Leading a trail of pack mules, the Lumberjacks explore the forest west of the Rio Grande. The woods they encounter are not a dense as what is found in the Yucatan but still thicker than most of them are accustomed to seeing in places like Lone Star. A mixture of indigenous and alien flora coexist to form an exotic landscape here. Animals like jaguars and foxes brazenly watch the caravan pass. Trails crisscross and meander through the region, but the directions from the villagers keep the Lumberjacks and their steeds on a direct course due west.

Before dark, they arrive at a place which sticks out from the rest of the terrain like a sore thumb. A bluff about three feet or one meter tall and circular sits in contrast to the flat ground all around it. Over the bluff, a gentle hill covered with a tall grass rises up above the woodlands. At the crest of the hill, a tall stone tower sits. The tower is too small to house any town itself, more like a lighthouse or a silo in size. An unseen figure from within the tower shouts in an unfamiliar language. The voice is male and brash.

The current time is a couple of hours until sundown.

 In Elvish and then Spanish Arulas asks "Do you understand me?" he waits for a response and looks at his companions and says "I don't think they are from Chi-Town."

Doc sits idly by, waiting for the communicators to do just that. Communicating wasn't his thing, shooting was, and this wasn't the time for that.

Polkitain as a donkey walks along carrying some of the heavy equipment for the team.
His ears twitch as he hears the person talking.

Riding at the head of the packtrain beside Sir Arulas, Nyx let the wind catch his fine black hair as he sat up a little straighter. He smiled, though it was a thin line that belayed amusement and anticipation, perhaps at the lightly laden donkey with the axe that had become the Lumberjacks symbol strapped to it. Despite his ambivalence about the world, Polk's innocent explorations and raw draconic power recalled the tales his own kin had told him before they came to this Earth. He smiled, and sent out a questing though

OOC: Activating the power of Sense Evil

Calista repeats Arulas' words in Euro.

After the question has been posed in three languages, a pause of several awkward seconds fills the air. Then the voice responds in Spanish, "Aye, I speak the Human Tongue, and I do so a good deal better than you do. Our clergy speaks the Dragon Tongue also, but I not clergy. My trade is to tell you to go away, vagabonds. You were not invited to Harl Hall. If you would like shelter for the night, you may stand underneath my window and prove your mortality as I spit upon you -- then you may leave uninvited still. Whatever you sell, we are not buying. Get drained, elves!"

Kalista was undeterred, and she spoke Spanish, "While I keep company with Elves, I am not one myself. Neither are we vagabonds, we are the Lumberjacks. I am Lady Kalista Nugendare Hawthorne, Cyberknight of the order of Lord Coke. We bare you no ill will. Neither do we seek shelter, we can provide it for ourselves. We do seek information, and if you are willing we can give in kind. If you do not wish us in your hall but still wish to speak send a representative whom we will gladly speak with."

Ethan hadn’t enjoyed the long slow mule ride to their destination though not because the pack animals were naturally slow and not exactly pleasant to ride. His dislike had more to do with the amount of time the slow moving pack train gave him to reflect on his missing friend. The combat medic wasn’t on the verge of depression or anything so clinically debilitating. Ethan was just mindful of Samuel’s absence.

When the Lumberjacks did finally reach the “Hollow Hill” it came as a relief as he now had something to focus on instead of his missing friend. He didn’t understand the words that the unseen speaker in the tower was shouting but he understood their meaning all the same. Ethan had discovered that one of the true universal constants was “Go Away!”. No matter language he had heard that sentiment, somehow the message came across despite not knowing the exact words.

Fortunately the mystery speaker seemed to know at least one human language and even better, it was one his wife spoke. He knew enough to identify that it was Spanish but his command of the language was limited those words and phrases traditionally important to soldiers; Necesito Cerveza y Senoritas. Other than “y”, Kalista had said none of the words he knew. From the sound of her though, she was trying to be diplomatic or at least it didn’t seem like she was threatening to storm the tower and cut them into pieces at any rate.

Doc arched an eyebrow at the mention of spitting on him, "Reckon I'd have to kill 'im if he did." he said quietly to his brother.

  Arulas sighs "Spanish it is then. Listen I understand that spitting on people where you come from might be ok, but here it isn't. As for having issues with elves get in line. I am a cyber-knight first. I just happen to be an elf. Now we want one thing and need another. Who do you have a bigger issue with Elves or Vampires?" he asks quite frankly.

Nyx nodded to his sibling, "Might choose to, regardless"

Doc nodded, a quick grin on his face.

