Avatar Legends: Ash and Steel [Roleplay thread]

[Gunmetal_Rainbow]

Onomu nods to Li and the pair make their exit of the village, soon joined by Zumu and then Minnow with her two "towed" ostrich horses and the group is able to ride off from the village towards West Heiatu, casting furtive glances back towards the village until it's out of sight, just to ensure they've gotten away clean.

The trip to West Heiatu is going to take a few days, with maybe a day being shaved off thanks to the ostrich horses, giving you a good head start. In the interest of avoiding Fire Nation patrols however, the route you planned takes you through some less than gentle terrain, forcing you to leave the ostrich horses behind, though the supplies they had are a boon since you didn't get the chance to stock up before leaving Tuyadi. It'll be tight as the supplies were meant for two, but with rationing, you'll be able to make them last long enough, especially if you supplement it with foraging along the way.

Onomu is mostly quiet during the journey, often checking over her shoulder. She doesn't seek to make conversation with any of you, though also does not complain about the difficult path that was chosen. It's just as obvious to her why it was chosen, patrols would have a very difficult time through here and it wouldn't be possible to move large forces through. At night for camp, Onomu does her share of camp keeping responsibilities with a soldier's efficiency. At all times she keeps a tubed carrying case close, the war plans no doubt.

[Vivid]

Minnow
Fatigue(unmarked): 5
Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Excellence> -1/+1 <Community> (Center: 0)

Upon learning what the older woman did, Minnow will thank Zumu profusely for her support.

In the days of travel she wont shy away from using waterbending (to fill their vessel from passed streams, for example, or to dole out their evening thin stew), curious how their 'guest' would react to her bending.

That first night, Minnow will also propose the travel name of 'Mei' (pronounced like May) for the general.

[Flynnarrel]

Zumu Yin
Fatigue: 4 - Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Experience> +1/-1 <Humility> (Center: 0)

Some nights when going about the business of camp Yin will wax nostalgic about her own father. She talks of a military officer leaving the service and building a good life and a strong community. There were dangers and trials along the way - packs of jackal-crocs, and enemy soldiers, but his was a voice of reason and discipline that helped others through. For, in the flourishing of the community, was his own livelihood enriched.
Her father had confided in Yin, one night when she was old enough to understand these things, that his life had not turned out the way he expected it would but it was rich and fulfilling, nonetheless.

"Life is strange like that. We should never stop looking for opportunities even when we think we're on a firm path." she says sagely.

Otherwise she'll show the young Minnow how an Earthbender's Ground Shifting kata is performed and marvel at the speed and adaptability the prodigy shows in converting the hard, blocky Earthbender steps into flowing, liquid grace.

[Gunmetal_Rainbow]

Onomu has kept mostly to herself during the journey, though doesn't shoot Zumu's attempts to speak to her down. Though the elder would find it to be a mostly one-sided conversation, she does get the impression Onomu is fact listening. She watches the younger two training a slight hint of annoyance about her, probably of the assumption you're doing something wrong, but that could largely be that Fire Nation superiority.

As the days pass, keeping an eye on your six, you don't see any evidence of being trailed, at least, not closely enough for you to notice. You know it's quite possible Ben Ta probably has trackers in her number, but being a larger group, they'd be slower, and unlikely to abandon their mounts, so would have to try and divine where you are headed and take the long way around and who knows what kind of Fire Nation forces they might run into along that route. There's a reason you opted to go through this rough terrain.

As best you figure it, you could probably at least spend one night in West Heiatu to rest and resupply before heading into the desert towards your next destination, which means one thing. You've got time to go visit the Steeping Phoenix and it's quirky owner.

Breaking the post here to give you an opportunity to do something before entering the town. If you were to head right into town, it'll be late afternoon/early evening, so keep in mind stalling to do something outside of town will affect that arrival time.

[Doctor Malsyn]

Li
Fatigue: 5 - Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Friendship> -1/+1 <Survival> (Center: 0)

He couldn't keep the frown off his face every time he had to see that woman they were meant to be protecting, and it was honestly starting to irritate him. Both the fact she was there, and how much she was getting to him without saying or doing anything at all. What he really needed right about now was some sort of distraction, something to do that would put himself at ease or give him some cheap thrill. If they had the ostrich-horses maybe he could've challenged Minnow to a race, but they were forced to leave them behind.

Around midday while they took a stop along the road to refresh themselves, he thought he'd smelt smoke. "I'm just gonna go check it out," Li assured the others, before making his way out of camp.

Just checking it out was honestly his original plan, but then got over a small ridge where he saw that flash of black armor and that sent of smoke become all the more clear. A small camp of ashmem, maybe a couple of soldiers escorting some important looking people.

i'You know,' He thought to himself with a smirk. 'I bet they have some extra supplies they'd be willing to "share" with us.'

[Gunmetal_Rainbow]

Ooo, let's play a little "Yes, and" shall we?

From the ridge after a little observation, Li (and Minnow) can ascertain it's a sentry camp, most likely to accommodate local patrols that are just a bit too far out from the city, or possibly to station a back-up unit in case anything happens in town requiring back-up. Or maybe a bit of both.

It definitely looks like there are supplies down there in any case and a squad of fire nation soldiers. Smart guess is there's probably some manner of officer in one of the tents.

[Vivid]

Minnow
Fatigue(unmarked): 5
Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Excellence> -3/+3 <Community> (Center: 0)

"Looks like a lot of them down there." Minnow says from behind Li, possibly starting him, possibly not.

