Incoming

Seeing that Betham doesn't seem to be too concerned and that there doesn't seem to be any real danger yet, Zeton quickly heads over to Betham.

"OK," he says, "whoever is here knows we are here and they aren't happy about it. It's too bad we can't emit thoughts of happiness and calm to reassure these folks we aren't here to bother them, eh?"

Zeton wipes some rain from his brow and nervously looks around into the shadows. "So, how do you recommend we approach and enter the worker flats?"

"Very carefully," replies Betham. "Trying to cut through the woods would be a very bad idea, what with all the blind baggage."

"Hey!" cries Mey'Luskar indignantly. "Who are you..."

"GET DOWN!!!!" yells Betham, giving Zeton a shove.

"NO!!!" screams Bina simultaneously as she tackles Mey'Luskar.

There is a sound like a nearby lightning strike. It is accompanied by a flash that leaves a short-lived, visible path of blue fire in the air as the very molecules of the mist are torn apart. One of the trees on the opposite side of the road erupts in flame from its trunk.

"Rakk!" barks Lirassa. "That was no laser designator!"

Someone at the Gate

The party continues to pick its way along the edge of the street next to the outer wall of the estate. The darkness and the obnoxious, misty rain are disorienting. So are the even more obnoxious weeds, overhanging branches, and occasional bit of litter.

"Wonderful city management," mutters Mey'Luskar bitterly as yet another vine catches her in the face.

"This place is way low on the list, lady," retorts Dabid. "They're still fixing up the ghettos, remember?"

Suddenly Widjgleeby halts, sniffing. "Someone there!" she hisses.

The party comes to a tense stop. There are a few ominous clicking sounds.

Ham pulls out his scanner and starts fiddling with it.

"They don't mean us any harm," says Bina. "I sense annoyance, but not hate. He's a Hergoth, and...I think he's expecting us!"

"Par'deth?" asks Pru almost eagerly.

"No," replies Bina. "It's Constable Betham. And he's alone."

Fast-Forwarding

(Heeding both the boredom of the players and his own frustration at the lack of activity, the Gamemaster pushes the "FF" button on the Vorpal Remote...)

A summary of the scenes as they blip past:

• There's a bit of conversation with the two women, Vliana and Kairi (the Besteeng). It turns out that they are the frontwomen of a pop band that has been fairly active, not only in Mul'ein, but throughout the region. Apparently they are based in Ekr'in, however. (That's why Nekshi interviewed them not so long ago.) Both are outgoing, but Vliana is clearly the friendlier of the two. It's clear that she and Bina have a deep rapport that goes back. It also appears that, though they're not personally acquainted with her, the two women know who Mey'Luskar is. Vliana seems to respect her, but Kairi doesn't try very hard to mask her contempt. They're both very well acquainted with Lirassa, too, and there seems to be both tension and mutual respect between them.
• During the talk, a little light can be seen to come on over Uskua's head, and she points out that the two musicians have a small bus they use for their band. Bina then hints to Vliana that the party is hoping to do something very important, but are having some problems squaring transportation. Kairi seems ambivalent, but Vliana offers to help immediately.
• The party remains at Wirg's long enough for everyone to finish. The three suspicious men leave during this time without incident. A couple more customers come in, but no one of any significance. By the time the party gets ready to leave, both Bina and Mey'Luskar are looking a bit red around the edges from wine and cocktails.
• It is early evening when the party gathers together to leave. As it is just a week before summer, it is still daylight outside, though it is cloudy. The fact of the heavy Peace Force presence in the area is mentioned. After some deliberation and maneuvering, Wirg has the party leave through the employee exit out into the back alley. There are a couple of unsavory-looking characters back there (probably drug pushers), but they high-tail it out of there at first glimpse of the party.
• The bus arrives. It's actually not a bus but rather an old military transport van that has been retooled. The rear is designed to hold gear, while there are seats for up to eight passengers in addition to the driver. There is more than enough room for everybody. Even better, the windows are all tinted. The driver, another Ehrlathagi woman, doesn't seem happy about the arrangement, but she does what she's told.
• It is decided to head out of Mul'ein, circle around, and enter the Bousin area from the north, preferably after it has gotten a bit darker. The musicians say they hope the party can come up with a plan during that time.

(Removes finger from "FF" button...)

So...what is the party's plan?

The Dynamic Duo

Zeton continues to poke around on the networks, but nothing of any value shows itself.

Bina and Mey'Luskar try to get Pru to try the monacta herself, but the stocky Tembo is as stubborn as she is outgoing.

