Scene #6226: This Present State of Grace Pt.4

Owner	Pose
Morgan Berselius	Without the distraction of a potential encounter with something thoroughly beyond (most normal) human ken, it isn't tremendously difficult to traverse what remains of the Emanation and meet up with Lezard and Morgan at its heart. The journey isn't without its own dangers; waterways and cascades which flow in strange and nonsensical directions must be navigated, and the occasional floating platform needs to be negotiated, but the challenges are not significant to a couple of elites in their prime (and more than prime, technically). What you find though is... Perhaps indicative of why this particular Anchor has gone undisturbed until recently. The Emanation's core is a marketplace frozen in time. No goods change hands. No wealth flows. The farmer demands payment for his goods, the butcher and fisherman need rice to feed their families, the exotic goods vendor will peddle strange and unusual trinkets and texts from all across the globe in exchange for paltry promisary notes that bind the signee to provide a favor to their owner. Banks and currency exchanges stand ready to drive the engine of commerce, and all things stand poised, and yet... And yet the market simply does not move. Time is frozen, trade is brought to a grinding halt, and so the Anchor has been undone. "So," Morgan says, scratching at his cheek. "...Anyone bring any sort of cash?"
Aoko Aozaki	Aoko, with Sexy Nie Li in tow, not to be confused with Regular Nie Li who is too young for the appelation but still remarkably pretty and fit, whistles in admiration as she finally catches up to Morgan and Lezard to lay eyes upon the frozen marketplace. "Mhmhmhm~" she singsongs, tapping her cheek. "Well this is problematic. No way, I'm broke, this place can't have the ten cents I have left to my name. We might need to brute force it instead. Movement is just caused by things having energy, so if this place isn't having any energy flowing, we could just..." Aoko grins. It's the same grin as the centipede episode. "Bring in some energy. Lots of energy." An alternative does cross her mind, though. "Or completely wreck the spell that's been cast on this place. Every ritual has its counterspell, it might take us a while to find it but between me and mister Valeth, it shouldn't take... TOO long?" She glances to Nie Li. "That aging up give you any cool tricks that might help deal with this? Maybe a time punch? Some cool technique with a name like Great Thousandfold Dispelling Fist?" That's how martial arts work right?
Nie Li	"Haha. Will they take Demon Spirit Coin?" Nie Li has absolutely no idea what's going on here, and can only guess at the symbolism involved in here. But he's daring enough to try things and see what happens. This adventurer has money to burn. Lots of it. ALthough most of it is far from the local currency. "I have years worth of food and some other commodities on hand for trade if not. Money is not a problem!" The spiky-haired young man states confidently, strolling towards the market in a sweeping manner that suggests he's used to wearing a LONGCOAT or something in his adult form. Putting his 'money' where his mouth is, Nie Li extends his hand, the one bearing the Interspatial Trade... and materializes a LARGE SACK, which he tosses haphazardly towards the nearest merchant stall. "What's the going rate for rare meats in these parts? I need some local coin!" ... In a US normal market, THAT MUCH MEAT would probably cost the equivalent of hundreds of dollars, judging by the weight of the sack he just casually flung. (It remains tied shut.) He glances over a shoulder at Aoko. "If all we need is wealth or Soul Force, I've plenty to spare. But time punches? Afraid not. However..." He does focus his soul force and begin to examine the locale for anything that might be locus points of strange supernatural effects like spells. Or perhaps barriers and seals that could be broken with his Inscription Arts...
Lezard Valeth	Lezard is kind of put out by the time the group sees him. Observing the nature of the Anchor is an instructive lesson in the perhaps overly complicated nature of the remnants of deities. With a little annoyed sound, Morgan gets the piece back that was used to locate the Anchor in the first place, and then Lezard steps aside. "I do not normally carry a great deal of currency on my person." He explains, "Nor did I feel the need to attempt to bypass the situation entirely." He sounds almost irritated about this fact. Nie Li solves the issue. Lezard sighs in faint relief as SOMEONE proves they're not a broke nerd today and begins distributing it in order to get the engine of trade moving once more. He turns to Morgan and Aoko, shrugging. "Well, I supose this will be solved in short order, one hopes."
