Steam Punks

    It's a day not so different from any other, with fair weather and beautiful scent of sea tang in the air. And yet it's a very special time for Susaki. There's a considerable amount of buzz in the area, as the Olympus Alliance is working closely with the Rulid Clan on a wonder of engineering: a steam ship. As one would expect, this work is to be done under the utmost secrecy, which is to say, everyone knows all about it.

    Into this mix comes numerous wagons and workers, all bearing in one way or other, the Rose of Eas. It's a considerable force and in the midst of it comes the Baroness Wake, directing it with intense focus. It is one thing to bring aid, quite another to get all these skilled people to work in concert.

    What is curious is that Wake herself knows little to nothing of ships or steam engines. It is only through others that any difference at all can be made. It takes her some measure of effort simply to settle any feathers that might be ruffled by her arrival, but in a few words and particularly graceful curtseys, she has exerted her will and ensured that work will proceed without the distraction of injured pride.

It helps the Alliance with it's project, and helps Wake establish her place in the world to go with her recently liberated castle. Everyone gets something.

To be fair, Kauchemar doesn't know a lot about ships either. Just Water. But she does know how to do what Bards do best, and that's provide a backdrop of work music to keep the labor entertained and motivated to work.

Which, considering the local, is a lot of sea shanties and other aquatic audiophiles, to the surprise of no one. Knowing your audience is important too.

    Wynfei the Monkey CaitSith makes his way into town, he's been wandering around a lot lately just helping out where he can and even doing some hunting. Testing his skills, though with that he's been doing a lot of thinking and feeling that he needs to possibly make some other changes as well. As he makes it into Susaki, he glances around him until sees the big tree. "Huh, I've not been here before." he says more to himself but his voice carries. Still a smile shows on his face, his tail swishes behind him as he walks, as he does he notices Wake but he's not met her before or maybe he had, but still his head swivels as he looks around.

    This kind of work is what Wake lives for. She meant to deliver value to the Landers with her presence. This is a chance to do so, though it also reminds her of something bigger and far more deadly she means to offer them. But not yet. Today there will be no attempt to take down a Leviathan.

    With Wake here, it should come as no surprise that she's not alone. Tae is here as well, and the moment she hears Kauchemar performing, she slips away from all the work to listen. An artist and music lover herself, she never misses a chance to here new music. Secretly she's hoping there are some less polite songs. She's heard so much about sailors and their bad language!

    "Remember, this is for the Dukedom and the Alliance both," Wake explains to the last cluster of workers around her. "Be proud of yourselves and what you have to offer. I know I am." With this last comment, Wake is alone. At least for a moment. She notices Kauchemar, and a moment later Wynfei. No matter what vortex of activity spins about her, she has manners and makes a point to introduce herself.

    "Good day, I am Baroness Wake. I don't believe we've had a chance to properly meet before." As is her way, this is punctuated with a graceful curtsey.

It probably counts as 'bad language' when the song is about all the mean panks one can do to a sailor that's drunk off his keel as some of them are definitely... colorful, even if not directly and obviously cussing. There's enough implications in 'put him in bed with the captain's daughter' and if one knows what a scupper or the bilge is.

Tae's approach doesn't go unnoticed, but true to the performing art Kauchemar doesn't stop until she's reached the end of her shanty. Her gaze remains on the working forces as she chuckles a bit, and it's clearly Tae she's speaking to. "You would think such off-color topics wouldn't make for good songs. But sailors lead a rough, dangerous and oft short life. Anything that reminds them that someone out there probably has it worse is considered entertaining."

    Wynfei hears the singing and he looks to see Kauchemar and smiles, "She's pretty good." he laughs and he bounces up and down on the balls of his feet and stops after he gets to where he is. When Wake walks up to him he smiles at her, "Hello, I'm Wynfei of the Crescent Moons Guild." he says as he looks to her. "THough I've been out of the loop of things as of late so I've just been wandering about." he says. He offers a hand to her, "Nice to meet you Baroness Wake. Wow a Baroness." he offers a bow to her. He grins to her. "The music is pretty good too." he says as he looks at her.

