~~~ IC ~~~

::It's a few hours later, probably early evening, tomorrow the day that An declared as war on the Jakovians... An, still nursing his wounds from the Kossack, at least he had the shard returned by Martel so he need not fear his own psyche... Martel finally patched up by surgical skill, but terribly wounded nonetheless... Everyone wakes from the various naps they've been taking, as rested as they're likely to get::

::Tien is in the common area trying to pull together breakfast::

::goes and washes up, such as he can::

::sits up and runs his hands through his hair, looking to see if morning is up yet::

::An finds a note waiting for him, "I have to go back before Mother sends people looking for me, but I will see what I can do for you and your friends. Talk to you later - Morning"::

::Martel is trying to assemble some sort of cloak to cover his robes::

((okay, you now resemble a massive rag-man))

((excellent))

::reads over the note and shakes his head, slips it into his pocket and puts on a shirt::

::Walks into the meal area and sees Tien:: Ah, Tien, do you know if An is about yet?

::heads out through the complex::

::goes about his routine of tidying up the triage area and makes routine inquiries about people whose health he's watching. After a while, wanders in to find Tien::

::looks tired and worn out, as if she hasn't gotten back to sleep since Morning's arrival 15+ hours ago::

Have not seen him yet... You look terrible. Did you sleep last night ::Setting a cup of tea before her::

::nods, looks to Lan:: Afternoon, Lan

Drink this

::takes the tea:: Thank you Tien.. no... we were up for quite a while interrogating Sergei

::eventually wanders into the area::

::nods:: Hello. ::meekly::

Good morning. ::Places another cup of tea before AN::

::follows soon after::

Ah, An, good. Where's your friend?

Where is our young visitor?

::shuffles in and sits somewhere::

::looks up at meredith and rubs his eyes free of the sleep:: She went home ::he says during a yawn::

::toys with a scrap of paper between her fingers::

::blinks, and sits up::

Ah... I guess that may prevent any search parties... hopefully she'll keep our location secret

::nods:: She will.

::nods:: We managed to get some information from Sergei before he.. er... chose to die rather than give more information

Morning, Brother. ::Sits a cup of tea before him::

::shakes his head and finds a place to sit:: ... so much death. So.. what did you find.

::Hands over the paper for everyone to read:: ((www.tekh.org/elemental/things.html))

thank you, student. ::sips the tea::

We were hoping you guys could do some investigation into these locations, try to narrow them down... even hunted, you all asking questions will be much less obvious than any of us

::slouches a little farther down in his seat, but reads in his turn::

And, of course, any suggestions on what the nicknames could indicate would also be helpful

Depot... a place where subjects are collected and or transported from.

::Shakes his head at the word student, but bides his thoughts.::

Brewery... where they might cook up the supplies they use to change the victims.

well, drawing board sounds like a think tank.

Offices... base of operation. Intelligence gathering? The Zoo... experiment holding cells? Pens... pre-experiment holding cells.

pens could be that as well

The shop... where it all takes place.

I'm not sure all of this is mutation stuff, but your guesses sound accurate... didn't someone tell me you were also looking for the source of Selchaka... some of these might also have to do with other Jakovian projects

The vats.... where the failures go. I'm not sure if its right but its my first instincts.

Not so. Vats could be the point of transformation

... ::shakes his head again:: With all this I had forgotten about the Selchaka.

I have read the term...'Vat grown". It was commonly used in reference to labs which had been attacked and destroyed

::nods:: Yeah. I'm pretty sure that's part of the work they do on the Kossacks.

The brewery is most like where they design the drug.

Vat work, that is. Batteries of chemical baths and so on.

Shop is probably where they do the experiments.

Ah, is that what it means. Shop could be a place where they recruit.

Who knows... these are all sound theories, but we should get to investigating. If we split up we could get to them each faster.

A place where they ... choose their next target?

Makes sense... who's going where?

I want the zoo, and the pens.

I'd be curious to get a sample of the selacha made in the brewery, if that's what theyr'e doing there.

I would like to go and find the prisoners. The Pens?

Sorry, but if they are holding cells, Maria might be there.

For comparison, you know.

Yes. I want to ensure that she is well and ... ::looking at the changed:: not treated.

