The   dwarf  Nods and motions  with his hand to the  bench on the other side of the table,..  Have a   seat.. Ye want some Stew, or beef  ta  got with that bread?...,.. he points to a pewter   pitcher,..an' there's some Ale if  ye wish.

 Taking a big gulp of his own ale  he stirs his  stew  about, me' Names  Reedrick Orebender...   I claim the Balck Timber  as me homeland, though me  people  came from the Highpeaks.....now.. this here place,  is the  City  head quarters  fer  the Crimson Arrows.... now?.. like any other  company in these  damnable  lands, we're   either heroes, or bastards, an' there's  no mistake  about   either...

  here's the thing in  these lands?.. your name on any Company's charter, we'll keep ye out of the  arena should ye  get caught doin' something stupid..but?  we have some pull in the place, sometimes we get some  , right good  contracts..

 ..so?  what kinda  work?

Desat sits
Good to meet you Reedrick.  I would enjoy some stew.

Desat listens to the dwarf while he dips his bread in stew and sips the pear cider.


Where is the Dark Timbers from here ?  I come from across the mists, an island once called Kordova, it is gone now.  The dead now control it.  So, now I'm here.


I'm in the business of hunting down people with a price on their head.  Bringing them back to justice.

I tend to work solitary or will a little help, but no large groups.  It does not work so well in that business.

   Reedrick nodded   as   he took another sip of  his  Ale, he pointed to an Old Map on the wall near the  hearth.

 ..Black Timber Home of Elves by the same name... They were once a stalwart  for the Empire?, but the human folk Got  greedy... tried  ta keep buying, or flat out taking  the  Ironwood  and Black Walnut  tress fer ship buildin'..well.. them elves  don't like  that, ya see.. so they  revolted...Trace wood  Elves  Too... only the Ironwood  Elves  knuckled  under  and sold thier   big trees...

 a short  war was  fought....broke  some family bounds, it  did.  The Dwarves  who libe in the Mound, of Ironmound and the  Ironwood Elves, an' o'course  the HUmans attacked  The Black Timber  was real  dumb, ya see?.. 'Cause the trace  elves and the High Peak Dwarves  sided  with The Timber... even a band of Goblins helped them.. they have thier own section of the forest as a thankee .

 ..now them folks  from Hargen, they's  as stupid  as they are dark.. choose that time  to pour over the Mountains..The Empire  called for a truce.. The Timber  won.. then the HArgen Invaders   were crushed like bugs under yer boot.  he shakes his ehad  as he takes another   sip of  Ale, then Hold the   Pitcher up, and  sets  it  down on the  edge of the long table.

 A serving   wench  takes the Pitcher, replaces it with anothe r that  is  cold, Desat can see  a  tiny  ruby arrow  on this  one's Bodice  , a  din to help  try and  hold it closed.

 now?  this here  work you want to do.. its sounds  a bit like    what we do..'cept... we view everythin'  with  a differant eye then most.... we have  contacts  from the  wrong side of the law..an' that's a fact... we let some  folks slide, if they can get us a bigger fish to butcher...'cept  slavers.... they die...as do them that  helps them....Each Unit of Arrows  has thier own sources, Kree's  group even has a  small coven of Vamps who help them... not  no one likes  them, and that's  fer certain. but thier help comes in handy, and  we help keep them alive  some times.

 ..now?  Ye  can be an Arrow , an' work on yer own... Just not a good  way to reach retiremnt  age...if ye git  m'meaning

Desat gnaws on the bread and sips the cider.  He's liking this pear brew.  Then responds straight forward to the Dwarf.

I don't have a very talented tongue, so leave that to politicians and whores, you'll get straight talk out of me.  Even if I believe you won't like it.  I expect the same.

I've been a joiner in the past, but that part of my life is gone, I'm reluctant to join a group now...…. But I've looked around and talked a little and everyone says you either team up or die.  I'm not pig headed enough to die for personal preferences, so if I have to ally to live I will.  But that doesn't mean I won't try to set my own standards.

I can say I have no love of slavers.  They don't deserve to live.  However, I won't ally with the Dead.  They destroyed my land and everything I hold dear.  Between slavers and the dead, the Dead have to go first for me.

I don't mind travelling with a guide, in fact it's smart to have someone along who knows the lay of the land.  I don't mind having someone to watch your back.  But it has to be a small group in my line of work.

You get me a couple of helpful warm bodies and I'll run contracts for you. 

     Reedrick  nods    as  Desta  talks, there is   only a bit of hesitation  when Desat   speaks  of  killing Undead , over slavers.

