<TIAMAT> *Roary and Johan have been wandering around the Arena all morning and are now actually quite lost. Roary isn't even sure what floor they're on.

<JETMODE> <Johan> .. Kender sure wasn't lyin'. This place is big..

<TIAMAT> *Roary: And we didn't even get up to the top floors. Er, I don't think so, anyway...

<JETMODE> <Johan> Well, isn't the top floor open? We'd know if we got there, right?

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, I've never actually been there, but I heard there's a big cafe on top of the Arena...

<JETMODE> <Johan> *rolls eyes* Elly was babbling about how she got to go up there.

<JETMODE> *Right. Well. They've turned down a dark hallway, and much like Jarod's first time down here, the sound of tinkering can be heard.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Wow, really? I wouldn't mind seeing it -- I hear the view is fantastic -- but there're so many steps..

<JETMODE> <Johan> Makes me wish we could just teleport to the top, you know, like those mages do.

<TIAMAT> *Roary laughs a little. "Yeah, that'd be nice -- hey, what's that sound?

<JETMODE> *Johan stops, looking a little jumpy. He just realized the hall is dark. "I.. dunno."

<TIAMAT> *Roary looks a little excited; shy as he is, he's always had something of a sense of adventure. "Come on, let's check it out. *and he creeps forward.

<JETMODE> <Johan> 'Kay. *follows him a bit more warily*

<JETMODE> *Well, as before, Buriki's workshop door is open, and he's working away at what appears to be a miniature suit of armor. The cat doll from before is slumped on his work table, evidently sleeping. Or whatever dolls do.

<TIAMAT> *Roary peers in cautiously.

<JETMODE> *Johan peers from the other side of the door.

<JETMODE> *This time, Buriki notices his visitors and looks up with a smile. "Come in, please. I hate to leave people standing in the hallway."

<TIAMAT> *Roary takes a cautious step in, shyness returning. "We didn't mean to interrupt, sir.

<JETMODE> <Buriki> *rises with surprising grace, his long tail switching* Oh, it's quite all right. I get very few visitors -- what interruptions I have are refreshing.

<JETMODE> *Johan slinks in after Roary, peering around with unabashed curiosity. The cat doll on the table stirs.

<TIAMAT> *Roary spies the cat doll. "What ... What is that?

<JETMODE> <Buriki> *blinks, then gives a soft sigh* He was one of my orders, but his master was killed before he could pick him up.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: ... Oh. *he's watching the doll curiously.

<JETMODE> *The cat's ears twitch, and it suddenly rises to its feet, waving its forepaws in what it probably thinks is a menacing manner.

<JETMODE> *Johan jumps, at least, and this satisfies it temporarily.

<JETMODE> <Buriki> *wryly* He's been disappointed he didn't have a chance at the dragon.

<TIAMAT> *Roary, still watching it: ... I'd be rather grateful, myself. Am grateful, at that.

<JETMODE> <Johan> *wistfully* I still wish I coulda seen it.

<JETMODE> *Buriki smiles faintly. "Well, if it's any consolation, I missed the bulk of the action, myself." The cat doll attempts to fall off the edge of the table, and Buriki rescues it.

<JETMODE> <Buriki> So, if I may ask, what brings you two to my corner of the arena?

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Er...we, uh, sorta got lost.

<JETMODE> *Buriki's eyes dance. "That's the usual excuse." The doll is chewing on one of his fingers. "Well, you're welcome to stay for a while, if you like -- or would you like directions somewhere?"

<JETMODE> *Johan, incidentally, is poking around the workshop -- at least until one of the dolls pokes him back and he flees back to the worktable.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Well, er, we're in no hurry anywhere...but we don't want to be any trouble to you...

<JETMODE> <Buriki> No trouble at all.

<JETMODE> <Buriki> Though I admit my work isn't terribly interesting.

<TIAMAT> *Roary's gazing around the room. "I've never seen anything like this before..

