The Airship: Arrival at Asturia.

[Agita]

Hadur gives off a relieved laugh at Krylvliktl's explanation. "Oh, I see. In that case, I'd be happy to watch."

[skydragonknight]

As the hustle and bustle of the city begins to die down, the sun starts to fall in the sky, saying "Screw this, I'm out of here!" to anyone who cared to listen closely enough, which was almost no one. The day had gone faster than expected for most people and already nearly all of the torches had been lit around the middle of Asturia. Musicians with various instruments were busy warming up on the stone floor of the central square just south of the Palace gates, where there would soon be dancing. Though as large as the square was, it could not accommodate everyone, so a small fee was to be paid to dance there. Those who could not afford the fee or were otherwise cheapskates danced a block away, not caring. Those who hated dancing to begin with stayed a bit further away, already picking spots on the dirt roads to watch the fireworks. Everywhere there was soldiers and men wearing capes with the royal crest walked the crowd, carrying staves of strong wood. There had been an incident at last years' Spring Festival, and the guards reassured those that asked that all this was 'just a precaution'.

At the palace, the Queen and her court had a clear view of the square from the large balcony on the south side next to a large ballroom where the nobles and anyone of importance would be dancing. Inside the castle, the staff were busy talking amongst themselves in hushed voices words that were forbidden to reach public ear. Yet elsewhere Brilei manages to overhear something unusual in his seat in the The Golden Pony. Apparently there was a rumor going around that a letter had been found by the Guard that talked about an attack to take place at the peak of Spring Festival. The letter had been found in an obvious place, so while most people who knew considered this to be a joke, the local Guard was taking the threat very seriously. The goblin looked up from his drink(assuming he had one) to find that the place had emptied out considerably. Apparently even the suspicious men wanted to get a good view of the fireworks.

The sun was now behind the western buildings and nearly set. It wanted no part in what was about to happen.

If you were doing something, like Hadur hauling back spices, you've had time to finish and move on to something else, as desired.

[AfterCrescent]

Krylvliktl quietly, but quickly, slides into the alleyway she had told Hadur and anyone else who wanted to meet her for the fireworks rooftop viewing to be at when the sun began to set.  Seeing Hadur arriving at just the same time, she breathed a slight sigh of relief. Glad I didn't make you wait too long, she smiled before taking out a long, calligraphy pen from her sleeve, one that likely could not have fit easily in such a sleeve.

Are you ready to see the fireworks? She asks as she kneels down and holds her sleeve with one hand.  I'm excited.  With agile, purposeful strokes, she begins to draw a beautiful, ornate spiraling staircase at about one-tenth scale.  She draws the three-dimensional staircase for almost a minute, ignoring any stares as she occasionally glances upward, gauging the distance to the roof.  Finally she smiles, satisfied with the staircase she had drawn on thin air.

She stands up and takes a step back as the staircase rapidly grows to life size, creating an ornate walkway up to the roof.  Shall we? She asks, as she begins to ascend the stairs.

[Agita]

Although he has slept through the whole rest of the afternoon after coming back to the ship, and done so without waking up or outward signs of troubled sleep, Hadur is still somewhat sleepy when he when he meets up with Krylvliktl. However, he skillfully hides both this and his headache with his trademark friendly smile as the drow comes into the alleyway. "Not at all."

The human watches in wonder as Krylvliktl paints a staircase on thin air and subsequently expands it to get onto the roof. "Fascinating," He comments as he climbs the stairs behind her, "Is this some magic item or a distinct kind of magic? I've never seen anything quite like it."

[AfterCrescent]

Krylvliktl smiled sweetly, More a kind of magic, I suppose. Data and I found an old, forgotton tome once, and after spending some time translating it, I found an interesting method of honing my limited magic skills. When I need to make things, I find calligraphy offers the best results for me. She explains as she continues up the steps. Mind you, conjuring items out of nothing is probably my weakest magic skill. I suppose the pen is more a crutch than anything. Truly my arcane skills lie in wards and temporal magic.

What about you, Hadur? Have you any skill with magic?  You are the ship's chef as much as I am the ship's priestess. There is always more there than at first glance.

[Agita]

"I see." Hadur pauses to think before replying to Krylvliktl's question, but not too long. Simply insisting that he is just a cook would be an insult to the drow's intelligence, and it might alert her that he wishes to hide his subject of study. Thinking too long about an answer, however, might also triggger alarm bells. "Well, Miss Krylvliktl," He pronounces the name flawlessly, indicating that he is skilled in the pronounciation of difficult words, or else has practiced, "I know a little about magical theory, but I can hardly cast any spells. I suppose I am more of a theory person than a practical one. I also make a hobby of astronomy - the stars have always fascinated me."

