Tyri smiled warmly. “Greetings Envlo. Tyri of the Shadowhand gyspies.” She gave him a deep curtsy. Straightening, she looked him over. “You are a mage? Do you have a speciality?” she asked, giving him her full attention. That curiosity was clearly seen in her icy blue eyes as she continued to observe him.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

   A group of Ironmound  regulars, led  by a grizzled looking SGT, worked their  way down the Line of  merc Companies.

 at each one The SGT gave a  bored   , 'text book' warning to. Then he came to the  Arrows.well.. don't  this  beat all..Lookit  'ere be got us the gods be damned Crimson  Arrows....Thought you was dead...

 how do you  know we are not? , handing him  the charter.

 ..'taint  a funny thing  ta  say.. not  with night closin' in an'  all he looks at the charter,..ye got more names on 'ere then People..Cap'm.

 Aye, some  stayed other places  to   help out. Others  left. Reedrick will cut the names  from the charter when we  reach 'The Plank'


 The SGT nods his head,..well..i'm guessin'  i dinna  'ave  ta   tel ye  to  becareful inside the walls...aye?

 ..Not  to  fear, SGT.... folks who mess with teh Arrows, tend  to make thier last journey  on the Orc Cart...

 there are some chuckles  from the  Guards  as the  moved back up to the check point..one group was  walking away  as another  group stepped up.

 ..For those of you New to 'The Mound'.... if you get in fights in the streets or  Pubs, and death ensues , you will be able to  avoid  being sent to the Arena  if you are on a Company charter.... the second thing?.. if  we  kill folks in a bar or some such place.. the bodies  are set in the alley for the orc cart.. some of the  body's  possessions  are left for the orcs  to take, as payment for thier service.... The  Orc Section is  a   neighborhood  of sorts, separated by a stockade... the  dead   found in the  streets are used to help feed the orcs  who live there... Those  Orcs have  defended the City , many times over..which is  why they live  inside the walls...others of thier Ink  would wipe out thier Village anywhere  else.

Envlo smiled at Tyri and Elandra, bowing his head briefly. "It's an honour to meet you two. While I practice magic I'm not exactly a mage, per say. More of a... I think the term used is Druid?  Most of my magic is curative, useful for surviving out in the wilderness or has general utility, such as increasing one's natural talents temporarily.  I hope that it may serve this party well."

He swallowed hard as he heard the words of the guards, of how nonchalantly they talked about someone dying in the streets or from a fight, the explanation of the 'Orc Cart' certainly catching him off-guard. He stayed close to the group, with no intention of wandering too far off on his own.

 Elandra smiled and said," Aww Druidic magic,  the Goddess Amot gives me my power, I use to help others find Peace. There are many ways to find Peace. May Peace be with you." She was also a little taken back by how they talked about in the streets so casually.

 Elandra looks at Tyri, " I think we should stick together after we hit the Inn, is that okay with you Tyri." She smiled at her and couldn't help but stare at her beauty.

“Oh a druid!” she grinned, eyes lighting up. “We have run into a couple of druids on our travels…me and my family that is. I am still fairly new to this group here but as they have accepted me into their midst, that makes them my new family.”

With a sweet smile, Tyri looked to Elandra. “I don’t mind sticking together though I am going with Ivy.” There was a glint of mischief in those icy blue eyes of hers and she couldn’t help but bite her bottom lip. She wanted to dance have make merriment and who knew, maybe there would be someone who took her fancy since Kree and Ivy didn’t seem interested.

In reply to checkpoint (msg # 833):

Lucy was happy to see the great city again.  She couldn't wait to see how her mother was doing.

At the gate there was a message to see one Captain Archer, who had urgent news for her.

She waited till she and the other arrows had settle in, then went to see the Captain.  She got lost only once.

The captain was of average height, with more Elven traits then human.

"Ahhh … Lucy, just the person I wanted to see." He said, as she stepped into his office.

"I have some reports that you might find of interest.  I understand you have been looking for  a Catkind, Tiger named Tawny.  Well, I have reports that he has ventured into Ironmound territory, and has been hunting in the northern reaches." He said.

A chill ran down her spine.  Tawny was here?  Her father was here?  In Ironmound territory?

