Lucius Delanoire

2017-12-13T01:11:03Z

Lucius: /* Edge & Effort */

{{KrysInfo
|Title=Lucius Delanoire
|Image=[[image:Med.jpg|thumb|250px]]
|Full Name=Lucius Delanoire
|Sentence=''Brooding Kayal Swashbuckler who Walks in Shadow''
|Tier=2
|Age=Appears to be 16
|Homeland=Onyx Cryptocracy
|Totem=Onyx
|XP=16 Spent/16 Total
|}}

===Background===
Lucius Delanoire is the son of famous Onyxish Poet Zachary Delanoire. This exotic young man inherited the typical Onyx pale skin and dark hair. That is where typical ends as his personality is the exact opposite of morose and dour. Though upbeat for someone of Vesicule, he has a tendency to fall into an occasional brooding melancholy when left to himself. Sporting a rare firearm, Lucius claims to work for the Colonial Merchant Company as a scout. He dresses like a soldier; simple shirt and breeches with a belt for carrying the essentials. Over that he wears a well worn light armor coat of black onyx. He is always wearing a pair of smoked glasses that, though odd outside of the Onyx Cryptocracy is quite the fashion statement within his home.

====Stories====
[[An Unlikely Meeting]]

[[Dueling In Temperance]]

[[Bath House - Inn of the New Home]]

=Character Sheet=
A Brooding Kayal Swashbuckler who Walks in Shadow
<div style="width:32%;float:left;">
==Pools==
'''MIGHT''' 12 · '''SPEED''' 14 · '''INTELLECT''' 14<br/>
'''Armor''' 2 / +5 (cold)
</div>
<div style="width:32%;float:left;">
==Edge & Effort==
'''MIGHT''' 0 • '''SPEED''' 2 • '''INTELLECT''' 1<br/>
'''EFFORT''' 2
</div>
<div style="width:32%;float:left;">

==Skills==
* '''Armor''' ''(Practiced/0 Difficulty)'' - Reduce penalties to speed due to armor
* '''Acrobatics''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Climb''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Darkvision Perception''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Disguise''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Keeping Secrets''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Light Melee Weapons''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Medium Ranged Attack''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Nobility''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Perception''' ''(Inability/+1 Difficulty)''
* '''Persuade''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Poetry''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Romance & Gallantry''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
* '''Speed Defense''' ''(Trained/-1 Difficulty)''
</div>
<br style="clear:both;" />

==Special Abilities==
* '''Fate of Lucius''': Lucius never earns bonus points for a GM intrusion.
* '''Hide in Shadow''' ''(3 Intellect)'': Lucius can move into shadows and vanish, even if eyes are directly on him. As long as he does not attack, moves more than 10 feet, or moves out of the shadow he has an asset to remain hidden.
* '''Move through shadow''' ''(4 Intellect)'': Lucius can teleport from any shadow to any shadow he can see within 100 feet.
* '''Riposte''' ''(4 Speed)'': If Lucius succeeds on a Speed defense against an opponent he is in hand to hand combat with, he can immediately counter attack.
* '''Taunt''' ''(2 Intellect)'': If Lucius succeeds at a melee attack against an opponent capable of understanding his words their defense is lowered by 1 level against additional attacks he might make for 1 round.
* '''Thrust''' ''(1 Might)'': A powerful melee stab which inflicts one additional point of damage.
<hr>
'''Languages''': Amethystish, Onyxish, Quartzish, Scapolite, Jadenese, Sapphirish, Citrine, Fetchling

==Weapons & Armor==
No Penalty All Weapons
* '''Pistol''' (Medium Ranged Weapon / 100 foot range / 4 damage)
* '''Rapier''' (Light Melee Weapon / 2 damage)
* '''Sword Cane''' (Light Melee Weapon / 2 damage)
* '''Coat of Onyx''' ( Artifact / 2 Armor)
==Cyphers & Artifacts==
'''Number of Cyphers Which Can Be Carried Without Potential Negative Consequences''': 2
* '''Skill Lens''' ''(Cypher)'': Level 6 / These dark glasses allow the user to tap into the mind of anyone within visual range and steal knowledge. For one house the user becomes trained in one skill possessed by the target. The target loses training in that skill for that hour.
* '''Cloaking Pin''' ''(Cypher)'': Level 5 / A broach that, when activated, makes the user invisible and silent for one minute. For that minute they are specialized in stealth and Speed defense. The effect ends if he performs a feat of intense physical labor such as lifting a heavy object or attacking.
* '''Coat of Onyx''' ''(Artifact)'': Level 6 / Armor Rating 2. Does not impact speed. When falling, it will open up like a pair of dark wings.
==Equipment==
Equipment is divided into the various locations. When not traveling, anything not on self is at the home of where Lucius is living (unless otherwise specified).
===Personal Items===
{| border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse;cell-padding=1em;width:100%;"
!| Item|| Description || Quantity || Weight
|-
|| Coat of Onyx|| Artifact Armor given to him by his father. || 1 || 20 lbs
|-
|| Rapier || || 1 || 2 lbs
|-
|| Sword Cane|| Only carried when not carrying Rapier. || 1 || 4 lbs
|-
|| Pistol|| || 1 || 4 lbs
|-
|| Money|| 1 Platinum 517 GP 1 SP || ||
|-
|}
===Carried in Backpack===
{| border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse;cell-padding=1em;width:100%;"
!| Item|| Description || Quantity || Weight
|-
|| Backpack|| || ||
|-
|| Grooming Kit|| Pouch of toiletries: comb, scissors, nail file, sponge, hairbrush, miniature mirror, soap, chewing stick, tooth powder. || 1 || 2 lbs
|-
|| Silver Hand Mirror|| || 1 ||
|-
|| Silver Dagger with Scapolite Stone|| Badge of Now dead house from the Scapolite Empire during the Plague of Madness || 1 || -
|-
|| Waterskin|| || 1 || 4 lbs

