Log:Gunpowder and Flintlocks

2014/04/29 	 Alanna Fox Paragon Snow Ghost

1

Past Time's Coffee Shop
The smell of fresh coffee is the first thing that assails you. The next is the very old style. It seems the owner has gone for the Edwardian style from early last century. Lots of imitation wood panelling and prints of old English countryside. There are many partitions between the tables, affording some privacy and the sound seems hushed in the room, this has been achieved mainly through very good design, which muffles sounds. At the counter service is quite quick and cheery, conveying a welcoming and friendly attitude. The menu boasts the fact that for a little extra real coffee is served along with light hot and cold meals and snacks. All in all a pleasant place to pass a bit of time.

Gathering Heroes
"No," Fox responds softly. She and Alanna are at one of the tables, the fox-girl sitting with a chair that is set sideways.

Alanna sighs. "... Just a thought. I'm not trying to be offensive or anything. Just... Want to get to know you better, I guess." she sighs. Then smirks. "How about charades?" she says, grinning slightly

Ghost enters the coffee shop and heads for the counter, glancing curiously at the two obviously not entirely human people sitting at a table. Ordering a large chilled chocolate milkshake she sits at a table and opens her laptop. Pushing back her hair from behind her ear she plugs a thin cable into the cyberjack socket in her skull and the other end into the laptop.

Fox shakes her head again. "bad...at." She shrugs, and with a bit of delay and concentration she says "Takes... time." She means getting to know her.

Alanna waves over at the new entry to the cafe. Then freezes as she... plugs a wire into her head. "... Uh... Did you just...?" she asks, looking alarmed.

Ghost's face loses all signs of animation for a few seconds, becoming an emotionless mask. Then Ghost sighs and unplugs the cable from cyberjack and laptop. Settling back in her chair she abruptly slumps limply with a distinct indication that right this moment nobody is at home in her body.

Not really having taken notice of what caused alarm with Alanna, Fox glances around in the direction of where the cat-person's attention is pointed. "What?" she asks, looking back up at Alanna.

Alanna points at Ghost. "... She... plugged a wire into her head and now she's..." she frets. "Is she alright? Did that hurt her?"

Ghost opens her eyes, sitting back up straight in her chair. She looks at the two who attacted her attention as she entered. "My apologies," she calls over to Alanna and Fox, "for interrupting your conversation but are you heroes of this city or perhaps mercenaries for hire?"

Alanna blinks, then shakes her head. "... Neither really, here. I'm..." she pauses. "... New to the whole 'Meta' scene. Why do you ask?"

Fox guesses, "No?" to Alanna's question. The last one, that is. She isn't entirely sure after all. With Ghost though, she seems uncertain how to answer, but nods.

Ghost explains, "My team is away from the Embassy and unavailable. There is an activity occuring in the city that I desire to prevent being completed."

Alanna nods slowly. "... Okay... Um... First off... Who are you? And who do you work for? And... What sort of activity?"

Fox listens, and again she nods, her interest shown though her verbosity not entirely used. Instead, she utilizes Alanna's voice.

Ghost nods to Alanna. "I am known as Ghost. My name is Jillian of House Narilliin, Companion to Princess Stephanie of the Kingdom of Undermoon, Adept Warleader of Undermoon, and leader of the Princesses' Guard. I serve Princess Stephanie and the Royal family of Undermoon. As to the activity, I believe a sale of weapons is taking place on the docks to a member of the Fae. That this purchase has been carried out under the guise of being a human purchaser suggests the motive for the purchase is not benign."

Alanna blinks. "... You're what in the what now?" then pauses. "... Oh. Undermoon. Right. Fairyland." she sighs. "I apologise. While I'm not new to the city, I am new to this... side of things. I've only been the way I am new for a few weeks." she shrugs "But... I suppose I can help." she says, sounding a little uncertain. "... Are they likely to be rather dangerous?"

Fox nods to Alanna. "yes." Deductive reasoning tells her that dangerous is pretty much definite. She is still attentive as Ghost speaks though, not interrupting or making presumptions beyond the dangerous detail.

The door swings open and in steps a tall armored figure, feet clunking on the ground. Glowing orbs recessed into eyeslots in a faceless helm scan the room. . o O (Have to grab some pastries for Allison, swing by Home Supply for some insulation panels, and order some bilateral tape online. So much to do, I feel bad not being able to make something homemade for Allison today...)

