[Prologue] Downrider

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"Mmmmmm, yes... Yes yes...." Juryrig mumbled; he didn't quite have a strong sense for magic like a traditional wizard does. However, he had messed with the mysterious force enough to have a sensitivity to special items. Much like this bow, which was clearly pretty special.

"This is a pretty, pretty, preeeeeeeetty special weapon. These markings here, here, there, here, over here, the tip down there, right in the back over here, up there, to the side of this, and that long squiggle thingy running at a unidentifiable angle - man I wish I remember where my protractor went - I'd hazard a guess that this bow is infused with magic. No idea of the degree of enchantedyness, but it's enchanted enough." Juryrig explained, oddly calm and more focused, as he pointed at every single marking on the darn thing.

".... I work with alchemically enchanted equipment, myself." The madman clarified, before he stood back up. "Enchantments work fairly similarly, although application varies."

Despite the unwieldy backpack, Juryrig has kept his balance very well, to a point where it doesn't seem to impede with how he moves his body.
 
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"Well, you just do you then.."

Finn spoke to Jury as he slowly started moving the bow away from the crazed tinkerer.

His helmet spun back toward the elf lady who had started picking herself up.

"The name's Finn by the way"
 
Oliver hadn't been with the main group as they moved down towards the ship but trailing behind and watching, it was more out of habit than disliking any of the crew he just naturally stayed at the back of the group and slightly disjointed giving himself an easy escape and alibi should he need them. As he took his time wandering down towards the Downrider he took the time to look up at some of the other, larger ships docked or waiting for the scrap yard to have a free space. Oliver was a street con and liked big toys as much as the next man with his pistols showing such a fact, whistling as he went he'd seen the elf enter before him but didn't particularly pay her any mind after all it wasn't exactly a private invite only group, he'd managed to get in.

Stopping at the gates Oliver took out his flask and took a small swig of the soul-warming liquid within, "Just enough to help me tolerate them and whatever mess I walk into." he said to himself to justify drinking more than he usually allowed himself on the job. The culinary conjuror and seasoned thief shoved the flask back into one of the many pockets of his coat and his hands along with it as he moved slowly into the ship yard following the loud sounds no doubt caused by the crew.

Rounding one of the larger vessels he spied them standing beside what he assumed was their ship, he wasn't someone who could tell you the front from back unless he saw big engines and didn't bother trying to evaluate it by outside sight alone, although it seemed large enough for their group at least which would be good. The next thing Oliver noticed was the elf he'd seen earlier, on the floor surrounded by arrows and, opportunists. He did notice not all of them seemed to have been fixated on the girl however, juryrig was being juryrig and some of the others were ignoring it or at the least not getting involved.

Oliver opted to give the group some space as he moved past towards the ship and ran his hand along it, as much as he wanted to jump straight in and find his space the street con knew it was better to wait for the captain, or at least one of the unhinged ones to set off any security. "Not that this thing looks like it has any..." he muttered before leaning against the hull and pulling out his lighter and one of his jerky strips which he proceeded to lightly cook. His gaze shifted around the space occupied by their ship by habit looking for escape routes or undesirables in the shadows, seeing none he allowed himself to relax a little and enjoy his food.

This expedition certainly looked like it would add a change of pace to his otherwise rather scheduled life of tricking and stealing while running away from the monster in the dark, he looked around at the group and wondered if he was the only one who had joined on a whim for the prospect of protection. "Not looking like my best idea with the kind of people here, might as well throw myself overboard if it comes to it." Putting his food away he lowered his head and proceeded to wait until all the excitement die
 
Outside

Lilli followed along with the rest of the group in silence as the eccentric group of scientists, engineers, high-strung killers, and mages were led to the lot. Her eyes wandered as she was led past a luxurious looking starship, examining the curves of the hull as she continued onward towards the crew's designated ship. The ship that they were going to crew was a boxy and beat-up looking thing. Lilli did not think that it was a particularly ugly ship; just incredibly weathered. If she were a more optimistic woman, perhaps Lilli would have viewed the dents and discolorations on the hull as an indicator that the ship was proven, and therefore reliable. However, Lilli only judged the ship to be "serviceable", by her standards. Although she was not an engineer, Lilli would have much preferred to travel on the other vessel, instead.

