Grand Fantasy: Silver Winds - Main Thread

Eternum, a bright shining city of tomorrow! Built and run by Omega-Electric, it promises plentiful energy, clean waters, wholesome food that won't blink at you with multiple mutant eyes, and safety.

Well it would if you were on the upper 2 plates. No, Eternum is the largest city ever built on Terra, with a variety of strange shit going on it's 11 sections. Miracles of Science, Miracles of Magic, Miracles of... er... Miracles! If you want to find something or someone, well your best chances of starting are in Eternum.

"Attention Citizens! Martial Law is in effect! Those that are not within shelter within 20 minutes will be faced with Disciplinary Action! Some of you may be faced with it anyways! As always, this was a Public Service Announcement by Omega-Electric! Remember to enjoy Gamma-Drive Energy Drinks, For when you want the power of green rage on your side!"

With that, several Security Officers step out wielding batons wearing gas masks step out and begin to patrol the streets, just as you duck into the Inn. It smells of cigarette smoke, cheap booze, and incredibly, mutant fish cakes. Sitting at a table is your contact, a man with a burly mustache, sideburns, a large double barreled rifle and amazingly what appears to be a gray almost tin can looking robot right beside him.

His name is William Derge, and he is your contact and hope to get out of this city. He used to be in magazines, a famous adventurer extraordinaire! Used to be at the very least, now he's in the Section 7 slums, drinking cheap booze, probably most of his money was spent on that robot.

"Come! Sit down and share a drink! We have much to discuss don't we?" he says raising the bottle of brandy.

Lirahan, a young white mage that was tricked into coming to Eternum, and who was robbed from all the money in his possesion, enters the bar, after three days living in the streets. After the offer for a drink, he answers:
Lirahan: I don't want to drink, I want food, or money, or anything that may help me to go back home, but right now I really really want food! I don't eat for days!
T-T

edited 2nd Apr '16 5:04:32 PM by SephyII

A female dwarf chuckles as she pulls out a seat for herself. "Lucky me! I'm only starved for information." She looks over Lirahan, her smile diminishing. "Though food seems to be a good choice for you."

She turns back to Derge. "Name's Ridila. Got any clue why Lexicon guards were summoned to this garbage dump?"

Having quickly ducked into the inn after the announcement, a gaudy figure wiped his forehead underneath his feather cap. Geez, he thought to himself. The local law enforcement didn't have very good manners around this city. What if they accidentally hurt someone...?

Wandering around the establishment a little with a proud strut, the youthful Shade decided to take the moment to recuperate himself, taking a seat somewhere on the other side of the room across from a gunman, a robot, and an unspecified number of future party members.

"Hrm..." he glanced at the menu. What could he order, he pondered...

... when a whiny voice from across the room whined a cry for help.

"!!" the caped figure exlaimed, placing a foot on his table and turning towards the whiner. Do I sense... a soul in need of help!?

After a quick dart of the eyes, his glowing yellow circles centered on the whiny white mage.

"Sir, can you please step down from the table?"

"When an innocent spirit is deprived of sustenance..." the Shade muttered quietly underneath his breath, clenching his fist. "... when a brother of civilization is stranded, prey to the unknown evils that lurk in the darkness..."

"I!" the abruptly Shade exclaimed, leaping towards the white mage.

"... SHALL LEND MY AID!!!" he landed with a fist to the floor, standing up and extending his arm for a friendly handshake in the group's general direction. "You may call me... the shadow that seeks to raise the setting sun. The Sunset Shadow, if you will~"

A man, strangely dressed in a red robe, enters the inn. He quickly goes to the bar and orders the largest drink available of vodka. After he takes his drink and slaps some money on the table, he sees some gunman offering to share a drink.
Areius already sees a few other faces and pulls up a chair and sits down at the table. He takes a swig, looks around at the other men, and leans back into his chair with a blank expression on his face.

"My dear friend," said a voice from near the back of the group, "if I may so, and with the utmost absolute respect, SHUT IT."

Garma Sicamour was leaning back in his chair with this feet resting on another, his hands folded upon his perfectly pressed suit. "Excuse me for that most unfavorable remark," he said, a nearly eternal grin practically plastered upon his face," but there is a time and a place for good will and cheer. This is not the time or place. What it is the time and place for is..." He was about to say, 'fire', as he would occasionally do for reasons he still did not completely fathom, but was able to catch himself. This time.

