~~~ IC ~~~

::it's been a couple of days. After a while of Budi constantly sending you notes that he's "working on it" and "will try to check in soon", you decided to go to more reliable contacts than the Charioteer's guild... tapping An's Hazat contacts, a couple of folks Vasili met in the space navy, and Martel's visit to ask local Avesti about whether they knew anything about gargoyles, you've narrowed the probable location of Pegasus... to a bunker warehouse about 60 miles to the east of Port Isabella. You've got a couple of letters of introduction from lower level Hazat nobles without a real influence on the bunker, some spare cash for bribes, and anything else you can get your hands on that you think might be useful in talking a warehouse into giving you a priceless artifact. You took a day trip down to the site and are currently sitting in the jeep looking at a fenced compound with two bored guards wearing householder colors sitting out front::

::the time is 4 pm::

So... you really think we can't sneak in? ::rhetorically::

don't see why we should try. i mean, we got these official lookin papers, might as well use em. ::squares his shoulders and starts towards the gate::

Well. Yeah.... but. Ok. The bribing thing, I guess. ::sniffles. Pollen count high today:: So, one man in is less intimidating to a bribe-ee, yah? ::speaking quietly, pretending to read a book::

You there! ::points officiously at one of the guards:: I'm here to speak to your commanding officer. ::thrust the likely looking paperwork at him::

Take me to him.

:::follow up behind Martel::

::whispers to An:: So, where should I be during this?

::stands nose in the air, trying his best to waft pomposity in their general direction::

:the guard takes in the abrupt attitude of the inquisitor, the papers with Hazat seals, and the three other fairly well dressed and/or intimidating men behind him, realizes what his job is worth, and rushes off to get his commander:

::looks around. follows::

::to Vasili:: With me.

<w> by the by, anytime someone comes up with a plan, feel fry to share...

<w> We're here to inventory supplies.

::after a few minutes the guard returns leading a middle aged, battle hardened woman with graying brown hair and sun-weathered skin, wearing stiffsynth armor in the Hazat colors::

...these's an old grift that could work.

I'm Dona Albira Estancia de Aragon, how can I help you gentlemen?

Good afternoon ma'am. I've come to understand that a certain object in posession of this base might be of some interest to the church, and I've come to negotiate it's displacement.

Displacement?

possible displacement.

::wonders what the grift was gonna be::

The term tactical relocation might also be usable.

Like... you'll put something where it is, necessitating it being moved over some?

could be, could be.

Well, interestingly enough, our warehouse has several empty lots, so if you'd like to store something here, you have only to bring it with a letter of recommendation from a ranking Hazat, and we will keep it for you

We were interested in reviewing these empty lots. would this do? ::shows one of said reccomendy letters::

If, however, you mean that you want to investigate confiscation of one of our stored possessions, then you will need a signed writ from the local archbishop as well as escort by at least a Baron

I was, in fact, NOT suggesting anything of that particular sort. We do not have the authority to confiscate any items on the premisis.

I agree. But I also suspect that you do not have the authority to investigate them either, so I'm curious as to why you are really here.

::glancing at the letters:: especially since these are letters of good opinion for one Mr. Anhetepf Griffen of the Reeves Guild

As stated, for investigatory purposes. Mr. Griffen is funding the investigation, and thus the recipient of the letters.

Is one of these gentlemen Mr. Griffen?

::nods but stays silent::

Said investigation would require an agreement among us.

::giving a emotionless Gray stare::

::Stays silent and imposing-ish::

I'm sorry, pater, but until and unless you produce a writ for your investigation, I am under strict orders to not let the Temple Avesti "snoop around" no matter who they represent... And you can take up any potential heretical ramifications of that command with my superiors... If you were here to assist someone else with a valid reason for being here, then the order could be possibly waived

::grins friendly like:: I'm sorry if i gave the impression that I was here to press heretical charges of any sort. No, indeed, I am here to assist Mr. Griffin.

Then perhaps I could talk to him, as the letters seem to be glowing. Mr. Griffen, how can I help you today?

::bows, and steps aside::

::looks winningly unobtrusive, but somehow adjunct to greatness::

Forgive my friend here ::steps forward:: We've been confronted by such aggession and stubborness these dark days that we have to meet most situations with more "force" then they are needed.

