The  dwarf reaches  inside his tunic  and pulls out  a small box, he opens it  and Give Gerrand a small ruby arrow,..Ya  wear this  where folks  can see it...sometimes  that';s good..sometimes that's bad..but ya gotta take both sides of the coin here... As they Near th Drawbridge. there is  a big pile up waiting  for the  huge  stone arch to settle  back into place, after one of the  Larger ships sail into  port.

In reply to Reedrick Orebender (msg #23):

Gerrad takes the little red trinket and holds it up to the light, he turns it in his fingers whilst admiring the quality of the emblem. Finally, Gerrad fixes the ruby arrow to his tunic. The splash of red is in stark contrast to the muddied brown of the weave on which it sits.  Looking up, Gerrad gestures forward. Who be the head of this band, who wishes to lead us forth?

The lanky warrior before looks somewhat ill at ease, obviously uncomfortable in the urban surroundings.  His studded leather armor is well crafted, but shows obvious use and he carries little, aside from a larch bastard sword and the stave of a long bow on his back, a smallish axe at his hip and a dagger strapped to his thigh.  A crude iron arrowhead is worn about his neck like a pendant, blunted and bent.

His gray eyes look at the newcomer for a long moment.  Finally, the head nods and a rough voice speaks up.  "Rolf Liefsen." he says by way of introduction, shaking his head in response to the question about who shall lead.

In reply to Gerrad (msg #24):

Instinctivley Justin's head turns towards Kree. 'Gerrand's a tumbler and setter of traps, methinks a travelling bard or forestor' he mused to himself

 The  Dwarf nods  to Kree,  ..In this here  City, He runs  the unit..back at the Village, the Elders do...Once we get you folks a regular sized unit...ya gonna  havta pick some one  to be your leader, as Kree will havta  wait  for the next bunch that joins up...course..folks die  all the tinme, so who knows...The Mageling  changed his mind right quick..

"I'm Merik, a devout of Thrall" He reply's and takes the mans hand next. "I don't feel a dagger up there but I peg you as less an entertainer then you let on. This however I have no issue with." with a smile he releases the mans hand.

 The  Bell rings  as the  stone arch settled into place  and  the Group walked south, over the Bridge. Those  who dared go near the  2 foot high stone wall could see the  water sparkling in the moring  sun...they could aslo see some strange swirls in the  water a time, and some large shadows gliding for a second  or so, before the vanished again.

  They Pass The Western Gate Barraicks, some troops  where  well inside the compound, drilling and  Practicing...the there   were more Inns  about and some shops, the Crowds where thicker here  as folks  lIned up to get in and Out of the City through  one of the Two  Main Gates, Turning  aropund  and Looking  east, they could  see the  Huge  Avenue that Lead to the  Palace...walls surrounded the Palace  as did  a moat...from where they stood they could see formations  of Horse soldiers  patroling the  street, or rising  aboit  the Huge  Building...Just behind the PAlce.. but  near the Eastern end  of the City, they could  see  "The Mound" Ironmound  was named for..a few dots on the mound spoke of Tunnels, an a few buildings  where nestled on the Mound  as well.

    Kree Poitned to the Boards  as he went to the Window of the Guard shed that stood  Right next to in...Reedrick looked over the papers, shaking his head  as he read some,..Here's one...Merchant's  daughter missing...one tenday...100 Gold  coins  offered  for information...500  for her body...1000 if brought  back safe!

  There  was  an Young guard in the shed  as Kree presented  the charter  for stamping  with the Upgraded  names,..Take  that one off..he is no longer  with us...

  The  Young Guard  sneered at Kree  and looked  out the window towards the others,..so? You folks are  the next victems huh? You'd be wise to follow  thsi other fellow out((..he  struck Tritsn's name  from the list))..maybe ya  all will libve  another  tenday!