[dither]

Arc tried to resist tapping her foot as impatience settled in. She was waiting outside the guard post where she was expecting to meet the good captain Blanc. She'd gone to all the trouble to bathe herself and fix her hair and apply some of the new makeup she'd purchased in the morning, was wearing a light perfume, and the captain was late.

Well, not late, exactly. Arc just didn't want to admit that she was still thirty minutes early.

[skydragonknight]

Data returns to his airship and heads towards the navigation room. Along the way, a sphere of blue light appears on the deck and a trio appears on the deck. The three were armed, but their weapons were sheathed. One was carrying a heavy bag full of coin on the palm of his hand like it only weighed a few pounds. Another was holding an Orb of Returning, whose light was fading as it slowly began to recharge.

"Been a while since I've fought a pack of weres. You really should have let me take the mission alone, Captain. These two just got in the way." the green haired man said.

He was quickly elbowed in the stomach by the a red-haired girl. "And who had to make the antidote when you got bitten by rushing off along into a group of eight of them. Stupid!"

"You didn't have to do that, Scarlet!" the green haired man.

The third man, dressed in dark blue robes and hood and with a shadow covering his face began to walk away. "...I'm going to my room."

As the green-haired man and Scarlet were taking turns trading insults, elbowing, pushing, pulling, poking and everything else, Data made a noise simulating a loud coughing sound. They stopped in mid-motion and looked at him.
"I was about to use the scrying pool in the Navigation Room to watch the fireworks. While you were away on a mission, we've arrived at Asturia at the height of Spring Festival."

Scarlet clasps her hands together. "That would be lovely! She looked at the green-haired man. "WOULDN'T it, Jace?" She jabbed at him again with her elbow, not holding much back.

Jace winced a little. "Yeah, yeah. Just leave me alone already!" As Scarlet moved away, he said "Psychotic girl." under his breath and followed her.

Arriving in the navigation room, Data adjusts the settings and turns the knob that would allocate magical power from the ship's core to the scrying pool. At this distance, the power required was negligible. The pool's reflection became the night sky over Asturia
"It would seem like the fireworks haven't started yet. So how was the mission?"

------------------------

Elsewhere, Blanc had just finished changing into more suitable dancing attire and left his residence to find Arc. A clever man, he would use his date tonight as an excuse to be in the center of things. With a sword hidden in his cane, he could resume his duties at a moments notice should this threat be true.

After a short time, he goes down to meet Arc. When he sees her, he forgets for the moment that he is, like many of those under him, only pretending to be off duty tonight. If it were public knowledge that nearly every member of the guard were active tonight, it would cause unnecessary concern during a festival that the citizens should be able to enjoy in peace.
"You're looking lovely this evening, Arc."

Go ahead and roleplay most of the date. Don't forget that there's dancing!

--------------------------

The Queen has just announced the first dance. And music fills the air everywhere around the center of the city.
Out of various alleyways scattered throughout the city, pairs of individuals dressed as well-to-do tourists emerge from the shadows and merge into the crowds. The people in the crowd closest to these foreigners don't even seem to notice they are there. While a few people here and there pause to look at them as if there is something odd about them. However, upon second glance they can't figure out what they originally thought was odd about them, and return to their business.

[Bozwevial]

You should dance!

I hate dancing.

How do you expect to ever get out of the engine room if all you ever do is skulk around?

Who said I wanted to leave?

Torque brushed brick dust off his coat, deposited there when the engineer had leaned against the grimy wall to watch the dances. Dresses whirled about like scraps of cloth borne on the wind, men and women laughed and called to each other, and lively music had set Torque's foot tapping. However, he hadn't taken the opportunity to join in the festivities, instead choosing to sit on the outskirts and watch.

They move like clockwork, meshing with each other and passing in and out. Doesn't look hard at all.

I don't know...Maybe after this one finishes, I'll see about stepping in.