Yes, I could certainly see how that might be a problem... we tend to resort to red tape to try to prevent people from climbing into the uncertain reaches of the power vaccuum

::attempts to mimic Lan, but comes closer to Mildly fanatical, with a side of leering::

::nods:: Actually, I'm here for two reasons.

::nods, waiting for these reasons::

The first is this I'm here to inventory and place value on some items, should the need come up that the nobles may need to sell some items in this financially unstable times.

::Tries to look like an imposing-ish asset evaluator::

The second is for my own personal issue, the Pegasus. I was part of the party that discovered the Gargoyle and I really, just wanted to see it again. We lost a few people in that quest and I haven't seen it since then.

::is clearly another nondescript guildish looking worm, as far as that goes::

See, that's believable at least. While I'm not sure I trust you, you seem to be a nice enough young man and have several nobles that do trust you, so I'm willing to acced to this request provided none of this...

is "on the record" as far as the Temple is concerned

I'm sure, at this age, my memory is getting more feeble by the day... You have my assurances on this.

Very well, if you will follow me I'll show you the warehouse ... Guard, please go fetch the secretary with the index

Thank you

::and he does, as she leads you into the compound while the other guard goes back to bored from inside the fence, the area is obviously a "secret base" style base, with lots of trees providing air cover and the buildings all sunken beneath the turf. There is a wide thoroughfare leading from the gate to the bunker made to look like a simple continuation of the road...from the air you'd probably take this to be a peasant gathering if you noticed it at all::

::Vasili habitually notices which areas are least defensible::

::the area doesn't seem to be build for defense, at least from the outside. As you get closer to the bunkers you get the impression that they could be locked heavily from within... the main warehouse even seems to have optional blast doors... it all seems to be set up to hold out for backup or for long enough to destroy the enemy's goals::

::noted::

Welp, this is as far as I go. My memory has an easier time forgetting things i never see.

((under the assumption we reached the main warehouse))

::there are two more guards looking much more alert which Albira nods you past just as the secretary runs up with the index and hands it to her. She nods at Martel and leads everyone else into the bunker::

::continues to follow::

::once you're past the defense area and down a long, wide ramp, the bunker turns out to be a fairly large underground warehouse with a 20 foot ceiling, track lit with fuzion lamps... the area is filled, but with wide avenues around what are mostly items stored in large wooden crates. Albira is willing to let you open the top of these to check the item, as long as you nail it back down...

((::refrains from looking for things that glow:: ))

::tries to get a look at the list while remaining unobtrusive.::

...the first items you are brought to are along the wall. Each is a heavy weapon from the Emperor Wars, most of which are in disrepair. Albira notes that they are here because they are currently considered beyond economical repair

::Tries to remember these are weapons of evil::

::but look longingly, just the same::

...given the lack of any wars where they'd be seriously useful... ie large land-based skirmishes... this includes a Furystorm Chaingun, a pair of Gatling Lasers and even a heavy Mass Disrupter...

Great Maker... amazing... ::writes these things down, noting possible value::

there is also half of a Web Missile Launcher, the other half seemingly melted off at some point... the chaingun, launcher, and lasers are all potentiall worth 1k-3k firebirds repaired, and the mass disrupter up to 25k...

::Vasili for once regrets his life choices. But only for a moment.::

the next section includes about a dozen different types of powered armor, most of them missing joints, plates, or with large holes in the chest... each worth 1k-4k firebirds repaired... the next section has just a number of close together crates that indicate they have various components of a disassembled Kestral Hovertank, worth 40k firebirds if it could be assembled and fixed...

::tries to get his game-face back on and also notes possible value::

::manages to frown with disapproving indifference?::

::keeps making notes::

the next section has a number of Golem parts, none of them totalling a whole Golem, mostly from labor saving robots... they'd be potentially priceless for the right investor... someone with a church writ protecting him from charges of heresy, perhaps... as they are, they're acceptable in pieces, but not probably something anyone would want reassembled without careful church oversight... there's what looks like a spaceship energy shield configured to mount on a land vehicle... everyone present has enough technical and/or military experience to know that even if it was working the power drain would be ludicrous for the benefit incurred in battle... it might be useful to someone building a starship, but the recalibration required would mean you'd have to sell it for a pittance, which is probably why it's still taking up space... and, after a few thousand firebirds worth of odds, ends, and miscellaneous scrap, you come to the crate in the farthest corner of the warehouse... looking like it contains something possibly horse-sized... the crate merely says "Lot 146A"::

::stops writing::

((Somehow, I'm fearing a hybrid disease.. ))

...so? This is it?