  ..each has thier own mind,  as the way it should be... The  pocket of  Vamps  that   aid the CAptain, do so, 'cause  a  woman  who was  turned,  aided  His cousin.....now?   there are a few in that Nest  we'd  put down if  we could, but they have been handy, and thus  far, have  remained true to thier word... The Rule of the land  says,  if  you get attacked,, ye  can  attack back

  now.. we  got    units out there.. or  we  can send in a Loner... I might be able ta get you some one, who ain't that  great a fighter, but   could show you around...and..alot of our work   is either  kiling folks, or stopping folks from being kilt...

Should I join, is the membership good for a set period of time, periodic, subject to termination by one party or the other?

What are the rules of the Arrows?

Do I have to pay you anything ?

  Reedrick  shakes his head,ye  dunna  pay us a thing... we get contracts... we get paind, you get yer  cut the rest goes inta  runnign the Arrows

   There's  3  ways   to loose  yer   Pin..... one?.. is  ta  quit..ye hand  the pin to another  Arrow an'  walk away.  Two... we find ye were working  with salvers, or the   Empire's enemies..then we take it  from ya..mostly..from yer  body... the  3rd way is ta   join another rgoup, then ye get us back our  Arrow..

 he  gestures  to   the   walk above  the  steps going to the  clear, all manner of   jewelry , patches   and  cards were  attached.. 100s  of them, some from the same group.

 Companies like to brag about thier   victories over others..., but all our marks  are eartned..no one gave us them... ye get 5 gold   for one you took ijn battle

 As  fer the rules?... Ye  always   finish the contract..... ye always  aid other  Arrows.. ye  kill  any slavers  ya  find, no matter the race, or class..  if ye find  some weapons and armor and such that are good,  we'll buy 'em off you..either here, or in Razorhawk Village to add to our armory, should folks need them

It was sounding pretty good, but Desat wanted to know a little more.

What contracts do you have available now for a man like me ?

    The  swarf    waved one of the    Girls over, giving her  a hand signal, she went  down the cellar, came up a  few moments later with  a  leather Bound   ledger,  he   nodded to her  and she took thier  Mugs, another girl came with fresh ones of the same drink.

  There's  only two right now?.. we  get some  in every couple days....   There is  a  Woman in Bowshot, that needs some one taken care off.. the   contract is  for   30 gold.. you'd  get 15..the  company gets  15

 he  frowns a bit,..here's one   fer a messanger to Tou... you  deliver  the mesage, and come back with the NAswer... its  fer  30  gold..but the  small writing say it could be higher, depending on the turn around time.... Tou?.. don't like Arrows  too much, but  we  got people all over,  and there's  alot of good  folk , everywhere...

 he looks a  Desat,..now?.. ye take the Arrow.. you have to wear it, so's  it  can be seen..if ye hide it and law folks tag ya>,,its like you  don't belong..  there's a reason we have all these things... a hand waves to the 'collection board"..sayin' who we  are  seperates  us  from  normal thugs and assassins.... now? it  don't make us no better... some right  fine killers out tehre... but if you  belong to a compnay, yer  considered  ' a cut above'

Desat realized he didn't have much of a choice at this point.  He needed to make some cash, and this guy seemed to be dealing fairly.  But Desat also knew careful consideration was important at this juncture.  He didn't want to seem desperate.

Sitting back he chews on the last piece of bread, takes a sip of ale and motions for the bar maid.

You'll provide a guide while I get to know the lay of the land ?

When the barmaid get there he says, Two shots of Whiskey, we have a deal to seal.

When the drinks get there.  Desat pays for them, and raises his shot glass in a toast to Reedrick.

Desat downs it quickly, picks up the arrow off the table and affixes it to his vest.  Asking,
Who's this woman in Bowshot ?

  Reedrick downs the    drink, he  laughs  a bit,..now there  ye  go.. Just like that..yer  one of the most feared people in the bloody realms...

 Com'er   then... get this down  right....Misty?.. SDend a Runner   for Hoggins... The barkeep    looks around one of the  kids  who  is sweeping    catches   a silver  coin and he's off, out the  door...

    Reedrick Opens  the  door to the Cellar,  the   server   gril tidies up the  table  while  the two  go down stairs....

.................

 reaching the bottom,  Reedick  says  something in old Dwarven and a pair of   crystals  glow.....them things have been here  since this  hole was first dug.... don't know how they work..nor  why.... but it beats the 9 hells out   of  smokey oil...

    he does light  a Lantern on a Table..there  are fetching  supplies    arranged,  there is an anvil.. with a  small hearth that feeds into the chimney of the hearth above...

