Burning Skies Saloon

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Docks-

*After some breakfast, Zill prepares to head over for the interrogation. He had a couple men take the barrels of ale over to Oliver's. He see's Yiski helping Roland out.*

One day a raging lunatic and the next a mentor. He never ceases to surprise me.

*He walks over and pats Roland on the shoulder.*

Here, give this a go.

*He hands Roland his hand cannon pistol.*

Careful though, its got a lot more recoil. Both hands on there.

*Roland nods and aims. He pulls the trigger and he clips the top of the target which promptly explodes the top half off. His eyes light up and Zill has a good laugh.*

Oh yea that will leave a mark.

Thanks Zill, that was fun.

Anytime.

*Zill gets ready to go and Jun'ko comes up and kisses his mask.*

That was sweet of you.

Just wanted to perk the kid up. Days like this, we need it.

Yep. You headed out?

Sure am. Lets hope our "friend's" give us a lead.

Well you are quite persuasive.

In more ways then one.

*He loads his gun and gets the proper equipment. Zill then tells the group to stay safe and heads to Oliver's.*

[Yiski]

--Docks--

*Practice rolled and Yiski finally decided this was enough for one day.*
Alright Roland, we're done for today. How do your arms feel?

They feel almost like jelly. It is an odd feeling.

Yeah, that'll happen when you first start. Eventually, your arms will get used to it.

*Roland stood a few seconds in silence.*
Are you still thinkin' you're weak?

No. This is about Ny-Lee.

*Yiski decided to tease Roland a little bit.*
You thinkin' about proposin' to her...

I am.

*Yiski was speechless.*
Damn. I knew he was like Maria, but...

Are you okay Yiski?

Huh? Yeah, yeah.... so... how do you plan on doin' this? Don't you think you need to discuss with BdrLine and her folks?

Yes, I do. I will talk to BdrLineAzn and ask him to set up a radio channel to his parents.

You're really serious about this?

I am.

*Yiski took a look into Roland's eyes. Roland was serious. Yiski gave himself a small chuckle and put a hand on Roland's shoulder.*
Well, if you're goin' to follow this all the way through, you'll need a ring.

Oh no. I cannot ask you to provide me with it. I need to do this on my....

Whoa.... I'm not gonna give you the money. That'd be disrespectful.

*Yiski yelled over to the remaining group*
Hold down the fort for a bit. Roland and I need to head to the bank.

Why are we heading to the bank? You said you would let me handle this.

*Yiski faced Roland and smiled.*
We're going to the bank because your parents left you one more surprise.

*Confused, Roland followed Yiski to the City Center.*

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Narrator-

Zill got to Oliver's and stood outside the door a moment. He took a deep breath, and was about to knock before he remembered Jun'ko's gift. He opened the pouch and took out the gold watch. Upon opening it he saw the quote.

"Every minute with you is worth more than hours without."

After what im about to do, I hope so.

Zill focused himself and knocked. Oliver quickly came to let him in.

They are secured and waking up per your instructions.

Thanks Oliver. You do more for me than you know. Anyway, same as last time.

The basement door is latched behind Zill, and in a circle facing eachother are the three captives. They all are wearing masks and leather vests. Zill gets a bucket full of White Steam Whiskey and addresses them.

Your names gentlemen.

The one that was unconscious at the saloon started to get mouthy.

Im not tellin' you a flakin' thing ab....

Zill dumped the WSW on his head, igniting the man's mask and vest. He began to scream in pain over the course of 3 minutes before Zill pulled out his pistol and shot him. The other two prisoners from the Port watched the entire ordeal.

Your names gentlemen.

I...Im Will.

Milton.

Good, good. Tell me why you were at my Port.

We were tasked to watch over the guy's ship. That was it really.

Yea...Thats right!

I already know the group that hired you. I need to know where they are based.

We dont know that.

Zill gave Milton a right cross to the jaw. Blood sprayed onto Will and he began to weep.

What...what was that for?!?

I did not ask if you knew. I asked where they are based.

Huh? That doesnt make a....

Zill shoved a funnel into Will's mouth and made him guzzle 3 mugs worth of Wild Wind Ale. He immediately began to go crazy.

Oh my god, its so hot in here! Birdman, why is it so hot???

Zill started taking notes.

Oh that makes sense, The Guild has some pretty hot lands.

Whats that? Oh yes the secret is safe with me.

We need to discuss the secret.

Oh yes of course. You see...

No you fool, hes tricking you!

Zill dumped WSW onto Milton. He began screaming from the fiery pain.

Hurry Will! We might catch fire unless we know!

Oh god! Yes yes, the secret lies in Izumi.