A hidden door in the wall of the cobblestone tower opens inwardly. A male figure emerges from the deep shadows within the tower. This shirtless man stands less than five feet tall but at least three feet broad at his shoulders. His nose is large, crooked, and looks to have been broken more than once. His beard is dark and curly. He holds no weapons, but he has a heavy-looking metal chain with weights wrapped around his waist. His arms and chest are covered in tattoos and scars.

The man is followed by a woman of equal height. Whereas he wore little besides a pair of slacks, she looked overdressed for the climate. She wore a long hooded robe of embroidered fabric in a scale-looking pattern. She also holds no weapons. She has an elaborate bracer over her left

The man speaks with the same voice that greeted the Lumberjacks already. He says (in Spanish again), "We have no desire for any information you are selling. The lady decided to meet you merely because you speak the words of Wyrms, and it is her custom to greet visitors who do such."

The woman is only slightly more cordial. She speaks Elven-Dragonese with a purposeful growl and deepness which definitely favors the Dragonese side. "I am one of the priestesses of this colony. Tell me what information you came to learn from us. I will tell you what I know so that you may leave quickly."

Any character with Lore: D-bees can correctly guess what the players have probably already figured out about these people. Elven characters get a +10% bonus to that skill roll. Characters with Lore: Religion can make an educated guess as to the faith of the priestess, but a -10% penalty to the roll applies here. If you are not rolling either of those skills, I will let you roll the Recognize Weapon Quality skill to identify their armaments. If your character has none of those skills, you are pretty much stuck with no insight until someone in the know shares.

Sitting taller astride his stallion, Nyx narrowed his eyes as the two figures emerged, studying them. His lips curled upwards in a sneer, though he said nothing

09:21, Today: Nyx rolled 49 using 1d100.  Recognize Weapon Quality, 55%.

Doc gives both figures a polite nod, then shrugs and glances at his brother.

08:34, Today: Doc rolled 65 using 1d100.  reco weapon quality.

  Arulas looks at the priestess and at Kalista. Then sighs again and says "Listen your people may hate mine, but Vampires could care less. We believe you either know or saw something that will help us in our quest to find and put to final rest a very nasty one indeed." he pauses trying to remember the name "Ah yes Severance the Orc. He was a gunfighter of some skill I am told prior to his transformation. He is at least a secondary type meaning he is more skilled and less feral. I tend to think he is actually a Master type, but that remains to be seen." all that can be in Elvish is in Elvish.

Rolled a 21 on Recognize Weapon Quality needed a 40.

Lore D-Bee 47
09:49, Today: Polkitain rolled 76 using 1d100 ((76)).
Failed.


Hearing Dragonese Polkitain perks up.

"Hello. The civilized tongue."

Ethan was able to refrain from letting out a sigh as he listened to the exchange between the short woman and his companions. He had no idea what was being spoken now but it seemed like everyone else knew it. "Maybe we will run into someone that speaks Chinese," he thought. "Then it will be my turn to show off my language skills while they stand around and watch."

Kalista realized her husband could not understand and so began quietly translating the conversation for him.

Ethan leaned in closer to his wife so that she would be able to keep her voice as low as possible. The fact that she knew what was being said was just one more thing he could add to the list of things he found amazing about her.

Thanks to her linguistic effort, he was able to get the gist of what was going on. "Maybe tell her I am a doctor," he whispered in American English to Kalista. "Offer my services even if they don't want to give us anything in return. They just might decide to reciprocate on their own."

Ethan thought about having Kalista inform the short woman that he was likely familiar with the technology of their bunker but decided to hold back. "They might take it as a subtle threat, rather than an offer of help," he thought.

Kalista nodded and spoke up in Draongese, "Madam my husband," indicating Ethan, "Is a physician. He has offered to diagnose and treat any illnesses you might have among you. He asks for nothing in return."

Polk trotted up closer to the woman.

Private lines sent...



Polkitain's comment is answered only by a chuckle by the female and a raised eyebrow by the male. When he approaches the female dwarf, she ignores him.

The female priestess answers Arulas (in Elven-Dragonese). "We know of your orc. His band has tested our defenses more than once, and he found no weakness to exploit. I know not where he is now."

When the offer of medical attention is made from Ethan and Kalista, the male rolls his eyes, but the female accepts. "We rely upon herbalists and psychic healers here. Our methods are labor-intensive compared to your technology, but it serves us well. One of our ladies is in labor now. Assistance would be welcome. Your healer and one other may enter our domain, unarmed. The others and the animals may wait with Geraldo in the guard tower and the matter of this orc whom you pursue."

Under the assumption that they understand as little American as they profess, Nyx muttered to Arulas, "Ain't getting close to no pint-sized sprogging, but I would appreciate someone making observations about those rune bracers and whatever material they're making things from. Tower suits me fine"

Doc nodded, "Tower it is then."

"There used to be a day and age when people were surprised at talking Donkeys."
Polk rejoins his gunslinger friends.

