Well met, and welcome to Ironmound. I am Fetcher. There are many folks here, who will offer you a chance to join thier Company...to get your name on a Company Roster...I only offer you the  chance to come see the one who would sign you...to see if he would judge your worthy to bear the  mark of The Crimson Arrows..You may, of  course..see what other offers you will get, or you may seek other way to earn coin, or perhaps go it alone...

  he smiles,..to do that invites an early ride on the Orc Cart..but one can never tell..perhaps one  of  the Companies will scoop you up...most of  them take  anybody...Now then? If you would like..I will take you to see  about joining or Company...if nay? You are free, of  course to seek out  other oppertunites..

  he smiles  as  he awaits  your ansewers...............

In reply to donsr (msg #1):

Greetings Goodfellow Fletcher, I'm Justin.
he replies with a pleasant smile as he watchs the man carefully
May I learn more of the Crimson Arrow, such as its history of structure, strength and recruitment and training process.

  The  man's  eyes  dart around  as he talks, as if he is weighing the worth of others  who pass, at the same time  he speaks,  The Arrows are a Company. like many in these lands..some companies, work  purely for  coin, some are ageants  of Good  or of evil...The Arrows...the Arrows singular in thier focus...They earn coin..aye..that is  true. But they never take coin from  those who follow the Dark......he chuckles a bit  coldly,..unless it  comes from thier cooling bodies. We do things most people will not...sometimes  they will not because they have not  the courage...some, because of misplaced beliefs...our motto is this...'leave no live enemies behind you'...now then..if you are truely interested,  I will take you to he, who will answer questions  a bit more fully.

Rolf happily makes his way off the ship.  Sure, he could easily swim across wooded rivers, but the swelling of the waves and the bucking of the ship....  They'd not been to his liking, not at all.

Maybe by the evening or on the morrow, his stomach will have settled enough for him to break his fast.  Rolf was looking to roam these southern lands and not really looking to saddle himself with a job.  But this fellow bragging of the exclusiveness of his herd and yet is calling out to random strangers passing on the dock.  Rolf finds himself drawn in....

"Greetings,"  His voice is rough, obviously little used.  "And what sorts of things do you choose to do that others will not?"

 The  ragged looking man turns  his head to the new speaker, His eyes  look around, there is a woman warrior, dressed more like a tavern wench then a fighter, she was leading  two men down the wharf and heading  to a differant  Inn.

 ..we...are final in our judgements...we will seek items, people, what ever  is acked of us, if  the price is met..however..because of  the one who leads  us...now. We never pass up the chance to whittle away evil..espeical if  it is  in the form of the slavers, or  the Red Isle  Halflings...Most of the companies  are sell swords..some are just bandits  with  a company charter...we are  lean more to the Light  then most...but  we fight more like the dark..then most...and  we make no apologies  for it...

  There was a great horn sounding, the  Eastriver gates  had been towed open. An Ironmound frigate had made its  way  eastward, and was even now, tacting to head to the Southern Shore of  the massive river..Peopal on thier side..and those far across the way were cheering. Teh frigate  towed a battered sloop-of-war, the  sails  and torn flag marked it as  a red Isle vessal...hanging  from  the gunwales where captives, most were halfling  who were kicking  and  ctruggling  from the bonds..howvere..there were two, on this side of  the ship, that were missing  the lower halves of thier bodies.

 Fetcher pointed to  the  Frigate, Seems  they got a prize, Ironmound's  navy will grow  by one ship, Those  crew will be  interrigated, and put to work helping build  the  levees and work about  the city, or..find themselves in the arena..

  He  waves it  away as he was getting away from his Buisness,Now  then? Are you folks interested or nay?

Walking up to the three men talking too loud to be private but quiet enough to be hard to hear, Merik asks "What does one get for joining a company? And if one does join how long’s the commitment?"
As he asks, he eyes up the other two men talking to the man dressed as a beggar, but talking big. He keeps his hand on the handle of his flail, eyes darting side to side sporadically as of waiting for something to happen.

