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[20:07] Mholmes: The smith calls for a break as the sun reaches it's zenith. Okhfels isn't sure how it's possible, but somehow coming down out of the mountains has gotten him much closer to the sun.
[20:12] Mholmes: Outside of the tent, down a ways from the rest of the tents, there's a field between where the camp is, and where the Rhiani camp.
[20:12] Mholmes: After a moment, a gaggle of Rhiani children go running by in their scant clothing.
[20:13] Mholmes: A cloud of dust follows them.
[20:13] * Okhfels smiles at them, and tries to steer them away from the hot forge.
[20:13] * Okhfels watches them go. He takes a deep breath, and a faraway look comes over him, just for a moment.
[20:14] Mholmes: They scream as they see the giant near, and the game is disrupted for a moment. The ball they are kicking goes somewhere that's apparently "out of bounds."
[20:14] Mholmes: One goes to pick it up, and throw it back into the game.
[20:14] Mholmes: One small child stands near Okhfels as the cloud of children heads towards the other end of the field.
[20:15] Mholmes: He looks up at the big man, unable to look away.
[20:15] * Okhfels looks down. "Hello."
[20:15] Mholmes: The child raises a hand in recognition, but keeps staring.
[20:15] * Okhfels smiles a friendly smile. No teeth.
[20:16] Okhfels: "I'm Okhfels. What's your name, child?"
[20:17] Mholmes: The child ponders the question for a while, and then says, "Kohari" in a small voice, and then runs off suddenly.
[20:17] * Okhfels chuckles a little and watches him go. The faraway look comes back, deeper this time.
[20:22] Mholmes: The game gets to the end of the field near the lake. There's some cheering, and it seems that one side has scored or won the game or something.
[20:23] Mholmes: Okhfels notes Elahra across the field, apparently also watching the kids.
[20:23] * Okhfels turns back to the Smith. "How long's the break, boss?"
[20:25] Mholmes: "We start again, soon. You get some water before then," Says the smith. Then looking at Okhfels again, "Or not if you no need it."
[20:26] * Okhfels nods. "I won't be gone long."
[20:27] * Okhfels picks up a bucket and a dipper, and takes them to (wherever it is we keep the water around here... cistern? barrel?) and fills the bucket. He brings the bucket and dipper down to Elahra.
[20:29] Mholmes: She looks up at him, and suddenly one of the children screams. And then several more.

[20:30] Mholmes: Isadora was just meeting with Sebastian about some costs for supplies, when the cry echos across the camp coming from the "common" field.

[20:30] Mholmes: Gennadi and Breann awake from the cries of children not far off.

[20:31] Mholmes: Okhfels sees the cause of their fright. Some huge head has lifted itself out of the lake and is headed ashore. The children flee everywhere.
[20:31] * Isadora looks up, irritated. "What now...?"
[20:32] Okhfels: "Run."
[20:32] Okhfels: "RUN!"
[20:33] * Okhfels gets Elahra moving, and runs towards the forge, where his hammer is, bucket left bouncing on the field.
[20:33] * Gennadi stumbles into the daylight and blinks his eyes into focus, peering around the encampment.
[20:33] * Sebastian looks up calmly. "This sounds like a significant disruption. Perhaps your presence is required, my Lady. Shall we?" He bows and gestures toward the screams.
[20:34] Mholmes: The head is as large as some of the smaller children, and as it comes ashore, it's at the end of some sort of massive serpent, Okhfels sees as he turns back with his hammer.
[20:34] * Isadora nods to Sebastian and goes to investigate, hurrying as the cries don't die down.
[20:34] * Isadora arrives at the edge of the field, halting in spite of herself as she takes in the sight.
[20:34] * Okhfels uses his magic to heat up the head of his hammer. He shouts. "Serpent! A big GIANT SERPENT! WARRIORS!"
[20:35] * Gennadi sees the commotion and frowns. He motions for Breanna to stay at the tent. "Keep the girl safe!" He shouts as he sprints toward the shoreline.
[20:37] Mholmes: Okhfels can hear Elahra in the Rhiani camp raising the alarm there.
