang made Diplomacy hard not to mention being a paladin.
Valtyra watches her new surroundings with interest. Trying to figure out how this city runs for the people here.
Walking amidst his group, Ibuki takes in the new environment with curiousity. Lots of chemicals here...wonder if it affects the residents...
Just for pure interest, he casts detect radiation.
Yvell and Valtyra find Muga and the bar stall at the side of the main courtyard. Yvell uses tracks, while Valtyra tries to talk to Scrappers and gang members. Her strange look and positivity makes them not want to talk to her, but most of them point in the direction of the stall.
Muga slams down the hand of larger cloaked patron on the table. He sees you approach.
Yvell folds his arms, " Well Muga you arent dead, that is a stroke of luck. We have business to tend to.. So I guess finish up whatever your doing and perhaps get a drink or two more with Ibuki here so we can relax before the storm. While you were here did you find anything out or get into any trouble? " Yvell couldnt find the proper way to mingle here but he didnt try to force himself to understand either.
Her eyes were everywhere. She was so lost in the sights and sounds of the city, she could barely keep up with the group. Only when her gaze passed the others outpacing her did she realize that more than once she was falling behind. It was not until they had entered the makeshift bar that she realized they had found Muga. Moving in she took a seat opposite Muga as the large patron left ignorant of the fact that they were gambling moments before. Her cherubic features still maintained by the magical hat looked up at him then.
Why were the two of you holding hands? And why did you slam his hand down so hard. He looked sad when he left.
The emotion of sadness was one of the easier emotions for her to catch. It was the most common facial expression she had seen on others during her short life. She turned to the large man as he walked away.
You might want to give him a hug and apologize. He only wanted to hold your hand after all.
"Well..." Muga gritted his teeth. "I was achieving things, but you managed to quickly put a halt to that. Thank you ever so much." Muga gave Yvell a look of "you bloody moron" before facepalming. Aeron he didn't blame, as she had the social graces of a swamp, but he did blame Yvell for bringing her.
"Anyway, I HAD found where I was going next. But then you decided to paint a large target on my center of mass." Muga leaned back as he demonstrated the circle with a hand motion.
Yes, that is fine, if you'd like to do that. Maybe you can even convince Aeron to go with you.
" Well, then you COULD go and do that. But we are going to finish our part of the 'deal' You were the one that decided to go off on your own. If you want to go off again I cant stop you " Yvell gives him a "You're a Dumbass Lone Wolf" He folded his arms.
Ibuki stands a bit outside of the light, hood drawn over and watching his comrades and the other customers from the shadows.
I might win one of the contests too with a little magic hehehe...they won´t like it though. Better to find out something about that clockwork tower soon. And gain some scrap somehow.
Now if we´re done here, e could go to the haunted section. We just made some good experiences with ghosts, why not continue?
" Because that is not what we were tasked with and going against that would be unwise especially if it uses resources that we might need to defeat the enemy.. We could do it later I rather not.. make our benefactor.. upset"
So you wanna go straight up to those smilers and take them out? Or their boss, the birdman? You know, we could play a joke on them. Since they want to play at undead, why not go find some and use them to scare those smilers? Ah no wait, the birdman was the boss of the steelhawks. Forgive me i´m mixing up those ridiculous gangs. Actually it upsets me how they besmirch the face of necromancy and the afterlife. Clearly they are cannibals! How can you actually tolerate that?
Yvell nods, " Only the one leader is the Smiler, I plan on taking him down regardless. If the gang follows suit that is fine as well. That way or deal is completed and we gather reliable information. I do not tolerate them much like I do not tolerate Necromancy or Undead as you well know Ibuki. You have shown me a few spells that are not along those lines but overall my opinion did not change. Do you have a problem with taking this Birdfood out? "
Aeron looks up at the two bickering. The look on her face can only be construed as frustration. A loud skittering of the chair is heard as she strides between the two and halts. She gives them each a long hard glare before moving to the door. Once she reaches the door she stops and turns on them standing for a moment.
Will you two please join me outside?
She then spins away from them and continues outside.
If one or both join her outside they find her standing there, the same expression on her features. She then speaks to them (or him if only one exits) in harsh whispered tones.
What are you two playing at! You both understand that we are in a place filled with hostility and their ears are open to us. ESPECIALLY because we are not like them. Outsiders.
Her gaze drops for a moment as her features soften at the last words. But her gaze snaps right back up to them with the same ferocity as earlier as the brief moment passed.
Your bickering is going to get us all killed. The both of you need to learn to hold your tongue and understand that some things are best left to be spoken of in private. How many of those inside do you think are employed by that Birdfood creature. How many do you think are even within his gang that can prepare him for our inevitable arrival. Contemplate on this. As of now, I doubt that feeder of birds will be going anywhere any time soon, so we do not have to go rushing to him. I think it would be adventagious for us to explore the area for a bit. Learn this place and how to use it to our benifit, rather than have the whole thing come down on our heads. As for me, I will be with Muga. You two can deal with your lovers spat in the mean while.
With that she storms back in and grabs Muga by the sleeve. She gives him a knowing look, knowing she cannot physically move him herself, but telling him without words that she meant to go immediately. If he starts moving, she "drags" him out and they begin their departure.
Ibuki wordlessly but surprised follows Aeron outdoors.
During her tirade he makes a concerned face.
Ahem. You are right. Please accept my apology. While i think for once we were not bickering, at least i didn´t mean too, it might be quite dangerous. I fully agree there. Actually i wanted to discuss what to do next and to develop a plan. Doing some exploration here would be a wise thing. Please, lead the way, i´ll follow.
