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[TheBiggerFish]

"One, who are they, two, how do we get in?"

[Lermfish]

"One, who are they, two, how do we get in?"

"Um, well...who are they, and how are we going to get into the city?" River sighs before giving you the spiel. More history!

"The Karma Patrol were once the Karmaic Armed Forces. This was when the war I told you about began. They were almost wiped out completely, but when Nega came up with the Asura Agreement, they were part of the contract. The Karmaic Armed Forces were forbidden from maintaining travel-ready numbers and development, instead allowed to exist as a small, self-defence force. In other words, a patrol unit."

"Wait. I thought you said everyone that wasn't Nega were the good guys."

"Yes. But they will not risk their city -- especially one as important as Terminus -- for two wayward souls."

It takes a minute, but you somehow develop the courage to give it a try. You have your disguise, after all. You're resolved to get home, and that's that. "I'm in a pretty effective-looking disguise. Shame to have all your hard work go to waste, River. Let's go." You lurch forward but jerk to a halt, only to see a blue-green hand on your shoulder.

"Wait. So you mean to enter? What will be our reason?"

"Uh...two wayward souls visiting a friend? Just trust me, okay?"

She doesn't look too confident, but she eventually relents. "As you wish, Asura. Try to keep your speech with them scarce."

You nod, walking towards the gate, which you reach in minutes. You're quite confident, all of a sudden. You're only a few feet away from the guardsmen. They both approach you from the front, as if to block your way forward if you were to try to run past them. Not that you were aiming to anyway, as that wouldn't be a good idea at all. At. All. River's to your right. You figure you'll let her do most of the talking.

Their armour is impressive when you get an up-close look at it. It's mostly white, with purple designs about the chest. They wear capes that reach down to their knees. The armour itself isn't bulky like you'd expect. It's form-fitting, and from the looks of it...leather? In fact, it has so little metal you can hardly call it 'armour' as according to your concept of it.

"Hold, you two!" One of them orders. As they approach, they give orders laced with impatience. "What is your business in Terminus, City of the Cetre?" Before you can open your mouth and say something stupid which will result in you becoming an Asura-flavoured shish kebab, River steps past and in front of you.

"I am River Song of the Cobalt Clan. I'm here with..." Here with? She's choking already?!

You can't see the guards' faces, but you can feel them either arching their eyebrows or leaning forward as if to say "...yeah?". It's like you and the guards are at a theatre, and River is the main act who froze during the delivery of her most important line in the play.

"Here with--"

"A Losh'k!", the other guard finishes.

You almost jump. This is exactly what you didn't want to happen with this disguise. If you protest, though, these guards will likely skewer you. You've already lied, on top of being human. But now they think you're a Guardian. "Uh..." is all you can say to the guard, who is now leaning forward, invading your personal space, as if to inspect your Losh'k-ness.

"Praise the Perfect! A Losh'k in our city? Why are you travelling with a Kirin, blessed one?"

"B-B-B-Blessed one? I-" Great. These two clowns are part of the Guardian fan club. You are not signing autographs. Do they even do that in Outrealm?

River takes clear offence to their query, putting her lower pair of hands on her hips. "She's travelling with a Kirin because we are here to see a friend. She will be leaving Terminus and return to her own realm shortly thereafter."

"We, the Karma Patrol, will escort you, Guardian. Let us--"

"No, no, no!" You protest in a very animated way, shaking your head and hands frantically. "I'm just in town for a day. Gonna eat, see the sights, see a friend and--"

"But you must let us escort you! The Magistrate will not have otherwise knowing a Guardian is in his city! And with a Kirin, of all people."

You begin to step forward and the soldiers motion to do the same. This continues until you pass the gate, stepping foot into the city proper. You sigh, then turn to face them both. Wait...maybe you can use this to your advantage? Time to put your seven day, community college drama course to the test!

"Halt, um...at once!" They both stop so fast you think you froze time, taking a knee. A bit dramatic, but you chalk it up to other-realm weirdness. "Um...right. I hereby order you to...uh...resume your post? Because your services will...not be required?" Are you giving orders or asking questions? They seem to not notice the difference, because . . .

