As they slowly approached the docking port, she saw the ones above and slowly raised her bow, hesitating as an explanation quickly followed.

She let out a breathe she didn't know she was holding and when they were able to step off the boats she checked on everyone and made sure they had all their belongings.  Once everything had been gotten and the boat was cleared, she happily and quickly made her way to being near Kree's side.

That ride was nearly unbearably tolerable.

    Kree waited for everyone   to disembark, once they were on the Dock, he said,..there is supposed to be a trading post at the entrance  we will be headed to.... Mok should not  be much further of  travel...from there. Still..if there is anything you wish to purchase. best get it now.... I will wait by the gate.. when you are ready, we will push on....

  Ivy.. but  a few bottles of Elven wine, we will split it up, among those who wish to carry them...and?.. try not to sqaunder time  on wenches...

 Ivy frowns.....wenches.. are never  time squandered!  he moves off to towards  the Inss,  Kree  moves to the gates.

Orlin checks for advice and items that will help them cross the desert

In reply to Shadow Mist (msg # 141):

We could look for one now that we are here.  I don't know exactly how much time we have but maybe some moments.  I don't know how well it will keep though in the desert.  Lafisual shrugs.  I don't know that I have a lot of other supplies to bring but if you have some thoughts on it?  You seem to have been a lot of places...is the desert one of them?

  Kree  talked  with some of the guards  By the  Gate, then moved  to sit on the  benches on either side, as   he waiting for his  Unit to  browse, eat or drink.

 The Gate  Guard  Unfolded a map  and was pointing   something out to Kree.

  Orlin doesn't  find much in the way of help.

  Mostly they  try to sell bigger water skins, or   Thin Metal water bottles.

  Ivy returns to the Bate with a Bundle of  bread loaves, each wrapped in a bartowel...They had  7 fresh ones.. i got them all....

  Kree  waited for others  to come around, he motioned  for Brie  to take a  towel wrapped  loaf..

  Rolf came over ..Explainign they he  may leave once they reach the surface. Kree nodded  and  told him to take a Loaf anyway.. either way, it would come in handy. Rolf  smiled at the Understanding and sat down with the two cousins and Brie, waiting  for the others...

Brie took a loaf wrapped it up well and out it in her satchel.  She headed alongwith the group.

Lafisual grabbed the basic rations and water.  Not finding anything else he headed to where everyone was waiting.

Diana did a bit of shopping.  She got a lot of water and several days rations.

Lucy also stocked up on the water.  If they were going into the desert then they would need it.  She also got several days rations.

 Once   the others  appear,  Ivy hands out the loaves  of bread, and the  Company leaves the GAtes.

  the 'road ' is  stone.. some ridges  carved in, on purpose to help with tractions  and have  water  fall off the  side to the  crevasses on the  right hand side, that hlp  add to the underground River.

  Kree and Ivy , bid  farwell to Rolf, hoping to see him again......Lucy? You and Ivy that point. I do not  foresee any problems, but it will not hurt to have scouts...

 Ivy  takes the side  near the    crevasse .

The others  move  along...

In reply to leaving (msg # 159):

Lucy nodded.

she went out some 25 yards in front of the party to act as advanced scout.  She kept her eyes and ears open, as well as sniffing the air every now and then.

  The  wall up the  rocky path is  not boring, even if it is quiet. Area's are lit  by enchanted  stones, or  large , oil  fed  troches .  areas  where   grottos appeared were lit   by luminous moss,

 Ivy and Lucy, ahead of the main Group, greet some travelers  who were walking  down, sometimes staying out of the way of  carts....


  Calling  down  to   Kree and the others,.. They say,  another   hour or  two to reach the   mouth of the passage...

 as they travel up the  slope, they see areas were the  'path' had been cut  by dwarves , to enable  shoes going up or  down, an easier time.

 The , natural path was  used as w2ell. mostly  by  single folks  or pairs  who did not want to  take the Long way up. Kree  eyed those   splits, more then once, but always   waved Ivy  and Lucy forward, to continue the  wider path

     The sounds  of people talking and  Horses, goats  and  wagons  could be heard. The sky was  a bit  dim as the  sun was going to hide behind the trees of the Black Timber.

