A Study in Landers

Among the initial group of Uncrowned who had made their way to the Isle of Beginnings, Tian is obviously the more cautious one amongst the three. Even now, everything they do seems to be in some effort to ensure that the they and the others are kept safe.

Knowing that a long journey awaits them, one which may very well depend on both Landers and Adventurers from Yamato, Tian has perched themselves on the sloped roof of one of the buildings in the Marina, watching as guards take their positions and dock workers move goods onto and off of the ships coming and going.

The wolf-masked Cait Sith seems to be keeping watch. It would be foolish for the Crowned to come quite so directly into a place like this, but... that may not be what Tian is even looking for. Instead they seem to be watching the Landers closely, with an almost eerie sort of intensity in those golden eyes. A tail that is far too bushy to be wolf alone thumps on the rooftop.

Goldenblade is here around the marina, a common sight for the Landers for several reasons. She runs the nearby Academy, which no one really uses, but she maintains it anyhow. She's essentially the chief engineer for the Eas building project. As much stuff is sourced locally as possible, but it's not possible to get all that she needs locally. And then again, she's training, which means every few steps is a bit more like ice skating, if your skates were made of fire. But she doesn't do that where it will set the Landers' things on fire. She is woefully unobservant, sadly, and does not see Tian watching all this.

Erufu likes burgers it is one of the few things that's carried over from whoever she was before everyone was stuck in ETO. She'd gone to get said burger, well a large number to keep in her inventory storage from Crecent Moon Burger. She was a happy elf for the moment. She was not a common sight around here but she seemed to be also people watching herself as she finished off a burger while leaned up agianst a building. "I really should see if I can get Orcbalg to try one of these. The one thing he's got a clue about is food, sometimes...."

As Erufu exits from Crescent Burger, the smell of meat hits Tian's nose. It is enough to make their stomach rumble audibly. Not only that, but there is some measure of wonder at the fact that such an establishment even exists. There were no such Adventurer-owned places in the Palace Lands. Certainly not ones that bring in food culture that goes against the norms there.

That is enough to draw out the watchful wolf from their perch. Tian hops down, grabbing onto a window ledge, then a light pole, and slides down onto the street. There is a lot less fear about showing themselves, as thus far, neither Adventurer nor Lander had made any sort of obvious aggression. Oh, there was that one blow-hard from the first meeting with the Adventurers, but he seemed the exception rather than the rule.

So, after only giving Goldenblade a passing glance, Tian approaches Erufu, moving their hands in order to draw attention rather than using any sort of vocal greeting. They motion two hands cuping together, then rubs at their belly. The system, however, gives an understanding of the gestures easily enough. "<Are those hamburgers good?>"

It is a strange way to start a conversation, but... these Palace Landers may be a bit strange after all they have gone through.

    Miyako has been doing a lot of traveling the past few weeks. Right now, she's down by the harbor, meeting with a ship's captain in one of the local taverns. She's arranging for a rather large shipment to be sent to Fort Ouph when she returns there, though the ship isn't departing for a day or two yet.

    Finishing her dealings, she's sitting with the captain under an awning outside the tavern in question, enjoying the pleasant day and sharing a drink. They're within easy sight of Crescent Burger, and the Palace Lander is a familiar sight to the Adventurer, so she doesn't pay too much attention immediately as she concludes her business.

Goldenblade is, in fact, making arrangements with a few of the local merchants for some project gear she'll be needing soon. Just arrangements, for the moment. But she's got a few projects in mind, and they will apparently take a fair amount of different sorts of metal. Dealing with several blacksmiths so none are asked to go without raw materials, she finds that it is, in fact, lunchtime, and she will head over in the direction of the Crescent Burger. That person in the mask, though, they look familiar. Maybe? Memory's not always reliable at 75.

Erufu seems pretty happy with the burger, she often hits more tradtional places but Adventurer run eateries have taste. she chomos away finihing and then she gets a vistator. She'll glup down her current bite look to Tian and nods.

"Very good, there's a few adventurer run places here an there. Sadly the one I has fallen into Palace Lander hands."

