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Post by mcr on Jun 16, 2020 18:25:26 GMT -5
"Hey Wei, check this out!"
Crickets and other insects chirped with ignorance to the interlopers on the arid field around them. Hastily constructed wooden barriers surrounded a largeish crater, a good ten to twelve feet above the low point, and a young boy named Jiang was teetering with his arms out as he raced around the perimeter running across the tops of the barricades.
"Jiang, knock it off!"
Jiang blew a raspberry at the other boy before pretending to tip over, flapping his arms and cackling maniacally.
"Seriously, just dad is going to kill you if he finds you like thi --- woah!"
Jiang, in his taunting, did fall off for real this time. Wei dug his heels and bent the earth beneath his brother before the latter could fall in, catching him as he fell.
Jiang dusted himself off before leaning in again:
"It's been weeks since this thing landed here. But so far, our village's best earthbenders have only uncovered this."
He pointed to the tip of something black, and oddly cool to the touch, sticking out of the impact site. Resistant to earth bending and tougher any metal anyone had ever seen. He ran his fingers along it, explaining:
"It's the unions. No one wants to go near it until they know it's safe, but the problem is that no one knows it's safe yet, so no one will go near it."
The younger boy nodded:
"Don't you wonder what could make something so big?"
"Let's dig some of it up."
Wei paused for a moment.
"I'll do it for three silver."
Wei held up his hand with three fingers out as he flexed and stretched, already tasting the rice balls he could buy with the extra coin this week.
Jiang rubbed his chin in thought:
"One silver, and let's say we go to the City and sell it. I'll split it with you 50/50. Come on, we could make five times that much, you know it!"
Wei spat into his hand, rubbing them together before extending it to shake on the deal.
Several hours later, the boys, spent, huffed as they hauled a three pound shard out of the ground.
Jiang panted:
"This ... has ... got to be worth ... at least its weight in gold for sure."
The boys laughed as the shard glowed briefly orange.
===============================================================
Several days later....
Meifeng was greeted by the shopkeeper with an apron and a broom.
"Thanks for taking this ad on such short notice. I know it doesn't pay much, but I'm glad for the help I can get. The last boy has been sick for days, and I just can't keep up with all the chores around the shop at my age."
He paused, scratching his head.
"Actually, come to think of it, I've been hearing a lot of people in the City have been getting sick lately. Fancy, rich folks. Got the Chief Medic all up in a tizzy trying to figure it out. I heard they had to send for some big time Water Tribe healer before this thing gets serious. Whoever finds out what's wrong with those people is going to get paid handsomely, that's for sure."
He coughed as his eyes glowed orange for a brief moment.
============================================================
Meanwhile, Genji was tailing a procession of government types to this mining village about an hour's ride out of Ba Sing Se with rumors that the Earth King was willing to spend big to solve a problem ... discreetly. Although foreigners weren't unheard of, they weren't common either, and especially foreign dignitaries, so Dhako and Vita were odd sights, for sure, sticking out like sore thumbs. Village folks gave them more than one or two odd looks.
Someone who looked to be in charge spoke, just loud enough for Genji to hear:
"We're glad you could be here. In just the last two days we've gotten more than sixty of the Earth Kingdom's upper crust falling mysteriously and dangerously ill. We traced it to a high end jewelry shop whose owner said a boy from this village was also showing the same symptoms just before our citizens grew ill. We checked everything in his inventory - nothing seemed suspicious, and so far none of our medics are feeling ill, so whatever this is...
Listen. We'd appreciate if you kept this quiet. We don't want to panic anyone. We just need to make sure this thing, whatever it is, isn't spreading. Find out what it is and if we can treat it or if we need to ... minimize losses. We can pay for your services and expenses. Money is not an issue. And as discussed, your advance fee."
He motioned for a lackey to bring a medium sized box. He opened it, displaying an impressive variance of small gems of clearly master-crafted quality.
"Requisitioned from the jeweler."
Genji and Dhako knew that just that box was worth about a month's pay; Genji might be able to sneak away with or con his way into a years' worth of money in one afternoon if he played his cards right, and Dhako would know that Earth Kingdom's fortunes were virtually limitless.
The man spoke:
"We've been keeping an eye on this village and so far no one seems to have come or gone. As I said, we're hoping you can keep a lid on things? The boy's last known employer is just in that bakery over there."
He pointed to the shop where Meifeng was currently sweeping the floor.
