Scene #7258: Terms of Service I

Owner	Pose
Zero Kiryu	A Nameless World... The place to which one of Zero Kiryu's security system components has been taken is best-described as 'superficially unremarkable'. Civilization is sparse, with vast stretches of untamed wilderness from point to point. Sailing ships are present in reasonable abundance, but technology doesn't go beyond what would be expected of an exaggeratedly cartoonish medieval world. Sorcery is more common than anything more advanced than a trebuchet. The offenders are the minions of a local despot. Under ordinary circumstances they would have been able to return their find to their master in short order, but having to cross the borders of their world to do it hobbled their ability to simply carry it back to his otherworldly fortress. Zero Kiryu has provided volunteers with twists of plant life through which he is communicating with and monitoring their situation. << I will be investigating the whereabouts of the next item while the retrieval is in progress. I should be able to act as a field coordinator insofar as that is needed. >> His voice echoes directly into minds, not compulsive or penetrating. Simply communicative. The border of the world is heavily forested, a small army of about a hundred goblin-like creatures riding on the backs of what can only be described as 'random wildlife they found throughout their journey' -- including wolves, deer, and at least one extremely angry boar -- down a broad path that isn't quite developed enough to properly be called a road, but has been at least gently cleared and trodden. On the horizon, the trees end abruptly at a scorched and almost volcanic landscape, not naturally so but re-shaped by crude and nonsensical industrial machines that have bored down into the depths of the earth. Chasms descend deep into the earth there, magma gleaming from far below. The goal is to either stop the goblin warband from reaching home with their stolen goods, or convince them to release it through parley. Either is viable, and Zero has explained that They're perfectly sentient, but extremely loyal. I believe that another power with psychic abilities is holding them secure against intrusions that are terribly contradictory to its goals.
Raziel	'A heavily forested world greets us as we push in the pursuit of what was stolen from us. Curious, though, that these lowly creatures thought they could get away with such a bold act. Was it arrogance, or was it simply ignorance? Either is unacceptable, but for the moment I was content on learning more about the entity that seemed to control the loyalty of these creatures.' Raziel quickly dismisses his corporeal form and shifts into the ghostly realm of the dead. Moving to try and push through the forest as quickly as he could, and not deal with the physical barriers it presented. However, nearly taken aback by the new terrain that greeted him. Forcing himself into the physical world again, he raised a claw towards the group of goblins, aiming to launch it or it's mount towards another, trying to hinder their retreat. 'Deeper into this unknown realm, it seems that strange machines have burned away the natural resources and look to dig into the earth to find mineral resources. I did not have time to fully inspect these machines, as they were not the meaning of my visit, but it does speak volumes to the mind that is controlling these things.' "You would do well to stop your retreat and parley with us, miserable creatures. You have stolen from us, and for that, there can only be one of two actions. An ignoble death, or the return of our equipment and parley of hostilities. I would prefer the latter, even to wretches like yourselves, but am more than willing to carry out the former should you feel inclined."
Guzma	Speaking of people riding on the backs of weird wildlife, Guzma is riding a horse-sized spider, pale white in color. The thug leader is dressed in his jacket and bling, being scurried along as his goons walks on-foot. Tupp, Rapp, and Zipp are pushing through, Zipp complaining about being hungry. There's a reason they're split up with this 'inequality', though. The group splits up as they reach the forest. The trio take the left side, hoofing it through trees and trying to nimbly navigate around them with their teenaged parkour skills, while Guzma's spider moves for larger openings of trees to the right, him leaping off if necessary so it can scoot through. It's relatively silent for the size, though if the goblins specifically focus on sounds coming from the trees, they'd probably notice it. Raziel moves in to likely cause a fight. Guzma wishes he had more time, but this gives him more avenue of stealth. Instead of jumping out immediately with Raziel, he radios the Goonzmas to wait, steps back into a line-of-sight in the forest... And has Walker, the giant horse-sized spider, climb up a tree, wait there, and pause to see if hostilities engage. The trio grab their Pokeballs and hold out, ready to pincer attack the second a conflict happens.