[20:38] * Isadora shouts to the nearest guard to bring reinforcements, and then starts jogging toward the shore herself.
[20:38] Mholmes: As he looks at the approaching serpent, Okhfels notes that Kohari is standing there, staring at the serpent, just as he had at Okhfels a few minutes ago. Apparently unable to move.
[20:40] * Gennadi skids to a stop on the grass near the shore, backpedaling to keep his balance, his hand dropping to his knife.
[20:40] Okhfels: With an exclamation that's more moan than battle cry, Okhfels runs down the slope towards the serpent, shouting and waving his hammer around. "Oy! Big bad snake! Over here, ya brute!"
[20:41] Okhfels: Heat shimmers surround the hammer's head.
[20:41] * Isadora pulls up near Gennadi, her own rapier already out. "Tell me about this thing, Gennadi! This is a Rhiani thing, right?"
[20:44] Gennadi: "It's not unusual for the river to spit up creatures such as this that leave a bad taste in its mouth, if you'll pardon the pun, milady."
[20:44] * Gennadi mutters, "this is brilliant," and circles to the side of the serpent and several dozen yards back from the head.
[20:45] Gennadi: "Perhaps you should stay back, milady," he calls back.
[20:47] Mholmes: Okhfels stands tall as he charges, his bellows of a set of lungs powering his voice as they seldom have. The serpent, about to strike the child seems to note the sound, and the waving of the glowing hammer, and slides by the child headed his way.
[20:47] Isadora: "Yes, I see you have full command of the situation," Isadora calls back to Gennadi, circling to the other side without retreating.
[20:49] * Okhfels pulls up short. "Alright, that worked... now what..." With the snake's attention on him, now, he backpedals, hammer held high, ready to smack it on the nose if it tries to strike.
[20:50] Mholmes: The scales of the serpent are a brilliant green, and the sheen from the water still coming down it, is almost blinding from some angles. Still, there's something decidedly unwholesome about the creature, despite this.
[20:51] Mholmes: It's also remarkably agile, Okhfels notes as it advances, for a creature of it's size. One would think it would have a hard time moving around.
[20:55] * Gennadi slips quickly over the grass of the shoreline, his knife still sheathed. Without sparing a moment to glance at the creature, he scoops up the idiot child and moves him to safety, whispering several sharp admonitions as he goes -- both to himself and the boy.
[20:58] Mholmes: As he does so, he notes the snake's head swining about, looking for him. Gennadi realizes that the snake has a blind spot back here - and what's more, knowing this, he should be able to move about the snake at will if he takes this into account.
[21:00] Mholmes: The snake closes in on Okhfels. Even the large man is nowhere near the size of this behemoth from the lake.
[21:01] Sebastian: A group of soldiers breaks through the crowd followed closely by Sebastian, who is dragging Salast along behind him. It's a rather comical sight considering the relative sizes of the two men. Sebastian is speaking agrily at Salast, "If your damn excursions brought this thing out then I won't even bother sending for an assassin. I'll just let the village know who's fault this was."A group of soldiers breaks through the crowd followed closely by Sebastian, who is dragging Salast along behind him. It's a rather comical sight considering the relative sizes of the two men. Sebastian is speaking agrily at Salast, "If your damn excursions brought this thing out then I won't even bother sending for an assassin. I'll just let the village know who's fault this was."
[21:03] Sebastian: oh...
[21:03] Mholmes: Off to Okhfel's right, several Rhiani arrive on the scene with their spears. Moments later there's a frightening wail of a sound as a chegain sails through the air. It hits the snake's head, and simply glances off. The thing turns to look that way for a moment, hisses, and then turns back to Okhfels.
[21:03] Sebastian: i know what happened
[21:04] * Okhfels focuses his magic as hard as he can, and waits for the snake to open its jaws...
[21:06] Mholmes: Both the soldiers and the Rhiani hunters balk at the size of the thing.
[21:22] Mholmes: The serpent nears Okhfels, and opens it's maw and he throws the hammer in. The beast recoils as the tremendous force impacts the back of it's throat. It recoils up, trying to spit out the red hot iron that is no doubt cooked to the back of it's gullet.
