[Exalted 2e] The Rose-Rimmed Circle IC

[Neon Knight]

The sun is high in the Southern sky as the wind blows the stinging kisses of biting grit against the body of the travelers. A dust storm is kicking up, and most would be forced to seek shelter in the face of such wrath. Navigation across the endless dunes and sweeping drylands can be difficult enough when conditions are good, and the heat of the burning land is bad enough without dust trying to choke your throat and sand trying to blight your eyes.

It is fortuitous, then, that these travelers have come across a small town along the path leading south from Chiaroscuro. Of course, these travelers aren't ordinary in the slightest.

Ken, Emiria, and Sylvia

The Seeker of the Third Dawn and her friends have been heading south from Chiaroscuro, seeking allies. That city had originally been their destination and goal; Chiaroscuro was a haven for all sorts, and even Anathema could live there openly in peace. Unfortunately, they hadn't found any there when they had looked. They'd found no more allies, and nothing to build a foundation on. Emiria's reputation had forced them from the city fairly quick; while there was a definite lack of Immaculate piety in the nominally Realm loyal city, there were no shortage of mercenaries, bounty hunters, and cut-throats willing to risk almost anything for the kind of price Emiria's head would fetch. Even if they did fight them off, they'd probably end up just causing more trouble with any collateral damage that ensued, and the Tri-Khan was known to become suddenly very devout when he needed a troublesome Exalt removed. A Wyld Hunt was not what they needed, and they needed to look elsewhere (but not Elsehwere) for more allies, so they had left before trouble had broken out.

A local they'd asked on the way had told them about this town; it was a good place to rest and stock up before they pressed further south. The other cities along the Coastal Road weren't likely to yield results. Paragon was too tightly controlled, and the Lap was Realm and Immaculate loyal as they come. Varangia is hostile to foreigners, and Harborhead is far away. The trek South to Gem is a long one, but the whole region is only loosely held by the Realm. Strife, uncertainty, conflict, and unrest swirl on the wind like dust, and it is almost certain that they'll run into something eventually.

Ozymandias steps forward. In Chiaroscuro, he'd taken the opportunity to buy desert gear for the trek South; the Dragon Blood has managed to array himself in a costume similar to the Delzhan nomads that rule Chiaroscuro and the surrounding lands. Flowing robes that breath easy and hang loose in the desert air, stout boots of a local make, a turban wrapped around his head and a veil obscuring his face make him seem like one of the strange locals. Only his familiar eyes and voice really remind them of their friend. "Doesn't look like much. Looks deserted."

Indeed, the main street of the town is barren, unmaintained, and dust covered. The buildings lining either side seem ill-kept, windows left open despite the oncoming storm. There is no sign of the place being battened down and prepared for the oncoming storm, or of anyone rushing to make such preparations. Where is everyone? The man had said this was a bustling little town...

The dust is so thick they can't see far; in fact, they can't even see the other side of the town. As the storm builds, it only worsens. As Exalts, they can probably bear the storm's fury without too much trouble, but navigating in this storm might be a problem.
___

Orrin & Spectre

It's been a long, disappointing trip so far. The Princess of Cats had a long, ignominious trip from her Northern home to the land that ever burns, the South. A storm had blown her ship rather off course, and they'd come aground near the coast far west of Paragon. The rest of the crew and passengers had made for the Lap, while the Princess had pressed east, doubting that the flowers she sought bloomed in the Realm's domain. So far, she hadn't turned up anything, other than her... companion.

The deathknight called Spectre of Forgotten Hopes had ended up accompanying her. They'd met up near Paragon, and after a tense initial meeting (Orrin had some not-so-good prior experiences with deathknights) they'd managed to work out this strange alliance.

They'd heard rumors of an Anathema Exalt being sighted heading south on The Deep Desert Road, towards Gem, and had cut across open desert to get from the Coastal Road to the inland caravan track. Sadly, it had only turned out to be a charlatan, and now the pair were turning north towards Chiaroscuro, to look for the Rose there.

The town before them was dusty, beaten, and apparently abandoned. Some of the people they'd met along the road had mentioned that the traffic from the north had seemed slower than usual, and in particular the route that this town lay along was particularly dead. Perhaps the Dune People were responsible, or maybe even something stranger, like one of those giant lizardman monsters that occasionally wandered out of the canyon.