 ..this  here is the stronghold... about   500 yards. more or less to the north  is  a tunnel that  goes  all the way below the storm River..it  connect  the Mound, with the Highpeaks.... Dwarves  and Gnomes  patrol the place.. we always get  drow and dark  dwarves   and even goblins and orcs there... damnable  underground beasties.... but.. that there  door.  leads  down to it..ain't never sued it in 50 years..but tis there if  we need it.. all these weapons  were got from  missions..., stolen from  slavers and raiders... more then a few city watch folks died  and  thier  stuff is here... that's what happens   if ye  mess with Arrows though...

  he opens     a smaller   door , near the forge,  he  walks in comes out with a strong box,  Unlocks  it   with a lock pick and says  as he counts,..now?.. don't knoe  how rich you are... don't  care..., yer gonna  be earnin' copin fer us and yerself... hereis  20 gold coins, 10 silvers  and   10 coppers... you won't seem rich..but you damn well won't be poor....them fishermen on the river?..  5 gold  a month is good.. they  catch a decent Serpent.. it could set them up fer a year... though.  its  about even  who catches who in that damned  river..

 waving  at the  walls.ye need  arrows?..  daggers..  short sword...  we have  every thing here but lances... ain't never  seen  one of those horse spears make it to the end of a BAttle that had  Elven archers.... once yer  ready, we'll go up an'  we'll go over that contract.

Desat takes it all in, it's quite impressive.  He takes the coins and looks at the armory rubbing his chin.

Desat had his hunting knife and his Falcata.  A short, stout broadsword with a recurved, single edged blade.



He also had his hardened leather curriassar breastplate that served as armor.


But he needed additional tools and equipment.  He looked over the selection, it was impressive.  Desat quickly moved to a heavy crossbow, then a medium and two light crossbows.  He grabbed multiple quarrels.  This was followed by two lengths of rope.  Then a spool of twine.

Then he asked the Dwarf  Do you have Caltrops ?  A large sack was filled.

Do you carry toxins that will incapacitate?

  The  dwarf  watches as Desat  gathers  items,Them cross  bows?... ye can take one..we got  alot of mouths  ta feed when  we  rearm  Vets, or  arm new folks... the  wooden case ther e  was   a couple hand cross  bows that  some drow ain't goona  use  any more....
 he  walks over to a worktable   that would be wall facing the river, a Gnome is   measuring powers  and such

 Ye heard 'im.. watcha  got  ?

 the Gnome   was older, he ha d  thick glasses  on, the  kind alot of sages  wear.  I got   two powers... you fling   or blow? one  puts  folks  to sleep..maybe... 3  for minutes..enough time to slice a throat..aye?...and this  reddish powered, burns the  eyes and  nose...if yer indoors. might make yer  throat tighten a bit..I got  some  Rockfish Fin salve? ye  rub it on a blacde  or  an arrow.. ye can  drop an orc and they'll stay down fer a few  hours..it sieze up the  muscles, you see......most of the rest?.. Just fer  killin'

Desat I'll take one light crossbow then.  And if you don't have a taker of the hand crossbows I'd like to put them to good use.


Listening to the gnome Desat wants all of it, but does not know what is proper.  So he just lays it out to the Dwarf.  Frankly I'd like to have at least one of each if that's possible.  I don't know which one I'll need until the situation presents itself.

Take  a Handcross bow...  if ye pull out the drawer, your   find the  bolts fer them...

 The   Gnome, Filbit is his name,opens the  wee  drowaers  of the  work bench, he pulls out    a Vila

 ..the  Yellowe  powder fer  sleep..... The red  to choke... the  Rockfish  salve make ye like a rock... an'  this..its old.. i have to make fresh?... But this  is   from the  Yellow stipped  spider that lives in the Trace Woods..Most time a drop or  two will kill depending on who much yer target weighs.. this is a bit old.. you might get two uses  from it... now?.. if yhou drop it in wine..or ale.. it will work slower.. but  there ain't no comin' back, 'less the gods  love ye.. There  were   4  small vials.. clear galss .. yellow  powder..Red Powder,thick semi clear gel.. and a black vial   with a yellow  cap

Desat picked up the hand crossbow.  He had never seen anything like it, light fast, concealed.  It felt right.  He holstered it and the bolts.

Desat listens intently to the gnome, memorizing the instructions.
Filbit, I have a feeling we are going to be friends.  Is there anything you need here ?

Desat carefully takes the chemicals.

 Filbit nods   but  looks at Reedrick  who  shrugs,..he's  gitting  all this stuff.. if  he  can git  ye something  back..ask 'im...

