LPRKN

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

On his way out of the town Nak stopped him. Luckily she didn't join him in the potion shop. Her presence may have put a damper on the play. Now she was asking about enlisting his help to to sell some of her goods, the mechanical birds he had seen before.

.... for your trouble."

" Sweetheart, you came to the right man. T.C. Bywater is a barker extraordinaire, a master salesman. Stick wit me and we'll both be coin flush. We can talk my commish after we empty those saddlebags. Listen, let's head to where the travelling merchants have set up by the town gate. We can find a spot there, and we will be where El Capitan took the girls trick or treating."

Anzu and Skank carried Nak to the edge of town. Local farmers, roaming merchants and trinket peddlers had lined the road leading into the town gate. People and other traders were milling about. " Why don't you stake your spot between that cabbage selling fuck and the broad wit the shitty rugs. Yeah you heard me you bug eyed fuck, mind your own business before I mind it for you, you bug eyed fuck you! Sorry, yeah right there. Put your birds out and bits out and give me a few minutes, capiche?"

TC hopped on Skank and rode back into town, parking her by the gate. Out of eyesight, TC cast minor illusion on himself to make his clothes seem just a bit nicer and more expensive. He even changed his hair color for the forthcoming performance. After several minutes, with the bravado of a man twice his wealth and a height three times, he walked back to Nak's impromptu shop. TC raised his voice to a volume that was not needed for small business dealings, but a volume that got the attention of other shoppers," Well whatta we gotta ovah here! Are these the Avian Artifices that are all the rage in New Bastion! Why, all the nobility and well to do as far as the Western Sea are clamoring about these birds. Humble saleswoman, please tell me the no doubt outlandish price these beauties will cost me." TC paused but didn't let Nak get a word out before continue, " Why by the gods! That is a flabbergastingly low price for such a coveted and prized item that would certainly become any families treasured heirloom. I will leave at once and return with gold in great store to be purchasing the whole stock so that these mere peasents won't be able to enjoy such otherworldly craftsmanship!" TC beamed a wide toothy grin at Nak, winked and waddled back to the gate, where he shed his illusion. After a few moments he would return to sit near Nak, but not too close as to ruin the con. Ever prideful, he wanted to see how the play worked.

Patiently he would wait to see how well she would make out, and subsequently him, and to see if Fionn would exit the wagon with the girls and the orc.

Love Bomb Piracy Front - Prologue

Colin, Giggles and Hound left Valentine Armaments behind them. The ringing of the customer bell it's last occupant. Hound bounded down the street after the smell, but the olfactory target quickly switched to audio when a gunshot cracked out over the drone of the city. As they continued down the street together, the gunshot was shortly followed by the wail of a far off fire alarm. Giggle's gear seemed to give a much better understanding of what was going, something Colin was thankful for. As he lagged behind Giggles and Hound he couldn't help but feel like an old world hunter, following two of the most capable blood hounds in the universe, there wasn't a fox in any system that could hide from these two for long.

As they neared a drawbridge, Hound's tail spun counter clockwise as his haunches lowered to the ground, he was hitting the brakes hard, his nose twitched even harder. without prompt he leapt the guardrail and made his way down to the bank of the old canal. " Slow... down.. Hound.. Oh, Saints preserve us."

The smell of blood recently spilled drew both of Colin's trackers to it's source. A massacre of five corporate mercs under an overpass similar to the one where Colin stashed his tools.

...really confident mother fucker."

Colin backed up under the bridge, trying to hide his vitals as much as possible. He looked down at the mercs as Hound paced from one to the other breathing it all in. Colin clicked his tongue for Hound to come to him, which he didn't do right away, his more predatory instincts wanted all the info he could get about these cadavers. Colin clicked his tongue again and Hound relented.

....But I think my people need me."

For a moment Colin was back on Wiklow, the dead mercs before him dressed just like the Belocorp thugs. Another corporation ruining the lives of people caught in their crossfire. A younger Colin would have hid or ran, he would have gotten in line, pulled out his pockets and put his hands on the wall. Today's Colin had Hound, who looked at him expectantly almost saying Really!? We are just gonna tuck our tails again, this close to finding a ship?! Bare your teeth man! Colin felt the weight of the gun on his ribs and looked at Giggles, machine gun at the ready, head pointed in no discernible direction yet everywhere at once. " All my people are gone now, cause of jacked up gobshites like these fookers. I'm tired of watching that happen to people. I says I was witch ya and when I'm witch ya, I'm witch ya." Hound had wandered back to one of the bodies, clenched his teeth on its collar and shook it for good measure." That clearly goes for Hound as well. "

Colin's SHIPBUDDI screamed to life. He flinched and flailed trying to get it's traitorous beeping to stop. A young girl, about 18, sporting a wry smirk was the only thing on its screen. Try as he might, he couldn't get it off or tell where her picture had come from. Then it dawned on him, he turned the screen to Giggles, as if wasn't already seeing it. " I think this wee lass might just be involved. Your omniscient optics, see her anywhere? See if we can get a word with this smug colleen."