  Turning to the  third  fellow, the man's  eyes size him  up, noting the holysymbol  and the colors he wore,...as with any company, You get yur name on the charter...that aids you, if you fell into a fight in the city or somesuch action. If an person, especially an outlander, would be siezed after a fight ,in which blood or harm was dealt, there would be a trip to the arena, unless you volunteered  for one of the services...You have access to our  safe havens around  the realms, and in the city. and, depending on  the availablity, items  from the stores..though. to be honest, what there is  and how much depends on what units have brought in  lately. The commintment is from when you join, until you die, or...turn in your pin..most companies...if they are smart..have ties  with  at least one guild...of course, not  all companies  are smart...  he grins a bit at this

 ...we have ties the  the Mercenariers Guild and  the Blacksmith, that is  in the Northwest corner of  the city...we are also welcomed by the Sage  Guild, since  we have recovered many items  and information over the years  for them

  another loud horn is heard, this one  a bit more high pitched and  Fetcher's head looks  to the West. From where you stand, You can see the  Huge barred river  gates slowly swing  open, and the wide Bridge splitting in the middle  and rising as well..You remember that the Masts of your Merchant ship, pasted well under the Drawbridge  to the East.

  It seems  another vessal is  approaching  from the  West, Please...if any of you are interested?  Tell me now, for i will need to look over those who arrive....The fellow i will take you two  will answer  more question, and in deeper depth then I.

Rolf shrugs.  His rough, disused voice is kept low.  "You Southerners have odd ways, but I will listen to what this other person has to say."

 He  smiles  slightly and nods, hiseyes  look to the gates as they swing  open It  would be a wahile if the ship was  that large,...well then,  of you folks gathered here, who wish to learn more, Please come  with me. You have nothing to lose, and...perhaps..it  will save yo an early ride on The Orc Cart.

In reply to Fetcher (msg #9):

"To impose on and harry those of darkness, sounds fair enough." he responds casually glancing at the other men "One be Justin" he introduces holding his hand in parley towards each.

 He winks  with a slight  smile,  you'll get yourself  a chance  at the  drak folk..whether you wish it  or  nay. All we  can do...is attack them first!

  with that, the Ragged looking man  begins  to walk down the  wharf, letting them deciede if  they wish to follow, he  will take those that do, to  the fellow they needs meet.

In reply to fetcher (msg #11):

Justin turns matching pace with Fetcher "Goodfellow Fletcher will you be checking out other passengers/possible recruits before depositing us at the induction area"

  Turning his head to Justin  he gave  a slight chuckle, I am always looking   to add to the fold..tis my job. More often then not, folks are found wanting...some do not have the desire, nor  the heart for such business...the lands are rough,...ye  must be  as rough...

  I have time to get you to  The Elf..by that time, I will get to check the new ship coming in.

In reply to Fetcher (msg #13):

Justin nodds appreciativley as he matches Fetchers pace "Tis why Thee be Fetcher, an apt name" he grins "Do we call The Elf, Captain or Commander?"

  The  elf?  Call him anything but MAster...he  and his kin have a deep seated hate for  Slavers...we really do not have too much in the way of  rank.. The Elf  and  the Dwarf  run thing here, more or less...At the  Village, the Elders  run the show..when you are out on a job? Your unit is under its own control..you do what needs be done..no matter what it takes...Eggs need to be broken to make a good  dough...Ground needs tilled to make a decent garden...and sometimes, folks need to die, to make the place  a better place to live...,

 He points to  a sign that juts out  from the  overhang of a roughlooking  dockside Tavern...of course...all the Inns  and such look rouch on this dock....The sign is either magic, or  the  Tinker's guild had something to do with it...it has  a figure of  a man..with his  clutlass at the back of  a bound prisoner..the  prisoner  walks to the  end of  the plank..and falls off...it is  returned to the building..and pops up again...only to walk once more.That is  where we are going, ' The Walk The Plank'...Just watch yerself in there until you are settled in, not everyone in there is friends...

