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Holmes: For the next few days things seem relatively calm as people settle into the colony, or back into their routines. The Rhiani go back out hunting for the flowers that they've been promised pay for finding, and generally they bring back quite a bit.
Holmes: Salast has not returned to the camp since Leera saw him leave the camp. Talk begins about what may have happend to him amongst the people of the colony.
Holmes: Okhfels, when not with Elahra, spends time recruiting amongst the soldiery of the colony.
Holmes: He's somewhat successful, and Isadora comes to see him about his activities...
Holmes: *
Isadora approaches casually enough, after she's had her morning run, cleaned up, and cleared her head. She hopes there's a good explanation for all this.
Okhfels is working in the forge, pumping the bellows idly with one arm while he chats with a couple of soldiers.
Isadora: "Okhfels!" she calls. "Spare a minute?" She tilts her head away from the soldiers.
Okhfels: "I won't try to make it seem any better than it is. I don't intend on making your life easy... if you want a long, easy life, you wouldn't be a soldier..." He looks over to Isadora, smiles briefly. "Be right back, lads... would you mind taking this for a bit?"
Okhfels leaves the bellows to the soldiers and strolls over to Isadora.
Isadora: "You've been very friendly with the men," she says, looking over his shoulder at them for a moment before focusing on his face.
Okhfels: "Oh, aye. Garaumbadaour isn't much use with just one man, you know."
Isadora: "Garaum... that's your... drum? Is that what this is all about?" Isadora looks at him with narrowed eyes.
Okhfels: "Yes...." Okhfels makes an openhanded gesture that says, "so?"
Isadora: "We both know you're not dumb, Okhfels. So when you started recruiting my men for some project, you must have known I'd take notice. I hope you're not trying to tell me that it's all for making a minstrel troupe."
Okhfels: "I would never lie to you."
Okhfels: "I serve you now... you are my captain. You should be happy that I am making your men stronger."
Isadora blinks, having expected a more defensive answer. "You're really doing this for my benefit?"
Okhfels: "Who else would it be for?"
Okhfels: "I cannot be your lover, not anymore, but that doesn't mean that I can't serve you in other ways."
Isadora: "For yourself is the alternative that leaps to mind," she says dryly. "A mercenary looking to be his own captain could do all right with a core of Kaitaine deserters." Her tone is uncertain, though.
Okhfels: "What?"
Okhfels voice gets a little louder, and his face shows consternation.
Okhfels: "You think I would betray you." It's an accusation.
Isadora: "I think I have to watch my back every day out here," she snaps, her own voice rising. "I think that when you have soft words for me one day, and for local girls the next, your affections wander easily. What am I supposed to think?"
Okhfels: "Wander?"
Okhfels: "My duty to you has NEVER been about the heart. My duty is my BLOOD and BONE. I would DIE before I betray that trust!"
Isadora: "I'm glad you've made up your mind, then. If Rhiani girls are what does it for you, have at it! But I need to know where I stand with people, Okhfels. Look at your behavior through my eyes, just for a minute."
Okhfels: "Is that what it takes? I must cast aside Elahra for you? You do not take my service, unless you have all of me?"
Isadora waves her hand in an angry slash. "No! I just told you, I need to know where I stand. I'm an exile. I have nowhere left to go if things fall apart here, dammit! So when you went to her, then started drawing the men about you, I had to know what was going on. That's all!" She glares at him, breathing hard.
Okhfels: "And do you know now?" Okhfels is almost shouting.
Isadora: "I'd better, hadn't I? I believe you. I believe that you're doing this to help me. But don't stand there with a straight face and blame me for asking the question!"
Okhfels growls at the sky. "Gah! WOMEN!" He closes his eyes and tries to calm down.
Okhfels takes Isadorah's little hand between his two big ones... protectively. "This is my fault. I should have said this before...."
Okhfels looks in Isadora's eyes.
Isadora's hand is shaking; she curls her fingers around his hand and grips it fiercely. "I... may have been hasty," she says, very quietly.
Okhfels: He speaks from memory. "You are my captain. I pledge to obey, protect, and serve you, until my breath fail me, or your word release me."