|-
|| Books || 3 Books found at the Haunted House (Diary from Niccum and 2 others) || ||

|-
|}
===Carried in Pack Saddle/Mule/Cart===
{| border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse;cell-padding=1em;width:100%;"
!| Item|| Description || Quantity || Weight
|-
|| pack saddle||holds supplies || 1|| 15 lbs
|-
|| Gunslinger Kit || bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, gunsmith’s kit, an iron pot, mess kit, powder horn, rope, torches (10), trail rations (2 days), waterskin. || 1 || 31 lbs
|-
|| Tent, Small || Takes 20 minutes to assemble|| 1 ||20 lbs
|-
|| Hammer|| || 1 ||
|-
|| Soldier's Uniform|| sturdy boots, leather breeches, a belt, a shirt, gloves, a cloak, and a hat. The belt includes several loops or rings for tying pouches, a waterskin, a scabbard, and similar things a traveling soldier requires. || 2 ||10 lbs
|-
|| Hot Weather Clothes|| Covering your body from head to foot in light, airy cloth keeps you cooler than baring your skin to the sun. This outfit typically consists of a loose linen robe and either a turban or loose head covering and veil. || 1 ||4 lbs
|-
|| Taviston Survival Guide|| Provides asset when used appropriately || 1|| 2 lbs
|-
|| Junita Fruit|| Firm yet soft to the touch and smells like hope, this fruit does not rot or spoil || ||
|-
|| Good Rations|| || 6 days||
|-
|| Disguise Kit|| Provides Asset when used || 5 of 10 uses|| 8lbs (full)
|-
|| Fancy Outfit || Velvet Vest, Top Hat, Black Pants, Jewelry || 1||
|-
|| Silver/Gold 7 pointed star || || 1||
|-
|| Soldier Sweater || Cold weather shirt for when traveling to Temperance || 1||
|-
|| Writing materials || Ink (2oz), Inkpen, Journal || 1|| 1
|-
|}

=Gallery=
<gallery style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;">
File:Townhouse.jpg|Living Space in Vesicule.
</gallery>
[[Original Pathfinder Stats for Lucius]]
{{nav}}

Lucius Delanoire

2017-12-13T01:09:27Z

Episode3Act1

2017-09-13T02:55:43Z

Lucius: /* EAVESDOWN DOCKS */

==CAST==
*[[Michi Nom]]
*[[Karl]]
*[[Dorota Kowal]]
*[[Sarah Lee]]
*[[Carina Yuzu]]
*Louis

==EAVESDOWN DOCKS==
On the way to Persephone, the crew of the newly minted Jeu stop at a way point where they can dump the extra parts from the hot engine. Louis Chang keeps mostly to himself during this time, doing what he's asked but no more. Of all the membes of the crew, Carina with a kind word and a pouty lip is able to coax a hair more out of him than the rest of the crew. A little over eight days after the crew leaves Kuan Lo, they arrive at Persephone, the largest planet surrounding Lux, a sub sun that orbits the White Sun System.

"Transport ship Jeju, you are clear for landing," the operator at eavesdown docks relays to the cokcpit after having been required to orbit the planet for three hours, the length of time made more nerve wracking without knowing if Grandma's new ID set would work.

Michi breathes just a hint of a sigh of relief. She's pretty sure she could outrun the authorities if need be. But it would also mean they'd be on the run from the Alliance for-freaking-ever.

She reaches up and flips the intercom. "Coming in for a landing. Sit tight."

Michi sends the ship into the blue and down into the trading town that is Eavesdown Docks.

Dorota, back in engineering, also heaves a sigh of relief. The life of a fugitive...not one that appeals to her, particularly. She's been there, done that.

Sarah looks relieved from her spot in the medbay, then stays in her seat, absently reading a book while she waits for the ship to come down to the landing pad.

Carina keeps after Louis, because that has clearly become part of her Other Duties As Assigned. "Let's strap in until we're docked. Captain Michi is excellent at this." By 'this' she means handling the ship, of course. Not just docking.

In preparation for docking Karl has secured what is necessary including himself into a seat. He is as stoic as ever seeming neither concerned about the landing or what could possibly be waiting for them in Eavesdown. If the ids work they work, if they don't well they will deal like they always do.

There are ships and shuttles clogging the flight paths of Eavesdown Docks. A ship comes roaring out of nowhere and if not for Michi's fine flying skills, the Jeju would have been toasted. Truly, it is like an obstacle course just to find the landing pad. Anyone not buckled in will be going for a ride and those with queasy stomachs might want to visit the john. Once at the designated landing pad, it's plain that it's being shared by a fast food rickshaw.