The rain soon eases off as abruptly as it started. The middle-aged Besteeng woman immediately leaves without a word (except to Uskua when she pays).

The Ibitonian, Zentryl, and Endihec(?) continue to chat in very low tones, leaning rather closely together over their table. Both the Zentryl and the Endihec steal occasional suspicious glances at the party, but the Ibitonian seems utterly unconcerned.

After a little while, the door opens, and in comes a couple of new customers. It's a pair of women. One of them is obviously Ehrlathagi. The other is a white-skinned Sark-type human who is most likely Besteeng. Their dress suggests at least middle class. They are chatting with each other in Yangae (with noticeable accents).

Spying the party on the way in, both women say a quiet yet attractive greeting and then suddenly halt.

The Ehrlathagi woman puts her hands on her hips, cocks her head, and says, "Nekshi! How are you doing?"

"You weren't hoping to interview us again, were you?" asks the Besteeng, crossing her arms and throwing out a hip.

"You interviewed them?" asks Lirassa, jerking a thumb in the pair's direction.

"Hi, Lirassa!" says the Besteeng a little too sweetly.

They exchange a few quick lines in Brekka while the Ehrlathagi smiles and glances around the party. Then the Ehrlathagi's smile vanishes, and with a gasp she turns toward the table where Bina, Mey'Luskar, and Pru are sitting.

"Bina?" she says, taking a step forward with surprise in her eyes. "It is you, isn't it?"

Bina grins solemnly. "It's me." Then she bows Hergoth style and says in Her-Galad, "May She smile on you, Vliana!"

Vliana echoes the gesture and adds in Her-Galad, "Why are you here...dressed like that?"

Bina taps her chest. "I got kicked out!"

Vliana gasps and says something in Ehrkiss. Then she extends her hands. Bina hesitates before touching them. Then she sighs (with a noticable sob) and closes her eyes.

"Someone you know?" asks the Besteeng woman, moving closer with a puzzled look.

"Yes," says Vliana. "Bina! She's...she was...a priestess at Erweina. She's the best!"

At the mention of the word "priestess", the Besteeng woman stiffens and moves behind Vliana.

"Now I'm...just Bina," she says with a solemn grin.

Switching back to Yangae, Vliana asks, "So what's going on? It looks like you're geared up for a camping trip or something! Anything exciting?"

"That's what I'm hoping to find out!" retorts Pru, resting her chin on her elbow.

The Circle is Complaint

Uskua starts to head off to take care of Mon'Fargret's order, but she is stopped by Bina, who orders a glass of wine. Mey'Luskar teases her about it and then orders a cocktail.

"I think that'll do it for now," says La'Brissa with a sigh of satisfaction. She glances at her Bolgan companion and adds, "You can let your whiskers hang now. We're going."

The Bolgan thanks her hastily and hops out of her chair.

La'Brissa starts to put her tablet and art supplies away and then thinks better of it. Taking a cautious step toward Bina and Mey'Luskar, she asks modestly, "Do you want to see it?"

Mey'Luskar glances at Bina with horror.

"Only if it's finished," replies Bina with a grin. "You know!"

La'Brissa chuckles. "Right. 'Hr'vòyna-män.' (Incomplete state.) Got it."

"I hope I can see it when it's done," adds Bina.

"I hope I get a chance to show it to you!" replies La'Brissa as she folds up her drawing tablet.

"Well, I don't care so much about hr'vòyna-män," puts in the Besteeng woman. "Do you mind?"

Blushing (and failing to hide her discomfort), La'Brissa shows her the picture.

"Well, isn't that special?" comments the Besteeng woman. "I hope to see it hanging somewhere! Maybe even here!"

Bozz's little companion, who has been watching with intense curiosity, approaches. When La'Brissa slams the tablet shut warily, he bows in elaborate Yangae fashion and says in polite language, "If it pleases the lady, one wishes to see the work of art."

La'Brissa eyes him with disbelief and then shows him the picture with a (rather awkward-sounding) polite reply.

He studies it with furrowed brows. Then he hums dismissively and says, "There is...some ability, certainly, but I do not see why this would be special."

"No, you probably wouldn't," retorts the Besteeng woman with mock sweetness over La'Brissa's gasp. Pointing at the picture, she adds, "This one is with the Scarlet Revival. Perhaps you've heard of them?"

"Um, no," replies the newcomer. "I am familiar with the Scarlet Order, but..."