  THAT!...Will be enough Corpral... a sergent with a greying beard and a scar across his left cheek smiled  somewhat at Kree.,,,Going  out  to  Kill?  Or  be Killed?  he offered his  hand to Kree who took it  with a chuckle,we never go  out to be killed Myron... These  are New Arrows, we are going out to earn some coin, and killoff  some Cat folk..since you have  all your..um..'best' warriors  stuck behind nice  safe windows...

  The Corpral was  about to say something  when the  Sergant glared  at him..handing the paper back to Kree. he  slammed the  window  down.

 The Sergent nodded to Kree and took a step over to the Group...well met... and his eyes  judge  each person ne nods to the Thrall follower and adds,..This one  will either get you killed...or  get you rich...most times...you get a little of  both..

  He rgins  as he  slaps Kree's  shoulder adding to the Group,..fair  luck to yuou all..Eta watch over you all..and Thrall aid  the strike  of your weapons!

"May Eta's blessing be with Thee Master Guardsmam, and all within this Post" Justin replied before following Kree out of the city.

 There  were wagons, carts and groups  of  folks  waiting to be  left into the City. There were trios of Guardsmen who checked charters, looking  under wagons  and such... There was a man in ragged clothing  kneeling in the dirt, his hands behind his head., he  wore a red Bandana and he eys those around him with some hatered.

 Reedrick waves  to them  before  re-entering the City, he shrugs off the arm of a young  guard  and begins to spout profanites at him, before  the other guards step  back and  allow him back in without any more  trouble.

  Kree Points to a distant dot about 2 miles away of So, That is Bowshot...we shall go there  and spend the night, in the morning we will head there... he swings his  arm to the right ( north) where the Glistening  wide river  moves..another  dot is there, some  small ships  and some barges are there, That is the Bowshot Ferry..that will take  us to the Grasslands  where  we  will have   a much better chance on  hunting Catfolk...any  Cat folk on this side of the  River  will be  further South of us....andcloser to the  BlackTimber Forest..where my Village lies.

Justin takes in these details and nods, at the first opportunity he feels that the group won't be overheard he will ask Reedrick if he got the Mercants details, hoping they were within a Stonesthrow of the Bowshot Fery.

  Reedrick  had handed Kree the psot  from the board. Thus claiming  the  Bounty for the Arrows (  and stopping others  from reading it))

In reply to donsr (msg #33):
"So Reedrick who was that Bandanaed fellon..."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:49, Thu 06 Jan 2011.

  Kree Waves  back at Reedrick  as the Dwarf  re-enters the  City, Kree picks up the answer to the question,..could be  any thing..I wanted  crimminal...to say that is to say..someone who did  som,ething outside the law, who does not belong to a respected Company...I am going to say he is a River Pirate..just by his look...hard to tell really...

Merik follows long, taking in the sites, and making mental notes about everything he sees.

 Moving  down the  road the small group passes  riders and carts, now  and again  a band  of  adventure folk, some look worse off then others...some  carry bags or  pull makeshift litters  with bodies  or booty tied to them...about Have  ignore or step away from the   party, the others  greet them  with a  wave..more then a few  folks give them the Mercenaries Guild's  salute.

  The Sun  is about 4 hours  away from the tops  of the  Huge  tree lines to  the south. with luck, we should  reach  the Village of Bowshot and hour  or  so after  sundown.

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg #37):

"Capital, T'will serve to cover our presence unwanted eyes consider our arrival of note." he remarked leadingly  "Goodfellow Kree ist yon road always so busy"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Thu 13 Jan 2011.

Rolf waits for an answer to Justin's question, finding the vast number of people about vaguely annoying.  He would feel more at ease once they left the city and got out into the wilderness.

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg #37):

Looking at the bodies, not quite able to tell if they are human or otherwise. The extent of the injuries suggest a bloody and harrowing exchange. The viciousness of which Gerrad is not accustomed to.

Gerrad turns to Kree: Who, or what are those?! Are they unfortunate recruits or simply the quarry we and others are expected to encounter?

Gerrad's face hardens a little as the caravan of death passes the party. Somewhere in his heart there has been a shift. This is a path in life that will draw Gerrad to use more than simple parlour tricks and acrobatics. His head lowers in thought as they continue on their journey.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Thu 13 Jan 2011.

