* Fanfan whispers back. "And this will explain our asking after a suspicious 
trail how?"
* Mikoto keeps looking forward. "We lost the rest of our troupe. Teckian 
acrobats."
<Fanfan> Very well.
<Mikoto> ( We have nothing to hide. Hahaha. )
<Fanfan> ( Well, other than DEATH. )
<Brett> [You approach in plain sight.  It doesn't take long for the men to 
notice you, and once they point you out, a five-second silence covers the camp.  
Then several grins break out amongs them.  The big man says something, and they 
begin approaching en masse, with him in the center.]
<Fanfan> ( What time of day is it, by the way? )
<Brett> ( Early afternoon )
<Fanfan> ( Alrighty then.  Thanks. )
* Fanfan pauses a safe-ish distance from them, and waits in a nonthreatening 
fashion.  "Good afternoon, gentlemen!"
<Brett> [The large man waves in reply, "Good afternoon!  What brings you down 
these parts?" He and his fellows continue to approach.]
* Mikoto smiles. "We are simply trying to find some friends who are lost in 
unfamiliar territory."
<Fanfan> We were hoping you could help us.
<Brett> [They continue to approach, only about twenty feet away now. "Friends, 
hmm? I might have seen some of them pass by not too long ago."]
* Fanfan brightens in silly-looking delight.  "Oh, *really*?"
<Brett> [He nods, now only about 15 feet away, though he slows a bit. "Mm-hmm... 
At least, I think so." He looks left and right. "Isn't that right boys?" The men 
grunt assuredly.]
<Brett> ( Gimme awareness checks )
<Brett> [Fanfan notices that the men towards the end of the line are moving a 
little faster than those in the center.  Mikoto can tell what's happening: 
they're moving surround you.]
* Fanfan glances at the men out of the corners of her eyes and shifts a little, 
but continues smiling sunnily.  "And would you happen to know...which way they 
went?  Maybe?"
* Mikoto smiles, completely non-plussed. "How about this: I'll show you a trick, 
in return for your help. I'm actually an illusionist."
<Brett> "Hmmmm... I might... For the right price."
* Fanfan cocks her head.  "Knowledge has a price?"
* Mikoto nods sagaciously at Fanfan. "Knowledge is true power." He holds out his 
arm as if glancing at his wrist. "Isn't that right, Mirabel?"
<Brett> He laughs at Mikoto, and the others laugh with him. "A trick won't put 
food on the table, friend."  Meanwhile they continue their advance.  The big guy 
stops at about ten feet away, but the others keep moving.]
<Mikoto> ( That's my oh-so-subtle way of summoning the bird. )
<Fanfan> ( Subtler than "Hey bird!  Bird!  Mirabel!  D'you hear me?  C'mon 
girl!" )
<Mikoto> ( That is indeed true. )
<Brett> [The bandits stop laughing at that and exchange looks.  The big guy 
says, "Well, that's some trick, alright."]
<Mikoto> ( Can I take that to mean it worked? :P )
<Brett> ( Yes :P )
* Mikoto nods and strokes the falcon's beak. "She even sings. 'Sing a song' for 
them, would you, Mira?" He indicates the leader with a finger. "That one, 
perhaps."
<Fanfan> ( A song of DEATH?  o.o )
<Mikoto> ( Hopefully she'd recognize that as "CRY! REALlY LOUDLY!" )
<Mikoto> ( Then claw his eyes out. )
* Fanfan smiles again.  "Does that mean you'll help us?"
<Brett> ( Make an attack roll, then init rolls )
<Fanfan> ( Meaning no.  ^^ )
<Brett> ( Nope :P )
<Brett> [Mirabel darts forwards crying. The big man throws up an arm in defense, 
as Mirabel rakes it with her talons.  He screams, "Kill them!"]
* Mikoto shifts into a fighting stance. "I guess that signals the breakdown in 
negotiations."
* Fanfan pouts again.  "Oh, dear.  And here I was so hoping that we could deal 
nicely."
* Fanfan edges around to face the people behind Mikoto.  "I just want you all to 
know that I am bitterly disappointed in you.  Really!"
* Mikoto nods, back to back with Fanfan. "A little charity goes a long way."
<Fanfan> ( Ah, a dramatic back-to-back-desperately-outnumbered stance.  
Yaywheeefun!  ^-^ ^-^ ^-^!!!!! )
<Mikoto> ( Heh. )
<Brett> [A shot rings out behind you, and the bandit closest to Mikoto suddenly 
has a big hole in his chest.  He falls over.]
* Mikoto blinks, then grins, adjusting his stance. "Looks like the cavalry has 
arrived."
<Fanfan> ( They're close enough to us that we can just start with the 
hack'n'slash, I assume. )
<Ardweden> (Oh yes.)
<Fanfan> ( Just making sure. )
<Mikoto> ( As will they, for sure. )
<Fanfan> ( Well, true. But we do go before them. )
<Brett> [Mikoto's turn!]
* Mikoto sighs. "I hate it when Sakura's right." He drops his right hand to the 
ground and swings his left leg through the air, trying to hook the leader by the 
throat.
<Brett> [Mikoto hooks his leg around the leader's throat.]
<Fanfan> (Excellent, now what are you going to do, clean him and eat him?  -_^)
<Brett> [This causes him to spin around through the air and land on his back.  
Although he impressively held onto his massive club weapon.]
<Mikoto> ( Works for me. ^_^ )
<Brett> [Fanfan's turn]
* Fanfan unsheathes her swords and slashes at the first two bandits coming at 
her.
<Mikoto> ( Don't get greedy, Fan^2. )
<Fanfan> ( I prefer the term "efficient." )
<Mikoto> ( heh. )
<Brett> [Fanfan slashes furiously at the bandits, which doesn't actually hit 
them but which bothers them enough to back away a little.]
<Brett> [The big guy swings his club at Mikoto as he rises, evidently being well 
used to combat.]
<Brett> [Mikoto moves back out of the range of the club.]
* Mikoto drops back into a fighting stance. "Seriously. All you had to do was 
share a little information, but you got greedy. And there's someone coming who 
just *hates* bandits."
<Brett> [He doesn't look in the mood to talk.]
<Ardweden> (Sakura's like the bandit-victim angel of death and vengeance.)
<Fanfan> ( Quite. )
<Mikoto> ( Oh, I don't care if he says anything, I justhave to be quippy. It's 
in the script. )
* Fanfan shakes her head.  "I hope you'll learn a lesson from this, so as not to 
make the same mistake next time--that is, if you'll *have* a next time after 
Sakura is finished with you."
<Brett> ( /me takes a random line from Romance of the Three Kingdoms VII. 
"Hahaha! I'll cut into pieces!" )
<Brett> [Another bandit suddenly falls as more shots ring out.]
<Brett> [The two bandits closest to Fanfan approach nervously, not sure how to 
get by the swirling blades.  One pokes timidly at her with his spear, but pulls 
away when it gets knocked aside. They exchange nervous looks.]
<Fanfan> ( ...swordchuks. )
<Brett> [Meanwhile, the gunner bandits aim behind you guys.]
<Brett> [Two more bandits go for Mikoto.  One stumbles over the other, but the 
second gets a decent slash in with his knife. Let's see if Mikoto can avoid it.]
<Brett> [Ouch, Mikoto gets a nasty cut along his forearm.]
<Brett> [The guy with the revolver fires at you, too, but his aim is way off.]
* Fanfan feels the pressure of something hitting Mikoto.  "Are you all right?"
<Brett> [A bunch of the other bandits move to intercept the oncoming forces.]