I just want to make sure she's alive.

So Lan is going to the Brewery, An is going to the Zoo, and An and Tien both want to look for the Pens... Lan might want to look for the Shop and the Depot, too, since those are supposedly in the general area

::nods weakly:: I'll, um, see what I can find. Certainly.

Er... Martel isn't it?... are you in on this?

yup.

Preference?

::Leans over and whispers in AN's Ear:: Did you get...

I think I'll take a look at the shop... assuming i can find it.

So you want to help Lan look for that then?

((How accurate are the directions/locations))

((Specific, I mean))

either that or the offices, but i'll stick with lan for a while.

((as accurate as on the website... it's narrowed down to within about a half mile diameter or so))

might need him if my stitching come undone and i start bleeding all over the place.

Okay. Sounds. Good.

::leans in to listen::

Anyone going after the Offices or the Drawing Board?

I... don't think it'll come undone. We'll just take it easy... I'm hoping.

::nods::

right. just wish I had some elixer to wash these wounds with...

Good. ::Pats him on the shoulder::

So.. .offices or drawing board?

After I get done with the pens and zoo.

Okay.. and everyone should probably keep an ear out for the Zoo since we don't know anything real on that.. and double up on some of the others if you need to...

We know where the zoo is dont' we?

Didn't it say, 'lots of places'?

Sorry, the Vats... lack of sleep...

That too, thank you Lan

::mutters:: Whatever that means.

I'll send a few guides to get you around the city faster, and I'm going to try to get some sleep... I obviously need it... wake me if you find anything

((I assume the actual paper is more accurate than (various places) ))

((nope))

::nods::

((So... might as well say... the city))

((like i told lee, what you read is what you get... you'll need be searching a fairly broad area for most of them, and might get clues for the others in the course... plus most of them seem to be in the same areas... the factory area or the R&D area around the Starport))

((Hmm... then the vats are the zoo are in the same locations... somewhere))

Very well. Then we need a planned meeting location and time?

::gets up, and pointlessly brushes off his clothes:: Well, so. No time like the present, yes?

::levers himself up from the table with a soft grunt:: might as well get goin. time's a wastin.

We meet back here in 12 hours at the latest.

Sounds good. ::yawns into his hand, and rubs his eyes:: Let's go score some selacha, deacon.

::stands:: Lets get to it again. Time is of the essence.

::nods, and then goes to hunt down his guide::

::Bows:: Meredith, can I trouble you to clean up after me?

::raises an eyebrow:: I'm sure someone will take care of it, good luck.

::follows along with the deacon::

:: goes off to find his guide and begin::

::goes to get his staff.::

((what is number 1 on everyones' lists?))

((shop))

((Pens))

((and the map at http://tekh.org/elemental/places.html might be helpful))

((Pens))

::Okay, An and Tien take Labyrinth byways to get to the northmost point of the city they can find, not far from the city gates in the secondary manufacturing area... while Lan and Martel find themselves led to the Starport::

::at this time of the evening, quitting time, the factory area is quieting down as peasants head home through the light rain::

::the starport, on the other hand, is ever a bustle of activity, day or night, as lifts rise and fall punctuated by the light of the occassional descending lander::

::changes his features to be as non-descript as he can::

::tries to act as nondescript as he can::

::dressed like a bum, and EVERYONE ignores bums::

::occasionally i ask passersby for a handout::

::Hooded cloak, dirty clothing, walking staff::

((right then... i have calculated everyone's Wits + Streetwise, modified by a couple of factors, to figure out just how inconspicuous you are... for the record, the order goes An, Martel, Lan, Tien))

((So, what general tactics are everyone using to track down their targets?))

((I'm covering my bald head, therefore no one should recognize me))

::once they get near the starport, starts looking for some sort of ...:: So. What're we looking for? ::he mumbled to the avestite he wasn't obviously standing too close to::

((Killing civilians until someone gives me an answer))

((...thinks Tien, the man with no streetwise :-) ))

((wait... no))

((Healing civilians until someone.... ? ))

((No, I'm gonna ask around if anyones seens Jackovians (or people in the general guard leaving or entering any building))

::we begin to circle the starport looking for enterances within about a hundred yards of the starport looking for jakovians, signs saying "shop" or handouts::

((what kind of people are you asking?))