Michi doesn't swear at the ships who get in her way. She doesn't get angry. Doesn't flip them off or honk her horn. She grins like the devil herself. THIS is fun. And when the boat touches down, there's not even a bump. The final landing is smoother than silk on a Companion's bottom.

Ah, for a good pilot. Dorota's stomach is used to weird maneuvers - she's unsettled, but not heading for the head. (What about the kid?)

After Michi Lands, Louis runs to the head emerging a few minutes later, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"Crew meeting." Michi says into the intercom, once the ship's down. She makes her way to the common room behind the cockpit. Once everyone's there she goes over the facts.

"It'll take time for Carina to set up a meet. So, we're here for a few days at least. We need to find work. We need to get supplies. Karl, Dorota, Sarah. Supplies today. Take the money we have, go shopping based on your lists. Keep in mind we want some left over. Pay attention out there. We need to know if the Tong's around." She glances over at the kid. "You can't leave the ship until we know if its safe. Your grandmother scares me even more than they do."

"Carina, you and I can look for work while your messages are worming around through the social network."

Sarah nods, "Shouldn't be too hard. Haven't used too much for medical supplies, at least." She gets a bit of a wry look, "Long as I don't get shot again."

Carina nods. "Alright. I assume you mean work for the ship?" Because, to be fair, Carina often looks for other work every time they land, so it's worth making sure what her co-captain means. "I've already put together the starting messages. As soon as we docked, they went out." Hooray for the Cortex.

"For the ship. You need to pick up Companion work, we can make time for that." Michi says with a shrug.

Louis shrugs when he's told to stay at the ship and then walks out of the common room. The crew can hear his room door slide open and shut.

"Poor kid," Dorota says. "Engineering is doing pretty well, but I'll see what deals I can get. This seems like it's not a bad place fod deals."

"Supplies..on it Captain." Karl nods his understanding and weapons up and takes his tarot deck as well. In places like this he can make a few coins on the side reading fortunes for the superstitous. He just may find a contact or two himself where they can find some quick work. He will have to do a bit of his own asking around.

Michi refrains from rolling her eyes when the kid goes storming off. "If the place is clear, I'll let him go out with one of you later to run errands. Dorota, deals are good. I don't want to be stuck in the black just because we didn't have a five credit part on hand."

Walking through the docks, there are numerous sights and sounds from stalls filled with vendors selling food, clothes, jewelry, scrap and all manner of stuff in between. The stalls weave through the docks around landing pads with ships in stages of arriving and departing. Oil smells mix with Savory spices mix with horses. Sounds of vendors calling out to passersby, oil bubbling and engines roaring attack the ears. It is a maelstrom of activity that the crew of the Jeju manage to wade through with ease.

Discovering that the junkyard is way more expensive than the crew can currently afford, Dorota spends the morning rummaging through stalls in the docks, coming away with various odds and ends of scrap and mechanical parts that only one such as Dorota can appreciate.

Sarah and Karl head off in a different direction, Karl manages to sweet talk a stall owner and sets up nearby after strutting his stuff in pulling in more customers to the stall. The stall seems to be a junction of stalls where talk is ever present, some of it interesting.

And finally, Michi and Carina wade through the crowds, Carina's high standing giving her more space than most people are given. Apparently there are oodles of jobs from the legitimate to the highly illegal all over the docks. With Carina by her side, Michi is able to secure a modest bit of cargo to take to a town in Kalidasa. Plus rumor has it, there'll be a race going on just outside of town in two days time at dawn.

"Cargo to carry will keep us in the air. Race will give us more if I win." Michi says, walking arm and arm with her co-captain. "Not a bad day. You must be my lucky charm." She reaches out to knock twice on a wooden crate as they pass by it.
Dorota did take the mule. She returns to the ship with odds and ends - none of them fantastic, all of them useful. To her, anyway. She's not likely the first back - although it seems Karl is staying out a while.

As the day wanes, the crew returns back to the ship to touch base. Carina has a message from Esther with a number to contact when she gets it.

It's been a long day securing supplies for the ship and listening to people gossip on top of reading people's fortunes. At least that last bit gave him some cold, hard coinage. Karl is just as tired of cooking as the rest are probably tired of eating his cooking so with some of his earnings he decides to give everyone a break and brings food back to the ship. As the others are gathering he deposits the two bags of takeout on the table "I hope no one minds me not slaving in the kitchen today." he then goes to grab the necessary utensils.

Dorota has been in the back sorting parts, putting her new purchases in order, etc. She steps out, sniffing. "I like your cooking, Karl, but a change is good." Mmm. Takeout.

Oh. Oh, that smells nice. Michi closes his eyes and inhales the scent of actual food. "You've been cooking soy and protein for days now. I ain't complaining." He says with a smile as he exits his bedroom. "Let me wash up." His hands have grease on them. If he's going to race, he needs to make sure the Mahha-go is in tip top condition.
Sarah hmms softly, looking over at Michi as they meet back at the ship, "There's a big fundraiser going on, involving the Rim's Princess. At least that's the word on the street. Also, there's a race in two days time at dawn. Not sure what the requirements are, but..." She then grabs one of the cartons of food, having filched some chopsticks from one of the vendors earlier. "There's options, anyway."

