The Lonetrain Station
The Guard Post
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The Guard Post of the Lonetrain station is where the papers of every single traveler coming into and leaving the Royal City are carefully reviewed before they are allowed to pass through. The Guard post is composed of two wings, one of which is dedicated to offices where paper pushers and officers alike work and people pass through. The other is a wing contains several small holding cells and an interrogation room. The Guard post is not an actual prison, as there is no room for true prisons in the Royal City. There are only four possible outcomes for a criminal in the city. A quick execution, being sent on a settling mission, being sent to work in the mines, or rotting away in the Royal Palace dungeon. Once travelers have had their papers properly stamped and reviewed, they may take the Great Elevator down into the upper or lower city.
Accalia let out a huff as she donned the gear taken from her the night prior. Her head was still pounding and her mouth dry, and a night in the cells hadn't done helped her situation much. She cast a glare in the direction of the soldiers, but there wasn't any real hostility in it. She was too damn tired for that. Still, as she passed them by to make her way to the
WoW - Lonetrain Grand Hall, she muttered:
"Bastards." under her breath.
As he stepped in from the
WoW - Lonetrain Grand Hall and politely waited for Zahrah to proceed through to the Guard Post,
Thaddeus reached into his coat to extract his credentials so he didn't slow the clearance process down.
Just behind Thaddeus,
Zahrah approached the wing for their papers to be checked. She took a moment to withdraw her own paperwork, holding it carefully in both hands as she proceeded just in front of Thaddeus. There was the immediate concern that the silence between them should have been remedied, there was no pushing conversation to be had until they were cleared through.
Thaddeus and Zahrah walked through a broad corridor, on one end were several soldiers checking bags and papers before quickly stamping them and sending people towards the elevator. Every 10 minutes or so, the great elevator lumbered down into the city, only to arrive back about 20 minutes later. A few seconds after they arrived, a young looking female grenadier with auburn hair and freckles on her nose approached them. "Afternoon'" she said simply, her tall feathered had bobbing as she walked. "Papers please." she then added.
Holding her head up high,
Ferah strode into the guard post - she wanted to show them she wasn't intimidated. She immediately headed for the elevator, looking back to see if the ranger was still following.
Rill walked through after Ferah, looking rather lost in thought.
"Oi!" said simply a tall guard, he had the look of a Kkala, but his skin was a bit lighter, most likely a half breed, product of some indiscretion between Kkala and Daguerrian. "Ma'am, you need to go through the queue." he said, standing in front of Ferah and Rill. "Just let me check your papers and you can go on your way."
With a small, measured, polite smile,
Thaddeus straightened to his full height and simultaneously nodded his greeting and understanding to the freckled girl. From the corner of his eye, he tried to see if Zahrah was prepared, but he quickly focused again on the grenadier, to whom he offered his papers.
Zahrah approached with her papers straightened and held in front of her. She looked over at Thaddeus for a split second before turning to the guard in front of her, paper extended for stamping.
The freckled guard nodded and took the pages Zahrah and Thaddeus gave her, examining them closely. Upon closer inspection, the girl was quite tiny and the two had to wonder how anyone took her seriously. "Aye.. all seems to be in order." she said simply, with a thick daguerrian accent as she stamped their papers. "Uh.. Have.. uhm.. fun, sir." she then added as she handed them back the papers with a bit of red on her cheeks, probably misunderstanding the relationship between the young, wealthy looking man and his exotic majai companion in the skimpy outfit.
"As though I would attempt to go below without the proper allowances!"
Ferah scoffed, producing her papers. "I sometimes wonder what use the guards here are," she said in an aside to Rill. To her, it certainly seemed their main purpose was to intimidate and get in the way of any Majai.
Rill dug out his papers to show as well, not really thinking about it. He hummed at Ferah in acknowledgemen
t since he didn't know whether to accommodate her or not. He looked around and spotted Thaddeus and Zahrah about as well. He gave them a small nod.
"Sure, sure." replied the half Kkala grenadier with an absent minded nod, focusing instead on the papers. For a bit, it seemed like he wasn't sure if he should stamp their papers or not, after all, one seemed to be under criminal investigation and the other was forbidden from leaving. After a bit, he finally decided to stamp their papers after all, giving them back to them, "There, you can go on now."
Ferah took her travel papers back and was tempted to spit on the floor, but held back the saliva - it wouldn't do to get into a fight with the guards now. Still, she didn't thank the guard and instead joined the queue for the elevator behind Thad and Zahrah. "You'd think I was a danger to society," she muttered, then let out a bark of laughter.
"Well, everybody is," replied Rill to Ferah after getting his papers back. "One way or another." He followed Ferah, thinking about his own business. "You know, I got the impression that the Investigators wanted to blame you and that Paki for what happened to the train. How come they let you go?"
