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Holmes: Gennadi and Breanna find Zoora and Laura in a small copse of trees not too far from the Rhiani campsite - yet well sheltered by a rise in the terrain. The red moon hangs like a bloody gash in the sky. Zoora looks down from it to the two new people entering the place, and nods to them.
Holmes: Nearby there's a small shrine set up. It has an idol of a cat set amongst a carefully crafted pile of stones that form a small arch behind it.
Holmes: "Welcome, beloved of the most wise of the gods," she intones.
Gennadi nod-bows. "Pleasant days and long nights."
Gennadi: Breanna nods.
Gennadi: You'll have to forgive my backward ways, Zora -- the shrine in Sherezak was a simple thing, taught by simple people.
Gennadi: so I imagine I've much to learn.
Holmes: "Well, as you can see, we only have a simple worship ourselves," she spreads her arms. Also in attendance are two from the Rhiani camp.
Holmes: One just a boy, and the other a woman.
Gennadi bows to both.
Gennadi assumes an attentive, receptive attitude that often served him in good stead when charming neighborhood grandmothers in Sherezak.
Holmes: Gennadi recognizes the woman as the same who he'd talked with on first arriving at the camp. Elahra was her name. She seems in a bad mood.
Holmes: She seems to be muttering to herself, looking around distractedly.
Holmes: Occasionally an expletive escapes her lips along with the name Shahnsa.
Gennadi spares a glance for Elahra, then returns his attention (obvious attention, at any rate) to Zora.
Holmes: *
Holmes: Through the bushes, Serama sees the Andarans gathered together as she walks restlessly through the night. Sleep has evaded her.
Holmes: *
Serama: Serama remains hidden, curious about the ritual that is transpiring. As an outsider to Rhiani culture, she never received an opportunity to witness their rites of passage.
Holmes: Zoora begins to say a prayer in a language that only she knows.
Holmes: After a bit, she looks up at the red moon again. "The eye of Andaras looks down on us well," she says.
Holmes: In the dim light, Zoora can be seen to glow slightly with a reddish hue.
Holmes: "This is auspicious, very auspicious."
Gennadi 's eyes widen a bit, as he's only heard of this happening, not actually seen it.
Gennadi: "what does it mean, wise mother?
Holmes: She chants a few more phrases, and then turns back to Gennadi. "It is a time for new beginnings."
Holmes: She turns back to the shine and says, "Watch closely."
Holmes: As she begins chanting again, a black cat leaps to the top of the shrine apparently having been in a bush behind it.
Holmes: Zoora smiles at the cat, nods to it, and continues chanting.
Gennadi turns back to give Breanna a wide-eyed "wouldja lookit that" glance.
Holmes: After a frozen eternity in the night, the glow about her gets a bit more intense. And before her worshipper's (and Serama's) eyes, she starts becoming more catlike.
Holmes: Her pupils become slits. Her ears grow points.
Holmes: Whiskers sprout from her face.
Holmes: Her body takes on a curvier and more lithe appearance under her ceremonial vestments.
Holmes: And she looks back to the moon, and a "Raaawr" like the cat she's becoming.
Gennadi looks, flatly, astonished, and recites one of the (two) prayers to Andaras that he knows by rote.
Holmes: Zoora turns back to him. "Very good. Andaras shines on you, too."
Holmes: Gennadi notes that he's aquired the glow somewhat.
Holmes: Very faint, but discernable.
Gennadi steps forward toward Zora.
Gennadi: "The light of Andaras falls on all alike. The wise see much by the glow, while the fool sees it not."
Gennadi: "I'm don't want to be a fool, anymore, Zora. Not as much of one, anyway."
Holmes: As he says this, Gennadi notes out of the corner of his eye that there is a dark figure in the foliage about the copse.
Gennadi: "I've got trouble ahead, and in my road. I ask Andaras to show me wisdom."
Gennadi kneels, bows.
Holmes: Zoora delivers a blessing on Gennadi and then says, "Arise. At the next moon, you shall be tested, Gennadi of the Rhiani."
Holmes: "The eye of Andaras shall rise like this again in twenty and one days."
Gennadi nods, once, and backs away. He then kneels about 10 paces away, his head bowed in just such a way as to watch the shadowed figure askance.
Holmes: With the magic of the ritual, his feat of Walking in the Shadows makes the world a bit brighter to his sight, and Gennadi sees that it is Serama that watches him.