She frowns at this.

"I was also doing a pickup for a few friends. I bet a delivery like this will make cowgirls and guildgirl's days!"

She waves to Goldenblade for a moment.

"Hello Goldenblade!"

She turns her attention to Tian and pauses.

"Erufu is my name!"

Tian looks from the restaurant, to Erufu, and back again before tilting their head in an obviously confused expression. There is some hesitation there, "<Adventurers own this?>" They ask. "<There are none like it in the Palace Lands.>" The Cait Sith's stomach grumbles again, but they still seem to be acting with that extra caution, uncertain if such a thing is safe or not. Then again, Erufu seems to be eating it just fine?

Their expression shifts to one of sadness at hearing that Erufu's own establishment has been taken over. "<My sympathies.>" Then, as if feeling it needs to be said, a few hand gestures follow, explaining, "<The Uncrowned are not with them. We do not condone their actions.>"

Once more, Tian looks between the individual Adventurers, some familiar more than others, then turns back to Erufu, offering out their own introduction. A hand moves open-palmed over their head, followed by taking that same hand and closing it in front of their face in a gesture that appears to be forming an animal muzzle. "<I am Tian Lang.>"

Goldenblade smiles, nods to Erufu as she's greeted. "Your place fell into .... oh, in Shibuya. I heard about that," she agrees. "Bad news. Do you guys have a plan to throw them back? Are they massing for another raid?" Because Eas is another place they're expected to show, and Goldenblade would like to know what her timetable is. She eyes Tian skeptically, but says, "You wouldn't know what they're planning, would you?"

She'd met Tian a few days ago, she's not sure if he remembers her. She remembers him, the Palace Landers are all fairly unique, but Tian moreso. But she nods about Crescent Burger, and it being her Alliance, she will say, "It's OK, go in, order something. It's mainly American style. It's modeled after what kids think a diner was like." That seems to amuse her.

    Miyako's talk with her nautical business partner seems to have reached its conclusion. A sack of coin changes hands, a final toast is shared, and cups are drained. The two smile cheerfully, and the sailor goes on his way, leaving the Spriggan to pay the bill. (This does not seem to worry or annoy her at all, as she passes the waitress rather more coin than was needed, to judge from the reaction.)

    Not wishing to indulge in a liquid lunch, Miyako leaves the tavern behind, her attention drawn by the sight of the foreigner at the burger joint nearby. She drifts rather casually in that direction, offering a cheerful wave to those she recognizes. "Avoid anything with the word 'ghost' in it if you don't like spicy-hot stuff, though," she adds to Goldenblade's recommendation. "Somebody in there has been growing bhut jalokia, I think." At one time the infamous 'hottest pepper in the world', outdoing habanero by a considerable margin.

Erufu says "Aye a guild runs it as a group and uses it to help people train their cooking skill working as cooks here. I own an Inn which also serves food but it's currently occpied at the moment." She frowns a bit at this. "There's quite a few out here. It's still a good place to eat though I fear I know not of this America."

She seems curious though.

"If your short coin. I'd be happy to cover a meal for you!"

At the mention of Ghost in regards to food.

"It's as if they placed a fire elemental in such meals."

A traveller's wagon pulls into town. It seems to be a repurposed barrel, a very large one, the kind normally used to age alcoholic beverages. It has been fitted with windows, a door on the back, wheels, and various appendages (like foldable stairs, etc.) that make it viable as a mobile home. Riding on its front bench, stagecoach style, is a certain Musical Kung-Fu nurse. She holds the reins that travel down to a grunty, larger than average; like many of its brethern, this one has somehow managed to find itself a set of clothes: they consist of a purple wig, a maid uniform, and... a set of fake Sylph wings?

Uta pulls the reins to signal the end of the journey. "Here we are, We have arrived!!" Uta calls out, and the Grunty replies, in that parrot-like way they're known to, "It's fashion time!"

Uta sighs and rubs her eyes. "Yes, Gwenty, it... is."

"I am getting some ideas already! Hmm!"

