Buojrez asks that the turret be moved to the East Gate where the newcomers have set up.

With an aside glance at the tiny one casing the defensive walls she says, "I will be watching you."

To the Varjellan: "First we trade, then we worry about the groves. Tomorrow, I will tell you of what I have explored."

She then heads to where the caravan guards are settling down and setting up to see if she knows any of them or if they have tales to share.

Buojrez doesn't recognize any of the guards (at least at first), but they recognize her gait and swagger and are happy to trade tales of dangers and treasures and travels.

The teenagers are minding the younger ones by a small puppet theatre, telling a tale of a wily seskii who fools a too-trusting thuman.  There are gasps and giggles and applause.  The shepherds are looking over the tools and fabrics and other wares, calculating what they can afford to barter, showing off some fleece, yarn, and cheese (the scrips are all spoken for by the clave).  Mustane, too, is looking over what might be had an showing a few samples of the lumber he's helped amass in the past few days.

There are a few vendors readying their wares for trades tomorrow, assessing the location, placing small bets one who (or what) might arrive to browse their goods.

Buojrez takes a long look at one of the guards. Not known to her, yet familiar.


She approached the man. "I am Buojrez. You have a strong resemblance to my friend Drasilt. We worked the caravans in the past."

In reply to Mhari 'Stormbolt' (msg # 16):

Raising an eyebrow at the emphasis and use of the title, Raelle responds, "Thank you, I am well acquainted with sleeping outdoors if need be."

Carrying her gear, she brings it to the admin building nonetheless, where she finds an empty spot to put it before returning to the caravan to see where she can help as well.  As she goes, she looks around, seeing how she can improve upon the community as well as for Alberic.

Janik held back as the caravan arrived and watched from a distance. He noticed people coming up to one particular person and assumed he must be Hugh up in the caravan team.

He moved slightly forward so he could hear what was being said then when the second woman had finished stepped forwards the one everyone called Mhari

"excuse me are you the person. I need to talk to to join the caravan I understand people are joining to help build a clave. My master and friend passed a while ago and I have no more obligations to hold me to one place. Thus I would like to offer my services to your venture if you will have me"

Mhari turns to regard the new arrival and smiles warmly, "No, I'm not part of the Caravan.  They are only here for maybe week or two to resupply this foundling clave and do some business. I'm Mhari, a Glaive working for the Order of Truth to establish this new Clave an apprentice to become an Aeon Priest.  All are welcome to join the Clave to make a new start here.  We are currently investigating some Ruins that seem to be inhabited by potentially hostile beings that phase in and out of holes in space... making them very hard to open dialogue with.  They've made some attacks on travelers on the road to the Clave but we as yet do not have an understanding as to their goals as yet.  There was a man from another realm or perhaps time they were seeking to capture he could phase through mater, but due to his unfamiliarity with our 'world' I lightning-traveled him back to Yenth for his protection and orientation ~ the Order of Truth is taking care of him. But the Clave itself is secure and safe ~ no attacks upon the Clave have occurred. If delving the unknown and trying to establish a new home are your goal here would be a fine place to start."

Janik looked at Mhari for a moment before replying "then perhaps I am meant to be here after all."</blie>

With that he walked towards the nearest wagon and continued walking through it before retracing his steps to stand before the man again

<blue>"as you can see I to can walk through things, among other talents I have perhaps it is fate that we meet"

To Buojrez, the guard pipes up, "Drasnit!  He's my brother.  Haven't seen him in months, not since he lost his shirt dicing with me."  He laughs in appreciation and pounds his chest.  Perhaps he is wearing the shirt in question?  "I am Belnit, by the way.  Please, join us.  You look as if you are skilled with a blade.  Luckily for Drasnit, he is better with a blade than with dice.  So we acknowledge him as a skilled fighter, you'll have no qualms about telling me a tale of one of his follies.  We could all use another laugh."

Alberic seems to be busy in the workshop, consulting with Nalla over what parts and tools they should prioritize for trade (not having bothered to look at the inventory of the caravan first), so Raelle is left to assessing the state of the clave instead.

The newcomers would note that the only housing structures so far are all within the walls.  There is a barn and smaller shed to west, adjoining a fenced-in area where some livestock are grazing.  The stream that they caravan passed over as they came from the south has some piping and other constructions connected to it so that the clave has a steady supply of clean water, although with this many people, the easily accessible liquid may be stretched quite thin.  The deep ravine to the east has a narrow ledge with a chain pounded into the rock above it as a handhold.  It is unclear how far the ledge goes.  The ravine is narrowest by the clave and widens as hit heads eastward, arcing to the south, out of sight.  The ledge descends some ways into the gap before seeming to level off about 20 feet below the forest floor.