"Even redder!" replies the Besteeng woman with a wide smile.

The newcomer is dumbfounded. "But...then...why is she...?"

The Besteeng smiles even wider. "Now you begin to see!"

As she says this, the sky, which had been darkening much too quickly for the hour, loses its patience. Rain begins to pelt against the windows on one side of the building.

"Oh, roots and sod!" moans La'Brissa. "Why do the Herg...goth...um...?" She glances at Bina anxiously.

"The Yangae authority always kept the weather under control," observes Mey'Luskar, still chewing on her monacta. "Or so I'm told."

"But the weather is the breath of the planet," retorts Bina melodically. "Pray, let her live!"

The newcomer shifts his wary gaze between the picture and the actual pair. Then he says something in an unfamiliar language.

"You see?" clucks the Besteeng woman.

"There's more," says the Bolgan impatiently. She points a claw at Bina. "That one's a priestess!"

The newcomer's dark eyes widen to their limit.

Bina takes a mouthful of her food, taps on her unadorned chest, and says with difficulty, "No, I'm not!"

"She is!" whines the Bolgan. "I've seen her before! Lady, can we go now?"

"That's very interesting," retorts the newcomer in a low voice. He hands the tablet back to La'Brissa and slinks back to his group.

Just then the front door bangs open, and someone comes in in a flurry of soggy griping. Lirassa soon comes into view bearing her pack, a mass of soaked tresses, and a lot of ill will. Cursing in Brekka, she heads straight for Ham's table and plops herself wetly into a seat.

With a wail, the Bolgan immediately bolts out of the pub.

"So now she leaves me the bill," mutters La'Brissa between gestures of annoyance.

Steam Flash

Responding to Zeton's suggestion, Ham surreptitiously pulls out his scanner and starts to fiddle with it under the table.

Just as he's about to engage it, there is a loud, booming Yangae, "Oh, really?" from the direction of the three newcomers. The massive Zentryl stands and dusts off his arms dramatically, then turns and approaches the party. There is a wide smile on his face and fire in his eyes as he levels his gaze on Ham and crosses his arms.

"Ybandya!" he says with saccharine sweetness, leaning toward Ham. "Yany thok-mobar tu-roko tcok-jus-thok-ij tu-gar. Tu-margh-jakijny?"

(I'll e-mail El Tigrez the translation of the Biton.)

"That's right, Bozz," says the Atlan-type humanoid in Yangae with a very wimpy-sounding voice as he moves behind his much-larger companion. "He's up to something! What's he got under the table?"

Plant Goo

Things continue quietly if uneasily. Most of the party, having ordered lightly, get their food and drink fairly soon. Meanwhile, La'Brissa, having gotten another bapf, takes a sketchpad out of her bag, squints in the direction of Bina and Mey'Luskar, and starts scribbling away. (Bina grins modestly and tries not to move too much. Mey'Luskar huffs with irritation.) Her Bolgan companion continues to shift around edgily, even getting up and pacing a couple of times.

The two spacers finally finish up and get ready to leave. The Foldorian spacer gives the party a totally uninterested (or at least unreadably blank) glance as he gathers himself together. The orange and green alien scowls but avoids making any kind of eye contact.

Just at that moment, Uskua comes in with the two dishes of monacta for Bina and Mey'Luskar. Bina oohs with delight and then quickly reassumes her pose for La'Brissa's benefit. Mey'Luskar looks excited and worried at the same time.

The alien spacer perks up and takes note. "What in the world...?" he says in his nasally tongue, his aquiline nose wrinkling.

"Monacta," replies the Foldorian spacer indifferently. "Hergoth food. Are we going or not?"

"I know what monacta is, my friend," retorts the colorful alien. His angular face wrinkles. "How could I not? Rotten plant goo wrapped in leaves?" He makes a strange noise. "At least they say it's plant goo. Did that Bolgan really prepare it, or did he have his wench run over to the park and peel it off an old tree?"

"Watch it!" snarls Uskua.

"Hey!" says Mey'Luskar. "Don't knock it till you try it!"

"Very good!" offers Bina encouragingly.

The alien wrinkles his face and makes a strange noise again. Then he says to his companion, "Too bad you didn't do a better job of civilizing them." He glances at Mey'Luskar. "Now they're even corrupting your own!" With that, he turns to go...just as Zeton comes in. Almost colliding with the tall Lybolt, the alien looks him over and says, "Another victim, I see! Are you with that lot, too? And what's with all the packs? Are you going camping in the park?"