[Doctor Malsyn]

Li
Fatigue: 5 - Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Friendship> -1/+1 <Survival> (Center: 0)

Having most certainly not leapt a foot into the air at the sudden appearance of Minnow, Li schooled himself and turned back around to look at her. "Which means they've probably got a lot of stuff they're not going to miss. Challenge is both getting to it, and getting it out without their noticing. But," He smiles, "I've always liked a challenge."

[Vivid]

Minnow
Fatigue(unmarked): 5
Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Excellence> -3/+3 <Community> (Center: 0)

Minnow shrugs a dainty shoulder. "So how should two enterprising individuals go about doing that?" Minnow asks, a sparkle in her smirk.

[Doctor Malsyn]

Li
Fatigue: 5 - Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Friendship> -1/+1 <Survival> (Center: 0)

"Hm... If one of us were to keep their attention pointed elsewhere, the other could come in from behind and scoop things up without their noticing." He turns back towards the camp, tapping his finger on the boulder being used as cover. "I was thinking animal noises, maybe make them think there were in boar-madillo territory."

[Vivid]

Minnow
Fatigue(unmarked): 5
Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Excellence> -3/+3 <Community> (Center: 0)

Minnow had determined that Li was feeling restless, she also figured that the idea of rationing brought back the memories of lean times for the orphan. He needed to address the source of discomfort - the shortage, and/or do something to feel alive. She wanted to help her friend, of course, but the camp below them was too ensconced, too disciplined for any of the sorts of mischief Li was prone to get up to.

"Hey Li, I think we're actually okay on supplies. The foraging has been good and I haven't been that hungry of late. I mean, we'd get away with stealing more, obviously, but then they're just likely to scour the next homestead or village to replace their lost supplies and that just... doesn't feel right, ya'know?"

"Hey, I think there's a swift river nearby, it'd be quite a rush to try to swim it at night." she'll tempt the thrillseeker.

Maybe this is a 'Call someone out'. Calling out Li on the Principle of Friendship to get Li to shift what vice he's indulging or forego his inclinations.

Spoiler

if so, shift: 2D6-1 = [5, 3]-1 = 7
Would this shift Li toward friendship (and thus to center)? Either way, I think she'd spend the fatigue to avoid being shifted further.

She'd be shifting herself Community +1 which sends her over (but will reset her to a new center). A suggestion might be that, for the sake of her Community, Minnow only eats sparingly so the others have more without letting on that she's doing this. This can maybe manifest as a status and/or condition(s) and/or fatigue mark(s) that she starts the next scene with.

or Maybe it's a Guide and Comfort.

Spoiler

if so, Comfort: 2D6+2 = [4, 6]+2 = 12

If he accepts she'll guide him toward balance.

[Doctor Malsyn]

Li
Fatigue: 5 - Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Friendship> -1/+1 <Survival> (Center: 0)

He had it all in mind already how it was going to play out; Minnow would make some animal noises or maybe trick them with some wsterbending, the scorchers would soil themselves in terror, and then he'd come along and take their stuff while they were all panicking. It was a pitch perfect plan, right? Seems that little miss perfect obviously thought otherwise.

"What doesn't feel right, is that they get to raid and eat however much they like while never being afraid of having it done to them. You think that's their food? I gurantee that they 'requisitioned supplies' from the last village they passed through already." He scowled, taking another look down at the camp. Much as he wanted to, he couldn't do anything to them on his own.

He whipped around, not facing her. Dust and loose grass flew up from his sudden movement. "Whatever. I'll meet you back at camp later. I'm not in the mood for swimming."

Not waiting for a reply, he took off.

[Flynnarrel]

Zumu Yin
Fatigue: 4 - Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Experience> +1/-1 <Humility> (Center: 0)

Zumu Yin noted the absence of her two young companions. Through years of practice, she tamped down the immediate concern that welled in her thoughts. If there was a problem they would let her know and if they were the problem she would know soon enough.

Yin turned her thoughts to their 'guest'.

She finished scrubbing the night's cookware with hand twirls and scooping motions to manipulate the sand inside the metal pot to scrub the sparse food particles from the iron.

"Mei," she says, trying out the traveling name, "if you would, what all happened to bring you here? What were the pebbles that lead to the avalanche we find ourselves in?"

[Gunmetal_Rainbow]

Onomu pauses in her own camp tasks and looks over at Yin. She briefly considers brushing the woman off but sets herself against it. "Fire Lord Ozai seeks to elevate the other nations, but... Sometimes his strategies seem... too ruthless against forces that already pale in strength to our armies. The forces directed to less defended villages, all to try and flush out the rebels, leaving such places not elevated, but razed when the rebels do not take the bait..." she pauses. It's clear she believes in the ideal of elevating the other nations, her issues seem to be with the Fire Lord himself.

"One war meeting, too soon ago, I could hold my tongue no longer and was... rightly admonished for my insubordination, but... my pride got the better of me and harsh words were said. Fire Lord Ozai rarely forgives one instance of insubordination, but a second immediately on its heels, I faced execution. I moved without thinking, grabbing the war plans that were at hand and fled."

She pauses briefly looking off roughly in the direction of where the Fire Nation would be. "I left everything behind. Everything I worked for, sacrificed for, just to save my own skin. I called in every favor I ever had to get back to the Earth Kingdom shores and got the attention of on of Long Feng's agents to broker this arrangement."

[Flynnarrel]

Zumu Yin
Fatigue: 4 - Conditions: None
Status: None
Balance: <Experience> +1/-1 <Humility> (Center: 0)

Yin nods at her explanation. "Thank you for your candidness. Being the object of the Fire Lord's wrath is certainly a reason to flee."

"I acknowledge that we do not yet see eye-to-eye on the value of the Fire Nation's 'elevation' for the other nations but I see how you could hold such a noble goal in your heart." the elder says diplomatically.

"Do you have any questions for me?"