Log:Ghost's Pledge

2013/04/02 	 Ghost Lorelei Anthony Quinn|Quinn Bee Lia Sukeban Superhuman 1

Legworking
Ghost researches the reports of Goblin raids into Upper Heartworld. In specific she's checking for any escalation of raid strength in these attacks, composition of raiding groups where known (ie is it one tribe/band in a raiding party or several?), patterns in the timing and location of the raids. She's definitely hoping to be able to predict to a usable degree the time and place of a future raid. She'll also do some research into the Fae military leaders in the region, especially if any of those leaders is known to be of the liberal as opposed to traditionalist viewpoint and thus may be more inclined to listen to a suggestion from Ghost.

Letter to Duke Silidhor
Ghost writes a letter to Duke Silidhor of Greyfells, a leading voice in the conservative fraction. In the letter she supports his stance on immigation to the Fae worlds and describes the policies instigated by Sercia to deal with this issue, noting that Sercia has been in close contact with human worlds for 1200 years while maintaining intact their culture. Specifically, the quota system in use and strict limitation of resident status to those humans who are a benefit to the Sercian worlds.

She also points out that technology is subject to economies of scale, which magic isn't, and that given sufficient funds the standard and quality of life in human society is at least equal to that of the Fae. However there is far greater diversity of standard of living among humans than she has heard of in the Twilight Worlds of the Fae and thus the most likely group that will seek migration to the Fae worlds are exactly those who are least likely to be beneficial to Fae society. She closes the letter by reiterating her belief that it is important, for the future of Fae culture, to stand firm on the immigation issue. -- signed: Jillian of House Nariliin (Captain, SSN Hawkwind).

Undermoon Embassy
''Atop the rocky cliff near the end of the bridge stands the tiny "fairy tale" castle that serves as the Undermoon embassy. It's no larger than a large house, and its great front gate (with drawbridge to cross a decorative moat) is only the size of a normal door. Its slender towers are topped with graceful spires from which fly pennants of many colours and designs, but chiefly of purple and silver. Over the main gate hangs a rectangular flag of the same colour. ''

''That's the outside. As soon as one passes through the gate it's another story - the castle is vast, the walls tall, the spires tower above the courtyard! Various buildings of the same graceful architectural style are found among the gardens of exotic flora, and the place is busy with staff, both human and fae.''

Ghost has been spending a lot of time in the library for the last few days. Frequently asking the librarian for help with finding further sources of information on various topics relating to Fae military affairs and the Goiblin raids.

"You have a great interest in military matters!" Librarian Lyost comments.

Ghost nods, "It's my craft. What I'm good at. And you of the Twilight Worlds have a lot of enemies. This is something I can make a contribution to, in repayment for her Highesses's generousity."

Ghost comes outside for a breath of fresh air and to stretch her muscles. Coming to a decision she goes to the Princesses' Guard room and asks Alwen to request an audience with Princess Lorelei.

Alwen returns with an invitation to meet the princess in her rooms in the royal apartments.

Ghost follows Alwen, as she's not been in the royal apartments before.

Ghost stops at the door and nods to the guards, "I haven't been in this part of the castle before. I'm armed. What's the correct etiquette?" She asks them. "Do I leave my weapons here or carry them as a member of the Princesses' Guard."

"Leave them here. No one below the rank of duke has the right to bear arms beyond this point, except with special permission," say the guard.

Poor Alwen does even dare look up, though clearly she's been given permission too enter this part of the castle.

Ghost nods. She peels the Spetdod off her right hand, ejects the clips and cycles the action to make sure it's fully unloaded. The she draws Stormcast. Holding the blade by hilt and silver blade she whispers a greeting to it. Then offers it hilt first to the guard who spoke. "Look after her." Ghost instructs the guard. To sighted Fae the bound greater elemental in the blade is quite obvious.

The guard salutes in the Undermoon fashion, and treats the blade respecfully.

Ghost nods and looks to Alwen, "Lead on."

Alwen leads on to Lorelei's rooms, which aren't far.

