Kree   tosses  his Bloody and torn shirt into the  camp fire  near them, and Pulls out a fresh on,..Have to see about getting more  shirts in my color.....

    Kree points to the Tips, as he  hands  two arrows to Brie, and says to Laf,..The  Sandfolk steel from Clamsport is  as good as those  make  by the  dwarves in the High Peaks...... The  edges  are made to  cut though most  Hide  armor... but flesh stands little  chance against it... and it does  as much  damage comign out, as going in..... we  were damnable lucky to have taken them by surprise,  the Catfolk and sandfolk could have killed have the company.. should that have been prepared.

Luthien would take his fair share of the arrows...he isn't a primary archer, but when he's forced into range combat, it made sense to have the highest quality available.

 Kree  Hads Luthien a pair of the Arrows,..The  wee Beastie did a bit of damage  to your    armor?...

  Ivy  walks over  and settles  down,..Mize as   people  talkign watch, Damn shame  they like grass better then trees, some  some fine Lasses over there...

  what?  You do not think you can get them to Follow you home?

  Ivy chuckles  at Kree's grin,..not enough shadows  for me in the grasslands.... not enough sun for them in The Timber?... gues  I'll have to settled  of a night or  two..aye?

 he opens closes his hand towards Kree, who Pulls out  a bottle of  wine from his pack.

  ..now?.. taht is what i call a true Leader!... he winks  and  takes a  deep drink  from the bottle. offering it around to any other who might  want.

I will.  Lafisual nods and then head back over to Shadow and sits down beside her looking over the newly acquired arrows.  If I could learn to make these it could be interesting.

 "It would be a handy skill to have. Perhaps you could make them, since you have the skills to make flutes."

 She handed him one of the arrows she'd retrieved from the battle to look at.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Wed 26 July 2017.

"It did. Though any mage can fix it with a fairly minor spell. If nobody has the correct spell among us, I'm sure at least one of the wardens does."

He doesn't sound overly worried.

Orlin has seen to the wounded and helps take wardens down if he can.  He is gentle with the deceased and does what is asked of him.  We'll say he is out of his burn rteatment from all those needing help from the fire, and asks the druids if they have any such treatments to spare.

In reply to Shadow Mist (msg # 335):

Thanks for that. Well I can actually make arrows and clothes fairly well.  Before coming to these lands a led a somewhat quiet life in a small city fletcher and bower shop.  So far I make my own weapons though I suppose someday I might find something better.  Perhaps these arrows even though with now only three of them I am probably not going to waste them shooting things unless it becomes desperate.  He looks over the arrows some more.  You are right in making a flute, or a recorder as I like to call them, similar skills are involved with the fine carving and getting the shape just right.  Also being able to pick out the right kind of wood helps too.

   Orlin  Helps the Wardens... some of the Older Wardens eye  him with a second look. Though the Younger ones  seem to be more then happy to speak with him

  One warden  slips  Orlin a healing Potion from his belt...It is mid strength.. but may help you in a pinch?

 The druids seem to not Mind the firbog at all...  Though them seem...almost obsessed with  planting ,  and  casting...   A couple give him half used  jars of older balm...it is the best we can do for  now.. we did not have much time to gather  things...

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

  Laf and Shadowmist not the difference in the Clamsport Steel head arrows... the  shafts and the fletchings aren't much different..perhaps, even I step down from the  Razorhawk made shafts... the difference  is in the steel heads.

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

 Kree relaxes with brie, Ivy , Mize and whomever else   sits by their fire. The  night  is growing deeper.. sunrise  would be coming soon...

.........

 Luthien finds that the Wardens do not have much in the way of spell craft..he wopuld need to wait for  a grasslander Village..or..Mok itself.

The key does seem to be in the steel used.  I certainly can't make these on the road.  I would have to find a shop with a small forge I think.  I have done some of this but it would take some practice most likely.  In the meantime while I have a moment let me see if I can find some decent wood for making a flute. He looks around a bit while clearly also still contemplating the arrows and turns back and adds, You know though, I have heard of small portable forges before and of course arrow heads are not that big so maybe... He wanders nearby in thought while looking for the right wood.

Riku, rests for a moment while she thinks over everything that just happened.  It was all such a flash.  Once her mind has calmed, she goes about helping any one who might need it.  Then returns to the resting captains.

Any thimble for a wee one like me?  That be looking mighty good right now.

    Kree  removes the  cap from his water  skin, he fill the  cap...here you are , Little one... seems like  our path is going to take us to Mok....whether  we find word of the Missign Arrows.. or Just Burn  down the  Burning Wave... that will have to be seen..