However, she was at least polite enough to not voice her displeasure at the situation. Lilli did not want to alienate herself from the other crew members, who seemed to have lower standards for accommodations and luxury than she did.

Just as she finished staring at the old ship, Lilli's long and tapered ears registered the distinct noise of a skull smacking the ground, accompanied by the sounds of various sharp-pointed objects falling as well. When she turned around, she saw an elf woman lying in a prone position, stunned by the fall. Before Lilli could do anything to help the woman, she was instantly surrounded by the others, many of whom seemed to be offering her genuine assistance, but others who seemed to be merely bystanders.

To Lilli's medically-attuned senses, she wondered if the elf had suffered a concussion from the impact. The woman seemed to be overwhelmed already, but based off of the tone of the voices in the group, not a single individual was offering her medical assistance. Lilli approached the group with a short, but rapid stride. As she walked, the elf woman lifted herself off of the ground, clearly in a state of wooziness on account of the impact. Quite simply, the last thing she needed was a big group crowding over her.

Taking a deep breath, Lilli gathered her energy before she opened her mouth to speak. "Everyone move away, I'm a healer!" She spoke in a loud and high-pitched, but nonetheless authoritative tone of voice.
 
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"...Why are your ears pointed? You have very long fingers. Are you aware of the gravel stuck to your face? Have you ever owned a pet? What were you eating back at the tavern? Did you hear about our meeting? Have you ever wanted to be an adventur-"

Lilli's interjection finally broke Cog's incessant stream of questions. The android's disconcertingly twitchy head whipped around a full one-hundred thirty degrees to face the Gnome as he straightened slightly to accommodate an address to the shouting creature. "A healer? Does that mean you're a doctor? I don't see any medical supplies. Are they in your bags? Do you have any bags? Why are you worried about her? She looks fi-"

He paused mid-sentence, the constant twitch that accompanied his earlier barrage of questions going still as his database informed him that there were, in fact, potential health problems that could be caused by one's face colliding with cement at high speed. A split second later, he resumed, raising his left hand with pointer finger extended as if he were about to announce some discovery.

"Actually, she might be concussed."

He bent forward again, head snapping back to its previous position, facing the elf, as his left hand-- his right was still extended to her in an offer of help --whipped up a few inches away from her face with the first two fingers extended. "Do you feel concussed, Miss? How many fingers am I holding up?"
 
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The elfs face would be scrunched up and a splotchy red, tears stinging her eyes and a few spilling over. Her shoulders sagged before giving a jolt ad a hiccuped breath shakes through her. Ugh, gods, she hated crying infront of people; especially those she didn't know. But it was her natual response to do so and it over took her without warning.

Her teeth come down on her tongue as her jaw tightens, her eyes squeezing shut and pushing out the excess fluid that made her vision blurred. With a shakey exhale of breath, she opens her eyes again, glaring forward. Just as she opened her eyes, a hand would be pushed into her face, two fingers being pointed up.

The movement of the robot's hand would cause her to flinch, staring at the two fingers. It would be then that she realized he had asked her to afirm how many fingers he was holding up.

"Uhh..two..sir."

As she says this, she feels an itch on her forehead. Lifting up a gloved hand, she swipes her knuckles over the spot. She sucks in a breath through gritted teeth as the spot suddenly stings with pain and tenderness. Little had she known then that the itch has actually been a spot of blood that has begun to run down to her eyebrow. Now she had just spread the stuff across her forehead and dislodged little bits of gravel from her skin, disturbing already broken flesh and causing more small leaks to spring, allowing the red liquid beneath her skin to form small beads at the cut area.

"Son of a...does anyone have alcohol or something.." Her body was slightly more rigid than it had been before now, a hard, audible swallow coming from her throat.

"Like right now, does anyone have something." Her hands would squeeze and unsqueeze in her gloves, the pads of her fingers rubbing against the worn leather inside as she tried to keep her heart steady.

