A Sort of Licensed Troubleshooter

Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    Wake's not been here long, and she hasn't moved further inland-yet. She has been waiting here quite patiently to meet some friends. As she recalls, Merek was going to guide her and keep her up to speed on matters.

    This is why she's stayed at the first landing. It's gone well thus far, but she is getting the itch to explore more thoroughly.

Merek
Seeker's Landing

    Merek walks along and to the encampment, his dark attire with hood up and beltcape about that waist, nodding to the woman when he notices that Wake looks to be about. "Good evening," he mentions, then he motions to the whole encampment, "Welcome to Seeker's Landing Wake!"
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen has only returned recently herself with a bunch of supplies and the like she's aldo managed some training back in East. SOr now though she was just unloading things from the docks as she barks order to some other people form her guild to finish up the unloading. She then waves to the Baroness and Merek.

"Hey!"
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    The Baroness smiles as her friend approaches, gliding into a curtsey. She rises and lets out a soft sigh.

    "Thank you, Master Merek! You have all been very busy here. A very well-organized camp. How go things farther inland?"

    Wake raises a hand to wave back to Gwen. She doesn't shout, but nods politely in acknowledgement.

    "And you all remain so very busy, as well. Has there been any exciting news recently?"

    The Baroness takes hold of Merek's elbow and guides him to walk with her, towards where Gwen has been working.

Merek
Seeker's Landing

    Merek will bow to Wake, and takes the time to let the woman guide him. "It is good to see you," he will admit, "Baroness. Well, there's the Tower that way, which you can't really see quite from here, it stands tall though not as tall as Alne. All creatures are a mix of creatures. There's a ruin we found, and evidence of the people that were about recently. We don't know if they are Adventurers or Lander." Then he waves to Gwen, "Hey!"
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen will head to join the pair as she finishes up with the order the rest of her guildies can finish up the unloading. She'll wait till she get closer. "Yeah Proph couldn't keep his mouths hut and angered some sort of local spirit. Lost a hand for his trouble."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    "That's why one must always keep a grip on their temper," replies Wake. "I hope Prophylaxis has been properly healed. A doctor needs to be able to wash his hands."

    The Baroness turns to Merek, "So they are hybrid creatures? All of them? That's very interesting. Have we found anything lower level yet, or are we still out in the highlands?"

Merek
Seeker's Landing

    "Ya, I healed him," Merek will note to Gwen and Wake, while he thinks about it. "Ya, all the creatures are hybrids. Also, there is probably a dragon, while we need to deal with a monster in the mountains that keep people from arriving at the Tower. And, we're still in the highlands although the monsters are getting a little weaker."
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen says "So the weaker they get the closer we are getting to somewhere populated I hope. Also lets hope they are friendly... then again." Gwen trails off a bit on thie and change gears. "Hopefully Baroness you can be around when we make first contact with the local guilds and landers."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    "That is good news, certainly," says Wake. "I'd hate for the good doctor to be left shorthanded. And it's encouraging that we are making progress. Like you suggest, Gwen, monsters traditionally grow more challenging the farther one goes from civilization. I hope that it works the same here and could, like the slight changes in the ocean reveal an island, lead us to civilization."

Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

The people talking to Wake might notice a vage shift in the shadows behind her. Like something walking through the negative space but it's hard to focus on. A pair of dark hands held up with curled fingers as if ready to grab someone around the neck... it slinks up behind the Baroness quietly... closer... closer...

And then just grabs onto her shoulders as Kauchemar fully appears in normal vision leaning over her shoulder. "Gotcha!"
Merek
Seeker's Landing

    Merek will looks a little bit amused with the words from Wake and nods a bit, then he takes a look along to Kauchemar. "Thank you again, for your assistance. I have all I need for the Bandit King," he will note to the woman while he thinks about it and watches the place, then to Gwen, and Wake. "I think with the new power he will give me, I will protect a lot more people." It's likely not all of them know what he's talking about.
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen looks for a moment at the BAroness for a moment.

"Aye they do from what I know. That should be standard across all the parts of this world oh? Find out what the doc said to piss off the local though we'd need to know not to make that mistake ourelves."

She eyes the bard for a moment as she appears

"You are going to get hurt someday for that."

