Mage/Steampunk Roleplay- Alliances

[Celestial]

((Brassport))

"Erm. Right. You'll have to stay here a minute, let me go talk to my boss..." the guard said to her before going to a strange pipe and shouted rather loudly for his captain. Celestial looked at the pipe, thinking about this simple little bit of technology. Magic can often be indistinguishable from science and certainly, here the technology was advanced enough to make magic but to still need the raw magic, the kind that was not technologically created. Yes, these people would make good allies.

A few minutes later, the guard came back.

"Okay, Archmage, if you'd like to follow me," he told her. Celestial smiled and bowed curtly before walking through the gate, which slammed shut as soon as she entered. She could hear the gears that operated it working. Such beautiful technology.

She heard something else. A jelly-like sound tapping on the door. There was only one thing that could make such a sound.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back," the Dragon mage said to the guard and flew up, over the gate and down onto the other side. Sure enough, Krisseh was there.

Celestial looked at her. If Krisseh had come at her own pace, it was very impressive indeed. Still, it was quick even for her. But why did this matter. In her heart, the Dragon mage was glad to see her friend. A familiar face here and now was a great comfort.

"Come with me," she said and put her arms under Krisseh's and beat her wings hard in order to achieve enough lift to power them both over the great wall of Brassport. They landed in front of the rather bemused guard. Celestial extended her wings and bowed to him, knowing that the guard won't exactly be at ease with her right now.

"Forgive me, my companion was slightly delayed and I didn't wish for you to go through the trouble of opening the gate again,"

[Lord Hayati]

Brassport-Entrance

Hearing Celestial's Voice from the other side, Krisseh waited. what she didn't expect was her to go over the gate, and actually get her.

"Celestial! Thank you! You didn't have to, but its alright!"

She immediately grabbed onto Celestial's hand, as she was brought into the city. While it was hard to hold on, she somehow managed.
When she got off, she introduced herself.

"I'm Queen Krisseh, of the Jelly Kingdom. I'm a mage, like celestial, here, although I specialize in desserts and such."

She bowed to express her gratitude.

[Deleted]

<<Brassport>>
"Excuse me, Captain, the leader of the Mages Guild is here and wishes to speak to the Mayor."

Asta's ears perked at that. The Mage Guild? Visiting Brassport? Didn't they cause quite a bit of trouble last time...? It was possible they were trying to make amends, then, or to apologize for what had happened, or explain, or any number of completely innocent things...

The guard had apparently gotten his answer, since he opened the gate to let in the visitor. Asta frowned. She looked familiar...

It was when she flew that Asta remembered. The dragon mage came back with a new companion shortly after, and the chemist had already covered the distance between them with long, impatient strides, her hand tensed at her belt. "You--!" she said, cutting off a curse and taking a moment to calm herself a bit. Weird things were happening. Lots of them. She's apparently leader of the Mage Guild...

Or lying her scaly hide off about that.

"I'm Queen Krisseh, of the Jelly Kingdom. I'm a mage, like celestial, here, although I specialize in desserts and such."

The chemist, about to open her mouth and spit out something rude anyway, finally took note of the new figure. And blinked. At first she thought it--she, she had introduced herself as Queen--was glass, but realized that her form looked and moved more organically and flexibly than that. Rather like agar, or... Is that...gelatin? And desserts? What kind of person specialized in desserts?

She came in a pair last time as well, Asta reminded herself, but she was slightly calmer now. "I didn't know you were an Archmage," she finally said, turning to Celestial and not quite masking the biting suspicion behind the statement. She made sure to keep her gloved hand at her side, where her shortsword rested. "Why are you in Brassport?" And where's your other friend with the oh-so-lovely golems?

[Omni]

<<Mage Manor - Kitchen/eating room>>

I wonder why I came here this time?

Omni sat on one of the benches of the kitchen, leaning against the wall. She was thinking to herself, as she often did. While she had a slight habit of thinking out loud, she generally made sure not to do it when others could hear, and for good reason.