<JETMODE> <Johan> *skeptically* It kind of reminds me of Elly's room.

<JETMODE> *Buriki chuckles. "There aren't many people gifted -- or interested, in point of fact -- in the work of a doll master.

<JETMODE> *The cat doll ambles over to Roary and paws him, losing its balance and falling backward with a whump.

<TIAMAT> *Roary returns his attention to the doll, starting a bit when it paws him, then prodding it gently when it falls over.

<JETMODE> *It squirms, struggling back to its feet, and bats at Roary again.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Wow... *glances up at Buriki* How do you control them?

<JETMODE> <Buriki> .. That's.. difficult to explain.

<JETMODE> <Buriki> In many ways, we don't need to control them -- as you can see, they frequently have a life of their own. We can pull their strings, so to speak, if necessary. *he looks thoughtful* Would you like a demonstration?

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Yeah! Er, if you don't mind. *sheepish grin*

<JETMODE> <Johan> Yeah, yeah!

<JETMODE> *Buriki smiles, then plucks the cat doll away from them and settles it in front of him. "There are a number of ways it can be done -- most people simply use vocal commands. 'Sit', 'Run', 'Attack'. I use a slightly different technique."

<JETMODE> *Buriki suddenly gives an ululating trill, and the cat doll springs to its feet and spins on one leg for a moment. The trill dies down, then changes to a sharp, staccato burst. The doll leaps, then back-flips.

<TIAMAT> *Roary watches, wide-eyed, alternating between Buriki and the doll -- though mostly the doll.

<JETMODE> *Johan looks kinda creeped out, but he's interested.

<JETMODE> *For his part, it doesn't look like Buriki's doing much at all except whistling. The bursts change into something more melodic, and the cat pads in a slow circle and flops down.

<JETMODE> <Buriki> And there you have it.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: .. Wow. That was cool!

<JETMODE> <Johan> Craazy ...

<JETMODE> <Buriki> *nods* Thank you -- though I think he's a bit worn out. Command movement puts a surprising amount of strain on some models.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Oh. *scratches his head, then looks at the armor thing that Buriki was working on. "So what's that one?

<JETMODE> <Buriki> *glances over* Ah. It's for another order. The young woman's doll was destroyed, and she's looking for something sturdier this time. *he smiles wryly* Cloth won't stand up to fire forever, no matter how enchanted it is.

<TIAMAT> *Roary nods. "So you build these dolls for people...do you ever participate in the battles or anything?

<JETMODE> <Buriki> .. not anymore. *distant look* There was a time when I did, but I prefer the quiet, now.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Well, it does get pretty rough up there sometimes.. *remembers the dragon with a slight grimace*

<JETMODE> <Johan> .. man .. sometimes I really wish I wasn't taking over the ranch ..

<JETMODE> <Buriki> *smiles* I've had my fair share of adventure -- but my time is past. I'll let the younger folk have their battles.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: So, uh ... where are we, anyway?

<JETMODE> <Buriki> *mouth quirks* You're on the first floor -- the magic hallways are above us, and the training grounds are below us.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: The first floor? Really? Gee, I thought we were further up ...

<JETMODE> <Johan> All that walking must have messed up our heads.

<JETMODE> <Buriki> Where is it you were trying to go?

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Er, no where in specific, really. We were just exploring and sort of got turned around ...

<JETMODE> <Buriki> I see. *smiles* Well, at least now you have a vague idea where you wound up.

<TIAMAT> *Roary: Yeah.. *scratches his head* *sheepishly* Er, thanks for the help. And the demonstration. Your dolls are neat.

<JETMODE> *Buriki nods. "Of course. It was a pleasure having you. Please feel free to drop in again sometime." He grins. "If you can find me."

<JETMODE> *Johan turns and waves.

<TIAMAT> *Roary grins a little and follows Johan, calling a goodbye over his shoulder.