(is someone logging this for Tien?)

::the preperations are made, the ship is booked, you guys are going to Taurus...

(yep. :)

...unfortunately Tien realized he gets ocean sick and will take the slow overland route as an act of penance::

((no logging for Tien... he's not here he has to miss out ::nods::))

(ok.)

((if we're still in taurus next week he can come in there and you can catch him up... in game))

((gotcha))

::as you while away the hours shipboard, An distributes gifts::

Gifts, my friend? What for? ::slight grin::

::grins:: Not really sure. ::takes out a large box and a very small box::

::matching An's grin::

::hands both to Ruiz::

((are the chicks with us?))

::takes boxes with a slight bow, and a wry smile::

::takes out another large box and hands it to Ric::

::eyes wide, grin huge:: Why thank you.

::takes out three large boxes and hands them to Elena::

::takes out two smaller boxes and hands them to Maria::

::elena gives a bewildered grin:: thank you

::laughs and sits back::

((dang, we're gonna miss Tien's new clothes!))

::maria also smiles thankful and waits for everyone else to open theirs first::

::opens larger box::

((he refuses to wear them))

Go ahead, Ruiz. Open yours first.

::looks inside box::

::extends hands inside the box, to extract what is within::

::inside is a very fine outfit made of the finest material, it is ordained with various decorations fit for a body guard in formal occasions, complete with sword sheath and weapon sheath::

::eyes move to An-- A smile captures my lips, and I bow to An::

Thank you, my friend.

::opens smaller box::

::inside is a wedding ring ordained with a odd multi colored precious gem::

((An: Ruiz, will you marry me?))

::quizzical look:: why this, friend An?

((LOL LMAO))

::just smiles:: You'll figure it out one day.

((ack, he's shouting))

::the ring is far too small for Ruiz's fingers, btw::

::nods once more::

::places ring in pocket::

Hmmm. Gifts with mysterious endings on a planet of mysteries.

::Elena begins to unwrap hers::

How about yours, Elena?

::she looks inside::

::she pulls out an exquisite silver necklace with a rainbow of sparkles on it, gasping::

::grins::

Wow... thank you An... ::goes to work on the other gifts pulling out a dozen dresses of varying styles and colors::

::laughs::

::grins::

Thank you

::maria looks on beaming::

My friend, this is mostsurprising..!

Well, I suppose I must be next. ::gently shakes the box before opening it::

::Looks at Ric, beaming:: Yes, Lord.

I wonder what could be inside. ::Opens box and takes contents::

::looks on::

::sitting in the box is the housing of an energy shield::

::it's a small fist sized metal disk with various sigils etched in it::

::holds it up for all to see:: It is most exquisite. Thank you, An.

I figured one of your noble stature should not be without one.

It seems friend An thinks you could benefit from more protection <g>

Do you know how to use it. ::grins at Maria:: I pray not.

::smile turns to a glare, for a short while.. then back to a smile::

::realized her mistake after a second:: I apoligize Ruiz, that was not meant to reflect on you, rather at my brother's legendary ability to get into trouble

No offense taken, Maria. ::turns and moves to the foredeck::

Well, Maria, what about yours?

::sighs:: now i'm going to feel bad about that... anyway ::opens hers carefully::

::she pulls out a pendant with a brilliant reddish orange crystal that casts flickering colored light all about the cabin, and a silver ring with a deep green gem that seems to draw in all light in the cabin as you're drawn to stare at it... it seems very old, with a flaw in the cut that resembles a raven to onlookers::

Why thank you An

::smiles:: It is nothing. A flame for a flame. And perhaps something to remember me by when I'm gone. ::grins to himself::

::quirks an eyebrow:: are you leaving?

::quietly to himself:: A flame for a flame? Hmm. More mysteries.

One day I believe. One day.... ::looks off into the distance. ::

::focuses back:: Not soon though... but we all leave one day don't we. ::grins::

((okay, you guys done with the gift giving?))