 Flibit  scrawls some   wods down on the  paper.Alone the shore of the Strom. ye  wanna get it  away from the city, cause   of the   water... ..'mabbee  near Bowshot? There's  these  Blue  tube-like flowers..look like  cat-o-nine tails.. but they are Blue.. you get me some of them  Pods?.. an' there  these here flying bugs... folsk  calls them Dagger Flies.. Sage  have a  fancy words you'd have to go to the Sage  section to  have them tell you in two hours   what normal folk can saw in one sentence... anyway.. these here Dagger Flies.. about  3.6 inches lone.. have a damn sharp beak ..like thing.. they  stab you with it  and drink Blood..but  watch's worse, is they have some kinds   Juice inside, that makes you bleed  faster... thins the Blood?... you get a few of them alive?.. we can have that her  for our ownsef. You get them Dead.. we  can use  the  beaks for blow gun darts, and    make   a poison from whatever  fluids  are left in the body.

Desat looks at Filbit like his touched  OK, I'll see what I can do

   Reedrick  waves to the steps,..Come..let us  finish  a dinner..aye?.. Filbit, ye comin or you want   food  sent  down?

 ..Send it  down... there is a paste i am working on, and its near the boil  now...

 ..Right then?.. should be  comin' soon enough.

 group arriving  after Trace Wood <<<<<<<<<<<<<

 The Arrows   got in  the back of the line.. the  Company    had to  be in a bunch with the leader having thier charter ready.

 One of the  groupsd ( there were    4 at the moment) called back to the Arrows..Quickshadow?...  Your   company is behind mind as always..and Look  at the Motely  gathering you have?... where does  the womanend and the Horse begin... or that  big Lump  that is  near her?...what kind of  group  have you assaembled.

 the other Groups Laughed  As Kree  answered, Rather loudly,A group that   Burned Mok, and destroyed the  River Demon.... My people are  warriors   Jissen..... Your  group should be in line with the Merchants...

 One of the   other  groups..an Elven female  said,..I heard Tou seeks you... and Yet you walk  about like you own the Realms!

 Kree made a show of looking at  his charter, then looked up at the Elven female,we met some   Tou riders.... one was left alive to carry the ehads of the other home, the horse of the el

leader is   headless in the field...  Some  folks  gasped, as they know the  relationship of a Tou Rider and thier Horses. Then he smiles   an alluring smile at the   female whop  tilts her head.

..and  I do own the reealms, Dilla.. Elves of the Black Timber and Tracewood  do not  fear to treadlands as those  from the Ironwood...

 then he and Ivy  both break into laughter, and the embarrassed  Elf  turns  forward..

............

 Comign up the  trail road  from Bowshot  and its ferry  a  robed person with a staff appropaches..he sees a long line of   people.. a longer line of merchants..but a  short line of  groups

Envlo hobbled over to the back of the line, drawn in by the sound of laughter as he observes the strange party of travelers.  From the looks of things they appear to be some sort of mercenary group, potentially more trouble than they're worth, but he felt that this meeting was destined to happen, that this was where the next chapter of his life begins.

Approaching the group, he bows his head and kneels on one knee. "Hello there and good day! I apologize for interrupting, but I am new to these parts, with nowhere to go and little gold to my name.  I would be honoured if you we be so kind as to let me accompany you.  While I may not be an incredibly skilled combatant, I trust that my magic and survival skills will be a worthwhile addition, should you have me."

  Ivy looked    at his  cousin and  had a Slight smile. Kree looked at the long line of   people who were not   Merc Companies  or Merchants...

  we...sir?  I am Kree... Quickshadow, Leader of this Band of Crimson Arrows...This is my Cousin Ivyian, we most times, call him Ivy.... The rest of  my  people  will introduce themselves as they   feel fit?...  Take this   Arrow  pin, wear it   where it will be easy to see... it marks you as a member of  the Company... you will know the reason it is important as  we wait... I need your  Name for the charter...

 Pulling a   pin from  the  box , he pulled from his tunic, Ivy readied  the  charter  and  the  enchanted pen.  we need your name, Good sir? Ivy asked.

 Jissen   called back....that how you recruit?... No wonder you   Company is to   haggard...

 ..Challeneg day is only  a  10 day away?..if you want to meet us in the Arean..please..say the word...but keep in mind, Arrows  fight to the death..

 the other groups  just turned away   awkwardly.

Envlo stood up, delighted and surprised at how simple that was, smiling at Kree and Ivy. "Marvelous! Thank you very much for having me! My name is Envlo Lifespring, it's a pleasure to meet you!" He took the pin from Kree, attaching it to the front of his robes where it would be clearly visible. He bowed to the two of them before he moved over to the rest of the group, taking his place in the line.

 Elandrs nodded to Envlo and said," Welcome pleasure to have you as a new member of the group, I am Elandra Jalvain Cleric and Priestess of Amot, May Peace be with you always."