Throwing an almost apologetic glance at the party, the Foldorian spacer continues on his way to the counter. The alien turns to follow him.

Who Dropped In for Dinner

(Carried over from the last comment thread with a little Gamemaster Override. For the record, Wirg has already gone back into his kitchen.)

"I apologize for the strangeness, Uskua," says Mon'Fargret to the anxious waitress just as she is finishing up and preparing to depart, "but if you recall, she wasn't the big talker back when that fellow shot the floor. Oddly, that fellow has an interesting story of his own that I won't go into here."

Uskua's only reply before she skitters off is an anguished look.

"Do tell!" calls someone using an unfamiliar language with a telepathic translator. It's someone of a strange, humanoid race unknown to most of the party (all the player characters not otherwise informed, anyway) who is sitting at a table with a Foldorian man. Both of them look like they are probably spacers. Turning his angular-faced gaze toward the party, the speaker rises from his chair and starts to approach slowly. "Your friends have certainly gone to enough trouble to attract everyone's attention! Why stop now? If you have an interesting story, then I'd be very much interested in hearing it! And if you don't care to talk about this 'fellow' who shoots floors, why not explain to me why the so-colorful waitress was so taken with that one?" He(?) turns abruptly, leveling his eyes on Bina. "Or why she looks so strangely familiar?"

Bina's brows lower. "Have we met?" she asks in a low voice.

"Obviously not," the spacer replies, "since I usually try to avoid Hergoth. But how could anyone arriving at the local aerospace port miss those two holographic priestesses that bow and intone that ridiculous greeting to all that pass through the gate?" His eyes narrow. "I thought so before, and now I'm certain. One of those charming holo-priestesses looks just like you...or would if you were wearing braids and a tiara!"

Several of the other customers in the cafe immediately stop what they were doing and take note.

"Or a brooch?" suggests Bina, tapping the spot on her chest that it would have occupied. "No brooch, no priestess."

"Brooches can be hidden," suggests the spacer. "But the witch powers of a Hergoth priestess? Not likely! So what's your game?"

"Look, do you want something?" hisses Mey'Luskar impatiently.

"Mainly just to sate my curiosity," replies the alien evenly. "But also to make something perfectly clear. If this is indeed a witch of the Temple here in disguise to spy on us, she'd do well to take her mind probes elsewhere!"

Some of the other customers immediately set down whatever they were holding and start gathering themselves together to leave. At one table, a Yangae woman (an artist and an acquaintance of some members of the party) starts trying to urge her companion, a female Bolgan, to leave, but the Bolgan won't budge.

An Afternoon at Wirg's, Take Two

Mon'Fargret, Ham, Nekshi, Granite Spear, and Widjgleeby file on into Wirg's just as a customer, a Hertressk-Yangae, is leaving. The man quickly steps aside to allow the Farbett passage, eying the group warily, and then continues out without a word. There is no one at the front. Sounds can be heard from the kitchen area; Wirg is probably busy in the back. As the group moves on into the dining area, Uskua can be seen hustling about as she takes care of things by herself. The place isn't really all that busy; it's certainly somewhat less crowded than it was yesterday. Still, Uskua has her hands full.

Seeing the party, the Ilfroi stops and heaves a sigh of relief. "Beyond, am I glad to see you!" she says. "Go ahead and sit wherever you like. I'll be with you in a minute!"

There are currently eight customers there. Two of them are sitting alone, while the others are in pairs. Some of them are familiar to members of the party, some aren't.

"Well, I'll be rockin' in the wind!" comes a familiar, gruff voice from the direction of the kitchen. "I was afraid that lot wouldn't be back!" Wirg comes toddling out, a ladle in his paw and the Bolgan equivalent of a smile on his snout. "And here you are here together! Just like when you left yesterday! What, were you looking for that trigger-happy git and his lodge-wench all this time?" He lets out a hearty, Bolgan guffaw. "Did you find 'em?"

Just then the front door can be heard banging open followed by a torrent of feminine complaining in Yangae. The voice is very familiar. Pretty much the entire clientele sits up and takes note.

Uskua sucks air through her teeth and hustles toward the front just as Wirg growls, "What...in...twelve..." There is some muttering, and then Uskua can be seen beckoning someone in anxiously, puzzlement written all over her striped, blue face.

Mey'Luskar comes in looking like she's about ready to start smashing things. Behind her comes Bina, who is calm but worried. Dabid stays way to the rear.

