"Okay, I just thought that you would appreciate the added armor bonuses that dwarf your Eufiber armor rating. It also helps against some of the more 'mystical' attacks. I would suggest that you reconsider. You can wear this over your Eufiber."

Putting the tunic over its eufiber counterpart, he considered what she said about mystic protections.

Is that what I am looking for, a mystic edge to complement my skills or is this about pride now?

[ooc: Jack is in real space, staying with the others. If the situation turns ugly, though, he immediately steps into supernal space and lets the hardened killers take care of it. (c:]

Jack doesn't answer the riders, watching them idly and waiting for Kara or Smite to respond.

Over subvocal mike to Kara

"You speak local right? How do we say these aren't the peasants you are looking for, go about your business?"

Over subvocal mike to Smite:

"Did you not get the Omicron installed. If you did, you would be able to speak to and understand them. The Omicron translates for you. You might want to get one installed."

To the riders

"Sorry to disappoint but we are not the peasants that you are looking for.?

The mean eye the three of you with a little measure of angst, perhaps even nervousness. The three of you have seen enough of people trying to hide things or bing coerced into something they didnt want to do to know the men were in these shoes.


"Ah, well..OK then you must be here for the festival then. Please follow us to the gate and Kin will see that yuo are properly equipped for the contest, or I mean contests."



The men trot off a few meters ahead of you and slow to a walk to allow you to keep up with them as they escort you past the keep wall and into the inner wall where another man oddly enough, is awaiting your arrival. This man is wearing metal bracers on his arms (non Laen) and light summery robes.

Kara uses her farsensing to scan the surface thoughts of the villagers. She is looking for ambushes or signs of anxiety specifically towards the three of us.

"I did, I just didn't know if there were some vernacular that I was not familar with. Or if they could kill peasants for talking to them or looking directly at them. Seems fairly simple though."

"No, these men are expecting us. They probably have orders to escort us to the festival. Chances are the primal did a scrying to find us."

The men look at the three of you a few more strained moments as they await an answer to their inquiry.



Please summarize your reply and approach...

Kara follows the men inside the keep and is lead to the man that is awaiting them.

Smite will follow after, not saying anything that might reveal his intentions or otherwise compromise the game.

As before, Jack only follows along and observes.

The walk into the keep in uneventful save for the view of poverty and begging and general misfortune. Meat pies and fruit are barked out for sale as you walk past the gates; guards are quick to shut them down and keep you walking by. The trio of you are quickly brought past the carnival games and contests of strength and kissing booths. The crowd numbers well over 200 but not more than 400 and everyone has the appearance of having fun.

It is not a long time into the crowd before Smite catches the eye of a fair woman who beings walking up to him; she finished her approach just after the guards let you all alone. "Someone will meet with you all shortly and show you to your ward."


The woman has such a beautiful appearance that makes mortals weak<!--coloro:#009900--><span style="color:#009900"><!--/coloro-->{{Manip: 6+/1+(20); Charisma: 5+/2+(18); Appearance: 6+/3+ (23-ish)}}(<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->obviously mega, perhaps in or above Kara's league). {{Do your best to play along with it. Assume Kara translating through a rapport and that Smite is getting the translation via his Omicron. Replying back is another issue?}}


"My lord, you look lonely. Can I take it in my power to escort you during our grand festival?"

She offers her arm to Smite as any lady would and Smite is only moderately compelled to oblige; she seems on the straight and level.

{{Kara does not sense any instigation from her, she would immediately send that if she did. I also took the liberties for Kara: if Smite allows her to gently brush up behind him and come into contact with Smite, Smite will be able to speak the language in a reply back to the Lady but in a heavy accent of an outlander. The feeling for Smite would be that of being a pilot in his own body as Kara takes control of his vocal chords and mouth/throat muscles but it would get by for now. The words would be Smites own as Kara toook his surface thoughts and rerouted thme properly to form the alien words.}}

Smite took the offered arm, not sure what her status was and not wanting to seem rude. That, and if memory serves John the Baptist got killed that way. She was also quite lovely, so no doubt she was here to distract or spy on him in some manner. That was generally the rule. Well time to do the expected thing.

"I would be most honored. "

"Very good m'lord." Says the beautiful lady, her light brown dress spins about her as she turns to walk Smite off toward the keep wall and the edge of the crowd. Her other hand comes up to hold Smites arm passionately when he takes her hand in the crook of his. Shorter that Smite by more than half a foot the woman makes up for it in her grace and presence. The glances she gets as she divides te crowd as she walks speaks of regal decent.