Carina goes into her quarters to take the return message. She is gone when Karl returns halfway through the meal she returns to inform the crew that Esther from Hugs for your Feet is hosting a fundraising event tomorrow night. If the crew wants to team up with her, they'll need to come to the event and play nice.

"Fundraising event." Michi makes a face. "I've got one suit." But its a good suit. Carina made sure of that. "I'm going to enter the race tomorrow. Hopefully we can cover the entry fee. Just hope it ain't for pinks. I worked too hard on my bike to loose it because someone knows the track better."

"More than one it seems." Karl says between bites of his own food. Yum, real veggies.
"By the way. Where did Louis get too?" he asks "Did one of you say he could leave the ship?" its a mystery how he would think or know that the kid wasn't on the ship since Karl hasn't been anywhere but the common area.

Dorota sighs. "No. I should have made him help me inventory." If the kid sneaked out, then they have another problem.

Michi swears, profusely, in Chinese. "Check his room." He says, standing up. "We can't lose him. His grandmother's got grease."

Louis' room is empty. The bag he came on with is nowhere to be seen.

Sarah swears, "Fei fei pi gu!" She shakes her head, "Damnit, we'll need to find him, fast." She glances over at Carina, "Any thoughts on where he'd run off to?"

Dorota facepalms. "Might have been safer if I'd taken him with me. Drat it." She adds a couple of choice swear words. In Polish.

"Should have nailed his hands to the damn deck." Michi growls as she turns around. "Okay. Kid's alone on a strange planet. Doesn't know the locals. That makes him a mark. Worse, the local Tong might be looking for him. We need to find him. Think hard about anything he said and figure out if there's a lead where to look. Otherwise, we'll need to split up and search the whole damn area."

"Let's be honest: Not one of us would have stayed on the ship at his age if left alone with no minder for that many hours." Carina offers, trying to mollify everyone's fury. "I'm sorry he's gone, and I agree we should do what we can to find him. But we should have left someone with him. It's our own fault."
Sarah looks over at Carina, "I know. I'm swearing at me, not him. Damnit. Okay, I'm swearing at him too, but mostly myself. Gah." She slams her hand into the wall, not hard, but enough to express her frustration, "Let's see what we can do to go get him."

Karl gets up with his food container and chopsticks in hand "Did you leave any of the sensors up Captain?" he asks of Michi "If they picked up leaving up than at least we can get a general idea of what direction he went." with that being asked he quickly puts the food away in whatever passes for the fridge, so at least they can enjoy it when they get back, hopefully with their newest crew member.

And with that, the crew checks the feeds and heads out to find Louis Chang before someone finds him first.
{{SerenNav}}

Episode3Act1

2017-09-13T02:44:13Z

Lucius: Created page with "==CAST== *Michi Nom *Karl *Dorota Kowal *Sarah Lee *Carina Yuzu *Louis ==EAVESDOWN DOCKS== On the way to Persephone, the crew of the newly minted Jeu sto..."

Firefly Journal

2017-09-13T02:43:07Z

Lucius: /* Episode 3 - March 1, 2518 - */

Here be the Stories of the Crew of the Kobukson.
==Pre-RP==
*[[Lessons]] - The co-captains when they were tweens at the Temple.
*[[Permanent Arrangement]] - Carina runs foul of a very dangerous man who knows a lot more about her goings-on than she could possibly believe.
*[[Construction Deconstruction]] - The co-captains of the Kobukson meet and discuss some of how they think the ship should come together.
*[[Beauty in All Forms]] - The co-captains are working on settling in as construction continues.

== Episode 1 - January 23, 2518 through January 27 2518==
*Prelude - [[Episode1Prelude|Explosions in Space]] - The crew of the Kobukson is heading into Kuan Lo's orbit when something blows in the engine. They were heading to meet up with their new engineer.
*Act 1 - [[Episode1Act1|Diagnoses]] - The new engineer and a doctor are brought back to the Kobukson.
**Interlude - [[Episode1Interlude|Plans]] - The new engineer and doctor have a chat with Michi.
*Act 2 - [[Episode1Act2|Who's going to Pay for that]]? - Michi, Carina, and Dorota meet with Felix Gary, the mechanic and owner of the Fix-n-Fly while Sarah takes Karl to her clinic to pack a few things.
*Act 3 - [[Episode1Act3|Mei Mei Cafe]] - The crew of the Kobukson, on the advisement of Felix Gary, head over to the Mei Mei Cafe in Mei Mei to look for Brennan Hughs.
*Act 4 - [[Episode1Act4|Investigations]] - The crew of the Kobukson split up, Sarah and Michi going to the Hospital while Carina and Dorota find out where Brennan Hughs lives..
*Act 5 Part 1 - [[Episode1Act5Part1|Infiltration]] - The crew of the Kobukson make their way into the Research Medical Facility to find Brennan Hughs
**Part 1a - [[Episode1Act5Part1a|The Fourth Floor]]
*Act 5 Part 2 - [[Episode1Act5Part2|Twists and Turns]] - As the crew of the Kobukson prepares to fight their way out of the facility, new barriers crop up.
*Act 5 Part 3 - [[Episode1Act5Part3|Nowhere but Up]] - Unable to make it back out of the medical facility the way they came, the crew of the Kobukson head up to the roof.
*Epilogue - [[Episode1Epilogue|Meal on the Ship]] - The crew successfully retrieves Hughs and manages to bring him back to Jie Jie. After waiting a few days while a new ship's engine is installed, the new crew of the Kobukson sits down for a well deserved meal.