Rae makes her way into the coffee shop. She is humming a bit to herself and dressed all in white. Her outfit looks similar to what one would call a tennis outfit, white polo and short white skirt. She moves up to the counter and gets in line and then turns to look around and gives a bit of a wave to the one or two people she recognizes.

Ghost smiles as she sees Paragon. "Paragon, your timing is excellent. I have a mission for us." Looking back at Alanna, "I suspect it will be dangerous. If I did not so believe I would not have asked for assistance. I will not know the truth however until I see with my physical eyes those involved. My Second Sight does not pierce the dimensional wall when I am scouting from the Astral."

Paragon's eyes blink on and off. Those side projects will have to wait, it seems. She snaps off a swashbuckling salute to Ghost and stands akimbo. "Whatever you require of me, m'lady," her mechanized voice projects in chivalrous tones.

Rae turns and cocks her head to the side. She does step over towards Ghost, "Did you need some assistance with something?" she asks as she looks over. She takes in each person in turn.

Alanna raises an eyebrow. "... Well then. Not going alone, at least, evidently. I'll come too. Might as well get some practical experience in." she says, getting up. "... How about you, Fox?" she asks, turning to her.

Fox nods. "Yes," she says certainly, sliding from chair to floor, she approaches Ghost.

Ghost nods to Alanna and Fox. "Thank you." Turning to Rae she tells her, "I would be grateful for any assistance you are willing to give. In fairness though I must warn you it may be dangerous." Ghost's fingers are moving on the keyboard of her laptop as she speaks. Turning the laptop around she shows a map of the docks is on the screen. "The purchase of firearms is taking place in the warehouse highlighted. There are a number of males outside the door of the warehouse. I do not know your abilities so I cannot offer any suggestions as to tactics if the situation degrades into conflict. I'd suggest we all make our way there by as fast a means as we have individual access to, and meet around the corner at this point." She points to a location on the map.

Snow nods her head and then the air around the girl turns cold and there is a hint of frost in the air. Ice seems to form around her feet and move all the way up till she is covered by it and it looks like she is an ice statue. "I think I could handle dangerous. I am also known as Snow."

At the Port
The smell of salty air and marsh is the most apparent here at the port of Colonial Bay. To the left, the sturdy automatic cargo cranes stand tall and await the container freight vessels that transport goods into and out of the city. Most of the work is done by the large, efficient machines.

Over to the right, there is the Marina, where various pleasure craft and fishing boats rock gently in their moorings, tied by secure lines. The private vessels range in size from 16-foot cruisers to 32-foot yachts. The marina also rents out various water sport equipment as well as modern speed boats and fishing vessels for the day. There is one old-fashioned riverboat with paddlewheel propulsion, which provides pleasure cruises and caters to weddings.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, sea lovers crowd the marina. During the rest of the year, the docks are peaceful, except for the fishing and cargo vessels.

When the heroes have met up just around a corner out of sight of the warehouse, Ghost activates her spacesuit armor setting and steps out into sight of the warehouse. There is about a dozen males standing clustered around the door into the warehouse as well as two horse drawn carts. Ghost looks at the males with Second Sight. Then she says in the Fae tongue, "I speak in the name of Princess Liandere. Stand aside." A couple of the males waver for a moment but most stand firm and the wavers seem to take heart from that.

Having trouble with maps, Fox follows Alanna to the scene of the thing. Keeping herself from being noticed is among her better practiced skills, so she remains unseen while Ghost enacts the way-making protocols.

The appearance of one of the males changes as he ceases employing a glamour to conceal his true appearance. He is Fae, Elven, wearing the colors of House Greyfells and in chainmail. He carries a bow and a quiver of arrows. One of which he shoots at Ghost.

The arrow narrowly misses Ghost as she leaps to one side.

"Aha! Bad move, idiot!" Alanna calls out, darting forward and... hopping against a wall, bouncing off and rolling around to the side of one of the human (looking) ones

The sudden move by Alanna takes her opponent by surprise. Alanna hits him with great ease. But although he looks to be a common dock worker she feels the hardness of chainmail against her knuckles and her punch seems not to harm him, although he is knocked back from the force of it.

