Fionn's armor caught Nak's eye as he spoke, she raised her chin slightly, recognizing the look of the armor. She had seen it on one of the other worlds she'd been on - not an exact copy, of course, but the style was right. He certainly had been around... 

"As for the 'mechanicka' as you put it. Well, Ecetopia is swimming in mana. Bursting at the seams. So much so that unshielded or improperly constructed technology tends to fail if it spends too much time here. The combination of easy magic and the difficulties of progressing past clockwork means that technology is something of a secondary or tertiary concern here," he explained. 

"It is possible, then, that my machines will stop working as well? Though perhaps I am at an advantage..." she stopped walking and looked over at him. "Though I am unique among my people in that I cannot use magic as a sorcerer, I am still able to wield it in my own way. I apologize if what I am about to show you is disquieting, but I believe you may be able to help me with my answers, and for that, I must be honest with you." 

Nak slowly lifted the eyepatch over her right eye. The glass eye beneath glowed with arcane power. The skin around her eye was scarred and rent, as though it had been torn by claws. But, most notable of all - when the eyepatch was removed, the faint whirring noises it made stopped, "My eyepatch is run on the magic I store in the glass eye I wear. It is of my design, I need it for vision and depth. I believe the eye itself is what would be called a [i]battery [/i]on some planets. There are places I have been where I... ah, what was the phrase... interrupt instrumentation... I learned much of technology in those places, though because of my nature - true technology remains out of my reach. My machines are no more technology than a fireball from a wizard's fingers." 

She replaced the eyepatch and turned to continue to walk. Within seconds, the faint whirring sound had started again, and Nak blinked a few times as the data fed back through her once more. 

Fionn explained the Kindred, and she nodded her understanding. 

"Darkness is not unknown to me. In my youth I fought it, however unsuccessfully. You will be an invaluable resource to me, Fionn. I hope that I am able to be the same for you. My journey through this... vast universe... has been through the underlying realm that connects us all, the realm of dreams. My steed, Anzu, is a Nightmare in many ways. He can walk through the dimension that binds us, and lead me to new places. It is because of him that I am safe, but it is also because of him that I am lost," Nak explained. She was usually quite reticent about opening up, however - her questions were many, and her answers few. If she trusted no one, she would achieve nothing. She needed to put forth her faith, and Fionn seemed a good candidate to receive it. 

"If you are not from here, then how did you come to arrive? And by what means do you travel?" Nakreyya asked, curiously. 


*** 

Nak listened to TC perhaps too earnestly as he road past her, but by the end of his statement, she had actually cracked a rare smile, "[i]Pork-pegging peasant fuck[/i]..." Nak repeated the words carefully, one eyebrow rising in amusement as she tried to suppress her smile. "My dear TC, you are positively colorful. I do not believe it would be in my nature to state such to any who looked my way, however, I shall endeavor to remember that phrase in case I find proper cause to use it in the future."

All the same, TC's words had the desired effect. Her shoulders relaxed and she looked toward the town, "Well, Anzu, shall we? I have not seen a town in some months, it may be nice to shop, and we shall see if I can find a new brush for your mane, seeing as you burnt the last one." 

The pitch black horse snorted as if amused, throwing his fire mane to one side. Nakreyya shook her head quietly. She listened to TC ask where they would meet, and waited for Fionn's answer before nodding and starting forward with Anzu's reigns still held in one hand. 

"Ah, TC, before you ride off..." Nakreyya stopped him. "If you do not mind - would you perhaps be so inclined as to allow me to walk with you? You seem rather adept at the towns and shops here, and I believe you know the value of the coin. I would like to learn. I have a little to sell - meat, and the toy mechanical birds, perhaps you can help me find a place to trade them? I would be amenable to offering a commission to you on any sale I make this day, for your trouble." 

She bowed lightly to TC as she made her request, wishing to respect his knowledge, and convey her sincerity. 

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