"Well handled Jonis." says Auriel as he smiles and claps Jonis on the shoulder.
Jonis blushes a deep crimson, as her hair.
"Thanks!"
After the altercation with the leader of the WarHounds, you now have the coordinates to find Captain Alana Grayspear, though the warnings Chaz gave seemed dire enough. It is mid-afternoon when you head out, a journey that should take approximately an hour or so, assuming you can find a path through the lands outside of Whykin. Though you have coordinates, the maps of the area are sometimes unreliable. Nonetheless, you press on. It isn't long before you reach the outskirts of what must be Pux. The buildings look like a throwback to an ancient time, with wooden longhouses and a central fire pit that is currently being attended by several people. The citizens of this village do not seem alarmed at the appearance of your Mountaineer or the Glitter Girl. Instead, they seem to take notice and then go back to what they were doing, as if this was an every day occurrence.
= 7
Bugurk says in a low voice "Hey, guys - I just saw someone put something up to his ear, and then he went into a building, right after he saw us. I think one of us should follow him and check him out."
Jonis answers Burgurk.
"Good idea. I will talk to the locals in between."
She descends from the Glitter Girl, and puts her charm to work.
"Good afternoon! My name is Jonis Witta, and I am a Cyber Girl pilot member of the Tomorrow Legion. My companions are members of the legion too, and we come in peace. What are you cooking? It smells great! I hope we get invited to eat here! Maybe we can get something to add to the meal, as my mother always told me it was unpolite to go to a party and don't bring anything for the hosts!"
"Anyone want to accompany me?"
I will come with you, though I will warn you, I've never had need to sneak in the past, and am thusly not accustomed to it."
"Shakti, why don't you stay with Jonis and I will go with Burgurk, as I am well versed in stealth."
With that, Auriel begins moving quietly with after the individual with Burgurk.
One of the locals looks up from the large fire they are tending to. "Meal? I'm sorry Miss Witta, but this fire is not for food. What brings you here? We don't get many visitors from the city."
A few of the other locals come to stand around and listen to the conversation. As they do so, you notice that some of them seem to be carrying small pistols in holsters. They don't draw them, but they are very cautious as they approach.
Seeing how Auriel moves so fluidly, and not having thought of having to do any actual sneaking, Burgurk says "Um...Auriel, considering that I'm tall, alien-looking (to you humans), and have never had to sneak around in my life, perhaps you should go on by yourself? Or I could follow behind about 12 yards, and catch up to you quickly if you suddenly need backup."
Jonis looks at the fire surprised, trying, not to blatantly, to show them she is not menacing, or scared.
"Oh. What is the fire for then?"
She will get between them, and shake some hands, if able.
"We came with a couple errands, looking for some people that are supposed to be around, and delivering some information to them. And well, I always like to make some new friends in my travels."
"Perhaps then I should go looking for the wolfen woman and her child then? Perhaps she'll even deign to speak with me, one alien woman to another."
Auriel throws a Thumbs Up in Burgurk's direction before continuing in.
Burgurk follows, about a dozen yards behind Auriel.
Auriel slips through the crowd and towards the building the man disappeared into. Burgurk stays behind slightly, milling about. Some members of the crowd watch him, but they don't seem to have noticed Auriel as he quietly enters the longhouse.
Shakti looks through the crowd for any sign of the woman they are looking for.
Meanwhile, Jonis converses with the townsfolk. "This fire cleanses the plague. Everyone that lives here long enough gets it. When they die, all of their things are burned. It is... the way of things. We don't have much here, but you are welcome to our hospitality." He points to a longhouse that has smoke rising from a chimney. "There you will find some food if you are hungry and plenty to drink."
"I am sorry to hear that, and I hope we can help somehow. Thank you for your hospitality. Shakti, care to join? Let's go for something to eat."
Auriel looks around for the person he's following, or signs of his passage.
Standing up, Auriel says "This is ridiculous. Why don't we just have a conversation like adults would? Please quit pretending to hide and come out as well."
As he speaks, Auriel will focus his senses on detecting his ancestral foe.
