The Planning Meeting is held in an empty shell of a building in the central district.  It is little more than four walls and high ceiling with the beams and rafters exposed.  It has a packed earth floor and is with a large table and simple chairs for everyone.  Henry stands at the head of the table, alongside a tall massively build man with a bald head.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:01, Sat 30 June 2018.

”Thank you all for coming along.  First I would like to introduce you to Ethankos,” Henry says indicating the man standing next to him.  ”He is a Free Priest of Pharasma, with no toes to any particular church or house, dedicated to the Lady of Graves' service.  And he come to offer his assistance to us.  Welcome Ethankos.”

He waits for a moment or two before he continues.  ”All three groups have returned successful.  Pipre managed to map a good part of the Narlmarch, and discovered a nest of unrepentant Kobolds who attacked and killed a group of Gnome adventurers.  Sorely tested, she was unable to best them.  Andalon has been exploring the lake.  For those of you who missed the action, they brought back a giant turtle, the meat was cooked up to feed the whole town and the shell taken away to be made into shields by Ron Swansov.  If any of you are in need of a good shield, I would advise you go to see him quickly.  Since then they have discovered an old woman living alone in the swamps, and a hot mud-pool guarded by a living plant.  They tell me that they only escaped death by the skin of their teeth.  Cyrus lead his team into the hills to the west.  It is an uncivilised land and the have seen, and fought, all sorts on mostrocities.  Most recently an evil knight risen from the dead, inside his burial mound.”  He pauses to take a sip from a mug of ale in front of him at the table.

”Cyrus has informed me that he, and his squire Zauria, intends to stay at Ringbridge for the next little while.  The village was attacked by a werewolf, and only saved because a group of new recruits, travelling through in a caravan, fought the creature and destroyed it.  Ethankos has asked my permission to lead the next group into those hills and I have granted it.

We have a number of other retirements as well.  Jicca Mak heard tales of a beautiful Metal Bird, and has chosen to go and search for that.  Zorah has finally decided to settle down and build her ranch, once she has finished her work out at Hunter’s Rest.  She will settle near the new outpost we built.  Tansy, Lex and Ron have all decided to concentrate on their business interests.  And Vik is also settling down, she is ‘with child’ and needs to have a somewhat quieter life at the moment.  Congratulations Vik.   You child will be the first of our new generation of leaders. He, or She, will grow up in our new land, already we bear fruit!” He says looking around the room happily.

"However, we have managed to recruit some new people to help up.  Four of them bested the werewolf in Ringbridge, while the others have only recently arrived.  They will join up with you, when next you leave on an expedition.  However, there are more settlers who need guidance and assistance -  so we need to dedicate some time to that, before we continue our quest to explore and tame this land.

But to finish, I have a personal announcement to make.  Bai and I have decided to marry, so that we, too, may add to the generation that will secure our legacy in this land.  And, I have decided that Rikka will be adopted into the leMaistre family as one of my noble cousins.  She has served me loyally over the years, and this is the time for her reward.   Brother Andalon, will you prepare the proper papers for both ceremonies -  nothing anywhere near as lavish as the service held got Cyrus and Val.  Something more practical, as befitting for a wedding in a frontier town.  We will celebrate both here in this very hall, after the ceremonies, and we will encourage the townsmen and villagers to join in , in their own way, to celebrate the next stage of or quest.  I have already ordered extra kegs of ale and wine, to get the party started.

But for now join me in a toast to the ladies who will join my family.  Bai and Rikka.” He calls loudly as he raises his own glass in salute.

---

Time to chat amongst yourselves, corner Henry, strike deals, sell unwanted magic to each other - and drink the toast :)

Cass had settled in and was wondering if the evening would be a bureaucratic nightmare full of reports and paperwork, or if some interesting things had been going on while he was away.

Cass was kind of sorry to hear of the retirements, though he wished them all well and the fulfillment of their dreams. He was quite interested to see what the new arrivals would bring to the table. Cass had expected that things would change over the course of time as Midmarch grew, but he had not expected it to happen so rapidly.

The news that Cyrus and Zauria would be retiring from the field for some time to focus on Ringbridge was also a disappointment, and he was not sure how their little company would fare under leadership of a priest. That Ringbridge be priority regarding defense and expansion was logical, but the news of the upcoming heir sealed the deal.

On top of all that, Henry and Bai had announced their own upcoming wedding. "Oh, those two duffers. They didn't have anyone fooled for a moment." Cass whispered to himself with a grin.

So much for a raucous tavern named The Governor's Mistress. Now he might have to open a proper tea house called The Governess instead. Cass was excited by all the new possibilities.

