Port Lorrel- Puppet Masters

[Jack Rothwell]

OOC Are we ok to fast forward with relevant information having been discussed? Where's everyone gone?/OOC

[Graybeard]

[OOC: I'm a bit player here, but OK to fast forward as far as I'm concerned. Khoo, however, does have one thing to say...]

"Hey, guys, I found something out," Khoo said as he rejoined the group. He'd noticed that the rally, or whatever it was, was breaking up as he set off to find the "Poundstone Clinic," which sounded like a thaumatic healing outfit run by Tsuirakuan expats.

"Turns out I may be able to find us some defense against those guys." He summarized what he'd been told at the consulate. "I'm going to look into it, at least for myself -- don't know whether their services are available to non-Tsuirakuans. Want to come along and find out?"

[Drusia]

OOC Are we ok to fast forward with relevant information having been discussed? Where's everyone gone?/OOC

OOC: I'm fine with going on. My retro conversation kinda died, so I've just been cooling my heels and refreshing the page every day or two to read updates.

[Alberich]

[OOC: And I was waiting for all of you to respond, so yes.]

On the way back to his companions, Khoo had met up with Udo, who told him all about the rally and what had happened. When they reached the others, they saw that Jargalan was gone. He'd already left but promised to meet them in the early evening by the Mastic Tree to prepare for the evening's activity.

"Turns out I may be able to find us some defense against those guys. I'm going to look into it, at least for myself -- don't know whether their services are available to non-Tsuirakuans. Want to come along and find out?"

"I'll go anywhere," said Udo, "and it's better we don't bring elves and kobolds into town 'til it's time to attack, since they're looking for 'em. So you think this clinic has a way to stop 'em taking our minds over? Or some medical kits we can weaponize?"

[Graybeard]

"No guarantees," Khoo replied, "but it's a clinic run by the folks back home to try to bring some modern thaumatic medical practice to this country. The consulate says they have means of isolating their life force and projecting it into other places." Khoo had never heard of the Holodeck, for obvious reasons, but the description he'd received of the Poundstone Clinic had some similarities. "They thought the people there -- or wherever they are --" Khoo chuckled at that -- "might have some things to help. Want to give it a try?"

[Alberich]

A prudent man would've said "Help what?" or "Help how?" Udo just said, "Let's go!" - taking it as read that his nonhuman companions would rest the afternoon away, or pass the time some other way outside of town, 'til it was time for the evening meet.

[Jack Rothwell]

Tamina waved goodbye to the departing humans and sighed, tugging on the hood of her jacket with an irritated air.

"Still think I could pass for a monkeyman." She said. "Should go back to camp. Want to have a look at the Ralkin artifacts... gonna see if I can make that staff work."

OOC I'll have an update on the Ralkin schenanigans before the day's out./OOC

[Jack Rothwell]

After the entertainment of the rally, Eli had left the square to check on the Black Guard's newest contractee. The Captain made his way to the guard outpost on the outskirts of Brambrook to find her.

The building, like the handful of others Logan had either recently acquired for or turned over to the military division, was a sizeable structure that sat proudly at the t-junction of Market Road and Brambrook Way. It was a prime location for the Black Guard, being a straight shot to the market district and their area of greatest influence meant that the biggest share of reinforcements were stationed there. Eli saw the salute of the man who stood on the balcony, Sargent Carlson, who turned his binocular-stare to the distant streets of the Market District the half-elf had ridden from.

The Captain noted that the outpost (a former blacksmiths, which had been later been converted into a bunkhouse by it's previous holder) was undergoing fireproofing in accordance with the latest batch of orders from the office of the owner. Workmen scurried up and down ladders as Eli dismounted and made his way into the building

The interior of the outpost was, however, fairly empty by it's usual standards on that day. With the majority of the soldiers on escort and distribution work, the duty of manning the outpost was in the hands of a skeleton crew and whoever happened to not be currently on assignment. Carlson greeted the half-elf as he made his way down the stairs from the upper floors.

"Nothing of interest to report sir. Escorts were unmolested, speeches went as planned, leaflets were handed out, that sort of thing..."

"No thugs hitting the carts?"

"None... well... one bloody nose for a denizen who decided to try and make off with a barrel of apples, stupid bastard made it five feet before Private Reece decked him."

"He's on the fast-track for promotion that boy." Eli replied, recalling the fierce-eyed youth who'd joined up when the Black Guard had started recruiting. "Is he still upset about his no-longer-brother-in-law?"

"Private McKellar? You bet he is, not as much as his sister, and that poor child of hers..."

"Puppies... who'd have thought it?" Eli murmured regretfully. "I'll put in a word for his woman. Is the new recruit here?"

"She never left." Carlson replied, turning his gaze to a large oaken door, where a faint, rhythmic clanging noise could be heard. "Red just made a beeline for the forge and got to work. One of the boys said he checked in on her about midnight and saw her napping on her desk."

"Sounds like we're getting value for money. Has she turned out anything yet?"

"We've got an eight-man team armed with those- whatchacallem? Mana-rifles?" Eli nodded. "They took a training exercise out in the sticks with stuffed targets propped against a barnhouse."

"How did it go?"

"The barnhouse is now an ex-barnhouse."

"That's pretty damn good." The Captain smiled, feeling a little of the tension weighing on him evaporate. "The forge is through there?"

"Yes sir... just.. err..."

"What? What is it?"

"She's a little... hyped."

"Hyped?"

"Sleep deprivation and caffine I reckon." The Sargent shrugged. "I have a brother who's the same way."

"Well, thanks for the warning. Carry on, Sargent."

"Aye sir."

OOC Adding more later. Feel free to post in the meantime./OOC

[Alberich]

[OOC: Oh, great, now they have ray guns!]

As Udo and Khoo walked along towards town, Udo noticed a gap in his own knowledge. "So, tell me," he said, "how does isolating somebody's life force and projecting it into other places help us kill the enemy? I mean, I'm all for doing it, I just want to know how it works."

[Browncoat]

Angrist turned around. He'd pulled ahead of Udo and Khoo...again. They seemed to be discussing something and he didn't think they were likely to need him in town. With a shrug, Angrist resumed his pace, leaving them behind. He wanted to see the library Khoo had been to.