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- MHolmes: "I killed Porso," says the massive Rhiani warrior standing in the main tent in front of Isadora. "He told some children that he had fire magic to frighten them. And he did not."
- MHolmes: Porso was one of the good ones, one of the scouts from Kaitaine who was really a leader.
- MHolmes: "I thought you should know," says the man to Isadora, she not even sure of his name.
- MHolmes: Captain Jillams steps forward, "Shall I take him, ma'am?"
- MHolmes: Jilliams looks quite resplendent in his well polished armor, even in the dim light of the tent.
- MHolmes: From out the open flap, Isadora can barely see a hint of the Green Lake in the distance, through the trees, the sun beginnng to set.
- Isadora feels the first throb of a headache. "Did he actually... oh, say, frighten the children?" she asks, calmly.
- Isadora waves a hand slightly at Jilliams--not yet.
- MHolmes: Near the back of the tent, Dhazari, the leader of the Rhiani hired guides shifts uncomfortably.
- MHolmes: The man standing says, "I'm not sure...does it matter?"
- MHolmes: His black mane contrasts with his nearly violet eyes which seem to bore right into Isadora. Common with Rhiani.
- Isadora meets his gaze. This place is a nightmare, she thinks. "It matters to me."
- MHolmes: "Well, ask the children yourself then. What matters to me is that he said something that wasn't true. Just for some comfort," he nods confidently. "He could not be allowed to live, could he?"
- MHolmes: "You don't coddle those who are false, do you?" says the man with apparently growing contempt.
- Isadora: "In fact, he _could_ have been allowed to live. That he did not live is a separate fact. That his friends will want revenge for his death is yet a third fact."
- Isadora: Isadora's gaze hardens. "We try not to coddle murderers, at least."
- MHolmes: "Revenge? I've done a service to the tribe, not something that needs retribution," he says and continues.
- MHolmes: "I've heard that you might not feel as we do about this, but this is our land, after all. No?"
- Isadora: "Your land, my tent. If you kill my men with impunity, who could I look in the eye?" She waves to Jilliams, finally. "Find someplace to lock him up while I explain to Porso's commander what a great service has been done to him."
- MHolmes: Jilliam pooints his sword at the man's chest, which makes his captive frown. Deeply.
- MHolmes: Her gaze fixed on the guilty man, causes his face to relax a little betraying something. For a moment, Isadora realizes that the man was testing her. And that he's dissapointed to find out that she passed the test.
- Isadora relaxes a little inside, but tries not to show it. She looks away from the man, finally, to nod to Jilliams. "Go on."
- MHolmes: Jilliam escorts the nameless murderer out of the tent. Sebasitan notes that Dhazari is watching him.
- MHolmes: He seems to be gauging Sebastian's response to the incident. It almost looks like he's grinning...
- MHolmes: "So, what do they do with those who do not tell the truth in...where is it again? Sel-tai?" he asks curiously.
- MHolmes: After Jilliam is gone, Isadora notes Dhazari's question, too.
- Sebastian: Sebastian looks up with no expression on his face... "It depends upon the subject of the... indiscretion..."
- Isadora turns to face Sebastian, welcoming the distraction from contemplating the blasted Rhiani.
- Isadora: "In Kaitaine, we usually promote them to high office as swiftly as possible." She smirks.
- Sebastian: Sebastian returns the smile, slightly. "My Lady, one must never tolerate anything but full disclosure in their subordinates. For this reason i have seen a number of otherwise promising careers ended... rather messily through thoughtless lies..."
- MHolmes: Dhazari seems very intrugued by this exchange. "I thought your two cities were similar?"
- Sebastian: "In many ways they are, but you must realize that neither city is as uniform as the Rhiani seem to believe."
- Isadora flashes a smile at Dhazari. "Besides, one of my few perks out here is that I can be less polite than Sebastian."
- Sebastian: "As the Lady says," Sebastian replies with a more pronounced smile.
- MHolmes: "Hmmm. And the Rhiani are not quite as uniform as your people would believe," he responds to Sebastian. "Though with all Rhiani honesty is not an option but a requirement...as you well know. Politness is often a lie, and so we don't miss it, lady."
