There Are Demons and Angels In All Of Us ::Haru|Munchkin::

[Haruchai]

The world of Golarion, home to a myriad number of races. From humans to elves and dwarves, to the less civilized races such as orcs and ogres and giants. A world of vast landscapes both mundane and fantastic. A world where magic and technology vie for power, and where those who follow the ways of old cling to those beliefs and look at a changing world with scorn.

Elves and dwarves hold innate magic passed down through the bloodlines of their people that stretches back centuries. Elves, thought to be descended from the Fae Folk, hold some sway of the primordial elements of Fire and Water. Dwarves command Earth magic through the use of runes. Humans, often considered inferior, both due to their short lifespan and their inability to call upon magic in a natural way, have turned to their more adaptable minds to even things out. Though a human can learn magic it takes many years of study and concentration, and even then it is unpredictable and dangerous.

Instead, humans have turned to the development of technology. The basis for this is a simple invention really; blasting powder. Along with the gnomes, whose small stature and keen minds lends them to tinkering and building, large engines that run on coal have been engineered. Airships and even a rail system have been built, all vehicles that run on coal.

Coal mined with the blasting powder.

This has set the humans at odds with the other races who view such unnatural destruction of the land as blasphemy. Conflict has arisen between many factions, and yet some remain neutral, waiting to take advantage in any way that they can. One such race is the Asura. A humanoid feline race often looked upon with suspicion. As smart and cunning as humans, as in touch with nature as the elves, and with the ferocity and instincts of the big cats they resemble.

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Kahu walked through the bustling city streets of Riddleport. The leopard Asura loved this port city, and was a frequent visitor. At the moment he was working for Kellen the Sage, an elderly human man who paid him well to help him in his research. There were places that were more easily accessible to Kahu, his feline nature allowing exploration in places that humans could only go with bulky equipment. Luckily today was Kahu's day off and the Asura planned to make good use of it.

Slipping into the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall, Kahu kept his purse close to his chest. It was notoriously difficult to pickpocket an Asura, their keen senses and instinct making them the poorest of targets, and yet in this city, full of brigands and pirates, Kahu knew there were those foolish enough to try. The first place he headed was the bar to get a drink. The more sour spirits were ones he shunned, but the feline anthro absolutely loved the sweeter drinks and honeyed mead was his drink of choice.

His deep baritone voice called over the tender. "It's been awhile Saul. I'll have a pint of the feywine." Kahu said, using the more common name for the lightly alcoholic drink.

"Coming right up. You're right, it's been a bit. Kellen have you going out and collecting again?" Saul asked, and soon slid the tankard to Kahu with a smile.

Kahu nodded. "This time it was some strange mushroom that grows up in the cliffs. Thrives on both fresh and saltwater and all that." the leopard said, and took a drink of the mead and smiled.

 

[MunchCat]

"Three silver? 'ave yah lost yer min'?"

The young woman flinched at the raised voice, but otherwise stood her ground. "It's the price Mathias agreed to, and already two silver off the standard price. It's not my fault if he didn't bother telling you as much when he sent you!"

The man she was speaking to rose from the table in the back of the tavern. He was easily twice the woman's size and three times her width, all muscle and sinew and skin as thick and tanned as leather. He waved his hand over the glass bottle between them. At one hand's height and half a hand's girth, it didn't look like anything special. Even the clear liquid within looked to be nothing more than boiled water- too clear and clean to have come from the pump. "How we know it e'en works? All we know, yer cheatin' us out."

The girl's eyes narrowed, and her skinny arms folded beneath her breasts. She was a scrap of a girl, standing at a mere 5'2, and would easily be mistaken as a youth if not for the curves of her body or sudden determination within her eyes. "Are you questioning the reputation of Master Nijeeb?"

The second man at the table shook his head. He was older, with a full grey beard and thicker body. He might have almost looked grandfatherly, but his eyes were as blue as ice, and just as cold. "Forgive 'im. He's not usually sent for things like this, but our capt'n's busy with... other matters. Got distracted, 'n' barely 'membered to tell us what we even pickin' up. We can spare a silver five, and not a copper more."

The young woman looked as if she had been slapped. "But... but that barely covers the cost to make it! Two silver, then, and that's lower than it's ever been sold anywhere!"

The younger man's hand moved quickly, grabbing her by the wrist. "Tell yah what. You can have yer two silver, but I'm takin' more than jus' th' juice at that price."

 

[Haruchai]

The wonderful smells coming from the kitchen had Kahu's mouth watering, and the sweet liquid trickled down his trhroat as he took a long pull. The general hum of conversation in the place was cut through a little by a small scene near one of the rearward tables of the tavern portion of the hall. Various card and dice games took place across the common floor, separated by a partitioning wall, yet this small scene was still well within earshot of the Asura. Bright blue eyes glanced in that direction, easily piercing through the shaded areas of the room to see two men talking with a young woman.

Kahu was not aware of what might be in the bottle upon the table and yet that seemed to be the crux of the discussion and even through the din of the hall he caught snippets of conversation as his ears swiveled in that direction, and the young woman's stance spoke of a defensive manner, the two men obviously disagreeing with her on some matter. It seemed a typical sort of disagreement - until the younger of the two human men reached out to grab the young lady by the wrist.

Keeping a close eye on the trio, Kahu turned back to Saul and inquired quietly. "That young woman there. Who is she?"

Saul had to squint to peer through the light smoke and the low light. "Her? I never have caught her name, but she helps Master Nijeeb conduct business. A runner of some sort I think. Kind of like you."

Kahu turned back to the scene and his eyes narrowed. There was an instant camraderie at that revelation. Couriers and runners were a close-knit lot, and though they often vied for assignments or were in close competition, they always stood up for one another as well. Setting down his drink Kahu said, "Get me some of that roasted chicken from the back Saul. I'll be back in a moment." Standing up, the seven foot tall Asura, who was actually small for his kind, but a decent size for a leopard, made his way toward the scene. He was deft and near silent in his approach, his padded feet making nary a sound though it would not have mattered in the general noise of the place.

The sword at the small of his back stayed where it was, and the two-foot long cylinder tucked into the sheath on his thigh also stayed put. As he got closer he put on a smile, though many who were not intimately familiar with his kind would see it as a snarl or a showing of fang. "Are you almost done here?" he asked suddenly. "Nijeeb is wondering what is taking you so long." he said, and reached one comparatively massive paw up to scratch his chin. His blue eyes cut between the men and then to the bottle on the table.

"Were you able to get the three silver?" he asked, thankful for his superlative hearing. Kahu stood in a neutral sort of way, confident that his faster reflexes would be a deterrent in and of itself.