::is making himself useful nailing lids back down::

Should be. It's been here for about a year.

Can I... open it?

Knock yourself out.

::goes to the crate and using whatever tool available begins prying the box apart::

::after brief work, the crate falls away revealing a statue seemingly made of stone which nonetheless glimmers strangely in the fuzion light... it is blochy and strange looking, some kind of strange alien, possibly, with only the vaguest of features... if you squinted at it you might think it was an eroded horse or shantor.. possibly with a bump to indicate wings?... the back is large enough that a small enough man could cling to it, possibly when being sucked into a vacuum... all in all, it looks as An remembers it, with perhaps a couple more pockmarks due to micrometeors in space::

::walks up and places his hand on the neck of the Gargoyle::

(( The Pegasus ))

::the gargoyle is slightly warmer than the air in the warehouse, or at least it seems like it to An::

::after a moment's inspection, An realizes that the suspensor pad that allowed them to remove it from Doramos' cache has been removed::

::scrutinizes the thing from a short distance::

::places another hand on the head and closes his eyes::

::concentrating on his connection to the gargoyle, An lends a small measure of his own force of personality to the artifact, and feels something akin to "waking up," or thinks he does, and thinks that it remembers him fondly::

Hey old friend. ::thinks hard about his intent, thinks about all thats going on, just sort of letting it know what's going on and what he's trying to do::

::Doesn't get any of this::

::An, Lan, Vasili, and Martel all feel a momentary flash, as if their destinies were being weighed and connected across the stars. Lan has a momentary vision of the Lovers, and a sense of their connection to this gargoyle::

::stiffens:: Eeesh! ::looks around at the others. Swallows drily in his throat::

::thinks a work of thanks and opens his eyes::

Guys, this, um. ::looks around:: Is pretty darn impressive.

*ahem* ::Notices the silence is getting uncomfortable::

Well then... ...box it up we'll take it. ::laughs obviously making a joke::

::gives a slight smile, not really certain about the humor of these folk yet::

::Martel sees a half dozen figures striding purposefully across the compound, with a guard tagging after them::

((we don't happen to have any radio like stuff do we?))

((for communication?))

((not at the moment))

((sad)) ::looks at the oncomers expactantly::

((I'm here.... ))

::as they resolve into vision, you note that the party is led by a small, attractive woman of not more than 25 years, wearing an elaborate and revealing bikini/sarong ensemble in red and black silk... her flesh toned and tanned at midriff, arms, legs.... legs... and chest... definately a well toned chest... her long black hair is pulled into a complicated knot away from her long neck... her face is nearly flawless in its Hazat-caste features, though the addition of the faint epicanthic folds at her eyes is an asiatic touch that you haven't seen on the aragonese Hazat... deep brown eyes regard you over an artfully determined mouth, as she locks gazes with you as easily as if she were six feet tall instead of being closer to five...

::poor girl needs to, gain more self-confidence, thinks the doctor. Smiles blandly::

((she's not in the warehouse yet, this is on the surface with Martel))

((oh! Martel is... OK. ))

those eyes indicate that while she might be no more than 25 in years of physical existence, in worldly experience she's closer to 500::

::once she is fully taken in, the rest of her party becomes easier to observe...

::gives her an appraising look, and waits to be addressed::

Not far behind her is a tall man with a similar asiatic cast to similarly attractive features, though his black hair is short and going nearly blonde at the top from sun exposure. He is completely bare chested, but wears a stylish

((Don't appraise too much, you perv.))

((notice a complete LACK of chastity vows? cause i sure as hell did.))