She inquired about details, and the captain explained that recently two villages had had their male populations slaughtered, and the females taken away.  Those who survived said it was a tall, Bengal Tiger, who went by the name Tawny.

"I understand you have a feud with this cat creature.  Well, I can sent you after him, with a company of excellent Ironmound soldiers.  Hunt him down, kill him, and free any captives he's taken.  By any means necessary." The captain said.

"I need a day, to put my affairs in order.  I need to inform Captain Kree." She said.

"Of course.  The company can be ready to leave tomorrow, say around noon?"

She just nodded.

She then quickly went to see Captain Kree.

She was conflicted.  The Arrows had become her home, her family.  While she thirsted for vengeance against the bastard, she als didn't want to leave the Arrows.

So, she went to find Kree.  There was something she needed to tell him urgently
"Captain Kree, I need to talk to you privately, if I can." She said, when she found him.

When they were alone she laid it all out.

"I am very conflicted.  The Arrow have become my home and my family.  But, my father has been sighted in Ironmound territory.  Captain Archer of the Guard is willing to lend me a company of Ironmound soldiers to hunt him down by any means necessary.  My conflict is in leaving the Arrows." She said.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:13, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

 Entering the Gates gates  after Nasmes  were checked off  and a double   check  for   Orlin and  Stardancers.
  The street's  light  glodes  were  comign  on. Lasmp lighters  were working on the  smaller side streets.. Kree  said  aloud  to the  group, for the new  folks..we  are now on the  Road  of  Kings..we are  Now on the North Way.... it is a bit of  a  Misnomer  as the   Way runs    east and west, and is in the South..it matter not... as long as  you know where you  are going..aye?..   ,

 reaching the   end  of  the  cobbled  road  that lead ot thte Main Gates.. the  group  saw   walls, Half  as High as those of the city wall, with a  domed   tower  rising out of  thier midst.

   That is  were i will be tomorrow..The Emperor's  Palace...The    small mountain you see  in the back round, is  'Ironmound'... a massive  rock from the  heavens.. The High Peak Dwarves  who  came to help  build  The City , were  given the rights to mine   and live there..... thier mines  do deep,, and under the Mighty Storm river... to connect to   the High peak dwarves... though there is  as much fighting below the ground, as there is  above,'' he left the Group to  go to  Beggar's  Corner, were   dozens of beggars  held out  cups  and bowls.. Kree   crouched in front of a Little human Girl and put  two gold  in her  bowl.. she   pocketed  it   after he said something and   she  ran like a deep to  the  east.

 It was  here  Lucy  took her  leave  to  the temple  Section.

  The  walked  across the   Bridge.. the  massive  iron wrought  gates  to the  river  were close, the bridge was a god  50   feet above the  water.

 When Vessels   with   masts too tall for the walls  sail in.. the  brawbright opens  up ward  at those    seams..  and the   gates open outward.... those rtopes  uou see hanging from the  bridge walls..  ..JUS..reach the water.. slavers  and  such   are  dropped off the   bidge....the lucky ones   die.. the unlucky one   dangle in the water  for serpents to get..

 Pointing to the  North west, were ships  are   at  dock and  alot of  light shows....That is where the Plank lies.. and   where  we are going...

 once they made their  wat across the Bridge, Kree led them  down the side  street, Called  'Street of wares'... they shops were closing , for the most part, and they had passed some taverns  on the way  to this street.  A few meeting s  with other   bands of  people that  were mostly grunbts of  hello... led them to a  dirt  path that went down to the  docks..

 the  first Inn was  'The Docksider's Rest' .. some  folks sat  outside  ,casting odd looks at the odd members of the   party..

 the Next Inn   had a   board  that  said  'Walk The Plank'..a little   wooden sailer  toddled   down the   sign to 'fall off'  then was  taken  back inside  of the building.. as  anothe r sailor took its place.

 ..here  we are... Stardancer..Mind your hooves...

Envlo kept close to the the group, still adjusting to the busting streets, a jarring difference from the quiet, more isolated life he had previously lead.  At the very least the people on the street didn't seem to pay him much heed, for the most part, as the group's more exotic members took the role as the... centaur of attention.

