Reprise! Act 1!

[Carthrat]

A few moments after Relm leaves, Carthrat-chan snatches up her package, and wanders out the town herself, figuring that it might be worth looking around the place and soaking up some of that medival atmosphere.

-

Meanwhile, from the north gate, a few travellers on horses appear. One of them is obviously a mage; the pointy hat and black robes kind of gave it away. However, the others appear to be commoners; unarmed, and wearing simple clothing.

As they walk towards the town square, a small group of Unionists walk out their building, and look in their direction, evidently waiting for them.

[Carthrat]

After a short moment, the party of horsemen reach the town centre, and face up to the unionists, who speak first.

"Well! If it isn't the main party from the Central Office. You must be Foreman Dreschan!" says one of the Unionists, looking quite excitable.

"You've really come at the perfect time, we've got a bit of ah.. situation."

[Bean Bandit]

In a forest nearby the little town of Sun'y'dale, and age old philosophical question was being tested.

>CRASH!<

Indeed, a tree falling in the forest, with no one there to hear it DID make a sound.

Admittedly, they young man punching them down may have skewed the test a bit.

"Gawd-F*scking *&^@!! Genetics."


>CRASH!<

"Pop, When I get back home...Grrr!"

>CRASH!<

The young man in question was tall, nearly six feet in height, with a shock of wildly spiky black hair pulled away from his face and currently stormy dark eyes by a crimson headband.

Despite the strength implied by the fact that he was casually punching down trees, and the long, (nearly eight feet in length) heavily wrapped bundle on his shoulder, he was more wiry than bulky, in fact, he was possessed of a lankiness found in the youngest of men, no longer a child, but not yet a man.

His clothing was simple, only black, drawstring pants, and a heavy tunic of dark blue. The hand he was punching trees down with was bandaged, and his feet were protected by split toed cloth boots.

He sighed heavily as he crested a hill, and caught sight of a nearby town...if it could be called that. Even charitably speaking, it was tiny.

"Hm. Don't feel much like seeing other people just yet..." He decided, setting down the wrapped bundle, and dropping a small duffle at his feet, he sat down against one of the trees, and opened the bag, pulling out a small, high tech looking nutrient bar.
"Man, these things taste terrible...Oneechan's cooking is better than this..."

Saying nothing more, he simply began to eat.

[Rezantis]

OOC:  Sorry.  >_>

IC:

Crossing the center square without incident, Relm stepped into the Mage Guild.

Not that it was signposted, but only mages would have a large iron ball levitating above their roof.  Not to mention have the arrogance to try it.

The room she'd entered was clean and deserted, with the exception of a clerk sitting behind an ornate desk, writing on something.  Relm couldn't see from this angle.  While she was surveying the room, the clerk looked up irritably.

"Can I help you?"  Last thing we need is more gawking yokels . . .

Relm smirked.  "I was hoping I could look through some books in your library."

The clerk gave her a flat stare.  "I'm sorry, but our archives are not publically viewable."

Relm didn't answer, and just handed over a sealed piece of parchment, waiting patiently as the clerk opened and read through it, his expression changing as he did so.

"You will of course, ah," the clerk paused for a moment, "contribute to the upkeep of our establishment while you're here, correct?"

Relm placed two gold on the desk, and looked at the clerk.

"Right, of course," the clerk pocketed the gold and stood up, "Allow me to show you to the books you were looking for."

[Carthrat]

"A.. situation?" replies Dreschan. "This place *is* a situation. Look at you! This office has been here for months, yet the town has hardly been assimilated.. honestly, an office of what 20 officials and not one brain amongst you, is what I hear."

The Unionist starts making some feeble excuses. "Oh, shut up," butts in Dreschan. "So tell me your situation."

Relieved, the Unionist starts explaining in-depth the problems that have assualted him ever since 'that man' with a bigass club started flagrantly flaunting the union rules.

Dreschan is unimpressed. "While your zeal is commendable, you should know that there is no point picking fights you cannot win. At the very least you should've called for reinforcements."

"Umm.. yes, sir," replies the Unionist.

"Now, I want you fools to follow me. We'll see if we can't find this.. rulesbreaker. Keep in mind we wouldn't *have* to if you clowns hadn't gone and spooked him so badly he's likely to throw a pipe in the works sooner or later.."

Dreschan mutters a string of arcane words under his breath, and his eyes suddenly turn red. "Right. He lies in this direction," he says, pointing into the alleyways of the town. "You go first."

[Carthrat]

Meanwhile...

