[Storyteller] We last left the party down in the bowels of the Magic City of Vane, in the Trial Cave. The party made their way out of the cave where they were greated by the Nash, Mia, and Lalaith Ausa.
Nash formally inducted Lynna into the Magic Guild with the rank of Master... The rest of you were lead back to the Magic Guild Mansion to freshen up and have any damaged gear repaired.
Lamont's Room, Magic Guild Mansion
[Storyteller] There's a knock at the door.
LOG DAMAGED
[Dayanara] You've got eyes. Does anybody else look like me?
[Lamont] ... Well, I am a polite person, Miss Dayanara.
[Dayanara] Yeah, I suppose that has it's up side. I hear you were decent with your sword down there.
[Lamont] Perhaps... it was the first time I've used one in a long time.
[Dayanara] But you're not good enough... Time for lessons. Come on.
[Lamont] ... Okay... I suppose...
* Lamont grabs his sword.
[Dayanara] Yes or no, there is no "I suppose".
[Lamont] Yes ma'am...
* Pseudo-Cassandra steps out into the hall.
[Pseudo-Cassandra] Where ya' goin' Lamont?
* Pseudo-Cassandra sees Dayanara...
[Pseudo-Cassandra] (low, hostile) With her?
[Lamont] She wants to show me some sword techniques...
[Lamont] You're welcome to come along.
[Pseudo-Cassandra] Mmm... I better.
[Lamont] . o O (In fact I'd prefer it that way... )
* Lamont smiles slightly.
[Lamont] Good.
* Dayanara leads Lamont down the stairs to one of the large training rooms used for "explosive and decompressive" magicks...
Practice Room, Magic Guild Mansion
* Dayanara takes a position near the center of the room.
[Dayanara] Ready.
* Pseudo-Cassandra wispers in Lamont's ear...
[Pseudo-Cassandra] Be careful. I don't like her one bit.
* Lamont draws his sword.
[Lamont] I'll be fine...
[Pseudo-Cassandra] (soft, mubmling) That doesn't make me like her any more...
[Lamont] (mumbles) Don't worry... she's just another person...
* Dayanara unhitches her sword belt... She takes a length of rope and wraps it around her hilt and scabbard, securing the sword inside.
[Dayanara] Ready?
[Lamont] Certainly.
[Dayanara] Alright, come at me.
* Lamont slides his foot into an offensive position.
* Dayanara stands ready to defend.
[Dayanara] Any time now.
* Lamont rushes at her very carefully, knowing her full extent of power and strikes!
* Dayanara sweeps her sheated blade down, knocking his away and turning around so she's behind him. She spanks him on the butt with the flat of her sword and takes a few steps back.
[Dayanara] Wanna try that again?
* Lamont blushes a second.
[Lamont] I'm not as strong as you...
[Dayanara] No, but you'll have to be for what comes ahead.
* Lamont whips around to her back side and swings at her legs with his sword.
* Dayanara leaps over his sword, then sweeps hers down and around under his guard to tap his ribs.
[Lamont] ... you're toying with me.
[Dayanara] With spirit... Come on... Come at me.
[Pseudo-Cassandra] Fight fair.
* Lamont leaps to Daya and swings the butt of his sword at her ribs this time.
* Dayanara sucks in her stomach, backpedalling just enough so he misses.
[Dayanara] Very nice! Again!
* Lamont spins into a crowch and tries to take her legs out from under her with his right leg.
* Dayanara leans over, doing a half cartwheel, then landing in a crouch and lashing out at his semi-exposed side.
* Lamont attempts to defend the attack with his blade.
* Dayanara doesn't get inside his guard, but she manages to get her arm tangled up in his and her sword. She twists, applies some reverse leverage and stands up.
[Storyteller] Lamont falls to the ground... after a sickening crack.
* Lamont struggles to get up, holding his arm... which appears to have seen much better days.
[Lamont] ... I thought you wanted to train. *wince* This isn't training...
* Dayanara half-smiles...
[Dayanara] It worked for me... Now use the other hand.