    Tae applauds at the end of the shanty, then realizes that's apparently not the normal etiquette, as they instead seem to hoot and holler throughout the song to show their appreciation. Here and there a few very colorful comments are added by the men working on the ship.

    Tae is happy to not be the target of any comments. That she's aware of, anyway.

    "They seem to like the most.. hmm.. unorthodox parts of the song the best," Tae says at last. "I rather enjoyed the entire thing, myself. I hope my intrusion isn't an issue. I imagine she-" and here she nods back over her shoulder and towards Wake, "Will be most busy doing her thing. Which leaves me free to have a bit of fun on my own."

    The Baroness rises smoothly, setting her hand in Wynfei's. "Yes, officially a Baroness," she says gently, adding a laugh as she explains, "I had styled myself that way since the launch, so it was rather nice to finally truly earn the title. It's a pleasure to meet you, Wynfei. And yes, Kauchemar is excellent. I imagine you already know of Plant Hwyaden's Nightmare Bard."

Kauchemar takes the catcalls and commentary in proverbial stride. If she's made their day a bit brighter and work a bit lighter with her performance that was all that mattered. Well that and she enjoyed the attention so getting some, ah, colorful compliments was simply part of the show.

The equine were fang turns her head in Wake's direction and sees sure enough she's talking with other people. "She's in her element. Getting things done by getting peopel to do what she needs. You don't need divination to see she's going to leave her mark on the world... Not that it doesn't hurt."

    Wynfei whistles, "Noice!!" he says to Wake. Wynfei looks to Tae, "Hello." he says as he studies her for a moment then looks back to Wake. "I'm just a frontline fighter, nothing special about me!" he grins. "Though I will say I miss my music collection since Loading in." he tells her. "So do you stay here or are you just helping around here?" he asks.

    WHen Kauchemar comes over and speaks, "Ah ok, so are you a bossy boss?" he asks Wake with a raised brow, but that playful smirk shows on his face. He does look around them to make sure no one else is coming or if they are, he can greet them. "Hello, I'm Wynfei, Monkey Caitsith, of the Crescent Moon guild." he introduces himself to Tae and Kauchemar.

    "I suppose that is true," says Tae. "Both here and where we were before. Sharing her isn't my favorite thing, but on the other hand, she shared me with my performances, too. We have to be ourselves or neither of us can truly give our all to each other. It's a strange thing, I suppose, but it has worked well."

    Tae's attention shifts back to Kauchemar. "Were you a performer before you came here?" she asks curiously. She takes a moment to measure Kauchemar with her eyes, "You have the posture and instincts of a true performance artist."

    Wake arches an eyebrow, then laughs again. "I am rather bossy, I suppose. Though I prefer to say my expectations are clearly explained and accountability-both positive and negative-is given in fair measure. I have a low tolerance for inaction and believe that those who never fail are simply not trying hard enough."

    Tae, noticing that Wynfei is offering an introduction to her, turns herself, careful to put her back to no one. She bows politely, "I am Tae. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I was a club DJ," Kauchemar answers the question without hesitation. "And a dancer. I've had a knack for music and rhythm my entire life."

She turns a bit and tilts her head in regard to Wynfei for a moment. "Ah, one of the oft wandering sorts that give Adventurers their reputation for turning up when and where they'd needed, then. Besides, why stay in one place when there is an entire world to experience?"

Her attention shifts back to Tae though, as a bemused grin takes to her expression. "I can kick anyone's butt in DDR or Rhythm Heaven, too."

    Wynfei quirks a brow up at Tae, "You two friends or involved?" he asks as he looks between her and Wake. Though a deep laugh escapes from him when he is told that Wake is bossy. "Yeah Inaction isn't something that sits well with me either, but I do have to hold myself back because there is always sonething bigger then you that hits harder then you." he frowns a little but he chuckles it out.

    "Good to know that some of you were into music before coming into game. I'm a bit hip-hop head." he says. "Also I enjoy good instrumentals." he says. Quirkign a brow at Kauchemar, "May have to dance aginsat you to see how good you are." he grins. "Yup, that be me." he comments when Kauchemar mentions he's like a typical Adventurer. "I couldn't get into DDR or Rythem Heaven, though when I did game I had other music playing in the background."

