Jason stands thoughtful for a moment.  Perhaps, Na-Wa, Lucas, he begins, if we assist these folk with their mission at the dwarven hall, they will assist us with our quests.  They will not kill Master Aurevignon or destroy  if they believe either is still of use to them.  I know the three of us are fully capable of winning the day, but one should never scoff at help.
Besides, we have to collect the rest of our gear.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Thu 05 Apr 2018.

Lucas scratched one shoulder as he looked toward the wall. While he didn't have a problem helping people, that might be a little too optimistic here. "Ummm... maybe. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind helping others, but we don't know what their mission is, or where the dwarven hall is located, or how long it might take to finish. At least I don't. If the trail is fresh now, those we chase might still be close by. If whoever took them is headed deeper into Mexico, giving them more time to reach their destination would be bad for any chance of rescuing either of them, at least as far as I understand the situation in Mexico. I totally agree that we need to collect the rest of our gear though."

He turned and asked the others a couple questions, "Na-wa, which direction did you say they took your friend and the old smelly? and Kalista, was it? if you don't mind giving a bit more detail, why is it so important to go to the dwarven hall? more than just 'life or death' please, as rescuing Jason's master is also a 'life or death' situation, possibly for the whole world if we give them enough time to figure out how to let vampires use tattoo magic. and where is it exactly? Direction and distance... don't really need the exact location, but if it's in the same direction as our quarry, we could attempt both at the same time until the paths diverge."

He hoped the answers would be forthcoming, as he did not like to make uninformed decisions in the field.

Na-Wa looks around a bit probably to get his sense of direction and the points in the direction that the new but old smell he found goes in.

“Smell goes in the way the Sun goes when stars come out.”

“Smell will go away so even not so smart Na-Wa knows that smell needs to be followed.”

OOC: Na-Wa is pointing West.

Ethan had listened and watched as the freed prisoners and the other Lumberjacks spoke to each, exchanging what information they had (and were willing to share) about the vampires and their respective goals. He had remained silent since Na-Wa had left as he looked around for any other injured. He didn’t spot anyone else in need of care and no one spoke up to indicate that they needed medical aid.

He was appalled by the talk of what amounted to vivisections being performed on the prisoners. That discovery pushed all other information, even the fact that there was another dragon around, far to the back of his mind. Remembered images of what he had seen so called Coalition ‘doctors’ due to D-Bee and magic using prisoners flashed through his mind and he clamped down on the rage that suddenly surged. He won the battle and let out a deep breath as his mind cleared.

Ethan got his emotions under control just as Kalista was being asked a question by the man that had given his name as Lucas. The medic waited to see what his wife’s response would be.

Kalista sighed. Once again she was expected to make decision, the burden of being a Knight of Coke. "I do not speak for everyone here, though most listen to me at least. I believe the dwarven hall is infested. I have evidence, but I can relate it just as well on the way. I believe time is of the essence. I will help you, friend Atlantean," at that she lifted her face plate and showed him a pair of tattoos, one a flaming Morning Star Hammer and the other a broken chain, "I am Kalista Nugendare Hawthorn. My last name is very recent." She glanced at her husband, "I will help you because it is the right thing to do. I would help you now, only I believe other matters are more urgent. I ride, any who ride with me are welcome."

Lucas listened, then waited. After several breaths, he cleared his throat and asked again, "About the distance and time? Clearing an infestation from a hall of dwarves would be a good thing, but I do not want to risk the trail going cold for us."

Hunting the undead is what I was trained to do.  The right thing is what I am meant to do.  Helping you clear out an infestation is the right thing to do.  He studies the Tattoos on her face, and nods in acknowledgment.  I am Iason Ianos Damianos, Undead Slayer of the House of Luminine, Clan of Acheron.  You may call me Jason Damien.
He then turns to the young man next to her, noting the caduceus on his armor.  I would think as a healer, you would have a red cross, he says.  He also notices their closeness.  It is now that Ethan would start to see the odd shapes cut from his tattooed skin, the fascia and the muscle raw and visible.  He should be bleeding and in great pain, but he does not appear to be roght now, despite having just been in a fight with a dimensional ghoul.
Ordinarily, I could use the magic of my Tattoos to heal, but I have neither the energy, nor the needed Tattoo.  Would you be so kind as to assist me?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:38, Sat 07 Apr 2018.

Ethan didn’t know what infestation Kalista was speaking of but from the context it seemed she was referring to vampires. The Lumberjacks had seen no signs of them when they were there just days ago but perhaps his wife had new information. He didn’t fully understand how psychic powers worked, that had never been his area of science. It was true that in the time he had left, humans around the globe had begun experimenting in earnest with psionics and achieved remarkable results, such as the creation of the so called ‘Crazies’ or M.O.M. soldiers. He had heard of other experiments involving actual modification to the human genome but in either case, he had no practical experience or training in their respective techniques or their results.

All of that was beside the point to the NEMA medic however. His lady wife had said that there was a threat to the dwarves and that was good enough for him. He didn’t have to understand how her powers worked, only that they did. It could even be the case that she had gained this knowledge not from her powers but from prisoner interrogation or other means. As with not understanding her psychic powers, it mattered little to him how she had gotten the information, only that he had faith in her.

He spoke up for the first time since healing Na-Wa. “If Kalista says the dwarves are in danger, then they are in danger. I will return to them immediately.” Despite the gravity of the situation, he offers a small smile. “I didn’t help that dwarven mother deliver her baby just to see it hurt. I’ll be damned if I stood by and let something when I could have prevented it.”