====================================================================
[[OOC: If anything is unclear about where everybody is right now, let me know?]]
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Post by Ushima911 on Jun 16, 2020 23:39:16 GMT -5
"It's not a problem, gramps. I'm just happy to find something to distract me, and give me some money to help out the family that's been taking care of me. And hey, maybe I'll find something cool in this pile of stuff."
"I heard something like that while out on a job recently. Something about some rich dudes trying to find a miracle or something. Hope it works out for them I guess." She said continuing doing the chores she was hired to do. "That's an odd cough you got there, gramps. You thinking about getting checked out yourself? Can't have my customers coughing up dead now.." She said regarding his cough.
===
Action 1; Agility 2 to go around cleaning stuff
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Post by Gris on Jun 17, 2020 6:08:23 GMT -5
Vita was happy to get away from home, being stuck in there wasn't ideal with her new situation. Well, it wasn't her situation exactly, but how her brother had ended back in her life. Her pleads to their stern father didn't save Dhako's relationship with him, or so she thought, but at least she hoped that not everything was lost and in the future things could get better. Now they were away from their father, but things were still... awkward. Vita had managed to convince Dhako to calm down a bit, father had promised pardons for his crew and she wanted to believe him, so it was her who had shared the calming news with Dhako. With their oldest brother staying away from the conflict it was Vita the only one who could mediate, even if that made her feel torn between sides. There was no diplomatic expertise she could exercise when the issue was so close and personal.
Dressed in a way less stuffy outfit than usual, reasonable given the Earth Kingdom weather, Vita had been making small attempts of small talk along the way, but she was cautious. Overly prudent perhaps. The Dhako of years ago was the only friend she had, even if she sometimes felt like a small kid pestering him, but at least he indulged her antics from time to time, not like their elder brother. But this one... this wasn't the daring young she knew, this was a grown up man that had seen and possibly done things Vita didn't even dare to imagine. Not like she judged him, oh no, but she could only wonder if this new brother and her could repair their relationship. Or perhaps forge a new one, supposing that she did even knew where to start.
Of course, their current assignment was both an opportunity and a burden. Dhako had to deal with her even if he wanted to be elsewhere, so Vita had been wary of being too pushy or bossy with him. She tried to be as little a nuisance as she could manage, which for the girl accustomed to be in palace courts, be it home or foreign, wasn't an easy task when on the road. Luckily Ba Sing Se wasn't much further, so soon she should be back in the comfort of civilization, or so she thought. Sure, the appearance of a strange sickness within the city worried her, but she was confident that she would be able to manage a solution together with the city's medics. Vita was glad to help just for the sick people's sake, but if it also improved the diplomatic relationship between the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Water Tribe, all the better.
"Discretion is assured, don't worry about that" Vita attested to the envoy. What was news for her was the talks about an advance fee. Of course, she wasn't so naive as to not think that Ba Sing Se's riches could do a lot of good in her tribe, but if talks about a material reward had taken place it had been over her, probably something coming from her father she wasn't privy to. Vita hoped her discomfort was hidden well, not to mention that the sight of the gem coffer was a surprise. When everything she got was given to her without a second thought, she had no frame of reference whatsoever about the monetary value. It had to be more than enough, right? Sure the King wouldn't insult them while requesting their discreet help. Vita lamented that her diplomatic efforts these past few years had been more about offering a friendly face and peaceful rhetoric than about specific, down to earth issues, but she was lost.
Looking to Dhako for assistance Vita felt once more like that little kid that looked up to her brother. Trying to avoid any discussion about the reward and leaving such matters to her brother, Vita was more pressed to solve the actual issue. "If this is the origin of it we should start here, so it's worth taking a look at it" she decided, playing into her authority a bit. If she acted like the willful princess she was supposed to be maybe the envoy would see her avoidance of reward talk as disregard about mundane matters and not a complete and embarrassing lack of knowledge.
Health: 3/3 ; Energy: 15(+5)/15 Action: Social Skills 6 (Deception) to hide her lack of economic knowledge while looking to her brother for help.
Health: 3/3 ; Energy: 9(+5)/15
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Post by RidiculousNinja on Jun 20, 2020 17:05:46 GMT -5
Genji wasn't in the best of ways. He was flat broke after he took a job and excepted cabbage as payment. His clothes were starting to look more like rags than the uniform garments they originally were. Fortune it seemed may yet favor him as he happened upon a foreign delegation coming towards the city and followed it. Even more surprising than the fact thier was a delegation at all was the revelation that they were water tribe members, high up it seemed. This could be potentially the golden goose as it were. A way for him to finally get off the street and back into a comfortable position. Question was how to play the current situation to his advantage.