[AfterCrescent]

Krylvliktl flashes a mischievous, almost evil, smile to Hadur, indicating something. While the safe bet was that she knew, or suspected, more than Hadur led on, he got the feeling that wasn't the reason behind the grin.  She extended her hand to help him off the staircase and onto the rooftop, and as he set his first foot on the roof, the magic supporting the staircase began to fade, and he almost fell back, except for Krylvlikl's surprisinlgy strong grasp.  I must say, I am impressed. Not many can pronounce my name so well.  Some insist you need a forked tongue to do it accurately. Her smile turns sweet and then fades for a second.

Turning to the sky, she remarks, I do enjoy astronomy, though. I doubt I've studied as much as you.  As the music begins to reach her and Hadur on the rooftop, she turns to him.  I've never been one for dancing. But if you need a partner... She winks at him.

[Agita]

Hadur looks slightly worried as he sees Krylvliktl's smile - for good reason, it turns out. He barely supresses a cry of suprise as the staircase disappears from beneath his feet. Luckily, the drow catches him, and while he does wonder about her unexpected strength, he chooses to do the polite thing and keep it to himself - he wouldn't want to imply that she looks weak - and simply gives her a grateful smile. While he catches what Krylvliktl likely means to imply with her comment about a 'forked tongue', he simply replies, "Oh, I can assure you my tongue is in one piece. In fact, pronouncing complicated works might be harder with a forked tongue than without, for someone who's not used to it."

As Krylvliktl looks at the sky, Hadur's eyes wander towards the stars too. He stares up at the sky with a difficult-to-place expression and jumps a little when the drow lady speaks, as if she had shaken him awake. "Oh. Well, I'm honestly not a great dancer. If you wish, I'd be glad to, but if you don't want to dance, I do not mind."

[AfterCrescent]

Turning back to the stars, Krylvliktl's voice seems suddenly far away. Good. Let us just enjoy the night sky until the fireworks start.

[Generic_PC]

Brilei grumbles when he finds out everyone is missing, his tankard drained. <<Time to leave, I suppose? People have started dancing, you know.>> Ahhha, wonderful. I doubt I'll find a goblin maiden, and few humans would fine my features beautiful. I'll go find a crew member to bug, I think. Maybe pull a couple machines out of my room. Maybe use the rooftops? I dunno. Brilei leaves the tavern, climbing a wall and slowly meandering towards the airship on the rooftops, observing the nightlife as he waits for the fireworks and possibly the attack.

[Agita]

"Yes, wonderful idea." Hadur, too, turns to look at the starry sky and quickly starts blanking out everything but the stars. His gaye sometimes flits quickly from one point to another, other times he remains focused on one point for a long time - sometimes even in places where no stars seem actually visible to the naked eye.

[skydragonknight]

The engineer found a dance partner for the last dance. Torque mimicked the other dancers, which was difficult at first, having two left feet. The woman he danced with was looking awkwardly at him, not used to such a bad dancer. But very soon Torque picked up the rhythm of the music, the constant beat which was not unlike the constant rate at which gears turned. Pretty soon, the music repeated, the dance steps repeated and the pattern began anew. And with each iteration, he was more in step and the woman he danced with was less nervous. By the last round, she was enjoying herself and cast the occasional smile on Torque. The music stopped; the dance was over, and the pair looked at each other for a moment...

And then a distant whoosh! as something was launched into the air. Heads turned upward and there was an explosion of light and color as the firework burst, Again, another whoosh! sound and this time as the sparks of light escaped their confines and sought freedom it was a brilliant blue, flying in the shape of a star. This continued for some time, with bursts of all colors and shapes.

On a side road, beneath piles of trash lay a pair of dead guardsman. Shadowy figures were working frantically for some unknown purpose. Meanwhile, dark cloaked figures wearing animal masks began to show up at the edge of the square. Though the masks were not too unusual for a festival, a few guardsmen that caught their presence began moving towards them. They had been told to check out all suspicious individuals and if their appearance was only a little suspicious, their timing was very suspicious.

[Agita]

Completely immersed in his stargazing to the point that he might appear to be in a kind of trance, Hadur jumps slightly in surprise as the first fireworks explode overhead. He gives them a rare confused and annoyed look before remembering that they are why he and Krylvliktl are on the rooftop in the first place, rather than the stars. Quickly, his typcal smile returns as he watches the show, unaware of the dark figures down in the alley.

[AfterCrescent]

Krylvliktl watches the fireworks for a moment and then turns her attention elsewhere, to the crowded square.  She slowly paces the rooftop, enjoying the view and watching the people ooh! and aww! over the festivities, content to watch the common folk more than the bright lights at this moment.

