Post by Stella on Jan 4, 2024 13:40:53 GMT -5
”I swear on my good nature! It’s of the utmost importance, I assure you!”
The blond struggled against the muscled arms which had seized her; the witch involuntarily hoisted above these rather tall and imposing guards for the small and gathered group to see. Few gasped while several others chuckled at the entertainment the sentries were providing today. ”H-hey! Cut it out!” The pair in striking armor took several steps together in unison, before the girl was unceremoniously tossed toward this crowd. The girl would let out a yell in response, the crowd parting so as not to catch the strange looking foreigner as the ground rose up to meet her face. A few chortled laughs could be heard overhead, followed by one of the sentinels yelling after the blond.
”This is the fourth time today! My patience wears thin! We catch you again, it will be the last time fool!” With that the large brute stomped off, Stella raising herself from the cold puddle in the street to rub the back of her head. A frown and a tongue were shot after the arcosian in a childish manner, before she was promptly stuck in the head with something gold, something solid. ”And take your pawned Earthling trash with you!” The ring bounced off her forehead and into the nearby snow as the blond fell over once more – a groan escaping the protective clutches of her hands over face.
The gathering would start to thin out as the girl rolled there for a moment to herself, eventually deciding to drop the dramatics to sit up with a sigh. Stella concluded that this was positively getting her nowhere. An audience with the leadership was far from her grasp – thus too was her quarry, if they were even around to begin with. The unusual eyes of the witch darted from the trinket in the snow, to the imposing, and seemingly impassable gates barring entry to the palace-like neighborhood on the rising cliff above. Alas, what was one to do? A grumble escaped the witch as she pocketed the frosted band of gold, rising to dust off whatever filth has decided to cling to her outfit. It had been a rather dicey gamble, but here she was two hours out of her day with nothing to show for it.
Stella stood there for a moment, eyeing the Regal Citadel above like some unexplored ride at a family theme park. It held her there, captivating her with all its dread and wonder – fueled simply not by her curiosity of what riches or power may lurk within, but the growing desire spurned over her failed attempts to enter it. The witch eyed the sentries once more, narrowing in contempt on these angry living statues. Their armor and electro-spears glistened in the early morning sun, as it sought to break through the clinging aftermath of an unexpected new year’s storm. They did not falter the relentless gaze held with the enigma in red; a fool, a jester who had no business wasting the time of their beloved emperor nor those who served him.
The blond concluded she would waste nor more of her time indulging in this foolish endeavor. There were other ways beyond those gates, and she would make certain they were made open to her footfalls. She bid her sitters adieu with a flippant wave over her shoulder as she made to depart, making her destination the more rural and unforgiving side of Kuriza where she had grown accustomed to prowling. It certainly wasn’t home in any regard, but it held a similar charm to it, which welcomed Stella like a warm embrace on a chilly, winter’s morning. Sure, there were glances from time to time, but she was made as little more than some off-world trader, refugee, or vagabond – another stain of the dirtied t-shirt that was the ever-changing cosmos.
The search for a historian continued, or at the very least one well-versed, well-learned enough that she could creditably take value in. She remained skeptical of liars and those that believed distorted truths, certainly where nearly a hundred years might be concerned. Thus, it compelled the girl to seek the rising plateau and the scholars who might dwell within the decadent society upon it. An earnest plan, one beyond simply strolling up to the gates, claiming to be an emissary of some far off, possibly long forgotten world at any rate. The makings of a local watering hole, desolate of many a customer drew her attention for a place to sit and think on this plan of infiltration. The bartender didn’t know what to make of the girl’s order of iced water but shrugged it off and provided it anyway. A sip there, an impatient tapping of weathered steel there, and she was soon becoming a nuisance to the husky alien trying to enjoy a news report playing on some aged video display.
"Well you're not going to believe this next story folks, but believe me when I do in fact say this has been proven to be true. Bio-weapons in Kuriza. That's right, you heard me. Nothin's wrong with your ears. Bio-weapons have been discovered in a destron lab operating somewhere in the Glass District, where inquisitors have uncovered shocking a shocking revelation to the development of a new prototype venom. It remains unclear what the purpose or intent behind the creation of such a horrible thing was, but speculations surrounding this story are palpable. Some are saying this thing was designed by the Empire itself, some are even defending its continued existence as a safeguard, a self-defense to the preservation of Arcose! I for one ladies and gentlemen, do-"
The independent journalist went on to ramble on about his own opinions on the matter, before finally composing himself to continue the broadcast. Needless to say, the blond had grown rather curious to the purpose behind such a thing herself, and rather the effects of what made it so news worthy to begin with. Her thoughts trailed back to the reason she sat here, left alone by some odd chance at fate, another chance to turn over a new lead so to speak. It often provoked a thousand ripples of questions within the stillness of the sea that was her own contemplations from time to time. How might this second chance be spent? To advert the wrong doings of her past mistakes, and try to atone for them? To gloriously, and selfishly bathe her hands within the tempest of bloodied vengeance against her enemy's ancestors?
The witch debated the use of her time while the bother bartender switched on the tele above his stockpile, turning the volume up so loud in hopes to drown out the conspiracies on the tablet. "-the worlds themselves still speak of his deeds. Yangcong; a disgraced war hero turned criminal mastermind. Who was he? What sort of life did he lead before the rebellions? Learn the fascinating history of his father, Jicong, and the tear invoking tale about a son's desire to make a forgotten father proud. Tonight, on History Channel." The witch wasn't sure just what she had witnessed a commercial for, nor what program which was probably likely to follow such a...stirring promotion intended to tug a one's heartstrings. Though there was no denying the level of intrigue which held the witch to remain in the lonesome hole, long enough to see the evening's scheduled programming come to a fascinating conclusion. It was an educational evening, which spoke much about a planet's strife over the last hundred years during which she had endured a rather less than peaceful slumber.
Absconding into the night after killing the tenants, then setting the bar itself ablaze, Stella set off into the shadows of Kuriza to plan for what was to come.TWC:(+1307)
6/6 KP 0/6 MP 0/250 HP
Stella’s PL: 4,000 (Restrained Might: Active)
Antisense: Active
Resources: Sage’s Staff (2/2), Xtra Terr. (2/2), Galaxy Brain (3/3), FitU (2/2), 1st Escape (1)