Karnatheon

Laonin, The Mistwarrens Laonin was walking back to his home, after his meeting with Venser had proved unsuccessful. The dimly lit streets lay still in the night, the only sound he could make out was the sound of his own feet carrying him. He rubbed his arms briskly in the chill air, almost wishing he had brought a coat, when he heard a gunshot ring through the air. Then another. Pulling his revolver out of his coat, Laonin quickly dashed in the direction the sounds had come from. Rounding a corner into an alley, he stopped and saw several men who appeared to be attacking someone alone. Laonin watched as the young man managed to hold his own against his attackers, taking two of them down. With a start he realized it was the kid he had seen back at the Silver Dagger. Hoping that the person being ambushed was in the right, Laonin decided to help him out. Pulling his knife out and holding it in his other hand, he proceeded forward, watching the fight as he approached. He knew the element of surprise would be his only advantage, as he didn't have any offensive Investiture. Sneaking forward, Laonin saw as one of the thugs tackle the man to the ground hard. Rushing forward, Laonin aimed his gun at the thug's head and pulled the trigger, announcing his joining of the conflict. He then turned and fired his gun at one of the others, but that one Pushed his knife out of his other hand, which threw his aim off enough that the shot went wild. "You okay kid?" Laonin shouted as he ran for cover as shots rang out toward him. Laonin crouched down behind his cover as he watched the other thugs do the same now that there were multiple people to shoot and avoid being shot by.

That works for me.

Okay. Laonin has a house near the Miswarrens. So either one could bring the other to safety if we wanted to go that route. Up to you.

I think it being NPCs makes the most sense, as it doesn't require getting another person in on it, and it allows for the combat to have consequences for the people we would be fighting against. Does Thav have a base or home of some sort? Something that could potentially happen during the fight is they could get injured, potentially knocked unconscious, and whichever is okay could bring the unconscious one to safety to recover. I would be fine with Thav's enemies ambushing him, and going from there.

@Steel Speedster I'd be interested in interacting with Thav. He was in the Silver Dagger when Laonin walked in, correct? As for how to make that happen, there's plenty of options. What is Thav up to? If either he or Laonin was attacked when the other was nearby, one could theoretically help the other. I see he is looking to get revenge on people who killed his friends, are there specific people he is going after or a group?

I've just been busy. I'm still trying to figure out how to integrate Laonin, and I'm considering creating a new character that can get more involved and is capable in a fight and have Laonin more out of the action.

GG everyone. To my team, I just want to say I had a great time chatting in the doc. We had a strong start Day 1, and then things went downhill from there. This game was a fun one to be my first game back to SE, so thanks Steel for running it.

Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger Laonin's hopes were dashed as he listened. Of course it wouldn't be this easy, it was never this easy. Laonin's heart ached, hearing the good that was left in Venser explain that it was too broken to be of use anymore. "I understand. I wish you the best, and pray that the kernel left within you grows and thrives once again. Thank you for your time." Laonin said as he walked to the exit. He turned back as he opened the door, "If you ever change your mind, I shouldn't be hard to find" he said and walked out into the night. As he walked through the dimly lit streets of the Corridor, Laonin began to think. There were plenty of people in similar positions to Venser that he could approach with the same intentions, the same questions. But was that truly the best way to go forward? Unfortunately, he didn't have all the answers. He decided to go home and get some sleep and think more on it in the morning.

Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger Laonin returned the man's smile, wrinkles creasing around his eyes. "Thank you for your hospitality. I will do my best to not squander your time." Laonin said, walking inside the Silver Dagger. "No need to apologize, I've spent most of my life on my feet, that doesn't need to change now." while the fact he was not offered a seat did not bother Laonin, it did tell him that he would need to earn Venser's respect. He did not begrudge the man's cautious nature. Laonin had put a good amount of thought into how to try and approach this conversation while he was waiting, and he hoped that his efforts would not be in vain. "I don't know how long you've been in the Alleycity, but I assume it's been long enough that you've seen what it is capable of. Great tragedies, loss, and despair. A sometimes overwhelming number of people, most who are or were lost. People without homes, people without friends, and people without families. But it is also capable of much good. I've made some very close friendships in my past, and some people I would even have considered family. There have been people who have opened their lives up to me, and shown me that not all who inhabit this place are lost, that you can find your place here and make it your own." "There was a time when my Forge was a hub of restoration in the Mistwarrens, renewing the district and the people within it. With the help of the people that change spread across the city, and more and more people joined in. There were efforts made to form a central government over the city, for the good of the people. They listened, they made plans, and in the end I think they did make a difference. But time has passed, the people pushing for change have gone, I was gone. Now I return to see the city much as it was then I first arrived, all those years ago. It still has it's good, it still has it's bad. There are many forces at work in this city, many with hidden goals, many whose presence is likely unknown to the rest of us. I don't think that will ever change." Laonin said all of this, his gaze periodically fading off into the distance, as if he was seeing what he described. "But I know that if the right people work together, that they can be a force for good, for stability. That people can make a change, hopefully a lasting one. I know that you're a business man, but also an artist, a man who likes to shape a portion of reality into what his mind envisions. I share that passion for creation. The knowledge that with the proper tools you can create, alter, and destroy. I would not consider myself an ambitious man, but I am a man with dreams. Big dreams. Dreams of a city that doesn't need to hurt anymore, dreams of a place where people can thrive. Dreams not for myself, but for all of us." As Laonin said this, he gestured out the windows toward the city. "You have done very well for yourself here Venser. I have heard your name spoken of by many people as someone reliable to do business with. From the little I know of you, you seem to have a good life. But can I ask, is this your dream? If not, what do you dream? A life like this, providing goods to the people who need them, can be very rewarding, I've lived it at times. But there can be more. There can be purpose to creation, a deeper drive behind it all. I know a man like you must have something, the question is, what is it?" Laonin said all this, and then stood there, observing Venser's reaction. He didn't expect the man to simply bare his soul to him, to let forth all of the secret thoughts and desires within him. But Laonin would take what he could get.

Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger Evening in the Corridor had arrived, and with it, lights. All of the proper art installations had lights present, allowing passersby to marvel at them all hours of the day. And several of the more ambitious street artists had used rope lights to produce their art and it shone bright. Some of the murals had been painted with luminescent paint, which glowed in bright neon colors of the rainbow. Laonin passed it all and approached the Silver Dagger. He had spent his time cleaning up his home, and not being sure how stable the current nightlife of the Alleycity was, he had made tonight one of the rare occasions he carried a weapon on him. Nothing fancy, just a simple Revolver and a steel knife, which he had made himself. Walking up to the Silver Dagger, he knocked on the door, waiting for Venser to answer and resume their discussion.

Laonin understood the man had a business to run, and that he needed time to think. This was likely an unexpected proposal for him. Finding something to keep himself busy while he waited wouldn't be a problem. "Of course, I shall return at that time. Have a pleasant day." Laonin said, then turned and walked out the door. Walking back out into the sunlight, Laonin reveled in its warmth. He took a look around the street, then headed back home to keep himself occupied until Venser had closed shop and was ready to continue the discussion.

Laonin watched Venser as he spoke, feeling that there was more to the man than met the eye. His Jovial attitude seemed sincere though. "Indeed. While there is skill in being able to recreate multiple of the same object very quickly. the true art of creation takes time. Many of my best pieces I would not wish to produce again, as each of them was a unique challenge to create, and some part of me was infused into them during the creation. I would not cheapen that by attempting to copy it." as Loanin said this he couldn't help but look down at his arms, his hands, and see the many marks and traces of his line of work upon them. The physical representation of the memories made during the process of creation. "Which pieces are yours?" Laonin asked, looking around the shop. "I would love to be able to see your craftsmanship for myself. I believe you can learn a lot about a man by his work, his mind and soul brought forth into the physical realm. Do you have any favorites?" "As for myself, I'm still trying to figure that out. I know I have the capability, as I have done so in the past. I'm just not certain if that is what I still wish to do. My perspective has changed somewhat during the last 5 years. I used to think that I could simply fix what was broken, restore what was lost, and that it would be enough. But coming back to the city, seeing that while my work did have some lasting affect in small ways, it didn't have the weight I had once hoped it would. As evidenced by this Perses I've heard tale of, it seems the city is still all too susceptible to the wrong kind of man grabbing it by the throat and forcing it into submission. It still seems as though the people are not empowered enough to be able to stop someone like him on their own, and the people with power to do so are either too busy with their own problems or not concerned enough to care." Saying all of this, Laonin realized he had begun clenching his fists tightly, causing his knuckles to whiten. Relaxing his hands he quickly shook out the inner tension that had built up, and continued. "Apologies, I tend to get carried away sometimes. To more succinctly answer your question, I want to get involved in the city again. And I figured, what better way than to start with the kind of people I know, the kind of people I understand. Those who pour themselves into their work, whose blood sweat and tears have been infused into their creations. This may come off as being a little too forward, but I don't tend to beat around the bush. Would you be open to the idea of a partnership? Perhaps even a Coalition, if things take off. I know we've just met, and I don't expect you to throw your hat in with a stranger, but perhaps we can start things off with getting to know each other, and our workspaces, better?"

Laonin, The Corridor, The Silver Dagger Laonin watched as the young man made his purchase and left. His boots making a satisfying thump on the floor as he walked, Laonin made his way up to the counter to have his discussion with the shopkeeper. "Hello there. My name is Laonin Kungli, pleasure to make your acquaintance." Laonin said, reaching forward for a firm handshake. "I haven't had the pleasure of visiting your fine establishment, as I have been away from the Alleycity for many years. But I am glad to see that those with the drive and motivation to succeed are still rewarded here." he said, taking the interior of the Silver Dagger in. "There was a time where I was fairly well known in the Mistwarrens, and had some amount of influence in the city as a whole, but given my prolonged absence I am sure all of that has faded, along with people's memory of me. I am trying to get myself refamiliarized with the city and with what has been going on in it, and your name has come up as someone who might be good to talk to. I am also trying to make new connections, and perhaps partnerships with the right people. I am a blacksmith and Forger by trade, and from what I can tell your wares have the mark of a skilled craftsman. Do you produce your own goods, or do you have staff who do that for you?" Saying all of this, Laonin watched the shopkeeper with interest. Trying to observe any hints in body language or in his eyes as he responded. @Koloss17

Once you do I'll continue Laonin's scene there too. Just don't want to butt in since you were there first.