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"Die!"

The sponge and cloth descended on the hapless bit of solidified food clinging resolutely to one of the Firebrand's many tables, attempting to seal its fate for the umpteenth time. Owle scrubbed furiously, pouring all her frustration into the motion, hoping the gunk would finally yield to her superior cleaning powers. She had tried everything short of acid to get rid of it, but still it defied her. She was beginning to view it as a living entity, and with no one else around in the Firebrand's empty common room she was free to scream at it all she liked.

Where are you...Owle?

Owle jumped, suddenly embarrassed at herself. She dropped the cloth and sponge, looking around for the source of the voice who had just walked in on her. It took her a moment to realize it was only in her head, and a moment more to recognize it.

"Lucind? Is that you?"

Provided Lucind was willing, a stable connection was established with relative ease. Owle didn't know exactly how Lucind's methods worked, but she was used to talking to nonpsionics all the way across Gaia. It shouldn't be too difficult for her to take the hand Lucind had offered.

Weird that Lucind was contacting her. She was the last person Owle had thought to hear from again. Maybe something had gone wrong with Vahn...she hadn't seen him in a while.

"What's up?"

She remembered, then, that Lucind had asked a question. "Oh, I'm in the Firebrand," she added, as if everyone should know where that is.

"Really? For days? Me?"

Owle put the sponge and cloth away, though she noted with displeasure that the gunk was still there. Whatever was going on with Lucind, though, it needed her full attention. She sat herself down in a chair and listened.

I could need your help.

Owle wasn't quite sure what to make of this. She and Lucind hadn't exactly gotten off on the best of terms when they'd met briefly the last time...

What do you think about a special adventurer's trip deluxe?

And then Owle's eyes lit up, any doubt in her mind forgotten.

"No, but I met this guy in a bar once, started telling me these crazy stories about it. You want to go there?"

The tone of her voice sounded more like That's awesome! than You're crazy.

"Unicorns are nice..." She had...no, that had been a past life, and she couldn't claim it was her. But a long time ago someone who shared her soul had met such a creature...

"But I'm confused as all get out. I don't even know what your people are, except that Vahn called you a Siren. Still and all...I'll be there. Sounds like fun if we don't end up getting killed."

The grin was return, and Owle didn't even comment on the payment or lack thereof. The risk, the adventure, getting into such trouble like this...it was what Owle lived for. And up until recently, she had been stuck in the Firebrand, burdened with a child who should never have existed. Her soul was itching to get out there and do something, and from what she'd heard about Azum, there'd be plenty to do.

Owle actually chuckled at that last comment.

"I'll be coming, no need to think any longer or harder about it. Thinking's bad luck on these things sometimes." After all, Rage had survived this long without it.

"Vahn hasn't stopped by, but I can track him. Let's see...you're...that way."

An image would get sent to Lucind, starting out as only a black field with a single gold dot in the center. There was no label, but somehow it was obvious that it was meant to represent Owle. As the woman spoke, a line leapt out from the dot, connecting to a glowing blue dot, the color of the sea where it meets the sky. Lucind's location.

"And he's..." The pause was a little longer this time, but still brief. "...that way."

Another line leapt from the golden dot, this time connecting to a smoldering red one.

"That's about as much as I can tell you. The only way I can find his exact location is if I walk there...which I guess I could do, if need be."

Heh...your mapping skills are really impressive..!

Following the golden lines intently, Lucind then transfered the position of those three dots onto the cartography of the East Coast - or on what she knew about the positions of cities and geographic specialities by heart.

You wanna walk? That'd take a bit... But I'd really appreciate it if you brought him here. Unless of course, he's busy with something else... Hmm, no. Bring him to Latent, please. You can also use the train or whatever, I'll pay for it.

When you pass the gates contact me - we could leave a stand-by line open if you like. Depending on his mood or how enthusiastic he's about the trip, I'll meet him either here or....in a pub.

"Eh, thanks." It seemed like Owle was embarrassed at the praise. With no real knowledge of geography, nor the patience to get out a map and plot things on it, she'd never seen just being able to point in someone's direction and tell you if they were near or far as a real useful talent...unless she wanted to find someone. "It's the one thing I'm good at."

"Ehhe...I don't like trains. Thanks for the offer, though."

Modes of transportation that didn't have a life of their own, that had to be piloted by others...those scared her. If you were riding a dragon you were fine if you trusted the dragon...but even if you trusted the operator of a machine, there was no telling what the machine might do to malfunction.

She viewed boats as a necessary evil, but was comforted by the fact that ships generally sank slowly and she'd have time to fly off before it was lost forever. Not so with cars, buses, trains, motorcycles...

"I'll see what I can do. If worse comes to worse and I can't catch up to him in a week, I'll just contact him the way you contacted me. I'll let you know when I've found him.

And...whatever's easiest for you, I guess."

"Will do. And hey, no problem."

Under normal circumstances Owle would have said 'anything for a friend', but that wouldn't have been honest here. 'Anything for a chance at adventure after being cooped up and helpless for months' was more like it.

"Ah...knowing me I'll enjoy the problems even more. But camels sound cool, I've never seen one before, much less ridden one."

(("He made a strangled sound when she mentioned where they were going, though. Wasn't that at the ends of the earth?!"

Oh yes, baby! Exactly!!

XD Couldn't resist.))



Holding his look, a non-chalant smile appeared on her rosy lips - accompanied by flashing eyes that gave the impression this woman's adventures could compete with those Sunstrike had gone through.

"You see, Azumerians aren't actually happy to hear their land is considered to be...uncivilized or barbaric. Some areas, especially in the East, are privileged to boast with the latest inventions for computer technology, architecture, agriculture, even medicine and...ah, and so on.

But..."

She nodded slowly, as if partly agreeing with him, though her voice carried amusement and challenge.

"It all depends on what corner of that lovely continent you'd like to see.

For now, all of us joining the passage are bound together by the wish to arrive at Semyon - alive.
And then you're free to decide: explore the East coast on your own and see how far you can make it - don't worry, it is possible to make a living there, even have a wonderful time.
Or join my friend's band. It sure will be fun, only much less quiet - nothing for the faint-hearted.

I myself am pursuing my own business over there.

It might happen however that our paths cross at one point or another."

Tagis made a step backwards, extending an arm towards the ship.

"Wanna see everything now?"

Strolling towards the ramp, she looked back over her shoulder.

"By the way, if you're just out for relaxing some time under the sun of the East I can also directly send you to the most fitting places.
It's my home country, after all. So I can say I...know a few of its secrets."