::Tien will carry a begging bowl and go door to door::

((for handouts? upper middle class))

((people going home, I'll bribe a few if I have to))

((Typical An bribe?))

((if they ask why, I'll tell them that the Jackovians are taking people, innocent people. common hard working people. And I'm going to stop them. A slight bit less, but basicallly))

::tries circling the opposite direction, getting no answer from the avestite. And looks for places... that people might be repairing machinery, and looking shifty.::

((right, everyone give me a flat Perception + Observe roll to narrow your targets (will provide bonus on later rolls) ))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 18 17

rolled 2 12-sided dice: 10 6

((woot))

((good roll))

((well, meybe YOU found out sumfin))

rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 3

((Gah! ))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 16 13

(((WOAH... wiat, I rolled 12 sided dice..))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 17 9

((Thats more like it))

((still pretty good thoug))

##5+5 =10 ##

rolled 1 1-sided die: 1

((Woah! ))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 8 16

((gonna sneak a quick smoke, brb))

((ping))

((right, that's a +3 for An, +2 for Tien, and +0 for Lan and Martel))

((we dont need no stinkin +'s))

((the system is going to be Extrovert + Inquiry (+2 for Tien, +5 effective for An with his various rolls, merits, and flaws)....

((See covering my bald head works))

if you get a success, it's a clue that can help you re-evaluate your approach...

and I'll be rolling behind the screen every so often to see if you're noticed))

((so. Extrovert + inquiry now? ))

((okay... team one... Lan and Martel... flat Extrovert + Inquiry rolls for you both))

((well, i'll go ahead and roll then))

((I don't have inquiry. can I use Charm?))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 6 11

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 16 20

##1 + 0 +2 = 3##

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 13 18

((that, unmodified by Wyrd, is a Botch for Lan and a success for Martel.. spending Wyrd either of you?))

((Well I suppose I do have lots of it to spend. I can ratchet that down out of botch territory with 1, right? ))

((yes))

::prays silently to the pancreator that those guys he just made the mistake of pestering don't take a second look.... Whew! ::

((spending wyrd rob?))

((excellent, I'm back. I'll be accenting my score up for a crit))

((no, no, you'll be wyrding it up.. accenting is a different beast altogether))

((right, right, i knew that bob))

::As Lan narrowly avoids finding himself being savagely beaten by some tough looking Scraver starport punks...

::thank god, thank god::

Martel happens to strike up a conversation with some dock-loaders that know exactly what "the shop" means...

((this man will be getting a tip))

they tap their noses as if letting him in on the secret, and send him to the warehouse... telling him that he will probably have to panhandle several firebirds to get a hit of the good stuff, but that a guy in the back sells it on.. the low down, some of the cheap stuff, so he can probably get a deal for a talon or two::

::i go into the back, looking for the man i was told about::

::you come across a comfortably dressed peasant hiding from the rain under a slight overhang... he's smoking and watching the rain::

hey man, i hear you sell, how much can i get for two talons?

::he looks up, a bit confused:: Man.. did some friggin dock worker send you over here?

c'mon man, word gets around, an I'm just lookin for a little hit man.

((A midget assassin?))

((QUOTE!))

I got tha money man, I good for it.

Man, I can't help you... they're constantly sending people over here to the Shop, when you want the Depot for that shit

Shit man, aight fine, where the depot at then?

Stupid dock workers... it's we baggage handlers that know what's really going on ::he points to the northeast and gives you some easy directions to the Depot::

they sell cheap right? aint got much, nowhere to go, i need it cheap.

They sell cheap, but it's that green shit.. that stuff'll kill you.. you're better off going to a legal 'chaka den and paying the higher price for the clean shit

shit man, that aint right...hey man, you a baggage handler, right man, you gimme a job meybe?

::meanwhile, in the north of the city...::

::tien is having little luck, though he's gotten a few pins and buttons for his trouble.. how is An doing, one might ask::

((gimme Ext + Inquiry + 5 Cam))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 4 1

((9 and 6!))