As a resident of Mage Manor, she had her share of secrets. It was something that tended to come with the territory. Maybe it had something to do with having magic, or how exactly one came across it. She knew it did in her case. There were some things that she commonly allowed others to know, things like what her general abilities were. Though there were things she preferred to keep to herself, or to a choice few, things like how she came across the thing which enhanced her abilities.

Another thing that she didn't tell a lot of people about is what happened whenever she 'poofed.' She was sure that it sometimes annoyed people she knew as much as it annoyed her. She never knew when it was going to happen, or why it would happen until after she did so.

The last time she 'poofed' had been at a rather inconvenient time: She was about to imbue the Manor with the energy from most of the residents in order to strengthen its weakened defenses. Five minutes! If she could have stayed for five more minutes, she was sure that she could have done it. She even refused the offer to be brought to another refuge in order to stay and help. But then she had to 'poof.'

That had definitely been one of the more inconvenient times for it to happen. If she had known why she had to, she probably would have been less annoyed, but it wouldn't have changed the fact that she still chose to leave. She knew there was always a reason, even if that reason wasn't always apparent. In this particular case, she assumed that she wasn't needed at the Manor as much as she thought she was.

And it seemed she was right. The Manor was intact.

Still though, she wondered why she returned this time around. She felt like she hardly got to do much, other than rest, recover, and replenish her magical energy reserves. She knew that her smaller actions may have effected other things, but that was it as far as she could tell. She often wished that she at least knew the greater reasons why she 'poofed' when she did.

She reached over to a plate on the table, picking up a thin slice of turkey meat. Perhaps it was her meditative state, perhaps not, but either way she hadn't been in the mood for anything big, and thus her lunch ended up consisting of a bunch of smaller things. As she munched on the little morsel, she noticed a couple familiar faces in the room. She paused briefly, pondering, before getting up, taking her plate with her. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she figured that she could start by talking with those she knew.

Besides, she wanted to know what happened while she was gone.

"Hey, Rikku! Hey, Aly! What's up?"

[Rider]

[glow=red,2,300]Brassport[/glow]

At twelve years old, Adeline Spencer was hardly the most qualified individual to run Spencer Airships, but since her father had been left on the other side of the gap and left no will and testament, or indeed any indication of who should run the company in his absence, the responsibility fell to his only child automatically. And since Adeline's mother had died many years ago, Adeline was left without any guidance when it came to running the company. Sure, she could fix an airship. Given enough time and hired help more muscular than she, she could even build one. Her father had taught her everything he knew. But bookkeeping and the like were beyond her ken. In fact, the manor was getting rather dusty as well, and Adeline's favorite dresses were getting tears.

She missed her father. She missed Davis, the butler who had been like a second father to her since before her mother died. But she was also a practical girl, and knew that she had to find a temporary replacement. And since the disasters of the Underdeep Wars had devastated local farms, there were a number of local girls who were looking for work.

There was one of them at the door now. Adeline cast one last glance at the kettle on the fire before answering the door. The girl on the other side was in her early 20s, a muscular farmgirl with frazzled brown hair and sharply defined cheekbones. Her dress was a coarse forest-green ankle-length, plain but certainly Sunday Finest for the families around this area.

"Hello, is this the Spencer household? Is your mother available?"

"No, I am the mistress of the house."

"You are Mistress Adeline Spencer?"

"Yes. Please, come inside."

The girl seemed a little taken aback, but dutifully followed Adeline into the parlor. The kettle on the fire had begun to whistle and Adeline went to take it off, but the farmgirl stopped her and removed the kettle herself. It was Adeline's turn to be taken aback, but again, no word out of place. This was an elaborate social dance, and Adeline was familiar with the steps. "Would you like some tea?"

"Thank you, I'd be delighted."

Once the tea was poured, the two sat down on the couch. Just the right distance from each other. The tea was tongue-scalding. Adeline blew on hers delicately. "Please forgive me, but what did you say your name is?"

