In reply to Katala Windstrom (msg # 162):

"What is more Lady Kat as far as I know they departed without the ok of the Caravan owners or being conscripted by the Town Guard.  Now if either of these things have happened then I could still see them getting paid.  But to go off leaving the wagons short of guards?

Who knows what trade commodities are inside or who on the streets wants to check the contents for themselves?  Still there is a chance they could get back in time if any trouble arises."

Katala sat on the wagon, looking at it with a smile. A few years ago, she would not have hesitated to steal the wagon and gear, but recent events had caused her to be less a follower in her life. She had learnt that her skills were useful, but her mind, thoughts and opinions were equally important. She grimaced at the thought of her former 'master' and the things she had to do.

She shook the thoughts away and looked at Gora.....if she had half the muscle tone of the woman she could have achieved lots, but she recently discovered a new talent that had saved her more than once.

She smiled at Gora. "I'm sure they had their reasons, but I see your point. I myself have lived a less structured life than what you may be used to.....I rely on my instincts to survive. I can't say I would stand and fight for mere items, but for friends, people I trust, I would stand by their side and fight with everything I have"

The woman sighed and took out her dagger, throwing it and catching it in mid air. "Never had many I could really trust....some I thought I could but who betrayed me. " Her gaze was to the ground, but clearly she thought of her past. She snapped out of it, smiling at Gora.

"As long as you guard, I will remain....I don't know you well Gora, but I like you. And I don't want to see you harmed. So until your team returns, I'll stand by your side. Not much with a blade, but I'm a fair shot with a bow....plus have a few surprises up my sleeve."
She jumps down, sheathing her dagger. "In return, maybe you can put a good word in with the caravan master...this place is getting dull and some coin could help."

"You are damn right, Brankx. But maybe we should ask to join their meal, I am interested what this is all about. What do you think? Ask bluntly?"

In reply to Katala Windstrom (msg # 166):

"Ah Katala betrayal comes in many forms and even Paladins can be accused of it sometimes.  For example if I found out one of my companions was guilty of Murder I would be bound by Law and Good to see them face justice.  That been said I would try to get to the truth of the Matter and if they were indeed innocent I would work as hard as I could to prove that.  That includes a divination to the Gods with a simple question.  Is this person innocent of the charge against them.  Got to be very careful with divination though, why if I ask a Deity if I was innocent I am almost certain that the answer would be no.  I was not born a Paladin after all."

Brankx looks at his cousin with a sniff. "If ye want to, go right ahead cousin...i want nothin' ter do with magic users." The dwarf spat on the ground. "Dang cowardly bunch, hiding behind tricks and stuff that shouldn't be meddled with!"

The dwarf shifted his gear, shaking his head.

Katala sat on the wagon, twirling a dagger with a smile. "None of us choose what we want most of the time. I was raised as a thief, and though must of my kind has, what you would call a distinctivly altered morale compass, I myself see things less black and white and more shades of grey."

The woman shrugs her shoulders. "How i was raised, i saw good people do bad things for good reasons, and saw evil men do acts that  rival the kindness of holy men. I see that all of us have good and evil in us, and it falls to us to decide the way we use it."

The woman, a serious look for the first time, looked at the dagger in her hand. "MAny a person thought me evil where i grew up....mainly because of my step motehr and her children. My uncle, who i consider my father, was the most kind and devout man i have yet to meet...." The woman smiled at the memory. "...you would have liked him, have much in common. But our paths have led different ways. Because of this we see things different....not wrong in either case, just different."

She sighed, and looked at Gora. "But, like you, i was not born a thief. So i strive to use my skills for those who need help instead of the greedy and dark minded." the woman shivered, remembering her time as a slave, the manipulation and deception she was forced to do...and more.

Katala's eyes cleared, then looked again at the warrior before her.

"That is why i ask if i can join you.....because you are a strong woman and i think, someone i can trust. And though our views may differ, i think that my skills, though very different from yours, may compliment each other. "

In reply to Katala Windstrom (msg # 170):

"Lady Katala I must point out that for the most part Good and Evil are a matter of choice not a matter of birthright.  A Demon becomes so due to the choices they made in the past as is that of an Angle or a Spirit.  Even though You are a Thief you can make an honest living by working as a Locksmith.  Have you not ever thought that people do loose keys and need someone with lockpicking skills to get into their houses or locked chests?  There are spies who work for the State who sneak around gathering intelligence for their Lords I could go on but I think you may get the idea.   What is more if everyone was the same then that is a sure sign of no free will, is it not?  Morals and Ethics can be weird and confusing.

As for seeing things as Grey... I will let you on in a little secret that is not very well kept.  Most Humans see things as Grey or Neutral.  Most Dwarfs see things as Gold and Red which identifies them as Lawful and Chaotic while most Elves view things as Silver or Good while Drow view things as Black as in evil.  But it is all part of some greater plan and every choice in life matters.  No matter how small.

Lastly a Good action made for selfish reasons is not a Good action.  Giving a coin to a pauper just to make yourself feel generous cheapens the act of generosity.  Better to be true to ones Nature and ones self than to damn oneself with false actions.  That is the true Power of a Neutral being they can adapt more easily to circumstances.  Or put another way a Paladin like Myself would rather die on a hill surrounded by evil foes that submit to their way of life.  Not that we would throw away our lives on a grand pointless gesture if given an acceptable alternative.  Better to live and fight another day than to throw a life away.