Tian looks towards Goldenblade, lifting one hand and lightly running two fingers off the bridge of their mask's lupine nose. The system seems to translate that as: "<Funny.>" Then, after a roll of their yellow eyes, the Cait Sith shakes their head, "<No. The only communication they would have with us, would come with an aggression flag.>"

It seems that while Tian tends to stick to shorter concepts in their signing, they are becoming more comfortable with communication with these Adventurers. "<We had no settlements. So no experience to fall back on.>" Then, after thinking about it for a heartbeat, they point two fingers towards each other and twist opposite directons. "<They will hurt you, where it hurts most.>"

Then, continuing those canine tilts of the head, Tian nods. "<I have coin.>" They make a motion that resembles a coin being placed into their palm. The Uncrowned would not have been able to get this far without being able to at least cover some basic expenses. "<I will try a hamburger.>" They do that same cupping motion that must be the word for that. "<No pepper.>" The sign that follows resembles someone shaking a container of pepper.

It isn't the sound of Uta's arrival that first alert's Tian, as obviously they cannot hear the commotion, but as others in the general area look in her direction, so too does Tian. What follows is a look of complete confusion. "<Your grunties wear clothes?>" The Cait Sith asks.

Goldenblade nods agreement with what Miyako says, and if Tian's not familiar with the US cooking styles, she translates, "Sort of an Extreme Szechuan style, heatwise, though the spices aren't quite the same." She smirks as Erufu describes it as a Fire Elemental, and she agrees, "You're not wrong." Not knowing about America draws a smirk. Some people RP a bit harder than others. This amuses GB no end, because she doesn't even try. Well, hitting people with swords is a role, and that's what she plays at. So, roleplaying as someone other than who you are is what's alien to Goldenblade.

She's over with the group in front of the Crescent Burger, but how can you miss an arrival like Uta's? "Hello, Uta," she calls, totally nonplussed. Well, this is typical Uta, nothing unusually wild or crazy... yet. To Tian, she nods gravely, she kind of expected that these Palace Lands refugees would not get along with the people running things on the Palace Landers' side.

    Miyako gets in line behind Tian to get her own burger, waiting politely behind him, Landers, and other Adventurers alike. "Yeah," she agrees. "Some cooks do good things with it, but, well, you have to be in the right mood to appreciate that kind of thing. And right now I'm not." She shrugs and waits her turn patiently, eventually placing an order for a cheeseburger and a platter of chili fries.

    As she steps aside from the counter to await her order's fulfillment, the clatter of an approaching carriage heralds the arrival of Uta. "... Fashion, Uta?" she asks, looking down at herself - casual trousers and blouse, light armor, fairly simple in all - then back up at the other Spriggan. "You're not going to try to get me into a dress again, are you?"

Erufu looks Uta for a moment confused atr the Gwenty she has no idea about this and doesn't think it's a good idea to ask.

"Hello Uta!. Ah if you can handle the meal yourself? No problem there and yes I have some idea of how they will act. I fear this war will end with the Palace Lands will drown in blood and it's people suffer for ther hubris of it's rulers."

"Please excuse Gwenty. Grunties say the darndest things," Uta, apologizes, getting off the cart and beginning the procedure to tie her animal to a nearby post. "I have no idea of where she picks that stuff up."

Uta stops her rope-wrangling to turn to Miyako. "...what? No. Nobody is getting anyone in anything. Don't encourage her!", Uta protests. "Besides, uh, I don't remember getting you in a dress before? That sounds a lot like... not me."

What Tian gets is a look of complete confusion equivalent to the one they're casting at Uta. "You guys managed to stop the Grunties from stealing clothes and pretending to be Landers? How did you do that?" Granted, Uta does not have experience with other grunties in Yamato than her own.

"Hi Paula!", Uta smiles back at Goldenblade.

"Hello Erufu! How's the magic training goin- wait, what's this about the Palace Lands?", Uta replies to the Pooka- I mean, Elf. "Blood?" A pause. "Oh! Yes! The Crowned ambushed a shipment of victuals the other day. Devastated it. Encounter ended in both parties being close to death. Furhter moves could have meant mutual annihilation. Luckily we both managed a strategic retreat." A shiver runs down her spine, wings fluttering along, as she hugs herself. "I still can't believe we managed not to die, that time. It was -so close-."

