"That's the spot, Drowned Trees. I think she must have a boat, called herself Captain Kressle.  It was unusual none of the locals really spoke much but you could tell something odd was going on." Domiotius sighed "I had a feeling we should have gone back and taken a closer look."

"That figures. There's an old saying - Nature abhors a vacuum. The same applies to any power structure. If you leave a gap in the system someone will step in to fill it. I don't know whether your report to Lord Henry would have already been enough to alert him but if you think it would be worthwhile we can write a note explaining this possibility before we depart and organise for it to be delivered to him," Florin suggested.

Safiya leads her horse to the serai, nodding a greeting to everyone present. Dressed in worn traveling cloths and a light silver mail, she seems to be traveling with little baggage, though on her hip is a scroll case stuffed full of papers. "Madam Yolen. I hope the roads have proven safer since we last met."

Yolen nods along with the conversation, but keeping an eye on the teamsters as they work.  When  Safiya arrives, Yolen nods her greeting, but grins "Just Yolen  will do.  Although I call the shots when we are travelling, the rest of the tome we are all just riding along together.  And yes, the roads  are safer now, not much to get excited about most trips.  Especially when we have a large guard riding with us." she says looking around at the assembled company.

---

OOC:  Guys, remember we are in Fuzzy Time here :)  Conversations about ongoing adventure threads are OK.  Just  we need keep it all inside this thread.  This is happening after the events and Henry will have been debriefed etc ...

"I can vouch that she does call the shots, while on the road, and indeed has a knack for it," offered Alisa, as she led her steed in.     It wasn't her first time at the serai, nor plainly her first acquaintanceship with this merchant-train leader.

In fact, it was as part of one of Yolen's trains where Alisa had met both Kiera and Stas. Alisa's travel cloak was grey, as was the mare that she rode. Her hair was in its customary braid, a style not common in this region.    Her primary weapon was plainly the spear, and studded leather armor was worn beneath the cloak.    About her neck a symbol in silver, a pair of spears crossed atop a moon, meaningless to most in this age, unless they were scholars of ancient history or religion.

She greeted the others, seeing several faces whom she wasn't familiar with.

"Hope you've been well, Yolen. I too will vouch that Captain Kressle and her operation deserve a harder look.  I was with Domitius and Kendrick when we had the 'pleasure' of being hosted by her, for a short time.  Not short enough.  Her fishermen were far from the only thing that smelled fishy."   
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Sun 09 Feb 2020.

Marik walked up to join the mule train, the reigns of his horse held in his hand. "Are you sure he'll have time to see us," he said to the attractive half-elven woman that was walking next to him. "I mean, it wouldn't be a wasted trip exactly, but it would definitely be less productive," he added with a shrug.

He was dressed in his typical adventuring attire, blue loose-fitting clothes with well-worn, yet exceptionally well crafted boots. Surprisingly, he wore no backpack, and his saddlebags seemed to be nearly empty. The only obvious storage device being a simple cloth bag tightly secured to his waist belt.

Alanna smile prettily at Marik's question, "As I told you before...twice, I can be for certain. I did send a message ahead letting him know we'll be coming, but there's no time for him to reply. The best I can say is that he'll know we're coming, and I think I made a compelling argument."

Like her companion, Alanna was dressed for travel, though still found a way to accentuate her rather ample feminine curves. She wore a suit of barely worn leather armor that still allowed for just enough cleavage to show to excite one's imagination while her tight breeches left little to the imagination. Like Marik, she carried no backpack or other forms of storage, only a dagger on her hip accompanied the look.

Whatever Brother Florin had been talking about suddenly didn't seem so important to him anymore.

"Oh, gods!" he murmured. "Is every beautiful woman in the city coming on this journey with us?"

"Excuse me ..." Yolen comments over her shoulder as she marches across to speak quietly with one of the teamsters.  Nodding his head, he rearranges a sack on the mule's packsaddle.

It wasn't the sound of her horse than first showed up- it was the whiff of something very apple-y and rather alcoholic- and indeed, she was taking her first sip of the morning as her horse trotted up.  It was just like the rest of her- black, with a bit of white in places- and while the horse was just white hair, on the woman riding him, it was some, well... rather strategically-placed cutouts on her dyed-black leather armor that let her move more fluidly- at least, it was the excuse she gave for what they were for- and hey, if said secondary purpose was to help her convince some rube, so much the better!  Though she'd at least tied her hair back with a simple leather cord, it still hung down to her lower back nowadays...

