Jade and Cattle Log, 8/27

[leticia]

Brian chuckles. "So be it then. Continued, later that night, you're all having your evening meal. An unfortunate side effect of your personality and training is that the only people that even the OFFICERS feel comfortable with-- whether out of awe or fear-- are Kanfi and Liu. They _will_ sit down to dinner with PM, but mostly stare at her in awe and wait to obey her commands. So it's just the five of you, alone, for dinner. It's pretty good dinner, though at this leg of the journey, mostly fish.

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Aaah, tact."

<<OOC>> Aidan is happy to do more martial arts training whenever it becomes convenient.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden really needs to learn another leadership style than "HI, MORTAL, I'M VERY SHINY."

Liu shovels rice into her mouth, intent on devouring nutrients as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Hey, it works. :P ^_^

<<OOC>> Kanfi will be happy to teach his sister new ways of getting people to do what you want.

Phoenix Maiden is glad for the break, and taking her time over her food; having taken to heart her responsibility to keep the sailors alive whatever's going to happen, she's been spending almost all her waking time training them in shifts.

Kanfi picks at his food-- he hasn't been doing much training and isn't really all that hungry because of it. He's spent most of his time trying to talk to the sailors and officers.

Aidan eats the same way he fights, with efficiency, every movement deliberate, trying to take in every detail of the food.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: It's been showing good results. The sailors were rather individualistic and chaotic as fighters before; some natural talent due to their strength and experience on the seas, but you've managed to turn them into a unit. Harpoons and cutlasses rather than spears and short swords, but they get the idea, and are instilled with a near fanatic discipline and purpose.

Brian [to Kanfi]: The officers and, indeed, many of the sailors like you. Trust you. Whereas they fear the Twilight and the Dawn, and all but worship Phoenix Maiden, they feel like they can show their human side to you. You've managed to wear off the stupefaction they have at one of the Exalted among them without lessening a sort of instinctive authority that you radiate.

Brian says "Aidan and Liu, you're having fun eating. ;)"

Even at dinner, Diamond has a piece of parchment with him. He scribbles occasionally, eating the rice and fish with his other hand. Mechanically moving the foot to his mouth. He finally sets the paper aside and speaks up, as if out of nowhere, "I spoke with Phoenix and Liu about this earlier but I need to brief the rest of you."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden eyes Diamond getting ready to put his foot in his mouth? *too easily amused*

Liu puts her empty bowl down and crosses her legs underneath her on the bench. She sets her elbows deliberately on the table and rests her chin in her hands and turns her burnished-bright eyes onto Diamond.

Phoenix Maiden's eyebrows rise and she sets her utensils down, leaning forward with her fingers peaked under her chin; she's still not sanguine with Diamond's plan and wants to hear what's going to be said about it now.

Diamond Borealis takes the piece of paper that sits beside his rice bowl and slides it to the middle of the table. "I'm going to summon one of these. It's a Muigni." The paper has a sketch of the crow-like demon. "Send it over our little Sidereal friend."

Liu suddenly has a click-clacking of thoughts smash together in her head, and she bites her bottom lip, suddenly unsure about Diamond's plan, though she'd been nothing but supportive before.

Kanfi arches and eyebrow and pushes his bowl away, leaning across the table. "What is this intended to do?" he wanted to know, lips pursing. He has no problems admitting that he usually get a little a worried by Diamond's plans.

<<DICE>> Liu rolls 3 dice: <3 9 10> for 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Liu rolls 3 dice: <2 5 7> for 1 success.

Diamond Borealis lifts his hands in front of his chest, crossing them at his wrists and hooking the thumbs to flap them back and forth. "They're a type of warden in Malfeas. They can be given a target, and no matter what they'll track the target down, monitor it, and give data back to whoever commands them."

Aidan says "And you can command them? Control them? And can you destroy them if they turn against you?"

Liu reaches across the table and pulls the sketch a little closer to her, frowning over it. She is still silent while The Hunter and Kanfi ask their questions.

Kanfi tips his head, resting his cheek in his hand. "Is it possible to catch this thing? And if he does, could it be tracked to the source?" he adds.