"Yes, Madam Guardian. We apologise for the trouble we may have caused. Resuming post. Enjoy your stay in Terminus."

You blink once, then twice, then about ten times as you watch the two soldiers rise, turn around, and walk back to the gate, standing guard the way they did before you first got here. River walks past you with a smile and slight bow as if to say "Nice work, Asura".

"You learn quickly", she coos. Meanwhile, your head is spinning. You want to know . . .

> what the hell just happened. Why did they obey you all snappy like?
> why the hell she went with the Losh'k thing. She could've downplayed it a little!
> (Write In!)

[StrawBarrel]

Ask this:

> what the hell just happened. Why did they obey you all snappy like?

[TheBiggerFish]

Really, both of those sound like a good idea.

[Lermfish]

"I may learn quickly but now I want to learn why that just happened. What is the deal with this Losh'k thing?"

You're not really taking in the sights as you wait for River to respond. She's busy looking around, strolling through the main avenue of Terminus, taking in all the sights, sounds and scents she can. She keeps her voice low, which makes it so that you can barely hear her. But then again, you don't want anyone else knowing that you're a human. "The deal, Asura, is that the Losh'k -- the Guardians -- are legendary protectors. Even though they have no actual stake in Outrealm, their history as the champions of the Great Evil earn them high honorary status putting them on the same level as the Empress. Understand?"

You nod, slowly. "Uh, so they don't actually have to listen to me."

"Oh, but they do. To disrespect a Guardian is to shame all of Outrealm, for they protected it from the Great Evil."

I bet. You roll your eyes and try to forget about all the lore you're getting crammed down your throat. That's enough fiction for an hour or two. Terminus is quite large. A beautiful city full of life. Many different...people walk up and down, to and fro. By 'people' you mean 'aliens'. So many different species. Some that have three eyes and antennae, and even some like River! You try not to make eye contact with anyone, lest you have to command more people.

"So, River...what's the deal with this friend of yours? How can he help exactly?"

"My friend Carba. He works with dimensions and existence by trade so his knowledge is of quality stock for getting you home."

"Is he...uh..." you want to say "one of you" but you're not sure how politically-correct Outrealm is, lest you get strung up by some social networking site or called a "racist".

"If you're asking if he's Kirin like I am, no. He is Mystic. Of which specific kind I know not and care not."

"Mystic? Specific kind? Huh?"

She doesn't respond and, in stead, continues browsing. You seem to be in some kind of market district. You're no longer in the main avenue area, but are now in a small maze of high ceilings made of cloth. What appears to be cloth, anyway.

"River, maybe we should try to...you know, find your friend a bit faster."

"Oh, we will, Asura. We will."

> (Write in!)

((Short update. Testing something with the write in option.))

[TheBiggerFish]

"How...?"

[StrawBarrel]

Continue following River. Pay attention to our surroundings.

[High tyrol]

Ptw

[TheBiggerFish]

Bump.

[Lermfish]

Oh. Y'all are interested in this? I was about to cancel it and run another SG in its place (since I only run two at a time).

[TheBiggerFish]

Well I know I am.

[Lermfish]

Really? You seem picky with your SGs, Fish. Maybe it's because you've been here long so you need that extra 'wow' factor that I didn't think I brought with any of my writings on the Bay yet. Though, you're the only one interested (assuming you aren't trying to gas me and are actually interested), so I was thinking of pausing it and running some other SG concepts I've had in mind. Might set a couple in this 'verse. What do you think?

[TheBiggerFish]

Me?  Picky?
I have no idea how you got that impression because I'm watching like ten, but yeah, I like this universe.

[Lermfish]

Hm. My RTD set in the same 'verse didn't do too well. It lagged along until I had to cancel since no partying was going on. Like I said then, it being an original 'verse without the typical Euro fantasy means people are going to come in without the foundation of familiarity, which is going to ensure that I take a few 'L's here and there. You know?

[TheBiggerFish]

Yeah, the lore barrier to an RTD would be greater than the lore barrier to an SG.

One does not simply wander in and PTW Einsteinian Roulette for instance.

But here you can exposit much more.

I really think you should keep going with this, it has so much potential if it gets just a bit more airtime.