The dust is so thick they can't see far; in fact, they can't even see the other side of the town. As the storm builds, it only worsens. As Exalts, they can probably bear the storm's fury without too much trouble, but navigating in this storm might be a problem.

___

Jin Xun Si

Jin had a bad feeling about this one.

He'd been trailing the part of Exalts for some time. Three Solars and a Dragon Blood moving as one tend to draw attention. Trailing them wasn't too difficult, and it didn't take much care to avoid their notice. Then again, he had some... advantages in that department. He'd followed them south out of Chiaroscuro, and had deduced where they were heading pretty quickly. Of course, with this storm blowing up, they might decide to stop in this little town until it blew over. Why take the risk of losing the road when you could simply wait for it blow over? And they were probably planning on getting supplies in this town anyway.

But the town looked quiet and deserted, which was unusual. There were other routes to the Great Desert Road, but this wasn't an out of the way place at all. It seemed like the people in Chiaroscuro were working under the assumption that this place was a thriving, normal trade outpost. So what had happened?

OOC Thread. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9630662#post9630662)

[Raz_Fox]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Walking through a white storm was familiar to Orrin, even if this snow stung and burned. Now, some might call Orrin not inclined to book-reading and study, but she could judge a wind, and she could see what was coming. In this kind of storm, there was only one thing that could be done - seek shelter. Those fools who tried to navigate through such a storm would become lost in the white wastes - or the red-brown wastes, as it were.

She looked over to her companion, the ghost-knight. "Hope!" That's what she called him now. Much better than Specter - she didn't need to be reminded that he was a walking deadman, and neither did he. Especially not he. Better to remind him what he was fighting for. "We should stop here and wait out the storm," she yelled over the sound of screaming dust and swirling wind. "I can find us shelter."

What a strange companion, she thought again. And yet he was a blessing, a living reminder that redemption is possible for everyone, if only they will suffer for it. Moreover, he was noble, if ill-spoken; he was a mighty sword-arm and a dutiful worker and she spoke for him and found the right path, and in that way the Sun provided for them both.

[Grim ranger]

The ex-deathknight stood in the storm calmly as if in slight evening breeze, the sand-brown cloak flapping in the wind and exposing decorated black armour beneath. The red eyes of the Abyssal were shielded by one of his gauntleted hands, showing that he was not wholly immune to storm's rage either, even when it had not built up fully. Dust in the eyes would hamper even the half-living such as him, after all.

Looking at his travelling companion as the wind still howled around them, he merely nodded and followed as she led them on in search of place to escape the storm, at least momentarily if not othervice. He had not spoken much to anyone since going renegade, but the fact did not seem to bother the girl all that much. Despite the fact that they had had somewhat of a rocky start, things had worked out. When they travelled together there was less chance of getting into trouble, from Mask of Winters or othervice, and he had to admit that he was not good at picking routes to travel or planning in all that long term. She in turn seemed more ill-suited for more physical tasks such as combat or removing obstacles, so their choice of not cutting each other up in first meeting had ultimately led to benefit for both parties concerned.

The fact that the Solar had taken to calling him by nickname more often as of late was not lost to him, although he was quite sure that he would never feel that name as much his as the one Neverborn had given to him, despite the fact that he now opposed everything they stood for. Perhaps he would one day, but until something monumental happened he knew that he was still far away from any hope of redemption. Still, that was the path he had chosen for himself, and he would walk along it.

[Trobby]

((Lix has given me permission to play Emiria for the first post))

Ken, Emiria and Ozymandias

"Well, this looks...not promising at all."

It was the first thought that came into Ozymandias's head. Promise. A promise to serve your country and rid the world of the anathema. A promise he had long ago broken to travel with his cousin, and her..."friend".

They had promised him something too. Grand adventures and fame. Well, infamy was a type of fame, and they had had adventures, though certainly not as grand as he might have hoped.

And now, here they were in front of a town that looked like it hadn't seen water in days, let alone people.

"There isn't anywhere else in sight to set up camp." Ken replied, adjusting his jacket. He now wished he had gotten a proper shirt like Ozy, as the grit of the sand hit his body with relentless fervor. He knew a thing or two about survival, but what clothes to wear was not one of them.