"Thanks for the warning. If I happen to antagonise anyone there and things get out of hand will I be covered by the Company's charter?" he enquires [After entering the inn he will pause adjacent to the entry and will detect evil on those within range including Fletcher]

 well my friend, it  depends if you are signed or nay...The Watch, and  the Troopers..they don't get along well with Companies...they look down on us, we look down on them...they like to send a few of  folks like us to the Arena if they could...

Merik follows along, not giving agreement or dissent. He watches the people around, their faces and movement. "So you select what looks like good wheat and the "Elf" job is to remove the chaff?” He asks to fetcher, already understanding this. “And if someone is deemed chaff, what becomes of them?”

Rolf finds the chatter annoying.  That was one thing he finds he misses of his time in the forest, the lack of empty space being overflowing with the chatter.  Instead of adding to it, Rolf focuses on listening to the chatter of the others, to garner what he may while giving away as little of himself as possible.

  In Most cases, the ...er..chaff..eliminates itself. Some do not  like to be the rock that breaks the wave..or..the fire that fights the fire...You will see...when you talk witht he Elf..If you chose  not to joinus...it matters not..there are many a company about, taht will approach you..or you may approach..there is always the  Servic...or Guild work..or free lance...Free Lancers have a hard time of it though...

  Welocme  to Ironmound. Might I ask. Would you be interested in Joining a company. Earn some coin...have a bit of protection?  The ship Fetcher had noted was warping its way into the berth with help from some  small Longboats. Once  more the  ramp came down  and  folks disemabrked.  Fetcher Noted one fellow that seemed to catch his interest. He approached  as he greeted him.

  The fellow he approached  looked about. He saw many such folk as  this man called fetcher. They talked to anyone/everone who came his  way. He also noted the Ironmound Service  had a small,makeshift recruiting stall at the end of the dock.

Gerrad walks down onto the dock and stops in front of this stranger Fetcher you say? Coin I might be interested in, like most folk. Protection? I have my own watch thanks.

Gerrad's eyes wander past Fetcher and scan the quay, his ears ringing with the sounds of the busy dockside. He notices many buildings and his eyes narrow as they fall on 'Walk The Plank'. What make of you, this place? Friendly bunch? Gerrad chuckles a little at the irony as the little figure, rotates along its fixed path once again. Gerrad scratches his chin. Several weeks of beard sit uncomfortably on his chin, whilst his lank hair would be better suited atop a long haired Highland cow than a human.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:12, Sun 02 Jan 2011.

  Fetcher  Looks at the fellow, he looks to the Inn and then to the new fellow,  ...If you aren't  afriad to get your hands  dirty...and maybe  a bit bloody..follow me..One of  my employers is heading out to make  some coin now...if  we move, we can catch them...

  He starts walking up the docks  towards the  western end of the  city, he pauses  to see if the fellow follows.

(( go to HEADING OUT...SEEING A BIT OF  IRONMOUND ))
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Mon 03 Jan 2011.

  As  Lytie  cleans  the tables, after  the group  heads off. She  fins tristan's  pin on the Table. She  wipes it  off  and  Takes it back to the  Counter and hands it ot  the BAr Keep,well...that one didn't last too long... he chuckles  and palces the Pin in a small coffer  with  a few other..................

Manny steeped carefully off the boat onto the docks. The ground beneath his feet seemed to sway slightly despite his attempt to will it to stop. "Finally, I can free my self from the constant ebb and flow of the sea," he thought to himself. He ran his calloused hands through his curly Cherry Red hair in an attempt to untangle it. He had lost one of his two combs during the journey from home. He pulled his Black backpack closer to his body so it would neither pull him backwards nor become caught on trees or corners of buildings in the city.

