Cassia was having fun on her broom when Greddark told her to go lower and offered her snacks, in a heartbeat she made her way towards him, snatching the delicious snak bites up and coming to a halt. The gnome hovered above the ground munching on her treats "Hosts! I love these things!"
She said popping chunks of snake in her mouth, letting the taste wash over her.  Seeing her snake bites she flew over to Lyndra "Hey! Soooooo do you maybe want some snake bites? You know since we're working together? Maybe your little rat friend would like one?"

He followed along, keeping an eye and an ear on the conversations around him. He took a lizard skewer and ate with the speed of lonely soldier or street rat would have, leaving just a few bites left for his hawk and he raised that and gave a whistle before the fey bird dove and snagged it from his hand.

He made a few mental notes about his companions as he walked, the warforged and the dwarf both seemed solid, pun intended, and both could serve as excellent foundations for building a capable company around. The women were as different as night and day, but perhaps that could be useful. He had to agree somewhat with Lyndra about the whole friendship and emotional attachment thing. This was a unit on a task not a merry trek to fair. That left the last two, the duelist and the overly friendly and talkative elf. He felt a twinge of competition when he looked at the duelist, wondering if they did cross blades whose skill would prevail, but he also respected the subtle ways he moved about the group, the lightest touch to affect some of these social oddities as the group felt each other out. Finally the elf, he was too friendly, too eager, something there bothered him and yet he couldn't quite place a finger on what it was exactly.

“That… makes sense.” Loner said a bit uncertainly as the dwarf completely shot Down his argument with one Well aimed fact after another. Pleasure being the purpose, though?… He could not quite say it sounded logical. But it did sound… pleasant.

Then the Human Edward came Up with an ingenious compromise. Loner could truly see why organics had always been in command positions rather than warforged. They were so good at coming Up with unorthodox solutions. “Splitting. Yes, it is a good idea.” He said, his eyes lighting Up briefly with happiness. Something He had not felt so strongly since He had been acknowledged as a capable assistant to his Old company’s artificer. This was good. This was pleasant.
I also find the snake bits interesting. I would like to start with that as well.”

"Excellent choice gentlemen!"

Greddark handed off the snake bits and skewer to be shared by Loner and Edward and the skewer to Alto, glad to see he enjoyed it . . . but concerned. He made a note to lessen his own portion a little and make sure Alto got a good share of some food.

"The Marchers are as different from my people as night and day. But we all pray to the same Sovereigns, the names don't matter. And the gnomes bridged both our people equally. I think they do pretty well . . . "

He popped some Marcher cooking in his mouth and relished it

" . . . even if it's still only flat-lands spices."

Sebastian catches up with Greddark and asks for a back of snake bites.  As Lyndra passes, he says, "Would your rat, or you, like to share?  I don't eat that much."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Tue 15 June 2021.

As the group continues to travel through the metropolis of Sharn, all of the cities uniqueness is on display, bridges arching across towers hundreds of feet in the air, private taxis flying through the air allowing travel much faster than footpath, bridges, and stairs, explorers bound for the broken continent of Xen'drik full of hope and daring, visitors from all corners of Khorvaire bringing their divergent cultures to share, mix, and celebrate. Each district has its own unique combination of people and purposes. Travel to the Terminus Ward takes nearly two hours and leads you through the comfortable shops and restaurants of Cassan Bridge, the Shops of Everbright catering to wizards and adventurers seeking to trade in enchanted items and exotic components, a pocket of Cyran refuges making the theater district of Smoky Towers a new home after the tragedy that befell their homeland.

As the group moves through his city he looks about himself, how many years had it been since he had last step foot here, how many lifetimes it seemed when life balanced on the razor's edge of skill and daring. He fished a few coins out of a pouch at his side, silvers that he would occasionally break rank from the group and kneel and hand one to dirty scrawny street orphans. A small smile played at the corners of his lips everytime as he knelt and offered the coin and shared a few private words.

Edward grinned at the compliment of his idea and waved it off "I have those occasionally." But his expression turned into a softer smile as Loner.  He accepted both treats from Greddark and then passed the bag to Loner. "Excellent choice! And I trust you will be able to assess approximate halves."

He held the skewer awkwardly in his right hand, fingers struggling to keep a grip on it. Graceful movement of his left arm pulled out his dagger and easily cut off a leg, catching it while holding onto the blade. He moved it to his mouth, biting just enough to hold it between his teeth, the dagger come close to his face but he avoided cutting himself. With another practiced move, Edward cleaned the fat and juice off the dagger and returned it to its sheath.

Left hand free, Edward switched the skewer to it and started to munch on the roasted lizard leg, supporting it with his right. "Mmmmmmm" he half purred half mumbled around the juicy meat melting in his mouth. "Master cook, I am not sure if you are better at preparing or selecting meals." He gave a half bow to Greddark and winked as he straightened up "You will have to do a lot of both so we can asses properly!"