Morgan Berselius	Truly, the most powerful force in the multiverse is simultaneously one that, at first glance, seems the most mundane. Money. Lots. And lots. Of money. While Nie's massive amount of meat isn't currency of the realm per se, it seems that food is always a welcome trade good. Like an old machine shaking loose the dust and grime from between its gears, the merchant seems to creak to life, taking the bag of meat and supplying Nie with a fair equivalent in local currency. The coins he receives are silver disks emblazoned on one side with a serpent spiralling ever outward. The other is pressed with the seal of some local kingdom or other, its guarantee now surely defunct. But the metal is real enough, these coins have value. The merchant turns and hands the sack of meat to a youth squatting near his stall. The boy runs over to another stall and exchanges a portion of his new-found goods for several sacks of grain, part of which go on to pay for the purchase of a few new clothes, which in turn goes on and on and on... One by one, the stalls seem to churn to life. Perhaps to describe the state of stasis as an 'enchantment' isn't necessarily accurate. Rather, what was absent was an impetus, a little push to get everything started. And now that the machine is going, it /keeps/ going, faster and faster. From a handful of traders moving at a snail's pace, the anchor transforms into a whirling, noisy marketplace. But the transformation is not limited only to the anchor. The restoration of order spreads outward as the emanation rebuilds itself- reassembling like a broken pot miraculously being put back together. As the waterways link, one last change occurs: glittering silver coins pour out through the rivers, lining their banks and basins. The atmosphere of the place changes; where once it was still and quiet, now there's a notion of life, a presence of /someone/ inhabiting this place. And sure enough, out from marketplace's central fountain leaps a glittering serpent, its scales silver coins and a merchant's balance clutched in its mouth. It speaks in a joyful, boistrous tone, notably bereft of any prolonged s-es, despite clearly being some kind of snake. "Haaah! I feel as though I've been sleeping for centuries. You who have restored my domain, you have my eternal gratitude--youuuuuuuuuu!" There's a beat as it locks eyes with Morgan, who just sort of clears his throat. "Sorry, go on. Don't let me interrupt." "Hmph, do not think that your debt is repayed with this, Laughing Raven. I still have not forgotten-- but I must recognize-- grudgingly-- that some portion is never-the-less paid," The serpent looks to the others, then, and bows its head, "As for you all, my deepest gratitude. I am Rahu the Spiral of Prosperity, now diminished but still a god of this land. Allow me to extend a welcome to my domain, and to ask the names of my saviors?"
Lezard Valeth	Lezard might be annoyed that he didn't get the party started thanks to not having the foresight to see that a being of rivers wouldn't also include trade in its portfolio (as rivers have always been the arteries of trade since ancient times), he does take a measure of satisfaction in watching things get moving again. There is a smile on his face, the kind of look an artificer has when they see an ancient machine creaking back to life and working perfectly. "Well well. I suppose that works nicely. Excellent work, Nie Li." The arrival of the snake-being gets a narrow look from Lezard. He stands there, quiet, simply looking back and forth between the silver snake and Morgan. Raven, eh? He looks back to Rahu, and nods. "Lezard Valeth, Sorceror of Midgard. you seem to be back in order, I see." A pause. "where /were/ you all this time, though? Were you sealed in that fountain?"
Aoko Aozaki	Oh, everything flows. Well, that's good! Aoko is kind of squinting at Nie Li though, now that he's revealed his vast wealth. "Huuuuh, is that so? I keep having to mooch money off the Association because I just can't be bothered with a full-time job. I mean I tried teaching! They were like, miss Aozaki, please stop traumatizing our magi. Baaaaaaah," she grumbles, but still with a smile. Hint hint. "I mean if you've got thaaaaat much money lying around I'm not above some charity, ahaha~" Less subtle hint hint. Ah, there's their host, though! And tension with Morgan, evidently. "Aoko Aozaki, magus! Tried asking Strange where he got his cool title but he wouldn't yield his secrets, so that's all I've got for now. You two have a history? A ~juicy~ history?"
Nie Li	The transformation of this place is quite something. Nie Li watches the machinations of the economy cranking into gear with wideneyed eyes and an intrigued gaze! All the while he turns the coins over in his fingers, abandoning the effort to analyze the local energies for the moment. When the god finally appears and sees fit to announce himself though, Nie Li turns himself about and steps forwards with dramatic purpose. "My name is Nie Li, of the Heavenly Marks family, from another world entirely. I come representing the Concord to bring some hope back to this wasteland! Seems we have managed a start." He's smiling with triumph towards the God, but would appear to be facing him as an equal, where politeness is concerned. Of course, his grandiose posture's marred by Aoko playing... gold digger right next to him. The grown man looks over his shoulder at her, with a look of sheer, disbelieving, INCREDULITY. He cannot believe that ANYONE is being so blatantly shameless! His lips part a little more with every second that passes as he continues to parse and analyze the magnitude of her audacity. And the fact that someone this amazingly strange and talented is somehow so penniless. What. WHAT? How does that... how? Just, HOW?