[Bozwevial]

Brilliant flashes of light colored the faces of the engineer and his dance partner as loud bangs and pops drowned out the babble of the crowd. Both relieved and irked at the interruption, Torque turned his gaze upwards, absently wondering whether the fireworks were the product of artifice or magic. If they're engineered, they did a good job of it. The colors look very smoothly blended. Just then, a single rocket spiraled across the sky and burst in a particularly vivid shower of green. The woman next to Torque grabbed his shoulder and pointed, laughing with delight. The engineer started, then relaxed, even offering a smile of his own while silently berating himself.

Whatever happened to trying to relax?

Does it matter? You'll probably never see these people again. You live on an airship, after all.

Lost in thought, Torque barely notices the cloaked figures arrive, dismissing them as part of the crowd.

[skydragonknight]

The fireworks began to pick up, going up two at a time and then three at a time. And then there were nearly a dozen in the sky at once, shot up in back-to-back pairs of two. As the old ones fizzled out, new ones would take their place. The grand finale has begun. Meanwhile, a whoosh! sound shot up from another place: was there a second site for launching fireworks?

Small trails went up into the air...but there was no explosion. Finally there were shouts as the objects were close enough to reflect the torchlight. Small metal objects about the size and shape of a large potato hit the ground of the central square (though in some cases they would find someone's noggin' first and say hello). They rolled for a moment before bursting open. A purple gas began to spread outward from each of them, and the people immediately around them began choking and suffocating.

The masked men, unaffected by the gas, drew short swords or knives that they had concealed in their cloak, and began carving a path through the panicked crowd, shoving some people and slicing those that resisted. Some of the guardsmen managed to hold their ground with one hand over their face and the other on their sword, but what they had already inhaled was affecting their reaction time as their bodies slowly went numb. The guardsmen with staves tried casting spells, but could barely chant two words before getting into a choking fit. The attackers targeted the mages wherever they could, slicing their throats or stabbing their chests.

Blanc had drawn his sword from his cane the instant the first canister hit the ground. The moment he saw the gas, he took off his cloak and tossed it to Arc. "Breathe through this if you can. I have a job to do." With one arm covering his face and the other holding the swordcane, Blanc intercepted one of the masked men and began to fight him. Though the gas was starting to affect him, he had inhaled less than others and even though his extremities began to feel numb, he was well practiced enough as a swordsman that even with his current handicap he still had the advantage. His opponent lunged forward and he dodged to the right, slicing forward towards the attacker's face, slicing the cat mask in two. Beneath the animal mask, there was another mask: a strange mask that covered only his nose and mouth. Part of it had been broken by Blanc's attack, and suddenly the attacker began to choke on the purple gas.

It was not long before another whoosh! was heard, and canisters soon flew towards the palace gates and the balcony...

Choking gas that causes paralysis after half a minute of good exposure, or a couple minutes of poor exposure. The amount of paralysis is dose-dependent, so a little exposure doesn't mean you're auto-screwed. It's staying fairly well on ground level, so rooftoppers are in no immediate danger.

[Bozwevial]

Torque, mesmerized by the fireworks, didn't notice the wide arc of the metallic object that landed nearby, but the clank of its landing drew his attention away. Startled, he took a step backwards, which proved to be a wise decision when the object burst into a cloud of purple gas. The engineer hesitated, unsure of the purpose of the device, but the first breath he took that was laced with the gas instantly dispelled any notions that this was part of the festival. Fumbling in his pockets, Torque produced the stained handkerchief he'd used earlier to "clean" his face, and thrust it into his dance partner's hands. "Put this over your face, and run!" Taking a deep breath and holding it, he grabbed her arm and pulled her along, already feeling slightly numb.

Screams and shouts drew Torque's attention to the masked men carving their way through the crowd. He paused, looking for another route to safety, but one of the marauders was already upon the pair. The cloaked figure shoved the woman out of the way, then turned to Torque in time to meet a hastily thrown punch. The blow did little more than upset the man's mask, however, and the retaliating blow to Torque's stomach knocked the wind out of the engineer, a problem which grew worse quickly when his gasp for air was met by the noxious purple gas. Still trying to block the man's route to the woman, Torque lunged at him yet again, and was rewarded this time with the slash of a blade. The engineer staggered backwards, a look of vague surprise on his face as he clutched at a tear in his brown coat.

For the second time that day, Torque was bleeding, dizzy, and not far from unconsciousness. And I never even asked her name, he thought as his head hit the cobblestones.