Lastly I do not see why my talking on your behalf to the Wagon Master would be of any use.  You see I feel that most people don't believe I am a Paladin when I tell them so.  It is a little bit strange concept for most to accept at first.  Still no harm in trying."

"I'll see what I can do. Be right back." Grollo hurries after the two men. "Sire, Sire! May I have a word. Forgive my bluntness but my friend and I just overheard what happened and we would like to offer our help in any, let's say possible adventures 'cause we are in need to earn some good money. May I join you in your .. evening meal. Name is Grollo Ironfist by the way, your Lordship."

Kat and Gora

A couple of patrons come out and move towards the stables, they are a bit unsteady on their feet. They do not seem to have noticed you yet and they are not traveling with anything resembling stealth.

Their mutterings are to themselves and almost unintelligent. They seem to be headed to a stall nearby that has a single horse in it.

The robbed figure turns to look upon you. "Ah master dwarf, it is good to see you." he seems to visually inspect your holy symbol then continues "A follower of Moradin. You are more than welcome to adventure in the area. We do offer a bounty of 25 gp a bandit scalp currently. I have no specific missions right now, others in town might have something. I may have something on the morrow if you return then. Depends what our friend here has to say. I do hope you will not be to put off but I'm afraid the table is full this evening, being that much of the castle is still under construction I do not yet have the power to entertain as I would like to do. Come check with me in the morning and perhaps we'll have more work for you."

In reply to DM (msg # 173):
"Take these two for example Kat. Drunk unsteady and most likely feeling a little carefree due to their current state. The poor pair are victims and victimise-rs in one bundle"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:45, Sat 23 Feb 2019.

Kat, looking at the men, couldn't help but agree with the woman to a certain extent. "Believe me, lady Gora.....I have men like this before." The woman had obvious diets in for the male sex and their drunken habits.

The two men get the horse and start to lead it out. One of them runs into the stall post and knocks over the lantern....which breaks. However due to their drunken nature they don't seem to notice it. There is a fire starting on the straw. The horse looks to be a plow horse rather than a riding horse.

"Such will it be, my Lord Burne. I will visit you in the morning!" Grollo bows shortly and then Returns to Brankx.

In reply to DM (msg # 177):

the fire must be stopped before it gets out of hand. "Kat" I call "If you can get that horse out before it panics I will try and douse the fire with blankets soaked with some water from the troughs." Setting words into actions.  A general call of alarm to any who can hear in the Tavern is sounded.  "FIRE"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:37, Sun 24 Feb 2019.

Kat, cursing the men and their incompetence, sheaths her dagger and goes for the horses. She grabs reigns and begins leading them out. She cursed herself for not allowing her mentor to help her with horses more...as she led the horses out, clearly having trouble with the animals, she mutters. "Sure, humans I can get them to do anything....horses."

She pulls on the the reigns of the horses. "C'mon....you....guys..."

Gora finds some saddle blankets and soaks them in a water trough and moves to douse the fires.

Kat despite her lack of training in handling animals manages to coax the horse out of the stables without it getting scared.

The two drunks walking their plow horse are heading up the road, they don't seem to be aware of the ruckus they caused.

In reply to DM (msg # 181):

All in all it looks like a case of sabotage to Gora.  But her hands are too full at the moment to confront the two louts about it.  She will however take specific note of their direction of egress, for later reference.  The Tavern Owner should at least be entitled to some reparations for the damage caused.

Once Kat has secured the horses, she run's into the bar, going to the innkeeper. She leans in close and speaks softly"fire in the barn. Myself and another are working to put it out but can use help."

She then returns, grabbing a blanket from Gora and started dousing the fire with her, cursing all the while at the two men, ignorant of their actions
This message was last edited by the player at 07:04, Mon 25 Feb 2019.

Is Kat sure she wants to do that it might cause a panic?

After leaving Lord Burne Grollo returns to Brankxs to inform him what just happened. "So, I'd say we check the wagons and horses and then go for a beer or two. Your opinion, my friend?"

Brankx smiles at the idea of Grollo. "I'm not one ter refuse a meal and drink....let's go"

He starts making his way back o the inn.

fire fighting across the stable floor, bravely going at it before the beams do try to fall.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:23, Sat 02 Mar 2019.

Kat, after telling the owner of the tavern of the fire (calmly), she returned to the barn, helping Gora put the fireout

No sooner than Katala has informed the owner about the fire than he shouts out: "FIRE IN THE BARN!" and runs out of the inn and heads for the barn.

Somewhat surprisingly, most of the patrons in the inn also rush out. Another barn-raising isn't out of the question, but better if this one can be saved.

Gora has been fairly successful at smothering the blaze with wet blankets, but the straw is so dry that the fire easily spreads faster than she contain it.

Although not likely to give up, Gora is probably relieved when Katala returns with reinforcements.

As it turns out, there are several wooden buckets of sand hanging around the barn in several 'strategic' places. Some of the new people know to grab them.

Others grab a pitchfork and try to get the burning or smoldering straw out of the stalls and out of the barn.

Dumping sand on small burning spots on the floor works best, but water and wet blankets are needed for the wooden sections of the stall that caught fire.

It takes about 15 minutes of effort to put the fire out to everyone's satisfaction. Can't let anything remain smoldering.

As Gora and Katala exit the barn with the others, they can see the two men that caused it standing off to the side, mouths agape and with wide-eyed wonder... clearly still not aware that they caused the fire.

"Thank you everyone!" the innkeeper calls out to all those that have helped avert catastrophe. "A free round of drinks for all of you!"