"Why...," growls Wirg as he turns around slowly, "in the twelve levels...are YOU here? What kind of gall...grr...why should I let you in?"

Mey'Luskar stops short and greets the Bolgan with wide eyes. "Well, I...uh..."

"I'll vouch for her," says Bina.

"Where's your lodger, lady?" Wirg goes on. He gestures toward the floor, where a chunk of sheeting covers the spot where Dusker shot it. "You know? The flop who did that? Where is he? Whose gonna pay for...huh?" His jaw drops lax for a moment. Then he shakes his head as if to clear it and stares at Bina. "What did you say?"

"I said I'll vouch for her. We'll take care of the damage."

Wirg approaches Bina, circling around Mey'Luskar as if she were radioactive, and gives the disgraced priestess a looking and sniffing over. Then he says, "You're Hergoth!" as if it were a profound discovery.

"Of course I am!" replies Bina with a shallow grin.

"B-but..." Wirg glances quizzically back at Mey'Luskar and then turns to Bina again. "She's...pure scarlet! She hates...I mean she...uh?" He looks at Mey'Luskar again.

"We forgive," replies Bina, "and reality smiles!"

Wirg looks at her, Mey'Luskar, and Uskua in turn before he gives up trying to figure it out and retires to his kitchen with a snort.

Uskua moves past the Bolgan and gestures for the newcomers to sit, changing the direction of her beckoning when she realizes they're moving to join the party. All along her troubled-looking eyes never leave Bina.

"We all look alike," says Bina in reply to the Ilfroi's thoughts.

Uskua gestures negative curtly before saying, "Let me know when you're ready to order." Then she quickly moves away.

Back to Where It All Started

The group watches as Lirassa leads Zeton to her cute, little car and then drives off in a hail of shrieking tires, once again only just missing the doors of the gate as it opens.

There is a chorus of sighs among the group, and then Ham says, "Now what?"

Mon'Fargret looks at Widjgleeby thoughtfully, stroking his mustache, and then he says, "I think Widjgleeby just might fit in the back of the van. It'll be tight, though."

Widjgleeby snorts irritably and goes on looking out the window.

"The problem is where to put everyone else," Mon'Fargret goes on. "The van is for hauling stuff. It only has one bench seat plus two in the front. We can put four, maybe five of us plus the driver in there."

"There are exactly seven of us here in addition to Widjgleeby," points out Nekshi. "There is also a matter of anatomy. Assuming your vehicle was designed with Yangae and/or Hergoth in mind, Granite Spear would require at least half of the bench seat. As for the other half..." She lifts her gaze to Ham's tall, stocky frame. Then she reaches over and pats Dabid's paunch.

Dabid immediately swats her hand away and brushes his belly off as if it were soiled.

"You must see the problem here," adds Nekshi, cradling her assaulted limb. "Assuming no one is left behind or forced to rely on podiatric transportation..."

"'Podiatric'?" snaps Dabid indignantly. "That's not a word!"

"There is other car," rumbles Widjgleeby.

Nekshi's bushy eyebrows almost merge. "I beg to differ! The Yangae language does in fact allow for the use of classic Sarkish terms with proper declension! For example..."

"She's right, purple," says Mey'Luskar quickly.

"What?" rails Dabid. "Tell me, scarlet, would any civilized Yangae ever say, 'podiatric transportation'?"

"There is other car," repeats Widjgleeby.

"No," replies Mey'Luskar, "but if they had a proper education they'd understand what it meant."

Dabid makes a very interesting (and very caustic-sounding) noise.

"What did you say, Widjgleeby?" asks Bina very deliberately.

Widjgleeby points with four of her hands. "Other car!"

"Now that is improper Yangae," says Mey'Luskar.

Widjgleeby uses one of her remaining hands to make a very unfriendly Yangae gesture.

"Actually, that is also an inaccurate assessment," retorts Nekshi. "In the standard dialect of the Labor and Soil Tender castes it is both common and acceptable to make statements lacking one or more standard grammar cases."

Widjgleeby's remaining hand echoes the gesture.

"Widjgleeby," says Mey'Luskar, "I think you want to say, 'There is another car.'"

Widjgleeby says, "There is another car," in Her-Galad. Then she belches.

"This is important!" says Bina. Then she looks at Mon'Fargret.

"Yes," he says, "I do have another car. It's a little Tuzero."

"Oh, how cute!" coos Mey'Luskar. "Why don't you let me drive it? I'll carry Bina and...one more? Maybe purple, here? You can drive the van with the others!"