Korina had endured the long flight, rude people and less then cordial flight attendants all the way to India. Then the plane had landed and she had, with out any help from anybody else, had disembarked the plane on her foldable wheelchair. She had retrieved her baggage and gotten a taxi to the cheap, rather nasty hotel. Once there she opened her second piece of luggage, a large silver briefcase like suitcase. Of course she had not been able to bring her power armor, so instead she had brought her bodysuit. It wasn't nearly as strong as her power armor, it wouldn't deflect bullets or really protect her. Instead this suit only had small servo motors upon her legs to make her able to walk again.
Undressing except for her bra and panties the female began slipping in to the suit. She closed the clasps upon the robotic suit and shivered as she felt them tighten. She slowly stood up and walked a couple paces and grinned. They seemed to be working fine for now. She nodded and opened her other suitcase. Digging under the first two levels of cloths she grabbed her assault rifle and slowly pulled it out. It was a good thing the airport didn't check luggage that went in to the bottom of the plane in the cargo area. Otherwise they would have found her weapon and began investigating it. She couldn't wait til her newest invention was complete but that wasn't for a very long time with all the amount of work that was being out in to it. She had her entire swarm dedicated to the project and working as fast as they could.
She checked her rifle, then loaded it and slipped two extra magazines in to her pocket on her left side. Each contained thirty five of her specialty made bullets. Slinging her rifle over her back she opened the door and walked out to see if she could find some transportation.
She was here for one reason. Rumors of a powerful daemoness masquerading as a Indian goddess named Kali. She was here to put a stop to the daemoness, whether by killing her or capturing her to be taken somewhere where she would be contained. She looked around and sighed wondering where she could get transportation out of this city and up to the mountain where this Kali and her new followers where said to live inside an ancient Indian temple.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Jul 28, 2013 6:26:17 GMT -5
Rae had been in India for nearly three weeks. She had arrived in New Dehli and had travelled over three days to a little town on the outskirts of the Himalayan Peaks of Uttarakhand called, Dana. This little town was one of the closest to her ultimate location – the mountains. Still, the pink haired girl had spent some time getting to know the people and the climate. In the three weeks here she had adjusted to the heat and she had witnessed a beautiful and dangerous storm. She had eaten from the table of a small merchant family she was staying with and she had helped them in their farm lands and with their cattle. Rae had even picked up pieces of the language, though she couldn’t profess to be much good at it. The merchant had also become fond of Eli, her brown and white canine companion.
So why was she here?
She had seen reports of people going missing, of a new cult that was rising within the Indian Hindi culture. New cults didn’t just rise. They had people at the top of them…and we use the turn people very loosely, usually there was a vampire out to play, or if she was really unlucky a daemon. Rae had gotten into this path, on which her life took its shape, because of daemons. She had yet to meet a nice one. So, she was here, casually gathering evidence as she passed herself of as a student on gap year, all the while, keeping her ear to the ground and her eyes sharp. There was no need to rush- she might as well get a little enjoyment out of it.
That evening, Rae, with her friend Baasim (who like his name suggested was good humoured and always smiling) had decided to frequent the local tavern. There was a celebration of marriage going on and the whole town was invited. Bassim kept close to Rae, brought her sweet drink and introduced her to people who dressed her in flowers and silks and got her up and dancing with them. The people here seemed so happy, and the whole place was full of the joy of celebration.
Last Edit: Jul 28, 2013 6:26:41 GMT -5 by Rae-Star Berii
Korina sighed, reaching in to her pocket and removing a small earpiece and mike and slipping it over her ear. "Raphael, are you there?"
"Of course I am Korina." Came the cool, smooth voice with what most girls would describe as a sexy Mexican accent. Korina smiled as she heard the reassuring voice of her artificial intelligence system, her only constant friend who hung around and never would leave her.
"I need a way to get up to the mountains. Which would be the best mode of transportation to get up in to the mountains." She waited, walking down the street slowly and pausing outside of what looked liked a tavern as Raphael responded in his cool, Hispanic voice.
"As few roads go up that direction, an none make it up to our final destination our best options would be a horse or another living quadruped. They would be able to eat vegetation along the way and water from the plentiful streams marked upon maps."
