"If you need help with something, I would be willing to discuss it. The young fledgling lives here? Garnet town; this is a hard, shiny rock, yes?"
"The corpse; he was your enemy? Did one of you bring his end?"
I wonder what type of help they might need? They appear more capable than most of the folk in this world.
Auriel chuckles and says "The town is named after a hard, shiny rock, yes. One of us needs to check out something really quickly and then we'll be headed back to town, if you'd like to join us."
Jonis grimaces when the dead CS Soldier is referred as "the corpse".
"This person was a human, and we were not enemies to him. We did not kill him. We try not to kill unless there is no other way."
'Was a human'? Of course he WAS a human, I said nothing to indicate otherwise, and yet she seems offended for some reason.
He was not your enemy? And yet he and his would threaten those you call allies? The Tiger will eat you whether you consider yourself his lunch or not. This seems a dangerous way to live."
She looks again at the fallen soldier.
"If he was neither your friend nor prey, what is your stake? You say you need to check him out and that I may join you; I accept."
Not waiting to be called on the misinterpretation of Auriel's comment, willful or otherwise, she strides towards the body. She swings wide so that when she stops to examine the scene she is facing the rest of the group, instead of exposing her back to them. Her third eye opening, she scans the area for any residual enchantments or mystic energies that might have clung to him after death.
She also looks after the mundane details of the situation as well.
Jonis looks at the woman, not sure if she likes her...
"A tiger is not my enemy, even if he eats me. This poor soldier was not my enemy, even if he would have fired on me. He was mistaken, and needed guidance, not to be killed. He deserves respect and pity. As for my stake, he was a living and loving person, and I would have done whatever possible to help him, as I am offering to help you. Even if he would have considered himself my enemy."
"I apologize if I was not clearer. There is a place near here one of us needs to check out, and then we will be ready to go."
Auriel turns to Kaldern and says "Kal, can you be brave and show me where you saw the man in black?"
Burgurk was going to offer to go check out where the boy woke up on his own, but when Auriel took the lead, he instead said over comms "Ok, I'll stay here with Jonis and our new guest."
Burgurk looks over the new person carefully :
But doesn't seem to get any empathic "read" on her.
Kal nods at Auriel. He points right at the spot where the man in black's body still lay.
"I see nothing here besides perhaps a mauling by some sort of beast. A fierce one, no doubt, to rend such stout armour, but nothing more than that."
Once she is done her examination, she stands aside waiting to see if the others have anything they wish to see. Then she moves forward and kneels, setting the soldier's gear to the side in an organized assemblage.
Shakti sets out the soldier's gear in a fine display to inventory what's there. A C-12 laser rifle, a C-18 laser pistol, 2 e-clips, a vibro-knife, canteen, and his ID Cards that Auriel had looked at earlier. His armor has little left that can be salvaged.
Jonis keeps with the child and seems uninterested in the coalition soldier's possessions.
Noting Jonis' marked disinterest, she addresses the other two warriors,
"I have been reduced to scavenging these days; a role I am somewhat unaccustomed to. These tools would be useful to me. Have you any objection if I claim them? Some or all, I can put them to good use."
Turning to the one she thinks likely to hold fast to the strongest opinion, she asks Jonis, "Are there funerary rights or ceremony you would enact for a fallen foe? What is the appropriate disposition of material remains in this place? Are they committed to earth, fire, sea, returned to nature by the beasts, or perhaps something else? I seem to have offended you with my comments before; tell me, how does one show respect to a fallen foe among your kind?"
Jonis smiles at the woman.
"I was worried for a second you didn't value life, even lost life. We mourn for our dead, and we bury or burn them. Let me go into my Glitter Girl and dig a grave for him."
She will do a makeshift grave for the dead soldier.
As Jonis works to make the hole to bury the dead.. Dead Boy, the scanners in her Glitter Girl indicate that there is a slow flying aircraft heading in their relative direction. Its silhouette and bearing indicate it is most likely a CS vehicle, but it is too slow to be those Sky Cycles from earlier.
Jonis, alarmed, talk to the others on the radio.
"We have incoming, Coalition probably. Time to get away from here."
"Flee? Is this not your territory? Does your "Tomorrow Legion" not protect Shiny Rock from interlopers? I dislike this coalition and their ilk; if you wish to confront them, I would help you.
She checks the Coalition soldier's weapon over; if the e-cell is only partially charged, she switches it out for a fresh one. While she might be new to the world, she seems to have picked up at least some familiarity with its technology. She handles the rifle like someone who is familiar with laser-weapons, but has never handled this particular model before.
"I don't want to pick a fight with them. Probably come to look for his missing soldier, and I don't want them to think it is us who killed him."