"...As I was saying, what it is the time and place for is learning what exactly we are here for and why. Introductions can come after we are completely sure that this isn't some plot to fill all our mugs with a sleeping draft and rob us in our sleep. Which, before you ask, is something I know from experience. Multiple experiences, in fact. But no; I am sure that nothing of the sort will happen here! After all, we are all here for a common goal, are we not? What could possibly go wrong?"

edited 2nd Apr '16 9:47:02 PM by kkhohoho

"Attention Citizens! Martial Law is in effect! Those that are not within shelter within 20 minutes will be faced with Disciplinary Action! Some of you may be faced with it anyways! As always, this was a Public Service Announcement by Omega-Electric! Remember to enjoy Gamma-Drive Energy Drinks, For when you want the power of green rage on your side!"

"You ain't the boss of me!" shouted Jango, shaking his fist into the air as several cops with those batons and masks all started looking at him. "...He said it." Jango quickly pointed at a random civilian, who didn't get the chance to ask 'What' before he was tackled by the cops.

And so with a grin on his face and a nervous chuckle escaping through his grit teeth, Jango waltzed into the inn as if nothing happened as the sounds of the poor man screaming could be heard outside.

"So, my home boys, what is crackalackin' up in this inn-house?" he asked, sitting down at the table as he chuckled, "So, what is the job? Are we slaying Evil Gods? Fighting the man? Killing rats? I ain't above punchin' rats!"

"Last time I heard those words, I was forced to wrestle a bunch of ogres with my bare hands, so never tell me the odds, boy" - said an imposing figure, wearing a cape. He pulled the nearest stool to sit down, but choose not to, and continued to stand there with a small mug in hand.

"Damn, youngster these days sure have a strong pair of lungs. Nearly ruptured my eardrums there, boy. Also..."

He pulled his hood to show his face.

"I am Guan Yu of the East. It is nice to be your acquaintance, ladies"

"T-Thanks for the meal, dwarven lady and caped mister, you both are really kind..." - said Lirahan, wiping his teary eyes with his grimy robe. This was the first time that Lirahan stayed so far away from his home town, and his pampered lifestyle was only a memory now.
"Lady, Mister, are you adventurers? I came here because they said they were recruiting, and I really need a job, but now that I'm here, I see that everyone here looks so strong...I-I don't think a inexperienced kid like me would be of any help..."

The sound of suede shoes sliding across the floor could be heard as a female mage cloaked in black slid in through the door. Her first reaction at the entire scene going on was to stifle a look of deep annoyance.

By the gods, I just had to be stuck with this bunch. And that loudmouthed Shade....note to self, hit him with a Fire spell first at the earliest opportunity. Also that whiny guy in robes. Stupid bootlickers, I'll give them something to whine about, but not right now...

Alison pulled up a chair, putting on a sickly sweet faux smile. She turned to the whiny mage.

"Don't worry, I'm sure I- I mean we will have a use for you."

And a look of annoyance at the Shade who saw fit to scream at the slightest provocation.

"You realize that none of us have the desire to go deaf, right? Or do you not have ears to hear yourself?"

And finally at their contact, back to the faux smile.

"Thank you for the offer, and while I enjoy alcohol in most other situations-"

I.e As a fuel source for fire

"- I'd rather not drink at the moment."

edited 3rd Apr '16 12:03:44 AM by UndyingPhoenix

The swish and thunk of a robe and staff preceded Caelen's arrival as the white mage navigated his way through the drunken crowd. While his expression was pleasant he was notably keeping his distance from the rabble- in fact, the route he was taking was far longer than if he'd just mingled a little.

I don't even dare imagine where their filthy bodies have hailed from... Haven't been in here a minute and already I feel greasy...

Finally he reached his destination, and already he was regretting his decision to accompany this gaggle of fools to whatever task needed done. He made to take a seat but, upon seeing the quality of the furniture, decided it better to remain standing. "My, it's simply incredible how one place can become so deceprit without just collapsing in on itself."

He then surveyed the group before him, his expression not once changing from a smile of inappropriate serenity. "Your ramshackle lot of annoyances fits in quite well here."

William Derge sat upright, "Good, seems you all did see my letter about going on one last grand adventure," he said with a smile putting the brandy down.

"You already know who I am, so let's get to brass tacks. You all want to get out of here, and my partner B7-" "Greetings Meatbags" "-and I wish to go on one last grand adventure."

Derge pulled out a large fabric back and set it down, 20,000 Gold Zuni. All in old coins, "I recently came across the marks of a old temple 2 days outside of Eternum. I have a contact down in level 4 who can get us out. And since this is a ancient temple we're talking about, it will no doubt be beset by the undead and various traps and even a few cultists."

B7 stepped forward, "Join us and you will all be rewarded handsomely. And we can retire properly".

Derge put the coins back in his coat, eying Garma, B7 even had a outstretched arm pointed at him. "Now can we all agre-" "HOSTILES DETECTED!"