Of course, the long, curved blade hung from her back made it obvious that she could handle herself...  as did the seemingly ever-present skin hanging from her waist. She wore a pack, yes- but it didn't look like it was stuffed with all that much- maybe a change of clothes or two and some other things, but other than that, she just gave an easy grin as she glanced around the yard- some get lingering looks, but in all, she just gives a brighter grin as she spots some familiar faces.

"...well, at least the ride won't be completely boring.  Maybe a few new faces, but for the most part, it feels like the first time we came to Tusk.  I'm just hoping the trip will do me some good- after that trip, well..."

Just the thought of it was enough to get her skin from her waist and take another sip, before returning it.

"...so when do we leave?"

Her easy movements and bright grin lent credence to the fact that she was, at least, already relaxed and slightly pickled, if you will- in other words, business as usual for her.

In reply to Domitius (msg # 13):

"Lord LeMaistre had a plan I'm sure of it. But we'll go if we get the call." Kendrick replied with a nod to Domitius. He got off his horse. He knew the road ahead was long.

"He always has a plan ...."  Yolen comments  softly as she overhears Kendrick's comments.  "It won't be long now." she adds with a sideways glance at Kiera.


OOC:   We will move off tomorrow.

Once everyone is assembled, Yolen leads the mule train out of the city and the short distance to Silverton where you will rest uo for this first night.  There isn’y much here yet, but the Holy House of Pharasma and the Watchtower provide whatever hospitality they can.  Next morning it is on to Ringbridge and an overnight stay in the Symphony of Swans.  Next night you are in Outpost, where you pitch camp inside the walls of the fortification itself and the local market is just starting up as you leave the following morning.  Then it is Henry’s newly renamed town -  of Newgate, where the mules and their loads are bedded down in the newly built Serai – and as ‘honoured guests’ you are invited to dinner in the keep – although neither Henry nor Bai are there – and the meal is hosted by Henry’s new business manager – Mia diVentus.
Next day it is a short trip to Fort Sarneko, then onto Nikavta’s Crossing before rolling into DELEM’s’s new serai in Restov -  a week after you left Tusk.  Those of you who have travelled this way previously, will have noticed that the garrisons in Fort Sarenko and Nikavta’s look  to be short-handed, and even then  a number of the soldiers seem very young.  Perhaps it is just you getting old …

You are welcome to stay at the Happy Drover, where DELEM  retain  a large dormitory for  their own use.  However, there are many other places to stay in Restov.

---

Time to go about your own business – General stuff, public conversations in this thread.  Start a PM for private conversations  etc.

Restov - - http://rp.baileymail.net/doku....:brevoy:restov:start

Restov seemed to be just as busy and bustling as it had the last time she'd been there- and if she looked around, and closed her eyes- after one good drink (which was about all she had left of her skin), it was almost like when she'd first started working.

But now?  She had many things- most of them things she wouldn't have thought she'd have nowadays.  A job, a place to live.  Her own bar, for crying out loud.  Not bad for a former wandering layabout.

Taking the opportunity to slide down off her horse, she wastes no time- stretching out her muscles, she simply looks around, and grins.

"So, when are we going to end up leaving, and where should we meet if we all scatter over the town?  Just need to find a place to take my horse, then it's adventure time, I imagine."

"I was planning on staying at the Two Inn the Hand." Kendrick said as he slipped off his horse. "It's in the northern section of the city, next to the Fifth Army Restaurant. We should all enjoy a meal there one evening. How does tomorrow evening sound to everyone?"

Kendrick looked around the city for a few seconds. "What are everyone's plans? Domitius, were you planning on meeting with Sir Ledkno? I remember we discussed the idea of training horses on one or more occasion."

Safiya dismounts as well, relieved she is out of the saddle at last. After all this time she is still not much of a rider. She takes her pack from her mount, planning on just leaving the horse at the serai until it's time to go back. "I'll be staying with my family, should anyone need me. But I'll try to find the time to join you all for dinner tomorrow as well. Until then." She nods a greeting before shouldering her pack and leaving for the city.

"You can leave your horse here in the serai.  We have a paddock and some spare stalls at the moment.  Or else there is The Coeurleon Livery just outside the north gate." Yolen offers helpfully.

Percy was a late addition to the Mule Train, having belatedly received word from his partner Adoven that such a trip was most needful and desireable.  Indeed, the young noble seems to have packed for the trip at an impressive pace so that he's missing many of what he considers the essentials.

