Brie shrugged, sighed, and headed back with the guys.  It certainly was a good try, she thought to herself with an up-tilted smile.

   Orlin processes information a bit. "I understand your not one to meddle in the affairs of others," He grins to himself, "In fact that's why I feel I can trust your words more than another's, but have you heard any runners of importance to a traveling party?"

  The  woman nods  slowly as she finishes  her  bathes  of powders.

  ..I cannot range afar as i once did.. i get young ones  the hunt  down my gifts  that the land gives us.... I know only what i hear.

 ..there was a gathering of  Cat-folk and Sand-folk.. they  went to the  North..for what, i do not know.Perhaps  they were the ones  you dealt with?

 ..I hear there are riders... sand Folk and human  both.. who seek out lobe travelrs, or small groups... they  travel along the LAter River..

In reply to market (msg # 75):

 She picked up a few small items for later trade, nothing really costly, but things she hadn't seen before. She looked around for Lafisual to see if he was nearby. He was the only one who seemed interested in being friends, and she couldn't keep track of what the other people were up to. It seemed wherever they stopped there was some kind of hoha going on.

   When they returned, Kree told  Riku to rest near their Camp fire, incase the  man had  any friends  watching   their track down of the   courier.

 He passed the word  along that they would  leave after mornfest, and take the   underground way.

In reply to Kree's unit (msg # 103):

Riku fluttered around and found a decent safe space above normal eyesight yet still within easy hearing distance from the group.  She set out her small bedroll and laid down comfortably.

Brie goes looking for either a dried log or a rock that she can rest on and then begins cleaning her weapons.  She listens to the sounds of the world around her and the conversations of those around her.

In reply to Brestine Darksbane (msg # 105):

Lucy's feline instinct to hunt has taken over again.  She goes some 150 yards from the village, and begins to hunt mice, rats, ect.

She find a position in the shadows, moves with all the grace of her feline half.  She will target the largest mouse / rat she can find.  Then she will "stalk and pounce."

When she has her prey in sight, she will "stalk and pounce" like the catfolk do.  She will only use her claws, and none of her weapons.

When she catches her prey, she will kill it.  She will play with it like catfolk do, and then when it's dead, leave it for whatever predators with to consume it.

Around 2 am she will finally make her way back to the village, just tired enough to get some sleep.  She will sleep hard till someone wakes her up.

In reply to Shadow Mist (msg # 102):

Lafisual found himself caught in looking around for his components for a bit that he hadn't noticed if Shadow was still there.  In a quick glance around he was glad to see that she was able to find some useful things.  I am glad you found something to your liking, he relates as he moves back toward her.  Perhaps finding this metal isn't going to be so easy...not that I expected it to be.  It also seems that I am better off finding wood in the wild for a recorder.  At least I found a couple nice pieces for that before we got here.  I guess we can look a little longer but we could also start working on a recorder for you if you would rather do that?

Luthien was starting to wonder what the emperor had to do with this...this wasn't anything he'd expected of that particular ruler...hmmm.

  The Mornign Comes with Most of the   Unit waking without much Fuss... Ivy satggers over with  a Cup of   'stirabout  and some bread'.   Rolf looks over   ant the Elf   laughing, then to Kree he says,..I thought you elves don't get drunk...

 Kree is   sipping from his  own 'oatmeal-like' cup...It is not the  drink..it is the ....exercise  and the lack of  rest....

 Ivy looks over the brim of his steaming   mug, his eyebrow   rise and lower a  few time at Rolf.
 The woman from the   'inn' brings over  4  fresh loaves of bread, wrapped in  clean bar towels.. Kree thanks her ands her some more coins and she  says,..sisters  watch over  you all!


  kree motions to the loafs,... Ivy and I  will each take one.. the other two  you folks  deciede.. you never know when fresh bread  will come in handy...

 The elf  then, gets a bit  serious look on his  face  as the   tucks the bread, safely, and neatly into his pack.....Most of you know... I was a Captain in the Palace Guard...  his foot  nudged  the   letter  packet  a bit closer to the fire... the  wax  beings to bead up...

  ..now?...opening a  missive, meant for the Crown's  eyes....is a Hanging  , offense..

 the  wax gets  warmer the beads get bigger  and slowly begin to run...

 ..what most folks do not know.... the Missives are sealed with wax... but have a tincture of a certain power. that when held to a candle.. it will flash.... Thus? should you receive a missive, and open it as you are meant to?  yo will see the flash..