[21:22] Okhfels: "Ah... that worked... now what?"
[21:24] Mholmes: Then, Isadora and Okhfels exhort everyone to attack. The soldiers, and some of the Rhiani surge forward, Isadora leading the Kaitainians. Gennadi appears from behind the creature, and leaps upon it, stabing it valiantly with his knife.
[21:25] Mholmes: Isadora manages to annoy the creature with her rapier, as do the Rhiani with their spears. Gennadi can't wedge his knife under it's scales as he clings to it's writhing form. But the thing is battered and can't coherently respond to any one attacker.
[21:26] Mholmes: It starts to back towards the water, slowly at first, and then more determinedly. As it nears the water, it throws off Gennadi with a violent turn, and dives as quickly as it can, back into the water. As it leaves, a soldier shouts out, "It was wounded!" as he points to a trail of blood.
[21:27] Mholmes: Shansa of the Rhiani says, "It was from the mouth. I think the only one to actually wound it was the big man."
[21:28] Mholmes: "But we gave it hell!" he continues, and raises his spear above his head.
[21:28] Mholmes: The other Rhiani give a shout of victory.
[21:28] * Okhfels runs up to the edge of the water. "COME BACK HERE WITH MY HAMMER DAMN YOU!"
[21:29] Gennadi: "mrrmrph."
[21:29] * Gennadi pushes himself to a sitting position.
[21:30] * Sebastian turns to Salast. "Well, that went better than expected. I guess you can be on the lookout for those assassins after all."
[21:31] * Okhfels stomps away from the water. His anger soon passes, however, quenched in the effusive victory celebration of the soldiers and tribesmen.
[21:31] Mholmes: Salast is speechless. He grunts, and turns back to camp.
[21:32] Sebastian: In a surprised voice Sebastian calls out, "There's one now!"
[21:32] * Isadora claps Okhfels on the back, then looks for Jilliams or the next best rank, and orders a watch kept on the lake.
[21:33] Gennadi: "Well done, big man," Gennadi says as he walks up. "Good throwing."
[21:33] * Okhfels accepts the congratulations, smiling... but makes it clear that he couldn't have done it alone.
[21:35] Gennadi: "bit of a one-off trick, though, isn't it?"
[21:35] Mholmes: Jilliams gets the order from Isadora, and puts two pairs of men a safe distance from the shore to watch for the creature.
[21:36] Okhfels: "Yeah, if it doesn't work the first time, I'm kinda done..."
[21:36] Mholmes: The smith comes up behind Okhfels carrying a sword twice his own height. "I see you fight that thing. Very courageous. You take this. I make it long ago. Nobody can use it. You right man to bear it."
[21:37] * Isadora then goes looking for Salast and finds Sebastian. She says to him, "Where's that damned sorcerer?"
[21:37] * Okhfels accepts the blade from the smith. "I don't know what to say.... I'm not an officer. I'm not supposed to carry a sword."
[21:38] * Gennadi looks at the sword, which is taller then himself... then at the big man.
[21:38] Gennadi: "Seems a good match."
[21:38] Mholmes: The smith smiles a toothless grin, in a way that Okhfels wouldn't have thought the man capable of smiling. "You take it, anyway."
[21:38] Sebastian: "I brought him to see all the fun, but when the snake ran away he headed back to his tent. Do you want to go speak with him?"
[21:39] Mholmes: "Besides," says the smith, "I hate carrying that thing from camp to camp. Don't know what I was thinking when I made it!"
[21:39] Mholmes: "It some of my best work, though."
[21:39] Okhfels: "But..."
[21:40] Isadora: "Yes," Isadora says to Sebastian. "I want to find out if he knows anything about that snake. I need to talk to Gennadi, too." She looks grim.
[21:41] * Okhfels turns to Gennadi. "I'm not an officer..."
[21:41] Sebastian: "Do you require my presence?" Sebastian asks with a hopeful tone in his voice. It's clear that he wouldn't mind interrogating Salast at all.