He began walking away from the boat and thought, "This crowds a little rougher than usual, but it is nothing I have not handled before." It was getting close to the time of day where in an hour late afternoon would become early evening. He was beginning to draw attention to himself again because of the odd combination of his good looks, Dark Chocolate skin and his wavy shoulder length Red hair. He decided it was time to find an inn and a tavern. Hopefully both at the same place.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Wed 25 Sept 2013.

  A Young Ragged fellow approaches Manny...as he does, he can hear Voices  calling out.." come to this INN..or  that  Tavern"...some say " sign up to be  Silver Sun..."  and  three men in different Ironmund  Uniforms  stand at the end of the Dock, they have  3 city watch troopers with them...They too, are Looking for recruits ..The IronMound  Navy....Army..and City Watch.

 The  Ragged  fellow stops at Manny and says...Well met, and welcome to Ironmound. I am Fetcher. There are many folks here, who will offer you a chance to join thier Company...to get your name on a Company Roster...I only offer you the  chance to come see the one who would sign you...to see if he would judge your worthy to bear the  mark of The Crimson Arrows..You may, of  course..see what other offers you will get, or you may seek other way to earn coin, or perhaps go it alone...

   he smiles,..to do that invites an early ride on the Orc Cart..but one can never tell..perhaps one  of  the Companies will scoop you up...most of  them take  anybody...Now then? If you would like..I will take you to see  about joining or Company...if nay? You are free, of  course to seek out  other oppertunites..

   he smiles  as  he awaits  your answer...............

Manny openly observes the young man who approaches him an listens to what he has to say. After glancing casually at his surroundings and the people in them he smiles. "Thanks for the warning," he says with a delighted smile. "But I won't be sticking around long. I just need to see a man about a tree. Farewell." After that he moves to depart further into the city. Mostly he pays attention to the people to avoid being pickpocket or mugged by a gang. He heads toward the nearest in to secure lodgings for the night. He doubted Isleada would be about this time of day. Her kind were usually the early risers, while he preferred the night. He rubbed the ring on his left index for good luck. "I'll jump her first thing in the morning. Bright and early.," he thought.

  There were  a few Inns/Taverns on the Dicks, as well as the streets that lead  away from the Docks.

  Fetcher  shrugged  and  sat on a coil of  rope, waiting for the next ship to come in.

  Having been in port a few Minutes, the  crew  was unloading their Goods. The CAptain paid off those who were not making the return Trip, and sent  the cabin boy  dock the docks to recruit.

  The Big Barbarian walked up the docks, seeing  another   ship casting off. Out in the Middle of the Huge  River, a LArge   Ironmond  warship was  heading  to the East...acorss the river he could see  buildings and the  'mound' that the city got its  name  from...to the west a bit more, he could see the top of the palace.

  turning back, he  walked  towards the Lines of  Inns and bars. A small fellow Jumped off a Barrel , stepped in front of him,...Well met!. My name is Fetcher. If you'er Looking  for a Company to Join...I can take  you to sign up with one of the Best...

 as the fellow spoke, Armis  could hear the rhythmic thumping of   a Patrol of the City Watch as  they made their pass down the docks.

  Not far away a squad of Ironmound  regulars stood  talking  to a group of people who disembarked from a Engar warship.

Aramis walks down the ramp.
Thats his first trip, far from his peaceful small island
of frygia, a place in nowhere,
in the middle of the green blue azure sea.
So many years he was training,
now the time for fighting had come,
to collect gold,learn secrets, gain a reputation,
and a fame, as a barbarian.
Make proud his paradise island.

He looks around, and it is obvious there is unrest.
Thats what he wants.
The rumours about Ironmound were true. Here there is war!
Real war.

Turns to the fellow.


Yes Fetcher, come with me,i am alone and
thats my first trip ever,first time here also,
want to hear also the latest news of the city,
and what else? I wanna Join the war. Thats why i brought sword and axe.

  Fetcher  Grins  as the  walk down the   docks  and  reach the intersection,  Tehre are Manny Inns  and Bars along the boardwalk. Fetcher turns to the right ( east).

