Cassie shook her head. "No God was watchin' over me when those guys..."  She paused, shivering a little. "That don't matter now.  Yeah. Maybe luck led me here.  I'll take it.  Like I said, you lead.  And no one takes me without blood, I promise."

  Fetcher  frowned, was not a look  seen on the little man very often...if you mean charging about on Horses and the like? I do not know. The City watch does not  allow  for 'galloping '..and  would , at first..shoot down the mount. Safety is  of Import to The Watch...

 Turn to Cassie he says,..The Orc Cart is a means of cleaning the streets. Should trouble arise, and people fall dead, the Inn keepers and such leave the Body, and  any Unclaimed  weapons , armor and equipment  with  the body... The Orc Carts   travel the  alleys and load them up.. thus... cleaning the  city..and feeding thier  families , who Dwell in the Orc Section of  town.  Though..only about have the folk of the City  trusts them...They have served the City well with thier own division of  Orcish troopers....

When Myranda and Cassie go shopping, Kr'wyn turns his attention to Reedrick, Nara and his friends: "If confronting Carn is not an option, what would be our next step? Looking for Kree and his men, a new assignment by mister Reedrick, or ...?"

  Reedrick shrugs,..that comes  down to you?   Kree's  Unit is out there  somewheres...and he ain't just seeing the sights..... I havta  believe he's hunting  for the Missing folks..cause it might shed  some Light on CArn.

 ..we canna  just  relieve  CArn..or  attack 'im,  'cause others   might be afraid ta join, or take a  aUnit out on missions...best thing, would be to grab another  Mission yerselves and see where it take ya.. we still needd coin comign in, after  all...

In reply to Plank (msg # 370):

Aye Master Reedrick, such be the way of things. Agreed Justin. After arranging for the Slavers equipment to be converted to coin and distributing equal portions to all five of them Leaving the Ladies with Reedrick in likelihood he sees them before dark. Messers Krwyn anst Haildais, Our mission hath been fulfilled One be obliged to attend to ones Devotions. Heading to the Temple district to visit the Temple of Eta.

Cassie shivered for a moment after comment about orc carts.  "I coulda been one of those once," she muttered.  She looked up again at Myranda, instinctively checking to see that her daggers were in place.

" I ain't picky where we go, though I'm not the church-going type. I can go most anywhere."

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 372):

Yes you indicated that you aren't, which is why I suggested visiting the Merchant district. Myranda replied pointing in the general direction they were going to head. Bidding Fletcher a pleasant morning Myranda motioned for Cassie along and started along the lane, pointing out different locations or points of interest as they went.

As the others begin to file out, Haildas finally pulls himself up a chair.

"So tell me then, how exactly did you contract such a....curse?  I'm not certain what you would call it but you did mention that you were not an original or something to that effect."

  from where they  store  with the   Sun  near its peak. They would need to travel to the north east .

The  saw tradesmen  and  mercs alike   heading towards  inns  and Taverns for High fest. walking to the North, the  pass  Inn St that leads  to the east...'The Bronze Goblet'  sits on the Corner..  Music and Laughter is heard inside... they then  come to   East Bank Way.. and the street   leads  right into the  bazaar even from  where they  stand  at the wharf, it looks   massive.  on the corner to the north is   another   Inn ' Trader's Post'... they can barely see a sign that  says  ' Cors Paw shop" there are other  shops   down the way, but  signs can't be  read from here they are... on the  right hand  corner ( as they walk east) there is a shop called' Hooks and Nets'....  The   then the  area opens up..almost half the  size of Bowshot.

 Thens  and Stall  are  lined up  in a Very large rectangle...all around the edge.. in the Middle  are   more stalls..Sandfolks, Northerners..  folks  from far south, as well as the Ironmound   folks themselves...Trees  and  small   Houses   can be seen to the  north

 there is much smoke from Cook first and the like.. smell of  incense and spices... they can tell other  streets to the east lead in.. but hard to see from where they stand.

  They sit  and the end of the table.. the end  towards the  middle of the room empty.