"Well met, Belnit. Ah, Drasnit, willing to gamble and lose anything but his blade," Buojrez says with a smile.

"Once, he was involved in a dice game where the odds were slanted against him with shaved dice. He was down to his hide and his sword before he figured it out. Angry, and naked, he was a sight to see!"

Buojrez pulls up a seat and nods to the others. "Buojrez, skilled with maul and bow. I have had use for both in the area if you would like the tale."

In reply to Janik Crow (msg # 25):

Mhari watched ~ eyes wide in wonder at Janik's ... gifts.

"Astonishing! Perhaps Fate has a hand indeed in our gathering?  All my life the lightning has been mine to command... a gift my father has but my six older brothers do not ~ all of them envious of the 'gift' I possess and ALL of them seeking my death.  'The Seventh Son of the Seventh Son', is a burden my father shares, but unlike HIM.. I've chosen NOT to kill my six other brothers to possess the family fortune ~ as he did!  Father does not approve of my ... kind heart, so I felt absence best least I have to be involved in kin-slaying.  I have sought my own path.. trying to make the world a better place if I may and maybe delve a few mysteries of the world at the same time.  You will be in good company here Janik!"

Mhari offers his hand in friendship a smile upon his face.

Janik gave Mhira a sad smile after listening to his tale "perhaps fate has decided that the dispossessed need to be together and has designed that we meet.....only time will tell but i will gladly stand at your side for a while if you will have me"

"Please, do share," says Belnit.  "We've had little call for our swords lately.  Mostly bandits in the eastern part of the kingdom.  And I've heard rumors of increased piracy along the rivers, but I hardly think your little stream nearby would give you cause worry."

The caravan carts and temporary dwellings are set up.  The newer volunteers who intend to stay also have at least temporary shelters within the walls, although the Varjellan is less than pleased with the arrangement.  Muttering to themself (at times angrily), they say something to the effect of siting for a grove and begin meandering around the outskirts of clave.

The entertainments continue, food is cooked, songs are sung.  The major negotiations for lumber and supplies are expected to take place tomorrow.  Evening comes to the forest.

OOC: Anything you want to do before the next thing happens?

Buojrez tells them of DeeBee and the snake-men, making sure to point out the battle site and direction of approach. She is sure to note the abilities of the foes and point out that a solid maul strike wins the day.

"The clave could use guards, but I am sure the traders can too. When will you be back, in case my boots feel the need to wander again?"

When the day comes to its close and the caravan merchants are at least semi -settled in, Mhari will make the rounds to look after the new potential exploration team arrivals checking in on Janik Crow, Starr, and Raelle Pellegrino to make sure they have been settled into living arrangements within the Clave making sure their needs have been seen too for securing lodging and contact information for them to coordinate with the Order of Truth agents in town.

He asks them all to meet up with Alberic, Zalbane, Buojrez and himself in the morning sometime around the second hour so they can receive a formal briefing upon the events that have taken place and bring them up to speed upon the on-going investigation into the surrounding wilderness.

Then Mhari will go and inform Alberic, Zalbane and Buojrez of the morning meet and greet for their new exploration team members to help them understand the local situation.  The meeting should take no longer then an hour just to coordinate the newcomers with the clave's current exploration and investigation efforts.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

After helping the caravan, Raelle looks around for a suitable location for her tent.  The word "tent" might be a bit of a misnomer since it is large enough for her to stand and easily takes up a few meters of space in all directions.  She sets it up against one of the buildings near the wall and arranges her gear.  Raelle sets up a perch for her huntri, who soon flies in through a small opening in one of the walls, holding some unfortunate small animal.  She hangs the armored sloth on the opposite side of its perch and feeds it some leaves before gathering some climbing gear and leaving the tent.

She heads towards the ravine to explore a little bit and stretch her legs.  On her way, she sees Mhari and says, "Mr. Mhari, I would like to examine the ravine you have over there.  Is there anything I should be aware of?"

In reply to Raelle Pellegrino (msg # 33):

Mhari smiles, "Mhari will do.. we're not that formal around here. {chuckle}"

"As for the Ravine...  I personally have been more involved with exploring the Ruins about a days travel to the North East{?} of the clave, but if your interested in exploring the ravine; I'll be glad to escort you there so you can have a first hand survey?"

Mhari will heft his "Mass-Blaster Slugspitter" longarm on its sling, and point in the direction of the ravine...
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Fri 28 Jan 2022.

Janik spotted Mhari and Raelle heading away from the camp towards what looked like a ravine

he moved quickly to a dead tree trunk near by and stepped into it and disappeared, seconds later he reappeared from a rock formation just before the ravine and just ahead of the two explorers.

