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.