 Now? the fellows I work for? They say i have to tell you this...i don't see why though...you know the Saying..."you'er  either an Arrow, or you'er not"...any way...This Land  is Just trying to settle in..been only what? 200 ..300 years  since the City started  to be  built, and the Humans , Wood elves  and  Dwarves Joined  against the Dark Elves, Deep Gnomes and Dark Dwarves..."

 He  stops  and points to the  North-west (it would be to armis's left at about 10:00)  East is  at 2:00...south is  a 6:00..where they came  down from his ship...12:00 would be straight ahead.) The High Peak Mountains?...on the other  side is the City of HArgen...sometimes called Harte..it is a Evil city, and they and their allies wish to surge over the Mountains and  claim these lands...it has been thus, since  there were only Villages dotting the world..

 They walk a bit more  as he adds,Since i don't  know your LAnds, I'll tell you this  before you meet Reedrick...Slavers are the Arrows  Number 1 foe...even when we take a contract..if there are slavers  on the way, we will....eliminate them..there  are the Red Elves   from the Ilslands  to the  South and west?..they are Evil, they make thier  Dark cousins look like holy warriors..they seek these lands as well.....and of course, the damnable Halflings of the Red Isles...our Navy and those of out allies...(he points to the  Engar warship  as it tacts to turn to the East)...have to fight thier pirates  , almost on a daily basis, they have  a very large  Island...and lots of resources, but thier   ground troops are lacking....

  They stop outside an In..a small( magic?) sign hangs  about the door..a sailor  toddles  down the  side to the end and falls over..then winds back up at the starting point  and does it again...

 Here we are..The Walk The PLank Inn...The Ironmond home of the Crimson Arrows... You can ask Reedrick about the reasons  to join a company and all...Now? Lets go in...

(( ship arriving at night..while the Arrows   rest after  entering from Trace Wood))

 The  Smallish bark  bumped the  docks as the   crew  tied her off. The  SGT of the watch  talked  with the master of the ship, while a handful of   passenger   disembarked.

 The Samllish, younger  fellow  sat on a  Crate   , his  bright  eyes  trwinkled in the torchlight. He  Mored  to  a fellow that  looked  like he might be from the North...

 Hey!... Welocme to ironman, Me hardy !... I know  a  good, safe in to go to... warm fire, cold  ale and hot  food?..an' mabbe..a chance ta  earn some  coin, if ye  don't mind  swing a sword fer it?

 Walking off the gangway Vilmund notices the people moving about, loading and unloading the wares from the ship he's been on these last several days, when as he nears a stand of crates and barrels. The young fellow catches Vilmunds eye as he speaks,
 Vilmund hefts the Warhammer in his hand, spinning in it so the head swivels before he stops it in a grip strong from years of carrying it. Not sure you should call this a sword mate, might hurt it's feelin's, and we wouldn't want that now would we? He smiles friendly and continues But if you've got a spot fer me to sit and fill me stomach, and possible talk of places fer me to do the work of the Cold Ones, lead on.
 He gathers a firm grip on his hammer, settles his pack and other items over his shoulder, taking the time to make the adjustments as well as looking around to make sure he wasn't probably being set up for an ambush, he prepares to follow the lad.

  The  Young  fellow  smiled,aye?... well?Swords  and  Hammer  , blade and Bows, they all do the work that folks pay for.

 he motions  for Tall fellow   to follow,..Name's Fetcher, I work fer the  Crimson Arrows... The Best merc Company in these lands...

 ..Go on ye River runt... The Twisted Spears  are  the  way ta go! A taller  , older  fellow  with a scar on his left cheek waved the hammer bearing   new comer to wards him..

  Fetcher  snorted,..only if  he don't mind  being on the wrong side of a Slaver's chain...Arrows  don't hire out to help slavers...

 The older fellow pointed  an  arm in Fetcher's direction,..we  hire out, likes all  Companies do!

 ..You'll never  see an Arrow  working for slavers... an' if ye  did, he  won't be walkin' the realms  long.. Arrows  don't take kindly ta folks serving dark folks..

