Krell  Nodded   with a Bow to Stardancer,.. Your  are Most Welcome, Freedo and Joy, we  have an Abundance of....

 He cast a  hard look at Kree,..peace , on the other hand, seems  hard to keep....

  Kree  sipped  another    sip of his Ale, he preferred  elven wine, but the   Elfmaid   gave him the Ale, he would not  rebuke the gift...Indeed, Elder? it Comes down you what your think of  as Peace.... Is peace the  Time you spend preparing for war?.... Or is Peace  the sound, when your enemies  are dead, and your   Townsfolk  Celebrate  the  lifting of  the weight, they carried.

 Krell Looked to  Stardancer,..these words  come from  , My  Son, who worked for teh City  that Besieged us for our Trees...

 .. I worked    for them, Long after   we had beaten them... with the aid of  out  Dwarven Brothers in the High peaks, and   our Cousins in the Trace Wood.. I left there.. when the Court became  more about   Coin then it was   about  the people..

 ..and  yet?  You still run errands for them...

 ...Crimson Arrows  are  mercenaries.... we  make our coin as we are able. Reedrick and  I never  turn  down a chance to help the people...  Emperor  Lod  is not his father... but  his  time spend in the  way of the MAge and the SAge... keeps him from seeing the clear picture...

  Krell  cats  one  more hard looks  at Kree who  smiles  as he takes another sip of  ale,..Madame  Stardancer,  It was nice to meet you. I have not seen your  kind, since  my days as  a warden and we went to the High peaks to gather  Wyvern eggs....  The Horsefolk have tribes to the North, where they ...at once... fight  with the   North folk..and  and allies  with them... Enjoy the Fest, that is in your honor , as an Arrow...

  Krell Moves  off, Kree  just gives  his shoulders  a shrug , with a grin to Stardancer

"North?  If there is snow, perhaps you have heard of my tribe.  Shee-A'Tika.  As for peace...If it is the kind that allows you when in reverie or sleep brings feeling of warmth and happiness, may you know much wise Elder" She asked and stated as he moved off.
She turned back to Kree as he shrugged "Your father shows wisdom that comes only with living through the time to acquire it" She smiled softly.  "Celebrations continue, but I was wondering if I may have a word with you in private conversation" She waited to see if it would be permitted or considered rude.

  The  Elf  Nodded  and Put the  Mug discreetly on the Table   offering it to anyone who wanted to finish it, then   filled a   goblet of wine... the make  was   Sandfolk.. most like   spoils of some battle.

 he   motioned   with the Bottle, to see if    Stardancer  wanted  a goblet...I am always  here to have   words  with  my people, good or ill.. it is better then not  speakign at all...

 with or  without a goblet for her, they will move  off, slightly towards the Totem, where the Glowinf runes showed    the   success of the  Clan's hunters.

"Thank you, but no.  Too much imbibement has led to many a centaurs deaths, but I thank you for the offer" as she walked with him.  "I have something I wish to discuss in private, a bit of a secret.  Though I should let someone know of it, for if anything that of safety" her voice was rather more serious than her normal light tone.

Finally when they were alone she began to speak.  Her voice was low, calm, and a bit scared "I remember you telling of the Sand people and Cat people being shape shifters, which I cannot remember clearly.  I need to tell you that what you see here is what I am, but it is not all that I am" to let him know she was no threat she laid down all her arms before her, knowing he could attack her before she could pick up her bow or sword, a way she was showing trust.  I showed this before when we started across the sands" she again pulled out from her belongings a human womans dress.  She slipped it over her head and removed part of her armor.  "I was ..well...I am not truly sure ..and con only say how I know of it.   When I was a slave my 'master was meted out justice by gods unknown here.  Another free human who had been hostage by them was freed.  We ..we cared deeply for each other.  Empress Sidi, where I came from we helped save her life and each of us was granted a wish.  He used his to give me ability to become human and back again to my original self as well." She undid the harness part of her armor and let her gear fall safely to the ground.  only the dress on now she closed her eyes and slowly before him changed.  She was a tall human woman now with pale blond hair.  "I tell you this so you do not think I am hiding anything from you or your people" Her eyes opened as she spoke and her amber eyes were now a light brown "My companion the Gods held was trapped as a mockingbird.  When he was freed found he could still become one if he panicked and it was hard to change back.  I used my wish to allow him control" she held a few black feathers that were in her hair "These are all I have left of him besides memories.. He died as...he died pushing me through a portal.  I landed here in your world" Tears welled in her eyes as she looked and used a hand to stroke it.