[21:42] * Gennadi waves his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Unless you've got your entire homeland in your back pocket, big man, I wouldn't worry about such things here."
[21:42] * Okhfels goes with the celebrating soldiers. He drops the sword off with his stuff at the Forge, not really comfortable with it yet.
[21:44] Isadora: "No, I'll talk to Gennadi alone," Isadora says, either picking up on Sebastian's wish or busy with her own plans.
[21:44] Mholmes: The soldiers have been invited by the Rhiani to a campfire to celebrate. Many folks head off to the Rhiani camp.
[21:44] * Okhfels tries to celebrate like "one of the guys" but realizes that everyone is looking at him differently... looking at him like... like he looked at the Captain...
[21:45] * Gennadi joins in the festivities... a bit more comfortable in mixed company than he would be in either solely Rhianni or foreign company.
[21:45] Mholmes: As they approach the Rhiani camp, Narbin comes from that direction? "What did I miss here? Okhfels, what's the occasion?"
[21:46] * Okhfels gets a little quiet at the festivities... watching people, watching things happen in a way he had never really done before.
[21:47] Okhfels: "A snake came up out of the water... we managed to drive it off... badly hurt, we hope."
[21:49] Okhfels: "Big one."
[21:50] Mholmes: Narbin looks over at Gennadi. "From Sherezak?" he says empathetically.
[21:50] Gennadi: "En O Rmous ?. Huge."
[21:50] * Gennadi gestures with his mug.
[21:51] * Okhfels drinks down his mug.
[21:51] * Gennadi points at Narbin. "Sherezak that was, yes."
[21:51] Mholmes: "Astounding," says Narbin paying attention to the descriptions.
[21:51] Mholmes: "I'm sorry for whatever losses you might have suffered when the city was broght low."
[21:52] Gennadi: "My sister. She's in the Wh - the neighboring forest."
[21:52] * Okhfels gets a puzzled look on his face, and looks at Gennadi and Narbin.
[21:52] * Gennadi gestures.
[21:53] Mholmes: "The White Wood?" says Narbin. "Then I'm sorry - nobody comes out of there once they go in. I'm afraid she's lost."
[21:53] Mholmes: He looks down shaking his head.
[21:53] Gennadi: I find lost things.
[21:54] Gennadi: "And you shouldn't call the name out so loudly."
[21:54] Okhfels: "Wait, wait..."
[21:54] Mholmes: "You don't intend to go there, do you?" says Narbin incredulously.
[21:55] Okhfels: "This isn't the same place you want ME to go to with you, is it?"
[21:55] Mholmes: Narbin looks up, "Wha?...NO, no, no."
[21:56] Mholmes: "Different place altogether. Near those woods, but not in them."
[21:56] Okhfels: "Mh."
[21:56] Mholmes: "Couldn't get me to go in there for all the gold in Kaitaine," he says, and then takes a swig from a mug.
[21:57] * Isadora moves through the festivities without really sharing, her mind occupied with other things. She approaches the three men with Sebastian, stepping into the firelight with a smile. "Gennadi, Okhfels, good work. Gennadi... do you have a moment?"
[21:58] * Okhfels smiles to Isadora.
[21:58] * Okhfels suddenly thinks of something...
[21:58] Gennadi: Of a certainty. I should begin to make my excuses at any rate and head back... walk with me?
[21:58] * Okhfels looks around.
[21:59] * Isadora nods. "Lead on."

[22:02] Gennadi: "In what small way may I serve you?"
[22:03] * Gennadi seems expansive an a bit cocky after a few mugs of liquor... and not dying.
[22:03] * Isadora walks in silence until they've cleared earshot of the group at the fire. She says to Gennadi, "I need to know about the lake."
[22:03] Gennadi: "Beyond what we saw today?"
[22:05] Isadora: "Yes. Do you know of any stories about this place, involving serpents or not?" She holds off on giving more detail, not sure how much to lead him.
[22:10] Gennadi: The lake itself isn't noteworthy, milady. It's neighbor is.