Yuuki Kuran	There are many reasons, an infinite wonderland of possibilities, for someone to go to a place within the multiverse. For danger, for beauty, for pleasant dreams, or for waking encounters. There's a lot less reasons to visit the stairs of Legally Distinct Cirith Ungol, in the Certainly Different Morgul Vale, to reach the fortress of Definitely Not Minas Morgul. Generally, those possibilities fall into 'work', 'a quest', or 'because the Witch-King talked shit'. Still, Yuuki Kuran walked the forest with an amused curl of her lips. Her fingers brushed the bark of the trees as she walked among them, 'listening' to Raziel's narrative monologue as he transitioned into an incorporeal form. "Oh! That one has a bear! That actually sounds pretty fun. I wonder how they became friends." She daydreams, imagining the touching story of a goblinoid beast shaman and the bear they raised from a cub to a mighty warbear companion. So, standing at the edge of the trees, Yuuki waves at the riders. "Hello!" Simultaneously, and 'in the path of the group' a second Yuuki - with a wide-brimmed hat - stands idle, the brim of her hat wobbling in the wind and obscuring her eyes. "Let's talk!"
Zero Kiryu	The thieves are sorted into categories-- obvious fighters, shamanistic-looking frail sorts, and then a third group that are clearly distinct but don't have an obvious purpose to them. Most of them are obvious fighters though, riding on the backs of predators. Knocking a couple of them loose from the mounts and into one another -- and seemingly, yes, to their deaths -- doesn't seem to perturb them seriously however. Riding wolves are brought to a halt as a wizened old "goblin" rides towards the middle of the pack on the back of a camel. The rest seem to defer to him. He leans forward a little ways. One of his ears is cropped, an eye is missing, and he's quite wrinkled with age. That one eye is as sharp as any, though. The shaman-goblin makes a noise -- more intrigued than offended or threatened -- and twists a few wisps of white hair at his chin, "I can't say as I care to be called a wretch by a ragged old phantom who looks none too better for the wear than /I/ do. And theft isn't /usually/ punished by death by the so-called /noble/ sorts, either. Though I expect you'll say you never claimed to be as much." The rest of the goblins seem generally less... lucid. Or perhaps more accurately, they seem more /hyperactive/. The ones that aren't on alert to do 'something' squabble among themselves. The few stragglers without mounts are literally just wandering around the peripheries picking up rocks and throwing them at things -- sometimes each other -- like it's a great big game. The Shaman doesn't /appear/ to notice Guzma's group, though whether or not he's just sort of bullshitting anybody remains to be seen. His gaze sweeps from Raziel towards Yuuki and... other... Yuuki. The Shaman looks between the two women and Raziel, and asks, "What /exactly/ is it that you think we took from you?" Not at all subtly, some of the goblins -- yes, while mounted -- are bearing a large crystalline structure between them. A few twists of dirtied vine suggest how the Concord knew exactly where it was going. It seems like they're used to picking small landmarks up and just riding off with them, though. Truly, they are a thoroughly innocent goblin warband.
Raziel	'The creatures seemed to defer to a single leader. Old, definitely, with scars of battle and withered appearance due to age. An eye lost, no doubt in battle as well. Though his initial stance seemed to be of bemusement instead of homicidal aggression. More surprisingly, was how well-spoken he was.' "You are right that I never claimed to be, nor have I not claimed it either. More accurately, I am what you might consider a deposed noble, punished for a crime I did not commit. However, this is neither here nor there," The comment about his own appearance gets a bitter laugh out of the ghost, "Very well, I apologize for my comments about your appearance." Though he considers the goblin's behavior now that they are idle, and looks back towards the leader, with a look of his own bemusement. However, as a sign of respect, he walks arms down towards the leader to have a more person to person conversation. Yuuki with him he gives a nod to, should she want to insert her own opinion or take over he would defer to her, but right now he was willing to speak up or assist directly with her. Also don't laugh at my angsty narration. :( Raziel extends a claw to the crystalline structure. "Though I doubt I needed to actually answer that question. Usually, such a situation would happen among the lines of, we chase you down, we offer to parlay, and we then we are ran at with weapons drawn and we defend ourselves. It is refreshing that this is not the case this time."
Guzma	The goblins are talking. They haven't attacked. This is good, Guzma thinks, but he can't sit around doing nothing. He moves to signal to Walker, and it begins crafting a subtle web in the thicker, deeper back copse of trees. The idea of these is simple. If the goblins attack, or the group breaks parley, they can trap some of them in the large webs, incapacitating them and having some hostages for negotiation.
Yuuki Kuran	"That's very fair, yes. I apologize on behalf of my friend for being called a 'wretch'. You do not appear to have done anything wretched at all." Yuuki's smile breaks into a knowing, almost mischeviously conspiratorial way, as if sharing a joke with the shaman. "And only wretches do wretched things." Raising her wrist vertically and softly waggling at the wrist, she reveals a metallic vine twist around her wrist, the points all pointing out like a spiked bracelet. "If you believe in sigils and livery, you may find ours upon that crystal you're carrying. Will you return it to us?" The Yuuki with the large hat on waves both hands amelioratingly, raising her chin so her bright eyes are visible behind the brim. "Or must we treat with your lord?"
