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Serene Herald	There are chambers within the arena, not where watchers can enjoy the sights of the combat on the sands and sawdust, on marble graced with blood. But set where the clash of combat and the roar of the crowds are muted. Within one of these chambers, the man known as Perfect Question is readying things. There is the slight squeak of leather, but also the sound of metal rings tinkling, the nmistakably bright and sharp sound of starmetal for those who have heard it before.
Nine Roads Alani	The soft steps of boots on stone are hardly remarkable--such scrapes can be heard virtually everywhere in the Arena, especially during the Congregation of Victory. On the other hand, right here, right now, in this moment they're not really expected. This corner of the rather large Arena was mostly done for the day, the precise fact which made it useful. The sounds of the crowd and the shouts of the warriors above are muted, distant, and somewhat distorted by the sound reflecting awkwardly on the cut stone. Still, whoever is outside is not attempting to be silent or sneaky. It's a fast, steady, purposeful tread that gets closer and closer...and just at the point in the outside corridor where the tread should have turned left...it keeps getting closer still, after only a momentary pause. Who knew where to go, or had a reason to be here? Still, someone clearly did. There's a soft knock, knock on the door, not the kind of overly aggressive, boisterous pounding most warriors around here would choose.
Serene Herald	The sounds inside stop. A moment of muffled silence, and then the door opens, and after a moment, he blinks with a bit of surprise, and then steps back opening the door more. "Please come in," he was politely, correctly. "I must admit I did not expect to see you here!" A bit mroe warmth there as he starts to smile.
Nine Roads Alani	Nine Roads Alani is, of course, known to Serene Herald. They did not cross paths much in Yu-Shan, but that's more due to coincidence and being in different divisions of the Bureau of Destiny than anyone's intention. Still, for a Sidereal, she's surprisingly...well, -normal-, from a Creation perspective. Her youth shows, as a god of Yu-Shan might put it. Right now, her hood is up, concealing most of her face quiet well, save her mouth and chin. She performs a short but correct martial arts salute--left hand cupping the right fist--and bows at the perfect angle for a peer. The smile on her face belies the formality, though, which widens as Serene Herald smiles a bit too. Her voice is soft, so as to avoid echoes. "Greetings! I confess, I'm taking a terrible liberty to bother you while you're getting ready, but this was the most auspicious time to meet." She walks in, carefully closes the door behind her, then brushes her hood back behind her head. Her thick, tousled, straw-colored hair spills out as she gives Serene Herald a frank look of assessment. "I don't want to take up all of your time, but I felt it important that we meet, at least for a little bit."
Serene Herald	"I will not disagree," he says, as he closes the door behind her. "It has been...interesting here, and I have to confess I am still getting a handle on things. It is...difficult to come in the middle of everything. It is far clearer what the appropriate endings are when I know the beginnings," he says wryly. "But look at you! Will you be fighting? Ah, and how should I call you here? I do not want things to fray around you. Here, I am Perfect Question, a scholar allegedly from Chiarascuro."
Nine Roads Alani	"If you ask most people in town," Alani replies, "you'll find me known as Elena, a humble courier with a new business in Great Forks. I've used one other for more high-class places, but it's usually Elena. As for fighting..." She blows an idle strand of hair out of her eyes and gives Herald a wry look. "You have no idea how much I want to. But unlike yourself, I don't fancy my chances of keeping a lid on everything if I start to lose. I'm honestly not absolutely sure I have the level of control needed. I may not be a Shieldbearer, but I do enjoy a fight every now and again. One of the reasons I wanted to stop by is to wish you good fortune, however. I've seen some of the competition, and I'm not ashamed to say that my skill would not be enough to take the prize." She gets a little smirk and crosses her arms defiantly. "I'd bet you a day's pay, though, that in order for the very best to win, they -will- have to reveal more than they intended."
Serene Herald	"Mine is not enough to take the prize, even if I were to let loose, so I feel no shame in not showing my full extent. But if I can show enough as a promising student, I will have done what I set out to do. Perhaps bring some reflected glory to a...rather talented sifu who has trained in a number of sword forms. I am teaching her some of Violet Bier, while she teaches me Single Point. And that is an...interesting form to mesh with Fatesever." He touches the hilt of his sword. "I will not take that bet--it is foolish to bet against certainty--but I wonder if some will hold back anyway?" He then runs his hand through his hair. "For now, at least, life is simple. But I feel as though I am about to start riding the tiger, and have to hold tight, lest I be thrown and devoured."
