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a thunder of lyres
the worster genin team
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Her parents are being obnoxious. It's 'dangerous outside' and 'no place for a child' and she should defend the evacuation tunnels blah blah blah.

That's all boring nonsense, so Hisame decides that she isn't a Uchiha anymore so it being un-Uchiha to ignore her parents doesn't count and she doesn't have to do what they say, which leaves her free to use her awesome ninja skills to sneak past the terrified and harried genin guarding the shaking caverns.

The world outside is, indeed, rather dangerous, and more than a bit chaotic. But there's a floating ring of light where the moon used to be, and the trees are fighting strange white figures, and when she climbs to the very top of the Hokage Monument she gets treated to someone throwing a METEOR at someone else and being stopped by a sudden MASSIVE TREE. 

Suspicion confirmed: this is so much cooler than hiding in a tunnel. 

Hisame secures her kunai better - she might get to stab an enemy, that'd be cool - and goes to hunt for a better view. 

(She's rather put out to discover that the enemies are not very stabbable, but at least most of the people on her side are ignoring her except for some harried shouting telling her to hide. Usually before the enemy stabs them 'cause they got distracted yelling at Hisame, which, what did they expect to happen?)

Tragically, wandering around a battlefield the size of a continent when you're an Academy student very quickly gets also boring, which leads to Hisame stomping around and contemplating if she's technically a defector since she stopped being an Uchiha, and if so if she's therefore the enemy of all the shinobi running around, which means she can probably stab them. 

If her parents were around to watch her, they'd be getting very, very nervous right about now. 

- And that's when a strange glowing figure begins floating in front of her, and he says something about being the father of her first incarnation, and the shinobi will lose but he can give her a gift to grant an edge, his eyes and chakra - 

 

Controlling gravity is SO MUCH FUN. Hisame isn't sure what else the super cool eyes do but she can definitely send people flying and make craters. She hasn't gotten the trick of controlled flying yet but she's working on it. And zooming chaotically through the air is fun, too.

 

- It turns out that 'what else the super cool eyes do' is 'let her survive when the entire world crumbles.'

Hisame looks around at the empty void the world is dissolving into. Looks at herself. Looks at the weird woman who isn't dissolving, the one with the old fashioned robes and horns who looks kinda like the glowing floaty guy. She looks at her knife. Back to the woman, who's glowing lots and lots more and starting to grow, and also totally ignoring the small child standing behind her. 

Can she stab this enemy? Well, she's gonna find out! 

 

The answer is: yes.

Also, apparently weird glowy people explode when you stab them, instead of bleeding, and now Hisame's ears are ringing and she's laying flat on some hard earth with her knife held in a death grip in front of her. 

 

"...Ow," she says, belatedly.

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Wherever she's just landed, it's dark and a little bit chilly. An enclosed space by the way her voice echoes- maybe a cave? She doesn't have very long to orient herself before-

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-Another small body falls to land crosswise on her stomach with a thump.

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This surprises her enough she drops her knife! Fortunately the person she was stabbing was very tall, so her knife falls to the soil above her head. 

And then she starts flailing a little. 

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Oof! The other girl will attempt to roll out of the way. (This attempt is significantly complicated by the flailing. Hisame's lap weight doesn't seem to have full control of her limbs.)

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She recovers enough composure to squirm until she can help her lap weight get off her. 

"Who are you?" she asks. 

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"-Dunno. Who're you?"

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"I'm Hisame! Why don't you know who you are?"

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Why doesn't she know who she is? Seems like that should be obvious.

And yet.

 

"...Don't know that either."

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"Huh! Did T&I mindwipe you?"

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Squint. "What's T&I?"

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"Torture and Interrogation! They kidnap enemies and hold them in cells and torture them and read their minds to get secrets out of them. They could totally mindwipe someone."

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Hmmmmmmmm.

"It could be that. Seems like it would explain things."

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"Yeah! And the world just dissolved so you might've fallen out of a holding cell onto me."

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"The world dissolved?!"

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"Uh huh! I dunno how but there was this weird glowy lady everyone was fighting and then she started glowing more and the world crumbled into this black void. So I stabbed her. And then I ended up here!"

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"We should keep an eye out for more weird glowy ladies, then."

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"I can stab them too!"

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"What if that dissolves the world again, though."

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"...Hm."

She thinks about this. "The first time, the world was already dissolving, and then it stopped..."

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"So stabbing her could have been what stopped it."

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"Stabbing people often has good results!"

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"You have a lot of experience with that?"

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"A little bit! But I'd like more!"

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Giggle!

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"Do you want some too?"

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"It might be good for me."

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"It would be!!!"

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"I don't have any knives, though..."

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"You can borrow some of mine, and we'll get you your own set as soon as we can."

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"Thanks!"

"Probably we have to get out of this cave, first."

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"Yeah." She looks around at the dark. "Ugh. I hate caves."

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"Wish there was more light..." The faintly glowing lichen on the walls really just serves to highlight how dark it is.

Wait hang on, something's tickling in the back of her brain about that wish-thought.. She gives it an experimental tug-


-and into existence pops a translucently pearly ghost, humanoid but without any details filled in. The ghost punches in various directions and balls of light shoot out the end of its arms to stick around the walls and ceiling, brightening the place considerably.

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"Cool!!!"

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"Huh. Yeah, it is."

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"What else can you do?"

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Hmmm. If she prods gently at that same brain spot... Oh wow. That's a lot.

"-Lots, apparently. Ooh, this one can make swords!" Another ghost pops up, condenses two paired swords out of thin air and runs through some stances with them.

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"I want one!"

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Can she tell it to do that... Yes, yes she can.

The ghost's swords disappear and it kneels in front of Hisame, offering a new one up flat on its palms.

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She takes it gracefully! And in a way that indicates a pretty clear familiarity with safe handling of blades. 

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"Is that the right kind of sword?" It's tall and straight with a pointy tip and sharp on both edges.

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Hum... "It's a pretty cool sword, but kinda a two-hander for me... Though that's a good contrast from my knives."

"And I can teach you about swords too!"

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"Sounds like fun."

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"Yeah!!!" Bounce bounce!

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"Let's go see about finding a way out."

They've got basically two choices on that front: forwards and backwards. They seem to be in a tunnel of some kind, with worked-stone walls and smoothed floors.

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Any hints about which way is correct? 

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If she listens very closely... a faint shuffling from ahead, like a lot of people walking.

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"There's some people or things that way!" she says, pointing. 

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"Should we check it out or try to avoid them?"

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"I think there's a lot... We should check sneakily."

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"Stealthy... all right. I'll follow you."

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How sneaky is her new friend, once they get going? 

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...She's not great at it, by Hisame's standards. Acceptable for a first-year Academy student, if the teacher was in a forgiving mood.

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Hisame meanwhile is very sneaky when she wants to be, especially for an Academy student. (She got told a lot that she should go into assassination when she grew up, even though she wants to be a frontliner.)

Probably her friend should also hang back a little once they get close to the noises?

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Makes sense. She'll wait for Hisame to report.

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"Get me if something sneaks up on you."

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"I will."

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Nod!

And she very very quietly sneaks forward. 

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And what she finds, creeping forward so quietly, is a room full of monsters (probably). Weird misshapen figures, most adult-sized, some shorter and squatter, milling around aimlessly. Their flesh looks like its half melted off, their armor is mostly mismatched scraps, and they smell like death itself.

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Probably stabbing all of them would be hard... Annoying.

But she'll slink back to her friend to report on what she found. 

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"Sounds nasty," she says.

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"Yeah. We might get gross stuff on us if we stab them." (Normal blood, of course, isn't gross.)

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"So we need to find another way to get through them."

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"I can control gravity and breathe fire!"

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"Cooooool!"

"I can probably find some helpful ghosts too..."

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"This'll be a piece of cake, then!"

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All right, let's see what she's got...

This one, that, maybe this one too- (When she gets to the second and third ghosts, the first two she had summoned wink out of existence as the others pop in. When the sword ghost disappears, Hisame's sword does too.)

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...Awwwww! Rats.

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"Oops. Sorry. Guess I can only have three ghosts at a time..."

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She pouts for a bit, then drags herself back to cheerfulness, and says, "We're gonna have to find a non-vanishing sword. But we can use the vanishing ones to practice in the meantime I guess..."

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"After we blow up the room full of monsters."

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"We don't need swords for that."

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"Not with fire and gravity powers and," she starts pointing at the new ghosts, "lightning storms and area paralysis and that one's force fields. For protection."

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"Can the powers hit us?"

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"The paralysis one could? I think the lightning's got control with it."

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"Can you aim it ahead of us?"

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"Yeah. The ghosts can go ahead a bit on their own."

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"So we'll just paralyze them first thing."

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Nodnod. "That's what I was thinking."

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"Sounds fun!"

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"Shall we?"

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"Let's!"

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Off to go kill some weird monsters!

She wrinkles her nose at the stench as they get closer, and sends the paralyze ghost in to attack first. The creatures move to attack, only to be stopped in their tracks by a cloudy wave rolling across the room.

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To be followed by a fireball!

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And lighting!! Pow! Crackle! Zap!!!

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There's a noise from the monsters that would probably be shrieking if they could move their jaw muscles.

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She uses her gravity powers to knock them around like ragdolls, then sets them on more fire. 

How dead are they? 

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At this point? Uh. Very. Let's go with very.

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Excellent!

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She can use force field ghost to push the broken and scorched and ashy bodies aside, clearing them a path through.

"That was fun!"

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"It was!!! I like killing stuff with you, you're good at it."

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"Thanks," she grins. "You're pretty good at it too."

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"I'm working on getting better!"

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"How much better is there to get?" she wonders.

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"Lots better! There's style, and variety, and scale..."

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"So it's about presentation."

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"Yeah! Gotta add some pizzazz!"

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"I feel like I should start taking notes..."

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"Do either of us have stuff for that..." She digs through her pockets before producing a significantly battered soft-cover school notebook and two halves of a pencil with a triumphant "Hah!"

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"That works."

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She hands them over. 

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She flips to the first clear page and starts scribbling. "Style... variety... scale... pizzazz!" The last she underlines vigorously.

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"And you gotta have a dynamic entrance, right, and a cool title that'll strike fear into the hearts of your enemies. Like 'the Salamander' or 'the Legendary Three' or 'the Red-Hot Habanero' or 'the God of Shinobi'..."

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"Red-Hot Habanero?"

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"She was mom's best friend! A super cool ninja who had hair as red as blood, and a really fiery temper. She could take out an entire battlefield if she got mad enough!"

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"Ohhh, okay. Yeah with context that's pretty good."

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"The best names have a story behind them."

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"Have... a... story..." she writes.

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"And a distinctive name!"

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"...Still don't have one of those."

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"I can give you one!!!"

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Grin!!

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"Hmmm... Think your name should be after some cool weapon or another..."

