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AvRen RP: First Mission:

Characters & Team Formation RP

The members of the Earth Kingdom put forth their characters for this story. The story began with the vision. What will our Seer of the Earth Kingdom do? How will this team come together? Read on!

CHARACTERS:
   Tsun Shou     Kasmatali Tevetoglu     Samira

TEAM FORMATION TALE

Name: Tsun Shou
Age: 18
Gender: Male

Hat:

Weapon:Tonfa


Personality: Slightly crazy, as in the "Holy crap you did not just do that" sort of way, naively trusting a lot of times, takes a while to get to know and trust a person, loyal to a fault, helpful and friendly to friends.
Bending: Earth
Special Bending: Creates quicksand to stop enemies, basic rock armor.
Height: 6'2"

Appearance:


History: Born into the northernmost village of the Earth Kingdom, Ido, Tsun was abandoned in the snow-covered wilderness as a young child, the blood from his young body still weeping from the freshly inked tattoos. Nearly succumbing to the cold, an old man and his wife who lived far from the village rescued him and saved his life by calling upon the aid of a nearby Water Tribe outpost. Unfortunately, the frostbite destroyed most of his nerve endings, leaving him bald and with only the barest sense of touch. The old man had been a Master Earth Bender in his day who created a unique style of Earth Bending which was more aggressive than the usual Hung Gar style, which he taught to Tsun. Eighteen years after rescuing Tsun, the old man and his wife were caught in a freak blizzard and died. After discovering their bodies, Tsun buried them and gathered what few possessions he had. Unable to remember what happened to him before he was rescued, he set off to find someone who could tell him what the tattoos meant.

Fighting Style: Tsun uses the ancient style of Muay Thai to quickly defeat his opponents. Called "The Science of Eight Limbs", Muay Thai extensively focuses on using hands, shins, elbows, and knees to incapacitate or kill quickly. Incorporated into Earth bending, the style changed to focus more on using the feet and hands, but many of the principles and moves remained the same
 

Name: Kasmatali Tevetoglu
Age: 19
Hair: Short Dirty Blond/Brown mix
Eyes: Steel Silver
Height: 6'

Place of Birth: Underground City of Karasan, West Earth Kingdom.
Bender?: Yes
Years Bending: 17
Weapon Specialties?: Maces
Signature Earthbending move?: Throwing massive blocks of earth.

Additional Information: Considered Most Powerful Master Earthbender in his community, standard Master in comparison to earthbenders of Ba Sing Se and Omashu. He prefers to be called by his last name, Tevetoglu. The G is not pronounced and stresses the O before it. Even though he is only an earthbender, Tevetoglu uses physics and logic to create fire/air/waterbending like results with his craft. He collides rough stone to produce and manipulate fire, uses swift and fast movement of the earth to create wind and manipulates the ground beneath water sources to create waves and whirlpools and such. He speaks the common language of the world, as well as Karasian, the language of the upper class in his city. He was born and raised into Karasian royalty. Socio-economically royal, that is, not royal by blood line. Although Tevetoglu was rather pampered and spoiled as a child, he still has a natural affinity for bending, and is a formidable opponent against anyone who wishes to cross him.

Name: Samira
Age: 17
Hair: Black
Eyes: Dark Green
Height: 5'06

Place of Birth: Gaoling
Bender: Yes
Years Bending: 13 years
Weapon Specialties: Twin Swords
Signature Bending Move: Metalbending and cutting through solid rock.

Additional Information: I learned earthbending from my grandmother. She died when I was 10. I learned the rest of my bending and became a master by watching and studying the contestants of the Earth Rumble, mainly The Blind Bandit. I now travel around the forest near Gaoling, fighting off fire nation scum from entering the town. I firmly believe that words won't solve problems, action will and that everything happens to a person for a reason.

TEAM FORMATION

Tsun felt a tension in his muscles. It started with the dragon tattoos of his body and he instinctively earthbended rock armor about him despite the fact that he was dreaming. Or was he? When the vision finally passed, he woke with a start bald head knocking against rock painfully. His body was wrapped in rock armor. This was no dream or fantasy. He slammed the rock off him and stood with a different purpose. Discovering his past he do later. This… this vision… gave the world a short time limit. He had to act now.