And with that, B7 fired a few laser blasts into the back of some random customer, the Bartender, didn't seem to care.

"Yes that's another reason I need to get out of here. B7 has some faulty wiring for a customizable BDI Unit, so? Care to come with me then? I promise it should be grand and filled with only a few annoying random encounters," Derge asked smiling at the group before him.

Ridila slung an arm over Lirahan's shoulders. "Don't worry bud. Everyone starts somewhere. Besides, this little adventure," her smile widened, "could be the cure to your troubles."

She glanced at the others gathered around the table. Black robes...oh dear. The last Black Mage had frozen her gun after a prank. Best stick to puns with that one. Loud shade might be fun to prank, or pull into one. Another white mage, this one quite caustic (Geez, this group can't get a good middleground), and - hello! Ridila eyed Guan Yu with interest. Definitely gonna question you later.

Derge's words caught her attention. Undead? Cultists? Undead cultists? "Oh, I am in on that! Wouldn't want to leave anyone bonely in the creepy crypt now, would we?" And it'll get that heap of junk far away from innocent bystanders. She added mentally, glaring at the robot.

The caped Shade was oblivious to the objections against his shouting as he dramatically untied his wallet from his pouch, and emptied the contents into his hands...

"Fret not, fellow citizen! It's the least I can do..."

... to retrieve a paltry sum of Zuni from his savings, likely not enough to pay for even a single meal.

"... huh..." the Sunset Shadow looked disappointingly at his hands as he jangled his empty wallet around. "... apparently it's the MOST I can do, too..." he awkwardly trailed off, handing Lirahan every last coin. It's not like it was going to buy him much, anyway.

Thankfully, he happened to not unintentionally tune out everything the grizzled soldier mentioned about his own plans. The chance to fulfill an old duo's fondest wishes, AND share a small fortune with the needy in return? What an opportunity! Glancing around all the wonderful, friendly faces at his side who would surely lend their arms to such a noble cause, the Shade was smiling excitedly underneath his bandana.

Oh, and that robot just shot someone. That was kiiiiiiiiiiiiiinda concerning, to be honest.

"Indeed!" He nodded justicefully at Ridila, before turning back to Derge. "We can't refuse the call of duty! It would be my pleasure to join you on your mission, sirs! But, uh..." he trailed off again, slanting his eyes at B7. "... do you think we can do anything about our mechanical compatriot's glitches before we set off? Confiscate his weapons, or anything?"

edited 3rd Apr '16 8:07:27 AM by Cedi

Aerius sits back up straight and nods at Derge. He then looks around him at all the loud mouthed drunkards. I wish I was with some more refined group, oh well, I'm sure they'll be great meatshields while I do all the work.
He puts his drink down and waits for everyone else to agree to go.\\

edited 3rd Apr '16 9:49:59 AM by Skiller2

Upon hearing the announcement of martial law, Nico rolled his eyes and headed towards the Inn. He'd been here a few days, and he was starting to get used to this city, but getting used to it was exactly what he feared. He didn't want this place to drag him down, beat him into submission like many of the people he saw on the streets had already been.

Seeing that a group of adventurers like himself were all congregating at one table, Nico decided to grab a seat of his own. He listened patiently to his contact's story, and after thinking it over, it sounded like exactly what he needed.

"Sounds fulfilling," he said. "I'm in."

Seldor the ex-pirate reflexively reached for his axe when the robot prepped his lasers but, fortunately, he was only aiming for some poor bastard at the bar. His grip loosened and he took one more drag on his last cigarette. He was disappointed that he hadn't had a chance to restock on tobacco yet.

"The pay's good Derge but I've never been one for needless heroics and danger. That robot's not going to shoot us in the back, is he?" Seldor asked, for the moment keeping his conversation directed at his employer. He wanted to observe his travelling companions a bit more before opening up to them.

"Said customer I just shot was a Omega-Electric informant. I have just saved our lives," B7 insisted.

"I don't think my companion is likely to shoot anyone here. I'm more bothered by the fact that the Bartender isn't bothered," Derge pointed out, slightly disconcerted.

The Bartender shrugged, "I've seen it happen enough. Also, you should probably stop drinking. I think you got the sections of the city mixed up."

Derge frowned at the insinuation.

