*smiles at Tessa's comment* "Your not weak, and it's comments like that, that I love you. We'll have to pick up your bag with your armor and weapons, no one should should ever assume that of you.
*to Siljonic* "Tell your ladies that we shall meet them for drinks at the Reykavik Imperial Hotel."
*nods and looks to the crowd*
"I assume one of you works for Lady M? It seems someone may have tried to do her harm, does anyone have the keys or know where the keys are to one of her cars, so we can make sure she's properly taken care of...pauses...I am Odin, this is Freya, and Loki, and no one assaults a goddess on our watch."
*waits for one of them to speak up, if not, will ask a guard at the house, tell him the above, and see what kind of transportation she has available*
*when they leave or get in a car* "Hey she started this, if she wants us to be gods or goddesses, then we do it on our terms. Either way she has much to answer for, and a long way to go to make things right." *heading the two miles to pick up Tessa's bags to get her equipped and then off to track down Lady Psycho*
Jhiaxus
A tall, handsome, but somewhat geeky male bows.
"I am one of her High Servants. Follow me, Lord Odin." He escorts you to a variety of cute cars. A Karmen Ghia in candy apple red, a Bug tie-dyed, an MGB in white with 'goddess' on the license tag, a Thunderbird in robin's egg blue with pink dangling dice...all convertible.
You pick up the bags from two policemen who were examining them who suddenly turn helpful when they see you're driving one of Lady Memory's cars.
As you head north out of town toward the mountains and the glaciers, following a fleeing Memory down the narrow, but nearly empty roads across the flatlands, Siljonic says...
"As Loki, I'm supposed to be a trickster right. Devious and malicious to my companions. Perhaps I should practise to make sure I get this right." He gives forth an evil laugh you recognize from "Doom Lords", a holo show you and he had enjoyed in Starsong.
*grins seeing some of the classic cars and goes for the Thunderbird without a second thought* "Now this is a piece of exquisite engineering." *smiles wide getting into the driver's seat*
*puts down the top and puts Tessa in the middle bench seat and Silonic in the passanger seat* "We will be back to escort Lady Memory back to her temple, tell no one that she is missing, everything is to be as it is. The fire and explosion, due to old gas kept in a can, and a cigarette. If they ask where she is, she is resting in her suite and is not to be disturbed. We will be back."
*as he gets out on the road, paying attention to where cars are parked and driving to drive on the correct side of the street* "I missed out on having a convertible, my mother had a Alfo Romeo, and it was suppose to be mine when I was of driving age, but one of her "friends" took it from her and we never saw it again. I never knew how much I missed driving, and feeling the wind in my hair." *puts his right arm around Tessa, driving his normal one handed style*
*nods to the policemen* "Good work, I am Odin, this is Freya and Loki, we are with Lady Memory, what are your names, so I can make sure she knows you personally helped her associates." *smiles and has Siljonic remember with his perfect memory*
*paying attention to the road while talking to Siljonic* "Loki had a complicated relationship with Odin and the gods. Loki and Odin were blood brothers, and if Odin and his Wife couldn't sit on the throne he was next in line. Yes Loki was a trickster, and a shapeshifter, and had abilities over the element of fire. He and Freya are norse elves, and with your appearance and abilities with fire, I thought that would be most appropriate. As for how you act, I envision Loki being a trickster, but not overt with it, and we would all appreciate if you didn't turn on us. If you must laugh, that over the top one works well. Remember we aren't gods, but in order to do what is right here, we must take the guise of them. As versers, all we have that keeps us in touch with everyone is our humanity, if we lose that, we turn into Lady M, or that blond woman on that dead planet. I don't want to lose who I am.
*pauses* "Ok we will probably catch up to Lady Memory soon enough, Tessa, did she show you what she really looked like? We know she has a low quality holo projector, do we know of any other items or abilities she has? I think Tessa has first rights to kick her ass, but what do we do with her after? Do we verse her, making an enemy forever? Do we make a bargain with her, try to temper her with humanity and show her that not every verser is a homicidal maniac? I'm torn, she did both of us very wrong, but I don't want to become like her, and if we can be the better people, and give her a chance, who knows. Maybe I'm just an idealist, but if we don't try to bring out the good in people, what right do we have to be "gods", after all the gods are there for their people to turn to, not for them to take advantage of them."
*looking at them wanting their input*
Jhiaxus
The policemen are Officers Skorvik and Tamlinson. They are pleased to be so rememembered, and they are fans of Lady Memory.
"she's helped us solve lots of cases."
==========
Siljonic nods taking in your advice.
"Gotcha, boss. And I surely do not want to turn into something like my evil brethren."
=========
"Memory had the town wired for sound and light. And she had herself wired as well. I doubt you can sneak up on her." Tessa says. "And I'm maybe being soft-headed as well, but she did care about the little people in her own twisted way. So, maybe we apply the 'Rod of Learning' to her skull..."