He may need more information before proceeding.
Blackops 3 (covert ops?)
Combined with
Social skills 3(deception)
To maintain anonymity and maintain distance enough to listen in.
Energy 6/12
Regen 6
Health 3
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Post by Dhark on Jun 30, 2020 18:20:08 GMT -5
DHAKO
Vita’s small talk was returned in kind, almost as though the two were taking measure of each other in a sparring match. His emotions were walled off behind layers of practiced permafrost, and any smiles he had for her antics were reserved for when he was not observed.
Like his sister, Dhako had adopted lighter garb for the climate... but one that still proudly displayed the soft blues and whites of The Water Tribe, accentuated with a long sash of braided black and dark blue at his waist (made from the remnants of The Sea Wolf’s pennant).
Dhako’s eyes surveyed the officials briefing his sister on the matter they’d been contracted to look into, his gaze nearly predatory in it’s intensity. He dutifully listened to the details, though he didn’t feel overly engaged beyond security concerns until the offered payment was placed before them. His eyes shifted then, taking in an estimated value of the gems in the slow blink of an unimpressed eye... but not reaching out immediately for them. Under normal circumstances, he would have accepted the payment for services rendered on behalf of The Tribe and/or his sister without hesitation.. but silent alarms he’d long since learned to heed were going off in the back of his mind.
The payment had been requisitioned from the jeweler.
The same jeweler that seemed to be the only tenuous lead on the source of the illness.
Dhako arched a challenging eyebrow, leaned in, and whispered conspiratorially: ”I had no idea that times had fallen so hard upon The Earth Kingdom’s infamous coffers, that His Majesty would need to resort to paying retainers with seized goods; goods recently investigated as potentially being the cause of this mysterious illness at that.
“Or, is it in fact The Jeweler contracting our services... so as to undermine the good will between our leaders in this matter... or perhaps gain political clout as a savior of The People once we solve this?” Politics wasn’t his forte, but he knew enough to ply them like a blade on occasion... and he trusted goods from this jeweler not at all given the scant information provided. He held no qualms being the brazen blade, especially where his little sister’s well being was concerned.
He leaned back then, allowing the officiant space and a moment to collect himself. Back in a conversational volume: ”Perhaps you would be so kind as to secure the retainer for now? Until things can be properly... sorted.”
===========================
HEALTH 03/03
ENERGY 12/12
ACTION 01:
ACTION 02:
MODIFIERS OF NOTE: Reflexive Dodge III
EQUIPMENT OF NOTE: Wealth II
HEALTH 03/03
ENERGY 12/12
REGENERATION 06
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Post by mcr on Jul 1, 2020 11:03:03 GMT -5
The official shrugged his shoulders and shooed the lackey away, who dutifully closed the box and drifted back with the others.
By now the group had attracted a small following of their own, villagers curious to see why so many big-wigs were making an appearance at once. Tax season was three months ago, and only one had bothered making a routine inspection in the weeks since the mysterious object crashed in the village.
Meifeng carries out her duties and soon finds herself carrying sweepings outside the shop to dispose of. As she does, one of the City officials points, agasp:
"I can't believe it! Whatever is doing this has turned that boy into a girl! Quickly, we need to contain this situation!"
Genji can tell that some of the officials they are with are taking Earthbending stances, wary and ready for anything. Vita gets the feeling that the ones doing so are, like the man who shouted just now, not medics or scientists by any stretch of the imagination, and Genji and Dhako both might get the distinct impression that perhaps none of them are as well - perhaps they are here for more nefarious purposes.
Perhaps, as Dhako may guess, these are not actually Earth Kingdom officiants, but private contractors working on behalf of the Jeweler's Guild hoping to contain bad publicity if high profile customers ended up sick. In any event, investigation would likely have to wait.
===============================================
[OOC: This is what I get for posting late at night. Edited to add stuff hooks for Dhako that I meant to put in but left out]]
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Post by Gris on Jul 4, 2020 5:17:54 GMT -5
There was something strange going on, something Vita couldn't quite grasp but was enough to keep her distracted while her brother intervened. A strange feeling of dread, an unexpected sensation of things weren't completely fine, it was something odd, an uncertainty. Maybe it was just her being anxious about traveling with Dhako, the climate change and the trip taking a toll on her. She was too self absorbed, but things seemed on the way of being sorted out, even if more and more people were getting curious with their arrival.