- MHolmes: He grins at Isadora. A man is dead, and he seems to be enjoying himself. A little.
- Sebastian: Sebastian hides a smile that others believe they know the extent of his knowledge.
- Sebastian: "I must say, you Rhiani are a farily blood-thirsty people, you seem not at all taken aback by this murder." Sebastian knows that reinforcing incorrect opinions never hurts, especially when it causes others to understimate you.
- Isadora watches Dhazari for his reply, wondering if he would wear the same smile for her death. She thinks so.
- MHolmes: "Well, he's not of my tribe. Killing is never simple, but I had no love for the man particularly. Though I will say he was the best you had in terms of being able to make his way in the swamp," he becomes pensive for a moment.
- MHolmes: "This may delay production considerably."
- Isadora: "Indeed, it might. It also makes us slightly more reliant on our kind hosts."
- Sebastian: Sebastian makes a mental note to look into the specific nature of this "incident".
- MHolmes: At this point, Speckler, the colony quartermaster comes into the tent. He looks about to see if he's interrupting. A handsome Shay man, Speckler is a friend of everyone in the camp due to his marvellous cooking skills. In fact, he has a pot in his hand as he enters.
- Isadora beckons him in. "Come on. You're between crises."
- MHolmes: "A skyship has been spotted approaching from the west..news from Kaitaine, your ladyship! And I've made something special tonight," he says, proffering the pot.
- Isadora straightens up at that news. "How close? It's been too long since the last one." She stretches out her hand to sample.
- MHolmes: "Still a ways off, but heading with the wind, so I think less than half an hour," he says, pleased that Isadora is trying his concoction.
- Sebastian: Sebastian catches Isadora's eye, "My Lady, if we are finished with this conference...? I have a few minor matters to attend to."
- Isadora nods to Sebastian, her good humor temporarily restored. "We're finished. I hope not to have to trouble you with... similar matters in the future."
- MHolmes: As they approach the encampment, the four travelers gazes cannot help but be drawn to the sight of the ship that is coming down to the lake ahead of them. Men can be seen on the deck of the ship working the rigging in a manner that presumably intends to bring it to rest in the water.
- Gennadi: Well that's...
- Gennadi: "new"
- MHolmes: Serama says, "I saw one once land in Sarnak. A new trade treaty had just been signed. Some country far to the north, I think."
- MHolmes: "I don't think they'd be hostile...."
- Gennadi: probably not...
- Gennadi: "if nothing else, the rest of the camp should be fine... shall me?"
- MHolmes: Serama nods.
- MHolmes: As the group approaches the camp, they note that there are two groups of tents essentially. One plainly Rhiani, and another that's clumsy looking in how it's tents attempt to be more advanced. The Rhiani tents are to the north, and the others to the south. People from both groups seem to be congregating at the lake.
- MHolmes: Apparently they are excited about the landing, too, enough to not notice the approach of the four.
- MHolmes: Breanna notes the empty tents as she passes them, her eyes lingering...
- Isadora is striding towards the landing site. Always hope for good news, but never expect it.
- Gennadi waits in back of the crowd, looking toward the new arrivals and trying to make eye contact with some of his people.
- Gennadi shakes his head surreptitiously at Breanna.
- MHolmes: Near the lake Jilliam reports to Isadora, "We've got him in the cage, ma'am. They reinforced it last night, so I think it'll keep him as long as he's watched."
- MHolmes: Gennadi catches the eye of a Rhiani girl who comes closer as the mob moves forward. "You're one of the stragglers from Sherezak, aren't you?"
- Isadora: "Good. I'll figure out something to do with him soon--have to. They're testing us," she says to Jilliam.
- MHolmes: "I think they might be trying to be rid of us entire, ma'am," says Jilliam. "It's not that they're bad sorts, just that they don't trust our ways."
- Gennadi nods to the girl. "have you seen any others? Spoken to them? I'm looking for my sister."