Gennadi . . . o o O (interesting).

Holmes: Serama sees the ritual breaking up. Gennadi comes her way, and finds her in the brush.
Gennadi motions to Breanna that he'll be along in a bit.
Serama: Serama looks up at Gennadi, wide-eyed and surprised that he discovered her lurking in the brush.
Serama: "I was... just.... I couldn't sleep..."
Gennadi (to Serama) "and a good evening to you?"
Serama: Serama grins cautiously. "heh. good evening..."
Serama: She pulls a stray hair back behind her ear. her fear begins to subside...
Gennadi looks up at the sky. "It's a poor night for sleeping. Shall we walk? The camps are sometimes active under a full moon."
Serama: serama glances back to the small tent where her companion, elle, is sleeping. "sure. i love the desert at night..."
Gennadi heads toward the Rhianni camp, to see if his guess is right.
Gennadi: "I hope you found the camps agreeable ... I apologize, i hadn't seen you today, but couldn't find the time to make sure that everything was working out for you.
Serama: "it's fine," serama says. "the tribe is actually being very generous. they still don't quite know what to make of us but they are treating us well."
Gennadi: Understandable. With the Khitaine here, they should be more open to visitors.
Gennadi: "Are you..."
Gennadi he frowns, pondering how to mention the White Wood without actually mentioning the White Wood, especially at night.
Gennadi: "Are your plans the same? If so, I have some news."
Serama: "News?" Serama stops wandering through the encampment and faces Gennadi. "What news?"
Gennadi: Well, I may have secured some aid in our joint endeavors.
Gennadi: not much, granted, but some information on the ... on our destination... and some equipment.
Serama: "Aid," Serama says. "What kind of aid? Please, Gennadi, you're not being very specific." Serama smiles a coy smile as a young woman testing the waters of her own seductive power.
Gennadi: The ahh... it's interesting... a woman, I think the woman in charge of the Khitaine encampment... seems to have a problem dealing with the Rhiani here.
Gennadi: "She seems to find me less obtuse than others."
Serama: "Really..." Serama finds it difficult to hide her suspicions on what that phrase really means.
Gennadi: "In exchange for my ... I'm not sure that 'translation' is the right word, but it's close enough -- for that, and what information we glean while in the woods, we will have supplies, what information they have already... that sort of thing.
Gennadi: perhaps "obtuse" is less accurate than "annoying".
Serama: "Translation?" Serama says. "Is that all she wants?" Her inexperience at courtship shows as she finds it difficult to conceal her rising jealousy...
Gennadi: I've heard one of the Rhiani killed one of her men recently, for example.
Gennadi: 'and she and her...
Gennadi frowns.
Gennadi: "is there a word for the male equivilant of ... courtesan?
Gennadi: hmm... that wouldn't be right either.
Gennadi: her advisor... her ... Gods! I don't know what to call him...
Gennadi: "the swarmy fellow who seems to keep all the hinges in the house oiled... that sort of thing... he arranged most of it.
Gennadi: "his name's Sebastian, i believe. once the woman had made introductions, she mostly sat back and stayed out of it.
Serama: Serama touches Gennadi's arm lightly, realizing that her harsh demeanor has created some worried effect.
Serama: "It's okay, Gen. It's okay," she reassures him. "I believe you."
Serama: "I..."
Gennadi blinks, actually quite unaware of any potential feminine drama.
Serama: "I have to go." Serama finishes curtly.
Gennadi blinks again.
Gennadi: "I'm sorry the news wasn't quite as helpful as I'd made it sound."
Serama: "It is helpful, Gennadi," Serama replies with a warrior's facade. "Very helpful. We will meet tomorrow morning and go to meet this lady."
Serama: "Perhaps Elle and I can work to protect her assets amongst the Rhiani."
Gennadi: "Excellent. I'll look for you tomorrow."
Gennadi smiles artlessly, but his eyebrows have more rogueish ideas.
Gennadi: Until tomorrow, then. I hope you sleep better.

Holmes: Elkaru rides hard. He can no longer see the men who were following him, and hasn't been able to see them for a while now. But he rides anyhow, knowing that they might still be following. Better safe than sorry.
Holmes: He wonders if the perfume he's wearing might be leading them along.
Holmes: The valley climbs between two high hills, their sides covered with almost green grass.