  "Kalista go with Ethan. The rest of us will stay and discuss things with Geraldo." he says in American. "I hope this isn't a trap." he mutters in Lyn-Syral. And in Elvish he says to Geraldo "Lead the way good sir. Lead the way."

Kalista nodded and handed over her weapons to her former pupil.

Ethan listened to the words of the Dwarf priestess, as translated and relayed through his wife, and gave the small woman a bow. He didn’t know whether or not the gesture of courtesy meant the same thing in their culture but he figured it wasn’t likely to do any irreparable harm to the rapport they were trying to establish.

When he had straightened from his bow, he handed over his rifle, pistol, silver knife and vibro-knife to Sir Arulas. Then he took his field bag off his back and set it on the ground. He opened it, revealing the insides to be filled with bandages or various sizes and shapes, rolls of tape, syringes, bags of saline…all standard items in field medics “A Pack”. In truth he hardly needed all of it since coming through the rift that had sent him centuries into the future but he carried around nonetheless. For one thing, he didn’t want to become reliant on those mysterious powers. For two, he figured keeping his abilities a secret from those that might not take kindly to them, like the Coalition States, wasn’t a bad idea.

After giving the priestess and her gruff companion enough time to see that nothing out of the ordinary was in his field bag, he closed it up and slung it over his shoulders again. Then he looked at his wife and smiled, “Ready to have a baby?” he asked her, grinning.

Kalista nodded, "Yes, ready."

Polk looks to Doc, "Can't we stay out here and play cards instead of going in a tower ?"

Doc shrugged and looked at Nyx, "Whatcha think brother?"

Continuing to speak in American, Nyx shrugged, "Stay and play with Polk. Just be careful, he's a hustler. Don't let the hooves fool you..."

Grimacing he added, "I need to speak to the stunty about his chain. It could be important"

Doc nodded, "Keep your eyes peeled brother, call if you need me." Turning to Polk, "Who's deal is it?"

"You can deal and is being a hustler a good thing ?"

Doc laughed, and began looking for his playing cards, "If you're good at it, yeah. But if you ain't... it can get you shot. Not that you have to worry about that much Polk."

Polk asks,"Do you have a spare poncho ? As I understand it hands are needed for this game."

The Split Party, Part 1

Polkitain gains a new skill, Gambling. Doc gets a bonus of 250 XP for teaching the skill.

Kalista and Ethan follow the priestess into the dim interior. A long slanting corridor brings them deeper. The passage is narrow and protected by a series of armored doors, each individually guarded. Simplistic electric lights hum overhead.

The passage opens into a a huge chamber carved out of the earth. Streets and short homes inside the space are constructed from cobblestone. Carved statues of dragons are everywhere. Dragon-snapped gargoyles over doorways are particularly common.

Ethan will recognise the influence of Spanish culture. Dwarf children kick a football through the streets. The sound of stringed music carries through the cavern, playing a tune not much unlike mariachi music.

Kalista will recognize the religious iconography. She has seen this before in places like Tolkeen. These dwarves are a part of the Church of Dragonright, and they worship the dragon gods of the world were Arulas' parents were born.

Ethan went into the bunker having an idea of what to expect and for the first part of the journey, his expectations were met. The bunker, with its armored doors and completely metal corridors, could have been something from his time. Then again it could have also been built using Post-Rifts technology but it seemed unlikely that any of the nation-states of the modern era with the resources to build this would do so and then abandon it. Other than informing them of his suspicions of who built the bunker and how old it is, he doubted he could tell them anything more about it.

Then their guide lead them into the deepest part of the bunker yet and everything changed. Gone were the metal corridors and electric lights. In their place was earth and stone streets and house, sized for dwarves. "Wow," he thought to himself looking around, "they really like dragons and gargoyles. I wonder what they would think if they knew what Polk really is?"

The combat medic watched as dwarven children kicked a soccer ball around as the fast, lively, music played. To his ears it certainly sounded like mariachi music, complete with horns and the occasional "Ai ai ai!" from one of the dwarven musicians. It was yet another surreal moment in his life here on Earth during the time of the Rifts.

He knew the priestess couldn't understand him but he spoke anyways, trusting in his wife to translate. "Your community is beautiful and lively," he says, meaning. it. "Thank you for allowing us to see it."

Arulas and Nyx get a chance to climb out of their saddles and relax somewhat inside the guard tower -- as much as either can relax in strange and dangerous territory. The interior of the cobblestone tower is both rustic and militaristic in its simplicity. There are cots (dwarf sized mostly), stool, and a small table here. There is also bread, cheese, and some sort of meed that is offered in dirty mugs.