pair of crimson leather fencer's pants with a black poet's shirt artfully knotted around the waste, not quite concealing the sword belt bearing a large saber::

::the other four members of the party have a much coarser version of the features present in the nobles, their bulkier builds suggesting that they are householders of no rank, here for heavy labor or perhaps violence::

::the woman merely gives Martel a slight incline of the head, and a soft and bell-like "padre" as she walks past. The man gives a somewhat larger nod, and the workers full bows, but all seem to indicate that if you wanted to stop them, you'd broach the subject::

::can think of no reason to stop them, and besides, its so much fun to watch her walk away...discreetly::

::correction, discreetly-ish::

::well, sure enough, the same party comes waltzing across the warehouse about a minute later, as the guard has rushed up and hurredly whispered something to Albira, sounded like "you tell them to wait!"::

::watches them go by, still a little dazed from the last few minutes::

((point of order.. Martel outside... saw them enter the warehouse.. everyone else inside, sees them coming))

::Vasili turns and assesses their hostility level::

::they seem totally self assured and above hostility at this point:;

I am Dona Albira Estancia de Aragon, commander of this facility, how may I help you?

::the man continues forward a few steps as the rest slow to a halt::

::Glances at An, willing to follow his lead::

::watches, very carefully::

::keeps an ear to the door, in case of sudden gunfire syndrome::

I am Don Tyrone Maurice Augustin Castenda de Sutekh... may I present my cousin Marquesa Malena Eriko Tae Renat Iria Castenda de Sutekh.

::the nobles all bow to each other, Albira lower than Malena, and none of the Castenda seem to pay too much attention to you guys::

::keeps one hand on the gargoyle::

Ah, perhaps you heard of our coming in advance after all. I thank you for opening the item for our inspection, as that saves me a bit of time. ::begins to inspect the gargoyle fairly closely, not touching::

It is an made of an interesting texture Marquesa, almost warm to the touch.

::raises an eyebrow:: are you the secretary? ::somewhere between offended and intrigued that you would speak to her::

No... Chief Anhetpf Griffen, Reeve. I was one of the ones who retrieved the Gargoyle here.

::if she recognizes your name it doesn't register in the slightest on her face, which shifts fully into the "intrigued" category:: Interesting... I had heard there was a bit more involved than just purchase at a bazaar...

please, give me the pertinent details of what you know about it

::nods:: Of course.

::quietly walks up behind the new group, and maintains a discreetish distance::

Well we found it on Pentateuch... ::and from there he tells completely the wrong story, leaving out all real pertitent details revealing it as having the power of fire control of some sort at least::

::And Anhetepf, reasonably quick witted and extroverted, a charming, impressive, attractive man skilled in knavery, etiquette, and oratory manages to lie plausably and extravagantly even to Castenda::

Fascinating. You never know with these relics, do you Tyrone? Did Petros know any of that when he told you about this?

No, Marquesa, I believe he barely knew anything about it other than its location

Its an amazing artifact, even the church is interested, ::motions off handedly to Martel::

::looks like she's just been struck by a thought... really, she moves in an obviously crafted but still endearing and sexy "I've been physically struck by a thought" motion::

::wonders about women that are so lightweight that thought can knock them around like that::

Tyrone... isn't your betrothed one of the "heroes of Vera Cruz" that found this device? I imagine this is a reunion of sorts. Perhaps Mr. Griffen could give you some pointers on how to deal with your bride to be, since...

they have obviously quested together for some time

:...uh oh.::

::looks up and for a brief second there is the an old An with black wings and sallow skin look that flashes across his face, then he smiles:: So, you are he?

It's a possibility. The Creator knows I haven't been able to get any real impression of her, since she is so withdrawn and impressionable since her family's death.

He?

::smiles lightly:: I've heard the good news.

(impressionable = like.. sad or something.. I dunno what I tried to type)

(unreachable maybe?)

We still keep in touch.

((unapproachable might be best))

Indeed? Petros seemed to indicate that she was not interested in receiving correspondence in her time of grief ::gives a "I'm paying attention" look of chiseled perfection with a hint of decadence::

((could be... I meant to type something to that effect))

::thinks long and hard about the consequinces of a flamer-butt to the back of his head, along with "I can tak em"::

::Sees what Martel is thinking and prepares to stop him::

::notices bein noticed and knows trying something at his jucture would be idiotic::

We became quick friends during the mission. Lately though I haven't heard from her.