"Rhia, Rhia Janvers. I have come to inquire about the housekeeping position." A pause. "I've had some schooling. I can read and write just fine, and do some pretty advanced arithmetic."

Adeline made a note in her head that Rhia probably considered long division to be advanced. It was nothing like calculating the thrust of an engine to fight gravity or calculating the internal temperature of an engine.

"So you understand that in addition to your basic housekeeping duties, you are to be keeping the books for my company as well."

Rhia paused. "Your company, Adeline?"

Adeline blew on her tea again, scowling at it in a manner too ugly for her young face. "Yes, well, my company for now. Also, as I am the mistress of the house, you are to address me accordingly. Please do not be so familiar with me."

"... Yes, Miss Spencer."

"Curse this hot tea." Adeline placed one hand on the cup and the other on the coffee table in front of them. Her hand grew strangely hot as she absorbed energy from the cup and transferred it to the wood. She took another sip. "And now it's too cold."

"Oh wow, that was amazing, Miss Spencer. I didn't know you could do magic."

Adeline visibly stiffened. "It's alchemy, not magic. Magic is uncivilized and unpredictable. Alchemy is accessible, tamed, logical. I would ask that you learn the difference if you are to work here."

"... Yes, Miss Spencer."

"Good. Now please pour me another cup."

"Yes, Miss Spencer." A pause. "Would you like me to add some milk to cool it?"

Another pause. "Yes, that would be lovely."

Rhia walked into the kitchen with an ease as though she had been living in this manor her whole life. Signs of the Spencer family's affluence were everywhere, but they did not intimidate her. And there was a grace in her physical movement that she lacked socially. It reminded Adeline of a new airship, which while unknown, handled with a certain ease.

"When can you move in, Miss Rhia?"

"Pardon?"

"If you were hired, when would be the earliest you could move in?"

"Oh, immediately, Miss Spencer."

"Good. I also expect you to come in better-dressed than that." Adeline got up and retrieved 150 shinies from one of the coffee table drawers. "Here is your wardrobe allowance for this season. I would encourage you to spend it in town, so you might blend in better."

Rhia's eyes widened at the sight of so much money in one place. "Miss, does this mean I'm hired?"

"If you choose to accept. Your quarters are on the first floor, next to the kitchens. There is a steam-powered dumbwaiter that runs between our bedrooms and the kitchen in case I ever need you in the middle of the night. I must ask, no repainting the walls, no pets, no overnight company. If you need a day off, please request it at least a week in advance. You will receive room and board, money for basic expenses, like clothes, as well as your regular wages."

"Oh, Miss Spencer, thank you so much! Thank you! I will get my things right away." Rhia started to run out the door but was stopped by Adeline's voice. "But just so we're clear, this is only a temporary position."

"Pardon?"

"I want you to know that this city and all its inhabitants will be returning to Brigaia. I will see my father and our family servant, Davis, again, and when that day comes, I will no longer require your assistance."

Rhia ran through what she knew of the city in her head. certainly its other inhabitants believed that they would be stayed in the NTWF forever. Many of them had let go of the idea of returning home and were doing their best to survive in this new land. Others, like Adeline, were still looking for ways to return home, but they were a small but vocal minority.

"Yes, Miss Spencer. As you say."

[Draco]

((Brassport - Gil's Shop))


Leena was sitting around from behind her desk. It’s been about a week now since her boss Gil had taken off to finalize a project with some mercenaries. So that left her and the trainee Toshiro to take care of the shop. She sighed to herself staring at the door. No one has come in all day. She glances at the clock and sits up.

“Toshiro I’m going out for lunch.”

“All right, I can handle the place until you get back. By the way, have you seen my sandwich?”

“Uh, no. I think I saw a rat or something rummaging around your stuff earlier though. I scared it off.”

“Rats? Again? With the money Gil makes, you would think he could have this handled.”

Leena only shrugs as she watches Toshiro rummage through a closet for some small cages and other objects.

“Well have fun…”

Leena walks out the front door with a small package, strapping it onto her bike. She gets on and begins to pedal, the wings and propeller begin to move, and in no time she is in the air (with plenty of squeaking).