With so many seeming to approve of the food at the burger establishment, Tian is quick to go ahead and order one. Being on the run for so long means that food, whenever it seems safe, is always something appreciated. Of course, the first bite of the hamburger gets a pleased look from the Cait Sith, who signs with one hand, similar to someone speaking with their mouth full. "<I have missed American food.>"

After a sigh of contentment, they look to Uta, shaking their head in a distinctly not-sign language gesture for 'no'. It's easier when eating.

Thankfully, Tian is one of those people who can... literally, wolf down food at a remarkable speed. Likely because it's necessary at times like these. Looking between Erufu and Uta, Tian signs. "<Not all Landers support this.>" Then hesitates, seeming thoughtful before adding, "<Not even all in power. Only loudest voices. Strongest voices. Drown out all others.>"

Goldenblade smirks at Erufu's reaction to Uta's cart and grunty. It's about the same as her first reaction, come to think of it. But now it's just part of the Uta mystique. As far as war predictions, she says, "I have no idea where this will go, but it won't end well. China's got ample reason to hate Japan /without/ the ingame situation, and there is apparently some separate source of in-game animosity. On the other hand, China has historically not managed wars well againsy Japan, and I don't see this coming out very differently."

She smiles a weary smile at Uta, calling her by her inspect-name. By a tiny part of it anyhow. The full name overflows the box, as anyone inspecting her will see.

Tian's revelation that the war doesn't have full support over in the Palace Lands is a bit of relief. "I think if we can send enough of the invaders back to their churches with nothing gained over here the war will become less popular. Though if you know of a couple people specifically, well, Yamato has a few /traditions/ we could introduce them to." The ninja tradition, is what she's thinking of. It wasn't planned, it just sort of worked out that she's pretty good at it.

Erufu tilts her head.

"That may be true but the noisy ones have awoken a dragon that won't stop until it is certain it is safe."

She frowns "The ones who started this war are very goblin like as well..." She muses on this for a moment and look to Goldenblade for a moment. "The ability to ensalve adventurers will remain a threat so long as it exist..."

    Miyako nods. "Frankly," she adds as she receives a tray of food - the requested burger, and a plate of fries drowned in chili and cheese - "I blame the idiots who started it more than the Landers. They were defending themselves from an attacker they could do very little real harm to, after all. Now, their methods during and especially *after* that are kind of horrific, but, well..." She shrugs and walks over to take a seat near Goldenblade and dig into her food.

Uta tries to mantain composture, but those able to read the most subtle shifts in one's expression will notice that she's actually mildly embarrassed by the way 'Paula' is handling the whole situation. So, as soon as there's an opening, she's quick to chime in.

"Oh, yes, yes, good point, good point!", Uta replies to Tian at their mention of people in power, dusting her hands off after securing Gwenty. She moves to the back of the cart, picks up a few wedges, and begins to circle the wagon to position them around the wooden wheels of the cart. "Who -is- in power, exactly? I think I've heard of King Potimas Harrifenas in Thor... he has a daughter too, right? Then there's Queen Laira Lorelei for Rosenheim and..." She scratches her head. "Kallamore seems to have no real ruler. Something about pure capitlaism. So, uh, I gather that the people in power are some sort of... plutocratic Elite of Landers?"

Tian seems to show that hesitation again before signing, "<I know some. But must have caution. Trust takes time.>" Both hands are held out and closed into fists. "<Cannot risk my contacts, unless we are certain.>" Tian shakes their head.

As for Miyako's comment, there is a hardening of Tian's features in response. "<Only a few are to blame for that. Should we all be punished?>" There is more emphasis to the Cait Sith's signing. "<Wanting to build a world with more things like home is now a crime punishable by mass murder, even of those not directly involved?>" A pointer finger is run across their palm with a look of confusion.