💣 Love Bomb Piracy Front 💣

You have my vote, though I would leave approval up to the Captain, @HeroicSociopath or the first mate @Antarctic Termite.

I think a dedicated hacker opens up some avenue's for us.

Much more than, another person stealing my characters accent cough cough gimmick infringement cough. jk

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

TC wondered through Wesville, alone for the time being. Much to his chagrin his naked feet were now caked with mud, which was the usual for a small village like Wesville. TC would have much rather preferred the smooth cobblestones of New Bastion over this back water town, but Fionn and his Kindred seeked the aid of some fortune teller. TC didn't put much stock in their ilk, he new all the cons they would play to learn things about a mark, so they could tell them exactly what they wanted to hear. Even if the oracle was legit, and had powers either natural or given, the visions he was getting were coming from somewhere that TC didn't trust. I'm just a capo for The Greedfather, dis mook is just a hand puppet for something else.

Eventually TC found the alchemist shop. It's faded wooden sign was shaped like a sunflower, the words reading Ulfric & Sons. TC waited for a young women to enter before him so he could case the place while the staff was busy. The young woman was known by the man at the counter, either Ulfric or one of his sons, she was picking up something she wanted to be discrete about. This gave time for TC to look over the wares. The man kept a wide range of minor curative potions lined on the shelf behind the counter. TC's eyes ran through the names listed below the multi-hued fluids. Two Quick Cure Decoctions and some Holy Water ought to do it for this venture.I sure as the nine hells aint paying 150 gold for those, even though I can front it. I can't do a pushout cuz the merch isnt out front. I cant pull a milk spill cuz frankly, I can't reach the shelf. I'll have to get Ulfric to get me the pots. Okay, I guess I have to run a spell combo.

TC walked up to the counter as the woman was leaving with her package. He rapped his knuckles on its wooden base as he couldn't see over it. The shopkeep leaned over the edge to peer down. TC smiled his best disarming smile, " Hey ya Friend. It's good to see ya Ulfric." TC let the Charm Person spell slip past his teeth, he paused to see how it took. The man looked confused for a second then smiled back, "Oh hello good to see you too. Um, I'm Ulfred. Ulfric was my father." Oh of course kid, sorry you look just like your old man to the small eyes which I have. Listen, me and your Pa did a lot of business back in the day, good man, and I hope I can carry on this business venture with his capable young progeny. Imma need two of those Quick Cure Decoctions and a swirl of that Holy Water, preferably in something throwable and breakable." The man turned to fill up vials with TC's requests, " Sure thing sir. It is good to see you again, it has been some time I guess, I can't remember the last time we met. It is also good to hear someone speak fondly of my Father, not many do," Ulfred placed the three vials on the far edge of the counter above TC, " that will be one hundred and fifty gold pieces sir." TC winced, he realized he should watch how much sugar he added to his words." Oh sure thing kid, let me get that," TC reached into his bag, but instead of grabbing his coin purse he formed a somatic gesture with his hands, " say, Friend, have you heard anything about an Oracle coming to town?" Ulfric's eyes glazed again and a sinister smile crept onto his cheeks, " Oh yes sir. Some filthy boar-ploughing Orc set up his wagon outside the town gate, filthy green monster." The idea of robbing this man felt even better to TC, now that his spell had revealed Ulfred's racist nature. TC flicked his pinky ring and cast his minor illusion to the back of the shop. A cacophany of shattering glass erupted from his back room. " Oh, Ulfred you better check that, bet it's that orc now." White as a sheet, Ulfred ran to his back room, leaving the vials on the counter. TC plopped each one into his bag and quietly walked out the door.

Soon he was back on Skank, riding the dog to the town's edge to see this orc and it's travelling wagon.

Love Bomb Piracy Front - Prologue

Colin took the lightweight stubby pistol and looked it over. He did as he was advised and loaded up on magazines, he also grabbed an under arm holster and put it on under his jacket. It seemed the weapon he was given was simple enough, just point and click. He would research more on it on the SHIPBUDDI when he got the chance.

Say, I'll help you, I already owe Marco a ride."