{{ the pair have no obvios destination, the keep wall is over 50 yds away and there is no gate in it nor is there a crowd gathered there. Save for a single man near the wall standing with a walking staff it is unreasonable to think this is an ambush. The men up on the wall nearest Smite and the woman however do give a careful note to them. Kara, Jack...your actions?}}

Kara keeps a watchful eye on Smite and his new lady friend. She does a full scan of the woman trying to determine her race, if she is a primal, and hopefully to see if there are any heraldry markings or jewelry on her. She monitors Smite's vitals looking to see if there is any draining or working that is in progress to disrupt his system. She walks over to the booths and looks at some of the silk garments and patterns that are there. If there are any carnival games she tests her skill and gives the stuff bear to a child that may be walking around. Where ever Kara goes, she makes sure to keep Smite in eye sight.

Presuming that Jack's danger sense doesn't ping, he looks the newcomer over (with Quantum Attunement and Supernal Sight active, as usual), then watches her and Smite depart.

He glances around the carnival, decides that it doesn't constitute anything interesting, then focuses on Supernal Sight, scanning everything within range (kilometers plus, depending on success level) for anything that registers ... open warps, temporal anomalies, things (other than Smite and Kara) not native to this universe, anything that's testing the Ban, or whatever else might be of interest.

He keeps an eye on Smite, and moves to follow if it looks like he's leaving the vicinity.

<!--fonto:Times--><span style="font-family:Times"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->A small meat and ale vendor lies near the wall closest to where Smite and the woman walk toward. It appears to be their destination. Smite is still able to understand and reply via Kara's trans-link.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Times--><span style="font-family:Times"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->"My name is Dalia. I know why you are come here m'lord and that will come shortly but your friends, why are they here? Having a Rathien with you can only bring strife of which I am afraid has already begun. I need to get you away from her soon and to an area where you are not assumed to be with her. The Lord of the keep will be here soon with the man you have your contest with; he is the one with problems with Rathien and might again call off the contest. We both know what that will do."<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Times--><span style="font-family:Times"><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->She snuggles in a bit closer to Smite and approaches the meat vendor. She places and order and hands the man 3 small coins. In a few seconds the man pours a wet wooden cup full of a frothy mead and hands it to Smite followed by a leg similar to a turkeys that weighs 3-4 pounds.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Times--><span style="font-family:Times"><!--/fonto--><!--fonto:Times--><span style="font-family:Times"><!--/fonto-->The rest of the carnival is carrying on as would be expected.<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--><!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc-->

Kara keeps a watchful eye on Smite and his new lady friend. She will use her FARSENSING and FULL SPECRTUM VISON to do a full scan of the woman trying to determine her race, if she is a primal, and hopefully to see if there are any heraldry markings or jewelry on her. She monitors Smite's vitals looking to see if there is any draining or working that is in progress to disrupt his system. She walks over to the booths and looks at some of the silk garments and patterns that are there. If there are any carnival games she tests her skill and gives the stuff bear to a child that may be walking around. Where ever Kara goes, she makes sure to keep Smite in eye sight.

{{still waiting for a response from Narrator...}}

Kara, can you and Jack shadow me. I don't want this turning into a big issue, and if they don't suspect that you two are still here you can move more freely

"She is, how do you say, my translator. If she cannot accompany us, can another be arranged?"

*I have already started to drift away from you two. My link to you is still intact as long as you are in the keep. It is a bit alarming that she pointed out my race. I know that she did not come up with that all on her own. There is at least one other person helping her. I am searching that other person. And Smite... she carrying a vile with her that has been worked... err magically enhanced. Be careful.*

Kara starts to use her training to blend more with the crowd and to not stand out like a sore thumb. She will alter her appearance even more to not attract anymore undo attention. She will have miss nobody on. She is also stretching out her senses looking for surface thoughts that may betray the person that is working with Dalia.

{{Jack?? any change?
I will post when the three of you have posted input, especially since I sent Jack a PM... I want to see a reaction..}}

According to Smite's request and his own inclination, Jack opts to follow Smite, quietly. Stepping around between a couple of booths, he slips into supernal space and activates Dissociative Fog (for every success he rolls on DF, he picks a metasense to cloak himself from, starting with telepathy and quantum senses and just adding more as he thinks of them until he runs out of successes).

Then he wanders after Smite, keeping a wary eye on both the bracer-wearing individuals and on the odd power readings he's getting.

Dalia smiles and grasps onto Smites arm all the tighter but remains silent for what seems forever. After about 20 seconds she says;

"Hmm.. I suppose that will work. It is indeed nice to see a man that admits to needing anything. You must be well respected where you come from."



The Lady ends leading Smite to the wall in the shade of a wooden overhang made to shelter animals from the rain and intense sun. No entrances to the wall interior are within 100 feet. {{They are probaly within 10 meters of the bracered individuals inside the wall, from jack's persective and nothing has changed as far as energy patterns.}}

"I want to ask you a question though m'lord." The lady says as she loosens her grasp a bit and turns to come face to face with Smite as they stop under the shade.