She sighs a bit and then grins.

"Bandit King? Wait he didn't go up with Ezzp?!"
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    The sudden appearance of Kauchemar doesn't alarm Wake, but she does seem quite pleased. "That was quite impressive! You are definitely learning and growing. Not that I'm shocked. You are a master of darkness already, it's now just a matter of continually practicing it."

    Wake shifts slightly and slips in a friendly kiss on Kauchemar's cheek. "Proud of you, dear. You learn swiftly and will definitely surpass me."

    She considers for a moment, wondering just how Prophylaxis got himself in such a poor situation. "Where are the others? Have we made more camps farther in? Do we have any maps to share yet?" The Baroness is focused. As usual.

Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

"Trust me, I already have," Kauchemar replies to Gwen. "It's a good motivator to not make mistakes." Considering she's considerably tall and more physically built than Wake (she is a horse after all), that's speaks high of whatever unspoken capability Wake has as well. She wickers softly at the friedly kiss. "A master yes.. but your instruction has helped me learn to use my magic as a tool to assist stealth, rather than rely on it entirely."

She releases the woman's shoulders and steps to her side, baring her viper-esque fangs in a loose grin at Merek. "I was mostly along to keep Uta from being too... Uta, but you're welcome all the same."
Merek
Seeker's Landing

    "The Bandit King's generally been around as far as people know," Merek then explains to Gwen, "Although. I think we've learned a few things about them. With that in mind, I will be able to use Data Drain when I succeed. Although, I know that people will want that power for other things. They need it to climb the tower. I will use the power to protect people, I need to keep in mind what way I use the power. It's too dangerous to use on Adventurers likely." Then he nods a bit to Kauchemar, "I think that's great, she wanted to come when she knew it'd involve slimes like the Bandit King told me about." Then to Wake, "I will be able to actually fight that man that wiped out the city when he comes back in the Wave."
    The man thinks about it a little, "I also learned about that relic which he gave me. It was crafted by the Blind Goddess as well."
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen says "You are getting better i'm trying to push my mastery of the air element right now I'll likely have to head back to Geffin to train if i'm being honest about it. Could be worse things to do though right? It should help out a lot afte rthat I need to find someone to teach me a few other things or maybe work on trianing my tailpring more now. I need to keep getting better there too..."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    The Baroness nods thoughtfully as Kauchemar explains what she's learned. "You have progressed quickly. I look forward to seeing.. well.. not seeing what you can do when you are ready."

    She has to laugh at the mention of Uta, though her words are more serious, and quite affectionate, "Well, I am very happy that you are keeping Uta safe. She's brilliant, driven, gifted in many ways. But caution is not among those gifts."

    When her attention shifts back to Merek, she's pleased. At least, those who know her very well will see that she's pleased. There's not much change to her expression to indicate it. "It is good indeed, that you can fight him on equal footing. Whatever this new power is that the invaders have, it was alarming to see it wielded. That we can respond in kind might deter them from playing in our sandbox again."

    Wake raises her eyebrows as Gwen also chimes in on development. "It seems everyone is growing in some way or form. And to think I'm just decorating a castle and trying to prepare for a wedding! I must get my adventurer skills improving as well."

Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

Kauchemar points at Gwen. "So you're becoming a blowhard." It's a horrible pun. But that's what makes it funny. Hopefully.

"She's no good to us or the scientific community if she ends up dead, after all. Still working on her water technique, too. And helping Jazuhanzu with evasion techniques." Kauchemar puts a hand to her chest. "I would be a horrible rival if I didn't inspire them to get stronger as I also get stronger."
Merek
Seeker's Landing

    Merek will nod a little bit along to Wake, "I am glad we are all getting power. I know mine might be a little more... Well, it's for fighting in a way, though I'm sure there are ways to use it that aren't, I can solve a lot of things with simple knowledge, this is one of the things that I will need to get power for, fighting things that can not be easily won." Then a nod along to Gwen and Kauchemar.
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen says "Yeah Uta needs to have her back watched it's a good thing she's got a small army to do so. I think the world would lose something innocent and good if something bad happened to her." Gwen admits here frowning at th thought of that. "Stagation is death right? Heard the castle is underway again too."