  Kree nods,  This  time  of  year, and  for the rest of  the spring, summer  and fall..there will be merchants, famrers  and travelers  about...in the winter  will be  those  who  bring in speiacl goods, folks traveling to see family for Holidays...but..there  will always be those like  us...who go out  to earn coin with thier  wits  and weapons...

  The  elf  turns  a bit  as if he did not notice the  bodies before,..All those who passed us  were either Mercenaries, Companies, or  even  some  bravos who sat  at  an Inn one night, and deciede to be heroes after    afew Bard's  songs and many flaggons  of  ale..Those bodies on the Litters  are either  Comarades  they hpe to bring back...or perhaps bounties that have been collected...there is  a good  bet, we will look like that, next we head towards  Ironmound...

  Soon,  a bunch of  horsemen  come riding hard towards  the City, 4 ironmound  troopers, they all bear wounds  and bandages, there  are two  riderless horses with them as well...THe  leader Reigns his horse in, not  far from the  and dismounts. A sergent, by his  look, his left leg is  a bit limp,  You..You men are Crimmson Arrows..aye? A painted  elf gave me this, to see if i might bring it to  The arrows in The Mound.  Kree  takes it   and opens it. He  reads it  for  a moment  and shakes his head, a dark smile on his face. He  reaches inside his tunic, pulls out  a small Purse and tosses it to the  sargent, Thank you..this is from  my brother-in-blood..might i ask you how  you came by your wounds?

  The Sergent  frowns  at the purse  and makes to hand it back as  he answers,...we  ran afould  with River  pirates that had  a camp set up down this  side of the river..we thought them to be woodsmen, until we saw thier boats  hidden in the overhanging trees...I am thinking they attack at night, then make thier  way to the swamps, or head  to Olant...

  Kree nods,  Thank you..and keep the coin..take your men to  The Walk The Plank...There wil be a dwarf there..Reedrick, by name..tell him  all you have told  me..and you and  your  fellows  enjoy the food and drink..."

  The sergents nods with  a smile  and mounts up, the  men ride  hard towards  the City as Kree  says to the others,  Tental.  One of My brothers has found  a nest of  catfolk...he had heard  from Reedrcik we were on the way...who wants toharvest some cats?

"Indeed it be apart of such path we have entered; anst we shall benefit from learning to work together with our companions in arms. Besides One doth see the hand of Eta in yon missive"

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg #41):

Gerrads eyes narrow. River pirates, aye? This could be our call to arms unless there are more pressing matters...

"I'm here to take the fight to the catfolk.  I'm in." Rolf says simply, still looking about and still wishing they'd get out of the city and into the countryside.

In reply to Rolf Liefsen (msg #44):

Gerrad looks across at Rolf and gestures back toward Ironmound.

You look like a man more comfortable away from these 'busier' areas. Am I right?

Gerrad considers his options as far work is concerned feeling he is probably better suited to hunting out pirates than wildlife.

Wherever we end up, it will be out of this hole I am hopeful.

Gerrad falls silent,looking back toward the docks every so often and then forward.

  Pointing to the evergrowing Dot  of Bowshot, Kree  says,  If we seek to aid Tental against the Catfolk, we  will need to head towards   the Black Timber and  My  Village...if we wish to seek out the Pirates, we  must  go to the shores of the Storm, and work our  way down...we  will decided once  we reach bowshot, and  we can equipt  ourselevs accordingly.

  There is   about  an hour  where  no traffic  passes them. But off  the Road is  a  small Tent set up...an older fellow dressed in plate is working  with some younger folks with blades  and shields..a fellow who might be  a squire works  on  some  weapons..a sigh posted in the ground  says "...Sir Matten of Harte..Blades lessons..and Blade  for hire."

In reply to Gerrad (msg #45):

"Aye." Rolf nods in response to Gerrad's question, or possibly to his following statement, or perhaps both.  Rolf seems to be a taciturn man of temperate disposition.