"Are there even any people in town?" Emiria asked, tucking her shawl over her head to keep the sand out of her hair. She had been a little more wise than Ken at least.

"There has to be someone. Or at least someone has to be around to keep all the buildings from toppling over. Besides, we can't continue to trail in this sandstorm. We'll spend the night here and hope it blows over by the morning."

"And what if it doesn't?" Inquired Ozy, a bit less optimistic than Ken.

"Well, we'll be glad to have a roof over our heads either way. Besides, have you got a better idea?"

Ozy thought about that for a moment. Ken had a point there. Though his plans were never quite as good as he would've liked, Ozy never had a better idea than him, and Emiria always seemed to go along with them anyway.

Even if it nearly got them killed.

"Come on then." Ozy motioned for the two Solar Exalted to follow him into town, shielding himself from the sand as best he could.

The other two followed him. One thing they could all agree on; a shaky roof overhead was a better choice than no roof at all. And the meager camping equipment they had would not withstand the harsh storm to come.

[Lix Lorn]

"You don't think anyone would have heard about us, do you?" Emiria asks, lowly. She looks around a little, shielding her eyes with a hand.

[SailorShadow]

Sylvia looked over at Emiria. "It would be highly improbable for that to occur," she began, then paused. "Though we should obviously be careful. Perhaps some people may recognize us." Sylvia pulled up the hood of her cloak so that it mostly covered her face, grateful for her glasses mostly keeping the sand out of her eyes. She drew the cloak around herself tightly, shielding herself from the vicious storm.

[Trobby]

Ken looked over to Sylvia. Funny, he had almost forgotten she was there...

(Or rather, his player did. <.<; )

"In a small town like this, I doubt there's anyone who would hold a strong grudge against the Exalted."

"All the same, fortune favors those with caution. So try to keep low."

Ken never did buy into the idea that luck was an innate aspect of a person's soul. In some cases, you have to make your own luck.

...Though that being said, as he rubbed some particularly biting sand out of his eyes, he could have done with a little more caution in procuring his clothes...

[Raz_Fox]

Hospitality was a sacred virtue wherever the world was harsh and unyielding. Some - the wolves at the edge of civilization - gave into their base desires and selfishly held their own lives above those of others, but among those who were upright there was an unwavering adherence to the law of hospitality: open your door for the traveler and treat them as you would your brother, and the same courtesy will be extended to you one day.

Even in this strange land, Orrin was certain that the same courtesies would be extended; for the most part, she had been right, especially as she traveled further into the desert. People are, after all, fundamentally good, all the more when greeted by a smile and a friendly greeting.

So she came up to the door of a building that she judged to be a larger-than-normal homestead - perhaps a traveler's rest, or an official's home - and rapped heavily upon the door. "Travelers," she said in her heavily sky-accented Firetongue, "Travelers seeking refuge! Open and give us shelter!" Her voice pierced through the wailing wind and the wood; the voice of the Lawgiver was high, clear and commanding.

[Neon Knight]

Orrin & Spectre

Her closed hand against the door and imperious voice could easily be heard above the noise of the wind and the storm, and yet there was no answer. The door seemed stoutly closed, and no aid came to them. Sacred virtue or not, it did not seem that hospitality was to be found here.

___

Ken, Emiria, Ozymandias

The sandstorm continued to build as they walked down the street. The dilapidated buildings watched them in forlorn silence as the went un-hailed. The buildings broke up the wind somewhat, and visibility was somewhat improved as they entered town. No one hailed them, or went to greet them.

[Kyeudo]

Jin Xun Si

"This doesn't look good." Jin said, seemingly to no one at all. Still, Weaver would hear him, lurking somewhere nearby, unseen across the chasm of the material. "Go on ahead and see if you can find anyone. I'll see if I can find the Solars."

Jin coughed and spat, clearing the grit he'd inhaled while talking from his mouth. His traveling clothes, tailored for him in Heaven, warded off the worst of the sand but did nothing to keep the swirling dust from rubbing every exposed inch of skin raw. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. Now was not the time to appear to be a religious pilgrim. Something about the situation ahead suggested that action might be required and so Jin shucked his current resplendancy and donned that of a young mercenary. Opening his eyes, he shouldered his glaive and headed into town, seeing what was up.