[Lamont] ... how can I fight with a broken arm?
[Pseudo-Cassandra] You don't have to fight her, Lamont! The bitch is cheating!
* Lamont waves to Cassandra with his good arm.
[Lamont] No... I'll take care of this...
[Dayanara] Come on... Pick up your sword.
* Lamont takes the sword into his left hand. He dashes forth and leaps into the air, slashing at Daya on the way down, a very quick move!
* Pseudo-Cassandra backs of slightly.
* Dayanara turns to block, but the lightning attack makes it through her guard, slicing a long red line down her arm...
[Dayanara] VERY NICE!
* Lamont twirls his sword expertly with his left hand.
[Lamont] I am left-handed after all...
* Dayanara laughs...
[Dayanara] That's enough for now...
* Dayanara hitches her sword back on her belt...
* Lamont sighs and slumps down in a heap.
[Lamont] Damn my arm hurts...
* Dayanara pulls a small white box off her belt and walks over...
[Dayanara] Let me.
* Lamont looks at her oddly.
* Dayanara removes a small syringe and a greyish black strip of some odd looking material.
[Dayanara] Take off your shirt.
[Lamont] ... my ... shirt?
* Lamont blushes a little.
[Dayanara] Yeah, your shirt. Take it off.
* Pseudo-Cassandra stands by the wayside, seriously considering attacking Dayanara.
* Lamont glances over at Cassandra.
[Lamont] Um... I'm not really sure if I wanna do that...
[Dayanara] Oh, you wimp...
* Dayanara grabs the broken arm and pushes the sleeve up.
* Lamont winces as she grabs it.
[Lamont] Here, here...
* Dayanara pokes him with the needle and pushes the plunger...
[Storyteller] The pain dulls somewhat.
* Dayanara wraps the greyish black band around his arm.
* Lamont blinks.
[Lamont] What did you do?
[Storyteller] The pain increases dramatically for just a moment, then the band begins to sink through his skin.
[Lamont] What the... ?
* Dayanara steps back, returning the medkit to her belt.
[Dayanara] There, all better.
[Lamont] ... you can't just fix a broken arm like that...
[Storyteller] The arm no longer hurts, and seems to be working just well. However, you can see the black band embedded just below your skin.
[Dayanara] Yeah, you can. Just be easy on it for a few days. The bonestim band will come back out when it's done.
* Dayanara heads out the door.
* Lamont moves his arm, surprised.
[Lamont] What in the... ?
[Dayanara] Get him cleaned up again, Cassandra.
* Dayanara walks out.
[Pseudo-Cassandra] (mumble) You bitch...
[Dayanara] (from the hallway) I heard that.
Town Square, Floating Magic City of Vane
[Storyteller] You're wandering the heavily battered city, looking for a particular type of store.
* Salah wanders the streets looking for a jewelery shop.
[Storyteller] Unfortunately, the only sign of what you're looking for is a sign sitting next to a rather large and glittery pile of rubble. Further down the avenue, however, is a watch maker.
* Salah thinks to herself.
[Salah] Maybe he can help me.
* Salah wanders over to the watch maker.
"Borrowed Time - Buy, Sell, & Repair Watches", Floating Magic City of Vane
* Salah enters the shoppe.
[Storyteller] A tall, thin man with dusty brown hair is in one corner. He appears to be attempting to re-hang a shelf, but can't hold both sides in place at once. There are watches and other time pieces scattered all over the floor, some apparently working, others shattered and destroyed from the lurching Vane was making.
* Salah walks over and holds up the left side of the shelf smiling at the man.
[Salah] Need help?
[Watch Seller] Oh my... Oh, yes... Please, thank you.
[Storyteller] He nails his side in then moves over to Salah's side.
[Watch Seller] Thank you very kindly... Is there something I can do for you?
[Salah] Yes, I was wondering if you could repair this...
[Storyteller] He finishes nailing the shelf and steps back. It immediately falls off.
* Salah removes the pendant from her pocket and hands it to the man. She winces slightly at the noise and the collapse of the shelf.