::listens to the crickets chirp...and then wonders how they got in here::

::rolls his unblemished, well-muscled shoulders as he waits for An to tell him something interesting::

What can I say, she's a smart head strong girl.

((sorry for the crickets. Meaningful phonecall (a girl). ))

A what?

Exscuse me?

A "smart head strong girl" ? What does that mean?

She is extremely clever, intelligent and likes getting her way.

::seemed perfectly clear to the doc::

Also caring and helpful. If her condition hasn't started affecting her psychology yet.

Yes well that seems ... ... her condition?

::Vasili stifles a smile by biting his jaw and swallowing the blood.::

::*cheek. *lip. *tongue::

::Whatever::

::now now... Vasili is a manly man... he bites his jaw::

::whose?::

::yours if you keep bitchin :-) ::

You know of course... from the mission...

::nods gravely::

in the desert... the doctor here can describe it better than myself. ::motions to lan::

::Has to turn around, afraid the blood will show::

::yeah... jaws bleed bad::

((Oh, don't start))

((how the hell do you bite your jaw anyways?))

((Can we move on?))

((No really, I need to know))

((...no?))

Well. The lady did experience a number of traumatizing events, as well as some quite serious medical conditions resulting from unorthodox, and moreover illicit, medical experiments. ::doesn't have to affect any sort of look to convey his natural repugnace.:: Heinous. Fortunately reversible. I've been out of contact with her for some time, though, so as to her current condition. I can only speculate. ::nods gravely again::

((hehe... maybe Lan can explain that next.. he is, after all... a Physik))

((All I know is, if somebody bites me in the jaw, I'm popping Mass Dominate then Healing Aura. ))

((*Sigh*))

Oh, yes.. it was mentioned that she had a run in recently on a quest... her uncle assures me it is not an issue... ::waves a manicured hand negligently:: if it becomes a problem later, I'm sure that I can have...

::the foregoing has been a sufficient attempt at RPing medical babble. These are not the droids you're looking for.::

the marriage anulled due to extenuating circumstances... otherwise, the traits you mentioned indicate that she will be an ideal compliment to my house, as long as she understands who is husband in the relationship... I thank you for your candor and description... I am much more favorable to this betrothal now that I have spoken to her companions

Well it was a pleasure to meet you. ::offers his hand for a shake::

::is eyeballing Lan since his speech::

::looks confusedly at the hand of the commoner, then has a moment of understanding and transfers a Firebird into An's palm::

::looks charming and bland::

::smiles:: Thankyou my lord, I will make sure the workers get this for having the artifact ready. You are too kind. ::wishes he had farhand still, could crush him....::

::to Lan:: You are mawkishly intellectual in an endearing sort of way... feel free to call on me when I am receiving guests ... give him my card porter

::one of the toughs fumbles in his pouch and hands Lan a visitation card for the Marchessa::

Right.. box it up, we'll take it.

Milady is precise. ::bows his head:: My thanks.

::Malena and Tyrone bow slightly again to Albira, and nod slightly to the rest of you, then sweep elegantly from the room as the porters begin putting the crate together and fitting it with wheels they seem to have brought::

::delays the porters for a moment:: Just a moment. ::acts like he's checking something::

::touches the Pegasus and lets it know whats going on pushing more energy into it, "If we need to act just give the sign"::

::the radiating feeling is one of acceptance, everything will be alright, just be patient::

::steps away:: Ok, box it up.

::they do, and wheel it heavily out the warehouse:;

Well I guess you came just in time then. I hope your figures will be useful to the house. ::seems to be barely containing her great annoyance at being ordered around by a Castenda::

Yes, thankyou for you time. ::slight bow:: Oh yes ::hands her 3 firebirds:: Annoying aren't they? ::says off handedly::

I would never speak ill of a Marquesa or indicate that her family is the spawn of jackals and snakes

or even that they need their nuts stepped on. because that would be WRONG.

Exactly, and to say they resemble the underside of a latrine.

Indeed, padre.. can I show you all out or was there something else you needed?

I was interested in something, actually.

Oh?