Morgan Berselius	It's okay Aoko. Morgan gets you. He gets and understands exactly what it's like, being an utterly broke nerd. Not having more than ten cents to your name, truly it is... suffering...! Oh, but sympathy is only one thing being shared here today! There are also names. The serpent of profit bows its head again, "Again, it is an honor and I am in your debt, o' foreigners from a different land. Answering a few questions is the least I could do. Now, let's see where to begin..." Lezard is a good place to start. Rahu seems to shrug with its entire body. "I have been... sleeping, I suppose. Trapped within my own fragmented mind, there was little to do but sleep and dream. Rather than being sealed within this fountain, I was scattered all throughout this place. Until this marketplace was restored, I had nothing with which to cling to, no core to rebuild with. And still I am not whole; I can sense other fragments of myself all throughout the world, sleeping or stolen." Rahu shakes his head, "But I am... better than I was, and for that I am thankful. As for the Raven..." "That's a long story," Morgan says, coughing into a fist. "Let's just say that I might have... promised to pay Rahu back in a former life, for helping to smuggle something important down-river." "Hmph, to say the least. And from the looks of it, my efforts were for naught regardless," Rahu sighs, its serpentine tongue darting out from over the crossbar it holds in its mouth. "...I thank you, visitors. But I'm afraid my restoration is only one step among many. I can feel the world beyond-- it is, as you say, a blasted wasteland. But perhaps if I was restored, there may still be hope for Othrys yet. I expect the Raven decided to wake me for a reason beyond just goodwill. You have a purpose, don't you, Night?" "Of sorts," Morgan says. "I'd like to borrow your protection. People suffer in the wastes, eking out a hard existence wherever they can. I've done my best, but one man can't defend an entire wasteland. But if we can gather them here, then maybe this place can be where we might begin to rebuild." "And I suppose you're hoping that I would accept prayer as payment?" The serpent's tail twitches. It closes its eyes for a moment, then asks. "If the others have not noticed my reawakening by now, I'm certain that they will when they look to see what you're up to. I may be able to exert some measure of dominion, but... Will you be able to protect this place, should the worst come to pass? And what of you, my other saviors? Do you have any ideas in mind?"
Nie Li	"This world has my sympathy. My own is also inhospitable to humanity, though for very different reasons. Demon Beasts have overrun it, with only a few places left they've overlooked. I hope you'll understand that my own home is always my first priority, and there's not much time left to avert a coming disaster. If you want to secure my help in the long term, I can't work for free." Nie Li states firmly and bluntly. "I need resources that can strengthen my home's defenses. Anything is fine. Wealth and trade, blessings, soldiers, ancient techniques. Or whatever my allies in the Concord need that can be traded for such." He sort of stares dispassionately and disappointedly in Rahu upon hearing of the god's state, sighing quietly to himself. Of course he also turns that look towards Morgan. He just needs to deal with his own world's problems. Whether Rahu or Morgan makes it worth it doesn't really matter, as long as he gets something out of this. "It's good to see that some situations aren't as hopeless as they look. With enough time, even this wasteland can be restored?" It's quite clear that this young man isn't selfish in the least. Simply pragmatic and matter-of-fact about the current issues.
Aoko Aozaki	Nie Li would probably be surprised just how awful the Mage Association is about handing money out, really. He'd also probably be surprised at how good Aoko is at burning money away. You think that Defining Destruction advantage is for magic? FOOL! It was for wealth all along! "Well, I'm just along because I'm bored, really, and this looked like a nice way to get to know mister Monster Hunter over there. Guess if I can do some good on the way I won't spit on it or anything, but my specialty's not really... dominion-establishing or anything like that. I can help defend, probably!" It's a start. "How do you feel about traps that shoot lasers?" The answer better be 'I love lasers'.
Lezard Valeth	Lezard looks back at the exchange between Morgan and the godling, and he basically shrugs. "A terrible situation, Rahu. To be scattered into pieces would be most discomfiting. Needless to say though, you are correct. This world is singularly afflicted. We will find a way to beat back the forces that assault it even now, but you will need to be guarded so you can provide your... purpose... to those who need it." He sighs. "I can begin by constructing a beacon that we can use for quick travel here at need. With some effort, I can also create an area of twisted space around this location to help conceal it from the eyes of your foes. We can work on additional solutions and defenses later. It is not a perfect solution, but as it seems to be the case here, it is the one we have." Lezard takes a moment to adjust his glasses, the light gleaming off of them for a moment.
Morgan Berselius	The answer is not 'I love lasers' the answer is in fact an inquisitive little "...What's a 'laser?'" ...Well. This /is/ kind of a backwater, after all. "Blessings in wealth is something that is well within my capabilities," the serpent says, its tail flicking ever so slightly. "Knowledge, miracles, these are somewhat more difficult to provide in my current state, but certainly workable after a fashion. Though the most useful service I might presently provide is... Trade. So long as there is a body of running water, I might be able to manifest and provide goods and services." Or in other words, a merchant service. As is only appropriate for a God of Trade. "Anything that might be able to help keep prying eyes away from the city would go a long way. It needs time and safety to grow, after all," Morgan says with a shrug. "Having a good way to get in and out would be great too-- as long as it's not the only way in or out. That might get complicated." For some reason, the way that the light bounces off those glasses... Why is it intrinsicly unsettling...!?