He grabbed a drink as quickly as possible and bounced to his feet to join in the toast. "Long live leMaistre! Long live Lebeda-Ondari! Long live Midmarch!"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:55, Sun 01 July 2018.

Andalon raised his glass with everyone else to echo Henry's toast.

"To Bai and Rikka!"

Then he moved among the crowd greeting old friends, congratulating Vik on her good news, and introducing himself and Brother Florin to the new arrivals, especially the new priest Ethankos. (Andalon is a cleric of Abadar and currently holds the position of chancellor on the Tusk Town Council. Brother Florin is his acolyte and looks after the Chapel of Abadar that they have built in Tusk Town while Andalon is away on missions for Henry.)

Eventually he catches up with Henry, too.

"Congratulations, Henry. You and Bai seem perfect for each other, so I am honoured to be able to officiate at your wedding. Brother Florin and I will need to talk to you and Bai about the details of the marriage contract and your adoption of Rikka into the leMaistre family, then we can draw up the papers. I trust you will make the arrangements regarding wedding rings for you and Bai, if you have not already done so. Ah, it will be a wonderful occasion and everyone will want to celebrate it with you. I am looking forward to it already!"

Mariam smiled, toasting the happy new couple silently and observing the crowd. The adventure had been emotionally draining but she wouldn't have changed it for the world. She was sad to see Tansy go, she had liked the brawler.

Pipre raises her bottle at the appropriate times and cheers with the others. She keeps her hiccuping to a minimum.

After the announcements and the toast, she passes behind Andalon in a lull of conversation with Henry. "Rattle caps, huh? If you didn't get them, I suggest bringing a bunch of meat. A bunch. Don't you hurt that Old Beldame, either, and when you see her again send her my love, okay? And don't listen to any embarrassing stories she might tell you."

Andalon turned to Pipre in surprise.

"The swamp witch? You know her as the Old Beldame? Well, that is good news. After the trouble we had going for black rattlecaps at that bog we were beginning to think she had sent us into a trap deliberately. What can you tell us about her? Is she someone we should cultivate as an ally for Midmarch or should we just leave her alone. Or would she have anything useful enough to warrant trying to trade with her in future?" he asked.

"Do you know anything about those rattlecap mushrooms and what they can be used for? Perhaps someone like Zorah or another druid could try to grow more from the one we did manage to get."

Adoven joins the conversation. "The creature that defended the patch of mushrooms looked to be plant-like in nature. It moved by unknown means...I didn't see any feet on the thing. It had two long tentacle-like arms that it used to grab me and tried to stuff me in its maw. Fortunately I was able to Grease myself and slip out of its clutches." Adoven goes on the describe the creature to Pipre.


After telling of the creature, he asks Pipre "do you know what it was we faced? How do you kill or otherwise stop it?"

El had listened to the announcement with a rather expressionless gaze, and while it could be said it was due to lack interest, or the impossibility of knowing much of the gathering present, there was something more to the long gaze the woman held from the news. She gave a sideways glance to Quinn, but the expression didn't falter in the slightest. There was no doubt a bit of understanding in his own eye.

Once the meetings were over, and people were free to disperse, she cracked her neck and sniffed in a matter most unbefitting a woman of her history. "You should speak with one of the council's in town and seek their favor for your shop," she responded, uncharacteristically wise of her and considered, "You might obtain approval with everyone's spirits so high." El knew nothing of business, to be sure, but she knew good parties were places people relaxed and enjoyed. Her own history was laden with such deals.

"I'm going to find a drink,." She remarked, placing a hand to his shoulder briefly before letting it trail away.

Out from a darkened shadow came a familiar sight for some, and what might be an alarming sight to others. A darkened figure in elegant, yet simple armor, with a Dark wood bow at her back and somewhat of a mischievous smile. The Drow woman made her presence known in an uncharacteristic way by winding through the crowd of people to find the straight path to Henry and present herself with a gloved hand crossed over her chest. "My lord," She said with a slight bow of her head, "My dear friend," she nodded towards Bai with a smile upon her face. "I offer my congratulations. I am only too glad I chose this time to return with news so that I might offer it in person."

Aris again nodded her head, gazing uncharacteristically out over the crowd and spotting some familiar faces among the crowd. "Quite the gathering of celebration, I will have to stay and speak with some old friends while I am here." she responded, turning back and offering Henry a small letter. "Just a small account of what takes place elsewhere, a quiet update of little change in our current area of the wood. Peace, it seems, lingers for the moment in some parts of the world. The cleric sends his regards."