Gabriel looked at Regan with a stony face, after all he had just told him something he already knew, and the healers among had ignored his claim that the elf needed help and instead jumped into battle while the elf lay dying. Simply put he was none too impressed with the others. He scooped the elf up in his arms and made his way back toward the knights hoping that they he would be safe with the body there.

"May Paladine have mercy on his soul," Marcus murmers quietly. He is saddened at the elf's death, but is content with his actions. He could not risk trying to heal the elf while kneeling at the feet of a still fighting enemy. It would be a good way to join the elf in the afterlife.

As Gabriel picked up the body, three more linen-robed lepers burst into the alleway, moving with a speed that belied their supposed sickness.

Noticing the body Gabriel was picking up, they drew slender blades from their robes.

[What do you do?]

Gabriel slowly moves to his knees and rests the body on the ground. He fidgets with his pack before holding a box out to the strangers. This worked once, let's see if it works again. He thinks to himself as he opens the box allowing the music inside to fill the alleyway.

Marcus prepares to strike out at the new arrivals, but holds his blow to allow Gabriel an opportunity to try to convince them not to fight.

Digorye holds up his hand towards the lepers. He calls out something to them in an unknown language, as he uses the other hand to push the hair back off his face, revealing a pointed ear that'd previously been hidden.
[Private to GM: "Hold, friends!" he cries out, in elven.]

"What have you done with our friend," one of them asked in Common.

Digorye steps forward to speak with his kinsmen. "Unfortunately, we were too late to save him. He was struck down by this man," pointing to the unconscious assailant, "even as we arrived on the scene. We have disabled, but not killed him, so when he wakes you can question him yourself to find out why he killed your friend. But first, we should tie him up while he's still unconscious." Digorye looks back at his group, hoping that one of them steps forward with a rope.

The leader of the lepers looked at the stunned male Silvanesti elf.

"His reasons doesn't matter," the leader said. "All we require is his body so that we may honor him in peace and that you keep our secret. The four of us has remained to see if any others of our kind come this way, while the others have left."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:08, Fri 08 Feb 2008.

Marcus keeps his attention on the surrounding area. Although interested in what is going on with the elves, he is content to allow Digorye to negotiate with the elves. He focuses his attention on ensuring that there are no more bandits around, and that they are not about to be ambushed.

Digorye does a double-take as he realizes that the assailant was also an elf. However, he quickly covers up his reaction and continues on.

"Of course, please honor his body appropriately for our people. And we will be happy to keep your secret, as we've heard you have been doing great work for our people. ... However, there is another matter that we would like to speak with you about, that we have reason to believe you can help us with. Is there somewhere else more secure that we can go and talk in greater length, instead of continuing this conversation in the alley?"

"We have no time for that," he said and directed one of the others to pick up the body. Which he did and then the elves started to leave.

"Then is there somewhere safe we can meet at a more appropriate time?" Marcus asks, still keeping his eyes out for trouble.

Before the elves have time to answer the question, if they were going to answer as none of them turned around or slowed down, a patrol of Knights of Takhisis were rapidly approaching from the other direction.

Regan noted the knights that were rapidly approaching.  "We're about to have company," he warned his companions.  "Whatever you would like to do, you best do it quickly!"

Gabriel wasn't going to let the elves take off again. The one who died had intended to return and speak to him but had been cut short by the assassin. He was going to make sure the others knew that.

Gabriel ignored the word about Knights and took off after the elves.

The elf who had spoken turned towards Gabriel and the rest of you.

"They cannot follow us," he said. "Will you prevent them?"

Marcus takes on a grim expression at the sight of the Knights. "Go quickly then. Find us at a safer time so we can speak," he hisses at the elves. He prepares for trouble, but keeps his blade held low and unthreateningly. He has a strong feeling that they are about to fight the Knights to the death, and despite the peaceful purpose of their expedition here, he looks forward to fighting the enemies of both his Order and of his lord Paladine.

The elf who had turned around, remained watching Gabriel intently while the other two continued with the body.

Gabriel had no love loss for the Knights, but he wanted answers from the elves and grimaced at elfs' words. He nodded to the leper slowly and watched carefully to gauge his reaction.

"Will you keep us here or will you aid your friends," the elf asked not certain what Gabriel's nod meant.

Gabriel had thought the elves could better understand simple body language. He had apparently been wrong. Gabriel waved the elf away with one hand as he turned, blade in hand, to meet the Knights as they approached.

The four man strong patrol, two of which barely old enough to shave, arrived with drawn weapons.

“You are under arrest,” the patrol leader said.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:11, Tue 12 Feb 2008.

"On what charge?" asks Marcus, trying to keep the contempt out of his voice. He could feel the touch of Takhisis on them all, and desires nothing more than to return them to her on the Abyss. But he decides to follow Paladine's teachings, and to try to find a peaceful resolution if at all possible.

"Murder," he replied.