I firmly did not notice any of the more...malignant machinery in here. none of it is for sale is it? Because I occasionally buy things i don't notice, if they are.

I guess that's what Mr. Griffen is helping to determine. I just guard it, I don't handle what comes and goes.

Ah. Well, I'll have to take it up with whoever does. Some of this might be put to good use at some point, or might have been had it not been overlooked.

::you are all led out in time to see the nobles take off in a small flitter, while the porters have affixed the gargoyle crate to a trailer on their own jeep and begun to drive off::

Those Golem pieces are especially interesting.

Agreed. Do we know someone who could fix it?

::watches them leave, getting a "lisence plate number?::

::Lan and An both probably know some engineers on Leagueheim with the skill, at least by reputation, but nobody local::

::no plates::

Could bring somebody in. From Leagueheim. I suppose....

::thinks back, wondering if i knew anybody personally on leagueheim who could do it::

::nope, golem repair's a Tech 10 job, and that's pretty damn rare::

::sad how about fixing up the other stuff, an arsinal might be nice for what is coming::

::probably not profitably::

::not looking for profit, looking for large scale guns::

::put more simply, it'd probably be just as cost effective to buy new guns::

::but anyway, you guys get on the road?::

::sad, ahh well. still, i think we should fix up the golems, cause they are cool, though i'm not supposed to admit that::

::on the road::

::yep::

::indeed::

::ja::

::right.. you've been driving for about ten minutes when you begin to overtake the other jeep... way faster than you should be... as if they were stopped on the road ahead::

::the flitter is nowhere in sight::

::just a lonely country road through the pampas grasslands::

::Vasili's nerves are suddenly on edge::

Hey. What's going on there. You see that? Look. ::points::

I see it. ::Vasili looks for anything unusual on the sides of the roadway, perhaps hidden::

ohhh, i do to! ::trys to see what they are seeing::

::the grass is shorter up to about ten feet from the road, mowed infrequently, and there seems to be nothing around.. the nearest movement is a small curl of smoke from the chimneys of a village a few miles towards the horizon::

::Vasili isn't satisfied, continues to keep his eyes on the surrounding terrain::

((is then jeep stopped?))

::the sun will soon be in your eyes, but now is casting fairly long shadows::

((seems to be))

::you continue to overtake the jeep, still seeing no movement even when you're right on top of it and would have to take the other lane around it::

Stop the car.

::Once stopped, Vasili gets out first and does a cautious, military-style check of the immediate area. Not too obvious, though, in case they just stopped for tea in the countryside::

::looks in the jeeps expecting to see the entire crue, not moving::

::no movement... the entire area seems nearly impossibly still... setting everyone to unease... especially when it becomes obvious that the grass within about 20 feet of the jeep is not swaying in the breeze::

Ok, thats just creepy. ::unslings his flamer::

::indeed, the men seem frozen in the middle of the normal motions of men talking while riding in a car, still like statues::

::walks up to the statue, and touches it::

::the jeep even seems to be in the middle of a slight jolt as it rolled over a bump in the terrain::

::hops out, and starts looking at them, now unsure they're injured:: Hey....

::thinks hard "is this when we take you?::

::the statue is still in the crate, on the trailer::

::moves to unhook the trailer:: We have to move quickly, help me out here.

::helps unhook the trailer and move it::

::the trailer is bolted on fairly firmly, but with help they all slide loose and the trailer can be rolled and attached to your jeep, apparently not frozen like the rest::

::Taking An's lead, Vasili helps with the trailer::

::pats the box and makes sure the trailer is in place:: Lets go.

wait. ::drops a handful of coins into the other jeep:: ok, lets go. ::into the BACK of the other jeep, away from the people in it::

::gets back in the jeep::

::Does the same, after wiping the coins on his sleeve to eliminate some tracing techniques::

::and you all drive away with the Pegasus while the porters sit for a few more minutes of null time, soon to discover that they've been visited by the artifact fairy::

::assumes we drive away quickly::

::worries, but gets back in and drives off with the guys.::

::and you stash the gargoyle in some safe and out of the way location after taking back roads to get home, to discuss future possibilities next week::

~~~ OOC ~~~