== Episode 2 - January 28, 2518 - March 1, 2518==
*Prelude - [[Episode2Prelude|Mysterious Race]] - The crew of the Kobukson are nearing their destination. While they are closing in on the Moon Darcke, the crew finds out a little more about this mysterious race (which isn't much).
* Act 1 Part 1 - [[Episode2Act1Part1|An unknown debt]] - The crew of the Kobukson discover that the alliance is not only prowling the space above Darcke but also in the town Yong Yewon. When they inquire about Felix Gary's shipment, they are told to go to the Chuan.
* Act 1 Part 2 - [[Episode2Act1Part2|Here's the Deal]] - Michi, Carina, and Karl meet Shin Ma Chou who claims Michi owes him 20K Credits. Meanwhile, Sarah and Dorota get familiar with the rest of the club.
* Act 1 Part 3 - [[Episode2Act1Part3|What's going on?]] - The crew of the Kobukson still don't know what's going on. Why is the alliance here? What's the cargo that Shin Ma Chou wants them to take away?
* Act 1 Part 4 - [[Episode2Act1Part4|Closing in]] - The crew of the Kobukson are continuing to find out more information about the town they are in.
* Act 2 Part 1 - [[Episode2Act2Part1|A Plan]] - The crew of the Kobukson bat around ideas for getting the cargo and themselves safely away from Darcke.
* Act 2 Part 2 - [[Episode2Act2Part2|A Wrench in the Plan]] - After making a plan, the crew of the Kobukson realize it isn't going to work. So off they go to find out more information to make a better plan.
* Act 2 Part 3 - [[Episode2Act2Part3|All it's going to Cost you...]] - Getting outside help is so difficult sometimes. The crew of the Kobukson might think it's almost impossible.
* Act 3 Part 1 - [[Episode2Act3Part1|Let's do this]] - After all the preparations, the crew of the Kobukson is ready to move forward with their plan. Part 1...Leaving the system and sneaking back around to load the illicit cargo.
* Act 3 Part 2 - [[Episode2Act3Part2|And They Are Off]] - The Kobukson is in the air but their troubles aren't over yet.
* Act 3 Part 3 - [[Episode2Act3Part3|Punch It!]] - With fighter ships on their tail and a beacon calling them to pay attention to the Kobukson, there is no telling how the crew will get out of trouble.
* Act 4 - [[Episode2Act4|Epilogue]] - With fighter ships on their tail and a beacon calling them to pay attention to the Kobukson, there is no telling how the crew will get out of trouble.
== Episode 3 - March 1, 2518 - ==
*Prelude - [[Episode3Prelude|Grandma]] - Before the crew of the Kobukson can leave Kuan Lo, they have to do something about their possible identification. Thankfully Sarah knows someone who can provide them with a new identity for the ship.
*Act 1 - [[Episode3Act1|Welcome to Eavesdown Docks]] - A bustling town with many things to do. Hopefully no one gets lost.

{{SerenNav}}

An Off Witch, a Dangerous Imbalance

2017-09-12T12:41:09Z

2017-06-11T01:32:25Z

Lucius: /* LICENSE BUREAU */

==CAST==
*[[Michi Nom]]
*[[Karl]]
*[[Dorota Kowal]]
*[[Sarah Lee]]
*[[Carina Yuzu]]
*Grandma
*Louis
*ShiLiuHuang License Bureau Clerk

==LICENSE BUREAU==
It's March 1st and before the Crew of the Kobukson can leave the desert moon, they have one more stop to make. Sarah knows a woman who can help with their identification problem. With Sarah in the lead, she takes Michi and Karl to visit Grandma in ShiLiuHuang. Upon entering into ShiLiuHuang, the first thing you notice is the smell of rotten eggs. This area is riddled with sulphur deposits which makes it a rank place to live.

Michi wrinkles his nose but does not cover it or pinch it shut. "Everyone changes clothes off ship before they're allowed back in. I don't want this smell driftin' from us to the air scrubbers."

Sarah snorts, "No kidding. But, well, this is where you go when you don't want other people bothering you." She grins, "Grandma should be able to help us, at least. Just be polite, be nice, and keep your creds handy."

"I can be polite. I can be nice. We got meiyou for creds." Michi notes. "So, I hope she's in a trading mood."

Well that's a smell that is going to linger in Karl's nose for awhile. He isn't sure if mouthbreathing would be any better either. Smell it or taste it, both are equally bad. Nostrils flare as he sends up a wish for quick nose blindness. "I'll just stand back and keep quiet than." it just works better that way.

Sarah nods over towards Karl, "Probably the best. Keep a sharp eye out. Sometimes there's a queue, which might mean trouble depending on who's doing the queueing. I've dealt with her before." She smiles faintly, "Good business, mostly." She passes a look at Michi, then glances around the buildings as they pass by.