- MHolmes: "There have been many over the past months," she relates. "It's very sad. Did you lose many others?"
- Isadora grunts assent to Jilliam, her eyes on the ship. "Dhazari could see us all vanish into the lake with a smile. Our position here is too tenuous."
- Gennadi frowns. "I haven't lost anyone. My sister's not dead."
- MHolmes: "Well, the men aren't afraid. I picked a fine squad of soldiers," says Jilliam and then, "And if I might say so, they respect you and your leadership. So don't worry on that front. We're safe as long as they don't decide to attack all out."
- MHolmes: The girl responds, "I didn't mean to say that she was, just that you were trying to find her... that she's lost, not that she's dead or anything. Sorry..."
- Isadora: "Which they won't, unless something convinces them it's the _honest_ thing to do. And the refugees will probably eat us out of business before that happens."
- Gennadi rubs at his face. "No. I should apologize. It's been a difficult time." He changes the subject, "Who are these strangers in the flying ship?"
- MHolmes: "Well, maybe the ship will help with that. I'm sure they'll have laid on some provisions for us. Speckler does marvels with those local fish but they still taste funny to me, " says Jilliam with a twisted face and a grin.
- MHolmes: "The strangers are from lands far away," she says trying to be helpful. "Some of them are camped here for a long time, and trading with us to get us to take them into the swamp."
- Isadora nods a bit absently to Jilliam, impatient for the ship to land. Surely someone has written.
- Gennadi frowns. "Why would they want to enter the swamp?"
- MHolmes: "There is a flower there - it is very valuable to them," she says. "They trade things with us to show them the way to it. There will be more on the ship."
- MHolmes: The ship lands in the water, and puts down anchor. A party prepares to put boats in the water to unload.
- MHolmes: Sebastian and the quartermaster stand off from the crowd, talking about the recent events. Speckler relates, "Yep, the natives are getting restless alright. I really think that it's a matter of the dissapearances. What I mean is that they really want out money, but there are some who see it as decimating the important parts of their tribe."
- MHolmes: He continues,
- MHolmes: "I mean, I've got them eating out of my hand, just trading them whatever iron I've got. But it's like they resent us for the chance to buy these things. They seem to think that we're going to bring more bad luck, or something. They especially don't like Zoora. Well except for her converts."
- MHolmes: He glances at the tent of the Priestess of Andaras, not too far off. Zoora had arrived only a month ago, and already had caused far more trouble than her miracles solved.
- Sebastian gives Speckler a smile, "And how are you making out my friend? Is there anything I can do to make your life easier?
- MHolmes: "Well, I certainly could use just about any tradables that I can get my hands on, of course. If you could talk to that trader friend of yours to get me some more of those carnellian necklaces, that would be great. Apparentlyh the locals hold carnellian as sacred," he says excitedly.
- Sebastian: "Of course, of course! I'm expecting a letter on today's ship in fact." Sebastian smiles, "She said that she would send another small crate of goods. You, as always, may have first choice."
- Sebastian: "Well, I suppose that I should go and check on that letter now."
- Sebastian: Sebastian fades into the crowd.
- MHolmes: Speckler hardly notices Sebastian dissapearing...
- MHolmes: As one of the boats nears, Isadora notes two faces amongst those coming ashore that she has not seen in a long time. Neither expected in any way. The first is her sister, Leuta, looking very out of place. The second is Fazeris, the leader of her duelling order. Also out of place, but looking very much like he's enjoying himslef. He sees Isadora first, and waves to her, pointing her out to her sister.
- Isadora: Elation fights with surprise and wins, and Isadora waves enthusiastically back. She pushes her way in that direction. "Lueta! Fazeris! What are you doing here?"
- MHolmes: Leuta stumbles from the dingy as one of the Sel-kai sailors holds it steady. "Oh, dear, that was the most harrowing experience," she says looking back at the skyship. "I should never forgive you Fazeris for making us go that way."
- MHolmes: Fazeris responds, "You don't know what you're talking about my dear, the overland rout is far more difficult."
- MHolmes: "How are you my dear?" he says looking at Isadora.