[22:11] * Gennadi motions with his head, significantly, in the direction of the white woods.
[22:11] Isadora: "Haunted or something? Go on."
[22:13] Gennadi: The White Wood? Haunted, damned, home to most things evil that my people are privy to... there is proabably a list written on a holy hide somewhere.
[22:13] Gennadi: It attracts such things as that beast... like the flies to rotting meat.
[22:15] Isadora: "What about temples? Anything of that sort ever been popular around here?"
[22:18] * Gennadi 's eyes suddenly widen, and he stops dead, staring into the middle difference. "Cay's Balls
[22:19] * Gennadi 's eyes suddenly widen, and he stops dead, staring into the middle difference. "Cay's Balls!"
[22:19] * Gennadi 's eyes suddenly widen, and he stops dead, staring into the middle distance. "Cay's Balls!"
[22:20] * Isadora blinks and stops. "What about them?"
[22:21] * Gennadi blinks.
[22:21] Gennadi: "Ahh. I'm sorry. I just realized that I forgot something rather important."
[22:22] Gennadi: "Yes... there is a temple... a shrine rather. A Rhianni shrine. Just past the camp. On a hill."
[22:22] * Gennadi . . . o o O (And I was there today and made an ass of myself. Dammit!)
[22:23] Isadora: "That... is the sort of thing I'm interested in, yes. How old is it?"
[22:23] Mholmes: Isadora remembers that Sebastian had said something about a holy place in that direction. Something he'd heard about from the Rhiani themselves. But the word temple had never come up.
[22:24] * Gennadi thinks of the trees on either side of the shrine... one so old it had become stone. "At a guess, I'd say it was *very* old, milady."
[22:26] * Isadora frowns, walking on in silence for a few moments.
[22:26] Gennadi: I sense that's not what you wanted to hear.
[22:28] Isadora: "Not exactly. I don't have enough information to make a good decision, and I hoped you might fill in the gaps." She smiles at him. "Thank you for your help."
[22:29] * Gennadi shrugs. "I can take you there, if you like. At least, I can take you to where you can get a closer look." He frowns, slightly. "I'm not walking right up to it would be a very good idea."
[22:30] Isadora: "Why? Anything specific?"
[22:30] Gennadi: It has guardians. Most of our shrines, do, but as i said, this one is old.
[22:32] Gennadi: "You're a foreigner, no offense. These things often focus on such things. Which is a a shortcoming when -- When that doesn't apply."
[22:32] * Isadora nods. "I might take you up on that offer to go see it, soon. You'll be around?"
[22:32] Isadora: She laughs. "I assure you, I don't take offense at being foreign to this place."
[22:33] * Gennadi nods. "At least for a few days, until we're ready to visit our unpleasant neighbor."
[22:33] * Gennadi grins. "Fair enough."
[22:35] Isadora: "I'll find you, then," she says. "Now, I have some thinking and drinking to do."
[22:36] * Gennadi smiles again. "Fair enough. I'm heading back to my graciously provided tent."
[22:37] * Gennadi bows... his head, anyway.
[22:38] Mholmes: Gennadi notes someone trying to remain at an innocuous distance, listening to the conversation through a bunch of bushes.
[22:40] * Gennadi waits for Isadora to walk out of earshot... seeming to watch her go, and then comments to the night air. "I seem a popular man for visitations this evening. In what small way can I serve _you_, neighbor?"
[22:41] Gennadi: *comments to no one in particular*
[22:41] * Sebastian steps out of the bushes as Isadora leaves. "Excellent, a chance to speak with you alone..."
[22:43] Gennadi: "I should, as it happens, continue toward my graciously provided tent. Would you join me there?"
[22:44] Sebastian: "Of course, this shouldn't take long. I just wanted to discuss the details of your... trip to the woods."
[22:45] Gennadi: Sounds excellent. Walk with me.

[22:00] Mholmes: Okhfels notes Dharzari looking at him, "Lost something, mountain man?"
[22:01] Mholmes: Elahra passes behind him as he speaks, and comes to sit not far from Okhfels.