   The elf  Watched with some confsion, but  was picking up the  direction   quickly  as she   formed to human.

   The elf    tilted his ehad  a bit, took a deeper  pull on his  wine,well?... That is... handy?.... The firbog, as you have seen.. has  soe ..changing   fashion of his own

 then there was a shurg,..I would be lying, should i say i know many shifters...but there are  differant ...groups?  Aye?... there are the Vampires  who ship to bat and Wlf... and werefolk?.. and the Naga-kin... they are not... good  folk... there are  Dyrads  who shift   from Nymph to tree  and back.. they are goodlly, unless you harm thier forest... The Sandfolk are said to have  Shaman who  shift... The Catfolk.. i believe, are just werecats, that are a result of  crossbreeding... but?  I am no sage, so i cannot  tell, other then what i think.

 ..I will tell no one... none  need to know, 'less you think it so.....I must say..he smiled a bit,..would have been damnably , more eay, to get you on the ship like this!

She listened to Kree though still a tad sad in thought.  "I would have, but after listening to you and others talk of 'shifters' I thought it best to save until I had a chance to talk to you.  I do prefer my normal form though." She finally gave a small smile "Still If there are places that may not welcome me as I normally am, they might allow a human woman to come in.  As well as for here, I did not want you to think I came here under false pretenses or subterfuge."

  ..Your  are  in The Black Timber now.. we have  mant  folks who  have  come hwere, after being   taken by slavers, and have no where else to go... even to the point of the Goblins at the   tip of the forest, near the River Storm.. we will be  fine  here

Luthien also headed over.

"You aren't alone, Stardancer. We all have...other sides to us. And they aren't always appropriate to set loose."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Sat 13 Apr 2019.

  "Go get yourself cleaned up and get to that celebration Orlin."  The staff intones seriously "There is a pool nearby in the woods 20 yards that way and it seems to be abandoned at the moment."

   "And if I don't?"

   "Let's just say it is a condition of my future cooperation when the chips are down."

   Orlin glares at the staff for a moment.  It doesn't seem to be bothered so he sighs, "Alright.  But I'm not taking you."

   "Whatever you wish, but don't forget to soap up.  That always seems to make you feel better."

   Orlin Grabs some soap and his clean cloths and takes his bath.  The old one was right, he did feel better.


   When he got to the party Orlin looked around.

She was rather taken aback that the private area was not as private as she thought and embarrassed having changed clothing without allowing for anothers presence in the area.  "Forgive me..I rather thought this was to be private.  This is not something I want everyone to know"

In reply to Stardancer (msg # 440):


"Do not ask for forgiveness. It is I who intruded by error. The Commander didn't exactly explain what counted as a privacy screen here in his village."

The Knight looks a little sheepish.

"Castles tend to have really thick doors for that."

"I still would not like to have many know of this.  One thing my Uncle and Aunt taught me is that knowledge is power"  she held her dress up.  "If you both do not mind I would ask you to turn around, please.  I would like to return to my true form" She motioned with a finger in a circle motion.  "I do also have one more question If we are staying here the night or so, where may I place my equipment and go to sleep at?"