Zero Kiryu	The Shaman looks a little more sinister up close. That one eye has a faint glow to it within the pupil, like his frail body is containing a great deal more energy than it has any business having. It's probably fair to assume that's true, given that he's surrounded himself with this lot. A staff is tucked against the leg that was out of sight from the direction Raziel was approaching from a moment ago-- and a smaller wand is peeking out of a ragged red sleeve. He turns his head towards the crystalline structure when it's indicated. He doesn't seem surprised, but-- he also doesn't seem as if he was particularly expecting to be told it was stolen from them. Another twist of the wispy beard comes, "We were /told/ by an interested third party that it would be... falling off the back of the camel, let's say. We stole it, for a certainty. But the opportunity to do so was so particular that we didn't anticipate /needing/ to fight over it to begin with." The goblin gestures vaguely towards Yuuki, "Which isn't to say we've done nothing wretched. Oh, we're not at all above that. But we're not wretched as a state of /being/." He chortles at Yuuki's remarks-- she caught onto it by herself. The Shaman examines the twist of metallic vine around her wrist, and then glances back towards the crystal again. It takes him a moment-- but it brings out an aggravated sigh. She can tell he figured out that particular aspect of how they were found out. More than likely, she can also see the looming presence holding fast over the Shaman's -- over all of these goblins -- consciousness. It isn't actively forceful, it doesn't stop peeking or even further inquiry. But it explains for certain why Zero couldn't just tell them to stop. "I have the authority to treat," The Shaman rumbles, "but we have need of such an object in order to quell a phenomena. It is the cycle of this world for its leadership to waver between the wicked and the incompetent. /That/ device would spell the beginning of the end for that cycle." "But we don't need that solution in particular," says the Shaman, leaning back a little, "so let us say that we would part with it willingly in exchange for pursuit of alternative solutions." A goblin wanders into a spiderweb completely independently of anything actually happening.
Guzma	The rest of the Concord are doing well! Great. The goblin walks into the web. This gives Guzma a dilemma. He can leave the guy in the web, but he might wail and cause a problem. Or he can cut him free, but the entire trap's destroyed and might cause a problem. He navigates over towards him slowly and quietly, holding up hands in a 'I ain't gonna hurt you' sense. "Yo! What a dummy, you walked straight into my trap that I wasn't even /ready to trigger/! It was a backup plan, things are going well! You can't be the one to ruin them, so I gotta ask you to be quiet for a bit, and then I'll cut ya free after we sort things out. You got that?" The spider glances at the goblin, eyes reflecting in the light off to bounce in the web's position, allowing him to notice the giant monster. It's intimidation. "Good!" Guzma gives a toothy grin.
Raziel	Raziel considers the proposal, though disliking the fact that they stole it in the first place, and of course the fact that there is a third party involved causes a bit of concern. They could simply run over these creatures, but that WOULD cause the loss of a potential ally and member. Swallowing his disgust at this, he nods. "Though a weighted request, I dare say you earn more out of this than we regain. On the other hand, were we allies, then we both would be obligated to assist in the other's problems. Your world's stability, and the information about those who would hinder our organization. A fair trade, I believe." Raziel says this, making sure that the playing field was even for the moment, he would rather a friend make than an enemy fight. Even if he was not favorable to the situation that lead them to this.
Yuuki Kuran	Two-ki (that is, Yuuki #2, the one in the path forward) seems to be carrying on half a conversation with Raziel's shade. "Raziel, Raziel! I already told you. We're not trading for 'our thing back'. We're the Concord: if that was all we wanted, we'd take it back." A hand raises up to the top of her hat, broom pressed into the inside of her elbow as she pulls the hat off to hold at her waist. "It would be a suitable trade for us to ask for their 'third party', yes." Bowing just a few degrees, Yuuki #1 spreads wide her own hands. "I am Yuuki Kuran, Director of the Concord. Whom are we addressing, what lord holds your loyalty, and what quest would we complete to earn that which we seek?"