Okhfels lets go of Isadora's hand, slowly.
Okhfels: "If you do not want me to woo Elahra, then I will not."
Isadora straightens, looking him in the eye. "I accept your oath. I pledge to lead you well and never to send you where I would not go myself." She lets out a long sigh.
Isadora: "No, please. Court Elahra. I hope she is a good woman to you."
Okhfels swallows hard.
Okhfels: "I'm sorry I didn't do this before."
Isadora: "I..." she makes a visible effort. "I'm sorry I lost my temper. I should have trusted you more."
Okhfels nods softly. He puts his hand gently on the outside of her arm, a tender gesture. "We are even, then?"
Isadora: "Yes." She smiles and clasps his arm briefly with her hand before pulling gently away. "I need to go. But.. thank you. I think I know where we stand, now."
Okhfels: "I should get back to work."
Okhfels pauses a bit too long before thoughtfully returning to work.
Isadora watches him go, then goes to turn a practice dummy to ribbons. Men!

Holmes: Sebastian finds Gennadi checking out some of the Rhiani as they come back to their campsite after being out gathering. He's near the field that sits between the campa and colony.
Sebastian: "Ah, Gennadi, my good man. Just who I wanted to see."
Gennadi: "You haven't heard of her, either? Very well, safe days..." *Turns* "Sebastian, hello."
Sebastian: "Looking for someone?"
Gennadi: I'm always pleased to be sought be friends and not soldiers.
Gennadi: Looking for information on a refugee. That girl who was at my tent, the young one with a fear of your flower.
Sebastian: Sebastian's face falls slightly, "Ah yes. Well, perhaps I could help..." His smile returns.
Gennadi: "However, no one seems to know who she is. A true orphan.
Gennadi: "I would welcome any information you might be able to learn, but I'm starting to think no one knows anything."
Sebastian: "I will most assuredly look into the matter. But first, I was wondering if you might do something for me..."
Gennadi gestures to indicate that anything asked is both no trouble and the least he could do. "Of course. How can I help?"
Sebastian: Sebastian's perpetual smile fades. He looks serious, deadly serious. "I need information. As much as you can obtain, about Zoora and the local cult of Andras. And I need it without tipping Zoora to my interest. You already have an inside track, I want to use that."
Gennadi 's expression is also serious. "Do you suspect her of something... dangerous?"
Sebastian: Sebastian's face goes completely blank. "Yes."
Gennadi: You know I have some involvement in the cult, i assume.
Sebastian: "I do indeed, that's why I approached you... now, will you help me?"
Holmes: Suddenly another party of Rhiani come scrambling back into camp. As they come, they shout, "Goblins! Goblin war party!"
Gennadi turns to the disturbance. "Very well." He doesn't look happy, and he doesn't look at Sebastian. "I'll find out what I can, and report everything. Good and bad."
Holmes: As they make it back to the camp, the Rhiani start to rouse.
Gennadi: "It would be helpful... if you told me what sort of things you're suspicious of."
Holmes: Okhfels comes to the spot at the clearing where his huge drum sits.
Holmes: He's heard the commotion, and sees the Rhiani stirring in their camp.
Gennadi: "Perhaps later..." *peers into the distance*
Okhfels starts banging on the drum, and shouting the names of the men in his hero band.
Sebastian: "Later perhaps, Gennadi. Perhaps we should take care of the immediate threat first..." Sebastian smiles, "But it is good to know that you will assist me." Sebastian moves off in search of Laura.
Holmes: *
Holmes: In the camp, Isadora hears something going on. Jilliams comes to her, "There seems to be a commotion in the Rhiani camp!"
Holmes: *
Holmes: Back at the clearing, some of the Rhiani hunters appear, and the soldiers that belong to Okhfels Hero Band come to his aid.
Holmes: Over a somewhat distant hilltop everyone notes two masses of goblins, dozens each, coming down toward the lake.
Gennadi mutters,"Not. Good." and moves toward the massing Rhianni, patting at his knife.
Okhfels sends the fastest of his men to run to Isadora. The message he sends is, "Okhfels offers his protection in the battle, ma'am. The goblins won't reach you with him."