Lorelei stands to greet Ghost. "Please, come in. "

Ghost turns to Alwen, "Thank you. I suspect you'll be more comfortable if you return now?" She shakes her head, "There is nought to be afeared about. Lift your head, Alwen. You are of the Princesses's staff. Be proud."

Alwen lifts her head to meet Ghost's eyes briefly, smiles - then courtseys and runs away like a frightened rabbit.

Ghost chuckles, and then drops to kneel on one knee, "Your Highess. Thank you for granting me an audience."

Lorelei shakes her head after Alwen has left. "Poor girl. I keep trying to tell her she should have more confidence, but... well. I can only imagine she was teased a lot. Or worse. And - please stand. Unless you're more comfortable with ceremony. I was raised among humans and there's no need for that sort of thing with me, at least in private."

Ghost looks up and her face is full of amusement. "I was going to ask if you minded putting on your human hat. I could do the Fae etiquette dance as long as needed but it really does slow things down." She stands. Lifts her right hand to show the bare back of it. "Princess, you need to decide if you trust us yet or not. If we need to come in here to protect your father..." She smiles, "I don't think many of the others in the team realise as yet that you and your mother are perfectly capable of defending yourselves at least as well as the entire team could do... we don't want to be held up at the door by house guards demanding we leave our weapons there."

Lorelei smiles. "Oh, of course. I knew I'd forgotten something! I'll make sure they know you have access - actualy, their standing orders should have let you keep your weapons in times of emergency, but better to make it clear."

Ghost nods, "Thank you. Anyway, on to the reason for me wanting to speak to you. I've been doing some research into the Goblin raids. The librarian has been very helpful but I've only had access to the published information. However it's clear that the Goblins are largely bluffing. There's three or at the most four world-walkers available to them. They have been moving them around to give the impression of a greater number. In a way that's almost as impressive as having larger numbers of world-walkers would be. It requires excellent logistics to manage that kind of deception operation. But the bottom line. They can only field a limited number of forces on Upper Heartworld. Insufficient to pose a genuine threat to you."

Lorelei says, "What? You're sure about this?" She seems a muxture of impressed, delighted, and cautious.

Ghost nods, "Confident, Princess. Yes. 98% assured. I can show you the Op-Spec matrix on Earth, download it to your PDA. However there remains the question of how they accquired world-walking capability. It's possible they had a number of Goblins come of age with the talent. Other possibilities are hiring or forcing others to do the world-walking for the raiding groups, or a limited number of artifacts capable of the world-walking function. I would assume Goblin prisoners have been taken and subsequently interrogated to try and determine how the Goblins are managing the raids? Of course such information as is discovered in that matter will not be published and thus unavailable to me." She grins, "You don't have any computer nets for me to hack into."

Lorelei nods. "But last I heard they hadn't got any information about how the worldwalking was done. In fact, this is by far the most exciting development - well, as far as *I'm* aware." She pauses. "If you can send your analysis to the communication room they can transcribe it and send in on to the Undermoon."

Ghost says, "Uh... It's in my headware. A six dimensional matrix of values and factors reduced to a linear analysis equation. I'm not sure how much your military high staff will be able to make of any hardcopy printout. I'd suggest I should go to Undermoon and give a presentation. Then I can answer any questions they have on the spot."

Lorelei nods. "That works too." She grins. "Computer in your brain, huh? So that's how you spptted this when no one else did. That should impress them.... The person you'll need to talk to is the Marqess of the Armies, Duke Tuveril. He's supposed to be a strategic genius - I'm pretty sure he'll grasp your conclusions if not how you reached them. I'll write a letteer of introduction."

Ghost says, "Thank you, Highness. While I'm here can I ask how the hunt for Howard Lowers is going? The man who attacked the embassy with those chocolate rabbits." She grimaces, "I feel weird just saying that. Although his effort was futile I'm concerned he could become a danger. My hearing... well I think it's probably better than the average Fae... I heard what he said, that he'd be back when he'd mastered his new ability. I have - no - idea how he did what he did. As far as I know neither does anyone else. And things that cannot be explained cannot be predicted. It's impossible to say how dangerous he may become. Which means we should make every effort to deal with him now before he has a chance to improve whatever it is he does."

