We Sons Of Daley [Manhattan Blues]

"What on earth do we need... ward suits... for?"

"Lemme put it this way. You like being alive?"

"... Generally..."

"What about getting shot?"

"No, that's kind of low on the list of priorities."

"Can you dodge bullets?"

"Don't be stupid, of course I can't." Not to your knowledge anyway.

"That's why we need ward-suits."

"... They're armor?"

"Well, yes. I was thinking of eventually making it out of the tac suits, but you're right, as long as we're here..." She drags you by the hand through the small city. Lots of people here, all of them with UNNATURAL EYES, ranging from SILVER to FELT GREEN to AMYTHYST to ANNOYING ORANGE.

They're mostly normal-looking though, despite the general look and feel like this is some sort of COLONIAL TOWN, almost- except there don't appear to be any women- or if there are, they're all dressed similarly.

Complete with GENDARMES, apparently, in blank GREY-GREEN, with BRASS-LOOKING FROGGING on the front and STRAW HATS. Each one has a name that you can't make heads or tails of the characters of. Two have a SINGLE-HEADED BLACK RAVEN in the lapel, while a third has a THREE-HEADED RAVEN. It's this last one- with clear, calm eyes that are nonetheless RUBY RED, and BROWN HAIR- who speaks to you in a language you've never heard spoken, never mind speak yourself. The tone is one of slight surprise, and the pitch is FEMININE.

As usual, Alice's COMPOSURE is enough as she raises a hand, and speaks to them in the same language. You catch the word 'MORRIGHAN', but the rest slips by you in a cascade of sound you're hard pressed to even keep up with.

What you are now certain is a guard pauses, and by the expression, seems to be asking Alice a question with suspicion.

She responds just as fluidly as before.

The woman's eyes light with recognition, and you are certain that this is probably some variation on "You're THAT person!? Huh."

In any case, she gestures and talks a bit more, eyes you suspiciously, and waves you on with her. You beat feet before she gets a chance to give you more than a hairy eyeball.

THE ROGUE TEACHER'S FORGE
This is a forge-room, though it looks more like a HOME GUN-SMITHERY than a BLACKSMITH'S. This isn't surprising- it doesn't look like there are many PACK ANIMALS outside, but there were at least three sets of GUARDS. SPRINGS, COGS, and FLINT-LOCK LONGARMS line the walls, while on the table is what looks like a LEVER-ACTION RIFLE. All of them are EXTREMELY ORNATELY CARVED, though the LEVER-ACTION only looks half-finished in that regard and all others.

The forge-fire is still hot, here, with the telltale scent of used asphalt filling the air. Alice enters first, calling out in the language she spoke earlier.

There's an answering call within, and what looks to be a MAN ABOUT YOUR AGE steps into the light of the forge. Now that you have a chance to look at one of the denizens of this village without the CRAZY CLOTHES, you realize this person must have been at this smithing thing for some time, what with the MUSCLES and the BURLY and the HAMMER and the... Self pumping bellows. Huh.

He looks at Alice, and shakes her hand warmly, before noticing you. He then turns back to Alice. "So, why are you here, and who have you brought me?"

>_