Isadora: "What now...?" Isadora looks up as Jilliams alerts her, sees the signs on the hills, and curses. "Get the men together--goblins coming!"
Okhfels turns over the beating of the drum to one of his men, and starts getting the rest ready.
Holmes: The soldier, a young one, takes over beating the drum tentatively - the first time he's had this honor.
Isadora instructs Jilliams to have the men form up and head for the clearing, then sprints that way herself--she believes Okhfels, but wants to be there herself.
Okhfels tells him to just keep it sounding for now... the time for really bashing on it will come later.
Holmes: As the goblins approach, Okhfels and the others can see that the two groups are aimed one at the colony, one at the Rhiani camp. About equal numbers at both.
Okhfels looks to Isadora for orders.
Okhfels: "We are at your disposal."
Gennadi: "They made plans for this."
Gennadi: "Goblins making plans is never good."
Holmes: Across the clearing, the Rhiani seem to be planning some trap. Okhfels notes Elahra helping some of the hunters setting up some ropes between two stands of bushes.
Isadora: "More men on the way," Isadora says to Okhfels. "Can that drum of yours be moved? We have to pull back a bit, to cover the Kaitaine camp."
Holmes: Dhazari is organizing his men, and looks across at Isadora with a look she can't quite figure out.
Okhfels: "Yes, it can. It's lighter than it looks. We will protect the camp."
Okhfels starts getting ready to move the drum.
Okhfels: Barring any change of plans, Okhfels will lead his men as fast as he can to set up a defensive center for the camp, right out in front. He stands at the head of a wedge of men, with the drum in the center.
Okhfels has his drummer pound the "We Shall Not Be Moved" rhythm.
Holmes: As Okhfels organizes the move to the tent, he looks back, and can see Elahra looking at him with an almost pleading look on her face.
Gennadi: "The Rhiani leader, m'lady, he's unsure whether we'll fight together or apart in this. Sending a token force... even one or two of your men, myself excluded, would reassure him."
Gennadi: "And... he would feel indebted."
Gennadi: *glances sidelong at Sebastian for another reason entirely*
Isadora: "You're worth your weight in steak, Gennadi." Isadora picks out a small group of sympathetic men--even Jilliams, if she thinks she can spare him--and tells them to report to Dhazari for the duration. "If one of these camps falls, we're all damned. Go!"
Gennadi: "I will go with them to ... phrase your offer."
Gennadi: *does so*
Okhfels knows that Elahra must remain with her people, and that he must obey his Captain.
Okhfels waves to her, and tries to get across that he has no choice.
Sebastian: Sebastian finds Alexander and Laura among the tents. "Come, we should stay near the soldiers. It isn't a good idea to wander the camp alone during a battle." He pauses briefly to look into Laura's eyes, he seems almost... worried.
Holmes: The last thing that Okhfels sees off Elahra is her being protectively pushed behind one of the bush stands by Shansa.
Gennadi: At the Rhiani group, Gennadi nods to Dhazari. "The foreign commander wishes to put proof to her belief that we stand all together. Use these men, and myself, of course, as you would your own hunters."
Holmes: Dhazari nods to Gennadi, and smiles at Jiliams, who smiles back. The hunters, with Jilliams trying his best to help, start a ritual to summon the spirits of courage from their fetishes.
Holmes: Back at amidst the colony, Isadora gives orders to the men, and they respond well. All seems in readiness. At the store building, Speckler has barred his door, leaving only an opening from which he can fire his crossbow.
Sebastian: Sebastian stands back, keeping a watchful eye on the noncombatants.
Holmes: The goblins surge forward into the camp. They wear haphazard armor, and have nasty low steel weapons, that, though ugly, seem all too effective looking. At the rear of the group there is what looks to be some sort of priest who exhorts them on.
Holmes: At Okhfels command, the men stand their ground, and the wave of goblins breaks on them like water on stone. The first row goes down, with the soldier's spears loged in between chinks in their armor. The spray of blood goes up all over the line, and the white tents are spattered with flecks of red.