Holmes: A few scraggly trees grow here and there, but sparsely.
Holmes: As he comes over a rise, he sees the source of the river. The valley widens, and carves deep here into the foothills - and in the middle of it's breadth is a lake with a greenish cast to it's waters.
Holmes: There are inviting stands of trees about the lake on the near side, and large swamps. On the far side is a huge wood spreading up and out of the valley. It's trees are shockingly straight and white
Elkaru looks around for signs of civilization.
Elkaru thinks: "Even campfire smoke would be nice."
Elkaru nudges his horse in the direction of the white trees.
Holmes: And lo, from between some of the trees by the near side of the lake, he notes signs of a camp. A thin stream of smoke wafts up amongst their branches.
Elkaru spurs his horse for a little extra speed, but not much. He doesn't want to look like he's running, even if he is.
Elkaru is heading for the camp, of course.
Elkaru is looking for people.
Holmes: *
Holmes: *
Holmes: A bit later, Elkaru sees some strange tents a bit off from where he'd seen the smoke. They aren't Rhiani designs. And the man he sees emerge from one isn't Rhiani.
Holmes: Sebastian stretches in the morning sunlight.
Sebastian takes a deep breath. His face holds an unaccostomed smile.
Elkaru is a slightly handsome Rhiani man, with a somewhat dark cast to his skin. He has a pleasant expression on his face, and he reeks of perfume and sweat. His horse is not overladen with saddlebacks, and he does not look like a warrior, tho he has an oddly-wrapped parcel on his back. His clothes are humble, but his back is straight.
Elkaru smiles and says, in Rhian: "Grettings, sir. Do you know my language?"
Sebastian smiles, "Yes I do." He then switches to Sel-kai, "Do you know mine?" he asks with a teasing smile.
Sebastian switches back to Rhian. "You must be a new arrival. What brings you to our humble camp?"
Elkaru: I'm afraid I don't know that tongue. Well met. I am called Elkaru.
Sebastian: "My name is Sebastian. What brings you to this part of the country?"
Elkaru: I'm looking for some honest work. Got any?
Sebastian smiles. "I'm not the right person to ask for employment, but I can point you in the right direction. What kind of skills do you possess?"
Holmes: At that moment Isadora comes running along, sweat pouring down her face.
Elkaru: Oh, little bit of this, a little bit of that. I'm quick with my hand and eye, and I learn quickly.
Sebastian glances at Isadora. Is she cooling down or just getting started? Interrupting someone at the beginning of a run is poor form.
Elkaru does a double-take when he sees Isadora.
Elkaru hurredly gets off his horse so he can bow to her.
Elkaru mutters to himself as he bows: "Today's hard riding has been worth it."
Isadora pulls up short, waving a hand at the two of them while she catches her breath for a moment. Her clothes are Kaitaine style, good quality albeit currently stained with sweat. Dark hair tumbles in a tail down her back, and she wipes more strands of it away from her forehead. "Sebastian. And... guest. Wonderful, I was just finishing."
Elkaru: Sebastian, please introduce me to this woman of noble bearing and ravishing coutenance.
Isadora arches a brow and straightens her shoulders a bit in spite of herself. Not much flattery to be had in these parts...
Sebastian makes a slight bow. "My Lady, this is Elkaru. He tells me he is looking for 'honest work'." His tone carefully doesn't betray a certain... doubt about such a claim.
Sebastian: "He reminds me of that Gennadi fellow. So he may well prove as useful." Sebastian allows another smile, this one doesn't touch his eyes.
Elkaru bows again. "My lady. I am but a simple tribesman, but if you are in need of anything done as part of your retinue, please let me know. A woman of your obvious stature should not be without attendants, even in the wilderness."
Isadora doesn't return the bow--he just said he was a simple tribesman, after all--but she nods to Elkaru graciously. "Your tongue has more silver than any I've heard recently in these parts--present gentleman excluded, of course." She flickers a smile in Sebastian's direction.
Elkaru doesn't seem to expect a bow, and nods in Sebastian's direction. "I recognized some quality in the gentleman as well, methinks."
Elkaru: If there is anything I or the Seven Bladed Tongue can do for you, my Lady, you have only to ask.
Holmes: At that moment there's a pause as everyone looks over to the impressively large man approaching from the direction of the Rhiani camp.