[22:03] Okhfels: "No.... no, I haven't." he looks Dharzari in the eye. "But I'm sure, if I had, you'd have been glad to help."
[22:03] Okhfels: "No.... ." he looks Dharzari in the eye. "But I'm if I had, you would help, right?"
[22:03] Okhfels: "No.... ." he looks Dharzari in the eye. "But if I had, you would help, right?"
[22:05] Mholmes: Dhazari looks Okhfels back in the eye with an almost questioning look, "Yes. Not only is it our way, but you have done a service for us this day."
[22:06] Mholmes: Narbin butts in, "Yes, the Rhiani are nothing if not hospitable. Assuming that their guests behave, of course."
[22:07] * Okhfels turns to Narbin. "You think I would not?"
[22:08] Mholmes: "You, my large friend?" says Narbin, raising his mug to Okhfels. "You are a paragon of proper behavior."
[22:08] * Okhfels makes a half-smile.
[22:11] Okhfels: "Dhazari, be a good man... fill this for me." He offers his big mug.
[22:11] Mholmes: "So, what do you think about an afternnoon jaunt around the lake?" says Narbin to Okhfels with a smile.
[22:12] * Okhfels takes a big breath.
[22:12] Mholmes: Dhazari takes the mug, slowly, nodding to Okhfels as he does, and then goes to where the skin of beer hangs to fill it for him.
[22:12] Okhfels: "No. No, Narbin... I can't. That creature might come back. And I have..."
[22:13] Okhfels: "I have a duty, here."
[22:13] Okhfels: "No. No, Narbin... I can't. That snake might come back. And I have... I have a duty, here."
[22:14] Mholmes: "Hmm," says Narbin slightly dissapointed. "Well, another day, perhaps then. Until then, a toast to your health, that you might be available to protect us all in the future, and be ready when it comes time for us to do our little investigation."
[22:14] Okhfels: "And to yours."
[22:15] Mholmes: Elahra takes the mug from Dhazari, and brings it to Okhfels. "Here is your drink."
[22:15] * Okhfels nods to Elahra, and takes the mug. "Thank you."
[22:16] * Okhfels considers Elahra and Dhazari, looking between the two of them.
[22:16] * Okhfels thinks of his Captain...
[22:16] Mholmes: "You were as brave as any Rhiani hunter, and stronger than the rest," she says to him. Her attitude seems more sedate, more sincere than the other night.
[22:17] Okhfels: "Thank you... but if it hadn't been for the others, it would have eaten me anyways."
[22:17] Okhfels: "This party is for all of us."
[22:18] * Okhfels drinks from the mug.
[22:18] Mholmes: Dhazari admonishes, "He's modest, too, sister. Beware of this one."
[22:18] Okhfels: "Sister?"
[22:19] Mholmes: "Yes, this one is my younger sister. I have to keep a sharp eye on her. Because the men keep a sharp eye on her," he relates.
[22:19] * Okhfels chuckles to himself.
[22:20] Mholmes: Elahra's eyes fling daggers at Dhazari.
[22:21] Mholmes: Okhfels notes from across the fire, Shahnsa trying not to look in their direction.
[22:24] Okhfels: "I don't want to... dishonor your sister, Dhazari."
[22:24] Mholmes: Dhazari continues, "Of course not. It's not you I don't trust."
[22:24] Mholmes: He grins.
[22:24] Okhfels: "Good."
[22:25] Mholmes: Elahra stands up, makes a small angry sound at her brother, and stomps off, embarrassed.
[22:25] * Okhfels gives Dhazari a look that says, "Do you want to follow her, or shall I?"'
[22:26] Mholmes: "I've had to be her watcher since we were children," he says. "Our mother left us whe we were young. I know her pretty well, and she'll be OK."
[22:26] Mholmes: The he changes course, "But if you want to go talk to her, go right ahead. It'll keep her out of my hair."
[22:27] * Okhfels nods. "I'm glad we could talk about this."
[22:27] * Okhfels shakes a few hands, claps a few shoulders, and makes his way out of the tent.
[22:28] Okhfels: *away from the campfire

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