((lmao))

((Yes, I'm done. Old Saint Anhetepf))

::the hours pass and eventually the boat sets in at the harbor of taurus::

((what time of day is it?))

::you climb out of the hold, staring out of your antique ship as the sun crests above the water and picks out a dozen other such ships docked in a large wharf....

::breaths in the air comming off the ocean::

the smell of the ocean gets cast up into your lungs by a blast of wind, and the air is just cold enough still that it sends a chill down your spines... the new sunlight...

So, Lord.. Friends.. what next?

reveals the small one story wooden houses that cluster around and extend back in a chaotic fashion, leading up to a small bunch of manses on a hillside about a half a kilometer off::

I believe we head that way. :;points to the houses::

::on closer look, many of the houses look fairly recent and easily built...

Then let us go. ::moves ahead down the road::

some of the few made of stone and older seem to have been rebuilt some time in the past::

::follows::

::eyes scanning the horizon::

::elena and maria follow::

So where are we going?

::to Maria:: Ruiz seems anxious to get...wherever we are going. Some of our distant Hazat cousins should live in those manses near the hilltop.

Sounds like we should touch base there just to have a place to rest should this take time

Besides, we don't want to slight the nobles here by not visiting them while we're in the area ::looks for a commoner to ask for info::

::walks along single-mindedly::

::the village is just starting to move like slow molasses, an old man smokes a first pipe on the porch of his home::

::follows behind humming::

Ho, there. Who is liege of these lands and where do they live?

Leige? I suppose that'd be the church... thats over there'n the sun city... You mean the burgomeister?

Well, whoever would be in charge of this township.

That'd be old Amon.. he lives just down the road in the two story house

::listens on::

::he draws on the pipe, done speaking::

A helpful people, aren't they? ::shakes his head and moves on down (up?) the road::

Yes, they are. ::follows::

::continues to walk along::

::you follow the houses through a few odd twists and turns, passing houses that are starting up for a day of work... eventually you come to a house that looks much like the others but is twice as high::

((LOL--I can hear An saying that in a deadpan voice))

((oh, while i'm thinking about it... i have pictures for all the s... now i need picture ideas for what you want your characters to look like.. either celebrities that i can easily find on the web or pictures you can send me))

((Ok))

((um.. will do))

((An's gonna have fun.))

((Yep))

Well, I guess this is Amon's house. Shall we give it a try?

::stops, returns to the group::

::looks to Ruiz::

::looks at An, with a blank face::

::waits and looks around, heedful of threats::

::sighs, goes to door and knocks with leather guantlets::

::a few minutes pass and then the thick wooden door creaks open and a middle aged man with auburn hair asks in a deep voice:: Can I help you sir?

::watches the man at the door::

::moves to Ric's side, silently::

Good morrow to you. Can you give us any information about the manses on the hillside?

Yes, those are the Hazat family estates

Do you know which one belongs to the highest ranking noble and his name?

that would be Baron Diego.. he lives in the first house on the row... large family crest... you cant miss it

Is there a boy who can serve as a runner to announce us?

::he gives you a "how droll" look:: No, I'm afraid we don't have much need for boys to wait around to announce people to the nobles, sorry

::smiles:: I will go if you wish.

No, hold An. This man seems to have forgotten his station.

::turns to Ric:: I will go, Lord. ::Begins to move toward the manse::

((you must remember Ric, you dont wear your house crest, it's dark, and you didnt announce yourself))

((and this is also a Church world))

Do you talk to all nobles this way, ::sarcastically:: burgomeister?

All the ones that come into my city expecting to be treated like the pancreator's own... you have a problem with the way i run my city, you take it up with the church

::moving closer and closer to the manse::

((although the planet's owned by the Church, these lands are probably noble jurisdiction... unless you state otherwise.))

((nope... nobles can live here but they dont have any actual power outside of their section of town))

Anything else I can help you with... sir? ::he lets the last drip sardonically::

::moves to the Manse's door, knocks::

::the immense door opens and a young boy peers at Ruiz sleepily:: Yes?