Lorelei nods. "I've heard nothing of him. It's not magic he wields - maybe some sort of telekinesis? I know that Starguard was contacted about him, but other than that they're on alert for him weve heard nothing back."

Ghost nods, "Princess, does it seem too coincidental to you that of all the organisations Lowers could have been connected to he was employed by Starguard. The organisation concerned with alien affairs? They may deny any involvement but how sure can we be that they aren't secretly backing him?"

Lorelei says, "Seriously? We can't, not entirely. But I know the local Starguard Gamma leader, Spirit - one of the senior heroes in this city and the leader of one of the teams I used to belong to. We can trust him, I'm sure. And I imagine his team. As for the rest of Starguard - he has more idea than I do, I'm sure. But I'd sooner trust them than the Earth Marshals."

Ghost nods slowly, "Should I assume from that you'd rather I didn't hack into the Starguard network to get what information I can find on Lowers? Perhaps the local SGG leader might provide that information himself?" She considers the rest of Lorelei's last comment, "Earth Marshals? You consider them untrustworthy?"

Lorelei says, "Hm. Not all of them. But there's evidence, so I understand that they've been infiltrated. At least in New York. And, well, the local commander - assuming he's still here - has never been either cooperative or particularly competent in my opinion. I don't think the entire organisation is corrupt or anything. I'm just not sure which of them to trust."

Lorelei says, "As for hacking Starguard: best not to. We don't want to sour relations with them. They could be good allies, and a lot of the city's heroes have connections to them, so no need to risk upsetting them. Not unless we're sure we need to. I'd suggest Spirit as the best point of contact there."

Ghost states as a matter of fact, "If you can't trust all of a group you cannot trust any of them." She adds, "Unless you have particular knowledge about any specific individual of course. Highness, I'm trying to catch up with current and past events as fast as I can. But I'm still a stranger in a strange land. I'm likely to be asking a lot of questions of everyone." Then there's a slight pause - and Ghost drops to one knee, "Princess, I'm aware you invited me to join the Princesses' Guard as a matter of charity. I was homeless in the most profound way, friendless, and without a single Earth coin in my pocket. You gave me shelter, food, and a purpose. I, Jilliin of House Nariliin, do pledge my life, loyalty, and honour, to you and your House, unto death."

Lorelei seems taken aback by this, but only for a fraction of a second. She promptly accepts the oath, in language and with ceremony so ancient that it's practically identical on Sercia.

Ghost bows her head, and then trying to be surreptitious about it, wipes away a tear or two while pretending to brush her hair, tied back in a pony tail, out of her eyes.

Lorelei thinks. o O (I chose well, I think. Assuming her culture takes their honour as seriously as the folk of Undermooon do.....)

Ghost remains kneeling, awaiting permission to rise.

Lorelei bids Ghost rise, still in the Old Tongue - one of the the few phrases she has of it. "I'll send your letter of introduction as soon as I've written it. I can't emphaseis how important your work on this might be." She smiles. "And you might do well yourself to impress Tuveril, if you wish to be recognised as a warleader."

Ghost rises, "I shall strive to the best of my ability, Princess. And while I do not know the standard of your warleaders' talents, I know my own." She sounds pretty confident.

Ghost adds with a grin, "Of course it would have helped if you had a decent space navy. It might take a while to adapt to foot and horse tactics.

Lorelei smiles. "Are sailing ships any better? But it seems to me you're adjusting remarkably well already."

Ghost says, "Survival on Derwood teaches quick adaption to new circumstances. Otherwise you're dead. And, yes, sailing ships are more akin to spaceships than horses. I imagine that's why it's called a space navy."

Lorelei says, "Underwood has a navy too, though nowhere near the size of the army. But you might want to look into that - I'm thinking in the long term, of course. I rather hope you'll want to stay with the Guard for a good while!"

Ghost nods, "Yes, Highness. To serve you is an honour I will not surrender lightly, unless you command me to serve in another capability." She adds, "I think the Guard can use me. Each member of the Guard is awesomely capable in their own way as far as I have seen. But they are not yet a team in the truest sense. We need to learn to work as a team and not purely as individuals. In particular I must learn what each is capable of if I am to offer suggestions that will be of use."