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"Definitely a cool weapon. Something sharp and shiny."

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"Let's see... Knife, dagger, kunai, shuriken... Katana, kaiken, naginata... Meibutsu, nie..."

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"Katana has a good sound... so does Naginata."

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"Katana could be Kat for short, or Naginata could be Nat..."

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"I'd rather be a cat than a gnat."

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Giggle snort!

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Hehehehehehe.

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"I like Katana then!"

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"Then nice to meet you, Hisame. My name's Katana!"

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"Nice to meet you, Kat! Let's be friends!"

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"Yeah!!"

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Bouncy hug!!!

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Hug! She's found the best friend.

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Bestest ever! 

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They should go find some more things to kill.

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Yeah!

Does Katana have any cool powers for sensing things to murder, actually? 

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Hmmm... Shuffle through ghosts a bit... This one can hear heartbeats within about fifteen hundred yards?

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Coooooool. What does she hear? 

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There's another group down the left passage. And someone on their own between here and there.

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Hmmm... Person on their own might be more or less fun to kill...

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They'll probably have to pass them by to get to the big group, unless the tunnel splits again.

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Maybe they can play with them! 

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Won't know unless they ask!

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Off to that, then? 

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Off into the spooky dark tunnels.

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Though they're the scariest things here!

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That's why the tunnels are spooky, nothing else knows where they'll pop out!

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Yeah! 

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The girl they come on seems to know, though, from how she's staring right at them - despite Hisame's best efforts at stealth, and despite the darkness shrouding them. She looks maybe twelve, maybe a bit older or younger, and she's stressed simply in a dark shirt and pants. 

"Now what have we here?" she asks, lightly. 

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...Might as well get some light, then. Pop pop light balls!

"Who are you?"

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A pause, then: "Name's Lyli. Who are you?"

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"My name's Katana." Yep, still feels good to say.

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"And I'm Hisame!"

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"Both good names."

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"Thanks!"

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"I picked Katana's!"

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"Then you have good taste."

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Giggle! 

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"It's true. And she's good with a fireball too."

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"Impressive."

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"Hisame's very cool."

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"I think both of you are. And what are two cool girls doing down in these tunnels?"

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"Killing monsters."

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"The big scary ones?"

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"Are there ones bigger than people?"

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"There are!"

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"We haven't seen any of those. Yet."

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"They're pretty dangerous, and pretty ugly."

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"We are both pretty dangerous and pretty pretty so I think we've got them beat there."

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She laughs. "Are you going to stay down here until you've killed everything in the tunnels?"

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"Or until we find a way out."

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"I can get you one of those."

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"...Might still want to kill one of the big guys first."

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"It'd be boring to leave without killing one of everything interesting!"

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"Yeah, exactly."

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"Can't have that."

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"Want to help us find one?"

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"Sure. I'm good at finding things."

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"Cool."

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Bounce bounce bounce! 

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She laughs. 

And onwards! To murder! 

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To murder of big cool monsters!!

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With Lyli's guidance, it won't take them long to find a place where the tunnel broadens and turns into steps down towards a gateway, with a broad cavern beyond. The temperature begins to rise. Three bridges arc across a chasm, lit from below by an orange-yellow lava glow. Camped in front of the bridges are two groups of the monsters, each led by a ten foot tall giant which have limbs like tree trunks and enormous horns on their heads.

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Hmmm are they gonna form a Strategy or should they go in with fires blazing...

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It seems like they could mostly just do the same thing as last time? Maybe they could try to push some of them into the lava though, that might be fun.

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Or chase them onto a bridge then blow up the bridge! 

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That would be good too.

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The kind of fun from paralyzing them and the kind from chasing them are very different. 

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Katana notes this down.

"Let's chase this time, then. Mix things up."

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"Yeah!"

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"What sort of powers should I go for?"

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"Explosions! And fear aura! Like Killing Intent but super."

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Hmhmhmhm. "Okay, got it. Negative emotions projector is this guy, and the other one teleports by exploding."

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"He'll have to get a little away from us before teleporting then."

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"That's what his legs are for."

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Giggle! "True!"

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"And I can still use my third slot on forcefields."

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"Yeah. And I can make it so there's no gravity at first - bet that'll confuse them - then start flipping back and forth..."

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"Then once they're all herded..."

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"Boom!"

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"Boom," Katana agrees.

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Sounds like a plan! 

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Then shall they put it into action?

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Yeah! 

The opening move is Hisame's, so... Gravity go bye-bye!

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Confused monster shouts and growls! One of the short stubby ones steps incautiously and goes floating off toward the ceiling, wailing.

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She laughs at it. "Your turn!" she says to Katana.

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The blasts of fear she adds to the mix agitate the situation considerably. The monsters evidently have no idea how to behave in conditions of zero gravity.

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Giggle snort! (Though she'll let them have a bit of gravity back as a treat, shaped roughly so the most gravity is towards the bridges.)

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With the big ones' feet on the ground, their fear is twisting into anger. And when one of the human-sized ones manages to spot the girls up the steps, the group attempts to rally a charge.

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Nope! There's still no gravity in between her and them! Also, there's now fireballs from her, and - "Boom time!" she calls to her friend. 

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Perhaps if the monsters had another few seconds to think, they would figure out how to catapult themselves across the no-gravity zone. Alas, Katana is still pumping them full of stressful emotions and the exploding teleporter is on its way. They don't get the time.

Turns out that the more times in a row the ghost teleports, the bigger the explosions get.

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That's so cool!!!!!!!

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BOOM goes the bridge!

WAAAGH go the monsters.


Sssssiiiizzzzzle goes the lava.

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This was the best idea ever! 

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It definitely was!!

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(Except, maybe, for how the ceiling seems to be cracking...)

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Thaaaat is not a yay sound. 

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Not really, no.

Run?

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Run!!

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Running!

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crackcrackcrackcrackCRASH-

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Their new friend steers them into a more stable side-corridor.

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And Hisame anti-gravities the rocks long enough they can get really clear.

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"...That was close."

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"But fun! But yeah maybe we should go ahead and leave..."

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"Find a place with sky. Instead of killer rocks."

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"I can manage that."

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"Thanks."

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"No problem." She hums, glances around, then sets off very confidently down the corridor - veering into another branching side path soon enough - and then weaving through the tunnels at a good clip until the air starts to feel a bit different. 

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"Have you been here before?"

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"Don't think so; I'm just good at finding my way."

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"That's neat." Not as cool as gravity powers or fireballs or being good at stabbing things, but still cool.

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"So are your powers."

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"Thanks. I'm still learning about them."

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"You're learning fast."

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"Well, I have to keep up."

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"With your friend?"

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Nod. "She didn't lose her memories, so she's got a head start."

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"You lost your memories?"

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"Mhm. I still know stuff, kinda? But the first thing I remember doing is falling on Hisame. She said the world dissolved and we fell out."

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"How does a world dissolve?"

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"There was a weird glowy lady doing something bad and then Hisame stabbed her. I didn't see that part."

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"Huh."

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"We decided that next time we'll stab the weird glowy lady sooner so she doesn't get a chance to start dissolving the world."

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Grin. "A solid plan. What did she look like?"

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Hisame creates an illusion

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"Horns, three eyes... Pretty distinctive."

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"It'll be hard to miss yeah."

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"Which is good for us!"

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"And anyone helping you."

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"Like you."

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"Like me."

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"So how'd you get here? Did you fall out of the world too?"

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"A different world than yours, and I'm pretty sure mine still exists."

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"Oh huh. Wonder how many different worlds there are, then."

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"It'd be odd if there were just three."

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"Three's a weird sort of number, yeah."

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"Wonder how many there are..."

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"Maybe we can take an inventory when we get bored of this one."

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"The number might be infinite."

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"Lots to entertain us, then!"

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"And a lot to inventory. You'll need to be immortal."

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"I bet we could figure that out."

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"I have no doubt."

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"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

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"I might be able to help, too."

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"What else have you got besides a great sense of direction?"

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"Sometimes," she says, like she's telling a terrible secret, "I see the future."

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"Whoa."

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"What do you see about us?!"

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"You're both going to rock the world."

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Heh heh heh.

"No surprise there."

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"Perhaps not - I'll let you know if I see anything else less obvious."

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"We'll be counting on you for that."

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"I'll keep up my side of things."

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"And Hisame and I will take care of murdering things."

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"An efficient distribution of labor."

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"That's what teamwork is all about."

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"Yeah!!! Though to be a real team we need a sensei..."

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"Maybe one of those will fall on us next."

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"That'd be cool."

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"It's worked out so far."

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"Yeah! We've gotten only really cool people."

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"Yeah."

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Giggle.

"C'mon, let's get out of here and find someone else cool."

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Onwards! They can't be that far from an exit, can they?

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She doesn't think so.

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That's good. Though time is a little hard to keep track of down here.

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She's been managing. 

And, indeed, they get to what certainly feels like a nearby exit soon enough. 

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Finally. Hope the door's unlocked.

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Indeed, they can see clear blue sky through the large opening in the stone walls.

The only problem is that the opening is sixty feet straight up.

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Easy to jump! Which Hisame very promptly does. 

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Ah. Hm.

Maybe she can find a ghost for this...?

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"Want me to float you up?"

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"You could do something like that?"

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"Yep."

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"And you can get out yourself afterwards?"

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"Just fine."

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"Then sure."

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And Katana goes weightless - then gently follows her friend up. Lyli jumps up beside them both. 

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Whee!

"That was fun!"

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"Want to keep floating?"

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"I do!!!" Controlled floating is still beyond her abilities.

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"Maybe just for a while..."

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"Let me know if you want down." Both kids float up.

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Bounce bounce!

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She flails her arms around, laughing.

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And she walks forward to survey the landscape a little, both kids bouncing along behind her like balloons.

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This is a land that has not been scaped a whole lot. It's mountainous, sharp and jagged, with only a little scrubby brush covering the hillsides. There's a very faint tang of salt to the air- probably there's a sea not too far to the south.

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Any signs of sapients?

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Might be a road, down there at the base of the mountain?

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She'll start making her way down. 

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Katana will follow along.

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She's still floating along! (This is more fun than walking.)

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- And then there's a very bright silver flash in the sky -

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-Eh? (Better be ready in case she needs to stab anything.)

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She sets down Hisame -

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- And a very surprised woman falls out of the sky! 

She twists and lands on her feet, though, and doesn't actually land on anyone. 

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No horns, no third eye, probably safe but-

"You're not planning to dissolve the world, are you?"

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" - No???"

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"Good. We'd have to stab you if you were. But you're not, so we don't!"

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"Sound logic!"

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"Yep."

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"They're both very smart," she says, relaxing a little. 

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"I can see! What are your names, by the way?"

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"I'm Katana!"

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"Lyli."

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"And I'm Hisame!!!"