Okhfels stands at the head of the wedge of men, wearing pieces of his armor for the first time since he arrived. He holds his sword before him, glowing redly. As the goblin tide arrives, the tempo of the drum stays the same, but it gets louder and louder.
Okhfels swings his sword in great arcs, bringing down several goblins at each blow, and knocking them back so that they cannot get close. With his stalwart men at his sides, the goblins cannot get around him to bring him down.
Isadora stays mostly at the rear, rapier out, wearing what little armor she had time to grab before running over. She keeps an eye on the flow of the battle, barks encouragement, and steps forward from time to time to stab through a gap and splash her own arms with blood.
Holmes: The second wave is slightly more successful, getting in between the men in some spots. But the soldiers are inspired by their impressive leaders, and the goblins seem to be terrified by the larger men. They also seem put off by the daylight - despite being overcast, even this much light seems to hurt their eyes.
Holmes: The men quickly make short work of another rank, and the goblins start to flee. It's over almost before it began. What at first seemed like a savage onslaught, is now a rout by the small brutes.
Holmes: Their priest seems to have sensed the loss early, and is gone before any of the rest of the goblins.
Okhfels: As soon as the battle is clearly over, Okhfels turns to Isadora. "I want to go make sure that Elahra is alright."
Isadora nods. "Go. Good work."
Okhfels runs to the Rhiani camp to check on Elahra.
Isadora gives the necessary orders until Jilliams returns--pile the bodies, tend to the Kaitaine wounded--and looks to see how things fared in the sister camp.
Holmes: Many of the tents are in shambles, but the damage seems mostly superficial. A few of the soldiers tend to small wounds as others chase goblins off towards the hills. One soldier lies dead, a cruel blade sticking up from his chest with a goblin hand still holding in. Goblin corpses are strewn everywhere.
Sebastian: A single goblin, seperated from the rest of his group before the attack, wanders among the tents. He spots the huddled group of noncombatants and rushes forward eagerly with a cruel gleam in his eye. Sebastian steps out from within a tent and blindsides the goblin. Three swift movements break the knee, dislocate the shoulder, and snap the neck. The goblin flops to the ground silently.
Holmes: *
Holmes: The goblins swarm through the protective circle of bushes, and the Rhiani traps are sprung. Goblins end up in piles everywhere.
Gennadi: Once the traps are sprung, the goblins spin in place, confused, but intact, waiting for the approach of their foes...
Gennadi: The do not expect the first spinning blades that whirl down from the trees above, nor the hardened warriors that seem to fade into sight as they drop from the branches above.
Gennadi: Decimated * , they flee the camps, squalling in dismay.
Gennadi: Half of the survivors live through the retreat.
Holmes: As the Rhiani raise a whoop, and give chase, they all seem to move with preternatural speed, and Gennadi realizes that there's some guardian that protects the Rhiani camp that's aiding them now.
Holmes: The Rhiani manage to suffer no casualties, or real damage to their village. More of their goblins manage to escape, however.
Holmes: As Gennadi looks around at the carnage, he sees Okhfels come into the camp. Okhfels notes Elahra looking somewhat relived, yet somehow distressed as she stands near Shahnsa.
Okhfels goes directly to Elahra and embraces her (if she'll allow it). "I'm sorry I couldn't come to protect you."
Holmes: Elahra, let's him hold her, but doesn't seem to return the embrace. Shahnsa grabs her when the two part, and brings her to his side. "I was there to protect her in the raid," he says defiantly.
Holmes: "By our custom, I have the right to ask her to marry me."
Okhfels face goes dark. The blood of a double dozen goblins is drying on his body.
Okhfels: "And do you?"
Okhfels stands and awaits his fate.
Holmes: Shahsa looks at Okhfels, and seems a bit scared for a moment. But then he seems to stand a little taller and says, "I don't have to decide yet, I can ask her later."
Holmes: He then turns away, and goes about helping the wounded.
Okhfels goes to Elahra.
Okhfels: "You know that I, as a soldier, serve Isadora."
Holmes: She looks at him wanly, "Yes, I know. But how can we be together, if you are not of my tribe?"