Ignoring the unnatural tiredness in his body, Tsun gathered what few supplies and materials he had, and began sprinting towards Ba Sing Se, using the earth to help speed his progress. He had to get to Ba Sing Se and tell the leaders there what he had seen in his vision, and appeal to them to help him stop this threat that would consume them all if they did nothing. Ignoring the ache in his bones, he traveled through the long afternoon and night, and didn't stop until he could see the outer wall of Ba Sing Se on the horizon. Only then did he stop, allowing the weariness he felt overtake him, and drag him into a troubled sleep.

The early morning light brought his troubled sleep to an end. Chiding himself on his lack of dedication Tsun quickly resumed his swift travel to the outer walls of Ba Sing Se. The sun was high in the midday sky when he reached the massive front gate. Breathing heavily, he asked the guards
"Please....let me in.....i need to see the...emperor. Important....message......

The guards just smiled to themselves. "Sure buddy, you can go see the emperor. In fact, we'll even help you!"

One guard supported Tsun, while the other to a large club he had nearby, and with a resounding "WHACK!" clubbed Tsun over the back of his head. For the second time that day, Tsun slid into a deep sleep.

Samira sat inside a dark, musty cell as she heard some guards coming. "They're dragging someone," she whispered.

As she had predicted, two guards showed up dragging what appeared to be a small girl. They opened the cell and threw her in. Samira slowly and cautiously moved forward to inspect the girl. She was unconscious. *I have to get out of here. Or that will happen to me next. Oh why did I leave Gaoling?!?* she thought to herself.

She crawled forward until she could hold the bars of the door in her hands. She looked around and saw the key to the cell hanging on an earthen peg.

*Too easy.* she thought with a smile. She held her hand up and concentrated on the peg. She moved her hand forward slightly and as she did so, the peg shrank into the wall allowing the key to fall to the floor. She curled her hand into a fist and pulled it toward her. As she did this, the earth under the key moved while dragging the key along with it. Once it got to the edge of her cell, Samira stuck her hand through the bars and grabbed the key.

*YES!*

She stood up, put the key into the key hole on the other side of the door, and turned it. She could hear a small click as the cell became unlocked. Samira pushed the door open to leave, but before she did so, she looked back at the small girl. *There is nothing I can do for her.*

Samira walked out of the cell toward a small window. She looked out of it and saw that it was only a two-story drop.

*Not so bad... Could be worse.*

She pulled herself up till her legs were hanging out the other side, and jumped. When she landed, she found that she was just outside the palace wall.

*Perfect. I leave home to Ba Sing Se and what happens?!? I - Get - Captured.*

She casually started walking along the wall as if nothing had happened.

From the wall she heard the rumor of a hairless man raving that he had to speak with the emporor. Funny that. Last time someone was this desperate to see the king or emporer of Ba Sing Se, history says it was the Avatar and it was of such great importance that it almost cost the Earth Kingdom its very freedom. Not everyone remembers that now, but some do. Do you? The man was arrested by the guards.

Tsun slowly dragged his thoughts back to the realm of the waking. His vision was blurry, with memories of his vision overlapping the sight of the dark cell he was in. Suddenly, the memory of what had transpired flooded back to him.

Sitting up, he looked around him. He was in a small, earthen cell, perhaps around 50X50 feet in diameter. The cell had been made in the years of peace following the last great war between the nations, and had been designed and made of earth for those who needed some sobering up after a long night of too much drinking. The idea at the time had been that once the drunk person had woken up, they would be considerably more sober, albeit with a headache, and would be able to earthbend themselves out into the street and go home.

It was in this room that Tsun found himself, headache and all. Reaching up to his head, he was relieved to find that the guard that had unceremoniously dumped him here had left him his hat. Ignoring his throbbing headache, he performed the simple earthbending required to get out of the cell, and emerged in a run-down district of the lower ring.

As he looked into the sky he noticed that several hours had passed since his imprisonment, and began running towards the nearest monorail, to take him towards the upper ring, where hopefully he would be able to make contact with the emperor.

 A few minutes after Tsun's departure, the caretaker of the small pen of holding cells could be seen. Four members of the Dai Li approached him. The one in front began talking to the old caretaker. "Where did the person who was here go, old man?" He asked imaptiently.

"Well I don't rightly know, sir. Is' not my job to keep an eye on where the prisoners go, ya'see. But for a few copper pieces, I might be able to remember....." The old man slyly suggested.