"Right." Michi will land the shuttle and make sure it is locked up tight before following Sarah. "One step at a time."

After securing the shuttle. Sarah leads the way past the outdoor market and down the street into the ShiLiuHuang License Bureau where there is a line of two people waiting for a man behind the only counter in the entire office. He is of middle age and very slow. Watching paint dry were faster than this man as the sayin goes.

Michi motions for Sarah to lead the way. "We need to actually get in line or...?"

Karl keeps an eye out as he follows behind the other two. One never knows where trouble is going to spring from better to be cognizant of all the potentials. Going into the bureau he looks at the man behind the counter and the two people that are waiting. "Or do we take a number?"

Sarah steps in line, perfectly polite, leaning in to whisper to Michi, "We get in line, we wait, and we make sure no one else is here." She takes a number, out of perfect propriety, and waits. Occasionally chattering about something inconsequential, and looking rather ditzy as she does so. And eventually, when they get to the counter to see the lone clerk, she shows him the chit. Not the actual number, mind, but a different chit, along with a most unditzy look.

Michi does his best not to claw off his own skin. Everything he enjoys doing and does well involve moving. Standing in line is all sorts of hell.

Who would have thought time could go any slower. Finally at the front, the man looks down at the chit and slowly reaches for it. He drags it closely to his eye as if he can't see nothing more than a pinkie width away. And as slow as he moves, he talks even slower. "You...want....to........see........Grandma?"

Sarah smiles politely, unfazed by the slowness. And maybe just enjoying Michi's discomfort a little, though she's /very/ careful not to display it. "Please."

Michi contemplates finding out if this guy dies as slow as he does everything else.

Patience is something Karl has in spades. Waiting in line isn't a big deal, and he has picked up an old magazine that some previous customer left behind. He flips through it until they get their turn when he rolls it up and sticks it in his backpocket.

"I....will.....calll..." And he painstakingly lifts the receiver of a rotary phone, his finger rolling over the circular dial. Blip Blip Blip. Then he says. "Someone....to...see......................................Grandma."

About five minutes after he hangs up, the one back door opens up and a young asian teen walks out to retrieve the group and take them to a back room where you finally get to meet Grandma, the tiniest asian woman with silver gray hair tied into a bun and two chopsticks sticking out. She gives all of you a shrewd eye.

"Ah, Customers" Grandma says and then notices Sarah and points. "No Refunds. All sales are final. Take your thugs with you. We don't abide trouble."

Michi glances aside at Sarah and then puts on her blandest "dealing with the Korean relatives" expression. "Whatever business you had with my ship's doctor is in the past, ma'am. I'm here for new business. My ship needs a coat of paint to make her look like... new."

Sarah bows deeply towards Grandma, then smiles, "I well remember Grandmother, and yes..." She straightens, and let's Michi do the talking at this point, passing a quick glance towards Karl.

"A new coat of paint, eh?" Grandma looks between Sarah and Michi. She pulls out of a pocket a monocle, places it on her left eye and moves closer to look Michi up and down pinching his arm. "You could use some meat on those bones, young man."

Karl looks down at himself. Thuggish wasn't the look he was going for today, but apparently he failed at that. He gives the old grandmother a bow. "Annyeonghaseyo halmeoni." he greets formally. Hey he can be polite.

"I'm happy to eat any food you have, assumin' you're providin' it for free, ma'am." Michi says with just a hint of a smile. "New coat of paint. I'll be up front. Last job didn't go so well. Lost some of the cargo. So, we'd need to offer in trade.

We're hopin' to run to Persephone next and we'd be glad to reserve space for any cargo or messages you need hauled."

Sarah gives Grandma a wry look, "He doesn't really listen to his friendly doctor as much as he should, this is true." She can quip on occasion, as she gives Michi a grin.

Grandma turns her attention to Karl, that same eye practically reading everything she can see which may not be much. "Aren't you a sweet young man. She reaches up and pinches his chin since she can't reach much higher seeing as she's pretty short. Then she turns and says to the young teen boy. "Louis, go get some food for my guests." The young boy bows and leads farther back into the bowels of the building as Grandma sits behind her desk saying to Sarah. "You bring such nice boys to see me. They keep you safe?"

Sarah actually blushes a bit, "Well, mostly... safe as I ever get, anyway." She smiles and nods again towards Grandmother, playing the part pretty well. Or is it actually a part, considering the last time they met after all...

"Thank you. Food would be lovely." Obviously, there's not going to be business until then. Michi's happy things are starting to move. "Doctor does a good job of keeping us safe. She's patched up a few hurts since we picked her up."

Karl knows well enough that no true reply to the rhetorical question is required, so he just rubs at the stubble on his chin and bobs his head. The mention of food is a good one. Eating someone else's cooking for once would be a refreshing change. He quietly thanks her again using the word halmeoni to refer to her.

"You come at good time, Grandma needs assistance. You do me favor and I give your ship a shiny new coat of paint." Then Grandma pulls out a feather pen and a paper to go with it. She starts making marks on the paper though if anyone peeks, it looks nothing like any language that anyone has seen. Then she gets down to business. "I need Ident Codes and name for your ship, last ports of call, where you registered her. What did you want to rename her?" She speaks as if you've already accepted the trade, ready to get down to business while waiting for Louis to come back.