Holmes: Her head drops, and she looks at the rest of her people.
Holmes: Okhfels realizes that even in the aftermath of the battle, he's still being watched by the Rhiani - he's an outsider with one of their women.
Okhfels: "I do not have an answer for that, Elahra. I have my duty... I cannot deny it. It would make me a liar."
Holmes: "Yes, duty," she says. Then she, too begins helping the wounded, and looking to see how she can help clear the mess made by the dead goblins already stinking the camp up.
Okhfels darkly returns to his place by the forge. He sets his sword aside, and slumps to the ground, his back propped up by a big barrel.

Holmes: Outside of town, Egani sallies forth from his new home to check out the magical properties of the locality.
Holmes: He obtains the help of the cartographer who has a sense for these things it would seem.
Egani leads Hilda as she easily pulls the wagon over the gently rolling country.
Holmes: As Egani heads to the south side of the lake, he comes to the top of a rise, right near the lake. As he looks over the shimmering, green tinged expanse, the trees on the other side of the lake jump at him almsost. He notes with his essence senses that the woods there are soaked with magic. Not powerful in the sense of a single small location, but powerful as an aggregate, the entire woods a source of the essence.
Egani trundles toward the woods, assessing their nature more closely.
Egani: As Egani nears the woods, the thought that they might be haunted crosses his mind and he begins to look for lost souls and loose spirits.
Holmes: As he does so for a moment, two things become apparent from this vantage, however. First, there is a swamp with a river that forms in it heading southwards the blocks his way. Second, and more daunting, it dawns on Egani that, in fact, the woods in question are many miles away. They only look closer because the trees are individually impossibly large.
Sebastian: *
Sebastian: Haikain has drawn and discarded two sketches of the area around the lake. Something just isn't right, the scales just arne't working out properly. He sits under one of the trees for a moment as he ponders. He looks up suddenly and squints. There's something...
Sebastian: Yes! This tree is definitely much larger than it looks from a distance. Immensely larger. Ridiculously larger than any tree he's ever seen before. Of course! That's been throwing off the scale of all the sketches. Armed with this revelation Haikain gets ready to actually get started. He rushes up the hill to get a better view.
Haikain crests the hill, puffing with the exertion. He wipes the sweat out his eyes before noticing Egani.
Egani: "Hello!"
Egani: "Those trees are something. It looks like they're much too large."
Haikain: "Hello!" He sketches a polite bow. "I know! I just noticed, it's very exciting!"
Haikain: "I haven't seen anything like it before."
Egani: "How do you guys cross the river/lake/swamp around here?"
Haikain: "Oh, I was planning to swim when I needed to survey the opposite shore. It's been a while since I've been near water, I haven't even checked to see if there's any boats."
Haikain: "I'm sure you can go around if you need too." He points north
Archelaus: "I haven't seen any boats." says Archelaus as he climbs up the far side of the hill.
Egani starts, "This is a popular hill, I see."
Haikain: "Hello again! How are you feeling? I haven't seen you since...the other night."
Archelaus: "You get a much more distant horizon from here, can see more sky."
Archelaus: "I am...much recovered, thank you."
Egani: "Is this forest truly devoid of resources worth harvesting? That's remarkable."
Haikain: "Oh, I don't know about that. I'm just glad I figured out that Great Spirit-be-damned scale issue. Now I can actually measure the contours of the far shore."
Archelaus: "I think we should organize a scientific expedition"
Archelaus: "The stars tell me that forest is of great import"
Egani: "I'm inclined to agree with them."
Egani: "What do the locals say about the woods?"
Haikain: "Mmmm...that could be useful, indeed."
Haikain: "Oh, I've been so busy I haven't talked to anyone about it."
Haikain: "Oh dear." Haikain suddenly remembers his manners. "I'm terribly sorry..." he makes introductions
Egani: "Pleased. I think we met when the big drum was recovered."
Archelaus: "Yes, I fear my actions may have somehow precipitated your arrival"
Egani: "I was trying to explain that to Isadora, but she seems to have lost interest."
Egani: "It's quite an interesting phenomenon," Egani says with a shrug.