[Trobby]

Ken scanned the settlement, looking for any sort of house that might offer respite. A small inn, a house that might offer them sanctuary, anything that they might be able to take shelter in.

Even an abandoned building would do.

"Ozy, Sylvia, Em, stay close together. The last thing we want is to get separated in this storm."

As soon as he finds someplace that looks like they could take refuge inside, he'll attempt to enter.

[Grim ranger]

"It's all so...dead. Abandoned...", he said quietly, barely being audiable to Orrin over the storm, his voice carrying faint, dark echoes like it always did. "It seems that this place does not offer us the shelter we seek", he continued slightly more audiably, feeling the wind getting stronger. They would need to find some shelter soon, or the consequences could be irritating.

Looking around, he tried to find some spot shielded from the wind and blown sand.

[Raz_Fox]

A shiver ran down Orrin's back as she heard her companion's words. Who better than he to recognize death? Perhaps there was something wrong here, some ill afoot. Plague? It often came on the north wind, bringing death in its wake, and leaving only emptiness.

Though her face was veiled, still some grits of sand stung at her face and eyes, and she was forced to blink hurriedly, shielding her face as another gust swept up the sand of the desert and brought it into the town like a wave crashing over some western isle, submerging everything.

"We'll find it. Is not providence on our side?" She continued to look for shelter, even as the wind lashed against her. Physical inconveniences were to be endured, after all.

[Grim ranger]

"I hope that you are right" he said again in that quiet, sad tone, looking around. "If this place truly is a ghost town, I could open the door of some house or another... forcefully". He did not sound terribly exited about the idea, but his voice carried faint note of resignation in it. There were, after all, very little in way of signs of any kind of life in the town around them.

His right, steel-clad hand moved to the hilt of his chopping sword as he contemplated the option, standing with his back to the howling wind to keep the sand at bay. "Why are we even here? I do not believe that there are allies to be found in empty place like this".

[Lix Lorn]

"Don't need to tell me twice..." murmured Emeria, walking right behind Ken, reaching to take his hand.

[Neon Knight]

Ken, Emiria, Sylvia, etc.

Ken's keen eyes pierce through the veil of sand and grit that falls over the town. He spots what appears to be a teahouse or inn of some sort, a resting place for travelers that has a door standing slightly ajar. Although there is no more sign of life about it than the other buildings, it does seem to provide shelter without them having to force an entry.

But Ken's eyes pick up more than this, as he notices that some of the buildings they pass seem... odd. Glyphs seemed to be carved or partially carved into the wood and stone of some of the buildings, work that looks fresh and recent, unworn by the harsh environment and the ravages of time. Furthermore, he spots a small charm or talisman on a door of a nearby house, a prayer strip fluttering underneath it in the wind.

___

Jin Xun Si

Watching through the dust, following behind the part of young Solars, Jin keeps easy track of them, not that the single lane really allows him to loose them. Jin stops an inn or rest stop ahead of the Solars, through a brief gap in the storm's shroud; that seems like a likely place to find shelter for the group.

___

Orrin & Spectre

As the dust whirls around them, a Spectre catches a sound over the dull whine of the wind; the creaking of a hinge being played with by the wind. Coming from a large cluster of buildings nearby, it seems to at least promise an open door or window, so at the very least they might not have to break in to find shelter.

[Trobby]

[Ken, Emeria and Ozy]

Ken begins making his way towards the inn, but stops when he spots the strange symbols and talisman etched and hanging on the houses. He gestures to Emeria to come closer, pointing them out to her.

"Em, what do you make of these, eh? You know more about this mystic stuff than I do."

[Grim ranger]

Turning his head slightly, the Abyssal pulled the hood of his brown cloak up to shield himself better from the dust and sand, motioning towards the direction he had heard the creaking sound from. His senses were quite keen, and he was quite sure that they were not mistaken this time, even with the storm building around them.

"I heard something", he said simply and started to move again, making his way towards the cluster of buildings and starting the search for open entrance. It would be good indeed for them to get out of the storm.

