Kwan Lo: *And so Kwan is arriving back at his apartment building after work. As is so often the case, the smell of stir-fry oil clings to him like a shroud. The building is off the main road, and not exactly high-rent. Or mid-rent. Low-rent might be pushing it.*

Kwan Lo: *He climbs the stairs towards his small apartment. It's only five flights, and there's only a couple of drunks on the stairs tonight.* ((*C* You are here, right, oh master of MT?))

Jody Yu: She makes her way through Chinatown, perfectly comfortable in the surrounding area. Chinatown is not a safe place for foreigners to travel at night, but Jody, even with her half-Caucasion blood, does not qualify, with all she's done for the village. She heads up toward Kwan's apartment.

Small and innocuous...those would be the first words many would use to describe Jody. Standing at 5’4”, and weighing nary more then 110 pounds, her racially mixed blood is obvious, with a strong hint of Asian features and coloring in her otherwise Caucasion face. Her ebony hair is cut short, making her look much younger then her 32 years of age. She’s dressed in a white button-down shirt, khaki cargo pants, and a comfortable, worn-in pair of hiking boots, with a windbreaker over it all. Her eyes, a bright green with tiny gold flecks in them, carry a note of wisdom beyond her years, worldly knowledge, and just a touch of hesitance. Despite that, she gives a small smile in greeting to all those that she comes across, walking quietly by, barely noticed by those around her, but very aware of them. ((Arcane 2, Suppressed)) http://www.ravyns-nest.ws/images/Jody1.jpg

Kwan Lo: ((Ah, there we go. *G*)) *He is just opening the door when she comes up the stairs behind him.*

Kwan Lo: d10: Per + Alert: 9,5,4,5,2,

Kwan Lo: *And so, he turns just as she's figured out who her target is. He smiles at the woman--she's new here, but the clothing is pretty stand-out for this neighborhood.*

Jody Yu: Her fottfalls on the steps are as inobtrusive as she is. She stops a few steps down on the staircase and speaks, calmly but clearly, her voice carrying an overtone of politeness. ~Cantonese~ "Excuse me...Kwan Lo?"

Kwan Lo: *He blinks for a moment, then bows.* ~Cant~ I am he. *Thinks for a bit.* You must be Miss Yu?

Jody Yu: She nods and smiles, the nod fluidly slipping into a proper bow. "I am Jody Yu. An honor to meet you."

Kwan Lo: It is you who honor me. Please, come in. *He opens the door for her. The interior is spartan in the extreme, but it almost seems a deliberate choice. There is a reed mat near the door, and he has the house slipper there, including extras for guests. The main room has a single low table with pillows for seating, and a couch which is the only really western feature in the room. In the center of the table, a small brass incense holder rests. Off to one side is an economy kitchenette. He shuts the door behind them, and motions for her to make herself comfortable.*

Jody Yu: (All speaking in Cantonese, by the way, unless assumed otherwise or Kwan appears to prefer other)) She follows behind, hands folded in front of her lap, and looks around his home. A small but sincere smile is on her face. "You have an excellent home, Kwan Lo." She has a fond, remniscent look at the man's spartan surrounding.

Jody Yu: She takes a seat at one of the pillows, legs easily folding into the lotus.

Kwan Lo: ((*Nods* Likewise. His english is too choppy for serious conversations. *C*)) *He smiles and dips his head.* You are most kind to say so. Would you like some tea?

Jody Yu: "Thank you, that would be much appreciated." She nods, not one to dishonor the man by rejecting his hospitality. "How are you finding the city?"

Kwan Lo: *He goes into the kitchen, preparing the tea as he continues the conversation.* It is fascinating. My village was so small, I knew everyone there by name. I have not even met everyone in this building yet. And the people here are so varied, so exotic. It can be overwhelming at times, but it is good. *He comes out with steaming cups of tea. It's actually pretty good--one of his few small luxuries, it seems.* But there are many here who seem troubled; I was hoping to help them, as I helped those in my village, but Miss Shasha seemed to think that would be dangerous. *Sets her tea in front of her, and takes a seat.*

Jody Yu: She reaches up to take the tea, head inclining in sincere and humble gratitude. "Thank you. Yes...the city can be a bit overwhelming. Even for myself, and I was born in this country."