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"I'm Shimmering Wyldclaw," she says with a laugh. "It's good to meet all of you." To Katana: "I like your name."

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"I like it too. Hisame helped me pick it."

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"She has good taste."

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"I do!"

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"The best."

"Where'd you fall from?"

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"A battlefield in the East - out past the Threshold, right around the Hundred Kingdoms, give or take a bit."

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"Never heard of that. Probably that makes four worlds now."

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"Worlds?"

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"Hisame's not from this world originally and neither am I we think, and Lyli's from somewhere else entirely."

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"Huh..."

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"So yeah, probably four worlds. Does your world have fun things to kill?"

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She laughs. "A lot of them! Want to hear stories?"

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"Yes!!"

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"Well... The weirdest things to fight are the fey..." And she launches into an assortment of stories of her encounters with fey.

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Definitely sounds like they're hard to stab conventionally, yeah.

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You have to get creative. 

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Mhm. Bet that helps you from getting bored too.

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It's pretty good all around!

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Heee! Shimmering Wyldclaw's got some pretty great stories.

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She's glad Katana likes them. 

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"Do you want to come with us?"

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"To where?"

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"Adventure, mainly. Exploring and finding new things to stab."

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"I have somewhere I'd like to get back to, someday - but adventure sounds fun in the meantime."

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"Yessss!"

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"You should be our sensei!!!"

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"That depends. What's a sensei?"

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Katana consults her notebook. "The last piece we need to be a real team."

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"What do they do?"

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...Good question. Does Hisame have an answer?

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"A sensei teaches a team of three new ninja how to do awesome ninja things! And leads them on missions and stuff."

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"That, yeah. I bet you could teach us lots of fun stuff."

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She laughs. "I'll see what I can do."

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Haha yes! "Now we have a full team!"

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"Excellent!!!"

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"Do we get a team name, too?"

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"Hmm... Usually it's based on the sensei's name. So we'd be Team Wyld."

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"Team Wyld... that's good." She'll write that down.

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"Has a certain ring to it."

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"Like we're dangerous!"

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"Because we are."

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"Yeah!!!"

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"Then it fits really well."

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"I'll add my vote for it."

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"Then I guess we're Team Wyld."

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Hehehe great success.

"What should our first mission be, sensei?"

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"Team orientation! Let's get to know each other - I don't know what you all need to learn, yet."

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"So like introductions?"

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"To start."

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"Okay. I'm Katana. I don't remember anything specific before I landed on Hisame, but I still know some like background facts type stuff."

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"I'm Hisame! I'm a ninja from a ninja family. I stabbed a weird glowy lady who was dissolving my world then ended up here."

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"I'm Lyli. I woke up in the tunnels down there. Not much of note before that, really."

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"And I'm a Lunar."

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"What's a Lunar do? Are you from the moon? Is that why there was a silver flash before you fell down?"

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Laugh! "It means the moon gave me my powers, in a way."

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"What kinds of powers?"

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"A lot of things - I can change shape, and I'm very good at sneaking around, and I can give others powers, and I've got a natural sense for warfare."

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"What kind of things can you change into?"

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"Animals and people, and a few special forms." And then -

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Giant white tiger time!

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!!!! Kitty!!

Katana wants to rub her whole face in Wyld's fur, it looks very soft and comfy.

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Hisame jumps straight past wants to does - and jumps straight into the FLUFF.

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Hmmmm that seems like an emulatable course of action. FLUFF TIME!

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Rumble!

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Tigers are great! Katana loves tigers, she's decided.

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Hisame wants to be a tiger!

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Is that one of the powers Wyld can give people?

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Yep! But it can take a while. 

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She'll work super hard to learn how to be a tiger!!!

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It would definitely be worth it.

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Super yeah! 

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Lyli should learn to be a tiger too, it can be a Team Wyld thing.

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She might not be cut out for tigerness, though. 

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How will she know unless she tries?

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A good argument. 

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An impeccable one!

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Alright, she'll give it a go. 

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Yessssss.

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Of course, some other animal might call to her more...

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They could be other animals?

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It'll take some extra effort on Wyld's part, but, sure. 

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That opens up a whole lot of possibility.

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Does Katana have other animals she's interested in turning into? 

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Hmmm! Tigers are very good, but sleek kitties are cool too. Or something that flies, flying was fun.

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She'll see what she can do. 

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Best sensei!!

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Fitting, since she's landed some pretty good students. 

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Landed on some pretty good students.

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She laughs. "That I did."

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Giggle! She likes Wyld-sensei's laugh.

Oh yeah, Katana didn't explain about her power. "I have powers too, I can summon these ghosts. Each one does a different thing and I can have up to three at a time. I don't know what all of them do yet."

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"We'll need to do some testing, then."

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"Okay! I can find them based on a specific thing I need done but I haven't found any that will give me an index or anything."

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"Can you go off of theoretical things?"

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"Yeah, it's just me saying in my head that I want a ghost that could do a thing."

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"I can run through some theoreticals with you, then."

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"That should work."

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"Good."

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As they've been walking, they've gotten to the road that winds along jagged cliffs of dark stone above a frothy sea. They come to a sort of Y-intersection, with the road they're on meeting one that goes further along the coast and one that angles further inland and back along the way they've come from. Both look as though they've seen more travel. The coast road looks set to dip into some winding passages below steep hills. A good location to set up an ambush, the more astute members of the party may notice.

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Hisame knows a lot about ambushes! That means the coastal road is a good path towards FUN! (She's been getting increasingly bored.)

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If they take that road, then shortly Hisame will realize that they are unfortunately late to the ambush party. Someone's already fighting up ahead.

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They should proceed cautiously -

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An idea Hisame promptly blows out of the water by running ahead! 

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Looks the involved parties are a small group of humans in light armor with swords and shields and one with a weird spear, and on the other side a pack of giant spiders. Like seriously unusually-sized spiders, bigger than Hisame-sized spiders.

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She does NOT like spiders which means they're now extra on fire! 

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This does not seem to deter the spiders from all continuing to try to take the nearest person down with them.

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(Several of the people are now also on fire. The one with the weird spear gestures and the fire sort of slides off the people. In the chaos, this goes unnoticed.)

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She dives into combat, moving terrifyingly quickly to kill off the spiders. She starts to glow silver, a little, as she fights. 

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She hangs back - pays attention to the battlefield, and any potential surprises...

(Like the woman with the spear, which Lyli absolutely sees.)

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It doesn't take them too long to clean up the spiders. After the last one twitches for the final time and goes still, the short bearded man who the others were protecting switches smoothly from cowering against the cliff wall to criticizing the performance of his hired help. Doesn't sound too satisfied.

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"Excuse me, who are you?" she asks, interrupting his tirade. 

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"-can't buy a decent blade at a bargain anymore." Aaaand he smoothly pivots into sales pitch mode, turning to face Lyli. "Just an honest dwarf trying to make a living. Javaris Tintop, merchant and investor. You girls... you could be just what a man needs. Skilled enthusiasts. How would you like to make some coin?"

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"No," she says, before any of the others - let alone the two kids - can respond. "If you're unsatisfied with your help, though, perhaps I can take them off your hands - ?"

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Her abrupt refusal takes the dwarf back a bit. "Wh- But- You haven't even heard my offer yet! Why is no one in this town willing to do business these days? First the oxmen, now this."

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She turns, dismissing him. "What's your name?" she asks the odd woman with the staff. 

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"Hawke," she says, leaning on her staff, careless of the point digging into the dirt. "And where'd you lot come from?"

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"Other worlds! I'm a ninja!"

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"Other worlds, huh?"

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"Uh huh! We're looking for fun stuff to do here!"

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"Well, I wish I could tell you that it doesn't get better than hunting down renegade Qunari bandits in the wilds outside of Kirkwall, risking life and multiple limbs for uncertain pay contingent on a bargain made of smoke and pipedreams, but that'd be a lie in the service of giving me a better chance at collecting said pay myself."

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"Hmmm... But I do like hunting people..."

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"If that's what wags your tail, kid, hey. I've got a rough location."

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"How good's the mission pay, and how fun are the bandits to kill?"

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Siiiiigh.

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"Three sovereigns, let's call it a sixty-forty split your way, assuming your friends are going to help out. And as a rule, Qunari are seven feet tall and you have to break both their legs to get them to stop. Arms too if you really want to be sure they won't keep crawling at you."

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"How much is a sovereign? Is that a lot of ryou?"

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"A sov's a hundred silver. It'll keep you for at least a couple months if you're thrifty."

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"Dunno how much a silver is, but that sounds like a lot for one mission. Is it S-rank?"

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"It was supposed to be split between about ten people. Plus the boss's cut. And there's overhead, equipment maintenance and such that's all priced in. If S-rank is referring to difficulty.. I don't know. This'll probably be three and a half stars out of five for most difficult in my book."

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"S-rank missions are difficultest! They're either really really hard combat stuff like killing the most dangerous ninja ever, or stuff that's hard for political reasons and really important to not mess up, like trying to negotiate with a powerful enemy, or there's something really really weird about them. There's also A, B, C, D, and E rank. E is easiest, A is harder but not as hard as S. Students can do E rank stuff and new graduates can do D rank, but you gotta be an experienced chuunin to do B rank or higher."

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"Probably a B rank, then."

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"Huh. Easy for us."

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"That would be the hope."

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"Where're the bandits?"

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"You accept, then?"

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She gives a questioning look to her teammates. 

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"Sounds good to me, I guess."

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Sigh.

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"I think you're outvoted," Wyld says to Lyli.

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"Fiiiiine."

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"Who knows, you might even have fun too," Katana says.

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"We'll see."

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"So that sounds like a yes."

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"Oi, Hawke," one of the less-wounded men says. "What's this, you cutting us out?"

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"You're walking wounded, Legsy. Liabilities. Take the dwarf back to the city and let Meeran know the Red Iron can keep their half- that's why he took it in advance."

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"Heal us up, then!"

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"I'm not your mother, Legsy, and I don't work for the Red Iron anymore. Meeran knows my rates. If he thinks you're worth it, he can pay. Shake the dwarf down for drinks if it makes you feel better."

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"You can be a right bitch sometimes, Hawke. Fine."


"Doesn't anyone care what I think? I'm still the one paying," Javaris says.

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"No," Hawke and Legsy say in chorus.

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"Go back to the city, buy these men a round. Let's call it tomorrow afternoon in front of the compound. Bring my money."

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"Fine!" the dwarf flings up his hands and starts walking, muttering to himself about sodding fire-flinging dog lords and ungrateful worthless louts.

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Giggle snort.

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As the mercenaries heave themselves up and follow, she turns to the group of girls with a smile. "There's that sorted. Never really liked working with big groups anyway."

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"Small teams are more efficient!"

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"Exactly. You're not tripping over each other all the time."

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"And you can pick only the best people. Like us!"