Lyndra listened as Sebastian spoke of friendship making cohesion in a group dynamics, but furrowed her brow. “Friendship in a group such as this can alter circumstances. Emotions can alter a persons perspective of priorities. What if my life meant there was a chance of saving the group as a whole. Someone ‘emotional’ may choose to save me.” She looked forward. “Saving my life isn’t what we are here for” She looked at the man. “As for my history, that does need to be further discussed. The past is the past.”

Lyndra listened as the group spoke of food….cooked lizards on a stick and reptile chunks. The Assimar had never heard of such delicacies, but said nothing. When Sebastian offered food, she looked at him, the same emotionless stare. “I am fine, but I’m sure Garathyn will gladly partake.”

Responding to her, Sebastian says, "You may think so little of yourself as to accept your own loss, but think about it this way, we are a team, and as such, we all have our roles to play, we all bring something unique to the whole.  Without one, the whole does not properly function, so the removal of one of us might jeopardize the functionality of the group.  One reason to to add friendship to the mix is, it becomes the lubricant which makes the machine work more smoothly.  I bet Loner has some idea of how that works.  If the parts are not free to work together, they might not be able to get the whole job done."

He gives the rat some of the meat, enjoying the way it scurries across her shoulders to get it.  And nice shoulders they are.

The woman looks at sebastian’s logic with a furrowed brow. “That can be true, but on the other hand, emotions may cause someone to act recklessly to save someone, endangering them and others.” She looks at Garathyn while he nibbles the snake. “I am not saying all emotions have flaws. Anger can push someone beyond their limits, love can make even a lowly peasant as strong as a paladin when saving his family, but emotions have drawbacks too”

He slid between Lyndra and Sebastion as he rejoined the group from giving away his last coin. "I would ask you this then Sebastion, how many units did you work with during the war? Were you on the frontlines? Friendship is one thing, a good thing at times perhaps. Ultimately we are on a mission though, are you willing to make that ultimate sacrifice? I would wager a gold that if we were ever put to it, Lyndra would finish the mission, even if it meant leaving me to die, and I'm  fine with that fact. I would hope she too understands if given a choice between completing our task and saving her I too would finish the mission.  Emotions at that moment are weakness, you must be able to react to an ever evolving mutating situation and trust that those sent with you will see you on the other side. Everyone, and I mean all seven of us should know now, we finish the mission first and foremost."

"And that is when our professionalism balances our emotions.  It is a two sided coin,, but then, I usually live on the edge. . He laughed, but wasn't sure she would get the humor.

Speaking to Alto, "I didn't serve on the lines, but I did serve a lot of people who got left behind for the mission.  those people matter too."

He nodded as they walked. "They matter and should be honored for making that sacrifice. I would wager though if you spoke with them that it was a small price to pay indeed. Each of us has been burdened,  burdened with glorious purpose. They tens and hundreds and thousands who lives and livelihoods who depend on our actions. Its enough to make one conscious of the decisions they are making and why."

Cassia who was right there the whole time because she had offered Lyndra food first sighed "My mother was in the war you know!" she put away the food that had been ignored and wiped her face "She was a wandslinger in a Ghallanda unit. They weren't supposed to be attacked, that was the rule because Ghallanda feeds everyone you know? But they were and the only thing good that came of her death was her friendship to that man!"Cassia pointed to her step-father. For the first time since you met her the little gnome did not smile.
"Also I would appreciate not being ignored or interrupted. I know I'm young and inexperienced but please remember that I am chronicling this expedition and your actions and its your choice what type of people you come off as in the book" Cassia may have been sweet and small but she was not a pushover. She was a d'Aavandi and would not be ignored.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:13, Wed 16 June 2021.

"Cassia, I was not intentionally ignoring you.  I apologize for getting lost in my thoughts.  I guess there are things in there that I am being reminded of that need to stay in there."

He hands Lyndra the bag of meat.  "Please give it to your friend."  He drops even further back, not wanting the noise of others to stir the things he wanted to keep hidden.  His eyes were glistening, and he hoped no one could see that.

“I disagree.” Loner interjected, finally feeling like He could add something to the conversation when it turned to war. “I sacrificed. And I was left behind. I had my unit, but we were not friends. And when I could not make war, I was abandoned. A warforged who cannot make war, who cannot function, is nothing. I am nothing. My sacrifice did nothing, my unit still died later on. People still kept dying. The war did not stop. The war only stopped when a nation died, for no other reason than because they were at war. And the survivors where left with no purpose. War is not glorious, no matter why you fight. If you samt to protect people from war, then don’t make war.”

Loner turned quiet again, not used to speaking so much at once, or with surprising passion. He hadn’t realised it until He put it into words, but… did he hate war? Did he resent the purpose he was built for? He wasn’t sure. But He couldn’t see the point of it.
He thought about it a bit more as they walked, chewing on his piece of snakemeat. Chewing was an interesting action. He’d tried it once before on a piece of metal to mimic the soldiers in his unit. But that had taught him exactly nothing. This was more fun to chew, though. As for the taste… He couldn’t really judge, but He didn’t dislike it “I Think I like this.” He Said to no one in particular after swallowing. Followed by idle wondering on where food goes after being eaten.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Wed 16 June 2021.