Diamond Borealis gives Aidan a straightforward look, his hands coming apart. He resumes eating with one hand. "Yes. Yes. And yes. Though these particular demons, if it should get out of control would promptly look for law breakers and start monitoring them, and try to convince the local authorities to investigate. But I don't intend to let them get out of control." At Kanfi's question, he considers it briefly. "It's possible to capture it, yes. But I don't think he could trace it back to us. And even so, so what? He knows we're after him."

Phoenix Maiden watches the conversation, her eyes flicking back and forth and her food ignored for the moment, but she doesn't feel a need to add anything at the moment.

Diamond Borealis considers a moment, then adds. "They might try to attack a law breaker, but they aren't really suited to fighting. Even a half-trained mortal should be able to kill one. They simply aren't terribly sturdy."

Liu sits back on her heels on the bench, pushing the sketch back towards Diamond. Kanfi's question was what first concerned her, but since seeing that sketch she's just had a growing sense of unease. Half because Diamond is so sure... normally that's comforting, but she has to wonder if he's seeing everything clearly. And half because those 'tools' think for themselves, and she's not sure that's what a tool should do. She looks up at him with all of those questions in her eyes, but she stays silent.

Phoenix Maiden watches Aidan and Kanfi for a long minute, then resumes eating as she waits for them to decide how to react.

Aidan considers for a moment, chewing slowly on a bite of fish as he thinks. "I dislike it, for I was taught that the Yozi and all their minions are purest evil. If you truly believe that you can control it, however..." He trails off for a moment. "In the end, you will do as you choose, and we will deal with what comes of it."

Diamond Borealis looks over at Liu, reading some of her concern in her eyes. He reaches over and gives her shoulder a squeeze. "These aren't any more dangerous than three dozen animals I can name. But there aren't any that can track like these can, that can see through whatever allowed the Sidereal to escape us." He gives a nod to Aidan. "I believe I can control it, yes, or I wouldn't attempt it."

Kanfi sighs and shakes his head. "I don't trust it. Just because he knows we're after him doesn't mean I want to give him a physical sign of it. Especially one that could try and attack someone. Whether or not they're easy easy to kill, it will give him yet another thing to retaliate for." Kanfi? Disagreeing with Diamond? What a shock.

Liu sighs softly and looks at Diamond. "We'll never know who's pulling our strings otherwise." She says this a bit wearily, but she believes it to be true. "And I think we're all tired of being puppets."

Phoenix Maiden taps her fingers on the table. "We'll catch him sooner or later, at least if he keeps coming back to bother us," she comments to Liu.

Diamond Borealis stares straight at Kanfi. "He's already trying to kill us, Kanfi. What in the name of Luna worse could he want to do to us? They slaughter us to a man, and then hunted us for nearly a millennia and a half. He's got a great deal to answer for. He's use to being able to attack from hiding. I want to put him on the defensive without tying up any real resources."

"I suspect," Phoenix Maiden begins, her next bite hovering in the air and waiting, "that he would either detect and destroy the thing, and no longer be on the defensive, or not detect it and never realize he had any need to defend. We might learn some of his plans in the meantime, but that's different." She pops the rice and fish into her mouth, and chews sedately.

Kanfi meets Diamond's gaze squarely, but sighs and turns away to reach for his food again. "If it's that easy to destroy it, he's not going to worry about being on the defensive," he addresses Phoenix Maiden instead.

"If he has to ruin is persona like he did here, and knows that he can't hide..." Diamond explains. He just gives a shake of his head. He radiates a sense of aggravation, but seems unwilling to sit and argue. "I'll be in my workshop until he reach harbor, unless someone has something else to say?"

Phoenix Maiden shrugs at Diamond, continuing with her meal.

Liu blinks her eyes rapidly and curls her knees up against her chest, wrapping her long thin arms around them. "You will do what you think is best, Diamond. Like Aidan said. And it will be alright or we will make it alright."

Diamond Borealis gives Liu another squeeze of the shoulder, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "It will be, yes." He almost seems ready to say something else, but decides against it. Another pause to see if anyone else has words for him and then he inclines his head to the rest of the Circle and moves to his workshop to start packing up his implements.

Kanfi picks up his utensils again and takes another bite if his food instead of responding.