" Mind if I join you" he asked clipping a large glove like object to his left hand with a small barrel running out over his hand. He quickly pulled back a section and loaded it with darts.
Then from around his neck he pulled up a pair of goggles that looked like two multifaceted insect eyes "allows me to see in the dark" was he reply to their questioning looks

Belnit says, "we often travel a circuit, although it changes at times.  This clave is one such change, although if your lumber is as good as promised, we will likely add it to our regular route.  We've been in Yenth about every three months for the past two years.  So if you had the itch to wander around the middle of the Steadfast again, you'd have less than half a year to wait.  Even if we had several extra stops, we'd be back here or in Yenth by then."

As Buojrez continues her conversations with the guards, she can see Mhari heading toward the ravine with one of the new comers.  Another joins them, although she did not see him walk in that direction.  It is late afternoon, and the shadows in the depths will be growing deeper.

In reply to Janik Crow (msg # 35):

Mhari is somewhat startled by the sudden appearance of Janik, but smiles chuckling to himself that it was clearly destined to be not quite so interesting as being alone with the lovely young explorer woman as he'd expected ~ with company! Not that he'd been planing anything more then some 'hopefully' stimulating conversation with the fearless, clearly capable, and none too easy on the eyes young explorer woman.

More the fates laughing at him so he joined them laughing at himself as well as he replied, "Sure Janik, you can join us... for however little time we have left of the daylight. I know you have a nightvision device..."

And mid sentence he also turned his attention to include Raelle in this as well, "...but exploration after nightfall is Imprudent!  This locale is not fully explored and on a recent overnight stay in the forest my team learned there are utterly silent creatures that apparently feed on the dreams of their prey!  I've not slept well the past few night because of it, so were taking all precautions here.  We do not fully know the extents of the local predators so as soon as the light fades to nightfall we turn back ~ No Exceptions!  I'm charged with the clave's residents safety and that includes the survey teams as well, Raelle!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Sat 29 Jan 2022.

Buojrez raised a finger to Belnit. "A moment," she says.

She stands and looks in the direction of the three loose cannons and shouts, "Second best glaive and cohorts! Before you go stumbling into danger in the waning light you might want to consult with one who has been there and fought and won!"

Turning back to Belnit she says, "As you can see, no shortage of the foolhardy here."

Disturbed by Buojrez's shouting, Alberic pokes his head out of the workshop. "Sorry, danger? Trouble in the offing, eh?" He looks around a little bewildered - clearly he has been too deep in repairs and development to pay attention to what is going on, and scratches his head as he glances from the three would-be explorers and Buojrez.

Janik looked back towards camp and the shouts "second best...Mhari I think she might be talking to you" he said looking back at his companion and smiling slightly "hope she know that shouting like that is a sure way of bring out unwanted critters" again he gave a little smile

Mhari shrugged, "I don't know who she thinks she's in contest with. I'm only in a contest with Myself to do the Best I can at protecting and supporting this new clave!  I'm certainly NOT here to measure 'cock' sizes.  I have no idea what she has fought besides the snake men on our arrival cause she's not deigned to join us in our explorations of the ruins or the surrounding area to try to find the source of the attacking snake men or other potential threats."

Turning to Raelle, "Again, I'm not familiar with the ravine ..not gone there before, though I know where it is.  We're not going inside it this evening.. you wanna look at it ~ fine.  Look with your eyes not your feet!  Don't have enough daylight to go tromping around in there unprepared.  Got it?!?"

Alberic looks after the departing group, then something clicks in his mind. "Wait... are they heading to the...?"

He quickly hurries back into the workshop, throws on his duster and his pack, grabs the huge clock-hand he uses as a crutch, and sets off after Mhari and the others with his lolloping gait. He hurries along much faster than his awkward stride should make possible, repeatedly jamming his hat down on his head, and a trail of coloured smoke streaming behind him as he puffs furiously on the pipe still clamped between his teeth... first orange, then red, then turquoise.

As he catches up to them. "You're going down to the Gorge? Where we met that D'Bee fellow? Lots of interesting machinery that way. I wouldn't want to miss out!"

In reply to Alberic (msg # 42):

Again, Mhari shakes his head, "Alberic, we are not going down into the gorge, we are doing an exterior viewing of it.. perhaps gather enough intel to plan a route of exploration for tomorrow when there is sufficient light to actually explore.  We have as yet to determine the goals of the Snake men... we only found circumstantial evidence of their presence in the ruins.  For all we know the gorge is their actual exit point or location of their community.  We are not prepared for a battle with them in the fading daylight.  We can survey the area but we're not entering today.  So don't get too excited.. we're not staying longer than half a bell's time {1 bell on the hour so 30min}.  To do more than that, in This Glaive's opinion... is ill-advised."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:43, Fri 04 Feb 2022.