You emerge from the tunnels in late afternoon. Amalrik's wooden palisade is starting to look more like a decent fortification. You also see campfire smoke halfway between your encampment at the village of Caywick.

In reply to DM (msg # 1):

"Who is camping between us and the village?" Brodd asks Amalrik.

"It's that bounty hunter and his guards. They're drawn to us like a buzzard to carrion!"

There'd been a moment when Travis was going to volunteer to go scout around the unknown camp but then Catweasel told them who it was.

Travis stepped back and shook his head "I'll take their confidence in my ability to pay them as a compliment" he mused.

In reply to Travis (msg # 4):

"You have my support Travis, all I have is yours to pay your fee. One must look after their friends."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Thu 29 Apr 2021.

"I would still like to verify that Bounty Hunters right to be doing this." How far is the capital, if someone wanted to make sure this guys legit, and offically collecting all of this money?

"It's a compliment, then, Travis? I suppose it's an even bigger compliment if they're trying to rip you off--make me rich, Travis."

"Why bother, Aleitra? You know he's not legitimate. He's a bigger thief than you are. I don't understand why everybody is just putting up with being robbed all the time."

"I mean what can I do?" Travis shrugged "I can't even get to town now" he felt even more put upon and more freedom taken away. There was a temptation to run away but he'd promised he wouldn't do that again "doing the right thing is hard work" he lamented.

In reply to Travis (msg # 9):

"Catweasel, do you have contacts at the capital that you could use to check up on the bounty hunter to see if the hundred thousand gold pieces is legitimate? And get the answer before the deadline."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Fri 30 Apr 2021.

"I certainly wouldn't be giving anyone a hundred thousand gold without being sure they are who they say they are and it is all legitimate..." says Durek.

In reply to Durek Stoneshield (msg # 11):

That's what I mean, he might be breaking the law to collect enough to retire himself! Thank you Alietra, I am too trusting of some people."

Red fills Alietra's face, as she storms up to Creston in rage...

"Who... who are you calling a thief, you, you, you dung licking pile of useless, drippy farts?"

The most observant of you might notice the young woman is a bit upset.

"What have I stolen? Gods forbid you tell me it's your heart as I have no doubt your pathetic excuse for man-parts is as useful as that foul smelling beak you wear, or your pathetic excuse for music making, you... you... you..."

Discovering there is no word in any language she speaks quite foul and demeaning enough to describe how she feels about Creston and his vile accusations, she turns and storms off.