*Nods* "Well I don't plan on sneaking up, I want her to see us together, and know that if we chose to, we could do what we want. We will again try to appeal logically to her, and see where that gets us. I refuse to be her slave, that's my only caveat of all this. Aside from that, I want to see how she acts when she is not in control and that our attitude doesn't change."
Jhiaxus
You spot her car entering the low hills below the mountains while you're five miles back still on the flatlands. Her car cuts across the outside of the first large hill, and you realize you may have a problem.
Her car is small and pink. Squinting, you decide its a Corvette Stingray, probably. And its about as fast as yours, and once you get up into the mountains with the winding roads, she's probably going to lose you because your Thunderbird does not turn as well as her Corvette.
Of course, that also depends on just how good a driver she and you are.
((Well I did make a living driving for a few years, I would put myself as a 2@3, just because of my ability to drive anything (stick, automatic, double clutch), and practice.))
*smiles* "Well I have to say something, she does have good taste in cars, maybe girlish in colors, but good taste in cars. Better buckle up guys. Tessa, fire up the starsong communicator and fire out a general broadcast, if she is wired for sound, she should pick this up."
*when Tessa thinks she is ready*
"I've calmed down, my fiance safe, and my friend found. We have calmed down, and as much as we started with violent thoughts, we don't want to hurt or verse you, we are here to talk, you have my word as Hand of Odin, that if you talk to us, we will not cause you harm or violence, let him judge me, if I fail to keep my oath. We have heard you have treated the people well, solved cases for the police, we started off on a bad note, you still need us and it looks like we need you. Ball is in your court."
Jhiaxus
You shove the pedal down, and the speedometer begins to lurch upward until you reach the point where you're just a little uncomfortable going around the curves at ninety, and doing a hundred five down the straightaways. You think you may be gaining, or at least not losing ground to the Stingray right now.
Tessa takes several minutes to send your long message.
"Nothing. Its as I expected. I mean, on my starship, we didn't have neutrino commlinks. Our best stuff was whisker lasercomms."
You review what little you know about neutrino commlinks from your Basic Degree. Neutrinos are nearly massless particles created in the depths of a star that can travel at nearly lightspeed, and can pass right through a planet. Detecting their existence was hugely problematic for 21st century science, and required massive more than hundred ton equipment and deep caves. Generating and controlling unmagnetized neutrinos with the two ounce device in your skull requires 'telling' a neutron that its a neutrino with a positive charge as if it were decaying, and about to split into quarks, while telling another part of the neutrino that its stable. In the jargon of the Starsong physics students its called 'playing poker with protons'. This virtual 'charge' and 'bluff' then allows the neutron to act as if it were an electron and a neutrino, and you could text Tessa on the far side of the globe with no one short of the Starship Enterprise having a chance to listen in.
((Thanks for the lesson, puts things into context))
*keeping his attention on the road*
"It was worth a shot, she maybe wired for sight and sound, but it's not starsong level, even the holographic was poorly done by their standards."
*trying to catchup on the straightaways, not wanting her to have too much time ahead of us wherever she is going*
Jhiaxus
You push it up to 115 on the straightaways, and Tessa and Siljonic start praying to Christ and Ellisithee respectively. You nearly go off the road when some rodent tries to dart across, and you plow into it and over it with a small thump.
Pursuing up into the low foothills, you see that you've gained on her. She's cresting the top of a hill three hills on, but perhaps two miles ahead. But then, suddenly she puts the pedal down. You can see her car lurch forward.
"The prey has spotted us for sure now." Siljonic yells into the howling wind as you barrel around a curve and down into a small valley.
"Its those cameras, I think I just spotted one stuck to a road sign." Tessa says.
"Leave me alone, Odin." You hear from near the radio. "You're a better driver than I thought, but you don't want to follow me."
*motions for Tessa to find out how she was communicating with us, when she finds it have her handle the controls so he can speak and drive*
"Then stop making us chase you, if you know what name I chose, then you know damn well we aren't chasing you to hurt you. If you've been listening in, you already know all that. You have three versers here, let me make it easy for you, next overlook we are stopping and going to enjoy the fireworks from up here and enjoy each others company. You can choose to keep going at breakneck speed and probably drive off a cliff, or you can join us for the talk you want."
*slows down and finds a place to pull over and park that has a good view of the city, and stops the car and turns it off*
*texts tessa since he doesn't want to speak*
"She's paranoid, car maybe wired to blow"
*gets out of the car, and goes a good 20-30 feet from it to find a good rock to sit on to look out on the city*
Adam
Tessa finds a mini-camera speakerphone about the size of a pack of Wrigley's Spearmint Gum, the small size, stuck under the part of the dashboard the radio is stuck into. Its evidently able to wirelessly connect to the radio's speakers. Handing it to you after a frantic search, she crosses her fingers and gives you a worried smile.
"Odin. Lord of Battle. Uh-hunh. Peace and serenity, ri-i-i-ight. This is not my first universe to travel too. I've been killed off by a lot of versers. The Stick Kid, Misty, the Walking Man, that pig Whisp and his crazy Mother, Lilandra, and the Summer Queen. No need to add you to the list." She interjects this, and then listens.