- Isadora: "I'm fine," she says, embracing her sister and then extending her hands to clasp his. "The weather is awful, the locals are insane, and the culture is absent. But you're right, the land travel is worse."
- MHolmes: "So, it's as bad as all that, then, is it?" says Fazeris. "Sounds absolutely delightful."
- MHolmes: He strokes his small beard thoughtfully as he looks about the camp area.
- Isadora: "I just imprisoned a man who decided to kill one of my best scouts for... lying to children. It's incredible." She tosses her head as if shaking off a buzzing insect. "But the money flows, so we stay. What of home?"
- MHolmes: He grins in satisfaction, apparently, at the bucolic nature of the scene. "They killed a man for what? Oh, this is too much. Not anyone important, was it?, and then, "Home is home, you know, the money flows, so everyone's happy, except for those who are greedy and want everyone else's money. But I'm not doing that now, I'm here, right?"
- MHolmes: "Oh, and your sister ran away from home," he says non-chalantly. "Isn't that so, dear?"
- Isadora: "Important to the mission," she says evenly. That's not what he meant, of course. "Yes, you're here, and I'm delighted for it. But why?" Then he continues, and she sputters to a halt. "You did WHAT?" to Lueta.
- Sebastian: Sebastian appears abruptly at Isadora's side. "Excuse my, my Lady, but the courier had these two messages..." he trails off as he takes in her expression. "My apologies, i have come at a bad time."
- MHolmes: Leuta looks at the tall grasses that form the swamps around the edges of the lake that make it impossible for the ship itself to dock, apparently ignoring the question from her sister as though she hadn't heard.
- Sebastian: Sebastian gives a small bow and repeats, "My apologies," and turns to go.
- Isadora says to Sebastian, "No, please, this is the perfect time. Allow me to introduce you to my sister, who is engaging in foolishness, and the honorable Fazeris, who I hope isn't helping her at it."
- MHolmes: Another sailor comes up, "The post for the camp." He offers a bundle of messages to Isadora, and Jilliam grabs it, handing it off to his aide.
- Isadora: "Lueta, the invaluable Sebastian. Sebastian... Lueta." Her smile glitters, frozen.
- Sebastian: Sebastian takes Lueta's hand and bows over it. "A pleasure, Lady."
- MHolmes: Leuta pays attention to the introduction and bows slightly to Sebastian in return.
- Sebastian: As he bows his eyes track Jilliam's aid.
- Sebastian: Sebastian turns and bows to Fazeris, "And you honored Sir, a pleasure."
- MHolmes: "The Fazeris do not help with foolishness, but we were, in fact, pressed into this service," he says innocently. "You wouldn't have me let her go out on her own without any idea of how to get here? And she was most insistent. Weren't you my dear."
- MHolmes: Leuta has a mortified look on her face.
- Sebastian: Sebastian studies the byplay, attempting to ascertain the situation.
- MHolmes: "What was it, Senstian? Well met," he says ignoring Sebastian mostly.
- Isadora decides that this scene is entirely too public. "You two must be weary from travel. I can offer you the finest tent available..."
- MHolmes: "Well, I don't suppose that the housing here is as comfortable as the Paszi estate, but I'm guessing that your accomodations are better than most?" says Fazeris with a grin.
- MHolmes: He looks to his man to pick up his luggage and...lug. "Lead the way, fair lady," he says.
- Sebastian: Sebastian catches Isadora's eye. "If it would be convenient for me to meet with you later this afternoon lady...? I shall see to the ship as you escort your guests."
- Isadora nods to Sebastian. "I'll speak with you later, then." She links her arm with Lueta's, affectionate despite her outrage, and leads off towards her tent.
- MHolmes: Jilliam says, "I'm off to secure the camp, then ma'am. Can't wait for this evening - there's a little ritual the locals are having for me. I'm really starting to understand their take on my god Cay."
- Sebastian: Sebastian finds his way aboard the airship and quickly spots Timothy, the First Mate. "Hello old friend. You don't have the first watch do you? You look like you could use some real food!"
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