Growing angry, the lead Dai Li agent grabbed the front of the old man's threadbare shirt and slammed him up against the wall of the prison cell, "You will tell us which way he went, or you may never see the glint of a copper coin again!" The agent exclaimed.

"Y-y-yes sir!" The old man said "He went that way! Towards the monorail! Please d-d-don't hurt me!"

Sneering in contempt, the Dai Li agent dropped the old man on the ground, and he and his three companions swept off towards the nearest monorail station. In their wake the quiet *clink* of copper coins hitting the ground near the old man could be heard

Samira watched the Dai Li drag the bald man toward the lower ring. *So the rumors were true... Someone did try to see the emperor.*

She stealthily followed the agents until they stopped and earthbened the man into a rock-made cell. She knew that the Dai Li would watch the cell so she hid in a nearby alley-way. As the day passed by, nothing interesting happened and Samira quickly got bored... But after a while, one of the cell's walls lowered, revealing the tall, bald man. She watched as the man looked around for a moment and then run off toward the monorail. She chased after him while still keeping a good distance between them.

*I know the Dai Li saw him, so they will follow him for sure! I have to warn him!*

Just before he got to the monorail, she quickly earthbened a small wall to appear in front of him, making him stop. She ran up to him and shouted, "What do you think you are doing?!? Don't you realize that the Dai Li will follow you to the palace?!? They're not stupid!"

Tsun skidded to a stop as a waist-high wall of earth erupted in front of him. Instead of hurdling over it, he stopped to look for the person that had caused the disturbance. When he turned around, he was immediately accosted by a girl who appeared to be close to his own age. She was yelling at him about something that had to do with the Dai Li and the palace. Glancing around, he spotted a small alley off to his left. He grabbed the girl by the wrist and pulled her in after him, and quickly earthbended the ground to cover up the gap between the two ramshackle houses, covering up any traces of where they might have gone.

Turning back towards the girl he asked "Who are you, what do want, and why are you following me!?"

Tevetoglu remained out of sight, on the roof of one of the poorly structured houses, wearing a Dai Li uniform. He heard the man mention his intentions of seeing the emperor and followed him around, hidden. Knowing how important the last person who desired the emperor was, he decided to watch this man. He could help him reach the emperor, but he wanted to be sure, before he broke just about every law in Ba Sing Se. He watched the two below him between the houses.

As soon as Samira shouted at the man, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into an ally-way. He asked her a few questions so fast that it took her a second to sort them out. "My name is Samira, I want to help you, and... as the same as number two."

Tsun waited a few seconds after Samira answered his questions, taken aback by her seeming honesty and willingness to help him. He blinked a few times, and slowly replied. "Well then Samira, my name is Tsun Shou, and unless you can help me get into the palace to see the emperor, I don't see how much you can help me. But you seem honest, and I'll trust you for the time being."

*Oh, what the hell.* sighed Tevetoglu. He jumped off of the building and landed on the ground where the two were conversing. He figured they would react badly to his costume, and crafted small rock armor from the ground.

Tsun's next question to Samira was cut short as a man in rock armor dropped down from the roof above to land in front of them.

"I'm not Dai Li." said Tevetoglu. "I can help you get to the emperor, but I'll need the trust and cooperation of both of you." he declared, and removed his armor.

Glancing between him and Samira, Tsun replied, "I suppose we could use the help. It's only us two trying to get in right now, and it might be just a tad hard." He laughed "Welcome aboard friend!"

Samira examined the so called "not Dai Li" and figured that he was alright. *Who knows? Maybe working in a team for once won't be so bad.*

"Well... Seeing as we have our little group set up. Why do you want to speak with the emperor so badly, Tsun? I mean... what's the urgency?" she asked.

Tsun thought for a minute. *I don't know if trust them enough yet to tell them about my vision. The guards already think I'm crazy, so I'd probably shouldn't tell them just yet. Hopefully, a slight 'changing' of words might throw them off them until I get to know them enough to where I can tell them what really happened.*

After composing his thoughts, Tsun answered Samira. "I...saw something. Something that could mean big trouble for the whole world. I....I can't tell you any more than that right now. But there is one thing I want to know first." Tsun turned towards Tevetoglu. "If we're going to be working together, I would like to know your name."