Isadora leans against the nearest tent pole, folding her arms and looking at Elkaru expectantly. "You can't just say that and leave it--what is the Seven Bladed Tongue?" She stops, then, and looks over in the Rhiani direction.
Elkaru raises an eyebrow.
Okhfels is very tall and very, very muscular. He's covered with greasy soot, and wears sparse, beat-up leather armor. He seems to be just kind of walking around.
Elkaru: It is a holy relic that I acquired in battle from the Fire Snakes. It is quite effective against demons, in my experience.
Sebastian makes a mental note to keep an eye on Elkaru as he turns his attention to Okhfels. "Good morning to you, Okhfels."
Okhfels: "Good morning, Sebastian. Sleep well?"
Okhfels 's voice is deep, but has a friendly brightness to it.
Sebastian: The uncharacteristic smile briefly passes over Sebastian's face. "I slept quite well, my large friend. And how have you enjoyed your stay with us so far?"
Okhfels: "It's no pleasure pits of Kar-Dammas, but it'll do." He smiles broadly, displaying straight, white teeth.
Isadora watches the conversation in silence for a moment, mopping the last of the sweat from her face and neck. Maybe she should connect Elkaru with Gennadi before he runs off to kill himself in the demon-haunted forest.
Okhfels: "Do you know a man named Narbin?" he asks Sebastian.
Sebastian thinks for a moment. "Ah, yes, Narbin the scout. Thank you for reminding me, I need to speak with him sometime this morning..." Sebastian looks back up at Okhfels, "What would you know?"
Okhfels: "He's made something of a proposal. Not sure whether I should take it."
Okhfels: "
Okhfels: "I want to know what you think of him."
Isadora: Isadora, still listening, lets her gaze drift to Elkaru. She looks him up and down, wondering what his angle on the camp is. He doesn't look exactly like a refugee...
Elkaru: My lady, I must say that if I had known I was going to meet a woman like you, I would have a proper gift ready. As it is, all I have to give you is my adoration and service.
Sebastian absently reaches into a pocket and hands Elkaru a slightly crumpled paper flower.
Isadora grins at Elkaru. "I haven't heard talk like this since Kaitaine. What's your story, tribesman? Most of the locals aren't nearly so struck by my shining presence."
Elkaru takes the flower, looks at it, and pins it to his tunic.
Elkaru: Then the locals are fools, my lady. Which is not unusual. As for my own story, I am merely a humble worshipper of Inis, seeking to spread a little joy here and there.
Sebastian looks at Okhfels again, "Nabrin is... good. Very good. He is excellent at what he does, but he is a bit too smart for his own good. He is extremely competent, but I would watch my back around him."
Okhfels nods. "Yeah. I have known men like this. Thank you, Sebastian."
Sebastian gives a slight bow. "Is there anything else I might assist you with?"
Okhfels thinks for a minute, "No. You?"
Sebastian: "Well, I like to keep abreast of events. What exactly does Nebrin want of you? If, that is, you are free to tell me."
Okhfels: "He wants me to come explore a place with him."
Elkaru continues to * Isadora: "I am lately from Sherezak. I got to witness some of the.... troubles there."
Sebastian: At the mention of 'Shrezak', Sebastian's ears prick a bit. He starts actually listening to Elkaru.
Okhfels: "He says there might be things there I would want to have... but he would keep the gold. Now, I think maybe he is trying to trick me."
Sebastian: "Ah, I see. He may well be honest. He does not strike me as the kind to betray others on a whim. And he does seem pragmatic enough to ask for help if he needs it. But it is interesting that he approached you, an outsider."
Okhfels: "Yes. That is what bothers me, too."
Isadora: Isadora, about to ask about Inis, is diverted to the more pressing topic of Sherezak. "You don't look like a refugee," she says, voicing her previous thought. "You saw what happened in Sherezak, but escaped untouched?"
Elkaru does a little bow. "Indeed. Thanks to Inis and the Tongue, of course."
Isadora: "I'm glad the Tongue has served you well. Who's Inis, then?"
Sebastian: "Well Okhfels, this choice you must make on your own. But if you have further questions, I am here to assist you."
Okhfels nods.
Okhfels: "Do you need anything, Sebastian?"
Sebastian: "I need many things my friend, but at the moment your friendship is sufficient."