"Or maybe you knew I had things wired for sound, and you ran up a false message. Like I said, not my first universe."
You've got up into the first run-up to the actual mountains topped by glaciers, and you see a glacier ending down below to your left, and the road curves around. You sit there on the rock.
"I want some more status in the god game those Frat Boys got cooked up. But even more than that, I don't want to get killed. Good thing you stopped."
You hear a crack and a rumble from further up the mountain.
"The road is blocked now."
*gets close enough to the car to hear the speakers and use the small speakerphone after stopping*
"The only versers on your list I've met are Misty and Lilandra, and yes both of them can be crazy, I never really talked to Misty, but I spent some time with Lilandra, and it took a good few months, but she finally calmed down, anyway my point is not all of us get off being psychos. Yes I represent Odin, yes I carry a lot of weapons, but you watched me in your city, did I even so much as threaten anyone other than when you pushed my buttons and threatened to kill the girl I love in a grizzly way?"
*pauses*
"We have some friends waiting back at the hotel, I have talked to and introduced myself to one of your high servants, so take some time, calm down. My friends and I are going to enjoy the use of your thunderbird, spend it getting to know some people at the Reykavik Imperial Hotel. I assume no one knows what you look like out of the holo projector. We'll use your name and secure us a suite at the hotel. The next time we meet, if you expect our help and coorperation, a show of good faith would be nice. Me I'm partial to a 69 Camaro, in Black. Going about the verse alone is a ticket for trouble, surround yourself with good friends, comrads, and trust a little, and you will find life more enjoyable. I'll leave the transmitter on if you want to talk, I'm tired, I want some mead, some meat, and some relaxation. Jhiaxus Out."
*nods to them both*
"Lets head back to the hotel, she's going to need time, and I want to spend some time with good people."
*gets back in the car and heads back to the city and to find the Hotel ad a reasonable safe pace*
Jhiaxus
You drive back to the city, and find the Imperial without much difficulty. Its a grand monstrosity of pre-stressed concrete, and portico walls with brick latticework to let in the light. The garden greenhouses out front are open, and you can hear splashing from the indoor/outdoor pool and shrieks and yells.
A valet parks the Thunderbird in the nearby parking garage after giving you a receipt.
The clerk is wearing a beige polyester blend suit jacket, and he greets your group with a smile, especially Tessa. This turns fawning when you tell him that your group is Lady Memory's guests.
Soon you are esconced in one of the eight penthouse rooms, err suites with a complimentary basket of fruit on the way, and the manager of the hotel bowing several times, and assuring you he can get you whatever you need.
OOC: 'fawning', an often unused word, but I saw MJ use it in Glantri's game.
*puts the ticket in his wallet*
*smiles with the attention Tessa is getting, in his younger less assured days would have bothered him a lot*
*to the manager* "We are suppose to meet up with some friends here, I was wondering if you can have them found, so we can meet up in say 45 minutes." *gives him the names and descriptions, of his and Siljonic's group.* "Oh one more thing, I saw you have a pool, does the hotel have an shop to purchase swimware?"
*looking around the room thanking the bellhop, signing the slip for giving him a tip charged to the room*
"Well we go from one posh room to another, I don't know about you guys, but between the gas, the fireball and the chase, I need a shower, and a change of clothes." *strips off his armor and weapons out here getting his shower kit, wanting to shave before showering*
*taking a quick shower, giving Tessa and Siljonic their time to freshen up as well, and laying out his items and weapons, checking them and making sure they are in working order*
*when they are done*
"The custom here is everyone wears a dagger on their side, I don't have any, but I know Siljonic has some, if he would allow us to borrow. All three of us have armor we can wear above or below clothes, I would recommend wearing our clothes above it, when we are incognito. Tessa, refresh my memory, when we were doing missions, what were you wearing and what weapons were you using? I've seen you in normal clothes so long, it's hard to remember what all you have. You too Siljonic, we need to play up the roles, and part of that is looking the part. I may have to invest in some sort of eyepatch, maybe make it like a optical unit, looking like I can't see, but having it offer upgrades functions. Either way, this will be an interesting world. The people are wearing bellbottoms, and the tech look late 60's early 70's Earth. I do think we should be careful, watch each other's backs and look like we mean business. Tessa that means showing the guys here that your a military woman, and well Siljonic, you don't have to do much to do that. All we have is each other."
*waiting for the Manager to find his friends and figure out where to meet up*
Jhiaxus
((I am starting to go through my rpol threads with a fine tooth comb, so will post a revised character sheet shortly, but Tessa was wearing a Mechanics Jumpsuit and a Hand Carbine))
"Of course, of course." He says to the first request. "With the swimwear, just give me your sizes, and I shall have the concierge go to a nearby store, and pick out something nice." The manager smiles. "There is a very nice coffeeshoppe overlooking the pool."