"Seeking hostility will often help you find it." offers Auriel.
"I have been itching for a fight, it's been too many days of quiet. But these humans have a saying : 'discretion is the better part of valor'. So I would suggest we leave this place as fast as possible." You can hear the disappointment in Burgurk's voice.
Deciding that facing whatever the Coalition is sending in your direction is not the best idea right now, you head back to town with your two new companions, the boy named Kal and the strange alien named Shakti. As you come within sight of the makeshift low walls, you can see that what passes for the local militia is gearing up for something. One of them comes to you, looking more like he belongs behind a desk than the L-20 he has on his back.
"We were hoping you would get back from patrol soon. Seems the Coalition is gearing up for something and Mayor Lithari thinks it was because of that Beehan character that was here before. Sounds like they didn't want to take no for an answer." He points in the direction of Lithari's home. "She's waiting for you."
Jonis, from within her Glitter Girl, signals Kaldern.
"We found Kaldern, and her mother is a baker here at Garnet town. Can you make sure he gets home safely? Kaldern, I will go an check with you later. Be a good boy and give your mother a hug, and do not wander off again."
She then turns towards Shakti.
"I know this is not your town or your fight. But we can use your help if you are willing to give it to us. Wanna come with us and see what is happening?"
Shakti is looking off at the villagers when Jonis addresses her. The look on Shakti's face indicates she is less concerned about assessing the village people than she is in gauging how they might react to the sight of her.
She turns to Jopis to answer, "When in the land of your enemies, there is certain to be greater safety in numbers. I will aid you."
She starts walking towards the Mayor's indicated location, pulling the cloak in a little closer about her body.
Kal nods as the guard takes him by the hand and is led towards where his mother would be waiting. You arrive at Lithari's home, the largest of the buildings in the entire village. There are two guards posted outside, allowing you entrance without a word.
Lithari is waiting in the common room, a large table full of maps and charts that she and two more of the guards and Old Man Duncan are poring over.
"Ah, welcome back friends. It seems the Coalition has decided to test the Legion's ability to protect Garnet Town. At least, that's what Duncan here thinks. He s.."
"I'm merely suggesting that Lieutenant Beehan didn't seem much too pleased when we told him that we were signing with you. We've had a lot of trappers come back with reports of CS patrols ramping up in the area. That's never a good sign." The old dwarf seems to be done arguing his point.
Lithari continues. "As I was saying, their activity levels have increased in the weeks since we sent them packing. What I'm asking you to do is dangerous, but I think you are more than capable.", she points to an area a few miles away from Garnet Town on the map. "Somewhere in this forest is a clearing that several trappers have seen Coalition soldiers mustering around, the last report spotting a couple of their giant robots and several Sky Cycles. They are gearing up for something big, but we don't know what. The problem is, it's too close to home to ignore. The second problem is that we don't want to get their aggression focused on us, if it already isn't." Duncan harumphs at this point. She ignores him. "What I need you to do is scout out this mustering area and try not to get caught. As an added bonus, if you're able to only, we don't know where their actual base is. If you could maybe find out so we can be better prepared in the future, that would be.."
"Foolish.", Duncan finishes for her. Lithari just shakes her head and allows you to look at the map.
"Questions?"
"Sneaking up on a camp would be difficult in your armor," Burgurk says to Jonis. "How would you feel about doing without it this time?"
Shakti approaches the woman in charge and greets her with a respectful bow, hands (visible hands at least) meeting in front of her heart.
"Warmest greetings, noble one. I am called Shakti. I am a traveler from afar, but am far from friend to the Coalition. I have agreed to help these others against the interlopers. As this task is to be on your behalf, have you any resources to share that might aid us in accomplishing it as requested? A quiet transport, mounts, or weapons to use should we need to defend ourselves from their interest?"
"If it's just scouting, I am probably the best trained to deal with it, but I have the feeling that it will not be as easy as 'go take a look and then come back'. We will likely need Jonis' firepower before we are done."
While the rest of you discuss strategy, Lithari looks almost embarrassed as she regards Shakti. "My apologies. I had presumed since you came in with them that you were a new addition from the Tomorrow Legion assigned to these guys. To answer your question, we can't spare much as it is. Everything we have is salvaged and has been assigned to keep the defenses, such as they are, up to par. These three are staying here and providing security until a replacement from Castle Refuge arrives to relieve them. I will extend to you that some arrangement, if it suits you. That rifle you have on your back may serve to help, but if I'm not mistaken, isn't that Coalition property?"
"It was Coalition property. It's former owner expressed no objections to my repurposing it, and he had ample time to do so, had he harboured any such feelings."