Nine Roads Alani	Well, now. Alani is slowly going from nodding in understanding to looking...well, -gobsmacked- for a moment. "...Wait. I feel like I have...talented sifu, specifically with swords, a woman, in Great Forks....who has just taken on a new student." One blonde eyebrow raises as Alani looks Herald in the eyes. "She doesn't happen to have just opened up a dojo along the road west of the city, has she? Name of Misa? Black hair, kind of quiet?" Alani considers a moment before nodding. "I think you're right about riding the tiger. The other reason I wanted to meet is to compare notes. The whole reason I've been given a long-term assignment here is to track down Exalted in the city, which is why the tournament is so important, whether I'm actually in it or not." She chuckles quietly. "The Barque, and I'm sure the other Divisions as well, are -livid- about how embarrassingly bad their predictions have been regarding practically anything in Great Forks for at least a year or two now. The results haven't been disastrous, at least, but you know how it is. It always could become so. So I'm here to try to track down who's been mucking with Fate so we can at least keep tabs on them." She turns quiet for a moment, turning away, then glances back at Herald. "I don't know anyone for absolute certain yet, but Misa is on my short list. Please be careful."
Serene Herald	Herald chuckles slightly, "Yes, that would be her. So far, I have been careful, and only used trainig, so nothing...obvious yet. But...people are going to see starmetal when I fight, which is going to be...interesting. As for the purview..." He shakes his head, "There is definitely something more. I have run into someone that...feels strange. But it was only the once, so I am not sure. If I meet her again, I will try to find more out."
Nine Roads Alani	Alani slowly nods, thinking as she speaks. She may -look- like she just came in off a farm and threw someone else's robe on, but it's clear she's sharper than she looks. "Right. And while most people in the crowd won't know starmetal from a shiny rock, he fact is the wrong people all will know. It can't be lost on Misa, either, I'd imagine. We have a little more leeway than most, but...well, Misa and I have had a friendly spar before. She's the real deal." "As for someone strange...hm, describe her, maybe? I'm honestly not sure who you might mean, but I'd like to be on the lookout too, if that's all right with you."
Serene Herald	"A very, very strong woman, looking more muscular than most men, a bit taller than you, but with a somewhat greenish tinge to her skin. She had suffered at the hands of one of the gods in the city here, and ended up...beating him severely, and this lead to him being disrepsected, no longer worshipped, and so getting hungry and weak," Herald says. "I took pity on the god and ended up giving him just enough to get back on his feet, and I am now owed a favor. Or a /really/ nice piece of jewelry. And if he strays back into...enslaving, extorting, and brutalizing his followers, he will not like what happens next."
Nine Roads Alani	"Huh," Alani responds, as she listens to Herald's description. "I don't remember meeting anyone like that, but if she's anywhere, surely we're already in the best place to find her. We'll have to keep an eye out." She pauses and glances at Herald. "It sounds like the two of you have a connection through this god. If I find her, I'll avoid mentioning you." She grins for a moment. "Perhaps, if we need to find her, we could use this god as a bait of sorts. I'm not sure we have a need to do that right now, though." She pauses, considering. "I also overheard several people talking in the stands recently, including one truly -huge-, freakishly large man. Nothing concrete but he's so big I'm not sure it could have been natural." She shrugs. "Anyway, we have things to look for, but this is a scavenger hunt, not a trail map. We have naught but to be clever and observant."
Serene Herald	"Aha. I met him once before, at a temple to a goddess--and the priestess is the very alluring, but strange-shaped healer here. You know the lady with the bat wings? If I get injured and have to see her, I can tell you more as well." After a long sigh, he closes his eyes. "I think I need to focus on the task at hand. Later, we can meet again, and drink to celebrate victory, or console defeat, yes?"
Nine Roads Alani	Alani doesn't look enlightened with the last reference. "Lady with the bat wings? Hm. Well...if I see her, I'm sure I'll recognize her. But you're right, of course. You have a match to get to, and I know you want to get in the right mindset. I won't keep you. I will, however, take you up on that drink. I'll find you here at the Arena, or if you need to find me later I have a courier service storefront in the west side, opposite the smithy." Alani turns and dons her hood once more, but before opening the door, she pauses and looks at herald sidelong. "Maidens favor you, Perfect Question. I'm sure you will do your sifu proud." And with that, she opens the door and slips out, closing it carefully behind her.