Geraldo the Dwarf continues to act gruff, but he does open up quite a lot after he was asked about his chain. He seems proud. He explains that the chain is a weapon intended for capturing as much as for inflicting harm. The weights are coated in silver, but the rest of the chain is forged from a metal called kilsinite. The steel-like metal originated from meteorites which fell on the Dwarve's homeworld. No supplies have been found in this world, so the settlement's smiths frequently melt down their supply of kilsinite and reforge it into new items which are the most needed or desired at the moment. Geraldo requested the chain only a couple of years back when it became his turn to serve a tour of duty as a first guardian.

Geraldo will answer any question posed to him directly, but he will not volunteer any information not asked.

"What of your world, Master Geraldo?", asked Nyx, seeing in it echoes of his own parent's home, "Is it your whole clan who came here? How?"

"And what is a First Guardian?", he added as he sipped on the mead carefully

Kalista indeed translated for Ethan. She held her teeth together on her views of dragon worship.

Polk was a quick study, Doc liked that.. with his abilities, they could make some real money. "Polk, you me and Nyx are gonna make a fortune hustlin' people... with your abilities and our skills... yeah."

OOC cool!

"Really you think so I would love to help. Maybe I could be a cat and watch other peoples cards for you." Some of that uncertainty or morals of a young dragon came through.

Polkitain becomes a cat with big innocent looking eyes.

Doc just laughed, "When we get to a town, me you and Nyx can talk about it. Might do to have you just sit in the bar somewhere and look around. Nothing out of the ordinary, see. Strange things draw attention. Drawing attention is bad, most of the time, when you're hustlin' folks."

"Ok, just let me know." Polkitain licks one paw then makes a face spitting out some sand.

"Stupid sand.  So what do you think they are up to in there ? Humans should just lay eggs, it is easier that way then live birth."

"Polk, I have no doubt that they're talking about something that doesn't matter a lick when it comes to us killin' vampires. But I could be wrong, talkin' ain't my thing. I prefer doing." he laughs when Polk mentions people laying eggs. "Ain't no saw bones, Polk, but I think, in a way people do lay eggs. Just inside, grows to a baby then they birth it. Have to ask Ethan... he's a doc, I think."

"Hmmm interesting, maybe I will ask him. It just seems like it would be inconvenient carrying an egg inside you. Oh I was thinking you would teach me how to shoot maybe but then the gunfire might make these people nervous."

Changing from a cat back to a human form.

"Now that I know cards, maybe I can join you and your brother when you play." Polkitain smiled.

Doc nodded, "You're learnin' cards, kid, learnin'... takes a while to know cards. And yeah, I'll teach you, Nyx can help. But this ain't the time or place for it."

"Those Vampires were stronger then they look. I mean they looked human but feeling their claws they sure weren't.  Why would someone even want to be one of those things ?"

"Don't worry I will do my best to learn cards better, maybe I could play with people just learning cards too. Are there kiddy tables for gambling ?"

Doc sighed, lighting up a cigarette, "Folks is complicated kid. Some people want the power that comes with being a vampire, immortal, unless we kill em. And all them vampires may not want to be vampires. Some are just turned to turn em." a chuckle escaped his mouth, "Nah, no kiddie tables, we will teach you. Practice games. Don't worry."

Polk nods, "Your so knowledgeable about people. I am glad your my friend Doc."

Doc smiled, not his typical grin, a real smile. "Still learnin' Polk, folks is complicated. But me and Nyx, the others too, we'll do our best to take care of you."

  "Hmmm...you say that this ore is rare. Have you tried making it synthetically as an alloy of two other metals? Just curious more than anything. If you have a way to test for it we can keep an eye out for some as we travel. It wouldn't cost you or your people anything except an occasional item or two as a finder's fee. So to speak. More likely not even that often. We just want to help people survive in the Vampire infested areas. If we can build strong communities than there is less chance to be raided at least in theory." the Cyber-knoght says soberly. "As far as this leech we are chasing which way did he go and do you have any idea how many were with him."

Kalista and Ethan
In the underground settlement of Harl Hall, the priestess nods in a graceful acceptance of Ethan's complement (after it was translated by Kalista).

The priestess leads them to a small cobblestone stone building. The stone walls muffle noise inside quite well, but the two Lumberjacks can still hear cries of pain inside. After ducking through a dwarf-sized doorway, their nostrals are assaulted by the scents of herbs. A hundred or more clay jars of herbs and powders cover ever wall on stone shelves. On a stone bed, a dwarven woman is experiencing a difficult labor. The herbalist, a completely bald Dwarf (man? maybe), looks at the strangers as they enter with clear skepticism. The herbalist says, "This healing house is a sterile building, and I am busy. If you are not well, you will have to wait outside."