Colin smiled a big, mad smile," Savage, mate! I'm with ya. Bless you." but his jovial attitude's return was cut short. Colin should have noticed what Hound was doing when he sniffed about the room. He wasn't getting the smoke smell, but he was sure that Hound's keen senses were. Colin clicked his tongue to get Hound's attention, " Hound, troubleshoot, smoke." he commanded with the appropriate hand signs that Hound understood.

Hound bristled, as his tail went straight and his nose locked onto the smell. Find the smoke's source.

Colin looked at Giggles, " He'll show us where this crash is if we let him lead the way. That is if we want to jump from one dangerous situation to the next, which seems to be how me day is going. Either way I'm witch ya."

Love Bomb Piracy Front - Prologue

@Antarctic Termite

Just so I get it right, what do you mean as "glove attachment"? Does the gun leap to a glove, is the grip special, or does it just come with a special glove to make drawing easier?

Love Bomb Piracy Front - Prologue

Colin fumbled into his pocket for the SHIPBUDDI as he walked back into the store. He began punching Marco in as a contact, as soon as he was done, he got the ping for Giggles, which he named Gucci as instructed.

We're in a boat, then."

" Oh aye mate. Yeah Hound is no jump-frigate lap dog, but he is mighty handy as a engineer's assistant 'bliev it or not. We sort of 'got' each other. We are both just forgotten leftovers, from a war neither of us wanted." Colin eyed the assortment of weaponry in the room as Giggles took his share of merchandise. Colin thought to himself, I can't expect Hound to be our sole protection on this journey, in case something like this happens again, I'll need more then a glorified pipe wrench. He looked over the display case of guns, he saw some that both sides of the conflict used on Wiklow. Many more were beyond his knowledge or expertise. Giggles seemed to know a lot about guns, so he sheepishly asked for help." Say mate, if this armory really is up for grabs, what would you recommend for some one who, let's say, is more accustomed to hiding from gunfire , than administering it? If I'm gonna keep running into bloke's like the badger/humvee hybrid out there, I should at least have some kind of real weapon." Colin scanned the names, calibers and ammunition types of all the weapons as Hound leapt from the couch and sniffed about the room.

"And as far as contacts go, yeah, I'm just looking for some work. I'm more than capable with a ships engines, my hopes right now are to just get out of here, see some more of that great wide wonder. You wouldn't happen to need a ship's engineer, would you? Or know if that fella Marco is changing careers?"

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

@Silvan Haven @Lyla @CoyoteLovely @Lmpkio @t2wave

Fionn had decided that the group should approach the ruins from the Wesville side. This rag tag band would stop here to get some info from an Oracle. As much as TC preferred the sights and sounds of a big city like New Bastion, the first city didn't claim to have an oracle, and if it did TC didn't know where to find it.

Elise and Scarlett had lead a stray back to camp. TC had joked that if they fed it, it would keep coming back. The joke was quickly redirected towards his expense and how much of the deer he had put away. Skank didn't seem to like the Sphinx, but they may have been the fact that part of it was the biggest cat she had ever seen. Either way she kept her distance. TC was still not sure how he felt about the sphinx named Shiluuki, the creature was so alien to him. TC could not get a read on the beast, but it seemed far more intelligent than his usual bag of tricks.

TC rode Skank right past Nak, talking over his shoulder as he went, "Don't feel special sweetheart, I'm sure some Hedge Wizards rode into town on a stranger steed. I heard of an Elementalist that use to ride inside a Gelatinous Cube from town to town. Your gonna get some stares, but you just tell em, "Ey you pork-pegging peasent fuck, get outta here, fuggit about it.""

TC rode up to Fionn," Anywheres you want us to meet boss? After yous find your fortune cookie?" I think I'll head to the herbalist, see what swill I can swindle from that mudhut."

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

TC brought his head up from the plate of meat he was focused on to noticed that he had been left alone at their camp. His request for Parsepepper to Nak seemed to have rubbed her the wrong way. Hey I'm just sharing cooking tips here , no need to threaten, no need to get ya leathers in a twist. Fionn followed after her. The two girls had set off for their, past due and much needed, training session before they headed to the ruins. It was just Mr. Bywater and the Nightmare, Anzu.

TC set his plate down quietly then took a quick perusal of Nak's things. As he got close enough see what she had laid out in her campsite. He caught a look at Anzu's eyes. They seemed to stare right through him, piercing black marbles, like windows into oblivion. He froze for a moment, and rethought his actions. Maybe just wait for the good dwarven stuff. He calmly turned around like he was just stretching his legs and settled back into his previous spot, laced his fingers behind his head, and relaxed. There will be plenty for the taking soon.

@coyotelovely@silvan haven@lyla@lmpkio

Love Bomb Piracy Front - Prologue

@Antarctic Termite please feel free to kick off our transition on Frixiom Prime, looking forward to it!