Snow creates one of her ice ramps and slides over to where she is standing next to the dockworkers and the revealed elf. She shakes her head, "Need to chill out a bit." she says and then the air seems to drop colder.

In all eight of the twelve assumed Fae at the door of the Warehouse are singnificantly affected by Snow's attack.

Ghost dodged the arrow and is still off balance and unable to perform any effective action at this time.

Fox charges out from hiding to surprise the lot of the workerlves, changing to her much larger, scarier, and fuzzier fox-monster form and letting out a roar of challenge! She is the scariest and most dangerous thing there and thus the best thing for them to bring down in a hurry.

The assumed Fae aren't noticably scared by Fox's roar and appearance but she certainly attacts attention. "Concentrate on the beast." one of the 'dock workers' shouts. In the Fae tongue of course.

Paragon leaps up into the air, performing a summersault as she lands into the fray behind the group of men. Surprisingly agile for a hulking form of metal, Paragon draws back a fist and hesitates. She slowly unfurls her fist and snaps forward with a more precise and careful strike.

Paragon snaps her hand forward and strikes a very sensitive nerve, her strength compensating for the protection of the chainmail. "I'm sorry, Mister, but your people did fire first. You'll be alright," she says to the man as he starts to black out. She looks to the would-be assailants. "Please lower any weapons you may have and place them on the ground before anyone gets hurt," her tin voice rings with firm authority and a hint of compassion.

The Fae hit by Paragon wilts on the spot and fall limp and unconscious to the ground. As he is no longer able to maintain the glamour spell his true appearance as a man of arms of House Grayfells is revealed.

Alanna breaks into a grin "Ah. Supernatural in armour, eh? Probably means I /don't/ have to hold back." she flips around, careening around the thug she'd punched seconds before, vaulting over him and whipping around, utilising her tail as a whip against him

The armour creaks and squeals under the force of the impact, ribs bend, but don't crack... and the man is sent flying, lying on the floor. Breathing still... but that's going to leave a mark.

Snow smiles, "Well, no focusing on the beast, she is nice," she says and then the air drops in temperature again, cold spots forming over those workers.

The four Fae unlucky enough to have been caught by both the cold attacks from Snow collapse unconscious. Most of the remainder still on their feet have been affected by one or the other.

Ghost catches her balance finally. Her right hand lifts and she fires a Sleeper needle at the archer who fired on her.

Seems that sleeper needle had been in the weapon for a while. The drug has degraded but combined with the cold effect the archer had suffered it is enough to knock him out.

Ghost mutters to herself, "I'm an idiot. I need to remember to load fresh sleepers in more often."

The rest of the men at arms drop the glamour spells and appear as they are. The remaining archer and two of the swordsmen turn their attention to Fox, the 'beast'. The other two attack Alanna and Paragon. Bad choices but they've been so overwhelmed they haven't had time to think beyond their automatic choices.

Alanna catches the sword in her bare hand. "You're going to regret thaaaattt~"

The Fae attacking Paragon lunges and plants the point of his sword firmly against Paragon's breastplate. The Fae presses forward, and shakes his head in sudden despair as the sword bows into a graceful arc instead on penetrating.

Fox proves to be a much harder to hit thing than one might at first realize. For all her size she knows how best to move in a high stress situation like people trying to kill her. In turn, she hits one of them, far less concerned than Alanna about their safety. The faeman is sent crashing into the nearest wall and slumps into unconsciousness.

Paragon stares down at the bowed sword pressed up against her breastplate, then into the Fae's face. She responds in calming tones, "It's a shame about your sword, but I'll repeat myself: Put down your weapons, and I promise you won't get hurt."

Snow seems to realize that it is helping so she decides to do it again. "Once more unto the cold." she cries out and then the temperature drops again.

Three of the four Fae still on their feet are no longer on their feet after Snow applies a little more chill factor. The remaining Fae in front of Paragon slowly bends down to place his sword on the floor.

Ghost walks up to the warehouse door and tried it. She turns to the heroes standing amid a crowd of unconscious Fae Men at Arms. "Can someone open this locked door, please?" she asks quietly.

Alanna nods, grinning. "Might want to get out of the way." she says, bouncing on her heels and taking a couple of steps back from the door, raising a fist

Ghost steps quickly back.