After offering a nod back to Rill as the ranger passed by,Thaddeus looked back to the petite guard. He wore a polite smile that froze on his face as it dawned on him what it was the other DaGuerrian was inferring. Just as Thad had reacted on the train, he suddenly looked a little indignant, his cheeks gently flushed, and he reached to take his papers back to stuff them back into his jacket. Turning to look at Zahrah, he found it hard to meet her eyes, and instead his gaze swept downward and across the small span of floor to where Tok sat. The engineer gestured toward the Great Elevator, as that was his next stop; he headed in that direction, Tok following behind at his heels.
Ferah's fists clenched when Rill asked about her and the kkala's involvement in the incident. "Prejudice," she muttered through her teeth to the ranger. "We're both warriors - well, I am and he has the build for one - and we're Majai. Tales of pale howling monsters in the waste fall on deaf ears from my lips." She didn't feel it was worth telling him that she was sentenced to death for the agents they had killed. "They were willing, however, for us to find proof of these things in order to clear our names."
Zahrah took her own papers and although the distaste in the inference of her station sat in heavy in her mind, she did nothing more than smile and nod at the guard. "I am certain he will," she said in a low voice, disguising the tone of sarcasm with a flirty tone instead. She walked forward and joined Thaddeus on the elevator, letting out a small sigh once she was out of earshot and refused to meet the man's eyes. "I apologize once more if my station makes you uncomfortable," she said in a low voice. "If you wish, I will vacate your company as soon as possible. I mean...once I find a place to stay. I am sure there will be...somewhere..." The uncertainty in her tone was exaggerated, and she even went so far as to twist her hands together a bit. "There is...no need to escort me any further."
Accalia returned to the guard post for the second time in the last day, though at least this time she wasn't being dragged in by the guards, kicking and screaming. With her head down she jerked her papers out of her inner jacket pockets and smoothed them out. As she approached she recognized the old woman and Rill ahead of her, waiting for the elevator, and scowled.
Accalia getting past the guards at the post was almost routinely, as she moved, one of the grenadiers simply, glanced at her papers and motioned her forward, turning to Brant and Paki, who were approaching in turn.
The Daguerrian eccentric, Brant, entered the guard post and waited for Paki to join him. He pulled his rucksack around and retrieved his travel papers from it, smoothing them out ready for inspection.
Paki arrived quickly, his long strides making it easy to keep up, and glanced over the guards (Notice), hoping that they would at least seem friendly. He then took out his papers, both the ones that would permit him entrance and his traders license. There was probably no reason to show the guards that, but since he was under a travel ban he felt the need to volunteer as much identification as possible.
Immediately after Accalia, the Grenadier, a middle aged Daguerran man with an old scar between his lower lip and chin, glanced at Brant's papers and simply motioned him towards the elevator before calling out "Next." When Paki showed up, the man took a bit longer, looking at the Kkala. "... Watch yourself Majai." he simply said, handing him back the red stamped papers indicating Paki was under investigation. "Don't be making a ruckus in the upper city." he then added as he handed him back his trading license and motioned him to the elevator.
Straightening his coat and fiddling with a couple of the buttons, Thaddeus pretended to occupy his time waiting for the elevator, even though he just needed something to focus on. He already had a lot on his mind. The young man glanced surreptitiously Rill and Ferah, who were also apparently waiting for the elevator, then let his gaze fall upon Zahrah as she spoke. The young man smiled wanly, feeling a little sheepish at his behavior. They were both looking for work, but certainly not the same type of work, and probably not in the same parts of the Royal City; Thad would have wagered his last few Guerrmarks on that. Thad was also looking for shelter, and for... something else, something for which he didn't necessarily want an audience. His tired face fell and he looked rather sorry, in more ways than one. When the car arrived to take them down to the city, he indicated with a sweep of his hand that Zahrah should go ahead and enter (as well as anyone else who wanted to get on the elevator at that moment). With gentle sigh, Thaddeus trod into the car, Tok at his feet, to take it down to WoW - Royal Avenue.
Zahrah entered the elevator without much thought, trying not to let her thoughts show too much on her face. Work was an issue. The immediate problem, however, was going to be housing. She glanced at Thaddeus and let out a long breath before closing her eyes and waiting for the elevator to take them down to WoW - Royal Avenue.
"Oh," muttered Rill in response to Ferah. "Well, they didn't believe me either. I'm not sure I believe myself," he said, shaking his head a bit. "Where are we going? The Mudgate?" Rill looked around and spotted Accalia coming through. "Huh? Are you following us?" he asked.
"I believe that means we are free to go on," Brant said to Paki with a grin before stepping into the elevator. He waited for Paki to climb in too before motioning for it to be sent down to WoW - Mudgate.
Paki's lips set into a thin line at the guard's warning. He had no intention of causing trouble anywhere, but going out of his way to say so seemed counterproductive. Instead he just folded up his papers and put them away before following Brant to WoW - Mudgate.
As Accalia tucked her papers back into her heavy coat and stepped past the guards she scowled at Rill. "I'm not. I'm going to the Royal Crown." Came her scoffing reply as she stepped behind him, though not without leaving plenty of room still between them. Her lips pursed together as she waited for the elevator that would bring her up to WoW - Royal Avenue.