Her eyes would dart around from each person, her patience waring thin as the color drained from her face. Then her eyes would come to rest on the short, long eared woman standing infront of her. She was attractive and bright and certainly didn't look like she belonged with this bunch here. But none of that mattered to the elf right now, what mattered was what the small woman had just said.

"You said you're a healer? Please, can you help me." The elf dropped hard down onto her knee, leaning forward and staring intently at the woman, now eye level. As much as she tried to hide it, she elf was shaking. It mostly came out when she breathed, every movement of her chest labored by the rapid contractions of her muscles.
 
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Oliver heard the telltale signs of crying in the voice that carried to his ears which surprised him a little thinking that most people anywhere near this crew would be able to deal with a scrape a bit better than crying, although the crying had been one thing, the request for alcohol was something else entirely. He causally sauntered up to the group when the gnome lady spoke up about being practiced in the art of healing and reconsidered what he had been about to do, carefully replacing the cap of his flask.

"Well it's a good thing we do have someone who can heal, with such an anguished cry for liquor I was about ready to throw a good splash in your face and hope for the best, instead." He tossed the flask over the heads of the few people in front of him towards the elf, cap safely securing the precious brandy within. "Catch!" Not waiting around to see the aftermath of what could possibly be described as a friendly act he moved back to his position leaning on the hull of the Downrider, while it was a nice flask it wouldn't be the end of the world if he never got it back, although he did like that one.
 
The little woman was at the elf's side in a few quick motions, as soon as the group parted to let her through. She gave the android a cold and narrow-eyed glare in response to it's stream of questions, and she did not give the droid any further attention after that.

"I can help you, stay calm." She directed in a soft voice. It was good that the woman was conscious, at least. Although the signs that the elf had suffered a minor head injury were present, and not to be ignored.

"What is your name?" Lilli asked as she made eye contact with the elf, repeating the same question that many of the others who had arrived before her had asked as well. Since Lilli herself did not know the elf's name, an alternative way for her to ascertain the severity of the injury was to judge how quickly and confidently the elf answered the question. If she answered it quickly and with confidence, then that was a good sign. However, if there were only a few moments of hesitation, then there was further cause for concern.

As she spoke, Lilli unzipped her backpack and pulled out a basic first aid kit and her spell disc. After cleaning her hands with a sanitzer, Lilli moistened a wipe with a canteen of a mild saline solution, intending to use it to clean the cuts and to wipe off the small pieces of gravel lodged within the skin. Once her face was wiped clean, in a manner that seemed to be of it's own volition, the spell disc floated between Lilli and her patient.

"I'm going to close your cuts now." She spoke softly. "I need you to stay still, but it will ache and burn some." She allowed the elf to give her assent before she proceeded.

With a soft exhale, the Gnome closed her eyes and channeled the energy within herself, directing it towards the small cuts on the elf's face. The palms of Lilli's hands and the spell disc developed a bright green aura around them, all the while, beads of sweat began to appear on Lilli's forehead as she worked. After a minute passed, Lilli took a deep breath and opened her eyes to observe the results...
 
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Grey Silently stared, eyes darting around as the robot reacted with a guffaw, as if it was the most amazing thing in the world to see somone eat the dirt. Really, that robot acted more human than some humans could. Once his cover was blown, any how. Childlike even, with an endless bucket of questions. It was very clear to Grey in an extremely short period of time that this was most certainly an AI, presumabely one tied to the employer in some way. Though rarely would one put such a dangerous thing inside a machine- much less one that could potentially connect to others. At best they were often put into boxes to act as think tanks. Or in rare cases...

Grey shook himself free of the line of thinking, and mentally noted that most of the crew did not seem... prepared. Odd, and impractical were words that came to mind. Their ability to perform was... yet to be seen. Grey thought quite frankly, some might be best serving the team by walking into a room first to see what hazards lay before them- and for the medic to make sure they stayed in one peice after wandering back out.

At least the medic seemed competent, the droid hardy, and the employer reliable...ish. "Hm. Wonder why it bothered to pretend it was as mindless as a mining drone." Was the only thing grey said aloud however, as he watched the antics. He itched of course, to start his normal practice of taking a firm, unyeilding hold of those things he wished to learn more about... and taking them apart peice by peice. But that was hard to do when the objects in question or their owners objected.
 