"I swear if you go full space balls..."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    "No fear of that, Merek. What you have been working on is very specialized, indeed. I hope we don't need it in combat, and that you can use it only in peace." Wake's tone doesn't even indicate how very unlikely that notion is.

    "My gift is speech, diplomacy, not terribly exciting compared to fighting a.. did you say a dragon was loose? In any case, I hope it proves useful, though I do understand why few find it the best use of time."

    She rather likes the mention of her work on the castle. "And yes, we're in full-blown preparation at Eas. It took some doing. There were disputes about building instead of importing that had to be discussed. All water under the bridge, now."

Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

"Peace is a lovely dream. One worth fighting for... but until the pests from the other side stop butting in on our dimension it's not going to come entirely true." Kauchemar gives her head a little shake to flip some stray midnight mane out of her face. "How does the saying go? Hope for the best, prepare for the worst."
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen look to Kau "When those jokers showed up that's when I made up my mind whatgever this palce is it's real and not some dream like SEA thinks it is. You can't program despation or hate like that." She notes to Kau before pulling something out of her pocket, it's a sketch book...
Merek
Seeker's Landing

    "I don't think that SEA thinks that it is a dream. I think they only think that their goal to get back to the world at any cost is the only thing that matters really," Merek will note along to Gwen, while he takes the time to look to Kauchemar, along to Wake. "Anyway, I'm not looking that forward to fighting with SEA when it comes to it."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    "We are, above all else, human in spirit," Wake says gently. "With all the trappings that brings along. The nobility, the innocence, and every sin that has ever been conceived.. and some that haven't yet been thought of. It is.. quite real. The dream before, I wonder.. though.. was it ever more than a dream?"

    She lets out a soft sigh, turning her attention to Kauchemar. "Peace can be more than a dream, I suppose, but rarely where there are people does it last long. And yes.." Here she turns to Merek, "War is coming. Though I work hard to forestall it, and will continue to do so, in this, I will fail."

Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen looks to the Baroness "The OA needs to get off feeding scale money for Herbs and the like if we can we should expland our own farming opoerations. That could help slow SEA down without violence reducing thie incomee from herbs and the like." She looks over to Merek.

"THey are willing to burn this world to ash to get back home."
Merek
Seeker's Landing

    "I am building a farm in the New World Alliance, to do all of that," Merek will note to Gwen, while he takes a few documents from the pack with him, then he hands all of that to the woman. And to Wake, and to Kauchemar.
Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

Kauchemar puts a hand back on Wake's shoulder. "If you help people to prepare for the inevitable, it is far from a failure. Even the small steps we can take to lessen the impact will make a big difference in the end."

With the other hand she takes the paper of Merek's looking it over. "There is little I can do for this, but if I come across any of your colleagues in the field I will be sure to pass the word along."
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen says "A good idea but we should also get our own supply as well, and prehaps with the two of it we could draw on my father's old pals with the Angry Space bees." She grins widely at this. "Dad was such a Goon back then what can I say."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    Wake takes the offered documents and tilts her head, reviewing them. "Very good, Master Merek. I'll get my people in motion on it. We'll play our part, of course. This reminds me, I rather think it's time to help expand the trade company. There must be things here worth getting our hands on, yes?"

    She shakes her head, "And the relationships between the alliances are about to be tested, indeed. I know that the New World Alliance also has considerable issue with our use of technology, particularly when it comes to the steam ship we have created." It draws a thoughtful quirking of her lips. A rare expression from her, and it lasts only for a moment.

    "And yes, my dear Kauchemar, we will strive regardless to stay close. We must be friends. There are bonds between us that must not be allowed to break. Yet just as Lincoln would come to find, the bonds do break. But.. there is something appealing to me about these 'impossible' matters."