Lorelei nods. "That's always the case with meta teams. Their abilities are so individual they can never really be soldiers - more warriors in the old tradition that is still valued in Undermoon, it seeems to me! Though I'm not sure most people make that connection."

Ghost nods, "I was the captain of a spaceship, the SSN Hawkwind. I gave an order and the crew jumped to obey. Before that I was in several Shadow Culture Merc teams. The Guard reminds me of that period in my life. Leaders weren't appointed. They had to earn the trust and respect of their team-mates. If they didn't, the members of that team would leave and join another. The good leaders, the ones I trusted, knew the skills of their team members and trained with them constantly to grow that knowledge. Give the Guard time, Highness. It is early days as yet. Although, while I speak of training, the Workout Room in the Gym, excellent as it is no doubt for most heroes, lacks the capability to simulate magic and psionic abilities. And the Guard has several in it who use magic extensively."

Lorelei nods and smules. "I've had the same thought myself. If perhaps just because the gym was always useless to me. I've looking into a soluion to this. I wasn't going to say anything until I'm sure it's practicable."

Ghost smiles, "Then I shall contain my curiosity, Highness. Since I can make a good guess, and such announcements, should I be right, are best made to the Guard as a whole."

Lorelei nods. "Is there anything else? Or shall we see about getting you to Undermoon with your news as quickly as possible?"

Ghost says, "I would be grateful if I could speak with Anthony Quinn before leaving for Undermoon, Highness. I still have no supply of reloads for my weapon. I've refrained from using it in two incidents for that reason. Once my current load is exhausted my Spetdod will be no more than an ornament."

Lorelei nods. "Of course. Go and speak to him. Your letter will be awaiting you at the Guard building when you return."

Ghost bows, "Thank you, Highness." and backs a couple of steps before turning and walking quickly out of the apartments, stopping to collect her weapons from the door guards.

Steel's Gym Workout Room
Quinn laughs a little. "Yeah. There was some incident with flying monkeys when I first arrived here," he says. "I had almost forgotten about that."

Bee says, "I thought about joing a hero team, even applied to Starguard Gamma as a reservist, but was rejected. Probibly because I listed my powers as 'none'. Turning to Lia, she asks, "Do the wings work? I've thought about having some made that would look very similar to yours."

Everyone is standing around on a dry bit of land, chatting.

Ghost gets to the Gym and looks into the Workout Room from the gallery window to see if it's safe to enter.

Lia hmms at suke, "I turned into this fairy-like creature because my body reacted to me being in the presence of Undermoon's mana." Lia looks over to Q, "Though, I still have one more issue I need to work out...I need some things done to me mentally...as my mind changed in a...undesirable way..." Lia looks to Bee, and frowns, "No, they do not. I need to figure out how to enchant them first..."

Lia says, "Oh but how I wish they did..."

"Huh," Quinn says, "I'm pretty sure that Starguard has a couple of members without any form of real power. Maybe I just didn't get a chance to see what they were when I was working with them."

Ghost heads down to the door and knocks loudly on it first, just to give warning that someone is coming in. Then she pushes the door open and steps inside, "Hello everyone."

Bee says, "I would assume that those 'non-power' heroes had a bit of a reputation before joining Starguard."

Quinn looks over to Ghost as she enters and raises a gauntleted hand to her. "Hey, how's it going?" he asks.

Ghost smiles, "Great actually. I've got to head over to Undermoon as soon as I can. I was kind of hoping you might have had a chance to replicate loads for my weapon..?"

Lia turns to Ghost, "Hello Ghost. Enchantment magic has been...more difficult than I expected. I'm working on it though."

Lia looks to Q, "Perhaps you've come up with a technologic solution in the mean time?"

Sukeban waves to Ghost, "Yo."

Ghost waves cheerfully back to everyone who waves at her.

Bee looks interested at the second mention of learning magic. "Who does one consult to learn about real magic?"