Burgurk watches as the crowd starts to disperse with Jonis and Shakti heading to the longhouse to try some of the local fare. It is painfully obvious that he will look suspicious milling about the place Auriel went in.
Jonis and Shakti are greeted with bowls of what appears to be some kind of stew. There are root vegetables and an unknown meat and a lot of spice. At least it smells good. Someone sits down next to you, they are covered in a raggedy cloak. "Best be careful, " they whisper. "The wardens know you are here, and they will bring you to her. Like it or not." With that, they stand and move away.
Jonis plays with the food, and tell Shakti, in a low voice.
"I wouldn't eat it if I were you. Plague? Thanks, but no thanks."
Jonis looks at the person leaving after warning them, and thank him/her mentally.
"Shakti, I think we should find the others, as soon as possible."
She stands, ready to leave.
"Good, that will save time, as we have come to speak to her. Can you let her know we're waiting for her outside?" says Auriel, who then turns to leave and rejoin the others outside.
[ooc]Barring it attacking me, I'm going to rejoin the group outside.
Auriel's voice appears behind Jonis, saying "Who are we missing now?"
Burgurk finally decides to go in the building Auriel went in, when he sees Auriel come back out.
"How did it go? What happened?" he asks him, following him to where Jonis and Shakti are.
Jonis let out a little scream, scared, turns to look at Auriel and gives him a small pat on his chest, a smile on her lips and a gleam in her eyes.
"You scared me silly!"
She looks around.
"Seems there is a plague going on on town, we should be careful not to get sick."
Jonis looks at the others, unsure what to do next.
As you are all talking, you notice that some of the townsfolk are starting to get up and leave. They don't say anything and hurriedly start to move towards the other longhouses. A few more start to get up when they notice this as well. The only thing you've noticed changing is that the sun is starting to set...
"How long ago did the sickness start?"
"Not sure, but it seems this place is about to close, and we will need accommodations."
She asks around for a place to stay the night.
Jonis asks a few of the townsfolk where they might stay, but none are willing to give up their homes. One in particular gives a clue as to what is going on. "They come at night. A few at most, but they take us. No one comes back the same. You should go. Come back in the morning. They will take you too."
Jonis thanks the townsfolk.
"Fight or Flight." - she tells the others - "I vote for helping the townspeople, and stays to face whatever is praying on them."
She shows a charming smile.
"If they come at night to take people, maybe we can set an ambush up."
Upon hearing about the "they" that come at night, Auriel says in response to Jonis' question: "Knowing me as long as you have, I'm surprised you have to ask where I stand."
Jonis grabs Auriel's arm and hugs on it, a smile on her lips and a shine to her eyes.
"It is only polite."
"I too am willing to help these innocent victims. How would you suggest we set up an ambush?"
You are currently standing mostly alone in the area by the fire pit. There are approximately twenty longhouses altogether. Outside of that is mostly heavy forest, other than the dirt road that brought you here. Area for ambush seem apparent, if only you knew where they were coming from...
Auriel climbs one of the longhouses and hides upon the roof.
Burgurk climbs up on another longhouse, so that he and Auriel are about equidistant from all the longhouses.
= 3
As you setup for the night, you each take a place where you feel you have a good position to set upon anyone that would dare to spring Jonis' trap. It takes a few hours before anyone shows up. The entire village is eerily silent and save for a few lights in longhouses, the place looks abandoned. Around 930pm local time, you spot a group of humanoid people in a rough circle approaching the center of the village, where Jonis and her trap lay in wait. Auriel can sense them, the hairs on the back of his hand stand on end. At least a half of the dozen or so people are vampires! They slowly start to circle around Jonis' Glitter Girl...
Jonis, her Glitter Girl Powered off, doesn't see anything, I fathom.
She keeps in wait, fantasizing about... that is not your business.
Sensing his ancestral enemies, Auriel will say over the radio "<<They are Vampires!>>" before quietly make his way down off the roof and then not-so-quietly striding into the center. "Take me to your master."
Burgurk face-palms himself. "WHY does he keep *doing* that?" he wonders to himself, futilely. Over the radio he says "Auriel, what do you want us to do? Stay in cover? Come out to show you're not alone? What?"