This Michi was prepared for. He withdraws the leather portfolio which contains the ship's papers and information. "Jeju sounds nice. Never seen one but I hear they're pretty horses." He sets it down on the desk.

Sarah smiles as well, looking patiently at Grandma, then she gives Michi a curious look. Possibly at the new name for the ship, then she tilts her head back to Grandma, waiting for her to unveil the favor to be requested.

Grandma takes chicken scratch notes, reviewing the ship papers. The young teen Louis comes back and sets down a tray of tea and finger sandwiches. Then he steps behind grandma and waits, eyes down. She asks some questions as she takes notes. When she is done, she stands up with the papers. "Very well. Come back in one hour and you will have new papers. The data will need a week to get to most systems so stay away from other ports until then. In return, you take Louis with you. Keep him safe for me."

"Grandma!" Louis looks up, surprised.

"Sounds good." Why does she want the boy on the ship? Michi has no idea. But it doesn't matter. They're over a barrel here. Or in one and about to go down the falls. Or over the falls without a barrel and this lady has one. Something involving barrels. "Pleasure doing business with you, ma'am."

Sarah blinks in surprise, then nods again towards Grandma, "Of course. We will keep him safe." She gives Louis a curious look at that, but saves the questions about that for later

Michi adds, "Karl, you're in charge of making sure Louis has a berth and a place on the duty roster." Everyone works aboard the Jeju.

"Grandma! You can't send me with them," Louis says above all the plans being made around him.

Grandma rounds on Louis. "Don't Grandma me! You get into trouble, you need leave until things blow over."

"But I didn't do anything. I swear." Louis proclaims.

"It don't matter if you didn't. She thinks you did," Grandma says.

Louis balls his fists, Karl can feel the anger coming off him and just under that, the fear.

Grandma turns away from Louis and turns to the group. "Come back in an hour and Louis will be ready for you with your papers and wrapped sandwiches for your trip."

"I've got two more on my crew. One of them is a vegetarian when she can be." Michi says. "We'll be back in an hour." He nods his head to the old woman respectfully and motions towards the others. "Let's go radio the ship, let them know we've got a guest boarding."

Well that was unexpected. Karl looks from Grandma to Louis, sizing the boy up for a moment as he feels the anger and fear from the kid. "Captain." he says to Michi. His way of saying he's on it. His brain is already trying to figure out how to divide up the duties and if the kid is a trouble maker keeping him busy is going to be important.

Sarah smiles and bows towards Grandma, "Thank you Grandmother." She then gives Louis a bit of a wry expression, "Oh, I'm sure it could be worse."

==COMPANY RESEARCH==
Meanwhile, Carina and Dorota stay back at the Ship, prepping. There is an engine to disassemble and final destination plans to make. Carina has two companies to research and locations to plot. For the moment, Carina and Dorota are in the Common Area.

"How goes the work on the disassembly?" Carina inquires of Dorota, as she continues tapping along on her keyboard, making notes of what she wants to look up, and what resources she should use, from which hubs. "Did you want another coffee before you get back to it?"

"It goes," Dorota says in somewhat pained tones. She's not enjoying the task, no, not at all.

She seems distracted, too. After a moment Dorota responds. "More coffee would be good."

"Sorry it's such a pain." Carina offers understandingly, as she pours the other woman another cup of coffee, then hands it over. Then she logs into one of the hubs and starts looking for more information. "C'mon ... where is he?" she mutters, prodding at the keys. "No, Marcus. Pay attention." she growls. "I don't want to know what you and Gary are planting in your garden. I just want the contact information for General Joe." She continues to narrate a bit as she struggles. "Finally!" A sound effect comes out as a message is packaged and sent to the contact info she has finally obtained.

"Doesn't that depend on the garden?" Dorota quips, taking the (cheap) coffee. "On the other hand, I'm learning quite a bit from this.

"Here we go. A lead on Esther Tsonji." Carina continues, murmuring. "Looks like she's going to be on Persephone for a fundraiser event. That's totally her sort of thing." And honestly one of the sorts of events Esther used to hire Carina to attend with her. "I'll mention that to Michi when he gets back. That might be doable."

After a while, another sound effect comes through the speakers, as a return message appears. "Hah! Way to go. Alright, Joe ... let's see if I can decode this." Carina gets up, heading into her cabin, and then returns with an actual paper book in hand. She flips through the book, checking against certain numbers, and puzzling things out for a bit. "Mmm. Madcap." More typing. "That's a moon of Kerry, in the Georgia system. Good old McIntyre, really has done well for himself. That's at least two shops he has going."

"General Joe McIntyre?" Dorota frowns, thoughtfully. "What *is* he up to these days?"

Carina pauses and turns her head towards the hatch to the engine room. "Well, he's running Border Joe's." Which is one of the companies they all agreed would be worth trying to get to sponsor them in the race. "He has two shops open, now. Why do you ask?"

"He is?" Dorota frowns. "My brother's ship was in some of the same actions. I haven't...talked to my brother since the war. I don't even know if he made it."

Carina hrms. "Well, Joe was one of my contacts for much of the war. But he moved on to legit work." She doesn't go on to explain just what it is //she// did during the war. Nunya. But apparently she knew Joe.