Ibuki makes a honest bow and a gesture with his hand for Aeron to walk first, seemingly ready to follow.
He then turns to Yvell.
That actually is a good idea. We might gather some new information or meet some ends that will help us fullfilll our contract. Don´t make such a face, come one, let´s follow!
Yvell raised an eyebrow at the newcomer but followed her out. Once he had listened his condition grew increasing worse. He then became unable to hide his emotions.
Yvell had the face that could kill nations.. It takes no genius to see this. It was the same face that he had once Hatchet-Hand had revealed he raped and ate his captives and sometimes their children. " Do what you want. You clearly have certain allegiances and I have mine. I hope it turns out well for you. Surely " The statement a mix of condensed rage and clear sarcasm as the paladin turned and walked off in another direction.
Ibuki looks after Yvell stalking away.
[i]Amazing. Does that come with being a paladin or from soldiering in an army? Maybe i was lucky being raised in Torch by my mother and Khonnir... [/ooc]
He turns and shouts after Aeron
"wait! How about searching for that clockwork tower? "
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Overcome with anger at his party, Yvell starts to walk off in another direction. No one seems to pay him much mind, despite wearing obvious knightly gear. He thinks to himself how it could have happened differently. Was he too strict? Were his companions being foolish? He couldn't decide on an answer. He also forgot about the heavy plant creature wrapped around him like a backpack.
After some walking, he looks up and sees new surroundings.
A tall ramshackle building made of scraps, wood and other refuse stands in front of him. He sees the symbol of the Steel Hawks, the same tattoo that Sevroth and the guard had on a tattered blue and white banner. It seems Yvell found the Hawk Palace, he thinks to himself.
Muga merely shrugged off Aeron's hand.
"F@%# this, fancy pants McPaladin isn't paying me enough to trust him despite the fact that he has no trust in me. The deals off. I wasn't having any fun playing delivery boy. I'm heading for the arena." Muga drains the rest of his glass before putting his weapon on his shoulder and heading off.
Plant Lady, sorry I forgot your name, would you tell everyone I'm making headway in gathering information and I need to remain unaffiliated with you guys. I'll meet you here at nightfall so we can trade information and kill whoever needs to die.
Moving up to the door, opened it and looked inside, his blade over his shoulder. His rage and mindset still did not notice his comrade.
Ibuki will stay with Aeron, trying to make some conversation...
"we didn't have much time to talk yet. Tell me about yourself Aeron! Where did you come from? What are your first memories? Do you feel pain or happiness? Do you dream? "
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Yvell opens the door to the Hawk Palace and sees a pair of orcs patrolling the wooden walkway. One of them shouts at the paladin/skald, "What the f*#$ do you want, holy man?" They point their falchions at him.
Phylla drops from his back and sends a message to everyone. Yvell does not seem to hear her words.
"Muga-servant says he is pretending. Gathering information. Meet everyone at night fall. Kill people."
Muga trudges straight to the center of the large town of Scrapwall. You hear a message in your heads from Phylla.
"Muga-servant says he is pretending. Gathering information. Meet everyone at night fall. Kill people."
In front of you, you see Scrapmaster's Arena.
An enormous battlefield sprawls here-a fighting arena that measures several hundred feet in diameter, ringed by mounds of junk and refuse stacked in tiers for seating. The ring has an arched opening in its westernmost end to allow access to the arena, while against the eastern side, a large metallic structure akin to a squat tower protrudes form the hard-packed earth. A wooden stairway wraps around the tower’s sides, and a twenty foot-tall stage protrudes from its western façade, overlooking the arena below.
This large wooden platform sits twenty feet above the battleground to the west. The squat metal tower it extends from is obviously part of a different, much older structure. A large nest of furs and rags and bones, appropriate for something the size of a small giant, sits in the middle of the platform.
Surrounding the 400 ft circular arena filled with junk and other forms of cover are hundreds of orcs, ratfolk, a smattering of humans and other races. Atop the wooden platform is a large ugly creature with tusks, green flesh and spikes sticking out of its leather armor. It is holding an autograpnel in its hands.
The creature shouts from her platform. "Who will fight in the arena to gain Scrapworth?"
"Hmm... That ability only works for me. I can put images around myself that make it hard to hit me. Not you, silly Yvell-Servant." Phylla sends to Yvell and Valtyra as she reads his mind and sees his plan.
The orc laughs at Yvell. "You think I'm gonna take orders from some elf?"
Sorted Initiative
1. Yvell, Valtyra and Phylla
2. Orcs
"To gain scrapworth? Who cares about that. Let's see some bloodshed!" Muga struts straight through the opening with a smile for the crowd, sword still bared on his shoulder.
"So, who's up?" Muga waits for an opponent.
Ibuki will cast mage armor on himself and enter the arena with Muga and Aeron.
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"Didn't expect you to be my opponent, fine. I've been looking forward to this!"
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She then casts a spell on herself and walks up behind Yvell, still cursing under her breath.
"...Lucky attack." the other orc says as his companion is split in half down the middle. He starts to run away, and turns the corner.
Yvell and Valtyra follow, with Phylla trailing behind, and enter an open space of the Hawk Palace. There are two pairs of doors to the northwest and northeast, a door to the southwest and a hallway to the southeast that leads to a door.
"Red food is running," Phylla sends to Valtyra and Yvell.
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The large crowd surrounding the arena roars with disapproval.
"No. NO! The crowd does not want to see two Scrappers fight! Come my pets join them. Crush these Scrappers into the ground. Break their bones and eat their flesh!"
Two lumbering giants appear from behind the troll's platform. They are armed with greatclubs and javelins and little else.