Kwan Lo: *He nods to her.* Your Cantonese is excellent, then; much better than my English. *Smiles, and lets the conversation lull for a bit, letting her bring up the real reason for her visit in her own time.*

Jody Yu: "I grew up in a multi-lingual family," she says with a nod. A brief pause, as she sips at her tea, and then sets it down. "If I may ask...what talents did you have, that you used in your village to help people?"

Kwan Lo: *He nods, smiling.* My grandfather taught me, as a youth, how to enter the dreams of others. Once there, I can battle their inner demons, the dark side of their psyches, and hopefully allow them to come to terms with what troubles them. *He nods.* It is a skill my family developed, after we discovered we had the ability to walk in the Waking Dream, leaving our bodies to slumber.

Jody Yu: She nods, smiling with a warm, yet reserved look. "Very impressive. Is this part of a formalized line of such people? Or something that your family specifically knew?"

Kwan Lo: *He nods.* It is simply the role my family served--specifically, every other generation, the eldest son or daughter. I had not realized there were others with similar abilities, until I was approached by the priestess who came to warn me of the Party's decision to have me sanctioned. She was able to smuggle me to Hong Kong, and I met others there, who in turn brought me through to New York. Sadly, I lost contact with them once here.

Jody Yu: She nods a little bit. "I assume you mean the Communist Party, of course."

Kwan Lo: ((Ack! Sorry about that--got tied up looking for a book.)) *He nods.* Yes. The priestess warned me that the Party had been informed of my activities, and that I had been deemed counter-revolutionary.

Jody Yu: "Yes, I would imagine they would think so. The Five Metal Dragons are a powerful force there." She sighs a bit. "They have their own power here, though less obvious."

Kwan Lo: *He frowns.* That is what Miss Shasha said, but I have always been told that the Communist Party here is a fringe element, not to be worried about. The priestess also mentioned the Five Metal Dragons, saying they were behind the Party, but there was not time for more explanation.

Jody Yu: "The Five Metal Dragons are known here in the west as the Technocracy," she says, watching him with her posture straight yet relaxed. "That is the name you will know them best as. They wish to stamp out those like you and me, your priestess and Miss Sha-Sha. People who have talents that are a threat to them."

Kwan Lo: *He frowns.* That is horrible. *He nods.* Miss Sha-Sha warned me that there was a shadow-war going on; it is with this 'Technocracy', then?

Jody Yu: "Indeed." She nods. "Their hold on the population here in America is just as strong as in the East. Merely less obvious. Entities like the police often, though not always, work unwittingly for them. Even the population can, trained as they are by the Five Metal Dragons' skillful manipulations to reject anything that the Dragons do not espouse."

Kwan Lo: *He nods.* I begin to understand. *Frowns.* What I cannot see is my place in such a war. I am no fighter; I merely use a small gift to help those in my community.

Jody Yu: She smiles. "A war is not composed only of fighters, Kwan Lo. Healers are needed as well. And diplomats. Dignitaries. And ten thousand other things. If you wish to help, I am sure there is a role for you. If not, then that is your Way, and none will question it."

Kwan Lo: *He thinks.* I wish to help, however I may. The old ways must not be lost; this Technocracy clearly means to erase them. I ask only that I be allowed to continue my purpose, as well.

Jody Yu: "Of course," she says, nodding in acknowledgment. "Tell me...have you heard of the Akashayana before?"

Kwan Lo: d10: Int + Occult: 7,6,10,6,9,

Kwan Lo: *He nods* I have heard many legends and myths, of course. They were the wise ones, the sages of old. *He smiles, seeing where this is going.* You are telling me that the Akashayana are real, and are engaged in this war?