Phoenix Maiden pauses in between bites after Diamond leaves, and comments to the rest of the Circle, "I'm glad everyone feels about as sanguine about that as I do." She smiles thinly. "I don't think the demon he plans on calling up is a threat to us, and I am sure he can call it up and bind it. But I have doubts about the long term wisdom of using demons - as we all know, the Yozi have not given up the war, and their splinters, the lesser demons... I can't help but feel that attempting to use tools provided by ancient enemies is perhaps a trifle unwary." She shrugs, and finishes briefly. "Still, it may provide helpful information. It can, and I'm sure it will. But ultimately..." She waves a hand and returns her attention to her food. "Diamond will do what he chooses to do, and I don't think the risks are subtle ones, not worth arguing with him over at this point. Just so long as we don't trust entirely whatever information he gets."

Aidan takes another bite of fish, and thinks over his next reply. "This fish really is quite excellent." He stops for a moment. "Diamond is nothing if not strong-willed. I have no problems with using the tools that he provides, so long as no one forgets that these tools may have their own plans. What is coming will come, and we will meet it when it does. And prevail."

Kanfi bites his lip, holding a bit of rice halfway to his mouth. He opens his mouth as though he wants to say something, but just shakes his head, shrugs and goes back to eating.

Liu stands and pushes her empty food bowl towards the center of the table. "I'm done eating," is all she says, and she goes to the door with the intent of heading down to the cargo hold to talk to brush her horse.

<<OOC>> Brian says "Do you guys want to run individual scenes, sort of a split montage to get the atmosphere, or just skip on to making port?"

<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Port is fine with me."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden doesn't have much to do; PM's going back to training people, and we've been over that.

<<OOC>> Liu says "LAND! Space to run!!"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "I'm done with ship, really."

Liu battles an increasingly rambunctious and irritated God-Blooded Stallion the closer we get to land.

Brian [to Liu]: He wants his freeeeeeeeedom!

Phoenix Maiden doesn't know if at any point the voyage will be interrupted by some trap of the Sidereals, so she just keeps training the sailors in hopes that if a trap springs, they'll be able to survive. Made a promise!

Diamond Borealis packs his implements carefully. Particularly the seeds from Othlak. He manages to condense most of it down to a large dufflebag. As they get nearer to port, he heads up on deck with the bag over his shoulder.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "BTW, ST: Was this a captain-owned independent ship when we chartered it?"

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Yup! ^^

Brian will wait for the port pose for Kanfi.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Oh, yay, we own two ships now. ;p"

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden ponders. PM doesn't have a lot to pack. Maybe a couple changes of clothing - her spear, her armor - usually on her, not to be packed. Whatever coins she currently has. Not very materialistic. *cough*

Kanfi makes sure that his clothes are all packed neatly. He doesn't have much, since he'd been packed to travel anyway. He finishes that and wanders up on deck to watch land get close.

<<OOC>> Brian says "While we wait, do you guys have separate or collective plans in port I can prepare fo- *laughs* Tell me anyway, while I'm making the port-pose. :)"

Aidan has little to carry. A few coins in a pocket, and his weapons, which are always worn, and concealed. The Hunter waits patiently for landfall, always watching.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "I don't know. PM's all ready to start with the conquest of Harborhead, forming the core of the army by freeing the slaves held here for shipment and trade, and, assuming they choose to join up, starting them marching inland. :p"

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Kanfi wants to start by finding out who the most influential and powerful people in the area are and trying to sway them over to our side. Convince them it's in everyone's best interests to side with the rebellion."

Brian says "Okay, so you come to the fabulous-- or SHOULD be fabulous, really, port city of Miriwas. When you left from it, at least, it was a bustling, vibrant port, full of passion, energy, and all of the LIFE that a trade city brings. Sure, it's not Kirighast, and the slave quarters add a bit of ... ugliness... to the whole affair, but it was a live and bustling, with ships coming in and out and trade from both inland and out going on constantly.

Now, the harbor is mostly silent. A few ships move on the tides, but many of them bear the markings and colors of the Realm-- there were always some, but there are many more, now, and many less independent traders. Movement of ships is carefully regulated, with little pilot craft darting in and out of the waters, just barely visible in the distance."

Brian says "Oh, yes."

Brian says "There were only two large realm war vessels and four troop ships before, with the troop ships usually in dock and the war vessels patrolling. There are now twelve troop ships docked, two docked war vessels, and four patrolling."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "...I think someone is trying to discourage PM. :p"

<<OOC>> Brian says "... Really? I was hoping she'd view it as a challenge. >_>"

<<OOC>> Brian says "But no, actually, this has been planned since Kanfi said "Virtuous Willow" out loud on the soil of Harborhead."