Okhfels: "I'm done with feasting and singing for now. I'm ready to work. Is there a blacksmith here? Maybe I can help him."
Okhfels: "It has been a long time since I have worked with fire, rather than a sword... but right now it is what I would do."
Elkaru: A goddess of all the good things in life. Love, pleasure, strong drink. I like to think it was because of Inis that the demon queen spared me, though I had to give up a kiss to her. But, really, my Lady, surely your own story is much more interesting, if I may be so bold to say so.
Sebastian provides Okhfels with directions to the blacksmith. "I believe that he will be able to use your assistance."
Isadora laughs, a clear but brittle sound. "My story is dull. Romance, grudges, death, exile. We're fresh out of demon queens in Kaitaine, I assure you."
Okhfels: Okhfels gives a salute. "Thanks to you." He nods and smiles to Isadora, and then turns to go...
Isadora nods to Okhfels. Must ask Sebastian later what that was about...
Elkaru: That's just as well, my Lady. While I escaped with my life, I think my life was shortened for her price. I much prefer mortal woman, with their grudges, deaths, exile, and so on. But surely I must be boring you with my prattle. I think I've been on the trail too long.
Isadora: "You're just being provocative, now. Think you can mention demon queens and then casually dismiss it? No, you'll have to spill the whole story. I have plenty of wine, if your throat is too parched from travel."
Elkaru bows again. "I would certainly appreciate the hospitality, my Lady. Though I'm afriad the story is quite short."
Sebastian catches Isadora's eye and arches an eyebrow inquisitively in an "should i keep my eye on him, or will you?" expression.
Isadora laughs again, more natural this time, and when Elkaru calls his story short she almost calls him a liar... which stops her, as she remembers she's not in totally familiar territory here. She gives Sebastian a little nod, and says to Elkaru, "Come. Drink. We've just had a ship recently, so I have wine fit to offer to people."
Elkaru makes a flourishing motion to Isadora, as if he will follow her lead.
Isadora takes him to her tent, the best in the Kaitaine camp. In the "office" part of the structure, she waves him to a chair and sprawls into her own seat after pouring two generous cups of wine. "Go on. You have no idea how rare exciting news is on this miserable shore."
Elkaru: It's quite simple, really. I was very busy trying to spread the love of the goddess in the city, when word of the "Doom" finally reached my ears, almost too late to escape. The local preistesses assured me that the doom was quite real, even if the details were vague.
Elkaru sips the wine.
Elkaru: Hmmm, I cannot thank you enough for the wine. Regardless, I tried to leave the city. However, I was blocked by crowds, and, in one case, by the Fire Snakes, which I was forced to intimidate into getting out of my way.
Isadora: "Fire Snakes?"
Elkaru: A rival tribe. Mere men, like myself, and cowards to boot.
Elkaru: But they were enough to slow me down.
Elkaru: Before I could escape, a shadow passed over the moon, and demons descended on the city. Foul, bat-winged things.
Holmes: Just then, Leuta pokes her head in the tent, "Am I disturbing anything?"
Elkaru puts up a finger. " This will only take a moment. It was only with the aid of the Seven-Bladed Tongue that I was able to take the head of one the demons, and then only because the other demons were busy scourging the crowd. When the demon queen arrived soon after, I was able to trade the head for my life, but only if I gave her a kiss."
Isadora: "Nothing at all. He was just getting to the demon queen." Isadora alternates sips of wine with bites of some fruit.
Holmes: Leuta invites herself in, and sits, listening to Elkarus story.
Elkaru: "That kiss nearly drained me of my life... but, as per our agreement for the head, she let me live. Barely. I spent a lot of time recovering after that."
Elkaru shudders.
Isadora: "And that's the last you've seen of her? Whirlwind romances can be hard."
Elkaru laughs. "Well, I take it the kiss was a punishment as well as a flirtation. After all, I had just killed one of her servants. I'm not sure what she wanted the head for."
Elkaru shudders again, slightly. "I'm not sure I want to know."
Elkaru brightens. "She was, of course, not as beautiful as yourself, my Lady. But having a shadow of evil over one's very essence tends to be hell on one's appearance."
Isadora smiles. "Good story. Definitely worth a drink. And, since I never properly introduced myself... I'm Isadora, and the Kaitaine tents answer to me. This is Leuta, my sister."