  Listening to the exchange between the two he says. Whats the difference then if coin be the only thing yer after?? He looks to the new man that began talking, If you sell yer sword to be used by a slaver, a slaver you be, best you decide to change yer profession soon, slavers and them that do the slavin' not long for this world, praise be to the Cold Ones. Again spinning the hammer in his right hand, he motions for Fetcher to continue on their trek. He turns his head but not his awareness as he continues on his way.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Sat 30 May 2020.

Vilmund and fether to ' The Plank">>>>>>>>>

..(( fight at the Plank..outside... Kree, Tyri  Ivy...ect

  The Trooper   is  hit in the lower left Side.. a high pitcvhed  squeal as  he loks at the shaft that seem to sprout  from his  him in the   flickering Light of Torchers and Lamp light.

  The One Merc  held his stump screaming in pain, .horror and surprise...The Second One only  saw a wild eyed  Help Grinnined madly in the    light  before  the blade  when through His  throat.. Leaving the  last Merc   to Hold his  hands   up pleading  ..not to die..

 The troopers  had  fallen to his knees.. he  grasped the shaft  but was  afraid  to  pull it out...

...........................

   Kree  reached the  end Of the Pier..  a well dressed   fellow   with a waistcoat and  fancy Blade on his him  Shouted at Kree..behind him, to Royal  Offieers   of the  Palace Guard.

 you there!... you..the shirtless abomination holding one of My people.. what goes on here...

 shouts  were still coming from the  Inn... screams  comign from the  northern end of the Dock..

  Kree  shook the   fellow in his  grasp,, he was  bent  half over the pier  as Kree let his   stump bleed into the water.....This...this Fool!..dared to  attack me and mine, in my own INN!...he hired mercs.....nad now he must  pay...

 One of the ofciers  who looked a little  to happy to be  with the Tou High officers, said,..I say there.. elf?.... let him come to the Palace.. and we will judge him...hmmm?... you know its  is  ..great disrespect, for   a Tou citizen, not  to be  buried in thier  Home  lands...

 Kree   chuckled.....then...disrespect , for disrespect.. and we  call the deal done...

  cutting the officers    insignia off his  tunic, he let the fellow fall into the  Storm.... it took less the a minute for the serpents to come
 Kree   tucked the insignia in hs  belt  and  began to walk back  dwon the   pier, towards  The Plank...His  bloody Blade out , as the  High   Offcier looked aghast  as the man beging  tore to bits   by the broiling  water  of the Storm.

 Leave..Now.. the Three of you... Report it to the  Emperor if you wish.. I will be thier on the  Morrow...

 The  Younger  Palace officer  said...Edhel-o gurth

 Kree 's eyes shifted to him..if you know  me.... get thse folls out of here.... those in side the Inn...thier lives  are forfiet...

 ..That...is Captain Kree... Of the crimson  Arrows...late, the Captain of the Palace guard....we take our leave now...

 The High  Officer looked angry.....YOU!.... his   hand  went to his Blade...

 I'll let you draw the Blade...horse humper....but you'll never use it..and you'll be in the  water, right next to the gnawed bones of that fool...

 The two Palace officers grabbed  the  High Officer and Pushed him to the south...  as the Passed the High officer  said to , 2 archers who looked like they hailed from Olant......Kill him... then come to the Palace for you earnings...

 The  two archers,,in the shadows  of the alley. nocked thier  arrows  and drew thier bows..

As quickly as the arrow left the bow, Tyri had another already notched and was taking a bead on the tou officer once again. Unless Ivy stayed her hand with some kind of signal, she would let the arrow fly.