"I hope he won't be mad I stole his lunch again today."

It didn’t take long for her to reach Blackstone Industries, and land her bike. Walking through the building next door, she sneaks into the meeting hall.

“I brought food. A sandwich, some fruit, and water today.”

--

((Gil's Shop, again))

Meanwhile Gil walks downstairs into the main shop after returning home to find a peculiar sight…

“I’m back. How is everything…”

He stares at Toshiro tied up and being dragged through the room from what appeared to be small rats with goggles on.

[Deleted]

The place was a ruin, dark and mostly quiet but for the soft patter of rainwater let in by the missing sections of roof. It dripped softly onto piles of broken timber and metal, shards of broken glass and, in some places, patches of dried blood that littered the floor. The city had been cleaned up beautifully, but standing in the old Meeting Hall, one could easily assume otherwise. It mattered not to the hall’s only resident that the city now sparkled more than it had when it still resided in Bragaia, nor that the citizens had at last begun to recover.

She sat in her little corner, carefully arranging the few possessions she kept in a neat and orderly fashion, more out of habit than anything else. Apart from her corner, the rest of the hall remained untouched. Better left alone, she often thought, as a memorial to the dead, a testament to the lost, and a monolith of misery. Yes, altogether a fittingly wretched thing. Perhaps that was why the cleanup process had left the Meeting Hall, but she wasn’t to know that. The fact that no one had touched the place might well indicate to her that she alone was alive in the entire city.

But she knew better. The maid, Emily, remembered only too clearly the events that had separated her Lady from her. She fretted and brewed upon it daily, her thoughts always turned to the Lady’s welfare. Was she even still alive? If she was, would she come back here? Surely this would be the case, and so Emily sat, waiting and unmoving, determined to keep her vigil until her Lady’s return.

The familiar train of thoughts was interrupted by the distinct sound of squeaking and Emily stood up swiftly, her tattered dress barely preserving her dignity. She waited patiently for her visitor to land outside and make her way over to the tidy corner in which Emily lived.

“I brought food. A sandwich, some fruit, and water today.”

Emily, remembering her manners despite her relative isolation and more-than-slight insanity, took the little package gratefully, bowed her thanks and sat down. She forced herself to take slow, deliberate bites and chew as much as she could, despite her ravenous stomach.

“Thank you, Leena,” she croaked, having finished the majority of the food. “Is there any news? Has anyone seen Lady Sarinon?”

[Deleted]

Regardless of where I work, I will only work for the good of my patients.

The healer shook her head as she made her way to the kitchen. She had to be a devout follower of the Oath - from when she was a small child she knew healing magic, having learned it from a mentor. She and her brother taught it to the mentor's children, before joining the mages of Mage Manor.

It was difficult at times. Drakhé was no different. He could be moody, and at times would barely speak; he was a far cry from the shy, awkward dragon who had disappeared a year before. Yet when he looked her in the eye and spoke in that wonderful, deep voice...

She shook her head again. I will only work for the good of my patients. I will not act on ill will, and I will not seduce... Be professional. Follow the Oath. If she fell for a patient, she was not to act on it; only do her duty. And besides, he was a dragon; she was a human being. (And she was taller than him.)

Entering the kitchen, she quickly and politely bid hello to the other mages there. Then the healer spoke to a particular golem, working at a stove.

"Is the soup done yet?"

The clay beast nodded; indeed, it was now pouring some soup from a pot into a bowl. She smiled in relief.

"Good. Drakhé hasn't eaten in a while. And... yes, he's gotten into another fight. A shapeshifter this time... you'd think he'd know better."

[icon]

Eli's daily route was finished; having gone around the town hall scraping off a bit of mud, then passing over to a few shops to clean up a bit, Eli was free for the rest of the day. He headed back to the Maintenance building to return his oil can and rag. He kept his own steam pack with him.