She peeked inside a window watching the people with in having what seemed like an amazing, wonderful time together and sighed softly. She wished she had a family, people to care for her and love her. There even seemed to be a pink haired America among them. She shrugged her shoulders as I'd settling an enormous weight and heard off to see if she could find a horse.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Jul 28, 2013 14:03:21 GMT -5
Taking a break from the music and the celebration, Rae stepped out into the open air. She was layered in scarves now and looked more like one of the locals if not for her pearl skin. Seeing another skulking around she leant on the wall and watched the woman for a moment talking to herself, or so it seemed.
Rae, finally, pushed away from the wall and straightened herself out; “Are you okay?” She called out after the woman. There was something about her that made Rae’s alarm bells go off in her head, but there was also something familiar.
(OOC; sorry, I know it's short, I saw you online and posted real quick on my phone.)
Korina paused and looked back as a voice spoke out to her. She smiled seeing the young American girl who had been inside the tavern having a good time. Turning around she walked back, her white exo-suit like walking apparatus bright in the lights. She stopped before the girl and smiled again warmly, one or her beautiful charming smiles that she should patent.
"Hello ma'am. Yes I am alright. I was just walking past in search of some stables to buy a horse or something to help me get up the mountain. You look like your having fun with in though." She motioned at the people with in the tavern still having a great time. "Do you know or anywhere I can get a mount? It would be most appreciated." She wondered what the American girl was doing here but didn't wish to pry so he simply assumed she was visiting or adopted for some reason.
(I'm almost always on dear. I have the site on my phone and thus can almost always be on and post.)
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Jul 29, 2013 8:39:01 GMT -5
(OoC: That’s good to know. You can change you’re avatar by the way, it’s in your profile and you’re personal settings.)
Rae, slender, in her late teens and with pale-pink and rainbow coloured hair stuck out like a sore thumb amongst these people. Even in the pretty coloured scarfs that she had been dressed in, underneath she wore her leather biker boots and slacks. She looked odd here, she looked eccentric and too modern for this world near the mountain peaks.
"Hello ma'am. Yes I am alright. I was just walking past in search of some stables to buy a horse or something to help me get up the mountain. You look like you’re having fun with in though."
Her eyes went back to the party, for a moment her chocolate gaze smiled brightly, before she turned back to the woman. “It is a wedding celebration.” She explained, her London accent sounding foreign in this place. “Two families brought together in complete harmony.”
Then her thoughts went to the question in hand.
"Do you know or anywhere I can get a mount? It would be most appreciated."
“The mountains are dangerous at this time of year.” She said, as she had asked the same question; “You may be able to pay a man enough to guide you, but he will charge you double that again for the use of his donkey.”
“My friend, Baasim may be able to help you. Though he will want to know why, stranger?” It was phrased as a question and it was clear that Rae was not going to help the stranger with anything until she knew her purpose and her name.
Korina smiled as the girl explained that it was a wedding celebration inside. How wonderful! She always loved when two people found their soul partners and made their vows to spend forever together, even if in reality it was rare that people did spend that forever together. It was the concept and idea behind it that was so amazing. "Well, I wish the best upon the newly wed couple. As to a guide that won't be necessarily. I have the best, most current maps at my disposable." She don't say how as all she seemed to have was the cloths on her which where simple blue jeans that accented her curves, a blue tank top, and good hiking boots. Then she had her exo-suit on, allowing her to actually walk, the blue tooth like device in her ear, and her unique rifle upon her back.
"As to danger, I have come prepared for that as well. You never know what you might meet in the jungle." She patted her rifle slung over her back affectionately, like a mother showering a child with love. "However it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. As to my business, it is my own and rather rude to pry but as I have nothing to hide I will tell you that I am exploring. This area has certain interest to myself and some of my friends."
She looked at the other girl, perfectly aware she had still really not answered any of her questions or even given her name. Korina was no longer the naive young girl she once was. She had fought and killed vampryes, defended her home from a angry mob of hunters, and meet a werebeast. She was also on a mission to kill a self proclaimed goddess who was a daemon. She had absolutely no doubt this girl COULD be that very goddess herself in a different form. Likely, no not really but the possibility still existed and Korina couldn't take that chance. She may have high tech gadgets on her side, but those wouldn't make up for stupidity or for her inexperience in the supernatural.
(I didn't even now her avatar wasn't working. It shows up the way I am using the site. I will fix it after work.)