Ethan could diagnose and treat the patient with a single skill roll if he likes. Kalista could roll a d20 to make a perception check if she wants.

Everybody Else
In the watchtower over Harl Hall (a.k.a. the Hollow Hill), the guys are killing time with meed and card games.

The guard Geraldo laughs at Arulas' suggestion. "Make more of our precious kilsinite? Out of what? I wouldn't know where to begin. I suppose that it is possible you might find more of the metal in your journeys, and you would be able to barter quite a finder's fee if you did. Recognizing it isn't difficult if one knows his metallurgies. I suppose that elves and men would know different types of wood and dirt by sight, but metallurgy is almost instinctual to a civilized Dwarf. Kilsinite is attracted to lodestones like iron but a poorer conductor of charges. It sounds like silver when you drop it on a stone floor. Here is a piece. Feel it's touch. Get to know it's weight and it's shine." Geraldo hands him a coin. "This piece is a loan, Sir Elf. The meed is the gift."

Speaking of meed, the dwarven brew is deliciously sweet but surprisingly strong. Is anyone getting tipsy?

Two more guards emerge from the underground. They are here to join Geraldo for the upcoming night watch.

Geraldo answers the question about Severance the Orc. "That chupacabra passed by this tower a week ago. He rode the trail with four others, all on robotic horses. They didn't even bother to turn their heads and look at us, the arrogant monsters. They knew that we wouldn't come out, and they knew that they couldn't break in. They rode west along the old road towards the vampire kingdoms."

One of the new guards comments that some wolves ran past the tower just the previous night. They were chasing a panther.

"Go fish ! Oh wait no I mean hit me." Tail wags happily.

05:51, Today: Kalista rolled 3 using 1d20. Perception.

Kalista stood behind her husband...oblivious.

"The wolves are now sleeping forever if they were the same ones we fought just yesterday. As far as the metal I would only borrow it long enough to find some more and keep a small portion to test other finds against." he says as he takes the coin. "I seek only to help those who need it. Your people obviously need this metal for your defense. So if I can help I will." he says after a sip or two of the mead.

He drinks enough to be polite, but not enough to get tipsy. A minor buzz maybe at most.

Ethan holds up his gloved hands in a calming motion. “I am uninfected by any illness I assure you,” he says to the bald dwarven herbalist. He then quickly set down his field pack and unzipped it, revealing it to be a well stocked medical kit. The NEMA Field Medic takes off his armored gloves and removes a pair of non-latex gloves from one of the small pouches in the kit. He puts them on with practiced ease. Next is a surgical mask, which he slips over his head, covering his nose and mouth. Finally he selects a thermometer and stethoscope and turns to the dwarf.

“If I may doctor,” he says, not knowing the dwarf’s preferred title but deciding that being called ‘doctor’ couldn’t be too insulting regardless of culture. He then approaches and observes the woman’s breathing and amount of sweat she was generating. He uses the thermometer, running it across the woman’s forehead for a reading. Then he listens to her heart as well as the sounds of the child moving within her. His movements are quick and sure, despite having never worked on a Dwarf before, much less a pregnant one. “The breath the same air as us, eat the same food and definitely seem to be mammals. Their biology can’t be that far off of ours right?” he thought to himself.

"Sleeping?!" laughed Nyx, taking a bolder sip of the mead, "They're ash upon the wind, Sir Arulas. Staked and burned, sent back to the night"

Planning to become a bit drunk

Kalista & Ethan

Ethan's hope about the similarities of dwarf and human anatomy turns out to be truth. He diagnoses that various reasons why this birth is difficult. Without a doubt, he needs to perform an emergency c-section. Within half an hour, the proceedure is complete. Mother and child are both doing well. Another half hour later, the mother is almost entirely recovered. The doctor concludes that dwarven women might have considerably stronger constitutions than he traditional patients.

Meanwhile Kalista bumps her head on a low hanging ceiling beam in the stout dwarven building.

Yes, Ethan did roll that well and Kalista that badly.

Doc laughs at his brothers correction of Arulas' comments, and will drink with his brother.

OOC can't let Nyx out do me.

Kalista made a face at the low beam, but ducked under the rest.

Ethan was excited and happy. He had never delivered a non-human baby before. He watched the new mother cradle the infant to her breast, a smile underneath his surgical mask. A part of his mind was making mental notes on the similarities between his race and that of Dwarves but that was more sub-conscious reaction than actual effort on his part. No, he was just enjoying seeing the tender moment, especially knowing that he had helped to bring it about. He looked at his wife, wondering what her thoughts were of this scene before turning away, stripping off his gloves in the careful manner he had learned long ago, that kept all blood away from touching anything. He disposed of them in a plastic bag taken from his kit, along with his mask. When he had secured the bio-hazard trash, he looked at the priestess. “Mother and baby should be just fine from this point. Thank you for letting me assist,” he said humbly.