Eli decided to take a walk through Brassport and see the sights. When all else failed he could always rely on the city to be an adventure. So much to do, so much to see... Eli paused to admire the ornate spires and smokestacks coming off the tops of buildings. Looking down a gain, he shooed off a rat that got beneath his feet. Stupid rats, vermin, ruining our city...

Hold on.

Did that rat have goggles on?

[Jina]

Brassport
A civilian came up and started acting rather rudely. At this point, Barrett shold have intervened, but this time he would make an exception. After all, they were dealing with witches.

"Why are you in Brassport?"

He was, however, a guard, and had to act like one. He stepped between Aly and Celestial. "The Archmage is a guest in this city. You have no right to ask her questions. If you don't leave now, I will be forced to take action."

[Lord Hayati]

Brassport

Krisseh was stunned at the guard's reaction to the civilian. If this was her kingdom, things would've gone on a different tangent, than the way the guard took.

Without permission, Krisseh spoke the answer to the civilian's question.

"I'm just checking here to make sure everything is alright. besides, after what happened..."

She trailed off for a second. the thought of the guild wars... almost wanted her to drink a whole pint of brain bleach.

"... I feel that we need to help out for all the stuff."

She took a few steps back, and closed her eyes. the air where Krisseh was formerly standing starts to taste like fine sugar, as she creates a 3-tiered cake, with all of the toppings. Strawberries, chocolate, vannila... you name it.

"Besides, Not all of the mages in the manor Specalize in fighting. I specialize in desserts, as you can see." ^_^

[Celestial]

((Brassport))


"Celestial! Thank you! You didn't have to, but its alright!" Krisseh replied as soon as she had been put down on the ground. Celestial smiled and shrugged.

"It wasn't a problem, quicker to do this than have you wait at the gate,[/i]" she replied and let Krisseh introduce herself to the guards.

"You--!"

Celestial heard a voice which sounded vaguely familiar but she could not think of where she had heard it before. It was like a background voice you hear in a dream. Undoubtedly, the Brassportians she had hurt during the Underdeep's posession wanted to know what was happening.

She turned to face the person speaking, her eyes looking genuinely apologetic.

"I didn't know you were an Archmage. Why are you in Brassport?" the girl asked her. Before she could answer, the guard stepped between them.

"The Archmage is a guest in this city. You have no right to ask her questions. If you don't leave now, I will be forced to take action," he said. The Dragon Mage sighed as Krisseh spoke and waited for her friend to finish.

"But she has a right to get answers, after all I've done," she replied, stepping around the guard and facing the young girl. Celestial closed her eyes briefly before opening them and looking her right in the eye.

"I've come to negotiate an alliance, one which I hope will erase any bad blood between us. I know that earlier I'd come under worse circumstances but I want you to know that I'm sorry about all that. Now, I wish to cooperate and help us both," she said with utter conviction and walked on, expecting Krisseh and the guard to follow her. From past expereince, she could guess where the Mayor would be. The grand building in the centre. That's where they all were.

She strode in and headed right for the office. As the guard and Krisseh caught up, Celestial knocked on the Mayor's door. Ra-ta-ta-tat.

The wood sounded nice and waved carved wonderfully too. All these gears and cogs and machinery which was woven into the wood like a tapestry. And yet Celestial could see that it was done by machines.

Please, please let this alliance become a reality.

[Deleted]

<<Mage Manor>>
"Hey, Rikku! Hey, Aly! What's up?"

Oh, that was a familiar voice. "Hey Omni," the mage said, raising a hand in a lazy, casual greeting.

She quietly leaned against a counter and starting ripping chunks of bread off and eating it, absently noting that it was dark bread and slightly sweet, even without anything on it. More importantly, it tasted good.

[Well?]

The mage glared down, a brow raised. Well, what?

[Are you going to give me some?]

The mage waved her hand, which roughly translated to Screw you, get it yourself.

[...Fine.]

"Is the soup done yet?"

Not directed to her, but she noted it anyway and found a woman talking to the golem. For some reason, the more people that came in, the more unease she felt. It wasn't quite claustrophobia, but it was something like that. Funny, she wasn't usually an introvert.