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"That's what I'm hoping."

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"We'll prove it."

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"Yep."

"I think introductions are in order, first. I'm Hawke, Amaryllis Hawke."

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"I'm Hisame!"

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"My name's Katana!"

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"I'm Shimmering Wyldclaw - or Wyld, if I like you."

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"I'll have to hope you do like. That full version's a bit of a mouthful."

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"You're cute enough, so far."

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Hee. "Thanks!"

She turns to the last member of the group. "And you?"

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"I'm Lyli."

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"Looking to recruit yourself an army, Lyli?"

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"Just a few talented individuals."

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"I wouldn't start with that lot, so don't hate me for sending them away. All my talented friends were either busy or didn't want to come, so I had to settle for some ex-colleagues."

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"I got the one I wanted, don't worry."

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"Flattery will get you everywhere."

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(Katana makes a note.)

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"At least the places that matter."

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"All right, then. The Qunari have been mainly ambushing people on the Starkhaven road, so the plan was to cut west then take back paths to circle north and hit their flank."

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"Is this the Starkhaven road?"

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"This is the coast road, the Starkhaven road is further inland. They run mostly parallel for a good while."

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"Circling around sounds like it'll take a while."

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"Not as long as trying to go cross-country, and safer than running face-first into an ambush."

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"I'm a ninja! I can go really fast cross country."

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"That's you covered then, but what about the rest of us?"

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"I'm fast, too. And I can carry someone."

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"I can keep up."

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"I bet I have a power for that."

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"I guess I must rely upon Messere Shimmering Wyldclaw's generosity or be left behind, then."

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"Not to worry. I'm very generous with pretty girls."

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She laughs. "How lucky."

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"For you, at least."

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"Surely you feel at least a little lucky to have an excuse to spend time close to me?"

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Giggle. "You've got me there."

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"Yes I do."

"If that's the plan, then, let me show you where we're going..." She'll sketch out a map of both roads, where she thinks their targets are going to be lurking, and the terrain between here and there.

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Wyld has a lot of experience planning ops like this - though her new allies' abilities are an interesting challenge to keep in mind...

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An interesting challenge indeed.

"You lot are going to have the templars all over you if you show this stuff off in the city."

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"Templars?"

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"Military arm of the Chantry. Their main job is keeping mages locked up in the Circles, and the Kirkwall templars are especially diligent about that. I don't know if their antimagic abilities will work on yours, but they'll certainly try. And failing that, they've got swords and armor and spend all day training."

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"I need a few more of those terms defined, I think."

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"Ah, yeah, that makes sense. Where should I start?"

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"Mages and magic, then political systems?"

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"Right. So. Mages, Thedosian mages I guess, get our power from the Fade, which is the realm of dreams. Bringing its power into the waking world, in a nutshell. The problem is, the Fade's not empty, it's inhabited by spirits. Each spirit is driven by one particular overriding feeling or emotion or concept. You could also say that they're manifestations of their particular concept but that's mostly a philosophical point and kind of splitting hairs. Anyway. When it's a negative thing, like fear or rage or apathy, we call those spirits demons. Now, almost every spirit wants to get into the physical world, but they can't because of the Veil, which separates the Fade from the physical world. The only way they can cross the Veil is if they're summoned or hitch a ride by possessing a mage. Probably ninety percent of spirits who cross the Veil turn into demons if they weren't already- the physical world's too intense, too real, too demanding. And demons, um... Well, they mostly like to fuck shit up for entertainment. Being possessed by a demon means you're basically turned into a meat puppet slave, it's not fun for anyone in the vicinity."

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" - Yeah, the thing we call demons back home are also not fun for anyone around them. That sounds... Kinda fucked up in general."

Though also not actually as bad as the demons back home. Kinda hard to top her world's everything.

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"Right. And so this leads neatly into the institution of the Circle of Magi. It was more or less intended in its original form as a place for mages to study together and learn to resist demons. Here in the south, and in Kirkwall in particular, that's changed over time to be places where mages are locked away so they don't endanger anyone else."

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"Yeesh."

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"That's stupid."

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"I don't disagree. You might notice that despite being a mage myself, I'm not volunteering to get locked up."

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"And the Chantry might target us, as well?"

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"If they hear about you."

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"They probably will."

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"If you're a mage, how do you hide?"

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"By either keeping things subtle, or not leaving survivors. Or bribery. Hence the mercenary work."

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"I'm good at no survivors!"

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"That's a start. Tends to get harder in the city, though."

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"Depends on how big the city is."

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"Kirkwall is dense, if nothing else. There's always someone around the corner or lurking in the alley."

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"Can kill them too!"

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"And that kind of murder spree is going to get the city guard after you too, even in Lowtown."

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"I can kill everyone!"

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"That's- yeah, one way to solve the problem. Does create some potential others, but yeah."

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"What kinds of other problems?"

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"You wouldn't be able to make any new friends?" Katana guesses. "And it might get boring if everyone was dead."

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"I could make important friends like you."

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"Pick them out from the people who manage to survive?"

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"Or who distinguish themselves during!"

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"That seems like it should work."

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"That doesn't solve the boringness problem, though."

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...Hmmmmmm...

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"And after you've destroyed a city once, people aren't going to want to believe you won't do it again. Which makes it more likely that you'll have to do it again, as they step up their defenses in response to your perceived aggression."

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...Logic is annoying. 

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"So you're saying the problem feeds itself?"

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"Kinda, yeah."

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Having to be nice all the time is annoying. 

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"That's annoying."

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Shoulder bump of friendship! "Yeah."

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Shoulder bump of friendship!

"Maybe we could try to work on subtle..."

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"Subtle is a very ninja trait..." Hisame says, with zero apparent irony. 

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"Perfect, then."

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"And a Lunar trait. Sometimes."

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"So you can help us, sensei?"

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"Absolutely. Subtlety can be our first lesson."

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"Cool!" Bounce!

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Bounce bounce!

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"Though maybe one your teammate will do better as a tutor than a student of."

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"There's always more to learn."

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"It's good to vary your difficulty level."

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"Make sure my basics aren't slipping."

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"You can learn a lot by teaching too, my father used to say."

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"Haven't had much experience with that."

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"Neither have I, to tell the truth. Dad did love to say it though."

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"Maybe you'll discover it now."

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"Are you planning on drafting me into service?"

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"Do I have to draft you?"

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"I'm always willing to do a favor for a pretty girl."

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"Perfect, then." She winks.

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Heh.

"Are we ready to get going, then?"

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"I am."

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"Me too!"

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"Sure."

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"Yeah, let's go!"

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Seems they're all in agreement. 

How does Amaryllis feel about being scooped into a bridal carry? 

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Wasn't expecting it, but mostly positively!

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A good reaction! 

And: they're off. 

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(Katana settled on a movement solution that involves one ghost creating shoe covers out of iron pulled from the dirt and another ghost that can use magnetism to make the iron float. Keeping her balance is a little tricky, but she adapts to swaying and adjusting the ghost's efforts in tandem to keep her upright.)

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(It looks fun, too!)

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It is!

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Hisame wants to try! 

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Sure. They'd have to stop for a bit so Katana can concentrate...

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They're making good time, they can slow down a little. 

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Then first step: iron boots!

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"These feel weird."

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"Yeah, most shoes aren't metal like this."

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Stomp stomp stomp!!!

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Katana verrrry sloooowwwwly starts lifting Hisame up into the air as she stomps around.

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Giggle shriek!

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Heeeeee flying time!

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Zoooooom!!!

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Katana will try not to tip her over too hard.

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If she does, it's okay - Hisame bounces.

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She'll not do it on purpose at least, then.

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That works for her!

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Then away they goooo!

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They'll probably hit their unsuspecting targets very soon at this rate. 

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Very. Hawke taps Wyld on the shoulder to let her know to slow down.

"Next rise, I think."

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She'll try to reign in the children so they can plan. 

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They should drop DOWN out of the SKY onto the enemies' HEADS. That's Katana's considered opinion.

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And BLOW them UP! 

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Boom!

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Whoooosh!

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That's. A start?

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They can see how indiscriminate violence stacks up this time, if Amaryllis doesn't think it's a terrible idea? 

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She's mostly concerned about an exit strategy, honestly.

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If things go wrong? 

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Better to be prepared than not, in her experience. Things sometimes have a way of... spiraling.

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Wyld has some ideas for that actually, based on her own magic system... And she suspects 'exit strategy' is something her third student excels at. 

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...Not wrong. 

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"Like how you helped us get out of the collapsing cavern."

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"So I'll be your rescue again?"

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"You did pretty good the first time."

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"Very well."

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"Any other problems we need to fix?"

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"What to do if there's people we don't want dead present. Like hostages."

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Hmmmm that one's trickier...

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Might require scouting ahead. 

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So you know if you even have to care, right.

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Hisame's pretty good at scouting!

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Katana's got more work to do on her sneakiness.

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Maybe Lyli and Hisame can sneak ahead, then? And come back when they have information. 

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That sounds good to her.

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Works for Lyli. So, onwards sneakily, then? 

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The sneakiest!

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The terrain is rough enough that the giant grey-skinned oxmen can perhaps be forgiven for neglecting to post sentries in the direction the girls approach from, instead concentrating their attention on the road below. They've taken a good position, walls or sharp drops at their back, some rocky spurs that make natural lookout posts, a cave entrance that shows faint signs of having once been a mine for shelter or a fallback position.

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Any signs of hostages?

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Doesn't seem to be.

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They'll slip back to report as such, then. 

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Unsurprising. Qunari are more- straightforward than that. (Or honorable, or too impatient, or something. Hard to tell, they're weird in a lot of ways.) They'll just straightforwardly rob you and either send you on your way or kill you.

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Convenient here. 

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Does that mean Plan Blow Them Up From The Sky is a go?

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Sure, if Amaryllis agrees. 

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It'll be a change from Plan Blow Them Up From The Ground if nothing else.

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It's a go, then. 

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Yesssssss. Who all does Katana have to carry?

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Wyld can turn into a bird easily enough. 

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And Hisame can fly with the power of the Rinnegan!

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...Lyli's going to need a lift for sustained flight, though. 

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Shapeshifting's not something Hawke has mastered either.

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So three, including Katana. Hmm, maybe a whole platform would be better than boots...

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Probably more stable. 

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Platform it is! It only takes a few moments for her to shape it, then everyone who needs to can hop aboard.

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Very convenient for attacking from. 

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They can rain down destruction from afar!

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A different kind of fun than up close and personal! 

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Striking from the back is Hawke's favorite.

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Getting to see people's faces while they die is pretty good, though. 

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Considerably less risk of getting stabbed back though, which is really what she's looking for.

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A risk of getting stabbed back is fun! 

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If Hisame says so.

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Then she's right? 

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Hawke won't argue. As far as her personal experience goes, at least.