You freshen up, and so do they. About an hour later, your team is ready.
Tessa would have bought more stuff in Starsong. She's got a shimmersilk dress that is the opposite of chameleon. It changes to whatever colors are most stand-out and yet go with the wearer's colors in iridiscent waves of color.
((If my memory serves I had to replace my clothes in Starsong due to the weight loss, I don't think we went much into that, I would have have just assumed to get replica t shirts and jeans made of sterner stuff, with one or two sets of dress up clothes probably at Tessa's request, with my increased weight limit from world to world, it wouldn't have mattered, the extra two sets or so.))
*gives the manager Siljonics and my sizes, and Tessa for a two piece (I've bought her unmentionables, so I know all that :P), on a slip of paper*
"We will meet them at the coffeeshop, sounds like a wonderful place to get together."
*puts on his Nanoweave suit jacket and pants, with his shimmersilk shirt, and nanoweave tie, and digging through his backpack and duffle bag, pulling out his Ninja Outfit, Bow, Arrows, 2 Katanas, Ninja-Tu, and a Belt of Smacking, and remembering the magic cover for the scale is a Silk Shirt of the Mongol Archer, putting on the Belt of Smacking as a sword belt, putting his two breaking blades on it, satisified that those are enough like daggers to pass, aside from putting his shield belt on, leaving the bulk of his weapons up here*
*whistles at Tessa* "Looks like we both clean up nice." *to Siljonic* "You always did have an expensive taste for clothes,
"Wow all this stuff from adventures gone by that I shoved in here, I really am a walking armory." *grins*
*sets aside one of the Katanas and the Wincherster 1300 Defender, and 100 rounds of shotgun ammo*
"I disown these, and give these to Tessa." *grins* "I don't want you to feel that what is mine isn't yours, and to never be looked at as weak by anyone hun, your the strongest woman I know." *smiles*
*heads downstairs to the coffee shop with his group to meet their friends*
Jhiaxus
Edit: Tessa throws a pillow at you as she blushes, and Siljonic just nods in a 'but of course.' way. When he wants to, he can be Mr. Style, although mostly he's been more interested in the worlds he's gone too than in impressing everyone with his innate coolness.
At first people stare open-mouthed, and then one guy gets a bright idea, and bows. And soon everyone is doing it. You enter the elevator and the bellhop gulps.
"Valhalla sir? Or, err, what floor?"
Once down to the coffeeshoppe, you see more of a stunned silence ripple out from your group's presence. And when you sit down, the group to meet you is very silent.
*A little uncomfortable with the stares, but makes his way to the elevator*
"The floor with the coffeeshop please"
*arm in arm with Tessa as we come to the tables*
"Guys this is Tessa and Siljonic, this is Arrow, Shannon, Carl, Sean, Iron and Lucas. I didn't get your ladies names, I'm sorry, I hope Siljonic will introduce you."
*leans in close so only those at the table can hear*
"I'm the same guy that you found on the street earlier, this is my fiance, and my best friend, I wanted to repay you for your kindness earlier. Please don't treat us any different than you treated me earlier. We maybe different, but we still grew up, had friends and family, and are here to enjoy your company. Whatever happens out there *points to the outside*, doesn't change the fun and camaraderie from earlier. Deal?"
*if everyone relaxes and is ok, order some food and drinks, and just start relaxing with these people*
Jhiaxus
They try to relax, and Siljonic introduces, Mika, Lisselle, and Erin, and then Shannon pops out a question.
"So you were doing like the Greek gods do in the stories, I mean histories of long ago, going about in mortal form looking to find a girl?"
She looks at you with a flirtatious look which Tessa definitely catches as you can tell by her sudden intake of breath, and straightening up in her chair.
"Oh, yes, well all the gods do that. I mean where do you think I came from?" Siljonic fingers his ears giving you a wink of laughter. He's having too much fun to consider just what he's saying.
"So how did you come into being?" Carl asked curiously to Siljonic, and suddenly Siljonic gulps. He realizes that telling them that you formed him out of a moment's subconscious thought might not help things here. He winces ever so slightly as he realizes he's kinda stuck his boot in his mouth.
*smiles and looks to calm the waters*
"I am not like the greek gods in that way, the norse gods have a definite look but don't touch policy, that is if they are married or betrothed. There is flirtation, but we respect our women too much to go any further *putting his arm around Tessa and smiling* Our women fight, they respect us in battle and in bed, and we repay that respect in mind."
*pauses and lets Siljonic put said foot in mouth*
"Siljonic comes from deep within the earth, and honors that heritage by keeping more to his normal form than others. He is one of the dark vanir of legend. He was born, had a mother and a father, like everyone in this room. He is my blood brother, and he is the single one amongst us, and I would suspect he is looking for a girl or girls. He is good with a blade, a morningstar, a crossbow, and even better than his physical prowess, he wields the magics of the arcane. There is a legend that the girl or girls that remain at his side when his time to go comes, they will become immortal like him."