 Mize  looks up from his  bit of cold rabbit,..you are gpig to Mok..to Burn the  Burning wave?

 Kree shrugs,..there has to be a recompense  for this... they have made alot of  coin from the suffering of the Timber and those slaves they have  used...abused... or sold.

 Mize  waggles  the  rabbit  leg at him..once you cross the River.. you will not be protected  by  Ironmound Law... But the Law of the Sands?

 Kree grins a bit tiredly,aye.... what a shame, that will be...

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg # 342):

Lucy had joined Kree and the others around the fire.  She took a long drink of wine, before passing it along.

In her travels, she had travelled to many places, but not the southern desert lands.  She had been to the northern deserts, and had fought the desert  folk there.  They were just as bad as their southern kin.  They also traded in slaves, and whatever made coin.

"So, what is the law of the desert?" She asked.

She was curious to know if they were anything like their northern kin.

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg # 342):

Lucy had joined Kree and the others around the fire.  She took a long drink of wine, before passing it along.

In her travels, she had travelled to many places, but not the southern desert lands.  She had been to the northern deserts, and had fought the desert  folk there.  They were just as bad as their southern kin.  They also traded in slaves, and whatever made coin.

"So, what is the law of the desert?" She asked.

She was curious to know if they were anything like their northern kin.

  Mize looked at Kree as  Lucy asked. Kree shrugged,..I know slaves are legal..as long  as they are not  sandfolk from well placed families?... and it is not uncommon to see people's  hands, feet or heads  removed....

 Mize  Nods  as  he tosses the bone in the fire Offering some of his cold  Rabbit  to others.

 Rolf   come over with a  Sizzling  spit of meat.. he stands the   spit over the  small came fire...a basket it of hard rolls is placed down as well.

 well?  the  freed  slaves  are eating.. ..so now its  time for teh victors to enjoy the spoils... Now, Mize.. tell us the   Laws...

 Ivy  went  about  slicing off thin slices and handed the  out,,, folks grabbed a roll to go with them.

 Mize  smiled at the hot  food, and chewed like he was at a King's feast...first?..All outlanders  can be made slaves if  theya re in the wrong place, at the right time.... armed mercs, never seem to be bothered  much...but there have been companies who have been  whittled  down  by sandfolk, or catfolk  bandits.. and other  sand creatures... so... if slavers   come upon them, they might take the chance to enslave them....

 ..freeing Collared  slaves can put you in prison,  and becaome a slave yourself..... freeing  slaves  from a plantation , or  some bit of  land  in the  green parts of the desert, will get a bounty placed on your head...

 Ivy grins  as he chewes,..only if there are witnesses... aye?

 Mize  grinned back.....now?  to raid a Man's homestead? That will get you killed  for certain... but should  you come upon travellars.. they are like  finding  Game in the   wasteland... Kill then..collar them..whatever..... sometimes... you can see  the  aftermath of  battles, for days.... sometiems.. you wil think nothing lives out there...

 ..so?  You have traveled the Sands?

 ..Aye.. my younger eyars.. i sought to find the Gold tower.... a place of much wealth... some say..it changes  its palce in the sands... sages say.. the sands  swallow it, then reveal it..making it appear to move....I gace up after  4 years or so?... Lost too many friends chasing  a treasure that might not be real....

 ..so?.. how did you last so long?

 There was laughter,..i spent many nights    sleepign in a  chair with my bow on my lap..... or making 'false dunes' with  my cloak or Blanket , to hide  from slavers  with a string of  people..sometimes  we would follow, and free some.. other times, we had to allow the gods to emasure thier  fate, because  we were out Numbered...sand Cones... were the worst...

 ..sandcones?

 they vary in size, from the tip of your dagger, to the size of a horse... theya re shaped Like  Cones  and   travel through the sand , like a carpender's awl.... smaller  ones will dig into your flesh  as feast on blood.. the biger they get.. the larger the mouth... the Cone-hide is  thick and Pliable.. makes good  leathers   and shileds.. thier  teetyh are used  by some of the savage  sandfolk. to be place on a plam wood handle or even a  waxwood handle?... they make nasty tear wounds  in your flesh.. the very  large one can pulll a man's  body into thier maw   just  by rolling  thier  teeth./. there is no escape.. un;ess you can kill the thing.

 ..but i drone on..... the simple take?... do not steal from  any one... but you can take from anyone who is not protected by his building or lands...... another thing.... if you are challenged to a fight..... you..must fight.... to turn down a dule is to dishonor the  duelist and you will have to pay that person, whatever coin the   watch sees  fit...if you lose..  the duelist  may pick a prize from your goods..... if you die, he can take everything.