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People who don't feel the same things as Hisame does are weird.

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Comparatively, sure.

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In general! 

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Hisame's the best standard!

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She is! Followed closely by Katana.

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A settled issue, it seems.

Shall they go?

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Sure. 

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All aboard, Airsled Katana is taking off!

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And Bomber Hisame is a go!

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The Qunari encampment is still right where they left it. They still haven't moved any sentries to the back, and aren't expecting an aerial attack.

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Burn baby burn!

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Of all the things she's killed in this world so far, the grey horned giants have by far the most disciplined response to an unexpected attack, quickly scattering out of any tight groupings and ducking for cover against the fire. They fling short spears up in coordinated waves of counterattacks, and are surprisingly resilient.

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Short spears aren't a major threat to a flying ninja! Especially one controlling gravity! (Speaking of - all the gravity turns off!)

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They are also much quicker to figure out no gravity! Only two or three go helplessly tumbling, and those do begin attempting to spin themselves in a Hisame-ward direction.

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Her ranged stabby things both move very quickly and are totally unimpeded by the effects of no gravity on her aim! 

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The fight is, to be clear, still unbalanced in Hisame's favor. Just slightly less so than previously. Her tricks are just too good.

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That makes all the mass murder more fun! 

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She will run out of targets, as they either retreat into the cave or die.

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They can chase their enemies into the cave! 

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There are some traps at the entrance of the cave!

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No match for a ninja as awesome as Hisame!

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She's so cool like that!!

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Heeeeee!!! (Now she's showing off also.)

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Even coooooler.

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She is!!!

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After the traps fail to work, the Qunari start setting ambushes.

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Not much more successful. And lets her kill them up close and personal! The best way. 

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They're good fighters! But at the end of the day, they're soldiers, not ninja.

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At the end of the day, Hisame comes out victorious!

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"That was amazing."

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Preen!!! "You're very observant."

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"Wasn't that hard to notice, really."

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Giggle! "Well you're super cool too! So there!"

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Heee! "Thanks."

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Making Katana smug is fun! 

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Maybe she should do it more, then.

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Katana is wonderful and excellent and strong and really good at killing people! 

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Smug smug smug!

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(It's working!!!)

And she has very cool powers! And she's cute! And smart! 

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Heh heh heh.

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And she's Hisame's favorite person! 

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And Hisame is Katana's favorite person!

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They match! 

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Yay matching!

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(Anyone care to join Hawke in looking for valuables amidst the carnage while these two are busy or is she doing that by herself?)

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Wyld is helping!

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Lyli joins them after a moment.

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Qunari don't go in much for personal possessions, so it's mostly leftover detritus from the caravans they've robbed.

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Possibly enough to get some coin in their pockets while they're going to collect their pay, though.

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Absolutely. Even just the easily portable stuff. Blossom knows some merchants who deal in this sort of thing.

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Convenient, that. 

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It's like she does this on a regular basis.

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Wyld likes experienced women.

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She has refined taste.

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For the fine things in life. 

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Of course, of course.

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And the fine girls.

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Important not to forget those.

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Especially one as fine as Hawke.

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Flatterer.

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Only the truth. 

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Hawke like this truth.

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Oh, good. Wyld would hate for her efforts to be wasted. 

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No fear of that happening.

Once they're done picking over everything, they should head back to the city. Don't want to be caught out after dark.

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What happens if they do? 

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Then the gates close and they have to camp out until morning.

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What about sneaking in? 

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Tricky, considering the walls, and something Hawke would prefer to avoid. The guards frown on that sort of thing in a serious way, and her friend Aveline is a guard and has a terrifying frown.

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Okay. They won't get Hawke in trouble with her friend. 

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Thanks Hisame, that's very considerate.

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She often is! 

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Just one more of her very many good qualities.

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Preen!

So back to the city it is! 

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Back to the city.

They pass one caravan on the road, and Hawke's able to wrangle fifty silver out of the leader in exchange for news that the Qunari have been dealt with for now.

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How many knives can she buy for fifty silver? 

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Probably a dozen or so?

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Good knives? 

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Not like, artisanally handcrafted by a master smith, but not bad knives. Kirkwall processes a lot of steel.

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She is going to get so many knives! 

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She'll have to save some for food, surely. And a place to stay.

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Knives can help with those! 

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She... supposes they could, yes.

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They pretty definitely can. 

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As long as she doesn't become the sort of problem people pay Hawke to clean up.

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What kind of problem is that? 

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The kind that's tricky, excessively dangerous, exotic, or not amenable to bribes-slash-protection-fees.

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Hmmm... Those all sound like Hisame. 

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Maybe she can stick to rich assholes Hawke doesn't mind screwing over, then.

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Rich assholes are better targets, anyways! 

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That they are.

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(Notes notes notes.)

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Does Hawke have other ideas for who they should target?

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She could probably come up with a whole list if that's called for.

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Hmmm, would be good to have on hand later.

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Then Hawke will see about making one when they get back.

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"Thanks!"

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"Sounds like it'll be as much a favor for me as you."

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"Works out well then!" she chirps. "I like you, so doing favors for you is good."

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"Why, thank you!"

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"You're welcome!!"

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And on to Kirkwall. The inland approach is nicer than the harbor, in that the giant horrifically detailed metal statues of slaves in agonizing pain only flank the gate rather than keeping watch at regular intervals down the entire entrance road.

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There's something very fascinating about all the statues of people in horrible agonizing pain, though...

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Maybe...

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Does Kirkwall really torture people like that? 

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Back when it was a Tevinter slave colony hundreds of years ago, it did. Not anymore.

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So they just kept the art up? 

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The statues were fixed in place with blood magic. Nigh-impossible to remove using other methods, and the Chantry doesn't condone the use of blood magic for any reason.

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Well, keeping the art's good. It's pretty. 

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Most people try not to look at it, honestly.

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Most people have no taste! 

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Maybe so.

Hawke knows the guard on duty at the gate, so she'll be let through with a minimum of fuss. And a silver dropped in his palms gets him to wave the rest of the party through as well.

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Where are they staying tonight? 

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Well. Hawke and her mother (and Hawke's dog) are currently living with Hawke's uncle. His apartment has three rooms and no spare beds, so that's not so much an option, much as she'd like to offer to put them up. They could get a couple rooms at a tavern, the Hanged Man usually has some to let and isn't far from where she lives.

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Well Wyld-sensei could share Hawke's bed, and the genin could sleep in the living room... Like a sleepover!

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Hawke is already sharing a bed with her mother. And the dog.

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...So there's only two beds? 

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It is not a big apartment. And Gamlen, Hawke's uncle, is not a rich man.

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Okay. They can get rooms somewhere else - and then Hawke can stay with them! Maybe with her doggy, too. Depends on if it's a nice doggy.

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Ser Paws is the best dog. Hawke usually has him on guard duty for her mother, he keeps her safe in Kirkwall.

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Maybe they shouldn't take him then... But Hisame wants to meet him! 

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That can be arranged.

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Great!

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To the Hanged Man for now, then?

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Fine by her. 

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Then there they shall go.

Kirkwall is a very vertical city, built into the cliffs around a natural deep-water harbor. That's where most goods and people flow in and out of the city, and the heavy manufacturing is concentrated in that area too. Hightown, where they entered, is the nice part of the city and about as far away from the factories as it's possible to get. Hightown has the noble estates, the upscale markets, the viscount's keep, the Chantry. Below Hightown is Lowtown, appropriately enough, and that's where most of the city's population live. It's not as nice as Hightown, on a sort of sliding scale based on proximity to the docks (closer is less nice). Underneath the main streets of Kirkwall is Darktown, a rank, musty warren of sewers and old mining tunnels. If you're too poor even for Lowtown, Darktown is where you squat, assuming you don't get shivved for taking someone else's spot.

The Hanged Man is in Lowtown, which means they'll have to descend a few levels from the gate they entered by. The elevators are closing by now, so the stairs are their only option. The tavern takes up most of one of the bulky stone buildings, and has a carved wooden figure dangling upside down from a noose around its ankle to mark the entrance.

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None of her companions seem particularly bothered by the stairs. 

Does Hawke want to handle buying the rooms? 

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Since they haven't gotten paid yet, she can. How many do they need?

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Katana and Hisame can definitely share...

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She wouldn't mind also sharing with Lyli or Wyld-sensei.

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"I'm alright sharing with the squirts."

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"You and me might want our own room though," she says to Hawke with a wink. 

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"So I am being drafted."

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"Can't pass up an opportunity like this."

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"Fair enough, I suppose. Two rooms, then."

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"Excellent."

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So Hawke will go negotiate for a pair of rooms. "Might as well grab a table. Any drinks while I'm at it?"

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"Whatever you're having."

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"...Tea?"

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"What're the options?"

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"Beer, house wine, whiskey, water- which I don't recommend, black tea which should be fine since it gets boiled..."

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" - Bad water purification systems, then?"

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"For a generous definition of the word 'system', sure, you could say that."

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"...Not sure I like your city."

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"It grows on you. Like a fungus."

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She makes a face. "Gross."

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Hawke laughs. "I wasn't born here. Circumstances... conspired, and now I have to make the best of it."

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"It's become yours?"

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"Something like that."

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"It needs some work."

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"It's kind of you to say so."

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Snort. "'Kind' isn't how most people would describe that evaluation."

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"The more common thing to say is 'someone should burn this place to the ground', so."

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"I can see that."

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"No drink, then?"

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"Hot tea sounds alright."

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"All right. And for you?" she asks Katana.

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"The same, I guess."

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"Right then. I'll be back."

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She can handle actually grabbing seats.

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This place is kinda neat. Dirty and a bit smelly, but very lively.

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Lots of people, some of them interesting.

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Perhaps such as the excessively handsome dwarf with a roguish trace of stubble dappling his chiseled jaw, who descends the steps into the common room to the raucous applause of his many fans. His broad, rippling pectoral muscles exposed by his fashionably unbuttoned silk shirt cause the women in the audience to swoon and the men to seethe with jealousy. His gracious demeanor and flawless generosity soothe all hurts, though, as he passes suavely through the crowd up to where his bosom friend Hawke stands at the bar. They speak briefly, exchanging important news and updates in their characteristic friendly yet efficient manner, and as a favor, the lovable rogue and peerless storyteller will go over to Hawke's new friends and introduce himself.*

"Ladies. How do you do." He flourishes a bow. "Varric Tethras, at your service. I hear you're new in town."

 


*This narration brought to you by VarricVision® Storyteller's Enhancement© Services. Accuracy not guaranteed. Exaggeration and hyperbole are normal side effects. If excessive purpling in your prose continues for more than eight hours, consult a licensed medical practitioner. Terms and conditions apply. Void where prohibited.

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"New to more than just the town," she says, amused. "I'm Shimmering Wyldclaw - or Wyld."

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"Lyli."