*smiles and takes a drink of Mead* "That's if you believe such things" *laughs a good natured laugh*
"Did you know most of the legends and written stories of Norse Mythology game from right here in this land?"
*grins* "You helped me when I appeared down and destitute, you provided me coin, drink, food and friendship, those are noble attributes, and godlike. Who are we to rule, if we cannot find the divinity in people? We rule by your will, not the other way around. Sometimes we lose sight of that, and our brothers and sisters lose their way. That is enough with the serious talk, you have all earned a place at our table and sides, let us drink, eat, party and be merry, for tomorrow we may die!"
*smiles and raises his mug to his friends, and pulls Tessa in for a kiss*
Jhiaxus
Their mythology is a bit different you discover. Its part of the Vikings colonizing Ireland instead of Normandy, and then Ireland going on to rule the Northern World. Christianity came quicker to this world's north than yours because of this, and they have a pantheon that is a mix of Lugh and Thor and Patrick and Odin and Cullinane for their mythology. And as I said, they went on to become Roman Catholic, and then became modernists before the Coming of the Greek 'gods' which is filling a vacuum in their lives, and providing a significant topic of conversation.
You spend about four hours chatting with them, and then swimming in the pool. Its excessively chlorinated, but happily safety nazis haven't taken over to the point that a good three meter diving board is still available.
And then you see a man surrounded by 'divine glory' and followed by three females with a silvery glow approach the pool.
"Lord Odin, Lady Freya, Lord Loki, the gods would speak with you in private. The mortals would be well to leave now."
*figured this was coming*
"You may go to my suite on the Asguard floor, leave us, we need to speak"
*waiting for his friends to leave the area*
"Greetings and Salutations, I assume your not here for the pool, and this greeting is much nicer than the first, so what can I do you for?"
Jhiaxus
Your friends and everyone else leaves the pool. The man throws out his hand, and a wall of light rises around the pool to dome in the area so that no 'mortal' can see the doings of the gods.
The quartet dispenses with their 'glory'.
"Mind I sit down?" The guy asks. The three girls behind him still stand, and you notice that all of them look dangerous.
"I'm Hermes, Messenger of the gods. Or as I was known back home, Bobby Houston, best hundred foot sprinter for Toronto University, and the two-time champion at scarfing down pizza at the Frat Week Games. I've been a number of other places since then, and played this game of ours three times before this."
He pauses, and snaps his fingers.
A cool glass of Coke appears in his hand.
"Want some?" He raises an eyebrow, and then sips.
"We're all versers, or worldwalkers, or many-lived men, whatever you call us. Scriffers. And we have a nice deal set up here. We're gods, usually the Greek, but we're flexible. You can be Odin. Now, course, we're not really, but hey, we have some serious magicians, and the locals are bad at magic. And we have lots of tech and psi. We've snowed the locals, and we don't really hurt them. In fact, we've put a stop to one war between the Irish Imperium and the Mandarin Republic to the south. 'It offended the gods'."
He smiles.
"You get a temple, a territory, maybe some toys, help out others like yourself, make some friends, get some worshippers. Its easy and fun."
He leans back and waves at you while he sips his Coke.
*nods*
"Well, I have to admit, meeting the local god here wasn't exactly a pleasant experience, but even in her crazy way she seems to care about the people."
*considers*
"I'll take it, as long as we remain here, since someone is going to need to watch Lady Memory, and we will not be serving her, not after what happened. She is going to expect more power though, I don't know how you wish to handle that situation."
*looks at the coke*
"Yeah why not, haven't had a coke in awhile, and who are they" *points*
*thinks back*
"What toys do you speak of? Those holo projectors? Even more? Between Tessa and Myself we can probably improve on the designs, we lived in a world where these would be toys. If you give us access to a workshop or help us build one, I would like to see the plans for what you have and see what improvements can be made."
*pauses*
"Most of all, we just want to do right by these people, if what you say is true, and there is more good coming from this than bad, then you will have no trouble from us.
Jhiaxus
Hermes looks thoughtful.
"Yeah, Lady M can be problematic. Well, we can bring you in as independents, but give Lady M the credit for it. That way she gets to be a goddess which she's been after for the last two years. Now for you, how about one of you," He nods specifically at you. "Be the chief deity, and the others be the demigods? That will give you an equal rank to Lady M. And if you bring in some others, or offer some big help, why we can see about bringing you into the Council of the Gods where the big decisions are made."
He snaps his fingers three times, and three Cokes appear.
"Ah, the enforcement squad. The Furies." He points at them. "Magician of the Second Rank, Speaker to the Seven Seas, Holder of the Ancient Power, the Unnamed One; also our next a Psi Grandmistress Lisabeth Collins, and lastly Street Samurai Jak-b-quik. If someone offends you, and you want to cash in a favor, you can ring up the Furies and they'll deal with the cockroach in a decisive way."
He nods.
