The Evasive One

The town is made up of ramshackle buildings, windows smashed in and boarded up. Cheap clothes merchants. The bordello has a sign of a women pole dancing. The tavern is the largest building in the middle. Gun shop is the one boarded up, the other reads general store, though some letters have been stolen from the sign.

Domaru sneaks through the gate successfully, avoiding detection. He estimates the population to be around 65.

Aria tugs on Sakiran's arm towards the clothes shop, while Leoric decides to head over to the general store. He notices the E is missing from the sign. He pushes open the door and it opens with a creak. He smells exotic spices and a musky carpet. Around the room, the walls are stacked with shelves and there are two rows of shelves filled with supplies. A man who looks to be in his late 20s, with black skin and hair and lanky. He asks if he can help him. Leoric says he is just looking. He investigates the shop. The guns look basic and food looks standard. Nothing jumps out at him in particular. Behind the counter is a gilded case with brushed metal. He pulls out a piece of scrap paper and goes down his shopping list, asking for vials of acid, copper, gunpowder and explosive compound. The clerk scratches his head, asking if he is planning to kill anyone. Leoric says it's a hobby. The clerk says he has something to clean metal, but no acid. Leoric asks how it reacts to flesh. He believes if he boils off the water it is diluted with, then he may be able to gain a purer acid.

The clerk brings out two sticks of dynamite for the gunpowder. Leoric says it is crude. The clerk says it is the best he has. Leoric says it isn't gunpowder. The clerk says it isn't then swears. He admits he doesn't deal with weapons and explosions and tells him not to blow up his shop. Leoric asks what is in the gilded box. The clerk says he hasn't been able to get it open. Leoric asks what he bought it for and offers 20 rands and the acid. The clerk offers 45 for the lot. Leoric accepts and takes the goods. He puts away the money and asks if he can get anything else.

Sakiran is dragged over to a clothing stall by Aria. There are lots of hangers around a wooden stall. They see there is a young male in there, his skin is a soft gold and he is quite short, with a short angular face. He has a dog sitting near him and smells like tobacco. He stops petting the dog. He asks what clothes they would like. Aria brings out a massive pile of clothes. There are a long robe, long summer dress, long sleeved cardigan and skirts. The shortest is up to the knee.

Sakiran tells her to put the long things away, saying they are walking through difficult terrain. Aria sulks and puts some clothes back. Sakiran buys the pile for her and picks out some clothes for herself. He says these ones are more expensive because they look nicer, and the ones in the bordello cost even more despite being so little. Sakiran admits there is some merit to sex appeal, understanding the show. She relents and takes the clothes. He bids her farewell and she takes Aria to the tavern.

Domaru takes a moment to admire the Pizza and Pets store, then walks into the tavern. He notices Tasu and Vae sat with two other people playing a card game. Tasu insists he wasn't cheating and Vae said he was. Domaru nods towards the orcish barkeeper. He gives him 100 rands, saying he needs to talk to his friend. The orc says it is very suspicious. Domaru nods and walks towards Tasu and Vae. He sits with them. Tasu recognises him and asks if he enjoyed his crash. He ignores Tasu and addresses Vae as Silver Guardian and asks where her owner is. Vae says she has no owner. Domaru questions her station. She tries to remember. She does not know. Domaru passes Tasu some alcohol to keep him busy whenever he tries to speak, getting uninterrupted conversation with Vae. He asks if there are any Altarnie she is in contact with. Domaru asks if this includes the young one. Vae says no. He is uncertain if she is lying or not. Domaru takes his leave, trying to find the young Altarnie.

Leoric heads into the weapon shop, a female wood elf with copper skin is very short and working on weapons. She is attractive but has been in a few fights, is fidgety and has a restless leg. She nods at him and goes back to working on reassembling her weapon. Leoric looks around again. He is unfamiliar with a certain brand of weapon but recognises the mark. She says it is her own. Leoric says it's strange that he has seen it before, and says it is suspicious accusingly. She explains it is a clan mark. She is trying not to get onto the subject of humans vs elves, saying there were clans of elves. He says she still uses her clan symbol. She asks if he came into buy something or for a history lesson. He asks what she's working on. She says it's her experiment and hopes it doesn't blow up this time. She calls it the "Nowhere Special" he says he is something of a gun enthusiast, pulling out the Altarnie weapon and swinging it around. He asks about the kick of the weapon and asks to try it. She takes him to her yard nervously, where there are many bullet holes where she has tested. He examines the weapon and cartridge. She has adapted a revolver to fire a round from a Gratus heavy machine gun, and it seems like it will work. It is a very off balance pistol. Leoric fires and it blows a massive hole in the target and through to the next house. Leoric pretends not to be in pain as the wood elf is horrified.

Domaru gets up to leave, but sees Aria and Sakiran about to walk in. He bumps into them. He is suffering from shell-shock and says ese like Flea. Sakiran asks if it is Berenike. Aria asks who he is in her writing. Sakiran says it may be someone she knows, but isn't sure. Vae suggests they apprehend him.

Sakiran and Aria change into their clothes and Sakiran questions if her behind looks big. Aria lies and says it does not. Sakiran takes it at face value and thanks her. They head downstairs again and Sakiran picks up her drink.

Leoric says it has a lot of kick. The wood elf says she is relieved it didn't explode. She pulls the tarp off of a cannon and Leoric is very impressed, though says she should place a stock on the pistol. She dismisses it nervously.