[Lix Lorn]

[Ken, Emeria and Ozy]

Ken begins making his way towards the inn, but stops when he spots the strange symbols and talisman etched and hanging on the houses. He gestures to Emeria to come closer, pointing them out to her.

"Em, what do you make of these, eh? You know more about this mystic stuff than I do."
"I don't know where you get that idea from..." she says, looking closely. "I don't have a clue. Sorry."

[Neon Knight]

Orrin & Spectre

Orrin and Spectre will come upon an inn or teahouse, the door standing ajar and open. If they look off down the street, they might see the outlines of figures against the dust, standing in the street.

[Kyeudo]

Jin

Considering the possibility of startling the Solars and the still unexplained abscence of any signs of life in the small town, Jin decides against introducing himself just yet. He pulls his cloak tighter around him to keep it from fluttering in the wind and steps into the shadow of one of the buildings, something that thankfully takes the edge of the stinging sand.


Dexterity + Stealth:[roll0]

[Trobby]

"Ah, heh...sorry...I guess I just figured you would know. No formal education here."

Ken looked down the streets and spotted Orrin and Spectre. Upon spotting them, he raised his hand and called out.

"Hey! Are you two seeking shelter as well?"

[Lix Lorn]

Emiria turned in shock, hair whipping with the speed of it as she saw the other two. She looked closely, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

[Grim ranger]

Both seeing and hearing Ken, Emiria and Ozy, Spectre simply nodded, hoping the the deep hood and large cloak would be enough to hide the worst of deathly images worked on his armour. These could be the people he and Orrin had searched for... Or they could be just other lost travellers. Or merely some bandits. The last thought was not very propable now as they had called out, but it still paid to be on one's guard.

His weapons would still be clearly visible to the trio, and would have been so even without the wind sending his cloak flapping and exposing them. The rows of knives held on two leather belts going around the plate armour, as well as two swords hanging on his belt and huge Grand Daiklave hanging from his back marked him well and truly as a warrior. He just hoped that they did not know what he actually was... That could mean battle, and he did not wish to fight now.

[SailorShadow]

Sylvia squinted at the glyphs and the prayer strip, thinking. "I am not entirely sure, but they seem like they could be protection charms or something of similar origin," Sylvia mused.

[Trobby]

((...Oh right, Sylvia is our smart person. XD She should probably roll Intelligence+Occult to see if she knows anything specific about those glyphs))


Ken's own armaments are plainly visible as well. A Power Bow strapped to his back and a slew of arrows, along with his studded leather gloves. He is ill-prepared for the weather in his loose, unprotected clothing, so he is eager to make his way to any sort of shelter.

"C'mon guys. Let's go get some protection from the elements."

[Lix Lorn]

Ironically considering her caste, Emeria appears to be totally unarmed. She stands close to Ken, protectively.

Ozy on the other hand stands behind them, pretending not to care. He's staring intently at Spectre, wondering if he could take him.

[Grim ranger]

Looking the trio warily once again, the Abyssal decided that attack would be unlikely and seemingly relaxed for a fraction, his hand retracting from the handle of his chopping sword. He would still be careful, of course, but now it would be very good time to get out of the storm instead of standing in the open street.

Nodding towards the building bearing resemblance to inn, he turned around and began walking back. The door of the place was luckily open, so he would not need to make any particularly agressive gestures. Stepping inside, he dusted some sand off his cloak and armour, waiting for Orrin and the trio to enter.

[Neon Knight]

Inside the Inn

The interior of the structure is a mess, and clearly some struggle of some sort took place here not too long ago, within the past couple of days. Furnishings are overturned, broken, and scattered, and the elements have been allowed inside. In some places, it seems a conflagration had broken out, as the walls and floors are marked by burns. All in all, it is a scene of disarray and havoc, and it clearly marks the stillness outside of being of a malevolent character.

[Lix Lorn]

Emeria follows him in, suspiciously, and fails to stifle a gasp of shock at the state of the bar.

[Trobby]

Ken succeeds on his "stifle gasp" check, though he too is in shock at the state of things within the tea house.

"Damn...looks like we've come at the worst possible time. This town must've been abandoned for some reason. Might've been raiders, or it might've been a vengeful god of the desert."