"We do have some people from super tech societies, not many, so we're glad to have you. And if you think you can boost the quality of our holo projectors without spending billions of imperial marks we'd be happy to set you up. Those holo projectors were the gift of Jak here. Relatively easy to copy even with the mainframe tech the locals have."
*nods and takes a drink from a coke*
"I am Jhiaxus, my fiancee Tessa, and Siljonic, and that sounds like a good plan, gives her what she's looking for, doesn't give her a reason to be angry. You can throw in for good measure that we agreed to protect her. She's very paranoid about versing, it's going to take some patience and time to build up some trust."
*looks to each of the ladies and nods*
"Good to meet you, I don't think we will be meeting on bad terms."
*considers*
"I have a few Psi skills, but those that I do have, one or two I do well, might be worth investing to get those up, Siljonic can teach us magic, I'm sure he's at a HackMage level right now. Tessa is the tech expert, I have a laptop from the 30th century, and I was diligent about putting everything I wanted to know about tech on it, to look at it later. I don't foresee having to spent millions of marks to get a lab up and running. Me I'm a Jack-of-all-trades right now, but with time, I'm sure we can expand our skills, make sure the people are treated well, and rule wisely."
*looks to the others*
"I think, I can safely speak for them, that we accept the offer that stands. I think if we can pick up a old building here cheap, preferably one that is taller than the most. All three of us would be happy to make it our home, temple, workshop, and training area. If you can get word to Lady Memory that we have offered our support and our offer to protect and work with her, I'm sure you will have to worry less about this part of the world."
*takes another drink of coke*
"We can get started working on the space as soon as we have it, and we'll put the workshop at the top of the list. We understand the value of working together, and if it's for the greater good, than I'm for it, well a little chaos never hurt anyone now and again."
*smiles*
Jhiaxus
Hermes nods.
"Excellent."
He snaps his fingers three more times, and one gold credit card, and two silver credit cards appear in his hands. He dispenses them.
"These are duplicates, so I'm not sure how well they work elsewhen, but here, just stick your hand in your pocket say 'Prepare yourself for the beneficience of the gods', have the guy hold out his hands palms up, and visualize a sum of money, and whether you want it in gold, or imperial marks, or silver, or just local coinage. And then say 'Fiat'.
Its attached to our bank vault in whereelse Geneva. You have a max for the year of a million, your demigods have 300K each. Don't go showing it around, we do it this way for the theatre...revealing that the Greek gods have credit cards would be...tacky."
Gold Credit Card: Magic Device: Must say 'Prepare...', recipient must have arms up (If recipient is a quadriplegic have another stand in his place), visualize for thirty seconds, 'Fiat' which is Latin and the words are appropriate. Result, money appears out of the sky and falls into the recipients hands.
Magic skill: Use Magic Device of Credit Card.
He has you practise, and you have now 1@1 skill, as does Tessa, and Siljonic has 1@2 skill. In practising, you gave Hermes TenK, and the Furies 5K each. They don't return this.
"Since I'm on Council business its free, but if you really need too, you can do this."
Hermes holds up a silver coin in the air, whistles like a New Yorker, and calls "Charon, a ride please." He and the Furies dissappear. So does the circle of light.
OOC: And yes, MJ had a magic credit card in one of his novels, but unlike that one, this has a limit. No way I'm giving you an unlimited card.
*smiles watching him leave*
"Going to take awhile getting used to that." *toweling off and changing back into his dress clothes*
"I think we should stay here as Lady Memory's guests, until such time as she gets told of her promotion, and visits us. We have some planning to do, finding a temple, then getting it suited for our standards. I think I want to name it Asguard, and have floors dedicated to a particular aspect, like living quarters, temple, combat, research, higher learning, magic, psionics. We will also need high priests and priestess. I think our friends might be some good people to tap, they have seen our "human" forms, and we have built up a rapport with them."
*pauses*
"What do you guys think? We are in this together, or we aren't in this at all. If this leads to the greater good, I say see where it goes. If it doesn't you already know my decision, but I want your guys input on it."
*reflects*
"We can use the training time, we would have the resources, the time and the ability to learn the skill we need for the verse. Siljonic can teach us magic and combat, we can teach him tech. I will admit, to being curious to seeing these holo projectors and other tech, and seeing how we can improve them."
*smiles*
"Siljonic, that Shannon is pretty amazing, if I were in your shoes, I'd want to get to know her. She's smart, funny, flirty and pretty, I have Tessa, and I can't tell you how much having someone has made me a better person for it."
*heading back up to their suite to entertain their guests*
Jhiaxus
OOC: I'll be back with this later. I know I've gotten a bit behind compared to Oak, but right now, a restauraunt is calling my name and at least my firstborn is eager to get going.
OOC: It's cool you did a huge ooc post for me, it's all good.
They're both happier they're demigods than gods because it feels less disrespectful to their respective deities.
"That was a fairly powerful teleport spell that Charon cast, I think, boss." Siljonic notes. "That means they do have some serious magicians."