"Tevetoglu. My name is Tevetoglu. Tev for short." He said and looked around.

The Dai Li agents were getting impatient, he could feel them bending random things out of their way to find the man.

"We're not safe here. I have an apartment in the Upper Ring, within short distance of the Emperor's Palace. We could go there to talk more, if you'd like." he explained.

The Dai Li were getting closer to their hiding spot. They would have to move quickly, and stealthily to pass them un-noticed.

Tsun hesitated for only a second before replying. "All right lets go." Tsun could here the sounds of the Dai Li looking for him. "But we need to hurry, because I think I'm about to become a lot more popular if the Dai Li finds me." He laughed. "Let's go Samira!"

Samira could also hear the Dai Li approaching. At the sound of Tsun's voice calling her, she quickly followed them to where Tev's apartment was.

It soon became clear that the Dai Li and the Earth Emperor may not be the best people to handle this and likely would not understand nor believe Tsun anyways. Perhaps taking matters into his own hands, as he has done before is best. Slipping out of Ba Sing Se and heading to a small village with perhaps an elder to speak to might be a better course.

The group's journey to Tevetoglu's apartment was fraught with frequent stops and double-backs to avoid detection by the Dai Li. It wasn't until the sun was casting its long, red shadows through the streets that they reached Tev's apartment. After making sure that the house wasn't being watched did Tsun feel that it was safe enough to talk.

"From the 'warm' reception I've been getting from the Dai Li, I assume that even if we do make it to the emperor, we won't be around long enough for me to tell what I saw." Tsun commented then was quiet for a moment. "Before I tell you what really happened to me, I want both of you to swear that you will not let anyone else know about this unless I say so."

"Well, If you still want to see the emperor, I could provide you with a plan to give you sufficient time to speak. If you want to go elsewhere, I could provide you safe passage out of Ba Sing Se as well. " Tevetoglu bent a rock muzzle around his face. "I won't tell anybody." He said under his muzzle, which came out as nonsensical, muffled noises.

At Tev's response, Samira started laughing. The other two stared at her for a few moments until she finally stopped.

"Wow... I haven't laughed that hard in a long time... Ok, ok," Samira's face turned very serious as she raised her right hand. "I, Samira of Gaoling, swear never to repeat what is told to me unless said otherwise."

Tsun chuckled a little at Tev. Pleased that both of them had agreed to not tell anyone he began talking.

"What I told you earlier wasn't exactly true. I didn't actually 'see' what I saw, it was more of a vision. It's going to be hard to believe, but bear with me please. I saw a low mountain, not quite touching the cloud line, overlooking a large lake to the northeast. From the precipice of the mountain I looked to the north, and far away I could see the broken trail of the Serpent's Pass between the two lakes surrounding it. I could see the tips of the spires rising from an Air Nomad temple. Several small streams flowed down the south face of the mountain, creatin varied cascades of water. Deep blue sapphires and moonstones formed swirling wave patterns above each of the exits for the water. The east side of the mountain was covered in hot pools, indicating a molten depth in the mountain, which radiated there healing powers around them. The west face of the mountain was covered in thick, almost impassible forest, hiding many strange plants and animals." He paused to gather his thoughts before continuing.

"Then I was enveloped in darkness. I pushed my way through some dense foliage, and heard the sound of a small waterfall. As I turned I slipped on some the mossy stones and fell. The stone and silence surrounded me, as quiet as underground tomb. The hot air was stifling, but a cool, damp breeze made me turn around and walk deeper into the darkness. The stone beneath my feet turned into a pair of stairs, and eventually led me to a heavy door. I could feel the cool air blowing through the small cracks in the door. With a little struggle, Iopen the door to reveal a small plateau that holds a fountain that no longer sprays water. The water in it is still, with leaves and debris clouding what water is left. An intricate, interlacing knotwork pattern was engraved in various broken stones and along the walls, eventually disappearing behind a curtain of vines." He paused for a moment.

"I remember seeing these patterns before, on a statue in my first home, and on an abandoned shrine in my hometown. I remember tracing my finger along the length of it, wondering what it meant. I felt a strong urge to fix the broken pattern in this wrecked place. It begged for it, as though the rock itself could speak. I wish that I had learned how to truly listen to the stone." His reminiscing complete, Tsun continued his tale.