Quinn nods to Ghost. "I've got a couple of dozen rounds of each that should work for you," he says. "I'd have more but the tolerances are pretty tight and I don't want to send you anything I'm not certain about, so we've had a pretty high rejection rate on finished product."

Ghost nods to Q, "I'm really grateful. The Penetrators and Scramblers won't work on Undermoon. You know what Fae magic does to technology don't you? There's only two ways around that limitation and I don't have any access to either method. But the Stingers and Sleepers should be fine over there."

Bee asks Ghost, "What does it do? Exactly."

Ghost says, "What does what do? Hi, I'm Ghost by the way."

Quinn gives a nod to Ghost. "Oh, I'm well aware," he says with a slight chuckle. "I was involved in a little altercation over there around a month ago and I flew over the wall at one point. Had my warning lights go off like a Christmas tree, so unfortunately I have to sort of steer clear of there a bit."

Bee holds out her hand to shake Ghost's. "What does magic do to technology in Undermoon - exactly?"

Ghost nods to Quinn. "My ancestors had the same problem when we arrived in Journey's End Nebula, Anthony. You know, if the Princess is agreeable, I might be able to talk a Fae mage through the enchantment process to shield your battlearmor from the magic effect. It could be a way to repay you for the reloads."

Ghost tells Bee, "Anything higher tech than simple mechanics just shuts down. Electronics is the worse affected. But even gear chains more complex than a pulley arrangement simply snap and break after a while."

Quinn chuckles a little bit once more. "It's not my armor I'm really worried about," he says. "Otherwise I'd ask her if it would be all right for me to do some tests there and see if I could come up with some sort of insulation myself. The problem is the Q-Drive." He taps the glowing ring in the center of his chest. "If that goes out..."

Ghost gives Q a sudden understanding nod, "Ah... If that goes out it's bad news for you?" She asks to confirm her informed guess.

Bee nods thoughtfully. "It was the proximity of Undermoon that made me decide to go low-tech on my kit, with the exception of the teleporter. I was thinking of changing since, overall, the teleporter has been one of my most useful devices; but now..."

Quinn nods to Ghost. "Pretty much the same effect as if your heart stopped beating," he says. "And that's assuming it just up and shuts down. While it's got a lot of safeguards to regulate the flow...you know, with the unpredictability of the area I just am not completely comfortable that they'll function like they should."

Superhuman enters the the room with a friendly wave, even to those she doesn't know. "Hey!"

Sukeban waves casually, "Yo."

Ghost waves back, assuming that anyone entering the Workout Room right now is either a hero as well, or a villain she doesn't want to be on the bad side off.

Lia looks to Superhuman, "Hello." Lia stretches, "Perhaps this isn't the best time for me to practice working on my power regulation."

Quinn gives a quick wave to Superhuman as well.

Ghost nods to Q, "Ouch. Sounds like staying away is a good idea, Anthony. So, how else can I repay you for all the effort you've expended in helping me out?"

Bee asks Lia, "Why is that? The people here are certainly more durable than most."

Ghost comments to Bee, "Unless I have warning in advance, include me OUT of that category."

Anthony chuckles a little bit to Ghost. "You don't need to worry about it," he says to her. "It's like what I did with Ten and her costume and staff. I'm in a situation where I'm able to help so I'm happy to lend a hand."

Sukeban grins, "I wouldn't enjoy gettin' shot without my flames up."

Lia hmms at Bee, "Good point. In retrospect, I know not how to program this place, so perhaps praticing on someone is the best idea...Perhaps it might be a better idea to pratice my flight spell..." Lia glances to her as she notes this.

Superhuman says, "I don't think most people like getting shot most of the time!"

Superhuman runs a few high-speed laps of the walls - running on the walls.

Bee nods to Superhuman. "Good afternoon, Ms Chyoode." Turning back to Lia, she asks, "Has your power level significantly changed since you knocked me out? As I remember, it took two blasts ... or was there a third?"

Sukeban grins at Superhuman.

Superhuman says, "It's just Chyoode, or Ms 0067/0189635435011 I guess."

Ghost nods to Q, "You're a good person, Anthony." She pauses for a moment before adding, "I haven't met many and most of the good people I've met have been here on Earth since my arrival. I'm starting to think my mis-jump is turning out to be lucky for me and not the misfortune I first thought it was."