Tessa nods. "Not sure if that dome of light was a spell or psi thing, an illusion. It wasn't one of the holo projector tricks unless they have a way better holo projector for that." She pauses. "Well, who wants to go real estate hunting tommorrow?"
Siljonic smiles "That lets me out. I'd just freak out the realtor. So I can talk to our pals, and make them high priests. I know a little magic that should be just the ticket for impressing them."
They both nod at your comment about going along with the game for now.
"Well, if we're going to have me train you with fighting, I'd really appreciate a tongue-and-groove wooden floor. Nice spring to it. And open space. At least for the combat area. And we'll need some sparring weapons, and some mats...I guess I should just go and buy this stuff right?" Siljonic says.
"And I'll go and talk to a lab supply company." Tessa says.
Siljonic smiles when you mention Shannon.
"There are possibilities there. We'll see how it goes."
*smiles*
"Siljonic your an incredible mage, remember you got all those levels in that world. Your like a 11th level fighter/12 mage, you should have gotten 6th level spells in your book, I think you should apprentice us, you lived as a mage, you can teach spells, you are amazing at it. Don't sell yourself short, Tessa and I would be honored to be your apprentices, in both Magic and Fighting, I have almost no experience, and Tessa has none. We can get spellbooks made, and you can teach us what you know."
*considers*
"I have some small skill in psionics, we need to find a teacher for us, you never know what world the next one has in store, and what can be used and not."
*nods*
"I don't like playing a god either, but Odin sent us here for a reason, so if he didn't want us to do this, he wouldn't have allowed it."
*smiles*
"They didn't give us our holo emitters yet, so yeah please stay with our friends, and make them our high priests, show them a good time, and let them in on the plan for the building. Tessa and I will hunt the real estate"
*Nods*
"You will have an entire building floor for the dojo, make it your own, also a floor for teaching magic. I would love to learn your Drow Bladedancing, it gives options for unarmed as well as with swords."
*to Tessa*
"Your the tech department, get what you need, the laptop has all the answers we need, between the two of us, we'll create or improve what is possible with this tech."
*winks*
"Good, I like to see you smile, this is the world where we start to get serious about learning what we need to to survive. I don't want to feel weak or useless, and I'm sure you guys feel the same. If we can help these people along the way, it's a bonus in my book."
Jhiaxus
Upon waking the next day, you have breakfast in your suite, and then Tessa and you set out looking for real estate. You find two sets of property....Big Enough and Incredibly Trashed and Majorly Expensive and the other set BE and Pretty Nice and Outlandishly Expensive. It seems like the local realtors believe gods do have money trees, and the realtors are quite willing to shake that tree.
Tessa completes her lab buying with you tagging along, and when you get back to the hotel, Siljonic takes you both to a small warehouse he's renting by the week. Its partially filled with dojo equipment.
"They don't have small garages or anything. Its either stow it in a truck, or this is the smallest thing they have."
He waves his hand out over the ten thousand sq. ft. metal shed.
"Um, I'm having dinner with Shannon, so you two will have to fend for yourselves." Siljonic says a bit stiffly.
*eats a good breakfast and heads out with Tessa*
*once he sees the properties and makes out a list of problems with the first and comparing it to the second, and also comparing records of sales in the last few years, making a reasonable offer on the incredibly trashed one, considering how long and how much money it will take it to be made livable. I will promise that I will make an appearance endorsing that realtor as the one who sold gods their home.*
*assuming they accept it, get on the horn getting estimates from 5 construction companies to renovate the building, using their offers as leverage to get the best work with the best materials for the best price.*
*nods to Siljonic*
"Good thing too, the building is going to take some time to make livable, so we will be staying at the hotel till then, and we did need somewhere to train in private. We can work our spells in that part, and work out physically there.
*grins*
"I think Tessa and I will just have to manage to find our own little romantic dinner"
*sending a message however he was told to let the gods know, he located a temple, negotiated a reasonable price for the building and it's renovation, inquiring about tech plans to start working in improvements*
*keeping in the back of his mind Lady Memory will make an appearance soon*
*finds a cozy restaurant, to have a romantic dinner with Tessa at to talk about impending events*
Jhiaxus
They make a counter-offer that includes your endorsement, and is only a little less unreasonable. Greed has distorted their judgment.
You visit a cliffside restauraunt, the Watercaves, like the Pueblo Indian caves, but over the waterside with the wind blowing, slowed by the low latticework screens set up in front of each table.
Later, you come to the hotel, and click on the TV to catch the late-night news. Lady Memory dsplaces the announcer.
"Odin." She forces a smile. "You'll find a food service cart with a covered plate in your room. Under the cover is a camera and speaker so you can speak back to me. In the parking lot, you'll find your black Camaro. I hope you approve, brother god."
*smiles to them* "I think I will have to look elsewhere, it would not be prudent to spend lavishly on a run down building. Good day."