::squints eyes, looking over the vile man, then turns and leaves abruptly::

I am here to announce the arrival of Lord Ricardo of Aragon...

::bows to the man:: Thankyou sir.

::maria makes some small comment to the man when ric is no longer watching then follows him:

Will he want breakfast?

Breakfast, sir, and housing for himself and his entorage...

::nods:: Excuse me a moment ::he turns and stumbles into the house, leaving the door ajar::

::turns back to the group::

::the trip is long up the hill and anyone without a large endurance is winded, and even the stalwart are a bit out of breath::

::a few minutes later the boy teeters back down to see you all assembled:: Follow me please ::he turns and heads back in::

::follows behind everyone:: (Elena with us?)

::maria stands beside her brother, elena walks beside An::

::moves witht he group::

::you pass a small room with a recently slept in cot that you figure is the door-boy's bed::

::after a small flight of stairs you enter into a well but sparsely appointed kitchen area where a large man in his 30s with dark hair and eyes sits drinking from a mug::

::he wears a silk robe in hazat cut and colors, and he stands and bows as you enter::

::looks him up and down::

::bows in return, even lower:: Lord Baron, I presume.

::bows slightly::

Yes, Baron Diego Alberto Dulcinea at your service

I am Knight Ricardo Valentin Eduardo and this is my sister Knight Maria Fe Eduardo.

::maria bows::

This is Anhetepf Griffin of the Reeves, and Elena (something or other) of the Engineering Guild. And last but not least, the somber warcat there is Ruiz Isfahan.

Elena Marisa de Aragon

::slight nod of the head::

::nods:: please sit, breakfast will be ready shortly

::Looks at Maria rather bemusedly but sits.::

::maria also sits, and elena soon follows suit::

Oh, I almost forgot. There will be a priest, a Brother Tien, who should be joining us soon hopefully. He took his own "penitential" route here.

::sits after the others are sitted::

::stands by Ric's side::

Oh, do sit down, Ruiz. You make me nervous standing there.

::once everyone is settled the baron also sits:: So.. what brings you to this part of the universe?

::grins sheepishly and scratches his neck:: Perhaps An can explain better than I.

::looks at Ric, then sits, lightly::

We were sent here. On a simple job of retrieving what we believe to be a gargoyle. Various things have sent us to three planets. This one being the last. We believe what we seek is here.

More or LESS ::stress on less:: that is the story.

::he nods, taking it in::

::listening on::

So, we are here. With a set of coordinates that we believe will take us there.

::slight nod::

((lol what happened?))

((what?))

((got quiet in here.. lol)

::like many hazat, he's not very talkative, but he is listening::

We wish to perhaps stay in your house for two nights. And then we will be on our way. We can pay.

::cough, cough::

We dont require payment from our cousins or their entourage... I take it that this search is.. house business?

Yes.

::nods:: After breakfast I'll have your rooms prepared ::a statement that heralds the arrival of a young woman and man with platters of bacon and eggs, fried potatoes, and fish and mugs of milk::

::picks at his food slightly eating mostly the fish::

::a basket of biscuits completes the table::

::eats all on his plate::

You present quite a nice table, my lord.

::maria eats heartily, so that you figure her figure must be due quite a bit to exercise... while elena picks at her food, a habit you've all noticed since you've known her::

Thank you, we do what we can with the resources we have

::to Lord Ric:: May I retire, Lord.. Lords?

Yes, if my Lord Baron does not oppose?

::snaps his fingers and the door boy reappears, a little more awake:: please show Ruiz to his room

::the boy nods and then heads down another hall for you to follow::

::stands, then bows:: Thanks you, Lords. ::walks to his room::

((I gotta go, people.. Have school early tomorrow..))

((k, i'm about done anyway))

((k))

((actually, unless anyone opposes, i'm ready to stop))

((Whatever you wish ohhh omnipotent one ))

((stopping's cool with me))

~~~ OOC ~~~