Ethan looks at Jason when he mentions his injuries. “So he was the one the vampires were vivisecting. He is remarkably, even improbably calm about the experience,” was Ethan’s thought as he looked over the injured areas. “Certainly I can do what I can for you. I don’t know anything about magic but I do know a thing or two about fixing tissue damage.” Ethan used his best bed side manner voice as he talked to the tattooed man. His practiced medic’s eyes looked over the wounds before beginning any sort of treatment.

Kalista gave a curtsy to Lucas, who had not introduced himself. "Your aid will be sorely missed. I am sure those of us who go to the Dwarves will be able to catch back up with you." Then she turned her attention to the Atlantean, "Jason Damien, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am older than I appear, and I've met many of your kind. I received my own tattoos as a means to aiding me in my own war against the undead. My husband will attend your wounds. Since he will need some moments I will tell you how I came to my conclusion. The vampires I destroyed all had a common familial trait, a unique on at that, double canine teeth. I've never seen it in vampires before. When I looked at it I was struck by a memory, that very same dwarven mother, while she gave birth I observed an injury near her ankle. At the time I thought it an animal bite of some kind, four puncture wounds. This coupled with the dwarves among those vampires I burned lead me to believe that there are more in the Dwarven Enclave. I understand if some of you wish to go with..." she gestured at Lucas, "I am sorry I did not hear your name?"

"Let's roll then, new guys, cmon if you're comni'... if not, well best of luck to ya... and if we help you find that tattoo fella, and you ain't payin, I want my share of loot."

Polk waved then followed Doc.

"How do we get horse to go ? Could get us back to Dwarves faster."

Na-Wa looks over at Lucas. "Only we go follow new but old smell?"

  "Damn. Ok that settles it." Arulas says as he hears that. He calmly walks outside and retrieves his rifle and starts to get his horse then realizes it probably got spooked and ran. So he jogs back to the ship and goes out on the deck of the ship to see if he can see the dumb thing.

Ethan finished examining the ‘Atlantean’s’ wounds. They were not life threatening though they were likely painful. The medic used the same antiseptic and pain numbing spray he used on Na-Wa to the afflicted areas on Jason, then put the bottle away. “You might feel a tingle or warming sensation for this next part,” he tells the self proclaimed ‘Undead Slayer’. Ethan then covers each visible wound with a hand and focuses his attention as he had learned to do. Where Ethan touches, skin quickly regrows, leaving no scarring or bruising. “There, how do you feel? Do you have any more wounds that need treating?”

Na-Wa and Jason, this guy in the military haircut is the best healer you've ever seen. You both feel fantastic.

Outside Polk was pushing his horse, "Mmmmmppph. C'mon Horsey move !"

"Ahhh magic words ! Giddy Up !"  He watches as the robot horse does nothing.

"Awwww c'mon !" Polk grumbles in frustration having no clue about programming or robotics.

Lucas looked at Kalista, then at Jason as he introduced himself. He looked back just in time for Kalista to ask his name, at which point his hand raised up to slap his own forehead only to hit helmet. Then his shoulders slumped. "Can't even give myself a good head slap. Forgive me. I guess recent events still have me a bit flustered. If you ever try to come up with a plan to infiltrate a vampire base, don't go with 'get captured on purpose'. Effective for gaining entry, but extremely unpleasant to say the least."

"My name is Lucas. Until recently, I was a Tundra Ranger. Now I hunt monsters and try to help people I come across." While technically more information than was asked for, he obviously felt bad about his oversight of etiquette. "Sounds like your dwarven friends could certainly use the help sooner rather than later. However, I have an obligation to my friend Na-wa. We need to save his friend. If we can finish that quickly, we can try to rejoin you. Hopefully we'll both be successful and meet somewhere in the middle, each trying to come help the other."

He turned to Na-wa. "I cannot speak for Jason, but I will accompany you, Na-wa. We will find your friend."

In reply to Lucas Rowland (msg # 81):

Na-Wa's only response to Lucas is a big toothy grin of teeth which filed down to sharp points.

 Arulas walks over prys open a hatch on one of the robot horses and fiddles with the wiring some. He realizes fairly quickly that he is out of his league here. Total reprogramming a recognition package is different than programming a new IFF into a Titan Mark IX. "Damn it!" as he shuts the hatch.

"I know ! These steel horsrs are more stubborn then mules." Polk says to Arulas.

"Even ignore magic words !"

"So we help dragon ?"

Kalista put out her hand for Lucas, "You will be missed in the coming fight. I believe we can catch up to you, I've done this sort of thing before."

Kalista is moderate famous, have lead a crusade which ended some ten years ago wit the destruction of a major vampiric intelligence in that was once called New Mexico.

Lucas took Kalista's offered hand and shook it. "I thought I recognized you. Still, you may have done this before, but unless those we chase move extraordinarily quickly, they should still be closer than your dwarven allies." He shrugged. "Though you never can tell. Who knows what or where either of our journeys will bring us in the end."

Hearing Sir Arulas' frustration, Lucas stepped over to the horses. "Mind if I lend a hand?" Unless stopped, he opened the hatch once more and tinkered with the controls for several minutes.

 "Not stubborn Polk. Just don't you as well as they need to. Programming prevents them from doing much more than being lead." he says to the young dragon.

 When Lucas steps up to help Arulas makes a as you please gesture.

"Programming ? I am unfamiliar with this."

Polk steps back from the horse.

"Sir Arulas, can we help other dragon ? Polk knows what its like to be held and tortured.  Want to help but want to help dwarves too."

 "You know how you learn new things Polk? Well machines can't so we tell them what to think and do. These machines were told that only the vampires we just killed were the ones to be able to ride them." he explains.

 At Poll's question he pauses and says "I want to help the dragon Polk, but for all we know he left under his own power."