[Watch Seller] Oh well... Hrmm? A pendant... Well, I'm not really a jeweler...
[Salah] Well, I just need the chain fixed... Can you help me?
[Storyteller] He walks over to his work bench, brushing a pile of shattered gears aside.
[Watch Seller] I'm sure I can do something... Lemme see.
* Salah follows, standing on the opposite side of the bench and hands the pendant to him.
[Storyteller] He takes the pendant, looking at the chain closely...
[Watch Seller] Hm... I think I can fix this... yep...
[Salah] Oh, that's good to hear.
* Salah smiles.
[Storyteller] He tries to slip the chain out. As soon as he does, the pendant slips and falls out of his hand, landing on the table. Something clicks.
[Watch Seller] Oh dear... I'm sorry...
[Salah] It's all right... but... What was that sound... ?
[Watch Seller] What sound?
[Salah] That clicking sound...
[Watch Seller] I dunno...
[Storyteller] He picks up the pendant...
[Watch Seller] Lookie here...
[Salah] What is it?
[Storyteller] He holds it out to her, showing her the edge. It looks like the entire pendant has a narrow although incredibly even crack all the way around...
* Salah looks closely at the pendant, especially the new crack...
[Salah] Did it... break?
[Watch Seller] Nah... it's too even... I think it opens... Want me to try?
[Salah] Yes please.
[Watch Seller] Hmmm...
[Storyteller] He sets it down on the counter, then looks around the room. He rushes over to a pile of clock parts, pulling out a magnifying glass and a little leather case of tools.
[Watch Seller] Sorry 'bout the mess... Now, what do we have here?
[Storyteller] He sets the magnifying glass in a stand that's bolted to the table, then sets the pendant under it. He holds it down with one hand, while using a small pair of pliers to pry it open.
[Storyteller] He adjusts his funny little hat, like the ones card dealers wear. He grumbles, puffs, then turns it around and pries it from the other side. POP! The top of the pendant comes off, skittering across the counter...
[Watch Seller] Lookie what we have here...
* Salah looks on with much curiousity.
[Storyteller] The pendant is chock full of little tiny blinking things. Some of them are wired to other blinking things, while others are wrapped in coils of wire by themselves. It looks very intricate and very delicate.
[Watch Seller] I've certainly never seen a watch like this before...
[Salah] What is that stuff... ?
[Watch Seller] Well... That there is gold... And I think that's silver... Hrmm... Those look like little diamonds over there...
[Storyteller] He scratches his head.
[Watch Seller] Except that they glow and flash like that...
[Storyteller] He shrugs, straightening up.
[Watch Seller] You got me...
[Storyteller] He picks up the chain.
[Watch Seller] Be right back.
[Salah] Huh... I never knew it had that stuff in there...
[Storyteller] He heads out to the back of the store.
[Storyteller] As you look back at it, some of the components have moved locations while others have disappeared and new bits have formed.
* Salah moves her finger toward one of the small movable components.
[Storyteller] The Watch Seller comes back out with your chain and another one. It's reasonably similar to the original.
[Watch Seller] I couldn't fix it, but I've gone one pretty close.
[Salah] That'll be fine... thank you.
[Watch Seller] You want me to close it back up?
[Storyteller] He picks up the discarded top casing.
[Salah] Umm... yeah... but can I open it back up later?
[Storyteller] He quickly grinds a notch in the cover then presses it back on. When it does, the seam vanishes, except for where the notch is.
[Watch Seller] There ya' go. 19 silver.
[Salah] Thank you very much.
* Salah pulls out twenty-five silver and hands it to the man.
[Watch Seller] Most kind.
Magic Guild Mansion, Floating Magic City of Vane
[Storyteller] Audrey and Will are walking down the hall in the Magic Guild. Cassandra, Lamont, and Dayanara pass the opposite direction as they head up towards the guest quarters.
* Lamont makes a habit to say hello to Will and Audrey kindly before he passes.
* Pseudo-Cassandra doesn't.