OOC – I’m thinking was too busy delivering a baby to notice Kalista hitting her head.

Looks up from cards realizing Doc is gone.

Polk starts the search for Doc.

Arulas, Doc, Polkatain, and Nyx

"What of your world, Master Geraldo?", asked Nyx, seeing in it echoes of his own parent's home, "Is it your whole clan who came here? How?"

"And what is a First Guardian?", he added as he sipped on the mead carefully

The Dwarf, after taking enough ale to loosen his tongue, answers more questions. "My parents did come from another world, but it had no name. It had no name before I was born but they lived in a geographic region widely called the Old Kingdoms. That is what we have taken to call our old world as a whole when we do speak of it. It was a troubled world, still recovering from terrible war hundreds of generations ago, but our home in the Old Kingdom was safe and comfortable under sturdy bedrock. That home was a small mining colony far away from any army or king. The colony had only recently converted to new religion when a rift found us. One bitter cold solstice, the entire colony and a good portion of the stone surrounding it was carved out and swapped places with a slice of dirt from this world. Peace was made with the natives of the New Kingdom; we adopted their language and they took on our faith. Our parents endured the change and maintained our home in this new world, our New Kingdom."

"First guardian simply means that I am responsible for watching the tower during the first shift. If something were to happen, the other guardians would listen to me for instructions. I've not often had to use my chain here, but it is an important responsibility. All able bodied civilians take their term serving as a guardian for one year every few years."

"Here come the other guardians now." Two more guards emerge from the underground. They are somewhat more armored than Geraldo and armed with spears. They merely nod acknowledgement of the Lumberjacks' presence and pour themselves some ale.

The elves have enough drinking experience that they know when to stop themselves before they get stinking drunk. The sun is getting low. Kalista and Ethan have been gone for a long time now. Polkatain is easily able to sniff out Doc's location (maybe he was outside answering the call of nature).

Kalista and Ethan

The priestess smiles for the first time. "We appreciate what you have done, physician. It was a blessing that your group came here when you did. The sun drops low outside, however. You two and your people are welcome to spend the night in our guard tower. Humans do not find the stone comfortable, but it is sturdy and secure, better than sleeping in the jungle. I will send up warm meals and furs for sleeping. You may both explore Harl Hall if you wish provided that you submit to a guard escort."

"Doc ! uhmmm oh your busy." Polk walks away giving Doc his space.

Doc laughed, "Nah, I'm good. Just needed some air. What's up Polky?"

Polk looked to Doc, "What do you think of our new short friends ? I think I have heard of this Old Kingdom while I was in my shell."

Kalista shrugged but knew it was the real reason they had come. "I'd like to look around." She remarked in a thoughtful way.

Doc nodded, "They are just tryin' to live like everyone else. Dwarves ain't my kinda folks, but they're not vampires. So they're ok in my book. Keep it to yourself Polk, the Old Kingdom is on the planet where Nyx and I come from. I dn't know what would cause a whole settlement to get pulled here... but it cain't be anything good."

Polk nods.

"Ok I will keep a poker face."

Inside, with the Guardian explaining themself,  Nyx chuckled, “We May have come from the same place, Dwarf. Our people were pulled here much the same as you. Well, taller perhaps”

  "This is true. The brothers and I were all kids when the Rift brought us here. Maybe we were all brought here for a reason First Guardian. Maybe...." he trails off as if a stray thought was waiting to happen. As if all he could do to not voice some errant thought was trail off.

Doc nodded and grinned, "Learnin' to talk proper you are Polk, proud of you. Let's go make sure my good for nothin' brother and that do gooder knight friend of ours aren't dead or drunk."

Ethan nodded in agreement with Kalista. "I'd love to look around too," he said to the priestess. "And any guide you care to send us would be a great help. I bet its easy to get lost down here and with a guide we could ask them our questions as they came up."

"Sounds good. Hope they let us in." Polk smiled at the compliment.

Most people would confused e it though but Doc know Polk well enough to know it was a smile.

Polk followed Doc.

Guard Tower
Geraldo stares skeptically at Nyx. "I am the perfect height for my feet to reach the ground beneath me, no more and no less. The great gods should pity elves and trim them at neck height." He ignores the speculation by Arulas altogether.

One of the newer guards picks up the conversation. "I suppose it's not impossible that you strangers came from the kingdoms. I heard talk of Shifters who claimed to have been there, but no Shifter has been to these parts in at least a hundred years."

The final guard offers a small bag with a strong odor. He hands it to Doc as soon as Doc reenters the door. "This is for your animals, Senor. It is garlic and peppers in a special recipe. Rub it on your burros. It will not protect them from the goatsucking vampires, but it will keep away the jaguars."