  Nara  sips  from her Mugs  and    says  , quietly,..it  was   some eyars  ago.. I was but a new  Arrow.. found on the streets by the one called  Ivyian... Ivy had joined his   people with His cousin..Kree's... to  rid  a nest of slavers.. what we found was a  small army of slavers that held  two Vampires priosner... he was forcing the  vampires  to trun  his men slowly... keeping them alive, yet increasing thier  strenght ..The Battle  was hot.. In the  End the Slavers  lost, and Most of the Arrows  were Killed  as well.... Ivy  was Finishing Off a wounded slaver,, when a  Fellow with an Axe  attacked  from the shadows... I...saved...Ivy.. but the    Axe took me in the head... The   Head  Vampire said he  could  save me.. Ivy agreed.. and he turned me...  Kree made a pact that day.. with that clan of Vampires.. to not lsay  them, unles they shoudl  take an Arrow's life..or the lives of Innocents....  a few..not many.. other  Arrows.. will also  supply us  with information for  cat-folk..lsavers..Pirates.. even HArgen troops   when they dare ventrue over the Mountain... but  Now?.. I am...this... Ivy will visit me from time to time... if we both happen to be in the city... but those   times are rare...

In reply to Myranda of the Glenn (msg # 373):

Cassie giggled.  "I did say that didn't I?  Forgive me, I am just not used to talking to someone else about things like this."

She looked around, amazed at the sights.  This was so much bigger than where she came from!

The journey had been far more than he had originally hoped for when he had signed on with the last adventuring group. He was now  separated from them and in a strange land where even the normally affable and cheerful halflings were a dangerous and hated race. Grimalkin slipped down the gang plank from the docked ship with few people paying him much heed. Once he was on the docks he looked around trying to gain his bearings. Turning toward the city he headed off down the wharf. This land was indeed strange and nothing like what he was use to but he had made his way here to Ironmound. From what he had learned recently, if he was going to find work of an adventuring company that may take him, it would be here.

Out of nowhere  a fellow, short in size, but not a Halfling , popped up.

 ..Hey there..Mate? You look like an outlnader you do?... My Name's Fetcher... i look fer  folks who might  what ta make  a few coins while getting ride of scum and such that prey  the lands..... whatca  say?....  If you  thihnk ya'd like to hear the Salespitch.. Just follow me alonk to the 'Walk the PlanK'..an' ye'll hear about  The Arrows...

Grimalkin arches an eyebrow as the little man boldly steps into his path and delivers his sales pitch. Listening to the pitch Grimalkin eyed his surroundings suspiciously, such a distraction cold easily be the prelude to an attack or attempt at thievery.

When the little guy finished Grimalkin thought for a moment, "Very well Fetcher lead the way. And you may call me Grimalkin."

  ..Very Good!... Now?.. I'll give you a tip fer free, I will... even if ya don't join the Arrows? You should find a Company...'less you'er gonna  join the Navy or the watch?...'cause if you get in trouble, an' don't have  your name on a charter?.. you could  end up in the Arena..or  workin' the ship yards....street cleaning.. .. his  Voice  trails off  as they approach the  Inn.. a  Magical sign, with come clockwork in it, shows  a  figure toddling  across  a board, then falls off the  Board  and  is  dragged   back into a recess, only to start his walk again... the  Sign over the door  says  " Walk The Plank "

.........

  It is close to  High sun,  there are a few dock workers, sailor s and Mercs... there is a Table with  a Drakhaired  dwarf, behind him some shelves  with books.... There is a board behind the   Bar to the left that has  many different, patches, pins, rings..what have you of other  companies. Some of the Patches   have a bloodstain or two...

  at the far end of   the table , a fellow  talks  to  a woman in a Hooded robe... an elf  sits  near.. and a holy warrior  in plate  talks to teh Dwarf..

  Fetcher   breaks  in,..Master    Reedrick?  This fella here, is  Grimalkin?  He's  here  ta  see what ya have to say 'bout the Arrows...

 Reedrick nods  at Fetcher and Points to the BAr, where the little  fellow   heads off with a  snappy salute...well..Sir?  Take a seat... an' well have that talk..aye?

"So... where to?  I like finding new weapons, that's always good.  A girl likes that. Second hand is always good.  Especially to a girl with no armor.  Or a better bow.  Let's check out that second hand place?"

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 382):

Sure thing, it's this way. Myranda points After all everything that's made is second hand unless its the maker that intends to use. Weaving their way through the mix of traffic and stalls that congest the area Myranda glances over her shoulder at Cassie's mention of not having any armour. You should consider getting some sort of armour or protection, especially since you've signed on; you'll definitely appreciate having something. Pausing at several stalls that are displaying weapons Myranda assesses their quality.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:19, Fri 09 Feb 2018.