Snow cocks her head to the side and then nods, "Let me know if I need to help." she says and looks over those that have fallen unconscious. "I am so glad I figured that one out, would have hated to hurt them seriously." she says and moves back a bit herself, moving up into the air on one of her ramps.

Paragon scoops up the bowed sword that the fae surrendered to her. "You made the right choice, friend," she says reassuringly. "I'm putting you under citizen's arrest; the authorities will be here soon enough to take you into their custody," she instructions as she carefully bends the sword further and uses it to restrain the Fae's arms to his sides, her strength manipulating the sword as if it were rope. Her slow careful movements are to ensure the sword doesn't break.

The fox-monster beast thing changes back to fox-girl-adorable thing, taking a quick look over herself to ensure that no arrows came into contact with her that she failed to notice. Finding none, she nears Alanna.

Alanna charges at the door, letting out a cry. She slams her fist into the door... tearing it off it's hinges, and slamming them into the ground. Hardly subtle... but effective, certainly.

Snow looks over at Fox, "Are you okay?" she asks and watches as the door gets smashed.

Ghost follows in after the door is smashed off its hinges. She looks at the interior. There's two males stood beside a row of tables pushed together. On the tables are about a dozen flintlock pistols, six Kentucky Long Rifles, and about a hundred matchlock muskets. Several barrals marked Gunpowder are piled up at one end of the tables.

Ghost says, "Ah. Lord Elrohir. I see your eye and nose have recovered fully." Ghost is speaking in a cold precise tone of voice. "I hope you don't mind me speaking in English so my companions can understand us. After all, you were perfectly fluent in English when discussing the purchase of these firearms."

Fox smiles. "Yes." Hard to imagine she was the savage roaring beast creature. She follows Ghost and Alanna inside, taking a look around in a curious manner.

Snow follows as well and listens to the discussion, "So, anything else?"

One of the two men by the tables changes appearance to a Fae, richly dressed in silks and wearing gem laden rings on several of his fingers. "There is no law or custom against purchasing firarms." The Fae Lord tells Ghost with a sneer.

Alanna blinks. "Really? Flintlocks? You're going to all this trouble for /these?/" she asks. "Technologies that have been obsolete for about half a millenium by now?"

Ghost says, "You are probably correct, Lord Elrohir. The situation has not arisen prior to this. Yet your use of human guise indicates you knew how it will be viewed by the Court. I expect King Zoramin will find something to say on the matter. Really, my Lord. Did you truly expect to do this without me finding out. I have spies everywhere."

Lord Elrohir snarls almost incoherently, "Blast you!" and continues, probably in the same vein but in Fae for a good twenty seconds.

Ghost lifts a hand to signal for silence. "Leave, Lord Elrohir. Walk away now and take your men at arms with you. Neither of us wants a confrontation with the humans at this time. Especially with the Fae being in the wrong."

Lord Elrohir is clearly furious, but he has to accept the reality of what Ghost is saying. He leaves. A few of the men at arms revive with a bit of face slapping the more deeply unconscious ones are loaded onto the horse drawn carts.

Snow watches as they go, just in case they try something. She keeps up her icy exterior.

Alanna turns to the human dealer. "As for you..." she growls, striding up to him. "You got a license to sell this stuff?"

Ghost turns to the gathered heroes, "Thank you. Thank you all. I hope you can understand why I allowed them to leave. To hold a Fae Lord and press charges against his men would be politically... inconvenient... at this time." She waves an arm at the firearms, "To you these are antiques. On Undermoon they would be a huge leap forward in weapons' technology." She smiles as Alanna steps forward. "Yes, Alanna. He does. Although he seems to be a little careless about checking who his customers are. But as was said just now; in your culture these are antiques."

Snow watches them go and some of the others go. She lets her icy armor fade, leaving the girl behind.

Alanna 's demeanour shifts almost instantly, the growling gone, threatening expression fading, replaced by a smile. "Alright then. Sorry about the inconvenience. Nice collection you have, by the way."

Ghost says, "I dragged you away from coffees and other drinks. The least I can do is thank you by replacing those now cold drinks with refills. On the Embassy tab.""

Rae nods and smiles, "No need but thank you." she ays and smiles. She looks back over at Alanna, shall we return, I had just planned to hang out there a bit."