"A whispering that was not quite audible before became a loud buzz of many voices, bringing me to my knees as a shadow grew over the hidden plateau. My hands and arms tingled as if a thousand small needles were pricking at them. I struggle to get away as a sound begins to emanates from the growing shadow, my breathing becomes short and heavy. Four giant curved blades come rushing at me. Ethereal blue hands grab me from behind the curtain of tangled vines as pain courses through me, causing me to scream in terror and agony.
I open my eyes and gather air to scream again as my muscle tense in preparation to fight, when the image before me causes me to stop in wonder. Paintings from all four nations covered the walls of the cavern, all with the same interlacing pattern as from before. Goosebumps prickle my skin as I realize what the paintings depict. They were of priests, from all points and time in history. The nine painted gateways were covered in horrific, bloody images that chilled me to the bone and left knots in my stomach. In the center of the large chamber was a massive well, the walls of it three feet high and six feet across. I step cautiously across the floor, and see that the interlacing pattern shimmers with each step I take. The liquid in teh well was still and dark, not like water, but like a strange, black mirror melted down. The double image reflected plays tricks with my eyes. Sounds of muffled muttering and scribbling catch my attention, and draw my eyes to an old man, who sits with his back against the wall of the pool. I couldn't tell of what nation he came from by his battered and rugged clothes, and he didn't seem to nitice I was there at all, even when I tried to talk to him. I frowned and leaned over his shoulder to see what he had written."

I have found it. I found the inner sanctum. The most sacred place in the world. Its beauty is incredible. The pool is intact. The paintings tell the history of the world. The changing phases, the coming and goings of peoples and creatures. But a darkness has also crept in here. An assassin has followed me. He called himself a priest, an Akuma. I have hidden here in the inner sanctum of the buried temple. I must get news out to the people. This sacred place is in great peril, if it hasn’t already fallen pray. There are no locks on the painting of the nine gates as I have read there should be. There are no Qin Maru holy guards protecting this place as legends says there should be. I know not what has happened, though I am ecstatic to know it exists.

The old man stood suddenly as a man robed in black stepped into the room through a broken wooden door. The old man turns and runs for the curtain of vines as the robed man begins to whisper and make strange signs and gestures. The shadows came to life at his ministrations, catching the old man and strangling him to death before he could escape. The note the old man had just written crumpled from his useless struggle with the shadows. As the note begins to fall, a small fox dashes out from seemingly nowhere and grabs the note, then disappearing into the foliage." The retelling of the vision had taken what little daylight was left, and replaced it with the cold light of the moon.

"You trusted me, and I trusted you. Now you see why I thought it important to see the emperor, but that is impossible now. I ask that you two accompany me to try to figure out this vision, and to escape the city together."

Tevetoglu gave a deep breath. "Before we try to figure anything out, we have to leave the city at once."

Tevetoglu went across his living room and pushed aside a large wardrobe. He bent the wall behind it, revealing a hidden compartment. It was a closet. Within the closet was a myriad of official clothing, including Dai Li uniforms. He grabbed a Dai Li uniform and tossed it to Tsun. He then rummaged through the compartment and found an Omashun royal gown, which he tossed to Samira. "We'll tell anyone who stops us that Samira was a guest of the emperor, and she is returning home. It was requested that she be escorted by two Dai Li agents." 

Tevetoglu produced an official scroll from a desk and opened it. It was a blank scroll with the exception of the emperor's signature at the bottom. "My father is the leader of my city, I had an audience with the emperor upon moving here, apparently he'll sign anything without paying attention. Help me think of something official sounding to write on it. Should be wordy, the Dai Li don't question wordy orders."

Samira thought for a moment. "Write... I, the Earth King of Ba Sing Se, hereby approve the passing of my guest from Omashu through the outer walls of the city. On my request, she is accompanied by two Dai Li agents for her personal protection. She is to be let out of the city without questioning or search and will be allowed to have the agents follow her, but no others. Upon their exit, the gates of the outer wall must be shut closed once more," said Samira. "How does that sound?"

Tsun thought for a second. "That sound's good, but leave out the part about shutting the gate, it might raise too much suspicion. We need to leave as soon as possible, preferably right now. When we get out of the city hopefully we'll have some time to discuss the vision. Now, is everyone ready to go?"