"Why did you not hunt Krant yourself and insist he honor the token? I am told you did not make a reply for some time after you realized the token was not being granted you."

Mentally to Smite, "Yeah Smite, I have been wondering the same thing. Why did you not make Krant honor the token? He would not have shown you the same respect that you have given him? Look at what he is doing now, making you go through the contest all over again on his turf instead of some place neutral like the worls serpent inn. It is very curious and a strong testament to your character. Well done."

Spoken allowed to the woman leading me.

"I consider myself to be reasonable, and I knew little of Krant or his circumstances. Allowing him a period of time in order to do so was what I deemed the reasonable course. In truth, if he had simply hiddened or flately refused I would have let it go. In truth I cared little for it, wish only to test my skill against the game. However he made it a point of honor and has forced me to respond in kind. "

Mentally to Kara.
"Basicly, I did it mostly on a lark. Krant could had gotten of if he hadn't tried to make a case out of my honesty. And if people can't trust my word, we lose a valiable resource early on. By making this a large public event, we drive those who follow his reason for this, a fear of being seen to side with us, into the ground a little deeper.

The act has gained a great significance than any small personal gain I might have recieved from the token. "

Kara continues to walk around about the festival giving attention to the many peasants that are around. She scans the peasants with redaction and farsensing to detect if they have any ailments or if any of them are just disguised as peasants. Those whom she finds as truly in need, she gives them a gold coin and places her hand on them (Kara will use redaction to boost their immune system to combat any ailment they may have and regenate any missing limbs or eyes and teeth. It will be a delayed improvement to not cause a spectacle) (Those whom she finds to be faking and have ill intentions she uses redaction to gradually age them and make their bones brittle. This too will be time delayed to not cause a spectacle.) She continues to rove about looking occassionally at the fae lines to see if she can see any trails rather build up of energies that may indicate some danger.

Mentally to Smite, "I hope your strategy works. It is a rarity to have a Primal owing you a favor."

awaiting Jacks input.....

Jack being gone kind of leaves me in a lurch sort of so....

In just a few moments after Smite and the woman reach the wall, Kara and jack witness them vanish. They are teleported out and away but not too far.
Kara is able to track them a mere 150 yards away but further into the private area of the keep.
Jack Speaks through the team Com and warns that he is now in the company of the two bracer wielding people as well as the only high quantum signature (ie, Primal).
Still, there is no detectable hostile intentions on anyones surface thoughts; mind you Kara cannot sense the minds of the darkwielders at this moment.

"Lord Smite I presume." Comes the voice of a handsome man now at arms reach of Smite. Visible energy, even for those not quantum attuned, swirls about his left wrist but dissipates rapidly. It is apparent he is the one that called Smite and the woman to their present position.
"Pardon us for the theatrics but Lord Krant does not want this too public. I hope you understand."

Smite now finds himself in part of the keep courtyard where the ground was actually paved. Standing on a raise porch with some steps dropping 10 feet to the common ground, Smite can see himself, the Dalia, the handsome man and a as of yet silent other man. The 2 new men both are dressed in chainmail armor that has a black-blue hue to it. The pair are also wearing swird belts about their waist with long blades sheathed on it.
The handsome man has medium length blonde hair and full facial hair kept neat and clean. The other is nearly bald save for a thin red moustache.
In the main courtyard below there are perhaps 30 more people, mostly men in chain armor or light "dress" plate armor.

"My lord. can we walk down to the contest area?" Dalia asks politely, still holding Smites arm lightly.

"Apparently your lord has a definition of private that I am not familar with. Still I understand his intent.

Smite notes each man and his weapons, taking their measure almost by reflex. He didn't want trouble, but wanting is like wishing and he'd long since run out of stars. A calm slowly began to filter through his manner as things became ever more omnious.

To Kara:
And I forgot the part about Thugs in game rules. Either this guy is a bad loser, or he wants just enough people to witness if he is vindicated but who he can hush up in things go badly for him.

"I do not understand this, who are these men who dwell in the circle and were is the contest? And were, pray tell is the judge for such events?"

Daria answers as she leads Smite down the stairs to the main courtyard. "Theses are all the local barons and lords from Krants influence, or his land. Most have travelled for over 3 days to get here for the game today."

When at the bottom of the stairs she looks back up at the pair of mysterious men. "They will act as witnesses and testimonies should there need be. But our Lord Krant plans on honoring his debt or possibly even making well and good on it with interest."

"Interesting, I would have worried that this would become a spectacule, but with such august company among us that hardly seems possible. So were is challenge, so we may waste less of these gentlemen's time. "