The guards eyes Polkatain suspiciously when he returns from outside. "I heard mention before I came up that someone was traveling with a talking burro. We have nothing against your burros, senors, but in our experience, mutants are often not to be trusted. Is this your talking burro?"

Harl Hall
The priestess finds a young acolyte to guide the couple around the community. The space is small, no wider than the human village at the river. It is, however, using it's space more efficiently and housing more being comfortably. Everywhere they look, they see examples of Mexican culture which has been copied by the Dwarves. Even the dragon statues have a Meso-American looking aspect to them. The central Dragonwright Temple is shaped more like a Mayan step pyramid in miniature than anything native to the Old Kingdom. The community seems to be living a peaceful if poor life down here. The Dwarves here mostly ignore the two visitors as they go about their chores or parties.

Kalista might feel vaguely as if some minor detail should bother her, but she cannot put her finger on it.

The newlyweds are returned to their companions topside to spend the remainder of the night. Fresh breads (made somehow from mushrooms) and salsa are sent with them.

Unless you guys start something, the night passes uneventfully.

Doc laughs and does as instructed, hanging the bag around Polk's neck.

"Burro ?" looks behind him and around then sees his hoofed feet.

"Hey I am a rather nice burro." Polk makes a said burro sound.

Nyx's tempter flared a little at the veiled threat from Geraldo, but said nothing: the speaker was a dwarf, after all. He smiled at Polk's antics, a part of him jealous at the easy rapport his brother had established with the hatchling. Deflecting it he turned to Arulas, "What purpose do you suspect? You know I struggle with your ... mysticism"

 "Worse things out there cousin than my mysticism and we both know that. As for the purpose I was speaking about I don't know. I just think it odd that two groups of D-Bees be from the same area of a world and need help that only the other group can give. Seems odd is all." he shakes his head as he talks.

"I can protect the other burros and animals even goats. Never heard of a vampire goat sucker. Though animals get nervous around me."

Kalista gave Ethan an odd look. "Weren't we suppose to be doing something?"

Nyx nodded to Arulas, conceding the point but then turned to the hatchling

"Worse kind of leech, Polk", he offered, "You think a regular human-sucking vampire is bad. Wait till you see one that's been forced to live off burro. Crankiest bastards I ever saw"

"Really, what are they like ? Do they look the same as the others ?"

Polk's eyes widened a bit as he listened to Nyx.

"Oh, they're much much hairer, Polk", continued the psi-slinger, stifling a grin, "Hell, I've seen one who had started to become cursed with buck teeth too"

Leaning forward and glancing at the others, dwarf and elf and hatchling alike, he added in a hushed tone, "When you stake them, the braying screams are the absolute worst. True fact"

Uhmn, Well I will still defend my fellow burros, brotherhood of the cute hoofed mammals and all that." Polk tries to puff himself up with bravado but is clearly shaken by Nyx revelation of another kind of vampire.

"Good attitude, Polk. They die like the rest"

"Hopefully I could make some stakes, I have the Lumberjacks ax !"

He looks down at his hooves.

"Anyone want to stay with me and the other burros ?"

Doc grinned, not able to contain the grin, "Polk, yeah, I reckon I can stay with y'all. Nyx, you ain't seen any of them goat suckers lately have you? I didn't notice any in the last town." he gives his brother a quick wink.

“Nah, not a peep”, chuckled Nyx, then added, “But these folks sure are worried about their burros so it pays to e cautious”

"I better put this stuff on the burros." Polk said looking at the bag around his neck.

Doc looked worried and glanced at Polk, "What are you waiting for, the donkeys need protected Polk!"

Polk rushes off to rub the poultice into the coats of the burros.

In order to do so he changes into a small boy.

Night Once polk is outside the guard tower again, he sets about his chore of prepping the mules for the night. The transformation of mule to boy does catch the attention of the Dwarf guards. In fact, they appear shocked. The new guards begin to point their weapons in Polks general direction, but before anyone can even shout an alarm, a stern look from Geraldo pacifies the other guards. Geraldo says (in Spanish) to Nyx and Arulas, "I know not what type of Fae or Changeling or other that your ally Polk may be, and I do not want to know. We are at peace with the fairies, good fences making good neighbors and all. If he is no danger to the community, that is enough. If I knew any more, I might have to do something about it, and -- well, I have a reputation of hospitality to maintain."

Kalista, Ethan, Nyx, and Arulas spend an uneventful and restful night inside the tower. For Polkatain and Doc, the night was almost uneventful. The herbal mix proved effective in keeping jaguars away, but didn't keep a venomous snake from getting too close. Doc's Robot Arabian responding first and stomped the viper to death before it inflicted any harm. Although the elf and hatchling slept well enough, the mules were too skittish from Polkatain's proximity to get much rest.