There is an exhalation of breath as they turn to Uta instead, "<Those powerful in business rule Kallamore.>" They shrug and thumb towards their chest and then belly. "<Capitalism.>"

Goldenblade nods to Erufu. "Sadly, you can't un-invent ideas, unless you can change the game so that the things don't exist. It's a bit like nuclear weapons, it'd be great if no one had them, but you can't wish them away. The best you can do is try to keep them out of the hands of people who would use them for bad purposes." She has ordered a burger and fries, with gravy on the fries, because that's how you ate fries where she's from, and she enjoys the real food, which she doesn't always spring for, a very nice treat. Anyhow, fries are a potato thing, and gravy on potatoes is normal, right?

She's not sure what she's handling how that embarasses Uta, but is amused by Uta discomfited. She offers Uta a french fry with gravy on it in case that helps? Miyako gets a nod, but she wonders, "What counts as 'started' in this case? Some of the Palace Landers are all but pathological in their hate for players. This wasn't instigated by NWA building an outpost half a continent from the nearest settlement. What /really/ set them off?" She eyes Tian here, hoping maybe he can offer some insight? But, well, trust. "Trust goes both ways, of course," she says. She does offer a sympathetic grunt for mass murder as punishment. "Mao did that, too, and crippled China for a generation. It never works out." But as far as capitalism goes, she says, "Capitalism has levers. If we make this war unprofitable, they will not long stay with it."

    Miyako nods. Trust can be so very hard when people are frightened. They look at anyone and everyone as a possible enemy. "No, of course you shouldn't. They overreacted immensely, and need to be stopped just as much as the Adventurers who pushed them into it did." She sighs and focuses on her burger for a bite.

    "As you can see," she says, waving a hand to indicate the intermingling of Landers and Adventurers that makes up the harbor shopping district, "'A taste of home' is nothing to be scared of. We all want it. Some want to go home, some want to stay here, but, well." She holds up her burger. Smiles. Takes another bite.

    "Goldy has a good point, though. What made them decide on this? What made them think we were a threat?"

"I might be paranoid," Uta mumbles, looking down and scratching her chin, "but I fear we are dealing with something bigger than a simple mutual destabilization-and-overreaction, here." She looks at everyone present, in turn. "I've looked into the lore of this world. And I am fearing that the official reasons are but a facade for a more sinister purpose."

"Beats me what it is," she is quick to add, "But I am under the impression that ensuring that Adventurers are neutralized is part of it."

More time is taken to glance from Miyako to Goldenblade. "I can't shake the feeling that there's more to it. I have, however, no definitive proof. Just hunches and tenuous clues."

It doesn't seem like Goldenblade is actually looking for Tian to repeat the reasons that they are aware of, so rather than doing so, the Cait Sith extends their hands in a display of helplessness. "<Why did they think you a threat? Why not? To them, we are all the same. They don't know good from bad.>"

Motioning to themselves, Tian touches their ears and wrists, "<I made jewelry. Trinkets.>" Then extends two fingers outward, as if looking at something, "<Searched for connections to other lands. Searched for friends.>" Then, there is that hesitation again, followed by a shake of the head. "<Ended up here just the same.>"

The wolf-fox's gold eyes regard Goldenblade as they let out a breath on the comment of trust. "<We show trust every day. Brought information. Risked ourselves to do it.>" The Cait Sith seems confused. "<What have we gotten in trade?>" They motion two hands as if exchanging something. "<A meal and a place to sleep?>"

However, there is some bit of wonder offered up at Uta's strange theory. Tian doesn't seem to have anything to either support or refute it, so they just tilt their head in a distinctly wolfish fashion.

Goldenblade isn't looking for Tian to repeat himself, just needed to say the thing herself, even if she's a heartbeat behind the conversation. She's also glad at least someone else is wondering what she's wondering. Unless it's just some freak programming the developers did out of malice, of course. She nods to Uta, "It seems to be about 50-50, the things that have explanations /if you dig deep down enough/ and the things that seem to be just 'it's a game' things, and if there's rhyme and reason behind it, this old timer can't figure it out." She nods to Tian, and says, "Tell us what you want us to do, then? Or tell me, because I haven't heard." She finishes her fries, mopping up the last of the gravy, and sighs, then busses her table and will sit back down to hear what Tian has to say.