<<OOC>> Liu says "Naughty Kanfi!"

Brian says "One of the troop ships bears the stylized five-whorl mark of the Immaculate Order."

Diamond Borealis studies the port as the enter it, eyes shifting slightly in the dim shadow cast by his hat. "Looks like trouble already. Do we go in quiet? Or start things up as soon as we hit land?" He seems prepared for either.

Aidan stands near to PM, up on deck. "This is not how it once was, is it not? The Realm is here before us, and in strength."

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Eheh. Heh."

Kanfi stands close to the railing and toys with a braid. "Oh boy. This looks like it's going to be fun." Granted, he's only half-joking, and a smile plays on his lips.

Phoenix Maiden has dismissed the crew from all lessons as the harbor comes into sight; she stands on deck with her spear on her back, only regretfully wrapped and hidden, watching the ships in the harbor, face cool, but eyes sparking. "We need to get to land unscathed," she says, quietly. "This isn't a warship. After that?" She shrugs. "I don't intend to leave the city without making sure the slave pens hold no more captives." She nods to Aidan. "It's more than used to be here - but I don't know if it's because of our presence. Harborhead is stirring, and we are not an easily pacified people."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Does it look like they're searching ships?"

Brian says "Speaking of, many of the realm-marked ships have the characteristic heavy, low weight and stinking bilge wash of slave ships."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Hissssss."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Someone's encouraging PM! :p"

Liu is standing beside her horse, waiting for landfall, and with a hand entwined tightly in his mane. She seems larger than she is, because she's focusing a lot of her force of will on keeping him still and calm. Even God-Blooded horses can't spend months at sea. But the presence of all these Realm ships is not lost on her, and she makes a rueful face at Phoenix Maiden's words.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Some. Not all; some are just cleared by the pilots onwards; others are stopped and one of the war triremes is waved over.

Aidan spies the Immaculate ship, and a his expression goes even colder than usual. "And not only the Legions of the Realm, but the Order as well." His eyes go distant for a moment, then focus intently on the Immaculate ship.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "I'm gonna try my eagle eye trick again, focusing mostly on the Immaculates, but seeing whatever else I can see before it runs out."

Phoenix Maiden eyes the slave ships, and looks to Kanfi. "Brother," she says, "Can you help us find ships to barricade the harbor when the fighting begins? I don't want those ships leaving carrying their foul cargo." She eyes all the ships. "Actually, I don't want any of them leaving. I'd prefer to make the Realm wait as long as possible for information as to what's about to happen here."

Brian [to Aidan]: Roll Perception + Awareness + applicable bonuses

Kanfi nods and tucks the braid behind his ear, scanning the harbor for ships that looked likely. He wouldn't be able to do much until he could get a chance to talk to people in port, but larger ships would probably be better. "I wonder if I could get some of the Realm ships to help." He grins-- it will be a challenge.

Diamond Borealis finds a small lantern. He begins to cast the spell for the Virtuous Guardian of Flame, chanting the words softly to himself as he surveys the harbor. Just in case it is necessary. "If we can have time to prepare...we can make sure none of the ships leave."

Phoenix Maiden smiles cheerfully at her brother. "It would doubtless help - they are warships." She nods to Diamond. "Though if you're thinking of sinking them all, the slavers had better not be loaded at the time."

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 11 dice: <2 3 4 5 5 5 5 6 7 7 8> for 3 successes.

Brian [to Aidan]: There are definitely dragon-blooded monks there; you're -sure- you see the slight storms and fountains of air and water, and _maybe_ the flicker of a reddish glow. You can't tell much else.

Brian [to Aidan]: Is there anything specific you're looking for?

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Not really. I just hates the Immaculates, and *really* don't trust them."

<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Maybe numbers of ones visible and if any of them are survivors from our last encounter?"

Brian [to Aidan]: Somewhere between 3 and 10 Immaculates, and nobody you recognize.

Brian says "Well, you're sailing in to harbor. Any plans for when those pilot ships reach you?"