What definitely did wake up Vita from her introspection was the shouting. Impossible nonsense was being shout and some officers seemed aching for a fight. Such a thing of course caused Vita to be outraged, in her own personal way at least. Why were people so quick to jump to violence?
"Stop right now!" she shouted without much thought. It wasn't like she regretted it afterwards, it just came natural. She was on foreign soil for sure, but she had been requested there and was a noble important enough to not pay any thought to that. "Don't you dare start a fight in my presence!" Vita continued loudly, accustomed to making her voice reach the crowd she addressed to. "Explain what's going on at once! I don't want to see even a pebble move!" her eyes moved through every official in a fighting stance, making sure that they understood they were being seen and considered, but her gaze rested on the one that shouted and started the confusion to begin with.
Health: 3/3 ; Energy: 14(+5)/15
Action: Social Skills 6, sounding outraged and important enough to be heard and answered.
Health: 3/3 ; Energy: 8(+5)/15
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Post by Ushima911 on Jul 7, 2020 17:43:42 GMT -5
"Oh boy..." Meifeng says as she looks outside where all the commotion is happening. "Hey old man. Some crazy stuff is happening out here. Might wanna check it out." She says calling to her employer. "Apparently someone's is switching teams or something? Iono..." She says staring curiously.
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Post by Dhark on Jul 10, 2020 11:30:14 GMT -5
DHAKO
Unlike the natives, Dhako was far less inhibited by the authoritarian tone of his little sister— especially so when he knew that it wasn’t being directed at him. Even as he registered the defensive posturing of those so inclined around them, Dhako did what felt more natural to him. He pivoted on heel, pressing his back to his sisters as though the fluid dance-like step were second nature. Water trailed through the movement from one of the various capped horns strapped to his side, and solidified near instantaneously into a wickedly sharp looking saber made of pristinely clear ice.
For all her expressed indignation and demand for attention, Dhako was a silent and observant shadow at her back looking the opposite direction. Where her hands were empty, his were now armed. Where she was primed to use words and ask questions, he had already prepared for battle. Where she looked to the threat head on, he prepared for threats unseen.
They were in sync.
===========================
HEALTH 03/03
ENERGY 12/12
ACTION 01: 04 Stones into WATERBENDING to create a saber (WM4, duration 4)
ACTION 02: 02 Stones into THIEVING with pertinent specialties in Streeetwise, Stealth, and Disguise to spot any duplicity
MODIFIERS OF NOTE: Reflexive Dodge III
EQUIPMENT OF NOTE: Wealth II
HEALTH 03/03
ENERGY 06/12
REGENERATION 06
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Post by RidiculousNinja on Jul 12, 2020 5:16:31 GMT -5
There were many thoughts running through Genji's mind. From the refusal of the jewels to the girls commanding presence. The cold demeanor of her body guard and sudden quickness in entering a defensive form. The girl that was now being accused of having changed sex... which was.. a weird one. He wasn't sure about them yet but the female Water Tribe girl seemed to be a half way decent person. Perhaps he could get back to the center ring by becoming part of thier party.. and maybe make off with a bit of jewels in the process.
Blackops 3 (covert ops?)
Combined with
Social skills 3(deception)
To use the confusion of the moment to blend in with the entourage. Perferably the Water Tribe but most likely the city officials.
Energy 6/12
Regen 6
Health 3
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Post by mcr on Jul 12, 2020 13:07:48 GMT -5
Dhako wordlessly pulls from the ambient moisture around him to create a solid construct, watching for any signs of deceit. The Earth Kingdom people they are travelling with definitely look shady.
Genji is able to sneak into the Earth Kingdom entourage - Dhako and Vita were travelling alone, so there are no other Water Tribe people to sneak among. He manages to distract one of the men lagging behind in the entourage, diverting him before knocking him out and stealing his clothes. He didn't have anything to restrain him with without actively maintaining Earthbending focus to keep him restrained, so if he leaves him he will be awake in 3 panels]. He does find himself in possession of a +1 sword but no other items of note. He is undetected by Dhako.
Meifeng's shouting succeeds in attracting the shopkeeper's attention. He is carrying a large butcher's knife but doesn't quite seem to know what is going on or even where he is.