 He  put aside his pack and  dips a bit of  a roll into  his  cup and  pops it in his mouth.. his eyes stay on the  wax.....now?.. the other  side of that coin... to use  the  Crown's insignia  for your own purposes.. can cause loss of Hands... loss of eyes... or a boat ride  down the Storm River.  danged by bait  from the port side of the ship.. very few  survive... and even fewer have all thier body parts, if they do...

 the  wax was now  running freely.. the  seal itself was almost gone and there was no 'flash'.. the  packet slowly began to open, like a flower in the morning...

"..It is not the  drink..it is the ....exercise  and the lack of  rest...."

Orlin makes his way in.  "Alas, I've been there lad, it is almost refreshing to be in a land where the women are not attracted to the firbolg brand of charm.  The apothecary didn't seem to have much more than we already know for information but at least we can count on what she has said." Orlin shares what they spoke together of, incuding the medicine he now has available.

   He watches the envelope with interest.  "As the envelope that might have been a legal document was opened it looks like we might have to take the punishment into our own hands."

In reply to Lafisual (msg # 107):

 "Oh, whatever you want to do is fine with me. I don't want to bother you, and I know there's things you probably want to do without me hanging around all the time. The recorder you can do whenever you want, no hurry. Let's ask Kree if he knows someone with metal if you need it badly."

 She showed him the few nick knacks and oddities she'd picked up. Nothing too costly, just unique.

Brie watches Kree as he explains and handles the package.  Between Ivy and Kree, she is always learning something new.  It was one of the reasons she chose to leave her home, she wasn't gaining any footing or learning anything new being an entertainer and staying under her human mother's right arm.

While her and her mother weren't always seeing eye to eye, it was still a humbling yet emotional departure when she explained her leaving and why.  She still carried a locket from her mother in her side pouch and would often, when the earth was still and Brie needed a bit of encouragement or reminder of her past, that she would look at it.  Finger the etched design and feel of the metal on her skin.  Those moments don't happen often, Kree keeps her attention.

She looked into the fire after taking an end of the loaf and some drink, she seemed to be in a trance.  Although, she wasn't, she was listening to everyone as they talked.  Her focus on the "flash" that was suppose to happen.

 Watching the  Wax melt, more and more, until there was just a bit of red stain left , from where the  wax seal and set.

    Popping the last of his  roll in his Mouth, and  taking a sip of the oatmeal food from his  mug,Kree reached over  for the Missive, and spread the  folds  out  wider, until he was certain ere was no flash bits in side.

 Picking hit up , he set the mug down with the other  hand, he says slowly, almost, to himself as he brings the  message closer,..some spies, and the like, will put some street folk's entertainer's  flash dust , just inside, and it has worked to fool those field offciers, or agents who are too lazy..or less smart...to open the  packet in the right way.....  his  voice trails off as he looks to  to the missive..

..one of the grassland  elf Maids brings 2 pies  made from apples  giving him a  kiss on the cheek and moves off , trailing a hand across his shoulder.. he looks at Orlin and winks,..everyone take a slice... not like we can take it with us!

 he  cuts  each pie into  8 Pieces, break off  the tip of his  for  Riku to  eat...then passes the pies around.

 ...This is written ...if it is true...by one, Captain Gor Handlesson.. ..supposed  agent of the Crown....he was  trapped in a building in Mok,,and  gave the  message to our departed friend...

 holding up a finger, kree continues,..the fellow can be trusted, because of the gold  i promised that awaited him.... please make surehe is rewarded...and.. send some agents to..what is Known as... The Dark Veil... there are people there  that need saved...... have them wear... gold or yellow scarves on thier left arm.. so?  if i am alive.. i can greet them.. if i should die... they will need to discard  the silks...


 Turning  from where he sat, he looked over at the store.. the elfmaid there,, held up some golden silks and waved them with a coy smile...

 ..it would seem...even ones who are used to surprises...may be surprised....Ivy?.... please to gather  enough golden silks  for the  group...

 Ivy  Jams the rest of his  pie in his  mouth  and washes the filling off his hands   from his  waterskin.....be right back...  Kree's cousin  got up and  walked towards the  woman, who frowned at first, then looked at Kree, who shrugged...Ivy and the  woman went into the back.

 Kree Looks over the Missive and held it to the light of the fire.. to everyone's surprise ( including his).. the scrawled  figure of a Dragon's Skull  appeared after the    paper was properly heat.....well... this is different....

Brie cleaned over when he lifted the paper up to the light.

"Well that is nifty," she said.  "What does this mean?"

------------------------------------

Riku flutters down and takes the thumbsize piece of pie and nibbles away watching and listening to the others as she devours it.