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"I'm Hisame! You're short!"

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"My name's Katana. Are you a dwarf?"

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"In fact I am. Has Hawke told you anything about me? Only good things, I hope."

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"I think she mentioned you exist."

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"Heh. That's a start. Luckily, I love telling my own story. Mind if I sit?"

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"Not at all."

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The dwarf pulls up a chair and begins regaling them with the tale of a dashing gentleman rogue, fighting to make his way in the world against the treacherous forces of corrupt merchants, honest thieves, and inconvenient guards.

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Hisame likes stories!

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And Lyli likes details about this world, however exaggerated they may be. 

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And Varric likes an appreciative audience better than anything else. Except maybe for new fodder for his stories. He's working his way around to prodding for details from the girls by the time Hawke returns with drinks for everyone.

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Hisame has SO MANY DETAILS. The reliability is... A bit questionable. 

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Hey, as long as it makes a better story...

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It makes for such a story! 

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Hawke definitely has a way of drawing in the most interesting people.

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"It's my raw animal magnetism, Varric, what can I say?" She lifts her whiskey in salute before taking a sip.

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"Landed you me, so..."

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"Hasn't failed me yet."

     "What about Blo-" Varric starts to say.

"Anders doesn't count. We went looking for him."

     "Fair," he nods. "Choirboy, then."

Hawke shakes her head. "If you don't come out for drinks after, you don't count as part of the group."

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"All true. And they probably weren't as pretty as me."

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"Not even close."

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"So your charm works where it matters."

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"So far."

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"You've gotten the most important catch already."

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"That's a bold claim."

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"The truth is bold."

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"Sometimes it has to be."

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"I like it that way."

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"Bold claims, bold truths, bold girls."

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"All the above."

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"Sounds like it could be a motto or something."

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"For our team?"

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"Maybe! Though probably we'd want to add something like bold explosions."

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"It'll be a work in progress."

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"A living motto!"

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"Appropriate, if we'll be living by it."

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"Yes!" Small bounce.

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"I cosign it!"

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High five!

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Giggle! And expectant look at Lyli.

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"Works for me, squirts."

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"Team motto achieved!"

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Cheer!

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"I'll drink to that," Hawke says, raising her glass.

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Wyld raises hers as well. 

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Clink! And drink!

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Not the best drink - but, really, that's part of the ambiance here. 

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It's that Lowtown charm.

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Almost but not quite something wabi-sabi about it. 

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What's wabi-sabi?

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"Uh, it's an aesthetic thing - like, Imperial design is all mathematically perfect geometry and worked gold and showing off how stupidly rich you are, and pretending your little slice of the world will never end, and wabi sabi is 'the exact opposite of that.' Imperfection, transience, and just... Things that are very themselves, and aren't pretending to be anything else. Reality."

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"If there's one thing Lowtown's got," Varric says, "it's reality. Harsh, brutal, and unforgiving. It'll slap you in the face and take your coin."

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"The kind of place I like best."

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"You're a fan of rough knocks?"

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"And hard lessons."

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"Interesting."

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"Noting it for later investigation?"

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"Mhm," Hawke smirks.

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"I'll be sure to remind you if you forget."

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(Katana feels like she might be missing something here...)

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(Probably weird adult stuff. Hisame's ex-parents sometimes acted like this.)

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(She won't worry too much about it, then.)

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(They can talk about fun stuff instead! Like murder!)

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That is fun!

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Very! They should find a chance to do more of it without making stuff harder for Hawke...

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"Hawke..." Varric mutters. "Is this normal?"

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"For them? Yeah."

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"And we're okay with it?"

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"Do you want to be the one to tell them no?"

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"...Point."

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"I can restrain them. A little." For a fee.

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"Oh, I know that look. What's your price?"

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"What'll you pay?"

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"Ha! She's more mercenary than you are, Hawke."

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"She's got good instincts."

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"A born natural."

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"Heh. All right. Twenty-five silver a month to keep them quiet around the Hanged Man.

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"You value this area that little?"

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He grins disarmingly. "Had to try. Things are hard for the struggling businessman, you know? Coterie rates, then. Thirty-five a month and I'll pick up your bar tab."

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Considering hum.

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"And," he adds, "if I find any, uh, 'acceptable' targets, I'll send them your way."

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"You have a deal."

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"Excellent." And a handshake to seal it.

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She has a pretty firm shake for a girl her age. 

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Hopefully that means he's not going to be wasting his money.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

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"The pleasure is mine."

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"You are the one getting paid, after all."

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"That does help."

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"It usually does!"

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"Money is pretty nice."

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Katana's attention has wandered over again.

"Why's that?"

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"You can use it to increase your political and interpersonal power."

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That sounds like something she she make a note of.

"Political... and... inter... personal... power."


"Can't you do that by killing people to? Make them afraid of you so they do what you say."

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"In some cases! But fear isn't a useful tool for all goals. You need to have both the carrot and the stick as options when leading someone."

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Nod nod. "Versatility is good."

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"Keep your options open."

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Katana will add that as an addendum to her previous note. "Thanks for the tips."

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"Happy to help."

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"Teamwork!"

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She laughs. "Exactly."

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Heeeeee.


...Yawn.

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Bedtime?

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...Maybe.

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...Being sleepy is annoying. 

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Katana would prefer that not this, yeah.

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"You'll wake up with more energy, though."

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"Easy for you to say..."

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"How so?"

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"'Cause you're not the one feeling sleepy right now!"

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"I'll be sleepy soon enough."

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Suspicious Katana.

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"Just about everyone sleeps! I'm no exception - and you'll probably wake up before I do, if you go to sleep first."

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Hrrmmm.

"Still annoying that we gotta stop," she grumbles.

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"You can add ending the tyranny of sleep to your to do list."

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"I'll work on that while waiting for you to wake up, I guess."

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"A solid plan."

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"Good night, then."

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She'll take Hisame and Katana upstairs to tuck them in.

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That's nice of her.

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Part of her duties as their sensei.

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Good.

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Getting to snuggle with Katana under a blanket and listen to a cool bedtime story also makes up for a lot of this sleep nonsense, too.

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And Wyld has so many cool stories. 

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Makes going to sleep less bad.

Katana drifts off happily.

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So does Hisame. 

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And Wyld heads back downstairs. 

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"Kids all set for the night?"

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"Snug as a pair of bugs."

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"Good. I can tire you out without guilt, then."

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"Oh?"

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Flirtatious smirk.

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"We do have our own room..."

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"That's just what I was thinking."

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"I'll have someone swing by to let you mother know you won't be home tonight, shall I?" says Varric.

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"That's why you're the best friend, Varric."

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"You can keep Lyli entertained, too."

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"I'll do my best, messere." And hopefully not get conned out of too much money...

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Smirk.

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Then will Wyld permit Hawke to escort her upstairs?

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If her lady insists. 

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Come on, it'll be fun!

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She's counting on that. 

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Hawke knows how to have a good time.

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She has a chance to prove it now. 

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With pleasure.

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Lunars, it must be said, have many options for pleasure. 

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It's very impressive.

Of course, Hawke is not without a few of her own elementally-flavored tricks...

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Mmmm, fun.

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It is, rather.

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Good. 

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(Unfortunately, Hawke is going to get tired before Wyld does.)

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Just about everyone does. 

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Is Wyld going to tuck her into bed too?

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Get her nice and snug and cozy. 

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Does she get a snuggle partner too?

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Absolutely. 

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Cozysleeps.

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Zzzzz.

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The next morning, Katana is less willing to escape the tyranny of sleep than she had anticipated last night.

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She'll also have to escape the tyranny of snuggly Hisame!

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Not so much tyranny as a nice bonus for staying drowsy.

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At least until she tries to get up.

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Not for a while. Katana thinks she might go back to sleep, actually...

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Good idea!

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Zzzzzzz.

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Zzzz!

...Though Hisame then wakes up before Katana does.

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Now it is Hisame who must escape the tyranny of the cuddle monster.

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Oh no!

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That's how it goes, sometimes.

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She'll try to sneakily wriggle away! 

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Mrhm hrmr mrm.

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Slooooowwwwwlyyyy wiggle...

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Hhhhhhrrrrrmmmzzzzzzzz.

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She gets her feet onto the floor without overly disturbing Katana. Now, to obtain total freedom...

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Not too hard, at this point.

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Success!!!

She will sneak quietly downstairs before celebrating. 

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Most of the bar's patron at this godawful hour (a perfectly reasonable breakfast time) are hunched over where they sit, cradling their preferred hangover remedy (more alcohol, in almost every case).

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Anyone look not boring? 

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Not really. There's Varric, Hawke's friend from last night.

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He's pretty non-boring! She'll skip over to him. 

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"Hey Shortstuff. You looking for breakfast?"

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"And for fun!"

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"You don't want to wait for your partner in crime on that?"

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...HMMMMM.

"But waiting is boring..."

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"Let's start with some bacon and eggs and see if anyone else shows up, how about that?" Maker, he hopes someone else shows up.

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"I don't like meat."

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"Skip the bacon, then. Extra biscuits."

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"Okay!"

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Varric catches the server's eye and communicates the request for more food through a couple quick gestures. Meanwhile, Hisame can have some things off his plate.

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Stolen food is best food. 

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He's happy she's enjoying it. (Better make that two plates, Jimmy.)

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She's a growing shinobi child, after all. 

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Indeed she is.

So... what exactly is a shinobi?

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...Hmmm.

"Shinobi use chakra to do stuff, but we're not like samurai or monks. Samurai are all stuffy and noble and honorable, and they mostly do direct fighty stuff. And monks are all pacifists and do indirect stuff. Shinobi are sneaky and not pacifists, but there's also a lot of non-sneaky shinobi techniques..."

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"Sneaky mages, huh..."

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"Dunno much what mages are like."

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"Mostly, they're just people. Plus the ability to change the world with a wiggle of their fingers, which sometimes goes to their heads."

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"Like shinobi!"

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"So that much is the same... You don't wear robes, though."

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"The Hokage does!"

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Varric pulls a scrap of paper closer and begins taking notes. "Yeah? What's a Hokage do?"

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"Leads Konoha, which is where I'm from."

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"It's an elected position? Hereditary?" Varric thinks he's found the setting for his next serial, and he's going to pull as much detail as he can.

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Hisame has so much detail, including an actually possibly weird amount about how her government runs (...less weird when she reveals she was heir to one of the founding clans of Konoha, which had been noble even before that).

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Varric jots everything down. (Noble protagonists aren't too relatable, underdogs sell better... maybe he can tweak the backstory a bit, orphans are always popular, easy pathos.)

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Eventually, other people will join the breakfast table.