He walks inside, examining the wreckage for any more specific sign of what transpired here.

Investigation check.

[roll0]

[Neon Knight]

I count 4 successes.

There was clearly a fight or struggle here, and upon closer examination it seems as if whoever was here made some effort to fortify the place. It looks like something forced its way inside and attacked whoever was here, although there is little blood and no sign of any bodies. They must have removed them from here, whether dead or alive, and probably didn't kill very many at all. The signs of fire are too small and localized to be having been set accidentally; that along with small grains of brick red dust indicate the use of firedust weapons.

The talismans and glyphs outside seem to indicate a mystical source for this. One that could wield mortal weapons, though. All the signs seem relatively fresh; this went down recently.

[Kyeudo]

Jin

With everyone now inside, Jin aproaches the inn. After checking the talismans to determine if they indicate a present danger, he listens over the howling wind for what might be transpiring inside.


Dexterity+Stealth:[roll0]
Perception+Awareness:[roll1]
Intelligence+Occult[roll2]

Also, Jin is going to activate Prior Warning. That means I get a (Perception + Awareness) roll to detect probable trouble a number of minutes ahead of time as there are successes on the roll. For Jin, that's at best six minutes ahead of time.

[Trobby]

"There was...a fight here." Ken recalls to those gathered. "They braced themselves for an attack but...they lost. They were overrun by a superior force. Few of them where killed, but the attackers had some sort of fire-setting weapon on their side. I imagine it was a very one-sided battle..."

"And whoever did it, is still here, or might be close by." Ken draws his bow. "Be on your guard."

[Lix Lorn]

Emiria nods, looking around carefully.

[Grim ranger]

Listening to the man and looking around, Spectre had to admit that the place had been thrashed rather thoroughtly and there did not seem to be much blood. That alone spoke of something pericular, and the glyphs outside just confirmed that this was not likely work of any normal band of bandits or outlaws. No, something worse had befallen this place.

Seeing Ken drawing his bow, he decided to follow the example, his armoured hand closing around the hilt of the Grand Daiklave and pulling the huge weapon from his back without any apparent effort. Holding the massive weapon with both hands, he looked around as if he expected enemies to materialize out of thin air, sadly forgetting to make sure his cloak covered his helmet and armour. As it was, the black plate mail and ghastly images adorning it were clearly visible.

Looking outside, he nodded for Orrin to enter. At least they would be able to defend themselves more easily if inside building, without sand reducing their visibility.

[Neon Knight]

Inside the Inn

Orrin enters the room swiftly after the others, containing her reaction to the scene inside better than the others. The inn itself doesn't seem to present any threat to them; whatever had been here, whatever had happened was long gone. The wood of the structure groaned slightly in the wind as they stood, ready for any threat.

"Maybe we should look elsewhere for more clues as to what has transpired?" Orrin suggests this quietly, after a moment has passed. "It does not seem like threatening an empty room will gain us many answers."

___

Jin

Crouching in the dust, Jin remain hidden. Unfortunately, whatever is said inside is unfortunately hidden from him as well. The damn wind howls so loud! As he waits, though, Jin gets a tingling along his spine. Trouble is somewhere over the dusty horizon, approaching rapidly. It - whatever it is - should be here in around 4 minutes.

[Trobby]

"Hm...I think you might be right." Ken nods, putting his bow back over his shoulder. "Whatever was here has moved on, recently as it might have been...we can only pray that the poor souls did not have to suffer."

"We should try to secure this place so that we can rest here for the night."

[Kyeudo]

Jin

Four minutes? And fae in the area? Best I get inside then. Jin thinks to himself. He takes a step back from the door, squares his shoulders, and opens the door, then stomps inside and pulls it quickly shut. He shakes grit from his clothes and hair, then turns, appearing somewhat surprised to see others in the room with him. Seeing an Exalt armed and armored in soulsteel, Jin's grip tightens slightly upon the haft of his glaive, but he determines to act as nonchalant as possible. A deathknight? Here? This wasn't in the plan. . .

"Finally! I was begining to think there was no one in this blasted village. Anyone here know where everybody's gone off to?"

[Lix Lorn]

Emiria turns with shock, seeing him. How strange that their numbers have grown so far so quick.