He listened intently to Kree as they journeyed towards their destination, paying attention to the street names and landmarks.  When they passed through the aptly-named Beggar's Corner Envlo closed his eyes and chanted under his breath, holding tightly onto his staff with one hand and conjuring some berries into his other.  He distributed these amongst the beggars, explaining to them that they were more filling than they appeared, bowing slightly as he offered them them small fruits.

Once they reached the Walk the Plank Envlo looked up at the sign, chuckling to himself at the sight of the wodden sailors continuously waddling off the plank, before he entered the establishment with the rest of the party.

Krwyn has been here before and is more used to the bustling city compared to the new members of the crew. He intents to enjoy some good elfen wine tonight, and sleep in a decent bed again. Ang the meals are very good, he remembers. To Ivy he turns: "I join you and Kree to the Palace tomorrow." and to Envlo: "Nice to deal some goodberries".

Tyri danced along with the others, making note of the good deeds with a smile but didn't say anything. Admittedly, she was excited about going into the tavern for the experiences that they usually had to offer. Icy blue eyes darted around once inside, making note of people and positionings, a wide smile on her lips.

 Elandra followed the others checking out everything as they walked and navigating through the city later. She nodded when Lucy left, she walked with Tyri and waited till they got to the Inn before doing or saying anything.

 >>>>>>>> Ivy, Tyri from the Plank

  The pair walked out of the  warm  Inn,  the  cool air off the  river hit them immediately, There were some   sailors  and   adventure types  waling  up and down the  docks... a Pair of merchant  ships  were  docked some of the   crew sitting  around on crates  with a  latern near as they  talked  and  one played a mouth harp.

The pair of arrows  walked   north on the  Docks passing  a another tavern The  first of the moons had  just cleared the  trees, ready to make her way across the  night's  sky

She walked along with Ivy, a bounce in her step and the bells ringing out joyously around her ankles. "So is there a particular...maiden you are excited to see or not one who grows attached?" she asked casually, glancing over at him. She hadn't been able to determine if the outgoing, man whoring was just a facade and there was more or if it was truly him.

  Ivy smiles slightly,..now  , it  depends   on what you mean by that?   There are Ladies  there   I favor, as there  are ones i do not...and for thier part, they have thier own tastes   as well..in the  end, for them, it  comes  down  to coin?.. I kill folks , and take thier Coin, or  we  kill folks  because we were paid to? These ladies  simply use   other means to earn coin, and only...rarely, have to kill someone!  he grins

  they walked  dopwn  the   Docks  passing 2  more inns, a  side street  and they two shops   another   Inn as  next, Sabre's Inn. there was  alot of   singing  and   shouting in there..

 ..this  will not be a  quick jaunt?.. we haven't  even reached the end of the  docks  yet, and  we have to  Cross over the  north bridge..

The rowdier tavern was definitely appealing to Tyri but she was intent on staying with Ivy. “So you are unattached? Why is that?” she asked as she looked around at her surroundings. Looking up, Tyri smiled as she noted one of the moons cresting the trees, ready for her journey across the sky. “Sorry if my line of questioning is rather...personal. I mean...I have a good idea of who you are when it comes to your sense of duty and such...but not much of you in a deeper sense."

  ahh.. well... things  changed  for  my cousin and  i, in a quick and savage  turn...Kree's Father, one of the Elders of Razorhawk Village, still balmes us  for not being there  when a Halfling  lead slavers  inti the Village, this was in the  days when we never worried  about people who entered?... it was keeping people  out?

 ..We had a  gnomish friend..Snapjack Ribbons.. there was a smile when he said the name,..he taught us the finer points of dealing  with folk is the streets and alleys ... There was a time  we would walk into  a Inn in Tou and walk out with more coin then we went in with.

 ..we volunteered to help a merchant  train to Ironmound, and decided to stay an extra  week.... when we came back, eager to tell tales of what we had  seen, and what we had done... we saw wardens... i mean?  WE SAW  them...no one  sees  wardens.... Turns out they were warning  folks..

..now?  there were  2 of the slavers   staked to  dead trees  at the  entrance to the Black Timber... the wardens  were keeping them alive, so they could  suffer longer...that is when things got dark for us?

 They had  reached the end of the Lon   Dock and  had to  turn west and  followed  a   stream that   fed the storm  river  from a  lake  on that side of the river.