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Jul 29, 2013 11:45:36 GMT -5
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Once more Rae glanced back at the party that was going on, then back at the woman. “Give me a moment.” She said; and she ducked back into the tavern where the party was. Finding Bassim again she spoke quietly into his ear, explaining slowly that there was a woman who was looking for a mount to take her into the mountains. Rae thought it was strange that an explorer would not take the advice of a local, and that sparked her interest. She wanted to know more about this woman and what was going on. Rae also wanted to know who was speaking in the woman’s ear, who was rabbiting away and giving her the words that came from her lips. If this girl was in fact on honest traveller then Rae thought the girl was ill-prepared and as a seasoned hunter travelling was part of her art. So, as she thought he might, Baasim agreed to her offer. Then she returned outside to give the girl the local’s conditions.
“my friend, the one with the mounts, has said that he will lend us two animals. This is you’re lucky day. You just earned yourself a companion, stranger.” Rae told her, with a smile.
Worse-case, there was something going on here than what met the eye. Her story; “Baasim will not lend you his creatures for less than 4000 rupees each, if you take me with you he is willing to lend the animals to you for free as he trusts that I will take care of them and return them to him safely.”
Korina tilted her head, watching as the girl left and spoke to one of the natives inside the tavern. Then she came back with great news, but also with a proposition. Korina was not against the idea of a traveling companion. It would make the long night more tolerable and just in case something went wrong an she was injured she might have an ally. Then again, this could be a very very bad idea, and this female could be setting her up or spying on her. She stood for a moment contemplating the options before her now then smiled and extended a hand.
"It would be a pleasure to travel with you. My name is Korina." She gave no last name. A simple safety precaution but it could so wonders against being known instantly by some people. "It would be wonderful to know your name as well if we are gonna be traveling together. But do you think donkeys would be the best? I have never traveled this area so do not know, but I have had bad luck with their stubborn streaks." She also didn't mention the fact that they where not the fastest animals and would take much longer to get them up to the temple.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Jul 29, 2013 12:58:41 GMT -5
“Hello Korina, I’m Rae.”
She gave her real name, it wasn’t something Rae did very often. She had several alias; Tessa, Maria, Georgina. But this felt like one of those situations where it was important to have some sort of truth. It felt like the woman was spooked, like she was a baby dear, scared and Rae didn’t want to be the hunter that frightened her off. To be fair, Rae was what she went by, Rae was short for Rachael, her true identity and one she left behind when she was fourteen.
“Horses won’t be able to meander the smaller paths. Maple and Kari are good girls, they are loyal and will manage the dangerous paths.
“I’ve been as far as the forest edge, on a fruit gathering, but not much further. Where are we heading exactly?” She asked, leading the other off towards the house where she had been staying. It was a small stone and white building; the smell of hay and animal was already drifting in the air. There were seven donkeys in the stalls, and all of them looked around shyly at the new woman who followed Rae into the sheds.
Korina smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you Rae." She followed the girl to a house, the smell of hay and that unique odor that most equine animals had made her smile. She loved that smell though she had not smelled it it years. She was unable to take care of an animal that needed so much attention as a horse, with her own problems with her health and had been traveling so hard trying to find a cure it had so far escaped her.
She listened to the donkeys shuffle, clearly a little uneasy with her because she was new to them. She paused at a few stalls and held her hand out flat to each of them allowing them to snuffle at her open palm. Unfortunately she didn't have any treats, just her kindness. She rubbed each of them tenderly then followed Rae farther in to the stalls.
"Well, to be honest I am very interested in that ancient temple to there. The one that supposively they did the sacrifices to the old gods at. I'm sure you know the one. That's why I brought my own protection. I know places like that can frequently be filled with less then pleasant animals, both the four legged and two legged type." She let that stand knowing the girl would get her point. Bandits loved empty places like temples, and a tender innocent young girl could suffer a long lasting fate far worse then death at their perverse hands.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Jul 30, 2013 3:07:06 GMT -5
Rae didn’t respond to her; it didn’t seem like a point that needed a response because it was one of those things that was active on so many levels. This was particularly true for Rae and Rae’s work because things were never as they seemed. Merely she gave the other a nod and a small.
Rae unwrapped the scarves she had been dressed in at the wedding celebrations, undoing the gentle jade and lavender silks from around her body and her neck. Stood in a black crop top and her slacks now, her pale shape was slender and lithe. Rae was a girl of gentle curves, small apple bust and slender hips, she had hard muscles on her arms, shoulders and stomach that said ‘I am a fighter, don’t mess with me’, and the muscles seemed so in contrast with her smile and her bright, girly rainbow hair. She leant into one of the stalls and wrapped the silks around the donkey there. “Much prettier.” She told the animal, who did not look happy to receive such a gift.
