"Genovia Swiftfoot.  I guess you'd call me a scout," the young rouge replies.

Vandra nodded at each of you in turn, then looks back to Zenobia.  "I know where Melek Garveister is.  If that is yer destination, then I'll happily take ya to him.  Why do ya wanna see him, though?  He's a cantankerous old coot who don't get along wi' no one, least not since the end of the Echtinik War."

It was at that moment that the group realized that Jarsichok was missing.

 Glancing around as his mind went over the supper and he couldnt remember seeing the bugman at supper, still if the dwarves and bugmen had been to war with each other then he may not want to be near them or maybe he went back to his home.

 The way is set before us and we must see this man first the way i understand it.

Zenobia looks around..

"You know we had a Echtinik guide with us but he seems to have disappeared."

The Kradok woman answers Tyler.  "The journey is just a week east and a bit south o' 'ere.  I kin take ya, if ya need me to.  However, I'd suggest that ya all stay 'ere for tha night and rest up.  The mountain passes between mah house and the Kradok capital is a bit dangerous."

She points over to a couple of stone doorways, each with a well crafted metal door open for the moment revealing soft beds.  "I've got plenty of room for all o' ya.  The great furry rug can sleep downstairs.  I've got a longer bed down there for ogre and anthros guests."

She looks over at Zenobia with a bit of disdain.  "If you little girlie's need ta clean up, there's runnin' water in the second room off tha back of yer sleeping room.  It comes out tha top or the bottom spout so you can sit in it or stand, whichever ya like.  I think me niece even stocked 'em with scented oils and other prissy stuff like that.  There are towels and whatnot in there too.  Help yerself to whatever ya like.  We need to leave sometime before noon, but we don't necessarily need ta be up at the crack o' dawn.  How long after dawn do you humans need ta sleep?"

 He smiled at the thought of a hot bath of scented water but he sure wasnt going to let the dwarf woman know that. As for this human, i will be up as the sun rise's to make prayer for us. Umm, i hope you dont have to go "fishing" for breakfast?. he adds his smile as he thought he might have gotten a zinger at the dwarf woman.

 Moving over he drops his pack into one of the rooms and rejoins the others to enjoy the majestic outdoors here.

Genovia relaxed in the warm bath.  It was a comfort her people had never experienced and one which she vowed to bring back to the valley.  The scented oils and the strange, squishy pads Vandra called 'sponges' made her feel more clean than she had in ages.  It was certainly a luxury.

All too soon she found her self drifting off to sleep and in need of a bed.  Using the long, thick towels hanging from poles on the wall, she dried her self and checked her armor.  Oddly, the armor did not smell bad.  She was used to armor, after being worn for days like hers had, smelling bad.  But this armor smelled...well, there was a slight metallic tang to it, but it actually smelled fine.

Neatly she folded all of her belongings near her bed and laid down to sleep.  The others would wake her in the morning when it was time for breakfast.  She really liked this Kradok woman and looked forward to more wonders by the ingenious race.  Her mind drifted to strange machines able to fly over the ground and even among the clouds...

Darkness still reigned thickly outside and even starlight failed to interrupt the serenity coming in through the windows of all the bedrooms.  Though difficult to tell precisely, the time was late when a thundering growl and a loud ruckus woke everyone in the house.  The sound came from Genovia's room!

[Private to Genovia Swiftfoot:
You are woken by the same sounds, but the sight that greets your eyes is that of Vandra standing over you with a dagger about an inch from your breast under which your heart beats.  It is protected by a thin film of an undershirt that doesn't even stop all the light wanting to penetrate.  It certainly would not stop a dagger, especially not one made by the craft oriented hands of the Kradok race.

Behind her, Bedawry has her wrapped in a powerful hold. The Kradok is actually stronger and winning the struggle.  Only Bedawry's failing leverage has kept the Kradok woman from killing you.
]

Zenobia rose from her bed..

No time for armor,

She grabbed the Echtinik sword bow and headed towards Genovia's room at a run.

 With the loud noise he blearly looked around the room until his sense's woke up to warn him of something not being right.

 Stepping into his boots and grabbing his new weapon he hastens down the hall to just outside the door as others came running up.