 ..Kree's  Father   was angry..he   shouted at Kree as if  the guy killed  or stole the people himself... in the  ned?.. two more bows wouldn't have made much differance.... Kree's Mother  was  Found  by  two elven children , the  babes  were still alive, but she and Snapjack were dead, along  with  6 human slavers and  7  cat folk.. we  found some of our babe dashed  againts tree, we assume  by  Catfolk, but it could have been humans or orcs?

 his  voice  was getting  tight...Kree's sister was missing, she  chased  after the slavers..still haven't  found her....We Joined the Black Hunt...13    volunteers to hun and kill any and  all slavers, or those who work with them.....

 He looked  away a moment,My parents  were frowned on by Kree's father Krell..My Mother , was ister  to Kree's  mother..she  was a simple weaver... My father  hunted for the clan...both my parents  died  when some sickness hit the   Timber.... and  I was taken in by Kree's mother...i...had a   halfelven  lady, she was a weaver.. and she was to have a child... the  slavers Killed her  outright, since she would have been too  much trouble to take back.


  they  wake   and Ivy points to the Arena  as they reach Coffin Street,, it ran north and south,  as they walked on it.. wagons and Buggies  moved  as well as  foot traffic and the very present  city watch.

 ..it took us 6 months  of killing  slavers, catfolk, pirstes, bandits... those who would join us would  quit after  a month or so.. That's when we joined the  Arrows....

 ..but...we  found the Slave master.... he had   a Compound , just  outside Engar.....we talked Engar into givign us  some help and they sent a  whole  6 troopers with us... we slipped into the compound at dusk..and began to kill anyone  we met that had a weapon.. we also killed  Slaves who wore Gold collars..they were the trustees..who...aided ..the slave master in  'training ' other  slaves.... Then  we broke into the mansion, The Slave master  was in bed as was his Family.,.

Kree   had them pulled out into the compound and Put  the  metal camps  around thier  necks and hands...  Kree told the  Engar troopers to look what they wanted from the compound and go home... and we  took the  family out into  the wilds...it took a wile..5 hours or so  of riding  witht he  crying   daughters  and   sobbing wife and the slave master offering  us enough  gold to build   our own city....  Kree built  a fire..a large one..which..is not a bright think to do..unless you want to attract others... that's when the Goblins came... Kree talked to them  and offered the    Slave master  and His
 family to them.. but..Kree had  strict rules for what they  were to do...The Goblins eagerly agreed... first, they had thier way  witht he daughters... then the  wife... then they  prepared them   over an open fire.., the whole wile, Kree made the slave master
 watch.... then,  he told the Goblins to do what they wanted to witht he slave master... and told them the  Compound was opened, and to lot it, then burn it...

 ..I wanted to  quit then...but Kree wanted to find his sister and the Halfling... we will never find them.. the halfling. most like, is dead.. and so is Lita, i would say?... but..as long as  kree hunts, i will hunt with him...that does not leave much time for a lady, or a family...

"Such a dark tale though it helps me understand you both a little more. Thank you for sharing,” she went quiet for a brief moment before speaking again. “There are ways to have both but I haven’t the slightest in how to achieve such a thing. I could only speak to how it was for me and my family and those that traveled along with us. We are nomadic so learning how to defend and protect was always a big point for us even though I need more work when it comes to close combat,” there was a soft chuckle though it was clear that she did miss her family. “This is my first time really ever away from them. We all pitched in and helped were we could.” It was similar to the Arrows but it was very different at the same time. “How long ago was this?”

  Ivy shrugged  as they walked  down the street,..I  am unsure.. 20 years..25?  Reedrick was with us when w e first started.. He was one of the High  Peak Dwarves who fought to help The Black Timber..it is humorous, as the Dwarves who live in the  Mound and maintained the Under Road..fought against thier own Kin..now.. they come to Reedrick when there is aid they need, that the Emperor cannot give.

She looked over at Ivy, seeing him in a whole new light and smiled to herself. "Well...enough of the past I suppose and on to the what the future brings." Her smile didn't wane as she danced along with Ivy, enjoying the fact that she indeed felt a little more of a bond. "I am kind of surprised that I was the only one who wanted to come along with you..."