    Tae nods thoughtfully at Kauchemar. "That explains a few things. So what's your favorite music to perform? And to dance to, of course." When the conversation centers on music and performance, there's an extra energy in Tae's voice, and she starts to talk a bit more with her hands. It's her thing.

    At the challenge in DDR, her eyes twinkle, "I totally want to take you on.. but.. I suppose we can't, can we?" For just a moment, she's crestfallen, but a second later she's laughing, "How about instead of that, we do a collaboration sometime?"

    Wake nods at Wynfei, "I generally don't have too much trouble. With the right mindset and the patience to know people, it's relatively easy to find the right work for them and the right ways to keep them motivated. And all that with a smile on the face, too."

    Tae laughs gently at Wynfei's question. "Deeply involved. Almost irrevocably so. We're intensely engaged, you might even say."

    That description leaves Wake smirking in amusement. "If we keep going on like this, we'll be legally bound on top of it all," the Baroness teases.

    Tae tilts her head and fires back, "So does that mean the binding that has thus far taken place was.. not legal?" Her eyes go wide and she asks in a fake whisper, "Do.. I have to press charges, my dear?"

Kauchemar snaps her fingers, and several small will-o-wisps appear around her, flashing their ghostly glow in a sequence before disappearing again. "Alas, I haven't quite honed a proper dance pad style approximation... though it seems even monster will respond to music in ways. I've actually used it command summons in battle so the enemy can't easily tell what's coming."

There's a glimmer in her lavander eyes as she grins at Tae. "I don't limit myself to one type, or style, because that's too many other possible experiences thrown aside." She pauses with a thoughtful tilt of her head. "Though as a DJ it did still involve a lot of techno and bass."

    A bow of his head goes to both Tae and Wake, "Well you two do look good together." he smiles to them. Taking them off music for just a brief moment. "I just asked due to how you wre talking Tae." he says. A smirk plays on his lips as Wake speaks about being able to get people do what she needs to do. "That is pretty handy, does it work during raids?" he asks her.

    He looks to Tae then to Kauchemar, seeing the will-o-wisps appear around her, "Noice." Wynfei seems to be easily enthused. He watches the Wisps, "Music has it's own kind of vibe, and honestly I do like different styles, but I do enjoy only certain kinds of hip-hip and R&B music, along with classical." he states.

    Wynfei chuckles a bit at Tae and Wake, "Don't press charges, not good." he says. He laughs. "Though it's nice to see a good relationship doing well." he smiles.

    "I now have to wonder if you ever played any of my music," Tae muses. "If you ever dabbled across the waters in a bit of K-Pop, you may have stumbled across some of my work. Not that it means anything here, of course. It just tickles my fancy to run into people that appreciated the music."

    Wake nods to Wynfei, "I find myself better at organizing people in battle than fighting, to be honest. It's rather a far cry from my old self, when I was known for soloing everything. Things as they are.. the stakes are different. Taking huge risks just to sate my need for a challenge has lost its lustre. Now my joy is in building things, and protecting those who don't get to respawn."

    While Wake's fame has grown slightly in the Dukedom, moments like this are useful yet in assuring the Landers of her intentions. It at least sounds like the words they want to hear. Actions remain to be done to fortify the pretty speech, though.

    "We knew each other outside of this place. Being stranded together has been a blessing. Here, we can be ourselves freely and not face the bigotry of the other world." Tae sighs after she speaks, but she's still smiling.

    In the lull, Wake is able to get a question in of her own. She asks of Kauchemar, "Do you know anything about the Leviathans? Do we have anyone in Plant Hwyaden looking into these cursed things?"

Kauchemar waggles her brows at Tae. "I had ways of finding music from outside the local spheres, even in the 'dark days'." She will never confirm or deny that she dabbled in a bit of pirating to keep fresh material for the clubs, but its probably not hard to get the impression of what she's eluding to.

"You're not the only one, Wake. But a solo act just isn't safe anymore, even for those of us that do have a chance to come back afterwards." The thick locks of her mane swish as she shakes her head. "We know they're bad news, big time. But beyond that, once the Ezzo exodus was finished, has not been a major concern. If someone is... they haven't found anything new worth reporting."