"Hrm." Dorota considered. "He might know something, he might not. Do you think it might be worth asking him?" After all, Carina seems to know the guy, she might be able to guess whether he would cooperate. Curling her hand around the coffee mug, she falls silent and sips slowly.

"Ask him right, respect him, sure, I think he'd discuss what he knows. You're family, after all." Carina offers honestly. "I might be able to make introductions, if things work out."

Dorota nods. "I'd like that. Which means the worst case scenario is that he has no idea what happened to Jakob either." Dorota hasn't talked much about her brother. He was...well...he was the criminal one, although she doesn't think that's a bad thing the way she once did.

Dorota finally looks up from the coffee. "Part of me isn't sure I want to know. Just in case." Which is worse...bad news or no news?"

"Only you can make that decision, Dorota." Carina offers. Yep. That sounded like a shrink. Then again, Companion. Go figure.

"I know." She finishes her coffee. "I think they'll be back soon?" She hopes so, anyway. Although she probably *should* get back to dismantling that poor engine.

==FORMERLY KNOWN AS KOBUKSON==

An hour later, the crew of the Kobukson soon to be Jeju, return to pick up Louis and their new papers along with a bag of tasty sandwiches, with actual bread and even some non-soy vegetables, enough for all of the crew and Louis. Louis' demeanor is defiant, fists balled, jaw set. He will follow Michi, Karl, and Sarah to the shuttle and then back to the ship, refusing to say anything for the moment.

"Lunch!" Michi shouts as he climbs down from the shuttle. Of course, Karl has the basket. "Carina, there's actual tomatoes on your's! We're taking off after we eat." The possibility of getting additional cargo on this mudball seems slim and Grandmother seemed sure the boy needed to be off planet asap.

Of course Karl has the basket. That's why he is paid the big credits. As soon as they get to the common area he unloads the basket takes a couple of sandwiches for himself and pretends that nothing is amiss for the moment. Just another day in paradise.

"Hey. Welcome back." Carina calls out. "Looking forward to lunch, definitely. By the way, I have a few leads for us. We should talk about that." She then comes around the corner and watches the approach of ... the passenger. "And this is ... ?"
Dorota sets aside her empty coffee mug and gets up, moving to investigate the sandwiches. "Taking off..." And then she tails off. They have a visitor?

Sarah smiles a bit, "This is Louis, and he'll be staying with us for a spell it appears." She glances at Louis, then says, "Grandma seemed to think it best to get you off planet A-S-A-P, and it's always best to listen to her." Her voice grows a bit stern, in case the young man is thinking of being rebellious about that.

"Someone thinks Louis did something." Michi notes as he settles in and picks up his sandwich. He takes a bite. Chews. Swallows. "We're getting him in the Black and away for a while. Keepin' a watch on him. In exchange, this is now the Jeju." Michi withdraws the new papers. "Dorota, we'll need the new identity installed before we get near anywhere that'll pick it up."

Dorota nods. "I'll get it in right after lunch." She claims a sandwich, settling into a seat. "So, Louis, right?" Her attention, with a slight and apparently genuine smile, is turned to the boy.

Louis exits the shuttle following Michi and Sarah with Karl behind him. He sulkily enters the common room. Things seem to change though when he looks up at the voice that was speaking and his eyes catch Carina's. For a split instant, something cracks in the so far hard shell as his jaw drops. But then when Sarah speaks sternly he glares at her and goes back to angry boy pose. He crosses his arms defiantly. "You expect to fly this Gorram piece of junk? I'd be safer in a pit of lions. And I ain't done nothin'. Thems that say so are lyin."

Sarah smirks right back, "It does not matter what you did, Louis. What matters is they think you did it, and they'll put you in the ground before you can try and convince them otherwise. And I'm not getting in trouble with Grandma." Her eyes look right amused, "Don't hu che <talk nonsense>, you're riding, not flying."

"Some people think way to much for their own good." Karl says between bites of his sandwich "Just don't go planning anything stupid and you'll be fine once it blows over." he looks pointedly at Louis as if to say /yeah I know you are planning something/ There is a gesture to Sarah "What the doc said." as for the comment about the ship. He just lives here, so no offense to him.

"Kid, you're about to see what this heap of junk can do." Dorota winks at Michi. He'll probably take it as a challenge. Or is Michi a she right now? Hrm. He, she thinks. It's hard to keep track sometimes.

"This boat'll fly. We've got a good crew." Michi will let Carina handle smoothing the boy over. He remembers the effect Carina has on teenage boys. And girls. "We're off the ground in an hour. As soon as the new chip's installed. "I'll start with the pre-flight now."

"It's not very nice to speak ill of my ship, Louis." Carina offers, because she did NOT miss that reaction. Nope. Sorry. This is who she is, who she was raised to be, tough noogies. "And give you'll be board, I would think you would hope this would go safely. Unless you like sucking Black?" That said, the blonde makes her way to the table and sniffs at the sandwich offered her, and then contains her urge to drool as she opens it, and nibbles at it with painful slowness. She intends to savor this beyond all reason.

And with that, curtains close on the crew of the newly minted JeJu and a sullen passenger as they finish lunch and prep for their next destination where there are Hugs for your Feet and guns for your hands: Persephone.

{{SerenNav}}