((Jeezis. ))

((go me))

((no, his target number was at a +5 bonus, not a penalty to his roll))

((see I thought so... if only so good, aight... I suck))

((but it's still a success, and low, which is what Cam hasn't been able to get lately.. a low roll))

::An is having some success, in that people want to help, but so far there's little information to be had. It seems like he's gone after one of the most protected secrets in the city. One guy hazards that he's seen some Jakovians in the area, but he didn't know where they were coming from or going to::

::continues striving for an answer and watching for Jackovians::

::and an hour into the search, nobody feels the eyes of Jakovians on them, though Lan had another quick shave where he passed a Jakovian patrol and hid in an alley::

::i go grab lan and head towards the others for backup::

::or you might term it a close shave if you weren't mixing metaphors::

((Any of the buildings in the area look like a holding area, jail, secured by armed guards?))

((most of the buildings in the area look like prisons... solid maxicrete factories that hold their workers til quitting time, many guarded, any of them able to hold prisoners))

::It'll take Martel the next hour to find Lan and make his way to where An and Tien are, Lan, you wanna roll again to look for something?::

((Oh, sorry, sure.... ))

((Hopefully not as disastrously. ))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 19 1

((like that?))

((Wait. Is that disastrous? ))

((I need to brush up on the botch scheme. -- Sorry. ))

((nope.. just not great... were you still looking for the Ship or going to try for the Brewery or the Depot?))

((the Shop rather))

((Still looking for the Shop, presumably. ))

((Ergo, having no idea what he's looking for, success is out of the question. ))

::Lan hears from somebody that the Shop is supposed to be somewhere in the starport proper, and that hardly anyone ever seems to go there::

((Tien and An, still looking for the Pens or trying something else?))

((Still looking))

((goddamn lag))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 7 16

((Still looking))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 6 13

::well, An's done a good job of elimination at this point... it's amazing how many buildings are definately NOT the Pens. Slowly he moves closer to his target. Tien, well, is not a detective, but actually earns a wing begging::

((Was that observer + Perception?))

::is reasonably confident he's going to get nowhere, at this point. And goes looking for the deacon::

((nope, same roll, same TN))

((OK))

::after two hours, An is still seamlessly moving about the crowds....

((Song of this chronicle so far is Counting Crows - Angels of the Silences or maybe Round Here))

Tien however, has company. Martel and Lan head out of a sewer-connected alley just in time to see a couple of Decados householders in black and green livery accosting a short beggar nearby::

::stalk up behind them close enough to hear the exchange and help if it is needed::

I hear you've been asking a lot of strange questions, beggar. You loony, daft, or being put up to something by somebody?

No, no. Just need some money for food. A dry place to stay.

Yeah, so I hear, but you've also asked some strange questions. Somebody trying to start up a beggar spy-ring again? We don't take kindly to that kind of thing.

I heard of a place for cheap, the pens. Can you help me? Place where I can sleep. You take me to jail? Food and place to sleep?

::looks to his partner.. in unison:: Daft

No, we're not going to take your lazy ass into jail like it's some hotel. You find your own flophouse, and stop asking that kind of question. We'll be watching you

::looks happy at the idea of jail::

::slinks up to tein when the cops head off:: hey, where is an, i got some leads.

::the cops wander off, but not far::

::Offers bowl:: You give for the homeless? ::Whispers as he bows:: have not seen him.::

::stands ... over there, nearby::

kid, I'm as homeless as you are, but i got a flophouse. half the days findings, and i'll take you to it.

((right, nobody's likely to find metamorphed An, so An, make another roll for the third hour while the rest look for you and/or head back across town))

::follows::

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 16 19

((USELESS... I am useless))

::bumps up bribes::

::no luck this time. An's search begins to fail as less and less people are wandering the streets as it gets very dark, so nobody's left to ask::

::begins scouring for Jackovians::

::meanwhile, the other three pop up near what they hear is the Depot.. a small warehouse with maxicrete walls and a metal roof that the sprinkling rain is drumming on::

::I explane to the other two my findings on the drug trade in the area::

((well do that then))

ok, here is the situation, I found out that the jakovians are dealing drugs out of the depot, and the shop may well have something to do with it, i have found the shop, and this sould be the depot before us. questions?