    Miyako isn't quite sure what to say here. She looks over at Uta and hmms. "The question is, what do adventurers -do- that they would want to -not- happen? Dealing with monsters? Quests? Levelling up? Sure, adventurers level faster than Landers, because they can take more risks, but still. It's ..." She shakes her head. "You're right, there's something else. If it's not just about their own fears, then it's not about -adventurers- at all. Or only peripherally."

    She looks over to Tian and hmms briefly, but Goldenblade beats her to the question and she leaves it be. "I have to wonder if it has something to do with the barrier. The - " She hesitates a moment, looking at Tian, then to the others.

    She snaps her fingers. "Ezzo. The quarantine barrier. That's got to be it."

    She looks straight at Tian, trying to look them in the eyes, difficult as that is through the mask. "Have you ever heard the term 'Immanity'?"

Uta thinks. Hard. Furrows her brow. Rubs her chin. And finally gives up, with a spread of her arms and a sigh. "I do not know, Miyako. Maybe it -is- dealing with monsters. Maybe Big Monster doesn't like us messing with their business model. Heck, for all we know, the slimes might be the secret masterminds behind all of this." This is not said with sarcasm, but rather, resignation. It's patent that Uta is emphasizing her own ignorance of the situation rather than criticizing Miyako's questions.

"Or perhaps it's about what we Adventurers -could- do. You know, I still believe we're trapped here for a purpose."

When Miyako finishes speaking, she remarks, quietly, "Oh, yes, I've heard the term Imanity." Some pause. "And I don't think this enmity has to do with the barrier. Not directly. But I think it has to do with the massive glitching of the continent. Didn't the Black Wave originate there?"

There is some more thought, then Uta waves her hand in dismissal of her own theory, looking up and away, in the distance, as if rambling to herself (but clearly speaking to the others, her mouth visible to Tian for lip-reading). "Bah, I've been reading too many novels before the Apocalypse. Seeing too many conspiracies. Maybe it's just my hyperactive narrative instinct kicking in here. But-" She stiffens and turns towards Tian specifically. "Oh. The Apocalypse is what we call the Fourth World Fraction. You know, New Year's, one year and a half ago. With the teleporting to the root towns, and the black wave, and the de-leveling, and the being trapped here..." She frowns. "Uh... can I ask what the sequence of teleports was back in your place? I'd like to have a clear description of the whole event, at some point... not necessarily now, of course. When you have time."

The 'confused wolf' expression shifts back to ears perked as Tian looks over to Goldenblade. They almost immediately rub the front of the knuckles of one fist over an extended finger. "<Training. You have had time to learn, to develop and level, we have not. Teach us.>" It seems like a simple enough request.

"<Give contacts to good Landers in your Kingdoms. We may need new places to call 'home'.>" This one is likely the more understandable request. With their home churches blocked, it is dangerous for the Uncrowned to go into any kind of battle. They could easily end up captured and Crowned if they were to die in a fight. It is something that the Yamato Adventurers don't seem to face.

Then, Tian is left looking between Miyako and Uta as they theorycraft over something that seems straightforward to them. So, the Cait Sith adds nothing. That is, not until they are directly questioned. They take two fingers and thumb and close them together. "<No.>" Then after a pause, and more of that puzzled wolf expression towards Uta, they answer. "<I was teleported to Kallamore. We thought it was the start of an event. Nothing happened. We were confused. While we tried to figure it out, a dark wave came.>" There is the distinct impression from the way Tian is describing it, that there was definitely more 'lag' time between the teleportation and the wave in the Palace Lands, but perhaps not anything more than a matter of a handful of minutes.

"<I am going to buy more hamburgers to take back to the others.>" Tian seems to leave the discussion at that. They incline their head towards both Uta and Miyako before heading back inside the restaurant to make a 'to-go' order for the other Uncrowned. It would be good to have some provisions for their trip across the sea.