Archelaus: "Well, when shall we set off?"
Haikain: "Aye. And do we need anyone else?"
Holmes: Haikain, looking down at the lake, is suddenly struck by a vision looking down into the lake. Something down inside the lake is trying to speak to him as if it was a waking dream.
Egani: "I'm still figuring everyone out, who else has an interest?"
Egani: "Perhaps we could set out at first light tomorrow?"
Archelaus: "I don't suppose your tiresome maps can tells us how far away the forest is, Haikain?"
Holmes: The others note Haikain swaying, but he keeps his feet. It does look like he's been hit by a boulder between the eyes.
Egani: "Excuse me, Haikain...are you allright?"
Egani places a hand on Haikain's shoulder.
Holmes: Whatever it is speaking to Haikain, he cannot hear it, it is too far away. The only thing he can make out is a blurry vision of water looking up at the sun, tinged green.
Archelaus: Archelaus also reaches out to Haikain, and mutters a short axiom, to give the cartographer support.
Haikain: "I...need to sit down."
Egani: "Tell me what you're feeling. I am a trained physician and may be of some service."
Archelaus: "Yes, please do tell us." Archelaus' seems more motivated by curiousity than concern.
Holmes: As Haikaine sits, his view is blocked by Archelaus, and the vision ceases. He still feels rather woozy, however. One thing is sure...there are powerful spirits in the lake.
Haikain: "I'm...fine. A little woozy."
Egani helps Haikain into his wagon and begins taking him back to camp. "Is there any reason that tomorrow is too soon to mount our expedition?"
Haikain: "Thank you for your concern, I..." he pauses, then changes what he was going to say "...think that tomorrow should be fine."
Archelaus: "I think you should know that I have seen bad omens concerning tomorrow night."
Haikain: "I have no pressing need, so if you wish to hold off from beginning for a couple days I have no objection."
Egani: "Perhaps that would be best. It'll give us more time to prepare, anyway."
Archelaus: "So what happened to you?"
Haikain: "The spirits of that lake were trying to communicate with me. For what purpose, and what they were trying to say, I know not."
Archelaus: "I have not told everything I saw the other night."
Egani: "Oh! Well maybe we should go down and talk to them..."
Haikain: "Perhaps. I was thinking of doing so later, but they are very strong...perhaps it would be best to have companions."
Archelaus: "They are very strong indeed."
Egani: "What did you see, Archelaus? It seems that you both know more than I about our circumstances."
Egani leads the wagon down the hillside toward the lake's shore. "I think that perhaps we should see what the lake spirits are up to now, while we can all support one another."
Archelaus: "Very well, but know that whatever we do with the lake, will also interest the forest"
Archelaus: "More than just wood lies in that direction."
Egani: "Tell what you know."
Archelaus: "Merely signs and portents,"
Haikain: "Well, we are planning to enter the forest in any case, so it will become interested in us at some point, regardless."
Archelaus: "but those are enough to tell me that we deal with spirits of great power, spirits that may not know the path of the stars."
Archelaus: "Nonetheless, spirits of greats power may also be spirits of great knowledge."
Archelaus: "We must take this opportunity."
Egani looks back toward Archelaus and Haikain from a point three feet deep in mud and water near the shore of the lake. "So what do you propose?"
Haikain: "Give me but a few moments to recover my strength, and I will be happy to attempt communication."
Haikain: "I do not know these spirits personally, but they seem to want to speak to me." He shrugs
Archelaus: "Very well. I have some small experience in drawing forth knowledge. I will use it to aid you."
Haikain cocks his head. "I feel that there are better places than this from which to speak. Perhaps if we approach the heart of the water...?"
Egani: "Tomorrow, I'll conduct a study of the Essential flow of the surface waters. I'm sure that will help direct us to the seat of power."
Archelaus: "Yes, I can't seem to calculate the physical center of the lake from here."
Haikain: "It seems that I am weaker than I thought. After some rest, and some time to find a more auspicious place from which to attempt this, we three shall meet again?"
Egani: "Yes, agreed."
Archelaus: "Agreed."

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