What are we going to do?

Wait, they deal selacha out of it?

perhaps they use the drug to obtain victoms?

they do, but one of the shipping clerks sells on the side illegally. we will find him and see if he can give us information about the prisoners.

((deal selacha i mean, not the victems bit))

Ah. Okay. What's the... shop for? We don't know?

not entirely, but i would guess drug prodiction. if the clerk isn't useful, we'll break into the shop and look for further info there.

((how active is the location))

((you don't really see much movement at the moment))

the only unusual bit i can think of is that the sechaka isn't the right color, so it might be some sort of mutagen or something?

supposedly it is green.

Ah. Where is the green stuff coming from?

apparently here, though it isn't the "good" stuff.

::nods:: It's deadly.

I know nothing that you are speaking about.

::shrugs:: me neither really. just what i was told. so lets start lookin for this poison sellin scum-bag.

It's the stuff they're shipping back to Aragon, unless I miss my guess. ::nods:: I'll want a sample to be able to verify it.

::Looks thoughtful.:: Yes. Killed Elenia's husband. The first victom on this long trail of death.

I'm sure he'll have some product on-hand, or at least know where it is.

::has a epiphany... lightning has just struck his brain, heads towards the office::

hey lan? ::brings out his flamer:: you know if selachaka is flamable?

Well... yes, in theory. But it'll be in phials. And it'll also give off fumes if you burn it.

Dangerous fumes?

I don't reccomend it. You'd really be boiling it first, anyway.

unfortunate. but first, a drug dealer we must find. ::turns towards the building as he puts away the flamer once more::

We need to follow the next shipment to the place where they conduct experients.

::a shipping clerk heads outside for a smoke break::

and how will we know which shipment is going to the experiments, and which is not?

we follow all of them?

::slinks up to the clerk and makes voice a raspy tone:: heya man, I looked for some stuff, on the cheap, know whaddamean?

::loiters causally nearby::

Fucking bums. ::looks around:: Alright, how much you got?

well, lesse, i got a flamegun ::pushes the barrel against his belly, hoping to block anyone from seeing it with his body:: and I have a bad temper, so whatsay you not make my jumpy by running or talking loud eh?

::looks down:: Fuuuckk

::Moves in and opens the door into the complex::

SHIT! ::drags the clerk to an alley to knock him out::

::Clank.. goes the door... Tien looks in, eye to eye with a clerk lugging a box of something across the warehouse.. the guy stops for just a second, then yells... BOSSS!::

((We needed a plan))

::A black-suited Jakovian runs around the corner and sees Tien:: Who the hell are you?

((yeah... you did))

<w> shit shit shit! you talk, you burn, paper pusher! ::continues moving as quickly as I can::

There is a guy out there with a gun. I ran in here for safety. ::Looks scared::

((Extrovert + Knavery, please Lee))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 9 14

((actually, what part of "interrigate the clerk" sounds unfamiliar?))

::the Jakovian buys none of it:: GUARDS!!!! ::he screams, as he moves away, into the warehouse, towards what is probably a panic button::

::Makes for the door::

::Tien has no problem dashing away into the night... Lan, running too?::

::I'll not move that quick in case the Jakovian wants to follow::

::runs::

::the Jakovian isn't following... at least not the boss.. three club-wielding bruisers, though, are::

::but, in this sort of, er, not too obvious fashion::

::more like, perhaps, sidling off down another alley?::

::I'll stay just ahead of the club weilding guys::

::right, just so. Would make a convincing random junkie scared off, or whatnot::

::right, Lan sneaks away, not the focus of the armed guards... who are not nearly so fast as Tien, but who begin calling for aid from friends they see if the chase is drawn out for long::

::I'm dragging the clerk's body with me and trying to follow lan as best I can, in the process I'm rolling the clerk in mud to make him look homeless::

Once I get the guys around a corner away from the others, I'll put on ::the speed::

::right then, the night, for our religious trio, ends with shouts and Jakovian agents rushing to protect their prized stash. Tien, Lan, and Martel get away with nothing but a shipping clerk and a quarter firebird to show their... three hour's work::

::meanwhile, An moves towards the heart of the city, to see what he can find::

~~~ OOC ~~~