Jody Yu: She merely smiles. "Indeed. I am a tulku of the Kannagara sect of the Akashayana."

Kwan Lo: *He nods.* I have heard that name in reference to the Shaolin. You are part of a long and honorable tradition, then.

Jody Yu: She ackowledges the praise with a humble nod of her head. "A tradition I am honored to be a part of, in this life and in others along the Wheel."

Kwan Lo: *He nods to her.* Of course. *He thinks for a moment.* Those who rescued me said they were known as the Ka'a; I had not heard of them before. ((Not sure if Jody would be familiar with a small Chinese all-female sub-sect of the Cult of Ecstasy or not. *G*))

Jody Yu: d10: Int+Mage Lore: 2,5,8,5,2,2,

Jody Yu: She has a very vague recognition. "I have heard the name, though I know little of them."

Kwan Lo: ((*Nods* Just heard about it, then. Female Tibetan dream-walkers, astral travellers and so forth. They also have a less-than-savory reputation for draining the men they visit in their dreams of their vital energies--Chinese version of the succubus legend, basically....))

Kwan Lo: *He nods to her.* They said that theirs is an all-female order, or I would be welcome among them. *He sighs.* I think that now it is important that I learn what I may of this war, that I can find my Way.

Jody Yu: She nods. "I can help you learn of these things. And I will introduce you to others that may offer further insight."

Kwan Lo: *He nods.* My thanks. Is there anything I should do in the meantime?

Jody Yu: "Learn the city, and its ways. They will serve you well." She smiles. "I will introduce you to Cheng Li soon. He is...a past cycle of the Wheel who lives strongly in me. A Tao-shih. And I do have one more thing to speak upon. A treaty that that I sit at the head of. You do not have to be a member...indeed, it may not be your Way. But it is something you should be aware of."

Kwan Lo: *He nods.* I would like to know my options, yes.

Jody Yu: ((And because the treaty takes forever to explain and many long posts of mind-numbing copying and pasting for me, assume she lays it out to him, without going into specifics about vampires and werewolves and so on. Just "others among the Shen."))

Kwan Lo: ((*Nods* Was thinking about suggesting that. *C* He's a bit surprised that there are so many inhuman shen among the population, but otherwise, he sees the wisdom of the Treaty, and decides fairly quickly to put himself under its aegis.))

Kwan Lo: *And after an extensive conversation, he nods to her.* And I would appreciate if you could arrange for a meeting with these teachers you mentioned.

Jody Yu: "Of course," she says with a nod. "There actually happens to be another of my number here in the city...a subtle man. He may be able to provide aid. And also, there are more of those that we call Awakened. I will arrange such introductions for you as soon as possible."

Kwan Lo: *He bows to her.* I would be grateful. *He considers.* I have another question for you. You say you are part of a neutral force that enforces the Treaty, yes?

Jody Yu: She nods a little bit. "I am, yes."

Kwan Lo: *He nods* From what you say, most of the Awakened are not part of this force. Is it acceptable to be a student of one of them--for I am in need of tutelage--and to be part of the Neutral Force at this... Concerto Club? I ask, because the group's purpose intrigues me greatly.

Jody Yu: She tilts her head, smiling faintly. "If you wish, Kwan Lo...I can instruct you. It would not be a violation of my own Neutrality to instruct you, were you to be part of said Neutrals."

Kwan Lo: *He nods* I should meet with the others, first, so that I may make an informed decision. But I do find that option attractive. *He smiles to her.* It would be good, I think, to be one who keeps the peace.

Jody Yu: "Of course." She nods. "I will arrange the meetings."

Kwan Lo: *He bows to her.* My thanks. ((*C* And I think that's a wrap, for now. *Nods* Good stuff, and Kwan's definitely on more stable ground, now.))

Kwan Lo: ((And thanks for the scenage, Ravyn!))

Jody Yu: ((You bet. Thank you back! *S*))