"Don't you think we should put on our disguises first?" Samira replied in a 'it's common sense' tone.

Tevetoglu finished writing the order on the scroll and rolled it up. He waited for the others to don their dressings and opened the door.

"Ladies first." He said and motioned for Samira to move out. "We'll follow two paces behind you." He explained.

The journey through the dark city was uneventful. The Dai Li were out in force, apparently looking Tsun. Every time they were stopped, the official-looking scroll Tev provided cleared the way ahead. The sun was beginning to make its slow climb into the early morning sky when the party reached the front gates. Sparing no more than a glance at the scroll Samira provided them, the Dai Li stepped aside to let them pass. Moving quickly, the three made their way out the gates of the large city into the rapidly evaporating early morning mist, leaving the large city of Ba Sing Se behind for now.

The small group traveled a few miles from the city before stopping for a short break.

"Well... We're out of the city. Were should we go?" she asked. She waited while the other two thought it over. While she was waiting, she saw in the distance what appeared to be a small town. "We can stay there," she stated as she pointed to it.

Tsun thought about what Samira said while the three rested under the large tree that gave them shade from the mid-morning sun. "We should probably stay away from any towns that are too close to Ba Sing Se unless we absolutely have to, the Dai Li have have probably figured out that we managed to escape and have sent carrier pigeons ahead to warn the villages to turn us in if they see us. Besides, we managed to grab enough supplies from Tev's place before we left to keep us fed and clothed for a few weeks. What we need to do" he said as he opened his pack and rummaged through it, eventually grabbing an old map " is to first get to the mountain I saw in my vision, which is here, and to discuss what the vision means."

"I believe the pattern that criss-crossed the wall is important in some way, and that someone from the spirit world pulled me behind the curtain of vines. According to legend, the Akuma are demons or evil spirits, with strange abilities. The nine gates appear to represent the nine gates of hell, but in the old mans note, it said that they had no locks on them, perhaps because the Akuma destroyed the locks and escaped. Also, if that is the case, then perhaps the holy Qin Maru guards were defeated by the Akuma. The man said the place was holy, like a temple, and the paintings told the history of the world. I believe I entered the spirit world during the vision, which caused the evil spirits of the Akuma to be able to hurt me, but the one spirit saved me, though I know not who it was. The tattoo's on my body reacted to something in the vision, and the memory of the knotwork from my home keeps coming to mind. The only things that I have no idea what they might be are the strange well in the middle of the room, why the floor shimmered when I walked on it, and who was whispering, though that may have been the Akuma. It also seems that the mountain has something that represents each of the four nations, the hot springs fueled by volcanic activity for fire, the small streams coming out of the mountain surrounded by moonstones and sapphires for water, an air nomad temple for air, and the jungle side and the mountain itself for earth."

Samira waited patiently while Tsun explained more about his vision. Once he was done she spoke up. "Well... I think that we should head for the mountain. Maybe what you saw, Tsun, is real. If so, maybe going there and looking around will help us figure out the confusing things about the vision... like that well, or fountain, or whatever it is. Possibly, by seeing it, you'll remember where it's from. We can keep trying to figure everything out on the way there."

Tev thought about the vision long and hard. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "I remember reading something about the Akuma in the restricted library at UBSS... the University of Ba Sing Se. They were corruptive, dangerous creatures who tried to greatly influence the world, possibly to rule it. Doesn't everybody want to rule the world? It's so cliché." Tev chuckled. "The legend says they were pushed back behind nine gates. There was a picture of it. The guards wore silver bracelets. If my translation is correct, Qin Maru means Silver Circle, which could mean the guards. As for the pool, it reminds me of the now defunct method of communication the water tribes used to have. They used their spirit pools to contact each other speedily through the spirit world. Maybe that pool is also connected to the spirit world? There are still more questions to be answered, and I have a feeling Samira is right, we'll probably find more by going to that mountain, but we should be careful. Not all visions are for good reasons, it could be a trap."

"I don't think we should go to the mountain just yet, at least, not until we puzzle out more of this vision. If that is a spirit pool, then that means the Water Tribe once inhabited or cared for that temple or sanctuary at one time in history. The Silver Circle could refer to any number of things, though its name probably came from the silver bracelets the Qin Maru wear."

And so they traveled and discussed and traveled some more, their friendship growing along their travels.