<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Someone should talk to them. :)"

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "That's Kanfi's job or mine. Maybe both, so we can have a do-over in case of a bad roll. ;p"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Have Kanfi Eclipse his brain? "These are not the exalts you're looking for.""

<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "These aren't the Anathema you're looking for."

<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Oh for the love of... :)"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "I win at typing faster!"

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Gimme an Intelligence + ... um... larceny or Performance, really, check.

<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 9 dice: <3 3 3 4 5 7 9 9 10> for 5 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: They know Virtuous Willow is coming back. They know what you look like. They have very good artists.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Grump!"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Yay for Solar dicepools."

Phoenix Maiden glances at Kanfi as the pilot ships turn towards their craft. "We have no captain," she says, "So I suppose you should speak to them; if you need a second voice, call me, but it's probably best if I stay out of sight." She doesn't explain that statement.

Liu arches an eyebrow in Phoenix's direction, and gives Kanfi a 'Show's About to Start' feral grin.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "So one assumes a certain Brass Legionnaire is also below decks still?"

<<OOC>> Brian says "Tending to Swan Dragon, in fact."

Aidan fades into the shadows near the door to the cabins, awaiting signs of a struggle.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "well, he doesn't catch flame easily."

<<OOC>> Brian says "Their particular insanities reassure each other, too."

Phoenix Maiden moves back out of sight herself, more than a bit regretfully. But this /isn't/ a warship, and they're a bit outnumbered in the harbor.

Kanfi frowns at his sister-- he knows about the slave rebellion, after all. But he just nods and steps forward a little bit more, where he's sure that the sun will catch and spotlight him.

Diamond Borealis stays not far from the rail of the ship. He keeps the 'lantern' near his side. He steps back into the shadows with PM and the Hunter. He adjusts his hat and reaches behind him to make sure he can grab Grendel's Claw easily.

Liu pulls Midnight-With-Stars back a bit, so that Kanfi is very obviously forward and prepared to meet with the pilot ships.

Brian says "The pilot boat comes up along side. Perhaps surprisingly, there is an actual (if young and lesser of power and breeding) dragon-blooded officer on the boat, flanked by 5 marines and commanding the crew. The faint black/navy blue tint to his skin marks him as a Waterblood, and the sneer on his face marks him as a Dynast-- as if the black jade didn't. Without waiting for "permission" to come aboard, he uses a tethered rope ladder to lash his ship to the side, and he and his marines come up onto the deck. "Alright. Who's the captain of this unscheduled scow?""

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Oh crap! We don't have a captain!"

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "You're it, Kanfi! :p"

<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "You play one on TV."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "You've got more Sail than the rest of us, so. :p"

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "By which you mean TWO DOTS."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden shrugs! Eclipse!

Kanfi schools his face into his most pleasant and harmless smile and spreads his hands. "That would be me, good sir." He steps forward and tips his head, making good use of his height to look up at the man innocently, as though someone so small could not possibly be a threat.

<<OOC>> Brian says "Roll Manipulation + Socialize or Performance or Larceny. :P"

<<DICE>> Kanfi rolls 12 dice: <1 2 2 4 5 6 6 6 6 8 9 10> for 4 successes.

Peleps Nardera sneers. "Oh, so I see the stature of the man matches the quality of the vessel. He snorts, and begins to look around. "What's your cargo, tribesman? And why are you out of your home port?"

<<OOC>> Brian says "He says 'Tribesman' with roughly about the same inflection that a guildmaster (or, to be fair, many Harborhead natives) would say 'slave'."

Liu tightens her grip on Midnight-With-Stars's mane, but this time, to still herself.

Diamond Borealis twitches slightly. His lips nearly forming the words to call forth the Obsidian Butterflies and release them. His hand tightens around the haft of his blade. The Dragon has no idea how close he is to his own death and Diamond has the urge to educate him.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "One lone minor DB; five grumpy experienced Solars itching for a fight. Okay, four itching for a fight and one who likes to charm people. That poor bastard; his best bet is to be gullible and stupid. :p"

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Time for Motive Discerning Technique!"

<<OOC>> Brian says "It's about time to end, so we'll come back in on MDT next Sunday."

<<OOC>> Kanfi CRIES.

<<OOC>> Brian says "5 xp for everyone, + 5 more as welcome back + apology"

<<OOC>> Brian says "So 10 xp for everyone."