Isadora: "Leuta, this is Elkaru, a 'simple tribesman' and abnormally skilled flatterer for the region. Be careful."
Elkaru bows a little at the complement.
Elkaru shoots a twinkling little look at Leuta. "A pleasure. Are you My Lady's sister?"
Holmes: "I am. My name is Leuta."
Holmes: She acts overly formally not knowing how to treat the native.
Holmes: She stands and curties.
Isadora approves of the formality. As far as she is concerned, Leuta can keep a cool distance from every one of the crazy people out here.
Elkaru bows deeply to Leuta. "It is a pleasure to have two such fine ladies to serve."
Holmes: Leuta looks quite taken with the depricating manor of this native. "Why, thank you."
Holmes: She bats her eyelashes coyly.
Elkaru winks at her, his head turned so Isadora can't see.
Isadora finishes off her wine in a long gulp and laughs at Leuta and Elkaru. "I said be careful. You didn't get out enough in the old neighborhood, sister--he's like a face from home." She doesn't say whether that's a good thing.

Holmes: Sebastian finds Alexander talking to Speckler at the storehouse. Alexander says goodby the camp cook and quartermaster, and comes over to his boss looking like he has news.
Sebastian arches his eyebrows in one of his incredibly complex questioning expressions.
Sebastian: "What news do you have for me this morning Alexander?"
Holmes: He seems to be concerned, "Speckler says that he saw Salast heading out into the swamp last night on his own. No idea what he was up to."
Sebastian: "Into the swamp, at night, alone? That is peculiar... Has anyone seen him since then?"
Holmes: Alexander puts some jerky in his mouth, and starts to chew it carefully. Obviously gotten from Speckler. "No, but then I don't think anyone has looked in his tent."
Sebastian: "Hmm... well, perhaps we should do so then." Me heads toward Salast's tent.
Holmes: *
Holmes: *
Holmes: *
Holmes: A few moments later, in front of Salast's tent, Elkaru comes along having found some bread to eat.
Elkaru looks around, trying to get a feel for what this camp is about.
Sebastian approaches the tent Elkaru is loitering in front of, Alexander in tow.
Sebastian glances at Elkaru, "Your interview with Lady Isadora went well?"
Elkaru: I think so, yes. Her sister is quite lovely as well.
Sebastian: "Ah yes, the lovely Leuta. She's such an interesting girl." Sebastian turns to the tent and sticks his head in for a quick look around.
Holmes: Inside, Salast lies sleeping soundly, snoring ever so gently. He seems to be in his day clothes, however, and he's never slept in like this before.
Sebastian takes a quick look around the tent, looking for any signs of what might have been going on last night.
Elkaru raises an eyebrow at Sebastian's behavior but doesn't say anything, yet.
Elkaru says, quietly, to * Sebastian: "Should I be keeping some sort of lookout?"
Sebastian chuckles quietly. "You, my perfumed friend, are an interesting fellow. I may have work for you after all..."
Elkaru smiles and nods.
Holmes: Before standing back up, Sebastian notes the strange red mud on Salast's boots. Not something he'd seen previously.
Sebastian turns to Alexander. "Look at the mud on Salast's boots. Take a sample and keep it somewhere safe. Then see what you can find out about it. I want to know where it can be found."
Sebastian turns back to Elkaru. I see you have eaten, have you had a real breakfast yet this morning?
Elkaru: Other than some wine, not really. Any hospitality would be appreciated.
Sebastian: "Come, we'll talk to Speckler. I'm sure he can find something for us... and you and I may have a profitable discussion..."
Elkaru: Excellent.
Elkaru makes a little bow.

Holmes: A tall unkempt man with a shock of wiry hair atop his head makes his way down from the foothills towards the green lake, and it's swampy shores. He is followed by what looks to be his porter - the man seems to grimace with the effort of carrying both of their things.
Holmes: A voice from behind a tree says in Kaitaine Shay, "Who would you be?"
Archelaus: Archelaus pauses from calculating the position of the sun. He looks around and draws himself up to his full height.
Archelaus: "I am Archelaus of Danarchis." He I am hoping to find the perfect spot to observe a vital celestial event.
Archelaus: His porter chimes in "A place to sleep tonight wouldn't be too bad either."
Archelaus looks disappointed. He was hoping for something better from his student.
Holmes: The man behind the tree steps out. He's an atheletically built man who seems very at home in this rustic environment. "I am Pallos. From Danarchis you are? That's far, far from here, I understand."