That said, Percy is no fish out of water and is familiar with the running of a caravan ... even if most of his experience to date has been in instructing others to perform the necessary tasks.  While not exactly afraid of getting his hands dirty, he is rather reluctant to do so, as is he reluctant to return to his homeland.

"This inn," he asks Kendrick hopefully, wincing as he dismounts, "is it any good ?"

Florin is more than happy to be on foot again after so many uncomfortably long days riding his mule. He gratefully accepts the opportunity leave the faithful creature safely at the serai until it is time for the trek back to Tusk City.

"Thank you, Mam. I will be at the Temple of Abadar here in Restov, or they will be able to get a message to me if I am visiting my family here in Restov at the time. If you could just send me a message when you know the time and date you plan to leave I will return with you to Tusk City," he tells Yolen.

"Thank you too, Sir Kendrick. I would be honoured to join you all tomorrow evening for supper at the Two Inn the Hand."

In reply to ~Percy Arndell (msg # 40):

"The last I was here, the Inn was quite good." Kendrick replied as he handed Mikki his pack. "As long as you have enough coin. I'm sure that Adoven won't mind if you write this off as a business expense."

Domitius had rode into town with mixed feelings, Restov was home but there was a danger to returning.  Still it would take a while for word to get around that he had come back.

He had remained on his horse as the rest of the group began to disperse "I will be staying with my family, I have organised rooms for Alisa and myself there if anyone needs us.  Kiera, Lord Kendrick should you wish to stay with us I am certain we can accomadate.  I will have much to do over our stay but I am sure we can fit dinner in tomorrow night."

He smiles at Kendrick "And yes, Sir Ledkno is one of the people I will be meeting with I will send you the details when he is free." he paused for a moment and looked around the serai. "Be careful my friend, not everyone in the city is to be trusted, there are those who may seek to hurt me through you."

"Dinner tomorrow night sounds fantastic, sure.  I'll make sure to show up.  I have a few things I'm going to end up doing, though it's not really all that important.  Mostly some shopping, a few errands for the Nectar, and just me knocking around town seeing what's going on and being me.  So... mostly doing what I usually do except in a new town and staying out of trouble except the kind that's fun to get into."

She'd just shrug and then, at Dom's offer, she just gets a look on her face for a second- and then hides it behind a smile, walking over to pat him on the shoulder.

"Dom, I appreciate it, but let's face it- am I really the kind of person you want your family to think you associate with?  Especially if you're bringing Alisa to meet them?  I mean, don't get me wrong, I like you guys- but, well... what do you think they'd think of me- constantly carrying a buzz, drinking all hours of the day, and all my other various habits?

Trust me.  Take Ali and introduce her and have some pleasant times with them- and her.  I'll find a room somewhere and shop and entertain myself, and when we get back to Tusk, things'll be normal again, yeah?

Besides, I'd end up talking more than I should, and let's face it- they don't need to hear me talk about the sheet incident the way I usually do, do they?"

She'd give him a bit of a wan smile, patting his shoulder and then stepping back to her horse to collect everything she needed.

"Think I might head to... dammit, what's the name... oh, yeah... I was thinking the Iron Gauntlet.  Figure the Two Inn the Hand might not appreciate someone bringing company home at all hours of the night and such- so I'll just go and manage- maybe hit the baths, the theater if anything's showing... maybe Red Table and watch the duels or something... but if you need me, just leave a message for me there and I'll come find you."

The young noble smiles politely at Kendrick, nodding his head in thanks for the information, but carefully not responding to the costs of the venture.  A gentleman never discusses money ... which was rather a drawback for someone who was once part of a family merchant trading concern.  Old habits die hard.

While his own family can be found in Restov, Percy has no intention of looking them up.  Like Domitius, he'd rather nobody he knows found out that he was here !

Alisa arched a brow at Kiera's response.        She said to her:

"Naturally, Domititus is the one to say what his family will or won't tolerate.   Nonetheless, Kiera, I do know his honorable, elven father is a worshiper of Calistria. You might not at all get the sort of reaction you seem to be expecting."

...there are those who may seek to hurt me through you.

Ah yes, and that would be the particular enemy he'd spoken of, she was relatively sure.   Devious, nasty characters, those.    Hopefully, Sir Kendrick would not take the warning lightly.

Domitius laughed at Alisa's response "It's true, father was a little on the wild side I think that's what mother liked about him.  Of course mother could take a liking to you and make you a "project".   How do you feel about ballgowns?" he grinned at Kiera.

"Maybe we don't mention the sheet incident though...  Especially at The Iron Gauntlet..."