*when talking to Siljonic* "Have Shannon inquirer as to the price of the building that's big enough and in good condition. She is to give her name, and that she Represents Jhiaxus Industries, she will give them a fair offer for the building, with a 1 hour window to take the offer, or she will leave. Get her...um size, and Tessa will pick out a business suit, and appropriate accessories, for a business woman with power. I am not spending money like water here, and it's their tax money and I am not going to be that guy who spends it like nothing."
*smiles at the lovely little cliffside restaurant*
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Siljonic on a romantic date, us on our own. *takes her hand* "You came with me during all the craziness, you had a choice, and you chose me, and I chose you, we have the time and money to get ourselves ready for the next worlds, and you deserve a beautiful wedding. Set the date, pick the time of year, pick the setting, whatever you want me to help with I will. I want us to not only train our bodies, magic and psionics, I want you to know that your the most important thing."
*orders a nice dinner, ordering a steak, scalloped potatoes, a good wine, and a chef salad, assuming Tessa will get what she wants*
*flicks on the TV and sees the above, getting changed into something relaxing, he takes the camera and speaker to the desk, if Tessa wants to be beside him she can be*
"Well I'm glad we are talking again, and it seems you took my request to heart. I'm sure you were told we accepted their offer, and that you got credit. It seems we will be working together here, so maybe we should get together for lunch at a public place tomorrow, but private enough so we can talk freely, and work on building up some good faith points. I'm sure you have things you want to ask now, and I will be happy to answer what you want before then."
*smiling, not a fake one, but just a pleasant, not agitated smile, of a good day*
Jhiaxus
The realtors almost whimper as you leave.
Tessa tears up when you talk to her.
"I thought I had it pretty good, until I met you, and I had seen many things. But you've opened so many doors for me, shown me so much kindness. This is one lucky girl." And she nods. "For weapons, I think I'm going to see if someone can teach me a European/Japanese Two-Sword Style. I have the drop foil for my right hand, and you gave me the breaking blade for my left hand. As to magic, well, the only magician I know other than Siljonic is that Unnamed One woman, and she frankly creeps me out. Can Siljonic teach me magic that I can use with my swords in my hands?"
Tessa gets the lobster cakes which alternates with potato cakes and a white sauce over the top, and the clover salad with a white wine.
You notice there are a Lot of potato dishes. Every other dish has potatoes in it.
Later, Shannon and Siljonic come by to have Shannon hand you a contract.
Its for 325,000 instead of 780,000.
"She, ah, gave them three minutes to come down from 450." Siljonic says a bit dazed. "We were halfway out the door when they finally broke."
===========
"Ah. Well, I suppose we could meet at the Bay Window, table one." Lady Memory frowns a bit. "I'll arrange it. Its very public and prestigious, and we'll have privacy." She thinks.
"I hope you like tasso gravy and shrimp and potato bits, collard tea, and West Island ooke. Its Rim Fusion cuisine."
*grins and wipes her tears away* "I think we both know how much we mean to each other."
*smiles* "Siljonic has a vicious Drow Bladedancing style, and you can cast spells while holding your swords. I will learn everything I can from him here, he is laid back and plays his cards close to his vest, but he's a very powerful mage, and a powerful fighter, and most of all a generous and nice guy."
*I like potatos*
*grins at them both* "Good job, that means we will move in sooner to a building that's closer to what we want, I will call some contractors and get it up to snuff."
*will do the above and have them price each other out, I will represent Jhiaxus Industries, and not as Odin for this.*
"Sounds like a meeting, I'll try anything once, and I hear shrimp, and potato, so I think I will like it here."
*will tuck in Tessa for the night and meet her for lunch with Tessa and Siljonic*
Jhiaxus
Tessa's looking forward to her training.
The next day, you go for lunch with Tessa, Siljonic, and the Lady Memory at the Bay Window. An enormous bay window with a splendid overlook of the lower town and the harbor, and hundreds of people walking by on Market Street just below the window gives the place its name.
There are a dozen tables in the window area, but only one is set. The other tables that are occupied are further back from the window.
Lady Memory is sitting there, and she has ordered already for everyone.
Plates of potato bits, which are like a crunchy sliver of french fry, are covered by shrimp mixed in with a lightly hot, and strongly spicy brown gravy full of large shrimp. On the side is a bowl of ooke, which turns out to be raw fish paste with nuts and peppers. There is also a potato burrito, which is a hollowed out potato with its innards being shrimp, white cheese, and fluffy potato on your left. The dessert is spiced and sugared sea urchin.
The tea is a strong, bitter drink that is good at cleansing the palate in small sips.
"This Rim Fusion is the closest I've found in any of the worlds to the way my homeland ate. I've heard other versers talk of Japanese sushi, but I've never been in a world where such was available." Lady Memory says as she rises, and waiters rush up to pull our your chairs.
You can tell she's very nervous, and Siljonic draws your attention to a couple men seated about four tables away who don't look like the elegant customers at such a place. For one, they have chests about twice the size of their waists.
You can also feel Tessa grabbing hold of your arm with a painful grip.