The Mystic Forest was well known amongst the inhabitants of Sun'y'Dale for being one of the main barriers of trade between the North and the South. This was largely on account of three things; firstly, it is difficult to find the correct path through the forest; secondly, the journey as it is was a long one, with no known towns or supplies between the two lands, and thirdly, and most importantly, the weird monsters it spewed out from time to time.

Inevitably, these monsters would demolish the south wall and destablize the existing social structure. It was only due to Sun'Y'Dales advantageous location as a crossroads that it was still standing today, as the public knew that traders would come with supplies to rebuild their town- and money.

Sun'y'Dale lucked out today, though; instead of picking directly on the town, the fierce monster that would've sacked it instead focused it's attention on a smaller, apparently easier target.

It was also a loud target. While some creature may have given pause to a single human knocking down trees with his bare hands (not to mention the recent earthquakes the area has suffered), this creature had a higher opinion of itself than most.

It's methods were not subtle.

It's power was undeniable.

It's tactics were seemingly unbeatable.

-

While Ryoma is munching away, his vision is inevitably drawn to a half-naked girl walking towards him, the look on her face promising incredible happiness.

She was wearing an apparent two-piece made entirely of leaves that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, and her beautiful figure was enough to send most men (and a few girls) into a daze simply upon seeing her..

[Bean Bandit]

Ryoma looked up from his wholly inadequate lunch. He noted the girl, raising an eyebrow at her manner of dress, which was more than odd. She was ludicrously attired for wandering out in out in a forest.

This manner of thought was unusual for a young man of Ryoma's age.

Most young men of his age would have been instantly in lust. More than a few would have tried seduction on the spot. The vast majority would have been struck dumb with awe.

Ryoma was none of these things. His only reaction, invisible to anyone watching, was the sudden mental superimposing of another girl's face over the apparition of beauty...and a sudden wave of soul-crushing grief.

His jaw tightening almost imperceptibly, he took the last few bites of his rations, watching the girl out of the corner of his eye.

[Carthrat]

The creature was surprised. It's current observations of humans had shown that this sort of form would reduce the male half of the species into veritable mush.

Perhaps a closer vicinity was required. With that, the woman approached Ryoma, a sly smile on her face. And wiggling her hips in the most *outrageous* fashion...

<->

Meanwhile.. within the town square..

The union was out in force today. Apart from the squad searching the area for their prey, the rest of the squad was out checking passes, to make sure no *other* punks were attempting to infiltrate them. A couple of people had already been hauled away, despite protests of 'I left my wallet at home!'.

Inevitably, one of them approached Ginn.. "Excuse me, sir, but may I see your union pass?"

[Bean Bandit]

Ryoma almost...ALMOST blushed. He settled for growling instead, one pointed fang slipping over his lip. This woman had to be some sort of prostitute. What on earth was she doing out here?

"Lady, stop right there. I want to be alone. Leave me be."

[Carthrat]

The woman paused. Admittedly, her studies might be a few centuries out of date, but could humans have changed so much? They were simple little creatures, after all..

She wasn't entirely sure what it had just said, of course; such a simple language was, ironically, beyond her. It was obviously rejecting her advances, which made this all the more difficult.

Perhaps an even less subtle method was called for. It was, at least, to her mind, unique.

Another point of irony is that a glomp is hardly unique, having been in use for several millenia, virtually since humans learnt to bathe and could be considered 'attractive' rather than 'not entirely disgusting'. It didn't stop the woman leaping towards Ryoma, arms outstretched, though..

[Bean Bandit]

Ryoma's eyes narrowed, and his hands came up, intercepting the woman's wrists before they could reach him, arresting her lunge and holding her fast. "I said I didn't want to be disturbed."

[Carthrat]

An interesting response. If the first two volleys had not suceeded, the third very damn well should have.

Well, it seemed that all hopes of a peaceful assimilation were called off. A new strategy would have to be taken.

Ryoma may have been somewhat surprised when the woman simply dissolved into a mist and floated away..

[Bean Bandit]

Ryoma started, and frowned as the woman vanished into mist.

Bad news. I'm outta here. He decided. Picking up his bag, and wrapped bundle, he headed towards the town...

[Ginnezumusha]

Ginn wandered through town past the guy asking him a question, looking at a map of Seattle and trying to gain his bearings.

Lets see, pike street should be this way...

Walking down another path, he came across a group of people leading what looked like a archotypical mage.

"Scuze me!  Yeah, you!  Do you know where I am?  I'm kinda lost..."

[Carthrat]

The 'archetypical mage' whirls round and stares at Ginn, before speaking, in a deep, rumbling voice.. "Sun'Y'Dale. More specifically, you are at location x223 y521 of the Area Map."