   The elf Shrugged, Kree mormally comes, I suspect he  has  some worries  about  tomorow's  visit  with the Emperor..lats  time we  were there, we returned   his  daughter... and...we had  uncovered a plot  that  was meant to have her taken..sell her to hargen for leverage  against  ironmound...there was a bit of a dust up on the Ballroom floor. Half the   Palace  Guard  had  either served under Kree or had been trained by him, they rallied to him...many a well dress  pantaloon was soiled when that happened as the Dandy's  who  spoke out  against the 'unclean elf'..... Orlin and the  Horselady? well.. they might  want to wait until daylight anyway.... Luthien , most like, is in his  room praying or polishing his armor.. seems  the  Princess was a wee sweet on him .

 pointing to the lake  that was inside the wester  wall..That is Pike  Lake.. there   are   grates  to keep  serpents from getting to the lakes...that are used for boating  and  fishing.. the Crossed the  small bridge .. This is the  Ivory  stream.. but its  deep
 enough that some ships  will sail up..mostly to unload  prisoners  near the arena.. behind the arena is  the work Prison.. The emperor  doesn't let war prisoners or  criminals lounge about. The  main prison is  behind us  away..and on  'Legal Way' is the court..nicely placed by the  arena and the prison workings  there is  an Inn  that most folks seem to  ge  taking a wide path around.. " Blood  and Guts"

 three  men  dressed in  chain or leathers  are out side   drinking and  eating .. a red  hair   man shouts,hey!..Long Ear!..who much fer yer  whore  for the night!

 .. sorry..she  only like men...

 The  red hair  fellow   Drew  a wicked   Blade and    Ivy's Bow  was  up with an arrow  pulled back to his ear.....ease back , drunk.... In The Timber   a babe weened  for a week  could hit  your heart from this distance... I'm  thinking i could pin you head tot he wall... be nice  for me  to take your Badge back to  The Plank.. I might he
 a free ale or two..

 The  red Haired man sat  down his friends  slowly placed thier blades back in thier sheath.

   Ivy  kept the   arrow  in the  string for a few more yards  before he returned it to the quiver.... rule  1 of Ironmound at night.. people who  challenge you in the street, will back off if they think they will die....

 ..Followed close  by Rule  2.... if  some  one challenges you in an Alley..Kill them, ebcause   they are  ready  figured you were dead.

Tyri slightly tilted her head to the side as she looked at the exchange. Icy blue eyes turned towards Ivy as he told her the rules. "I think I really need to start working on my close quarter combat then. I know you are proficient with a bow but do you have anything that you could show me other than a cheap shot against a male opponent?" she asked softly once they were away from the rabble.

  ..let us look at this?  Dressed  as you are, you look like an easy target....a Goodly portion of the men in these taverns  are mercs, or  sailors, some might be   hunters looking for bounties?.., Now if you wore leather  armor and hand a Blade   across your back, they would still try to approach you, but they would be a tad more careful?

 ..so?  with out  fitting you like  a merc, you have to use thier  views  against them... so.. some one   comes up  to  you, they  expect a slap, or  a kick, or a smal fist pounding on thier chest.... instead.. you drive a  Blade into thier ribs.. or   stick thier hand to the  counter top  with that  blade, .. getting  cut up by a warrior  woman, is one thing.. getting  cut up by a tasty morsel, is rather  embarrassing.

"That is exactly what I would like to do...continue with how I normally dress but be able to defend myself effective...and I'll take that as a compliment that you think I am a tasty morsel," she laughed as she danced along, teasing him.

   Ivy  chuckles  softly  as  they continue  down Coffin street at the Northeast corner a Compound  could  be seen, and  a  large  stable on the   right side of the   road.

 ..mercenary Guild..good bet that is were your boyfriend back there is from.. this  Stable is run by a fellow  called Oakman.. he's a  allie of The Arrows, but he sorta  keeps in  downplayed.

 ..nothing wrong with being  a morsel ..as  long as you are not  whiney and  demand   things.. then you become a spoiled Morsel..

"I'll have you know...the only time I whine is if I don't want the...fun to end. I have a rather...healthy appetite," she smirked and a shrug. "Do you dance Ivyain Nightblade?" she asked suddenly, giving him a sly look.