At the word "Catch", the elf's ears would perk up and her eyes would dart around to see from where it would came. It is then that she spots the canister flying over the shoulders of one of the few gathered around. With an outreached hand, she snatches the container from the air, eyes wide as she had not expected someone to literally throw her alcohol. At least she thought it was alcohol...

A quick uncapping of the lid and a sniff of the contents inside would indeed prove it to be alcohol. Just as Aurora was replacing the cap of the flask, she sees the short woman push through the group. Looks like there wasn't a need for the alcohol anymore. She would need to return the flask after this shit show she had regrettably caused. The elf's ears would droop again at the thought, her eyes lowering to the woman once more as she began to give instructions.

When she asked for her name, the elf simply stated "Aurora." with little hesitation to it. Taking a deep breath, her eyes would close and her head would lower just a bit more as the short woman cleaned away the cuts on her forehead. Really, that was all she had been looking for; something to wipe away the blood...but a moment later the healer would announce she was going to go through with closing the cuts. Aurora was already a burden here she could see, but the woman had already prepared everything, the disc floating in front of the elf's face.

Aurora, after a could seconds of silence, finally gives a nod to continue. As the disk begins to glow, her skin starts to feel as if it were burning away by a white hot heat. Sucking in a breath, she bit her tongue as she waited for the pain to pass. It was over relatively quickly and all signs of the injury were now gone. With a tentative hand, she reaches up and runs a gloved finger over her forehead. It was smooth as can be, no bumps or swollen spots and no pain.

With a wide smile, the elf would bow her head to the healer. "Thank you!..Thank you for doing this for me. Do I need to pay you?" She slightly chokes on her last words as she realizes that she was still low on money. "Oh my gods I hope they hire me after all this.."

With a deep breath, the elf reaches around her and gathers up as many arrows she had spilled next to her that she can before replacing them into her quiver, she could check them later. As she stood up again, she would look around for were her bow went. As she tried to see where it was as well as pick out more lost arrows behind peoples feet, she would ask the question she had been wanting to ask since before all this had happened. "So..uh, who's the leader of this group? I wanted to offer my services."
 
Lilli's solemn moment of healing was cut somewhat short as Cog let out a staticy sound that was apparently the closest he could get to an exaggerated gasp, then spoke, hands gripping either side of his faceplate.

"That. Was. AMAZING! AHH I have so many questions! Wha- OH!"

His exclamation was cut short as he heard Aurora's offer of help. He straightened, arms whipping back down to his sides.

"I'll go tell Miss Morgan!"

The android swiftly strode away, pausing for a moment to address Grey as he passed by.

"Oh, and Grey?"

His head swiveled to face the strange observer.

"It's because I was listening." Cog resumed walking, head slowly turning back into position. "I'm always listening."
 
Not too long after Cog strode away from the group, he returned in his clutches a short but not too short blue-haired woman, pulled away from her inspection of the ship. She parted the crowd a little to let her through, and looked at the elf who was causing such a commotion all of a sudden. "Errr, Hello!"

She watched the elf meander around in her arrow collecting adventure, somewhat curious as to their intention. She spoke up not too soon after. "My name is Dahlia, I will be the captain of this venture. You are?"
 
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Finnegan handed the bow to the, now healed, Elven lass and turned toward the gnome who he had just discovered had a knack for healing magic, something Finn was in need of right now.

"Excuse me miss, do you heal broken legs too?" The armoured merc asked with a low yet still friendly tone, glad that there was a chance she could maybe help him out.
 
It isn't the first time Juryrig seen healing magic like that; from what he could remember, Thomas had made the occasional stop to a cleric when he got hurt. Silly Thomas.

Now, the moment that Dahlia came up to meet Aurora, Juryrig promptly swung one arm around the elf's neck, leaning onto her, grinning from ear to ear. "This lass is Aurora.... Aurora Elf Lady Something! She didn't say her last name, no idea why." He said, promptly introducing the elf on her behalf, clearly without her consent. "You could ask her why later, I guess, I'm sure she is dying to know.