Morning The next day begins far better. Everyone feels fully rested and recharged (except the mules who are looking a little tired). The morning guards arrive from Hollow Hill underneath followed by a crowd of Dwarves who came to see off the Lumberjacks. Among them, the new mother and her infant child are came to say goodbye. Cooks bring oat-like mushrooms for the animals and salted meats for the bipeds. The priestess is back, and she gives Kalista a pinata shaped like a dragon egg. Geraldo even offers a map which shows the trails and old roads that connect all of nearby ruins; he has marked a couple of specific ruins where he thinks that Severance's gang is most likely to be hiding.

As the Lumberjacks depart, dozens of dwarves way goodbye, and musicians play upbeat mariachi music.

The next scene takes place a good distance down the trail. Does anyone have anything to ask or declare before or after leaving Hollow Hill?

"Wow a dragon egg !" Polk approaches Kalista looking at it.

"Looks a bit odd, but wait am I being replaced ?" Polk's eyes went wide.

 Arulas merely chuckles at Geraldo "No Fae and no threat. He is but a child himself." and leaves it at that.

At Polk's question Arulas just laughs and laughs. So much so you might start to think the knight has lost his mind.

Kalista smiled and handed the egg to her Dragon Comrade, "Why don't you see for yourself."

Polk took the egg very gently, "Wait you want me to hatch it,...uhmmm." He tried to link with it but felt no telepathic contact which worried him. Maybe the baby was asleep.

"Thank you Kalista, I will keep it safe I promise."

Polk held the Egg close to himself and became quite protective of it. He was very young and hadn't quite developed the fight and territoriality mindset yet. He began humming a song to the egg in Dragonese.

Ethan smiled at seeing the mother and infant again. He waved at them and shouted good bye at them over the lively music being played. He felt warm and accomplished on the inside. Saving the life of the Dwarf mother and her infant had been a welcome change from plugging holes in flesh caused by high speed metal or applying burn cream to the horrible wounds inflicted by high energy lasers.

When the piñata was brought out, the NEMA medic chuckled, then sobered when he realized that Polk earnestly believed it was a real dragon egg. “My god,” he thought to himself “he intends to hatch that thing.” He looked at his companions but no one seemed inclined to correct the dragon hatchling’s misconception. Ethan started to say something but then closed his mouth. He didn’t want to create a scene in front of the dwarves and while so far Polk had been a decent sort, he had heard too many stories, seen too many movies about the terrible anger of dragons. “We’ll just let it go for now,” he told himself. “Maybe find a subtle way of letting him know that thing is filled with candy and not a dragon embryo.”

Kalista is very gentle, "Polk, does it feel like a dragon egg? Think carefully."

"Well, I am young you know. Barely hatched myself. So I don't have much experience and it has to be a different breed. But something doesn't feel right. There is supposed to be a connection a kind of constant mental link. I am not sure if I am doing things right."

Again remaining very gentle, "Polk, it is not an actual dragon egg. Break it open. If I am wrong you may flay me alive."

"Break it open !" Polk's eyes widened.

He looked at the egg. Again he tried to make contact but there was nothing and he sniffed extended his senses and sensed no dragon.

Slowly he began to open the egg finding it far to easy to open and far to different from any egg he knew off. "Hey your right this is no egg ? Why would someone make a fake dragon egg ?"

Kalista smiled, "It is for children, a game. Some Dragons are not as good as you and...well...some fear your kind. Inside is candy and tiny treats. I have no other explanation."

"Hmmmm I don't know if I will ever understand humans or dwarves. Candy in an egg ? I mean I understand giving gifts to children. Even I like gifts but eggs house the future they are kind of sacred." Polkitain hands the egg back to Kalista.

 Wiping tears from his eyes from the laughter he looks at Polk and says "That is the point Polk. Sacred! It teaches them respect in wierd way." he laughs some more between sacred and the rest.

"Hmmm I don't know humans like candy, it kind of sets the example smash eggs and eat whats inside. Though I don't understand people like you do Sir Arulas so perhaps your right and I just don't understand."

Laughing gently at the confused hatchling, Nyx rested a hand on Polk's shoulder for a moment - saying nothing - before he begins to range out a little from the other Lumberjacks to scout

Doc grinned, "Done told ya Polk, figure what you can but don't stress much. Humans don't understand humans. Elves, dwarves, all the same. We learn what we can and that's it. You're doin' fine buddy." Doc will keep close to his brother.

Polk nods. "Thanks Doc."

Polk much more happily is ready to head out with the others if no one is looking he eats a piece of candy.