The other thing Rae’s torso was covered in were scars, she had several, from knives and scratches over the years but the most impressive was a large, mouth shaped indent along her left side. It was a hangover from an adventure in the distant past, but if it told the other anything, it was that Rae was more dangerous than she first appeared.
Finally, she led out the two animals she had been told to fetch; and started pottering with the packs both animals carried; filling up water bottles, ensuring there was a crust of bread and some basic food supplements for each of them. Without a word to the other girl she tied up the donkeys to one side, and moved towards the back of the shed.
Scaling up a rafter Rae pulled down a large backpack. Hers, it was home to all of her hidden secrets and her basic hunters equipment. This she attached to one of the donkeys, before leading them both back out into the open. Then she handed the girl one of the lead ropes. “Your beast is called Maple.” She told the girl. “She is loyal.”
“If you want to make a better time, I suggest we lead the animals for now and mount when we get to the foot of the mountain. It’s not a far walk if you can manage it?” She said, business like as she pulled a loose, white shirt from her backpack and a bandana to tie around her flamboyant hair.
Korina watched as Rae retrieved two female donkeys, then filled the saddle bags with basics like water and food. Then she climbed up in to the rafters and retrieved a backpack that had been hidden. Korina guess it was filled with items of a very personal nature to the girl to be hidden away so well even though she seemed to trust the family. Then leading the donkeys outside, with Korina following behind she spoke and said it would be fastest to walk.
Take the reins of the donkey handed to her she smile and rubbed the equine's neck tenderly, then kissed it's cheek. "I can walk well enough. Don't worry about me." She smiled and patted Maple's cheek. "So, with my maps and your donkeys we should reach the place in good time. Perhaps tonight or even tomorrow. Much better then three or four days hiking by foot all the way." She smiled happily. Simply having another being to talk to who wasn't trying to kill her, or so she hoped, was much better then having nobody but the always analytical and indifferent Raphael in her ear.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Jul 31, 2013 2:52:47 GMT -5
Rae gave the woman a smile and nodded in response. Truth was, Rae didn’t believe that Korina was a simple adventurer looking for something to do with her time, there was too much going on here under the surface, but Rae didn’t feel threatened by her which was also nice. After all, she supposed she didn’t have the right to be too judgemental; they were both hiding things underneath. Buttoning her shirt up as they walked, she felt the lose material cloaking her skin. It felt cooler to be clothed than to have the sun beating down on her and burning her. A natural blonde, Rae was partial to burn in the exotic sun if she was prone to it for too long.
She wandered along the dust trail, glancing around her occasionally. The party was still in full swing as they passed by the tavern and she waved to a couple of kids who were playing outside, they were bored of the celebrations and would rather play at dice and at hoops than be inside with the adults. The kids smiled up at her and waved back, shouting and laughing and teasing in their native tongue. Rae had been here long enough to be part of the furniture.
As they made it out of town and towards the mountain trail she paused; then (after taking a moment to reposition her equipment in the packs) she mounted onto her mare. “Good girl, Kari.” She murmured, stroking the beast’s long ears, before pressing forwards down onto the path. Quickly it became thin, quickly it became forest like. “So…?” She said, finally. “What’s with the Bluetooth?”
Korina lead Maple along, watching the little kids play and wave at Rae as she passed. She paused and pressed up in to the seat of Maple when Rar mounted her donkey. Keeping Maple behind the other female so that when the path narrowed they would already be in a line, Korina leaned down over Maple's back and patted her neck lovingly.
Sitting back up and looking at the girl's back as she spoke she asked a simple question, clearly out of pure curiosity. Korina laughed softly and shook her head despite the fact the other female wouldn't see the action. "It isn't quite a Bluetooth. It's a tad more complex then that. It's a radio directly between myself and my home where my source is. Which is how I have all the latest maps of the area. My source can instantly look up all the maps, compare them to find all authentic routes, then relay the information to me. Plus they can watch us." She pointed her finger upwards at the sky. "All those spy movies about the satellites went to his head and he does that, only to help directed me where I need to go."
She laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "The only down side is he is a complete and total smart ass and wise crack and makes the most horrible jokes. However he's very loyal and had never steered me wrong." She patted Maple's neck again and grinned. "What about you and that backpack? You don't hide a backpack in the rafters of a barn for nothing. Something important in there?"