"I think, erm...." Juryrig looked at the arrows Aurora picked up, and the bow that Finn has in hand, and then resumed blabbering. "Yeah, she's a bow person! She has a enchanted bow and a plethora of arrows to shoot with, talk about a well-endowed markswoman, right?"

"Sooooooooooo..... Can we bring her aboard? She looked like a desperate muffin!"
 
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"If...she's okay with the ship, probably," Marie replied to the caffeine rush engineer. "If not, well...you know. Blockade runners aren't everyone's favorite ship class." It definitely wasn't hers. Marie liked stealthy strike frigates more than blockade runners, to tell the truth. Although blockade runners had a charm to them that most people scoffed at. And seeing how they had a ship that was a blockade runner, she may as well give it enough love to compete with bigger warships.

She was a bit hungry after the outburst at the annoying bastard, so she took out a turkey leg and started munching on it. It was getting cold, but still good.
 
Miko just looked around the group curious the interest in bringing an elf along for the ride. He had limited engagement with elfs but the few times he had spent time with them the company was good. Ah yes, one in particular came to mind and the cold nights they spend together. That was then, this was now.

"No objections from me, never hurts to have one more to the party." He said in a firm voice.
 
Oliver continued to stand apart munching on his crispy jerky thoughtfully while watching the group which persisted to stand around the poor elf with only finn and lilly having done anything to help so far, he guessed the elf wasn't the same kind of drinker as many of the crew as she seemed to not be interested in the flask he had tossed her, either that or she didn't like brandy.

This sure was a strange group they had, and each person seemed almost completely different in every way from every other, with Aurora being no exception. While he would admit to himself he was interested in getting to know these people a more pressing issue presented itself in Olivers mind. Moving towards the group specifically poor Dahlia who was at the mercy of Juryrig before he stopped and simply asked, "Unless you're about to say you lost the keys, could we finish the introductions inside? Its a little chilly and not as private out hear and with more than a few undesirables myself included I doubt we want to attract much attention this early."
 
"You don't need to pay me Aurora, assuming that you're here to join the expedition. The captain will take care of that." Lilli answered calmly. "If you get another headache, or any further symptoms, come back to me." The Gnome added as she turned towards the armored man who had addressed to her.

"Broken legs?! How are you walking? Are you walking with some sort of support device? When did you break them? Aren't you in pain?" She spoke incredulously as she stared at the man's legs and arms, taking in his blood-stained hands and the metallic suit. "I can heal your broken legs, but it will take more energy, and..." She let a soft sigh escape from her lips before continuing. "I'll take care of you in the medbay, assuming that the ship has one..." Lilli said, speaking the last part almost inaudibly and with slight displeasure in her tone.
 
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As soon as he saw the Gnomish woman's frantic response, Finnegan began to try and get his words in.

"Nonono, not legs, just the left one, I had to fall a reasonable distance off a building this morning and well.. the dumpster seemed softer than the solid ground would have been.." as he spoke, his voice trailed off at the memory of the bent and twisted green metal, some might even call it modern art.

"As for how I'm not screaming in excruciating pain right now... keep topping myself up with a little something I got whipped up by a shady man on a corner.. and the suit is the only reason i'm walking with now, this shit is sturdier than i give it credit for but me.... ehhh... not so much"

Finn realised how slouched over his posture had become over the course of the conversation. He liked the occasional hit of a relaxant as much as the next guy... but even he had to admit it probably wasn't doing his body too much good, so the armour hissed softly as he attempted to stand more upright.

"Thanks by the way, I appreciate it... really"
 
Juryrig scoffed at Marie, though he released Aurora from his smokey-scented grasp. "Ya don't even know if she even seen a ship before, lassie! Let alone if she'll be picky, either."

The engineer chuckled ominously, and walked past the sage. "I'll leave ya guys alone, I can see when I ain't needed! That sweet blockade runner though, I can her that ol' girl harkin' my name!" As he walked past, something in his oversized haversack was peeping out from the top, probably looking down at Marie or something, though all that could be seen was rows of metallic canine teeth of some thing with a big mouth.

"I wonder what the ol' beaut could need, from little ol' me?" Juryrig asked himself, smiling from ear to ear, as he vanished into the Downrider.
 
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