  Orlin (clean with his quest locs rebranded). had watched the conversation from a distance averting his eyes in respect when necessary.  He approached. “Indeed, there are many secrets my people hide from the world, whole settlements no one ever sees.  For my money I don’t like to talk to other people.  There are always acomodations for humanoid  arrows, so gear storage isn’t difficult, I’ve been passed out most nights from supporting the old one a lot and have forgotten, do you prefer to sleep standing?”

Khorvar finished his Dharvax dance honoring those who looked down on him to show his respect, as well as show his knowledge of the axe. He sat down after grabbing a ale and a plate of food. He watched the others trying to get a feel and judge them. It was not an easy thing to do at this point, but he had time.

  Kree  chuckled slightly at the   gathering that  the talk had Become...Well?.. there Shattered Blade  is the Biggest and Best of our  Inns... it  has a   heated  stable, for  some  folk who  have special Mounts? there are another  two  smaller Inns.. they   just have regular  stables ... The  Druids  may have a More   comfortable  area  for you as well

 ..but? For  my part? I'm going to eat some  more of   my Villages  food... drink some more elven wine, and see if  i can  find My way  to my Cabin...I do not normally  drink this  much.. but ?  Home  comign , and casting off the shackles from Tou's trading  and Taxes..is  woeth the extra   few , dozen drinks...

In reply to Stardancer (msg # 442):

Luthien, ever polite, turns around when asked.

"Thank you" as she began shifting back and took the dress off not to get damaged and placed her normal (well normal for her) clothing on.  'I would just like to be able to place items away then rejoin the party"

Honorable as well, Luthien doesn't turn around again till it's stated he should.

  ..If you wish?  I have a Cabi up that hillock  into the  trees, ... you may keep your  things   there if you wish... for that matter, you may  sleep there?  needless  to say  you would have to stay down stairs..My steps were not made  for folks  begger then human  size ot go up?...Let ne  know?  that mute lad over there, will  lead  you to the Cabin..if you should   like hat..

  The  Lead  BArd  called  Out … the party was  well   and Full going now.

  ..For all ye here  this Night.. we  Know.. we have    members of  our Dwarf  Brothers  and Sisters  here...... Reedrick Ore  Bender  is the  leader of the Ironmound Company , out  of  which  our Good CAptain works out of!..Ans..  they have thier  Own   Son of The Stone  with them... so?.... I ask  our Dwarven  folks to   to   Join with   us..in this  song to them!

 the  Music plays   , Horns   echo off the trees..   as  the Bard   starts  to sing.. with teh Dwarved   joining in..

  Kree     stands on thier  table.. and    Joins in..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWz0qVvBZ0

"Yes, a quiet cabin" She smiled gently as the others moved to party.  For now she decided that atleast having a place to store her heavy gear would be a good thing.  For a few moments she sought out the lad Kree mentioned to lead her to the cabin.  She even shared a coin for his troubles to spend as he wished.  A large pay for one so young.  She laid out her armor and gear once alone.  She placed her things about just so, incase one wished to enter unbidden and take something not meant for them or out of curiosities sake.She took time to brush her hair and even rebraided it a bit.  a small one right at her cheeks, for either side.  Complete with black feathers, 3 each.  Her green vest with black embroidery  she put on.  A belt that held her sword and a coiled rope on her waist.  She felt much better and more free to dance without so much weight on her.   Now she felt like not only dancing, but flying.  Soon she then returned to the party and dancing, feasting as well.

In reply to Khorvar Bloodstone (msg # 444):

Niphre had quite enjoyed the dance, and had found it reminiscent of the ceremonial dances in her kingdom.

   Orlin watches the celebration.  He isn't really feeling it yet but it's nice to be clean and with good people.  This is a balance he seeks to understand, and like the druids the Firbolg Shamons reflect, balance means much to him.

As Krwyn had not been part of the last actions of Kree's company, he keeps some distance to the festivities proper, although he enjoys himself as much as the others.

Luthien rejoins the feast...he has much to ponder.