Her footsteps made no sound as she moved, her hood concealing most of her features along with the mask pulled up to cover the lower half of her face. Find Kree. Reedrick would know. Those thoughts were the only thing in her mind as she moved quickly through the shadows. It was clear something was happening up ahead, the shouts, the sounds of screams and those of the dying, a sound she was well used to. She heard what the others had called the bare-chested elf along with the words to kill him. Instinctively, her eyes darted around, spotting the archers. “Underhanded bastards,” she whispered under her breath as she quickly removed her own bow and notched an arrow. “Not today.” With that said, her arrow was loosed towards one of the archers, the intent to kill clear in her crystalline colored eyes.

 The s econd  arrow  hit the Tou offcier in the  chest.. he   dropped over.. gasping , pawing at the  shaft as bllod    spurted from his mouth...

 The third   Merc   looked at Livy  who was    gritting his teeth in anger,..you took  coin from this  Scum?  why?

 ..he said a clean up job..Kill some  blackguards  and we could have thier  stuff as well as this  coin....we didn't know it was The Plank they was after!

 then.. You are too stupid to live... the Blade flashe d  taking the Man's  right arm.. He  screamed  as he fell  callign for   help..., Ivt    went through the pockets  of the   dying  Officer, when he was  down he   Cut the insignia from his tunic    and Pushed him   down the slow   to the river...shouting to the fisher men...

 Chum. for some big ones!

 The one  fisher man looked up.....but he ain't dead yet, m'lord?

 //I'm no one's  'Lord'... the serpant's will clean that detail up..he's  from Tou...

 the  fishermen's  teeth  flashed  whitye in the dim light from the docks..as ye  say.... this is gonna be our best night ever!

  Ivy went through the   Mercs   pouches  and Pockets, then left them there.. two screaming   as    the Blood  poured out.. the other  dead and cold...

 ..let's go.... we will miss all the fun...

...................

  The  female archer's   first shaft   zipped  into  the  side of the Olant Archer.. He didn't even scream he was so surprised.. the other  archer  truned from his target. to try and see where the arrow  came from.. Kree was on the  dock now, stariding to the hapless  tou troopers , in the vines.

Tyri gave Ivy a smirk as she shouldered the bow. "Well...perhaps I am not as rusty with a bow as I thought...I really need to replace mine." Shaking her head with a chuckle, Tyri moved to follow Ivy. "Dare I say that I think we made a pretty efficient team..."

In quick succession, Riven had another arrow notched and loaded, giving the guy one chance to spot her before letting her arrow fly. She didn't pause to even see if it hit as she took a bead on one of the tou trapped in the doorway. Well this is one way to get his attention, she thought, a dark smirk on her hidden lips.

  Ivy frowns  as he takes one last look towards  the end of the  Doc.. the  two maimed   mercs  are slowing thier thrashing... and gleeful hots  could be heard from the two older fishermen.

  we normally cut  Plugs of Flesh from the  targets our  arrows  hit  so we might retrive the arrows  with out breaking off the heads.... I hate to think, that Horsehumper   took two of my shafts  with him...

 a small  smile creeps to one  corner of his lips,..this is  just a passing thing...wait  until we do  contract work.... this is just..pleasure...

  running Up the Docks  they   see   two Tou  troopers  struggling at the  doors..One of them jerks  and falls  forward into the   Inn... Kree looks around   as the   trooper  fell, his back  red with   the   cuts from the broken window.... People  are watching..and yet?  No city guard has come

.....................

 Riven's  2nd shaft hit the Olant Merc... he   ferked and fell into the  edge of the lap light.

  Kree stopped his  Blade  ready  as angry eyes   searched the darkness byond the dead archer.

"Well we know what my idea of pleasure is," she chortled as she glanced back to those they downed before turning back to Ivy. She gave his backside a quick smack as they headed to the tavern.

With the other threats taken care of save the last guy trapped in the doorway, Riven stepped out of the darkness. She was dressed in all black that was somewhat formfitting, her face mainly concealed except her crystal blue eyes that regarded Kree. She looked identical to Mihail, even down to the body shape, gait... everything.