Holmes: "But then I think it's not as far as Sel-Kai, and there are people her from there."
Holmes: "That said, they flew here. Have you walked the entire distance of Haestra to be here?" he asks somewhat disbelievingly.
Archelaus: "I travelled by ship mostly. It was somewhat distressing--the rocking of the vessel kept disturbing my calculations."
Holmes: "Ah, that makes sense. Well, you must be weary, it's far from any port. Please come with me back to our camp," he requests.
Holmes: "You can tell me about your precise rout as we walk."
Holmes: "It's just the around the lake, you see," finishes Pallos.
Archelaus: "Of course, of course. You say there are Sel-ai there? Are there any scholars among them?"
Holmes: "Well, there's one who's something like a scholar. Well, not really. Actually I really wouldn't know, I've not spent much time about scholars. But he seems like the type. And there's a woman - can they be scholars?" he asks.
Holmes: As they move along, Tehu notes that there are ruins of buildings amongst the reeds on this, the north end of the lake.
Archelaus: Tehu asks Pallos "was there a village or something here?"
Holmes: "No, I think rather more than that, a whole town once, with great buildings. Long gone now, and being eaten by the swamp," his eyes linger over a stone wall that might have belonged to a temple.
Holmes: They pass nearly within bowshot of the structure as they skirt the swamp.
Holmes: "So, something is going to happen in the sky? I've seen some weird things in the sky being out all the time as I am," he says trying to see what Archelaus sees.
Archelaus starts to wander distractedly towards the ruins. Something seems familiar about them.
Holmes: "Oh, wait! Don't go in there!" says Pallos suddenly. "It's rather dangerous."
Archelaus: Tehu hauls Archelaus back.
Archelaus: "But I'm sure I could get a better view of the horizon from over there."

Holmes: The smell of Elkaru is still in Isadora's tent, when Narbin comes in to see her.
Holmes: "Might I speak to you, ladyship?" he says politely.
Isadora: "Of course. Coming to pay a social call, or has something happened?" She's cleaned up from her earlier run, and looks up at Narbin from writing something at her desk.
Holmes: "Well, something of a social call, in a way, actually," he pauses thinking his words carefully.
Holmes: "Apparently you spoke to that very large fellow - Okhfels - last night?"
Isadora keeps her eyebrows from shooting through the roof with an effort. Things become a little clearer as he asks his question. She answers, "Briefly, yes. Big, mercenary. You have something against him?
Holmes: "Oh, quite the contrary, M'lady," Narbin continues, edging into the tent a tad further. "He's quite the impressive fellow. In fact, I'd like to get some help from him, for a little project that I'm working on."
Isadora: "But it's help that you want to clear with me first...? I don't know whether I should ask more about your project. What do you need from me?"
Holmes: "Well, the details aren't really important. All I need is for the big man to help me," he gestures to Isadora. "This is where you come in. I understand that you developed somewhat of a raport with him last night?"
Holmes: "I'm not so charming as yourself, of course," he continues.
Isadora: "You might be overestimating our connection. But he seemed to be slightly more respectful than Shahnsa's tart, yes. You want me to tell him to help you?"
Holmes: "Well, if you could see your way to doing so, I would appreciate it, yes," he says.
Isadora: "Sure, I'll mention it. You and I don't need to have a detailed discussion about how this had better not come back to bite me, right?"
Holmes: "Correct. I'm sure it won't be a problem," he says confidently.
Holmes: "And perhaps 'request' would be a better term than 'tell'," he adds as an afterthout.
Isadora: "I'll be friendly. I'm good at that." She smiles broadly.
Holmes: "Okhfels doesn't seem to be the sort to take well to being ordered about unless he were under your command," he says.
Holmes: "Hmm. If you were to give him a position with the guards, that might be to everyone's advantage, no?"
Isadora: "Could be. I don't like loose mercenaries hanging around camp too long. He's been dodgy about the end of his last job, but that's a normal risk."
Isadora nods. "I'll offer him a job."
Holmes: "Excellent," he says with a smile. "I am in your debt, ladyship. Is there anything that I can do for you?"
Isadora: "Not right now. I'm sure I'll think of something soon."
Holmes: "Very well," Narbin says, and with a bow, he exits the tent.

Shadow World

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