   The elf Shakes his head...there are a few Dragon Cults... they serve   some of the dragons in the High Peaks..bring the  food....treasure..in return those  dragon keep away  enemie3s...if they are on our side of the moutnain.. they keep Harte forces away... and the other way around, on thier  side... they will also  chase away or  Kill other dragons who try to  take over territory or  , eat thier  followers...

 he hands her the   parchment then motions for her to pass it along to the others  so they Might  get familiar with it.

  Most have grans insignias... a shadow of a dagon with its  wings   spread... a dragon on a golden cup... a dragon with a crown..that sort of thing.... but this?.. is the skull of a  Dragon... but take note of the  eyes... the eyes  look angry...hungry.... We might need to ask , or listen  for  woards  about this rgoup... I am starting to hate the   Desert more and more.. and we have not reached it yet!

Brie looked it over, Riku had came in close and looked over their shoulder.

Brie then passed it to Lafisual who was the next closest to her.

    The team started to strap up their weapons and packs, getting read to Move out.

   Ivy came out,  without his shirt, his leather tunic covering his chest instead.. when he reached the   group he handed   each Member a gold  silk scarf...

   .. YOu lost your  shirt in the Bargin?

  ..she wanted a keepsake?... it was either that or  my cloak... i am not giving up my cloak.. I have an extra   shirt.. I'll put it on, once  we   climb out  of  the  tunnel...


 Kree flicked his right arm to  have  the  thrown  dagger slide, he  cut a scrap of  gold cloth off, to make a  small scarf  for Riku, then  returmed the knife   into  its sheath up his sleeve.

  ..Let us ehad for that water  way.... do not use the scarves, until we reach Mok....

In reply to Shadow Mist (msg # 111):

You aren't a bother at all.  It's been nice to have someone to talk to. He smiles at her.  Yeah, we can ask him at some point.  It seems we are moving out though and maybe we can't get it unless we are in their lands anyway.  Shall we join up for some more marching? He shrugs and turns to head back to the unit assumimg Shadow doesn't have something else in mind and comes with him.

In reply to Lafisual (msg # 118):

 "Oh, indeed. I guess there is no rest for the weary. Or the wicked. Lead on."

 She gathered up her things, including the odds and ends of trade goods she bought and packed them away inside her pack, preparing to march out.

    they approach the waterway and  are surprised to see a pair  of Dwarves. One of them looks the group over... The dark Haired  fellow steps up.

  ...been waderin' ifin you was gonna use the   waterways... gonna  cost ya  50 silvers a boat... you'll need  both boats... I captain the one... Megga Captains the other one... Me Name is Kil....

  ..now  we have  these  engines that run.. we got these Hot  rocks   that make it go.... don't ask me  hot it works.. there's a gnome fellow   at the desert end of this, that makes them work...

 Kree frowns  at the dwarf. then looks to  Ivy.. Ivy shrugs.

  The Blonde Dwarf  walks over, he has an odd looking crossbow on his back, and  two bandoleers of   quarrels, as well as a quiver on his hip,..now?  Ye can take the walkin' path.. you'll get there a day or more  slower..and you'll have to  contend  with the  beasties..but it'll be free...

 Kree  Nods  and reaches into his  Tunic and Pulls out  his pouch.. he    tells the  dwarves to open then  hands... he  slips  a few Plats out.. the dwarves' eyes grow  big... then counts in his head and  adds  a pair of gold to each hand...

 ..where did ya get the Coin Laddie!

 he slips the  ( very thin) purse back into his tunic,..From fools we have Killed, who thought they could  best the  Crimson Arrows... then he smiles a bit,..just so we are clear?... should  we even think, this  is a set up.. those coins and anything else of value  you have  will be ours...

 ..ahh..now   lad?  Why would you be sayin' such things?

 ..I did not live this long...being overly foolish..nor to i make deals  with folks, without letting them know  what  a bad outcome  would mean...

  Kil  smiled a bit,..ack..its  true then...  You split your folks up an' we'll be on our  way...


 Kree turns to the others.....Ivy will take  one   baot. I'll take the others.. Please  step inot the  Boat you wish to travel on...

 Ivy stands  at the    ramp way  to  Megga's   boat.. Kree , By Kil's

Lafisual muses a moment and looks to Shadow.  Why don't we flip for it.  He pulls out a coin.  This side Kree, this side Ivy.    He shows her the side and flips the coin.  It looks like Ivy.  Sound good to you? He shows her the results.

Luthien cares little, although, wearing heavy armor as he does...well, it's not necessarily great for him to be over water. Man overboard is far more lethal when you wear plate.

"Common sense says I'm going to have to take the armor off for a boat ride..."

How irritating.

  The  Dwarves chuckled  at Luthien's plight.

  ...well  me an' me partner here  wear our  Chain all the time.... we figure, if  we fall inta the water?.. somethin' must  have killed us!