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(Does Hisame's firm conviction that Madara was in a forbidden relationship with Hashirama and/ or Tobirama that ended in TRAGEDY and BETRAYAL help at all? There's so much angst in the Founders Era, too! And no one really wealthy - the Uchiha were quasi-nomadic, the nobility title the remnant of a long-fallen empire they clung to out of pride... Possibly some good pathos there about disappointing your father and how that doesn't matter if you have someone cute to kiss.)

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Hawke, at least, is definitely into it.

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Good to know someone here has taste. 

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Yeah, Varric, there's a market for this stuff.

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Hmmm. Not his usual fare, but he's been thinking about pitching a romance serial to his publisher anyway...

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This one sounds both interesting and exotic. 

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...Exotic what now? (Mrrrr. Waking. Terrible.)

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Katana!!! Friend is awake so friend should get a hug!

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Awake? Debatable. Hugged? Definitely.

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Close enough! 

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Mrrrrr. She would like some breakfast now, please.

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There's eggs! And biscuits! But no rice. Katana can share Hisame's.

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Thanks...

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No problem. 

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Katana slowly wakes up over the course of ingesting breakfast.

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Good! Then she's more awake to listen to Hisame chatter!

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Yeah, okay, worth getting up for this.

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Preen!

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Hisame talks about the best stuff.

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And Katana makes for the best audience, so there! 

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So what are they gonna do today?

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...Hmmmmm...

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Hawke is going to meet that dwarf Javaris down by the Qunari compound in the city to get their money later in the day.

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Oh making clients pay up can be fun! 

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Like threatening them?

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If they don't pay the amount owed. 

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Sounds like something she should make a note about.

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Yeah!

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"That's not til the afternoon, though, so we have a few hours to kill."

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"We should go do something fun!"

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"What kinds of fun things are you interested in?"

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...Hmmmm it's a very big list. 

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"We could go take a look at the markets so you can get an idea of what sort of things you want to buy with your share."

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"That'd be good!"

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Then out to the markets! The Lowtown bazaars near the Hanged Man have a wide selection of goods, cheap and not terribly high quality in most cases. The exceptions come from the vendors with connections to the local foundries, fine quality armor and blades, and some of the more disreputable stalls hiding in alleys off the main streets, which offer wares that were found having fallen off the back of a cart (or something of that nature).

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Hisame is insanely well informed about arms and armor quality and might make certain sellers cry with the intensity of her questions or her scorn. Or, if they're actually any good, might impress them. (...Also she totally knows at-minimum-of nonlocal metal-working techniques.)

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Her bright interest will net her a free paring knife from one of the foundry representatives. (Even odds on whether it was meant as a reward or a bribe to get her to please go away.)

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Same results! And it's a pretty decent knife, too.

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Hisame's pretty good at this whole talking to people thing.

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She's a specialist. 

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She has so many specialties!!

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'Cause she's also a genius! 

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She's so cool like that.

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Preen!!!

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Katana wants to learn some of this weapon stuff when they have time.

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She'd love to teach her! 

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Yay!

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But pretty soon, it's time to go shake down Javaris Tintop.

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What can Hisame do to help? 

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Just make sure he doesn't try to pull a runner.

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Wyld can do some of the talking, too, if needed. She's known to have a silver tongue.

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Hawke is well aware of how talented Wyld's tongue is.

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Maybe they can put it to new uses.

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She doubts the Qunari would be very impressed by the ones from last night.

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Never know until you try. 

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Another case of boldness winning, if it works.

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They can try a more conservative approach first, too. Especially if there's anything that'd benefit from someone else standing in Hawke's place...

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Let's see what the dwarf has to say, first.

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What the dwarf has to say is, "It's about time you showed, I've been waiting here for hours." He's loitering across the street from the gate to the Qunari compound, a maze of interconnected courtyards and alleyways gated off from the rest of Kirkwall. In front of the gate stand a pair Qunari guards, armed with the same type of javelins Hawke's party saw the Tal-Vashoth armed with. Their bare chests are painted in red geometric patterns, and their faces are impassively stony.

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She just smirks at all of them - the dwarf especially, but her hungry gaze falls on the guards as well. 

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The guards might as well be carved statues.

Javaris, on the other hand, shivers like someone walked over his grave. "Rrright. Well. I'm going to assume you were successful? The hornheads on the road are dead?"

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"Very. So, I'm going to assume you have our coin?"

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Weak scoff. "Of course I have your coin." Quick glance at the Qunari across the street. "But how would you like to earn even more? It'll be easy, all you'll have to do is stand there and look intimidating."

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"From shaking down those boys? They look like they might need a slightly different touch..." She licks her lips a bit. 

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"No, no, just- finalizing negotiations. Reassure them that my position is solid."

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"So look competent?"

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"Exactly."

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"Can do."

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"How much is our bonus going to be?"

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Mumble mumble greedy grubbers mumble.

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"Helps to know what we're negotiating for."

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"I think a percentage of the profits on your sales of the powder would be fair. Since you need us to close the deal."

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"A percentage of the...!" Javaris groans and buries his face in his hands.

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"Not a bad idea... But I'd prefer something that'll go through even if this venture flops, myself. Perhaps an up front bonus, then the percentage."

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Uuuuuggghhhhhhh. "Fine, fine, a man knows when he's cornered. Half as much again up front, then a percentage on the sales."

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She glances questioningly at Hawke.

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"Yeah, that'll do."

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The dwarf is very very clearly unhappy, but he will hand over the coin.

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Pleasure doing business with him! 

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And into the compound after? (Lyli is hanging out very inconspicuously near the back, though also in easy grabbing range of Hisame and Katana. It's an interesting balance to strike.)

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Over to the compound gates, at least. Javaris affects a confident swagger as he strides up to the guards. "Summon your Arishok," he says, gesturing grandly. "The bargain is done."

The guards stare unblinkingly back.

"Uh. Ahem. May we enter?"

 

     "If you must, basra," the guard on the left growls. The other swings the gate open.

"There, no problem." The dwarf beckons the girls and leads the way in. Seems to know where he's going.

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Wyld looks around with interest, trying to add her own observations onto what Hawke and Varric (and general eavesdropping and wandering around the city) have told her about the Qunari.

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This is very obviously a military encampment in hostile territory- it has guardposts and killing fields and fallback positions. To Wyld's practiced eye, however, it is missing one key feature of a military encampment which is non-soldier inhabitants. No civilian laundrypersons or cooks or peddlers or prostitutes or families. This fits with the general rumors about the Qunari all being merciless killing machines. Contrary to rumor, however, the Qunari are not savages. Their compound is kept neat and tidy, they have painted their decorative geometric patterns on the walls to make the place seem brighter, and it even smells a little less bad than rest of Kirkwall, like they've done something to improve the sewers here.

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The Imperial Legions sometimes get close to this - under the more dangerous generals, at least. And she's seen more professional raiding parties pull this off. Move fast, get your goal, retreat - no extra baggage, and you're doing everything yourself. (She's led parties like that plenty, sometimes pretty deep into enemy territory. It's a lot harder than it looks. Camp followers: slow but useful.) Plus, of course, some nomadic societies where everyone tall enough is expected to know how to defend themselves or fight.

It's pretty clear from her expression and body language that she's noticing this, and that she considers them highly professional and well-disciplined, and maybe even approves or admires them for it. (And, too, that she knows how to look at this as a general, not just a warrior.)

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If anyone they pass cares at all about her opinion of them, they don't show it.

The group gets to a courtyard where the biggest Qunari they've seen yet sits on a low wooden bench conversing with some advisors in low tones. The conversation stops as the outsiders enter, and the giant turns a coldly intelligent gaze upon them.

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She tilts her head a little, curious - trying at the same time to convey respect for his space and position, and her firm certainty in her own position. 

She'll let Javaris speak first, right now. Something is up here - and she'd rather not hang herself with his rope. 

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"Ahem. Right. Arishok, I am pleased to report that your hated Tal-Vashoth were felled, one and all. Now I'm here to open negotiations for the powder, as discussed."

The Qunari regards the dwarf for a long moment, then speaks, low and growling, a single word. "No."

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" - Something you didn't tell us, Javaris?" she asks, her sweet tone at odds with her stern expression. 

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"Wh- I- No, no, we had a deal!"

     "No, we did not. You asked for the gaatlok and were refused. You invented a task to prove your worth then paid to have it done. You failed your own goal. You have proved your wealth, not your worth, and Qunari still owe you nothing."

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A couple of things are adding up in her head very quickly. 

"Then my team apologizes for taking the honor of hunting down your outcasts yourself," she says, carefully, watching the Arishok's reactions with keen eyes. "Javaris, unfortunately, led us to believe there was a deal in place already."

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The Arishok's eyes narrow. It seems like he's slightly impressed that Wyld thought to apologize (and that they were capable of performing the task at all), and also he Does Not Like Javaris Tintop. The Arishok is the sort of person who takes his sworn word extremely seriously, a slight on his honor is as good as an assassination attempt. "Dwarf. Did your imaginary bargain make promises on my behalf?"

"I, er, expected your wisdom to be more profitable."

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- They have their coin in hand, so she just rolls her eyes. 

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"If it helps," Hawke says, "he has paid us for killing the Tal-Vashoth. It's only future profits on the sale of your explosive powder that we're out."

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The Arishok grunts. "There will be no sale. The gaatlok will be dispensed only to our enemies, in the traditional manner. I suggest you leave, dwarf, while your debts are settled. Before I uncover any more of your sins."

Javaris gulps, and begins backing away.

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"You're aligned with whatever military produced this technology, then?"

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"The gaatlok belongs to the Qun. We are Qunari."

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" - What is the Qun, if that is acceptable to ask?" She is strongly projecting interest and respect. 

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"The Qun is truth. Order. Purpose. All things that the bas lack."

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"Any kind of those, or a specific truth, and order, and purpose?"

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"There is only one. But it is not for you to know, nor for me to share."

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Nod. "A fair enough answer."

"And we should stop imposing on your hospitality." She glances at her companions. 

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Yeah, let's go ahead and leave the religious fanatics to the religious fanatic-ing.

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Some of Wyld's eerie - not prettiness, not exactly, but the perfectness of her face, the strange clarity in the air around her - fades as they walk away. "They're an interesting people," she says, musingly.

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"Not very friendly, though."

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"Most people aren't, unfortunately."

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"Sad. They should try being more like you."

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Preen! "A lot of people should. It's catching on, apparently, but not as fast as I'd like."

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"How fast is that?"

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"As I'd like? Pretty fast - the world should be shortly full of me's."

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"That sounds almost excessively exciting."

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"You don't want to be surrounded on every side by me?"

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"I'm only worried I wouldn't survive the experience!"

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"I'll coordinate with the other me's to keep you just on the edge."

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...The grownups are talking about weird stuff again.

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They should consider talking about fun stuff instead if they don't want two bored superpowered children on their hands. 

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Fun stuff like going back to buy some shiny new knives, maybe?

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Yeah!!!

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Back to the market then, and Hisame can take her pick.