Zero Kiryu	The goblin that got stuck in the web doesn't seem particularly alarmed by this development, which is probably more than a little strange at-a-glance. It's actually looking towards the giant spider. The extremely large, ride-able looking spider. The gaze of the spider doesn't seem to intimidate it-- instead it narrows its eyes in what isn't quite a /threatening/ expression. Come hell or high water, it is going to ride that spider. Or it would, if it wasn't stuck in a web. Some of the obviously magic-using goblins are, at this time, beginning to meander into the general surroundings. Some are near Guzma. A couple of them start small fires for no apparent reason. One may begin to suspect that the blasted wasteland has less to do with deliberately wanting to disassemble the land, and more to do with just not keeping these little fucks in check all the time. "You may be surprised," The Shaman says to Raziel with a rather twisted, near-toothless grin, "but I will leave that for you to judge in the future... /if/ we come to some kind of accord." He introduces himself to Yuuki, "/Lately/ I'm called Geoffrey. Names come and go, when you get old enough with this sort of crowd. My Lord is merely the Lord. He did not have a name uttered in polite company when we found him, and never troubled to coerce us to call him anything else. As to what we need in /place/ of this--" Geoffrey the Goblin Shaman gestures at the Crystal, "I do not think that it can be replaced in full. But we can make do with less. In a neighboring world there is an Empire that manufactures a crown. Place it on someone's head, and they become pliable. Bring us twelve of these, and it will suffice to -- as they say -- get the ball rolling." He gestures towards the crystal-bearing goblins, "And since I am not an /unfair/ wretch, I will send this back with you now. The person who exposed it to us, we will share in exchange for the crowns."
Raziel	Raziel stares at Geoffrey for a bit, as he explains his name, and then his demands. "Raziel," he responds, "And that seems to be an equitable deal." He gives a look towards Yuuki, maybe something along the lines of 'happy?', but regardless the crystal was coming back into their hands, which at least satisfies the objective. "As for being surprised, it is the Multiverse. I am rarely left unsurprised by something outside of my experience. But yes, I suppose our future dealings will be colored by the accord we come up with," He comments, moving to aid with the Crystal. "Thank you for your willingness to work with us. That, at least, was a happy surprise."
Yuuki Kuran	Both Yuukis clap their hands simultaneously, lifting their eyes brightly with a broad smile and a quiet 'mmm!' of affirmation. "Great!" Her voice rings out in stereo. "I'm glad we could come to an accord with you and your lord." She bows again in tandem, the same slight degree as earlier. "We'll see about this empire and their twelve crowns. Guzma!" Both raise their hands to cup around their mouth. "You can come out now! We're going to be fighting 'the man', instead!" In this case, whatever Empire has mind control crows is probably an authoritarian magical dictatorship, and she understands Some People have Feelings about that.
Guzma	As the goblin clearly wants to ride the spider, Guzma frowns, but before he can say anything more, other goblins are randomly starting fires. "The heck?" And then, Yuuki calls Guzma out. He cuts the web with a pocket knife, and then moves to leave the forest. They might have known about Guzma. He grins and gives a nod to Geoffrey, and then whistles. The trio step out of the other side of the forest, where they've been in wait, discussing whether or not a poptart was a sandwich. "Is it combat time, boss?!" "Yo, yo!" Guzma shakes his head. "Nah. Looks like we're going to go bust some heads. By the way, your fellows are really dumb, you know that?" Guzma tells Geoffrey. It's not meant to 'cause a problem', he just literally saw these guys walk into a web and set fires everywhere randomly.
Zero Kiryu	"Then," Geoffrey says to Raziel, "may you find this to be at least marginally a new experience." He only grunts vaguely in response to the thanks for cooperation. It's possible that he does have a /minimum/ level of unpleasantness, and saying 'you're welcome' too much exceeds it too much for his liking. To Yuuki, the Shaman says, "I am sure that my Lord will be along to express how very pleased he is with this alliance in the near future." The Goblins only refrain from attempting to steal Guzma's spider because of an exertion of will from Geoffrey that brings them back into the fold immediately. The fire-setting goblins do the same. Those that are helping return the crystal where it came from are drifting off... wherever Yuuki or one of the others tells them to go! They don't seem to have a great sense of direction for this. Those that remain form up and resume their ride towards the blasted, distant landscape. Geoffrey is the last of them to begin away-- apparently, intending to ride at the back of the pack. He leans over off of his camel towards Guzma, and replies, "Don't /you/ like riding spiders and setting fires?" He doesn't seem to expect an answer, though. Geoffrey rides off. << A third party... << What a nuisance. >> << I've located the next piece. It's going to be a problem. The city it's in collapsed at some point, and now it seems to be run by a bunch of gangs. The leader of one of them is some sort of extraordinary psychic. He tore a hole in the moon here, but apparently he pops pills like... >> << Well, like I do. I don't think this one is going to be made to listen without hammering him down first. >>