Superhuman stops, running, still standing on the wall. "Oh, you're not from Earth either?"

Lia looks to Ghost, and nods to her, "I know what you mean by that. Sans my little...issue with being a 3'3 pixie girl now...I kind of like it here."

Sukeban snerks, "It's the best planet I know."

Ghost turns to answer, and gapes at what Superhuman is doing. "How... are you DOING that?" She asks her.

Superhuman says, "Huh? Doing what?"

Ghost speaks slowly, word by word... "Most... people... stand... on.. the... floor..." She points out, gesturing to the others in the room.

"Well, I try to be," Quinn says to Ghost. "The truth of the matter is that I do gain something out of it. A lot of times it gives me the opportunity to field test things or the motivation to create something new. That's how I came up with Quinntex. Working on a costuming material for Ten that could handle the abuses she would put it through."

Sukeban hmmms, and looks at Superhuman, "Oh, that. That sort of thing happens on days endin' in 'y' around here. Ya get used to it."

Lia looks to Sukeban, "I was already used to weird things like this happening, though, I'm used to them being of magic origin, rather than mutational or biological..."

Superhuman says, "Oh - I don't know, i'm not a scientist. It's supposed to be something to do with the colour of the sun. Or the low gravity."

Superhuman walks down to the floor.

Ghost looks at Sukeban, "Is that 'used to' or 'numb to'?" She asks with a half grin.

Superhuman says, "To be honest, the Chigja'an Science Council probably isn't very good at science either. They've really been more of an exclusive golf club for a few centuries."

Sukeban grins at Ghost, "I'm from Japan. We're used to weird."

Bee considers a few moments then asks, "How much do you know about Chigja'an Science?"

Lia looks to Ghost, "Numb to is a good word. You should've seen the things I could do before I lost my wand...I was a much more adept mage then than I am now..."

Superhuman says, "Well, you know. I went to high school there."

Superhuman thinks. o O (And got a D....)

Ghost shakes her head as she grins, "This planet... this planet... You people are weird. But then, I guess it's what I should expect from a bunch of aliens. .oO(Except they're not. They're human. The Fae are Sercians. This is the LOST HOME. It has to be.)

[To Sukeban] Superhuman says, "Is there lots of weird stuff in Japan?"

"At a rough guess she probably has some form of naturally occurring gravity polarization ability," Quinn says. "It may require more energy than her native sun produces, however, so normally the ability is dormant."

[To Superhuman] Sukeban shrugs, "Eh... well most neighborhoods have their own Sentai Team. We probably have more than our share of aliens. And the monthly Kaiju attacks keep the construction workers employed."

Superhuman nods to Quinn. "I think that's something like what the scientists say. Are you good at golf too?"

Sukeban sighs, "And don't get me started on the various kami, magicians, kami-magicians, exorcists, and whatever."

Ghost nods to Q, "That's one of our lost technologies. The ships that took us to the nebula had artificial gravity but we lost that during the Long Fall and never recovered it."

Quinn laughs a little bit to Superhuman. "Never really had the time to pick it up," he says to her.

Bee shakes her head, slightly disappointed.

Superhuman says, "I find it just so *quaint* that some of your cars here even still have wheels!"

Superhuman says, "I wish I had my grav car but I wasn't allowed to bring it because it might disturb the development of a primitive planet."

"Energy efficiency," Quinn says to Superhuman. "It doesn't take any energy to maintain a car in place if it has wheels. That should hopefully be changing within the next decade or so."

Superhuman says, "Uh-huh? That's good, though I guess Earth won't feel the same then."

"The only constant is change," Quinn intones. "You can move forward or back, but you almost never just stay in place."

Superhuman says, "Well why would you want to? that's just boring!"

Ghost nods, "That's true for me. I ought to get on my way. Can I drop by Quinn Tower and pick up the reloads on my way back to the Embassy, Anthony?"

Quinn gives a nod to Ghost. "Sure," he says. "I'll fly there ahead of you and make sure they're ready for you."