  But the sight that greeted them, was the  Yellow-red of the sands, seeming to catch fire, so many , many miles  away.

   as they neared the  entrance, there were dwarven guards   sitting at tables  made of kegs and planks.. Two  Palisade grates  , one inside the tunnel, one out. could be closed. and uet let bow men  and   crossbows cut  down attackers.

   Outside the  Tunnel were   dozens of tents.. some   were easy to tell because of the gaudy colors of the sandfolk. Other  were drab and browns of  grasslanders and forest folk.

 The Smell of Boar, beef  Venison and  river rat, as well as serpent and fish wafted over the  area.

 As   Ivy and  Lucy exited the tunnel, shouts of  younger merchants  sent to try and bring the group over to their masters...

 One thing, Kree had  not yet see. were  a dozen or  so people with chains and collars  , outside the short rock wall. That protected the  trade site.

In reply to kree's unit (msg # 163):

Lucy came out of the tunnel, and paused.  The sights and sounds and smells were overwhelming for a second.

"If we are going into the sand, we need Camels." she said to Ivy.

"Walking in the sand is just insane, and as good as we are, inviting both enemy and other issues.  I have no doubt we can handle any trouble that comes out way, it's the sand that I'm worried about.  The sun can suck you dry in the daylight and the cold night can freeze you." She said.

"I know Kree has an animosity about animals, but if we are going on the sand, Camels are as necessary as water." She said.

 Ivy nods,..if  we  go to the sands   will get what we  need in Mok.. we got a couple days  to get there, Unless  we grab  a boat...

 We get to enjoy grass and water for  a bit more... he smiled as he said this, but his voice held no joy.

   "You are glum" Orlin notes of Ivy

  Ivy  nods  slowly as he looks  around,..I like the woods... but i like the streets, and alleys .... Kree can handle himself in the city, but he much perfers the wilds.... the desert... is an abomination...

"Not looking forward to it meself." He gazes off at the expanse, "But the faster we cross it the faster it's behind us."

  Kree   pointed to  his people,we should be  fine  for  food, But if there is anything you want to eat or drink.. get it now....

   Merchant  boys  and Grils  Pulled on his   cloak, he   just shook his head.. then he saw the  chained  People, and began to move with a purpose, as some of the  Grasslander Guards   moved to try and intercept him.

Brie had spread out a bit to make up for Rolf's departure.  Riku too to the air but kept close not being familiar to this area.

When it was time to break, Brie crouched down and rested on the ball of her feet.

    The Grassland  guard ( who ..it seems , were in charge of this   'marketplace',  stopped in front of Kree.

  ..where are you going?...

 ..I am going to see why these people are in chains?

  ..those  people... are goods  from  the Sandfolk merchant.. we will not permit them to be sold in  our market place...so they must stay out here...


 The elf  eyes the   spears of  two of the guards  while the fellow  who is in charge holds his blade...I want to see  who, and what these people are.... You know , slaves are not abided by the Empire

 ...Mok is not part of the Empire...nor  is the Golden Sands... we cannot...

  Kree    pushed  past the  man  and  strode  towards the SAndfolks who  stood Guard over the  slaves.

 The Sandfolk stood  as the  Elf approached  followed by the other  three.

 Ivy was moving a bit faster as he  came up on Kree's  left flank, but some good 20 yards  away.

  A tall dark skinned  man, in lavish silks drew a curved  Blade, his   teeth flashed  white in the growing darkness,...you have   come to browse out Goods?

  Kree   grinned  back,...it depends  on the price....

 an Older Elf  from the MArket place with two more  guards   hustled after the  adversarial elf......NO!...NO!...WAIT!

 The    Tall dark man said,..I do not think you have the coin....

 Kree drew his Blade....... I am thinking,  I can make an offer...

  Orlin was close on Kree's heels. Too many of his people had been sought after by slavers as beasts of burden.  The creature in his staff felt that all things should be free and was no doubt mumbling some wicked suggestions. "How much DO you think your lives are worth."  His green eyes glowing unnaturally brightly beneath his hood.

In reply to Orlin lion soul (msg # 172):

Diana watched the scene play out, and moved to Kree's right flank, some 10 yards away.  she kept her hand close to her blade.

All she needed was a signal from Kree.