Vita's shouting succeeds in getting one of the Earthbenders to stand down. Two of the Earth Kingdom members were about to draw swords but also thought better of it and sheathe them. The official they were with also steps back into the thick of his men. He counters:
"We owe you nothing!"
But he seems unsure of himself. He motions to the remaining Earthbender and the other two guards, each of whom draw swords.
The remaining Earthbender shifts his focus to Dhako. The rocks and dirt shift beneath him, snaking up his arms to form giant stone gauntlets.
=================================
[OOC: Vita's Social Skills check was resolved basically as follows: She succeeded in convincing the leader, two goons, and one of the benders not to attack, but her divided efforts failed in convincing the leader to reveal what was going on. The leader's counter efforts allowed the remaining two goons and the other bender to remain on task. I'll say that her "presence" will be able to keep the ones on the Sidelines there without much more efforts (nebulous, I know, perhaps just one stone per panel to maintain), but that further active efforts wouldn't necessarily affect the ones remaining. They're pretty committed to their current objectives and the active efforts would still need to be split among the various parties including the ones already on the Sidelines.
Incidentally, I'll also say for purposes of at least this scene that Maintenance stones don't count as one of the two Actions the character is doing (but still require stones).
Genji is impersonating a fifth goon, though how steadfastly he maintains his disguise is up to Ninja. Because (at least right now) Dhako is actively trying to detect shadiness, if Genji chooses to maintain his disguise they will require active efforts (in other words, one stone may not cut it). Maintenance can still be done beyond the two actions, though.
Something is off about the shopkeeper, who seems unaffected by social skills related efforts.]]
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Post by Gris on Jul 13, 2020 4:29:11 GMT -5
Vita found comfort on the tall and broad presence of her brother, almost physically leaning into him. It wasn't like he got taller or bigger while absent, but he did have an imposing air that wasn't there before, or if it was it had been in the rough. Something odd was going on, shadier than the usual palace gossip she was accustomed to, but Dhako's closeness gave her confidence. Maybe she was still in time to avoid a fight, even if the leader of those men was defiant.
"You owe loyalty to your King!" Vita contested, "and we are here in his behalf! To help his people!" she added, opening her arms in a gesture that seemed to encompass the whole town. "It's not too late yet, blood hasn't been spilled" for the first time she started her speech, Vita sounded gentle, inviting. "This can be still sorted out without dire consequences" insisted, truly believing what she was saying. It was a naive idea, she couldn't bend those people's purpose like she bent water, pretending to govern the mercurial nature of men was like pretending to waterbend the oceans. She didn't yet know, perhaps it was a lesson she would never learn, but there were things that mere words couldn't solve.
Health: 3/3 ; Energy: 13(+5)/15
Action: Social Skills 6, 5 focusing her efforts on the leader, offering him an exit without violence and trying to make the Earth King's authority her own. 1 in maintenance to still look from time to time to the ones already convinced.
Health: 3/3 ; Energy: 7(+5)/15
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Post by Ushima911 on Jul 21, 2020 11:39:46 GMT -5
"Oh, hey, let me take that for you." Meifeng says going to take the knife from the shop keeper. "You alright, old man? You look baffled. This whole situation got you confused or something?"
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Post by RidiculousNinja on Jul 26, 2020 7:42:00 GMT -5
Already he was regretting being here. Especially in this standoff. People could get hurt if this went on longer and while he was never one to shy from what needed to be done, it was a rare occasion that words could not deterr violence. Ugh. Genji bowed his head and sighed while putting his hands together with the stone glove and walking forward. In front of the group. "Enough is enough. I am but a humble servant of the Earth King," he said. "Should you continue this foolish behavior in front of guest of his Majesty,you will be taken into custody." He took off the civilian garb showing the classic Dai Li clothing beneath. He glanced at what appeared to be the leader of the group. "I command you to leave if you have no business within the area." He then started looking around at the crowd. "Do not make me repeat myself.." --------------------------------------------- Energy: 12/12 Action 1: Social Skills 3 (Deception) to make everyone belive he is a Dai Li agent and force them to disperse, Combining with Psychology. Action 2: Psychology 2 (Social Manipulation) to make everyone belive he is a Dai Li agent and force them to disperse, Combining with Social Skills. Total of 5 stones towards my goals plus whatever my specialties net me. Hopefully 2 each  Health: 3 Energy: 7/12 Regen: 6 Equipment Gloves of the Dai Li (+1 Stone Gloves +2 to disable with earth bending) Robes of the Dai Li |
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