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She has just at many intense opinions as this morning! But this time she also has money! 

Her pick is: That Is So Many Knives.

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Katana can help carry some of the knives!!

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She has ninja tricks for carrying more knives!

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Oooh. Fascinating.

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Might be best to save the demonstration for when they have a bit more privacy. 

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Keep them secret ninja tricks.

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Yeah! So Katana can help her carry them to the inn.

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Nodnodnod that makes sense.

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And how much of an explanation does Katana want on ninja tricks to store more weapons? 

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She wants all the explanation!!

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Then she'll have all the explanation! The most exciting ninja trick is something called fuinjutsu

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Katana listens with rapt attention and makes plans to experiment as soon as possible.

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They'll have to promise to include Lyli in any experiments. Not just as reasonable adult supervision.

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Absolutely they can.

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More participants equals more fun! 

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Katana bets Lyli will have lots of good ideas.

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Being older helps. She has more to draw on for inspiration. 

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That makes sense.

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She'll be sure to share her inspiration, though. 

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That's how teamwork works!

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Exactly so.

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Okay so ideas for sealing experiments... She kinda wants to start with explosions, honestly.

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Might be tough within city limits. 

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They could go outside the city.

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It'll be pretty easy to get a nice isolated workshop with how fast they are. 

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Like a secret base.

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Useful if they're planning to stay a while. 

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There's a good amount of stuff to do, Katana thinks.

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Enough they'll get to use a secret base plenty of times! 

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Plus a secret base is just cool to have.

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Very serious nodding!

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Katana thinks their decisions should be at least sixty percent based on what's coolest.

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"I can get behind that."

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"Me too!"

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"Yeah, because it's a good idea!"

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Lyli will sign off on this proposal then, making it official team policy.

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Yay!!

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They're gonna be the coolest!

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The best team ever.

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She's pretty sure they already are. 

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True, true.

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They're gonna get even cooler, though! 

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Cooler and stronger and scarier.

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Yes.

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Do they have time to get started today?

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Depends on how late it is. 

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The sun's about... halfway down? Maybe a little more.

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Hmmm... They should have plenty of time to scout, but maybe not enough time to pick a site. 

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Getting started is good, she thinks.

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Lets them spread out the work a little. 

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Give time for good plans to get made.

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And take breaks in between major tasks. 

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Make sure to be fresh and ready for full effort each time.

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It'll help their creativity, too.

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So let's go!

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Is Hawke coming along? 

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Hawke should go check on her mother.

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Awww.

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Responsibilities! She has a couple.

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Responsibility is tragic. 

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It makes doing things... meaningful. Worthwhile.

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- How? 

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Helping people who depend on her feels nice.

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Responsibility is just chores though. 

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Sometimes. Or it could be problem-solving, or fighting off bullies, or earning money.

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But those aren't responsibilities. They're fun. Responsibilities are things people who think they have authority over you tell you to do. Like cleaning your room.

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Hawke isn't planning on telling Hisame to do anything like that. Hawke's responsibilities are Hawke's, not hers.

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So she set her own responsibilities? 

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Mostly, yeah.

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Huuuuuh. You can do that? 

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Evidently so.

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Hm.

Hisame still doesn't want any responsibilities, though. 

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Then she can feel free to skip out on them, as far as Hawke's concerned.

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Okay! 

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So yeah, have fun exploring, try not to kill any guards getting back into town, and Hawke will probably see them tomorrow.

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Okay!!!

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And she's off.

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And so are Hisame and her team, to scout for secret lair locations. 

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Secret lair, secret lair~

A cave, maybe?

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They'll want to make sure it doesn't have any secret entrances their enemies can sneak in through. 

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Very important. It could have secret exits they could sneak out of, though.

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And secret entrances only they can use! 

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Yeah! Then no one can follow them.

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Properly securing secret entrances will be a lot of work. 

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But worth it!

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As long as they budget it in. 

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They're just starting so that should be easy.

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...Hisame has no idea how to budget for a secret lair. Won't they just use magic? 

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There's a time cost, right?

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......Time is fake.

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...Pffffff.

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She sticks her tongue out at Katana.

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Heeeeehehehehehehe.

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She snorts and joins in the giggling. 

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So they're gonna build it with magic and pay with time!

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Sounds sensible to her. 

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Then let's go!

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Into the great unknown! 

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Fortunately, there are a lot of old mines in the regions that provide a ready supply of starter hideouts.

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They need to scout them thoroughly! 

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Pack of wild dogs here, dust and skeletons there, infestation of giant spiders, a clutch of firebreathing lizards...

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Can she adopt the firebreathing lizards and/ or the wild dogs?

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Both varieties are strongly inclined to bite first and take orders never.

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Totally valid of them! She'll leave them alone. 

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Means they'll have to keep looking for a good hideout spot.

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There's lots of options. And it's only the first day of scouting!

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Yeah, true.

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Do they wanna keep looking or go back to the city?

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They've probably got a little more time before the sun goes down...

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They can do a little more searching then!

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In the next cave, they find a wild-eyed boy in halfplate armor, collapsed on the floor and clutching at his sword, shivering and quaking like he's experiencing severe drug withdrawal.

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- Wyld takes the lead for this one. "Hello?"

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He attempts to point the sword in her direction. It wobbles alarmingly. "Demon! Temptress! St- stay back!"

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"I'm no demon. Have you been attacked?"

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"Andraste preserve me. N-no, I know your tricks, I won't fall for them again. M-maker, hear my cry, guide me through the blackest nights, s-s-s-steel my heart against the temptations of the wicked."

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She squints at him - and at the flows of not-Essence around him. 

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Someone has made of this man a beacon, and woven a cage around him at the same time, so that the predators that are drawn can nibble off only a little at a time.

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A complicated trap - but far less complicated than some of the Essence tangles she's seen in her life, especially those around the wyld-striken.

She tries to untangle it, of course. No more beacon, no more cage. 

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The boy's shivering slows, and he loses a bit of the wild-eyed look as he stops constantly muttering about demons.

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She nudges it the last little way. 

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"...Who... are you?"

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"Name's Shimmering Wyldclaw."

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"What- what are you?"

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" - Chosen of Luna. I'm from very far away."

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"...a witch."

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Snort. "I wouldn't necessarily call myself that."

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Weak snort. "No... you wouldn't."

"I should take you to the Circle... if I could stand."

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"Do you need help?"

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"I think I will recover."

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"Happy to be of service, then."

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Are they just going to leave him here, then? Katana's pretty sure he's one of those templars that don't like magic Hawke was talking about...

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She's sure he'll remember them fondly.

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If sensei says so.

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Smart girl.

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Yes that's her! The smart girl!

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Giggle and hair ruffle. 

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Heeeee.

They probably have time to check one more spot, she thinks.

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She agrees. And so: to that? 

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Yeah!!

And as it turns out, their last try gives them most of what they're looking for- hidden, presently unoccupied, spacious enough to start with possibility for expansion, two fortifiable entrances...

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They can do a lot with this...

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They should draw ideas!!! And decorate!!!

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Use the actual space to catalyze new ideas!!

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Yeah!

...Though they might get sleepy before they finish plotting...

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Tragic, that.

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Sleep is obnoxious!

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Do they gotta go back to the city?

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She doesn't think the ground will be very comfortable. 

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And Wyld would like to check in with Hawke.

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Good points, Katana guesses...

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...Or Hisame and Katana could stay here and camp on bedrolls? While the old people go back to the city. 

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That sounds like more fun.

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Yeah! 

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Then they've got a plan.

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As long as they stay out of trouble. 

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They'll be safe and sound here.

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She better not hear otherwise when she comes to get them tomorrow morning. 

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Definitely not, sensei!

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Sounds good to her, then. 

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They'll see her in the morning!

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"See you, squirts." And she and Lyli are off.

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Which makes it sleepover party time!

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She's never done one of those!!!

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Then it's a fun new adventure!

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Yeah!!!

What should they do first?

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They should get some snacks.

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...Hmmm... This hideout doesn't have any snacks...

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They could make some.

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Yeah! They just need ingredients. 

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A quick gathering mission, then?

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Yup!

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Cool! Katana will rustle up some useful ghosts for that.

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So, what's there to eat around here...

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Some miscellaneous roots and berries, birds, small game...

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Enough for a ninja as cool as Hisame to make some good small snacks out of. 

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Nice!!

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Step one: snacks for sleepover complete! 

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Yeah!

Step two: activities!

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Games are traditional! As is putting on makeup and telling stories. 

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They don't have any makeup... And Katana doesn't really have stories. She could make some up?

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Made up stories are good! 

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She'll give it a shot, then! Maybe, uh, two warrior princesses... making a kingdom in the clouds... and fighting off challengers.

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Ooo! And one of the challengers is a DRAGON. 

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Yeah! And the dragon is so impressed by the princesses that it agrees to join their kingdom!

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And it can shapeshift!

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Yeah!!!

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And turns into a really pretty girl! As pretty as Wyld-sensei.

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And then the two princesses are going to need a trusty advisor to help them refine their glorious plans.

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Maybe someone like Lyli... Does all the boring stuff for them, too.

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Like a vizier.

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Exactly! While the princesses get to fly around on their dragon friend!

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Though the vizier should get chances to fly too, if she wants.

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They'll be nice princesses to their loyal subjects.

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And the disloyal ones will get zapped! Bang!

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Crackle!

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Just like that!!

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And then no one else will ever defy them!

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No one smart, anyway.

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They'll pretty quickly run out of stupid people. 

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It's a good plan.

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Yeah! 

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That was a pretty good story, if she does say so herself.

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Hisame liked it! 

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Good!

Maybe they can play a game now?

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Sounds good to her! She knows of a lot of games, too.

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That'll be fun.

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Yeah! 

What kinds are Katana interested in? 

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Speed and memory games!

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They can memorize a route of targets then run it blind, competing on who's fastest! 

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That'll be fun.

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Yeah!!!

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Hisame turns out to be faster for the first couple runs, until Katana finds the right combination of ghosts to help her.

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She's gonna have to accelerate a lot to beat Hisame, especially once Hisame properly figures out teleportation. (And when Hisame starts sabotaging Katana's runs.)

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Katana can have teleportation too, and freeze rays for Hisame.

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She'll have to hit Hisame! And stop her from fucking with gravity! 

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Katana has a ghost that lets her completely ignore whatever gravity is doing! And also makes it so that if she bounces into a wall from going to fast, it's the wall that receives a Katana-shaped dent rather than Katana receiving a wall-shaped dent.

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...Throwing each other into walls sounds fun but like it might wreck their super cool hideout...

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Put a pin in that game for later, maybe. It is getting late...

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...Hisame still doesn't really like sleeping...

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They could stay up talking a little more.

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She'd like that. 

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Kay. Maybe she can teach Katana more about knives and stuff.