Removing his backpack and quiver and resting them along with his bow against a chair Grimalkin took a seat across from the gentleman. "Your man Fetcher says that I may be interested in joining your company for various reasons."

   Reedrick  nods,..that's the fella's  job.. try to find us some fresh Blood.. we only have to  ways  ta get us members.. sign up new folks of the boat..or, now and again, our  teams find some one when they are out in the  field .

  ..Justin  'ere..  broke off from the Main Unit... there are few other  smaller  teams out there... The goals  are this...  Kill slavers... finish contracts.. an' make  coin fer the Company.... sometimes  the teams help folks along the way....

 ..the Good comes  from gettin' rid of dark folks, and Helpin'  folks who canna  help themselves... being in a company protects   ya from some of the laws and such..well..not the laws, but what hapens ya ye  if ye  break a law...

 ..now there's  bad things.. and some  companies  won't tell ye  this... But.. merc Companies.. are supposed to just follow the coin?  doesn't matter   wht yer   doin' as long  as you  fulfill the contract. he  sips from his ale.

 we dunna do that... and because  we don't  we have   alot of Compnaies that don't like us none... will fight us at first sight...and.. ta be honest.. we have  some  folks   we 'll do the same fer.... Ye have to wear yer mark..if ye hide your amrk an' ye get in trouble, the  Watch won't honor  yer  name on the charter... but the real reason is  ta let folks know  who ye are... 'cause..sometimes, that makes  all the difference.

"Sounds like an agreeable enough arrangement. Helping people is a admirable enough goal, though to be honest most people usually shun my help. Though It seems that things are somewhat different in this land."

Grimalkin paused for a moment to wave over a serving girl and order a drink before continuing. "So if I were to join your company what all is required of me and what can I expect from the company? Other than those items you have already mentioned."

  Reedrick motions towards the Stew and  biskets   for him to help himself  as well...first off? These lands   are harsh... you'll see that  as ya move about..with or  without the Arrows... Kree?  Teh Cap'n.. he is  downright savage in his dealing with slavers, and he has  learned many ways to...extract information from those that don't want ta give it...So? we help folks.. that's what we do.... but we have  two  mottos...."..don't leave live enemies behind you"... and " be the fire that fights the fire"

  ...we have  some  safe places ta go.... the Plank is always here... Razorhawk Village in the Black Timber....we have allies, most folks would not even  think of...

 he nods to the slender  figure talking to the fellow  down the table from him...not much more there is ta offer?...

Accepting the drink as the lass sat it in front of him, he nodded to Reedick as he offered the stew. "My thanks. I must admit the food on the ship was not what you would call the most appetizing of fare." Taking a bowl of stew and a biscuit.

"It sounds like a mutually beneficial agreement then. Is there a contract that requires signing or just a name to add to your roster?" Grimalkin slowly began eating as he finished his question. What food there had been on the ship was horrid and Grimalkin was quite hungry.

In reply to Myranda of the Glenn (msg # 383):

Keeping her voice soft, Cassie shook her head.  "I really don't dare wear armor.  It would... interfere with what I do.  It's hard to move quietly and sneak about when your armor creaks and makes noise.  I was called Catspaw for a reason.  A cat climbs, sneaks and... well, you get the picture.  Armor would mess with that."

She looked at the weapons, being particularly interested in a holdout dagger she found.  It was much more narrow and thin than the one she had, and would be easier to hide in her bodysuit.

  ..Justin here  will  sign you to his  cheet... I will enter  your  Name on our  Books... next time we have a Mage send to the Black Timber, Your Name  will be added to the Totem, where your Kills  against dark folks are recorded.. He Opens  a  Box  that was  setting  behind  him.. a thick finger  moves  alot of reddish looking Pins, rings and necklaces..

  ..here ye go then.. If ye ever  feel the  need to elave,  ye give back the Pin so it may continue on it  journy....an' 'corse , let Justin   or  me know..

"Then we are agreed." Grimalkin pauses for a second, "Before we continue I should really ask if the company has any prohibitions against the use of poisons or other such means that may be used to accomplish a mission?"