* Audrey says hello kindly back. ^_^
* Will waves hello at Lamont, Daya and Cassandra as well. ^_^
[Audrey] I wonder where they're going? ^_^
[Will] I don't know... ^^; The mansion is so big, and... I tend to get lost...
[Audrey] I know...
[Audrey] So, where are you off to, Will?
[Will] W-well... I was going to my room...
[Audrey] Oh...
* Audrey smiles.
[Audrey] I'm... not sure where I was going... I'm... just wandering... I guess.
* Will brushes the back of his hand across his forehead, smiling. ^_^
[Will] Maybe... maybe you should rest a little too... I'm feeling... a little... a little...
[Audrey] A little what?
[Storyteller] Will collapses, smacking his head against a wall moulding as he goes down.
[Audrey] Will!
* Audrey kneels down and shakes Will, trying to revive him!
[Audrey] Will! Wake up!
[Storyteller] Will blinks a few times, then starts to come around...
[Audrey] Will... ;_;
[Audrey] Are you all right?
[Will] E-eh... wh-where... ?
[Audrey] You... you collapsed...
[Storyteller] Audrey has a smidge of blood on her fingers from where she brushed the back of Will's head. She feels a strong compulsion to lick it off, but manages to just wipe it off on her skirt instead.
* Will shakes his head a little...
[Will] Collapsed... ?
[Audrey] Yes... :/ Are you feeling better now? Do you need help?
[Will] I... I'm... all right... I think...
[Audrey] That's good. You should go to sleep... :/ I don't think you're well...
* Will coughs, trying to get up again.
[Will] H-hai...
* Audrey helps Will slightly.
* Lalaith sticks her head out of one of the study rooms...
[Lalaith] I heard somebody fall... Are you okay?
* Will gets to his feet with Audrey's help.
[Audrey] I think so now. Will... just got a bit woozy. I'm going to help him to his room.
[Lalaith] He looks more like he could use a bite to eat than a nap... When was the last time you people had real food?
[Audrey] ... O_o
[Will] N-no... I'm fine... just some rest...
[Audrey] Will, you have been eating, haven't you?
* Audrey sighs sadly.
[Audrey] Oh Will, I thought we went over this... :/
* Will stays silent, looking at the floor.
* Lalaith realizes this is gonna turn into a personal kind of thing, so she slips back into the study room to finish cleaning.
[Audrey] Will... you have to eat... I'm really worried about you...
[Will] I... don't like it... I can't...
[Audrey] Well, I'm just going to have to be forceful then!
* Audrey takes Will's hand.
[Will] W-wait...
[Audrey] I know... but... I... I just don't want you getting sick.
[Audrey] Don't worry. :) No one has to know.
* Audrey takes Will's hand and drags him toward the kitchen.
[Audrey] You can be angry with me later. Eat now. ^_^
Pianissimo Street, Floating Magic City of Vane
[Storyteller] Miri is wandering the city, taking in as much as she can before the party leaves. She wanders down a side road, just to see where it leads. The houses down this way seem to have been spared a great deal of the devestation... About half way down the street, she sees a familiar face. He's standing outside one of the houses, looking up at it whistfully...
* Miriamele greets him cheerfully.
[Miriamele] Hi, Finn!
* Finn smiles at seeing Miri...
[Finn] Hi there. What are you up to?
[Miriamele] Just trying to take in what I can before we go... since we will be going. I came to this side of Nanza just to see it's cities... and it's turned out to be full of weird metal places n' such.
[Finn] Yeah, tell me about it. I'm so sick of all these machines.
[Miriamele] Everything here is so... so... I dunno. ^^; But there's nothing like it out on the Frontier.
* Finn sighs.
[Finn] It's a change, that's for sure. Everything changes...
[Miriamele] This is all new for me... nothing ever changed back home... if that could count as a home.
[Finn] This particular area isn't new to me.
[Miriamele] You lived here once?
* Miriamele smiles.
[Miriamele] You're lucky. ^_^
* Miriamele looks up at the house Finn was staring at.