[Grim ranger]

Watching the newcomer walk in through the door from the ever-worsening storm, the Abyssal tightens his grip from the handle of his weapon slightly, looking at the man intently with his dark red eyes. He was not sure he could...or would... trust him, and judging by the fact he did not immediately return his own weapon to casual stance told the ex-Deathknight all too well that this person might be an enemy...or turn into one from provocation, at the very least.

"I believe...that introductions are in order?" he said in his usual, silent tone that carried sense of lingering doom and almost imperceptible echoes in it. His gaze did not move away from Jin for one second, however.

[Trobby]

Ken and Ozy are just as shocked to see someone wander in, and both of them grip their weapons, ready to fight him off, though when it becomes apparent that he's not threatening them, Ken at least lets go of his weapon.

"Indeed...how long have you been here, stranger? Have you any idea what has happened in this town?"

[Kyeudo]

Jun

"The name is Tam. I just got here on my way though to Chiaroscuro. This blasted sandstorm has me parched. Is there anything to drink left in this place?" The young mercenary walks over to the bar, looking behind to see if anything survived the brawl inside.

[Grim ranger]

"I believe there is nothing to drink in this place... unless you drink sand or blood" he says darkly whilst looking at Tam, returning his Grand Daiklave to it's place in his back. "I no longer have my name... But I am known as Spectre of Forgotten Hopes. And I have been looking for you, along with her" he nudges his helmeted head slightly towards Orrin.

[Neon Knight]

Jin

Whoever was here apparently didn't take any value in mortal possessions, as everything is in place. It looks like Jin can procure himself liquor or water at his choice, although the water will be tepid and somewhat stagnant.

[Raz_Fox]

Orrin bowed slightly to the travelers; even if they were not Exalted, they were still worthy of respect. "Forgive me," she said, once she had regained power over her voice. "For my rudeness. I am Orrin of the House of Ushai, a wanderer in the sight of the sun. I agree with the young man - this storm will not die down for some hours, if I am any judge, and we will need a place to rest once the sun falls.

But we should also discover what happened to this place, if we can - whether it was the work of thieves and murderers, or some warlord's army marching through, or the work of fouler things. This is not natural."

[Kyeudo]

Jin

Tam takes a bottle of whiskey and a shot glass from behind the bar and pours himself a drink. "Whatever came through here, I'd say they didn't kill anybody. Slavers of some sort, likely. Maybe cannibals." The young mercenary is nonchalant about the whole mess, knocking back his drink in one go and pouring another. Fair Folk, to be specific, but then I can't say that yet. These Solars need more help than I thought.

[Trobby]

Ken

"Either way, none of us are getting anywhere with the sandstorm billowing out there like that. I suggest we block off the entryways and settle in here for the night. Regardless of who is nearby, I think we can all agree that we need a place to stay."

"And, since you have all been kind enough to introduce yourselves, allow me to make my own introductions. I am Ken of the Radiant Dawn. The gentleman here is Ozymandias, and the fair maidens who accompany us are Emiria and Sylvia."

[Lix Lorn]

"Hello." says Emeria quietly. Ozy yawns. "Heya."

[Grim ranger]

Casting his look around the room, Spectre starts his search for any furniture or other objects sturdy enough to be used to barricade the doors and windows. He remains quiet in this endeavour, barely casting a single look to anyone as he starts to think the best way to make the place as defendable of a position as possible. Whatever attacked this place would propably attack it again, given the chance, and he is not the kind to take risks.

<"How do you know that we can trust them?"> he suddenly asks Orrin in Skytongue as he moves around, his cloak flapping in the breeze that gets inside the building proper.

[SailorShadow]

Sylvia glanced at the new people and pushed her glasses up higher on the bridge of her nose before waving shyly. She took a look around the room, trying to figure out if she was strong enough to actually move any of the objects left that could create a barricade before realizing that no, she probably wasn't.
"Ken, is there anything I can do to help?" Sylvia asked.

[Trobby]

"Check the back to make sure there aren't any other exits." Ken told her, while upending an appropriately long table that, hopefully, would be there for them to block things up. "If you find anything, let us know. But be careful. We're still not sure if we're entirely alone in this place."