"I have been hearing much about this Castle Refuge and the Tomorrow Legion this day; I am becoming intrigued at their place in this landscape. When the opportunity comes, I believe I will enjoy learning more of them."
"However, for now it appears that we should be off; if we are to discover the intent of the interlopers before they come upon us. For Jonis Witta to wear her metal suit or not, a decision must be made, and we should be off."
Turning back to Lithari she says, "Your leave, mistress?" She angles her body towards the door, intent to depart clear, but she keeps eye contact, waiting for the mayor's permission to go.
Jonis shuffles somewhat uncomfortably.
"I am not very stealthy in my Glitter Girl... Maybe I can stay back, as a backup in case it is needed?"
"What is your maximum rate of speed in the suit?" Burgurk asks.
Lithari looks quizzically at Shakti, then nods her head. "I'm sure your companions will be more than happy to introduce you to their commander at Castle Refuge. I'll let you to the planning, as I have other matters to attend to. Feel free to use this room and the maps to plan your mission." With that, she turns to Duncan and indicates that they should leave, leaving only the two militia men with you in the room.
Jonis winks.
"Pretty fast. And the Boom Gun has a good range."
She waves at Lithari.
"Don't worry, we will handle the mission. Take care."
"So, how far behind us could you be, and still get to within firing range in, say, 10 seconds?"
One of the guards clears his throat. "If I may?" He points at the map. "The terrain here is not just all forest, there are hills and such. Some high enough to get a look at the forest. Maybe you can find a way to get to one that's near them?"
Burgurk addresses the guard "Do you happen to know where, either exactly or approximately, on this map the clearing was that Lithari mentioned, or do I need to call her back?"
The guard points to an area on the map about 3 miles northwest of the Ley Line Nexus that forever haunts Garnet Town. "Most of the trackers we've talked to said they seen activity in this area."
Looking at the map, you can see that there is a rise about a mile east of where he is pointing that might give you a good view.
"Then let's go!"
Jonis laments she won't be able to check on the rescued child. She climbs on her Glitter Girl and prepares to move.
Shakti keeps pace with the others, her weapons already checked and stowed, and her pack already... well, packed.
She waits at the edge of the town for the others to gather, as they collect and prepare their gear, and the touchy-emotional woman clambers into her automaton. Once the trip is underway and the group is a respectable distance from the town and away from prying eyes, she takes the opportunity to speak to her new companions.
"From the way you greeted me initially and from your companion," she indicates Burgurk, "I take it you are comfortable encountering beings from other worlds? You recognize that physiological differences from your own form do not automatically denote hostility or lesser intelligence?"
She waits for a general round of affirmation, and then says, "Good."
She then proceeds to transfer her staff from her left hand to another lower hand that reaches out from her cloak. She reaches up with the two already visible arms to check the swords on her back, and make sure they are accessible. As she does so, she tosses the cloak back from around her, uncovering her shoulders, and three sets of arms and hands extending from each one. The arms busy themselves, a pair on the right taking the Coalition rifle off it's sling and holding it two handed, while two on the left check her pistols; one is the Coalition laser, the other is an odd techno-punk looking revolver which is probably some sort of product out of Stormspire.
"I suppose if we are to work together, we should know something of each other's talents, so we might know how to assign roles and duties. I care not to pierce your secrets, as I have my own, but in general, knowledge is good. As a show of faith, I shall go first. I am Shakti; a sliver of the divine. I reflect a portion of all that is. I can summon that knowledge, take upon the myriad forms of creation, or alter the Chakras of another to concentrate or disperse
the energies within. I am fair with sword and blaster, but limited by the strength and resilience of this present shell. Does this adequately convey my capabilities? Who shall go next?"
"My race is called Simvan, and we are all psionic - does that word mean anything to you? It means that we have tremendous power of mind. For example, I can deal damage as much as your laser or rifle to an opponent merely by concentrating on them. I can also increase someone's strength or dexterity, create a field around myself to protect me from damage, heal someone of their wounds, or make weapons do more damage than normal. I have other, lesser, psionic abilities which I won't go into here."
You get the impression from the way he talks and carries himself that he is a bloodthirsty predator, first and foremost.
You take about an hour skirting your way around the forest and finding a way to get to the top of the rise that the guard pointed out for you. On your way you noticed several Sky Cycles and SAMAS power armor flying on patrol, but if they saw you, they didn't bother you. You reach the rise and work your way into view of the clearing.
Sure enough, there is definitely a Coalition presence here. The two Mark V APCs and two Spider-Skull Walkers are evidence of that. Also present is at least fifty soldiers in full body armor.