Merek
Seeker's Landing

    Merek will look along to Wake and nods a bit, "Not a lot, we need to take a look for new things, only found a few herbs that look unique. I know we need to find cocoa so I can work on chocolate along with the coffee." The man then will take the time to adjust that hood which he wears, "I will get all of my men on it." Then he nods to Gwen and to Kauchemar, "I wouldn't want you all to think New World doesn't appreciate the Olympus Alliance. They simply have a mind for keeping culture like it is, generally."
Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

"From what I have heard on my travels, Wake dear," Kauchemar replies, "is less the ship itself, and more the concern such technologies will be introduced at a damaging pace to this world's social structure." She nods as Merek essentially confirms the same thing.
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    "I think perhaps, if we work hard enough, we might find a way to get what we both want and walk back some of the more technological aspects. After all, there's more than one way to skin a cat, yes?"

    Wake turns her focus from Kauchemar to Merek. "We are the smallest alliance, but we have started to shake the world in many ways. Perhaps my tendency towards urgency is a problem. Perhaps we may have to do the one thing humans never could do: slow down."

Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen says "I like to think words will prevail so far as OA and NWA go." She has some people who are basically family over there after all. "Chocolate will make you a god and yes I will invest in those efforts hit me up when the time comes Merek."
Merek
Seeker's Landing

    "I will make pretty sure to contact you about it," Merek will note to Gwen, then a nod to Kauchemar and Wake, "I think talking would be wonderful. At the moment their focus is upon what we can do to keep SEA from destroying everything in the world. It is the perfect time to work together, I can't imagine that being divided upon three fronts will benefit the people."
Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

Kauchemar nods her head. "Being willing to talk and negotiate over differences rather than fight would be the preferable options. I know Proteus has met with some of NWA's leadership at least once."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    "Giganpor has asked me to speak with him about the Scale. I trust he is on these shores?" The Baroness looks inward at the strange land. "Honestly, it doesn't really feel like China in the world before did. But then, I suppose it's all supposed to be just a pale reflect at most, isn't it?"

    She turns her attention back to the moment. "It's not our two alliances that will trade blows. But it may be our two that start the war. In fact, it was tried before. It's a dangerous situation, to put it mildly, and who knows what might set Scale off. They are a big alliance with, apparently, a bit of temper worked up."

Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

"I have seen him here, yes." Kauchemar confirms. "Though for how long he stays put, who knows. Crafters seem to sit still about as well as the explorers do. And by well, I mean not well at all!" She laughs at her own dumb little joke.
Merek
Seeker's Landing

    Merek looks to the three while he nods a little bit, "I don't know. I'm just hoping we can explore before we need to deal with that. There's a lot we still need to know about the Palace Lands. Now that we have proof that people are here, we need to learn if they are Adventurer or Lander, which will be pretty important."
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen Says "Proteus is right about SEA in the end. If they do gfet out one they will set the world on fire to do it and two? Anyone who wants to stay will either be dragged out if it's a digital world or the plug will get pulled on those who try to stay. I agree but i'm not very stealty you saw what happened to that house and me..."
Baroness Wake
Seeker's Landing



    "Either way, I intend to stay until contact is made, Merek. It's the one thing I feel I'm well-positioned to do. I worked in Shanghai for a fair while, and I know local customs and culture. It may prove useful, beyond my in-game diplomatic skills. It'd be great to meet other people, honestly. Maybe they can help us play nice and not break apart."

    Wake isn't terribly optimistic, but at least it'll be a new group with a fresh perspective. "It's a puzzle, though, isn't it? You'd think we'd have found folks pretty quickly. Or saw more clear signs. Unless of course they are all lower level, or perhaps more inwardly focused? And on the other hand.. if nobody is here that will create all sorts of new speculation."

    The Baroness sighs softly, "But.. time works against me again. Though it also works for me. I am 'called' to conversation. I'll have to seek out Giganpor later. I hope he has something helpful to suggest. Now that the Scale has come here.. well, there's no shore quite as clear as it was a few weeks ago, is there? Our problems go with us. I bid you all a wonderful day, in any case."

Kauchemar
Seeker's Landing

"I will point him in your direction when I see him again." No doubt in that, even if it's behind the scenes. They are working on a small matter together after all, she's sure to see him again sooner or later. Kauchemar shrugs after that. "I shall simply have to keep practicing until she is available for direct instruction again. Such a busy woman."
Gwen
Seeker's Landing

Gwen has a lot to hink about and some plans to sketch out for a moment. "Yeah I need to get back to work, ration production won't just do it self you know, right?" She grins a little bits she heads off herself.