Lyndra listened to the views of the others, sensing the conflicts of them. Some relied on emotion to survive, and some (like lyndra), pushed emotions away. “War is war…waged by those egotistical enough to believe their cause is right. Those who fight and die are not mourned by them….not friends, just puppets.”

She looked at Loner and nodded at his wisdom. “What you speak is true…..friend or not, war does not distinct between. Just like death - wether your rich or poor, powerful or weak, good or bad, death comes for all. People fear it, try to push it away, but it is nothing to fear - just another journey.” She looked at Cassia. “For you, you have found a father. Me….I found purpose. You have joy, I have vision. But though each of us have our own motives, we are but flies stuck on different strands of the same web.”

She shakes her head. “Enough of this talk of feelings…let us do what we came to do.”

Cassia smiled "Hey its alright, I am just making clear my intentions.I am here to help but I am also here to write, stick with me and my book could be your next cover letter" she giggled.
She tilted her head confused by Lyndra's reasoning but not ready to disagree with the scary sexy large woman yet.
Cassia beamed warmly at Loners talk.  Despite it all she enjoyed his company.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:43, Wed 16 June 2021.

"Well what we came to do is get to the Terminus district, which I believe is that way."

Greddark took his handaxe out of his belt loop and pointed east, towards more stairs before sheathing the axe and pulling his cloak over it for good measure. He ensured his hammer was well strapped in preparation for Travick's Landing's rules on the brandishing of weapons.

"I'm sure if we put you all in a room with the King of Breland you'd certainly solve the problems of war and conflict where the Treaty of Thronehold failed. But for now, yes, especially in the Lower Districts, the war is perhaps not a matter of polite discussion."

Lyndra followed the group,  looking at cassia and managing a half smile (that may have looked scarier than she intended.)

Sebastian almost missed a turn because he was trailing and his mind was far away from this city, in a dark place, one that had made him who he was today.  Not every pain could be healed from without.

Much of Terminus is dominated by the Terminus station, the massive House Orien enclave responsible for maintaining the Lightning Rail. The area is abuzz with activity with passengers for the midday departure making their way to the rail and recent arrivals headed out into the city. Security is patrolling the area keeping an eye out for contraband and criminals, but your odd cadre of heroes make your way undeterred through the chaos. Using your travel stipend, you book passage on the Lightning Rail to Wroat. Through sheer serendipity, you do not need to wait too long for the Rail to disembark.

For most of you the rhythm of sound is familiar, the crackle and pop of lightning arcing between rail and conduit stones is known to all that ride. As is the gentle motion, when the rail rocks from subtle peak above the stone to the mild sensation of falling in the gap between stones. It is a rhythm that could lull a baby to sleep, but for those who have never experienced it, it is mildly unnatural, but not unpleasant. Your seating is not private, but the nearby travelers do not bother you much.

It is a seven hour trip to the capital and then after the shift to a smaller rail the trip takes you late into the night towards the city of Ardev. This Rail is devoid of any passengers other than yourself and you find yourself sitting among pallets of tools and food destined for the western frontier. Travelling through the night, you arrive at the town just before dawn.

Greddark spent the train ride to Wroat loudly telling Cassia and all who'd listen about the warring states of Wroat. He didn't actually KNOW much of anything authoritive about the ancient kingdoms that followed in the wake of Malleon's conquest and the building of Dorasharn, but as Cassia knew, facts and corrections risked "straying from the saga". This particular lecture, it became apparent, was in aid of explaining the warring food styles of Breland

"So see, you can divide Breland into three distinct influences. The west, north and south. We're heading into the north now, even though the ancient city of Wroat's more . . . middleish. But leaving behind the south's tropical fruits, fried spiders and hot peppers, you see more of a 'good old cooking' up near Wroat. Birthplace of the whole side of beef stuffed with breads and vegetables, it is. And layered vegetable dishes. Lots of vegetables, they know their greens up there. Not like the west, where we're going after . . . "

There was hardly a pause for breath, and useful bursts of information (for the culinarily inclined) often gave way to repetitive and meandering stories about this queen and that king and this warlord (many who simply got the title of Wroat, Ardev, Blackcap, a place they were from, rather than their name) which showed the "cultural richness of Breland" due to being a nation of conflicts and opposing city-states.

At Wroat, while transferring, he disappeared only to return peeling a banana, and with an unpeeled bunch to share. The fruits of a royal capital and the gateway to the south.

"Did you know the gnomish word for banana means 'yellow poison fruit'? The humans for centuries believed the banana was poisonous because eating one had killed Malleon the Reaver! Perhaps we should stock up on bananas before heading west, in case we run into the famed warlords of Droaam, we can dispatch them as Malleon was!"

He quieted down on the train to Ardev, partly due to the bottle of black ale he'd brought along. After two sips and a strong belch which he quelled under the back of his hand, Greddark took to making notes for a few hours and then leaned back on the bench to let the rocking put him to sleep.