...Wait. "Shapeshifter?" she asked, looking over at the nurse. The woman nodded in return. "Where, and can I kill it?"

...Oops. She realized it as soon as the words had left her mouth, and the nurse stared at her oddly. Sra, that came out wrong.

[That came out perfectly correctly.]

Another glare at the cat.

[You're going to give yourself an ulcer, acting nicely to people.]

If looks could kill...She quickly corrected herself. "Sorry, slip. I was just bored and in need of training, and I thought a shapeshifter would be good for that...especially with, uh, adapting quickly."

[Awww...little Aly's getting so flustered, it's almost cute.]

Stupid cat, dodging her elbow. She bit a yelp back as she banged her funny bone. At least Lika had the taste to not broadcast embarrassing commentary to everyone.

[Ha.] The cat gave a mocking bow and looked to Omni. [Ignore the awkward mage there. How are you doing?]



<<Brassport>> ((I totally did not type Crassport there, not at all.))
"The Archmage is a guest in this city. You have no right to ask her questions. If you don't leave now, I will be forced to take action."

"Take action and I'll--"

"I'm just checking here to make sure everything is alright. Besides, after what happened...I feel that we need to help out for all the stuff. Besides, not all of the mages in the manor specialize in fighting. I specialize in desserts, as you can see."

It still sounds ridiculous, she fumed, but forced herself to lay her hand at her side. The dragon mage spoke soon after, and the group left. Asta stood there, watching them as they went out of earshot. "Sorry," she muttered, feeling a bout of dizziness. The woman found the wall and leaned against it, sliding to the floor. She had a genuine right to be angry, she thought. What with all the...stuff that had happened, she definitely did. Right?

She stood after checking her balance and grimaced, looking off towards where they'd gone. If you're genuinely sorry about it, then good luck.

...An alliance, huh? Maybe it would be a good idea, help Brassport get solid roots here.

I doubt it's that simple.

...Now, what the heck was she going to do?

[Draco]

(('Abandoned' Meeting Room))

Leena stands in the meeting room while watching Emily eat her meal. She's been helping her out since a little after the events of the Underdeep and coming to this world. She would sneak food and supplies to her when ever she could, making sure to at least bring something once a day. Usually it was just a lunch taken by Toshiro, or maybe that week's meal plan of Gil's. It helped with Gil coming and going these past months.

"Is there any news? Has anyone seen Lady Sarinon?”

Leena sighs at the question and stares at the floor.

"There has yet to be any word from her. The only news of her has been rumors spread around the city. Some seem to be very similar to the ones about Mr. Blackstone recently. I'm starting to believe they are running out of rumors to spread..."

Letting out another sigh she turns her attention back to Emily.

"I'll be sure to get you the moment I hear any news about her. My boss has even asked around a few times while on business in this new world. There's a chance she is out there somewhere."

---

((Gil's Shop))

Gil shoos the rats away with a broom as he goes to untie Toshiro. The rats run off, throwing small objects at the two of them before disappearing in a hole in the wall.

"Is it me, or are the rats around here acting strange as of late?"

Toshiro nods his head.

"I've noticed it to. Anyways, welcome back. How was the trip?"

"The trip is over for now. I left some workers to do the finishing touches of the building. Then all that will be left is to have the Mercenaries load it with supplies and what not. Then they will have themselves a new base."

Gil looks around the room.

"And where is Leena at?"

Toshiro wipes off some of the remaining rope on him.

"She went out for lunch like she always does."

[Jina]

Mayor's office
Ra-ta-ta-tat.

Owen had just reached the door when Celestial knocked on it. He opened it, and grinned. "Oh look, it's the dragon. Come in."

---

Barrett started walking back to his post, but then noticed that according to the clocktower, his shift was over. He turned around mid-walk and headed back to his house, looked at the floor, and saw a rat run past his feet. Then, he noticed it had goggles on.

Oh, no, they've escaped again?

He started to run.