Zill was satisfied. He pulled the trigger on Will, and let Milton burn to death. He left the basement and latched it. Oliver stood up when Zill came up.

You ok?

Youre the doctor. Im sure you know better than i do. But you know what ill say.

Right. I take it your men will clean the basement?

They will.

Zill walks out and finds a spot in the Garden District to sit and reflect.

-End Narrator-

[BdrLineAzn]

*BdrLine calls back to Yiski as he leaves*
Will do, its not like anything eventful is going to happen in a few hours.

*As Roland and Yiski is out of sight, he turns to Ny-Lee*
Now its my turn to have fun shooting

*BdrLine gets up from his spot and walks towards what looks like a wash bin for the plates and mugs*
*After, he goes back into the warehouse and brings back his rifle and an ammo box*

*Ny-Lee gets up as well and adjust the leather brace she has on her forearm*
If you're going to practice, i might as well do.

*After finally adjusting the guard, Ny extends and retracts the blade*
*As she does it a couple of more times, she turns to BdrLine*
Brother how many of these blades did you make?

*BdrLine is setting up a target and hears Ny-Lee*
With the one you have on.... Four, the other three should be in the box.

Do you know where the box is?

It should be back in Zill's warehouse, as we were converting it, i asked a worker to go retrieve it back from the saloon.

Ok thanks.
*Ny-Lee goes inside and find the said box on a table, ahe grabs a second forearm brace and places it on her left arm*
*The next hour or so, both Ny-Lee and BdrLine are outside of the warehouse*
*BdrLine with his rifle and shooting at targets, while Ny-Lee sets up a few make-shift dummies and practices using the dual blades*

[Yiski]

--First Bank of Anvala--

*Roland and Yiski walk into the bank and immediately get strange looks from the employees. Not everyday they get to see Western District citizens. Few of the bank guards gets cautious as Yiski walks up to the teller.*
Sir, what can I do for you today?

I've got a deposit box here and I need to access it.

I'm sorry if you do not mind me asking, but are you sure you have a deposit box with us?

*Yiski rolled his eyes at the teller.*
Goddamn profilin' bastard. Yes, I'm sure I have a box here.

*Yiski reaches into his pocket and pulls out a key and hands it to the teller. The teller inspects it and recognizes it's one of theirs.*
I'm terribly sorry sir, it's just we...

Any day now kid.

*The teller goes quiet and goes into the record room. After a few minutes, the teller returns with some files.*
Now for verification, I need you to give me the passphrase that goes to this account.

*Without hesitation.*
Crimson Bolt.

*The teller checks the file and nods his head.*
Correct sir. Please follow me into the vault.

*The two follow the teller into the vault. The teller locates and pulls out the proper box and puts the key in the lock.*
If there is anything else we can do for, please let us know.

*The teller exits, leaving only Roland and Yiski inside. Yiski pushes Roland toward the box.*
Go on. Open it.

*Roland takes a breath. He grabs the key and turns it to where he hears the box unlock. Roland opens the lid.*
Yiski!.... Is.... are the... these rings...

Your parents' wedding bands.... After Maria died, Micheal took his off and put their rings in this box.

*Roland also noticed an envelope. He opened it and found bank notes worth in total 4,000 gold.*
Where did my parents get this money?

Well, when they decided to have you they started a fund for you just in case. So, what's your plan now?

I'll take the rings with me and I'll leave the money here. I just need to find a proper time and place to propose to Ny-Lee. Probably when all this business is behind us.

Good call. Now let's lock this up and head back.

*Yiski closes the lid and re-lock the box. As they exit from the vault, Yiski tells the teller they're done. Eventually, the two make their way back to the warehouse.*

[Papa Paradox]

Papa thought since everyone was getting target practice, he might as well join in. He took his repeater, Brunhilda, out and reveled in its glory, it remained one of the few things Papa still took care of. He setup a long range target about 750 meters, he was standing and he used nothing but Brunhilda's ladder sight, after adjusting it slightly he exhaled letting the first shot go, Bullseye.

"Well darlin' you still like to pull to the right after all the years."

It was like pillow talk between one of his only true loves.

[Yiski]

--Docks--

*Roland and Yiski arrive back at the Docks and see BdrLine, Paradox, and Ny-Lee practicing. Yiski put his hand on Roland's shoulder.*
Well, I'll let you figure out your grand plan.

*Yiski addresses the group.*
I'm assumin' Zill's still out entertainin' our 'guests.' If anybody needs me, I'll be inside adjusting Blood Bolt. Best to stay clear unless you want to be covered in lochnagar powder.