"Thank you so much, caped mister!" - and as soon as he thanked the Shade, Lirahan rushed to buy a snack with the little money that was given to him. Back to his table, he quickly devoured the food, while listening amazed to Ridila and Twill talking about their past adventures(well, mostly Twill, actually).
Soon after that, their table was approached by a black mage named Alison. "Don't worry, I'm sure I- I mean we will have a use for you." - Blushing bright red, Lirahan stuttered a few times before he could answer the black mage, completely oblivious to the sinister undertone of her "cumpliment" - "Gee, t-thanks ma'am, I surely will do my best to be useful"'.
Now reasonably less hungry, Lirahan was in condition to actually consider if it was a good idea to join the crew. Sure, the idea of fighting a bunch of cultists still scared him a bit, but any share of the payment would be more than enough to buy a way back to his home. This line of though, however, was interrupted when B7 suddenly shot a man.
Lirahan rushed to the side of the downed man, preparing a Cure spell, most likely in vain, as the man looked like to have died instantly. B7 explained that the man was a spy for the Omega-Eletric corporation, yet so Lirahan was still shocked, and hesitantly went back to his seat.
"Dwarven Lady, Caped Mister, do you really trust this guy?" - he asked. "I want to go along with you, but that robot really scares me."

Alison blinked a few times as the White Mage obliviously thanked her.

This might not be so bad.

And then the robot decided to shoot someone, and it took Alison tremendous amounts of effort to stifle bursting out with laughter. One deep breath later, she considered the offer.

"Undead cultists...money...ancient ruins or what not...Count me in. The mere prospect of getting out of here is enough to get me to agree."

She looks at the robot, curious.

"Let's keep the weapons on that thing. I'm sure it won't shoot us."

Caelen also went to the downed man's side- though not in a hurry, and with no attempt to prepare his healing magic. Instead he rifled through the man's pockets until he came up with some Zeni. A pitiable amount, but he took it anyway and left the body where it lay. He really should learn revival magic one of these days.

"So an old man past his prime wants to go on a sacrilegious temple raid so he can get his jollies. Sounds like a waste of time." Caelan pocketed his pilfered Zeni and then eyed the bag of it on the table. "But I need money, and you'll all need a competent-" A side glance at Lirahan, "-white mage. I'm in."

Jango watched the poor sap get shot as he broke out into a fit of laughter, "Oh man, that was awesome!" he said, giving the robot a few good claps, "I'd normally be wary about the Rules of Robotics no longer applying, but I like this bot. And I like this job, so you can count me in!" the green haired man nodded his head enthusiastically.

If you accept this comedy, you will lose any semblance of sanity, so bear with this farce. You are a retired solider turned adventurer. You knew this would happen. You didn't saw that machine murdering a person. You...

Guan Yu breathed out, feeling himself a lot more older than he should be.

It's madness. We have no information about the situation at hand nor about our enemies, and we literally a bunch of random sell-swords who didn't even knew each others' names before, much less had enough experience to operate as a unit. From a logical standpoint, this is a suicide mission

Then, he smiled. His boisterous laugh reverberated through the hall.

I better not miss all the fun. Gods know, I wanted to do go wild a bit. No maps, tactics or logistics! Just a bunch of daredevils, trying to rob an ancient tomb without a care! Also, I can respect this desire; not many of our profession retire alive, and even less do so with fanfares. I am in, you fossil

edited 4th Apr '16 9:02:37 AM by Zetsubou

The Bartender lifted the body and found identification, turns out they did work for the Omega-Electric Security Force.

Derge smiled, "Excellent! I'll pay for a meal, and we'll leave with our bellies full!"

"There is a back route to get us out down to Section 6, where the old Train line is. Through there we will make our way out of the city," B7 explained with a light on its chassis blinking, maybe it was trying to display a hologram.

"We should be able to find some spare parts for B7, he's fully customizable. We fix him up and give him the right pieces? We won't need to worry too much about the various random encounters," Derge noted.

The Sunset Shadow wiped his forehead in relief, as his radiant optimism waxed again. It's a good thing this robot was definitely careful in his judgment, and wasn't acting rashly at all!

"Forgive my doubtful worries, friend!" He reassured Lirahan with a cheerful laugh. "You'd be surprised how trustworthy a scary person be! Why, I once met this pitch-black vigilante who refused to kill anyone! He even terrified me for a second, but before I could thank him for his contributions, he was already off to stop another crime! Ah, that was quite a weekend..."

He zoned out briefly, presumably in recollection of that batty weekend, before being snapped back into the present by the senior citizen's boisterous laugh. "Ah, such spirit!" The Shade applauded. "It's always an honor to meet a fellow with such enthusiasm towards a noble cause!"

As his hype for the adventure continued to rise like a hobbyist at a convention, the group's client captured his attention once more. "Oh, certainly," he agreed with a justiceful nod, "Heroes can do little without proper nourishment. Pray tell, what encounters of random nature would you expect to find on our way? Crude cutpurses? Ravenous street dire rats? Recolors of foes from the wilds outside city limits?"