It is a cannon from a Gratus vehicle, that looks it was one of the aerial vehicles. He determines it is quite old, around twenty years old. She asks what it would fire. He guesses 20mm. He said if they both worked on it, it would shorten the time taken. She admits she doesn't work with people very well while twitching. He says he thought so, since it smells funny. She asks what else he needs. Leoric has perked up considerably and asks if she has gunpowder and explosive compound. She asks if he is trying to bomb somewhere. He says he is just trying to make his own cartridges. He introduces himself as Leoric and asks her name. Her name is Nelalwe.

A patron is trying to talk to Vae, a stumpy dwarf who is asking her about being a robot. Vae notices her approaching and says the dwarf is confusing. Vae asks when they are apprehending the elf. Sakiran says they can probably do it themselves and downs her drink. The pair head out. She sees he has tried to hide his tracks, but his armour plates do leave their own footprints. The workshop, where he is, has been recently broken into.

Sakiran asks Vae how she would like to approach this. Vae says directly and Sakiran smiles, readying her chain.

Domaru notices two figures outside quietly discussing how to approach something. He takes up a vantage point inside. He shouts suppressing fire and goes full pelt against where he thinks they are.

Leoric sees Sakiran and Vae doing something very shifty. He sees she has changed her clothes. He sees them being fired upon as bullets break through the metal. Sakiran ducks down and avoids them. The bullets are in a field of mist around her body and they fall, so she is unharmed. They break the door down and there are no vertical vantage points. He is hunkering down taking defensive shots at them.

Sakiran runs up to him recklessly as Domaru makes another attack, employing his Battle Master techniques to ensure he hits her. She catches him with her chain and has him restrained. Domaru Misty Steps away from her. Vae makes an attack against Domaru to try and kick him. She does a fair amount of damage to him as it catches against his armour. Sakiran is unable to catch him with her chain, clanging against the wall. Leoric grapples up to the ceiling of the workshop. He checks on the ceiling for rusted away parts. He waits in the middle of the ceiling for an opportunity. Domaru is cornered, so he casts Shatter around them. Vae is struck by the concussive force as some of her chassis is blown away, resulting in her being stunned. Sakiran is able to avoid serious damage. Domaru disengages from combat and tries to walk away.

Leoric moves to where he heard the footsteps move to. He sees him darting out of the door. Leoric shoots the grappling hook and it impacts the floor, bouncing back. Leoric tries to jump directly onto Domaru to stop him. He lands on top of him. Domaru is knocked right to the ground. Sakiran tries to kick him but the impact is absorbed by his armour, so she is unable to stun him. Vae leaves the workbench and takes a full legged kick into his face. Domaru breaks out of the grapple and throws Leoric off of him. He stands up, wiping dirt off of him. He says a few words in Elvish and he is healed.

Sakiran moves to remove his helmet. Domaru holds up some handcuffs and cuffs himself. Sakiran sees him remove his helmet and cuffs himself. She wraps chains around his wrists.

Leoric suggests they move elsewhere and she drags him back inside the workshop.

Vae stands in front of him and asks who he is. Domaru gags himself. Vae suggests torture and Sakiran refuses. Vae accepts, and offers to kill him. Sakiran says it is unnecessary. Leoric asks who he is, and he performs the scorpion pincer symbol. They both recognise the symbol. Sakiran notes he seems connected to Berenike somehow. Domaru says he came for the girl. Sakiran asks why. Domaru breaks out of the chains. He looks at them and reattaches his child cuffs and sits down on the floor. Domaru notes that it has been about a minute of conversation and starts trying to terrify. Leoric asks Sakiran if she knows how large her bottom is in her pants. She looks very embarrassed and is angry that Aria lied to her.

Domaru is trying to roll away. Sakiran puts a foot in his path and looks extremely unimpressed. Domaru plays the pan flute. He then tells the story of Flea. After they hear the story, Leoric says he thinks they are done. Domaru agrees. Vae has no questions.

Sakiran realises she left Aria alone in the pub and bursts in with Vae and Leoric. She pushes her way over forcefully, and she is levitating beer in front of an impressed crowd. The same dwarf pestering Vae says she is good at tricks. Someone else asks if she can levitate it towards his mouth. He is splashed and says it is great. Tasu is collecting money from people to watch her.

The party go over to the bar again and see the dwarven barmaid. A drug addict asks her for a beer and she curses him. The orc asks Sakiran if it is another whiskey. She nods. Leoric asks for a bottle. Domaru is also at the bar. He asks for a very complex drink. The orc takes a guess at what he asked for, giving him beers and lager, as well as some whiskey. He hands over 35 rands and asks for more whiskey. He hands over two bottles. He looks at them fondly and says they are potential grenades. Sakiran argues this and says they are happiness in a bottle. Domaru goes to an unoccupied table facing a pool table but with his back to the wall. He arranges the bottles carefully at each seat and labels them, then casts minor illusion to pretend there are people with him.

Sakiran orders another bottle of whiskey and the barman warns she is clearing him out. She holds her hand up and asks if he has a problem with how much she drinks. He chuckles and says it's a good thing, since he makes money off of her. She says she is glad they have a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Leoric sees the crowd around Aria are goading her into catapultig more and more things. One hands her a full bottle of beer and asks her to lob it. It smashes against the wall.

It is getting quite rowdy and Sakiran keeps a hand on her dagger.