    "I see." he says to Wake. He glances to Tae, "I've listened to J-Rock and K-Pop, so it's possible I may have heard some of your music." he smiles. He looks to Wake, trying to keep the conversations in order. "Well if you are able organize in battle, that is a useful skill. Some just go in and wild out." he says. Shaking his head a little. "Though if you were soloing things, was it here or in other games?" he asks. Wynfei is careful not to speak to loud so that the Landers didn't over hear. Wynfei goes quiet as they speak about the Leviathans, taking in the information they speak on.

    "The Leviathans are a problem for the Dukedom, and that makes them a problem for me. It's time to do a little research. Perhaps these new ships can be equipped with new weapons. I have a few thoughts on how we might exhaust and then destroy a sea monster or two." Wake's face betrays no emotion, but she doesn't sound terribly excited, either.

    "If we mean to master the seas, we'll need to face them eventually. Best we learn whatever we can before that comes to pass."

    Tae clearly has no intention of fighting sea monsters. Nor anything else, for that matter. She is retired.

    "I will forgive you if you acquired my music through curious means," Tae teases. "I just wanted people to hear me sing. But you know the asian pop scene. Before you know it, you are on variety shows and then you have to be in a tv show and a movie." Her tone changes, and though she's still smiling, she doesn't sound quite as enthusiastic. "Eventually, you have to decide what you are willing to pay. It wasn't hard for me to step away."

    Wake nods thoughtfully to Wynfei, and appreciates the quieter tones. She has no interest in causing fear or starting rumors. No point of that at all, she has no intention of letting Landers risk themselves in the battle.

    "I soloed in Elder Tale Online, before the Apocalypse. I had a knack for getting into places that weren't supposed to be gotten into. I was the super spy assassin type, I suppose. But those days are gone. That kind of vain glorious pursuit no longer has a place in my life. If I'm to have an impact, it will be making things better for those who live here." As often as she says it, she still stresses the words and her eyes grow intense when she gets on this point.

Kauchemar just nods to Tae with a wry smirk of her own. "I would rather stick to my clubs and at least have a chance of passingly knowing the people enjoying my work," she agrees. "What's the point when you reach fame to a point that it looses all the personal passion you put into it?"

As for the commentary on soloing, she shrugs a bit. "There isn't a story without opposition. And some people wanted more than just the steps in a quest's story that's already laid before them. Someone had to play that role of troublemaker for them.... Of course, it's different when you're actually living the 'game'."

    Wynfei grins a bit, "I did a bit of soloing and joining groups to help in areas. Though now I'm looking to change how I do things." he says to Wake. "Oh, I paid for all my music, so no worries there." he smiles to Tae. He then looks out towards the water, "I've never fought a Leviathan but hey if you need help just let me know." he states.

    "We will need a lot of help," says Wake. "I intend to do it for the Landers, but not with them. How can we prove ourselves to the Dukedom otherwise?"

    The Baroness is ready to add to her comments, but one of the foremen captures her attention with a wave of his hand. Wake nods to the man, then turns to the group, "My apologies. I will be delighted to speak more later." She pauses only to squeeze Tae's hand gently, then she is moving on, back into the maelstrom of activity.

    Tae laughs and tilts her head, directing her attention to Wynfei and Kauchemar, "And that is rather par for the course. I don't think I've ever seen her so happy with her work before. She's loving being pushed to her limits like this."

"Not to mention the less of them put in danger, the better." No point in being in charge of the world if there's no one to be in charge of, after all. Kauchemar laughs softly. "She has found a new type of challenge to pit herself against. One for a better future." She gives Tae a nudge after Wake. "But she still needs morale support. I am going to go get some rest before I sing myself hoar--well you know."

    Watching the ladies near him, he stretches as he looks around as Wake has to leave, "I will be around here for a few days. Wake I would like to talk to you more if that is possible." he says to her as she is leaving. He looks to Tae, he smiles, "I agree with Kauchemar, morale support is something we all need from time to time, but I like so far what I hear about her." he smiles. "Well you all have a good day, if you need anything let me know."