*Before Yiski heads inside.*
Yiski. Do you think you could get me a few more clips of ammunition?

Sure.

*Yiski heads inside and comes back out with three clips of ammo. Yiski then goes back inside. Roland follows the procedure Yiski told him when checking current ammo and reloading. Before Roland starts practicing, he decided to watch Ny-Lee practice a bit.*
Gods, even when she is fighting, it is elegant.

*Roland felt he could watch Ny-Lee practice for hours.*

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Docks-

*Zill comes back to the Port and his warehouse. He takes his time just to appreciate the walk.*

Ahoy everyone. Got at least a destination to go on, but its no small feat to get there.

*He walks up to Jun'ko, lifts up his mask, and kisses her. She is caught off guard but quickly makes up for it. They finish and he replaces his mask.*

Well hello there. Miss me?

*Zill takes out his watch of inner pocket.*

Just a thank you for this.

[Yiski]

*As Zill returned and the group was altogether, an explosion could be heard coming from the warehouse followed by red smoke.*
By the heavens, Yiski!

*Out of the door and smoke, Yiski ran out of the warehouse coughing and sweating. Yiski face was also bright red, not from the smoke.*
Bloody skies... cough... cough.... didn't think cough... that mixture...cough....

*Roland rushes to Yiski's side and helps him down. Immediately, Yiski pulls out a flask of Clear Skies and downs it. He clears his throat and tries to speak again.*
Whew... As I was sayin', made a new round for Blood Bolt. It basically... you know what, I'll show y'all instead of explain' it.

*The warehouse wasn't leaking red smoke anymore when Yiski went back inside. When Yiski came back, he had Blood Bolt in hand and loaded one of his experimental rounds in. He took aim at one of the target dummies.*
You guys might wanna get back some. FIRE IN THE HOLE!

*The shot rang out and hit the target dead center. For a second, nothing happened. Suddenly though...*

*WOOSH* *CRACKLE*

*The target went up into flames and then exploded. The group was stunned. Yiski unchambered the spent round and turned to the others.*
Well, what y'all think?

*There was an air of silence.*
I know, beautiful right? Think this may be my best round yet. Goin' to make more of these babies.

*Yiski had some spring to his step as he went back insdie.*

[RearAdmiralZill]

*Zill makes sure his warehouse isnt damaged and smacks Yiski on the back of the head.*

I swear. The one place we can stay and you damn near blow it up. Youre thinking too much like me, and its disturbing.

*He addresses the group.*

We got our work cut out for us. The best place for us to go finding Birdmen is apparently Izumi, a little backwater town of nothing deep in Guild territory. They wont be welcoming when they realize we are there.

[BdrLineAzn]

*BdrLine takes in the new information*
Izumi huh? That's in the path of a suppose Birdmen factory. Zankif says that it's located in the carters, but even he is not sure if it exists. All he has is that one of his scout group reported they saw it. Mind if we investigate that as well?

[Yiski]

*Yiski facepalms.*
Really? Izumi? By the burnin' skies, as if we didn't already have to deal with the Birdmen, I'm sure the Guild would love to have me stop by for a chat.

*Yiski continues to work on his ammo.*

[RearAdmiralZill]

*Zill looks at Bdr.*

Yea, anything your contacts pick up needs to be looked at too. If we go all the way to Izumi and find an abandoned warehouse full of nothing, we at least have something to go with.

*Zill sighs.*

Its a fools trip but unless we want to live in this warehouse forever we need to silence these flakin' birds.

*He goes to sit in the back of the warehouse, taking a swig from his flask. Jun'ko comes up to Yiski and BdrLine.*

He seems a little down after his interrogation, and i doubt he will be an open book about it. Do you know anything about his past interrogations?

[BdrLineAzn]

*BdrLine to Jun'ko*
I only heard rumors and stories, but I've never seen one of his in person. But what I seen so far,he usually tends to them by himself.

*Ny-Lee goes over to Roland and pulls him away from the others*
I saw that you were watching me train with the blades. So what do you think hmm. And how was our little adventure with Yiski into the city.

[Yiski]

*Yiski to Jun'ko*
Trust me Jun, it's better to leave this topic silent. I know exactly how Zill conducts his interrogations. Hell, helped him out in a few after our service to the Baronies. I'll tell you this though, it's a burden that he'll have to shoulder all on his own.

*As Ny-Lee pulls Roland away from the others, he gives her kiss.*
Well, Yiski keeps showing me surprises about my parents.

*Ny-Lee looks at Roland with inquisitive eyes.*
And that is all you will be getting out of me.

*Ny-Lee pouts and Roland chuckles and gives her another kiss.*