"Ah." Rill turned back to Ferah, expecting her to lead the way.
Ferah paid little attention to Accalia - the young woman had the usual fire that girls of her age often marked them out. For now, her focus was on her destination. She stepped in to the elevator, waited for the other passengers to board, and then rode it down to WoW - Mudgate.
Rill followed and went to WoW - Mudgate.
Tetra came into the Guard Post from the Grand Hall clingly tightly to Dakai's hand with her own. She glanced around the area, somewhat nervously, but did nothing more other than looking up at Dakai to see what he would do next.
Dakai entered first in stride, his two female companions on each side. He approached the center of the room while helping Daiyu along and holding his 'niece's hand. Once he was sure Daiyu had her balance and Tetra was close enough to not scamper off he fished his papers out. "Excuse me?" He asked trying to get someone's attention, hopefully a guard to direct him to who he needed to check with.
Daiyu hobbled out and watched as Dakai pulled out the papers and looked for a guard. She was trying to be patient and silent like she'd been taught.
The same half-kkala grenadier who had checked Ferah and Rill's papers earlier now moved towards Dakai, Tetra and Daiyu. The trio probably looked like the weirdest group ever, a Shah with a broken leg, a wounded and beat up daguerrian and a street urchin all walking into the guard post at the same time. "Uh... are you all together?" he asked simply, automatically talking to Dakai. Maybe the others were indentured servants or something of the sort. "I'm going to need to see your papers."
"Um yes, I am Dakai..." He handed over his own papers first, contemplating his surname but since it was on his official paper work it didn't really matter. "Steelheart. The little one is my niece tetra." He nodded to the urchin. "And she is an acquaintance. We are accompanying her to shelter so that she is not robbed or jumped in her injured state sir." He finished letting the Shah introduce herself so he wouldn't insult her with any false titles or anything of the like.
Tetra, having nothing to add to any conversation, nor any place to do so, simply stood at Dakai's side, holding his hand as he conversed with the guard. As he presented his papers, the girl gave the young man's hand a brief, tight squeeze, as if to remind him that she would need papers too, and of course she didn't have any. That was his cue to act and defend her position.
Daiyu was not in the mood to argue or even really get all that offended. She only stiffened her neck proudly as she was approached by the guard and then pulled out the papers she'd been given. "Han Daiyu." She said her last name first as was customary by her race.
The Kkala quickly checked both Dakai and Daiyu's papers, probably wondering why the pair looked like they had been run over by a Lonetrain. The papers were in order, however, and the man simply shrugged and gave them back to the two. "I need the kid's papers." he added, pointing down at Tetra. He needed to know they weren't smuggling a child into the city or something of the sort. Though Tetra hardly looked or acted the part.
The gear head was kick to respond when the topic was brought to attention. "Forgive us, they were lost in an incident." Dakai stated as if defending a fact. "We had a bit of a rough transit." He added measuring up the guard before continuing. "She has clearance though, if you need please speak to Detective Van Leeuwen and Constable Koh, both of which excussed the matter. So if its ok sir may we be on our way?" He name dropped hoping nothing more would be asked thanks to those two (persuade).
Not wanting to blow her cover or anything of the sort, Tetra continued to remain completely silent, gripping Dakai's hand and staring innocently up at the Guard (Charm).
The half Kkala guard seemed rather conflicted, looking at Dakai's papers, then down at Tetra, then at Dakai's papers again. Though the pair didn't really look alike, it was hard for him to tell when Daguerrians were related or not, they all looked very similar, and this man did seem to know about constable Koh. The constable was a grim and serious man, but he did have a soft spot for children, so surely he wouldn't allow a child to go off with someone dangerous. "O...ok." he said simply with a sight as he handed the papers back to Dakai and Daiyu. "Go one now, but you need to get her new papers, you can do it in any of the precincts in the upper city, there's on in most major roads." he added as he motioned the trio towards the great elevator.
Daiyu barely acknowledged his words. In fact she was resisting the urge to let off a snarky comment that would make it obvious that the whole thing was a lie. The only thing keeping her mouth shut was Dakai's presence. She took her papers back from the guard and then hobbled away towards the elevator. She wanted to rest, away from these pathetic other races and so she stepped inside the lift and waited for them to join her.
"Lets go tetra, some food and rest sounds fantastic after all this." Dakai took his papers and set off toward the elevator with tetra in hand hoping to get away from all these guards and headaches of bureaucracy. He approached the elevator with a smile. "Lets get out of here."
Tetra breathed an inward sigh of relief as she was pardoned and allowed into the city. The urchin silently followed Dakai into the elevator, not even acknowledging Daiyu as the lift carried them all down to WoW - Mudgate. She would be out of their hair soon enough.
Post here
Accessible areas:
To the WoW - Lonetrain Grand Hall
Down the Elevator to the WoW - Royal Avenue
Down the Elevator to the WoW - Mudgate
Back to:
WoW - Lonetrain Station
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