As the two of you rush into Genovia's room you are greeted with a sight that doesn't quite make sense at first.  Mostly what is visible is Genovia in bed, scrambling back from what looks like Bedawry, whose back is turned to the two of you.  He looks like he is struggling with a small mountain.  The mountain, what flashes of it you can see beyond the fur, is Vandra.  At one point, a knife flashes in her hand and Bedawry howls in pain and lets go.  Wasting no time, Vandra steps forward, trying to stab Genovia, but the Antrhos' foot sweeps under her and she goes down.

Zenobia trusts in Bedawry implicitly and rushes to engage the Kradok woman sword in hand.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:42, Sun 21 June 2009.

 Unsure of what is going on he rush's to light the candle to shed some light on the fight.

Zenobia seems to be on her toes, for she jumps into the fray with alacrity. Her sword swing is true, but Zenobia turns the edge away and hits with the flat of her blade.

-

Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus rolled 20 using 1d20+1. Initiative .
Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus rolled 17 using 1d20+1. Sword attack.
Today: Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus rolled 6 using 1d8-1. Damage.

The light from the candle does little to brighten the dim situation, but there is enough light to see by coming from the hallway.  Zenobia's blade smacks down on the back of the Kradok woman's head, staggering her, but still she is able to climb unsteadily to her feet.  The bards blow would have dropped a large human male.

Bedawry, already back to his feet, leaps on her back, but she slams an elbow into his solar plexus.  The furry warrior grunts and staggers back, gasping for air.

Vandra turns to Genovia, trying to clear her vision with a shake of her head.  Snarling she leaps at the young scout with her fishing knife.  Genovia, finally past her surprise, rolls out from under the blade to the other side of the bed.  "Get back here and I'll squash you like the insect you are!"  Between Genovia's quickness and the blow to the head, Vandra misses by more than a foot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:07, Mon 22 June 2009.

Zenobia goes after Vandra, still swinging..

-
And probably fumbles.. LOL

Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus rolled 6 using 1d20+5. Sword swing from behind.
That's a 1 on the die.

He is still unsure what started the fight but it shouldnt go on, of that he was sure. With a shout of his training lungs he shouts out to shake the timbers.
 Stop Fighting now!!, by all thats holy it must stop.

Tyler's invocation turns out more effective than one might imagine.  Vandra turns to him, looking surprised, giving Bedawry enough time to bowl her over. In doing so, the stout wooden bed is demolished, but Vandra is subdued and it seems the fight has gone out of her.

"In the kitchen there are cables used for stringing up larger fish.  Get them and we will bind her," Bedawry growls.  His fangs are still bared and no doubt whatever serves for adrenaline in the tree-dweller's body still pumps through it at a torrent.

 He stares into the eyes of Vandra questioning them, I think that what was in her is gone, it wasnt her who attacked you Bedawry, she was just a tool to do so. Umm, unless she was fighting a dream which might explain her confusion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:10, Tue 23 June 2009.

"Twernt no dream, cleric.  I have me senses about me.  I knew exactly what I was doin'.  I was exterminating a filthy bug spy s'what I was doin'!"  Vandra growls, half heartedly, not bothering to look at Genovia.

"Spy?!" Genovia says in shock.

Sounds like the Echtinik have tried to pull a fast one, says Zenobia trying to pull her sword from out of the bedframe.

Bedawry shakes his head, "I am not so sure.  Vandra, could you say more on why you attacked Genovia?"

The Kradok shifts a bit, getting more comfortable amongst the wreckage of the bed.  Genovia, still wary, stays as far across the room from the woman as she can get, but she turns her attention to Vandra wondering at her strange behavior.

"The lass wore armor o' the bugs.  Ya all carry their gear, their weapons, except fer you, my old friend," she nods in Bedawry's direction.  "I thought they had you under some kind o' mind spell or something.  This one," she indicates Genovia, "wore the armor so I took her ta be the leader, the others her drones.  If I took her out first, maybe I could free these others from her control."  She frowns, deeply pissed.  "Bugs cannae be trusted, I don't care what papers they've signed."

Bedawry leans back, letting Zenobia and the humans take things from there.  His mission is to learn of humans, not lead them in Antrhos ways.  He is curious how they will handle this misunderstanding and what it will do for relations with the ornery Kradok.

Zenobia's sword finally comes loose and she staggers a bit, but keeps her feet.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Tue 23 June 2009.