Brie sits up and listens around the fire as Mize talks.  She takes the spit of meat as it's passed around and pulls a few pieces off for Riku and hands them to her.

Luthien listens carefully...

"Side problem I haven't found a good way around yet...what am I to do with armor in the desert? The desert sun WILL cook metal armor, I know that for sure...It's bad enough on hot days in temperate climates."

 She looked at Lafisual then looked at the meandering slaves wandering through the camp looking stunned or lost now that they were free.

 "Maybe we should gather up any slaves who don't know what to do now they are free and see to it that they are fed from the food their slavers were cooking, and see if they need bandaging or clothed. Surely there are spare clothes from the packs of the dead slavers that could be put to use?"

In reply to Kree's Unit (msg # 344):

Lucy nodded as Mize described the desert folk.

"That sounds familiar." She said with a nod.  "The northern sand folk are very much like that.  The difference is, they are very touchy about their god.  Say something bad about them, insult him, joke about it, and you can be killed.  Or they will declare a blood war against you." She said.

She took some of the cold rabbit, and some of the hot meat when it was passed around.

"The Northern Desert Folk aren't that fond of outsiders either.  Although, that mostly pertains to the smaller towns and villages.  The big cities are filled with a variety of folk.  Slavery is frowned on, but very little is enforced unless you try and take traders.   Then the proverbial shit will hit the fan." She said.

"I've seen slave markets 10 blocks wide, in the major cities.  All locals.  They are very tribal.  The more powerful tribes look down on the lesser tribes, and are constantly at war and raiding them." She said.

"A mercenary group can make very good coin selling protection to the smaller tribes." She added, with a sly grin.

In reply to Shadow Mist (msg # 347):

That sounds like a reasonable idea. I can create water for them if needed though as of yet, I lack the skills to create food but if the slaver's food is bad, I can make that right again. He smiles back at her and gets up to see if there is anyone who might need some extra help.

  The Night  passes quietly... the Wardens   set watches  for the   forest.... the pony riders  keep watch inside the tree line.

  In the Morning there at two fresh Bodies on the Pyre and     Pony rider scouts  found  two  loggers who almost made it to the Bridge.

 After   some   food  and hot drink, the   Arrows  are ready to Move on.

  Mize offers,...My people will  add  extra patrols here, until the  Wardens  think they have things  in hand. There  will , almost certainly, be  scouts  and such coming to check on the Operation

 Krell nods  as he walks  with Kree and Mize,  we sent a winged messenger to the Palace, for them to  make an offer if they want the wood...if nay.. we will use it   at the Farm stead you came from and allow some Villages  to sell planks   to earn some coin. It would be  a shame to have it go to waste.

 ..if  Ironmound  buts the wood... I will send  a portion of the coin to Mize  , for  thier help in removing this blight.... if not... Mize  and His   people can have a share of Logs to sell off as planks  and such... either way., they will gain  some coin.

 ize   smiles ,..Thank you. Elder Quickshadow.. any such gift  makes a differant  in grasslander Lives.

   The Unit  moves forward.. heading  South for a few hours, before  breaking into the Grasslands.

 The Change is  easy..almost  scarey, to see, once they leave the cool comfort of the   Black Timber , to the  warm, moist grasslands.

 Mize  rides  along  for a Bit he stays to the Middle as he watches Kree send Flankers  to the side , while the rest  walk in the middle.. the grasses  are thick and Green.. and Chest high to the elves.. Mize  is slightly higher, mounted on his pony.

  ..You would think.. people would have made some form of  road by now?

  There is a chuckle,..ahhh..Kree.. The time you spent  with the guard has softened  you!

  ...look at this  grass?.... there could be a bog....or   hole..or  flashflood  stream.. and wagons  would not know it, until its is  too late... he shakes his head.

 ..Though this is  true... Grasslanders do not  get, even as much  merchents  as you... what people  come have lighter wagons..or big beasts of burden.. there  is a sand folk band of traders that use  large Lizards to haul thier goods... and the lizards eat the grass... Riders like mine can make good  coin, if we find a wagon or caravan and offer to guide them

 ..I still feel it is foolish not to have some time of road...

Luthien halfsmiles at the comment, adding only, "I fear, captain, the truth of the world is that common sense is poorly named. It is the most uncommon thing in the world."

Riku smiles as she glutters along amongthe group amd hears the comment.

"What is common sense?  Never heard of such."


She giggles and flutters by moving along to the others.  Carrying word or news of findings.

Leaving the comfort of the forest was unsettling but Lafisual remains vigilant in his scouting position staying just high enough to see and popping back down to listen periodically.