  Kree did   hear Reedrick and winced a bit... then he  went to the Last Tou Trooper, crouching  down by him, Kree said  in a even, if not  cold voice,..first..understand that I know, that by not geting buried   by your hose humper  rites..you'll go to  one of the levels of the 9 hells...Know this... all your people who attacked here  to night, are  being fed to the  serpents..far from any horse, ...grass  field..or cleansing fire.... this is what happened  when Tou scum try to kill thier betters...

 He     uses  his  sword to  chop a but of the tendrils away.....I really want to kill you...but... i assume your mother   was beddign that  horse crap i threw in the river..... you leave... without you  tunic or your weapons..and   run to the Palace.... Tell them  , Kree Quickshadow will collect his debt  for this  attack tomorrow..so? if they are  smart.. they will leave  this town, tonight.

The trooper looks  scared..and young.. he drops his weapons  Belt , and tunic... Kree clears his throat and motions with his fingers  ..the  trooper gifts him a rather hefty  purse... and the trooper  runs... Kree shouted to him when he reached the top of the slope of the street above.., he drags the other  tou  trooper  , after   takign the insignia and coin, and dropped the fellow  into the river  were the smaller serpents were still feeding on loose  bits  from the  Lordling.

.............

  Ivy  chuckled  as the whack,   they slowed down  as they saw  Kree dragging  a body to the  pier  and dropping it in..

 a female figure stood near  the  Inn with a bow in her hand.

Tyri walked alongside Ivy with a smile. "I suppose that is what they get for the interruption..." Seeing Kree and the dark clad figure made Tyri stop in her tracks and draw another arrow. The figure wasn't dressed as the others so she hesitated and looked to Ivy for any indication on whether to attack or not.

  Ivy   still has his bloody Blade out  as he stopes a few feet from Kree,  Kree turns from the  stranger , wiping  his chin with the back of  a glass-bloodied hand..

 ..you have some  fun?

 ..got  word  from a 'drunk' says  the Horsehumper  was paying for   swords... Pointing  down the end of the dock,three swords  and a Horse offcier at the end of the dock..waiting on something when we got there.. 2 of them are Dead for sure.. other  two should be... Horsehumper is chumming for a couple first folk who helped us across the river..

 Kree Nodded,..there was some 'High Officer' with two Palace Lackys.. came here  as   I helped   'his lordship', get a  good vire of the insides of  a few dozen serpents.....I have the thought, that  he was supposed to witness  my death.. instead his   saw the Lordship  take his  steps to the 9 hells..I let one trooper Go..so he  can tell his tale  at the palace... figure that will bring some excitement tomorrow.

  Pointing with the BAlde to the archer...who is the new bow?

 Kree  straightened  up a bit, as he, too, turned to the stranger...I do not know... but  it appears they had a pair of  archers  in the alley.. I did not see them, until the first one fell.....guess my  city skills  need some work

"Your back..." She muttered as she moved up to Kree and behind, shouldering the bow once more. "Would you like me to pull those out?" She asked as she reached out, gently placing a hand upon his shoulder as she examined the wounds. They didn't appear to be super deep or anything but probably still caused pain.

  Kree winced,aye...  damnable  fools came when i was  trying to get some rest... then the 9 hells  broke out...

 Reedrick waggles   a finger at him,Ye Broke  1/4 of me damned window!!..serves  ya  right  ta have  glass picked outta yer  back!.. I should   come there  and   give  you a  few solid pounds on teh  back...ye  Mindless   tree hugger!..Smashin' up an   honset Dwarf's  windas!!..

 ..the place is   Mine as well.. as it is for any who wear the Arrow...

 ,,aye!...  But ye  don't  be  seein' the  other   smash me Glass!... Comon' then!,, grab  they goods  an' we'll sort them out.... Bloody elf.. no thougths to no one's  home!..Not one!

 Reedrick threw  his  hands up in the air, walkign into the   Inn.

 Ivy   chuckled,well?.. least  he was not angry...

 ..we cannot be sure... he  did not have his axe...

Doing her best to be as gentle as possible, Tyri began to pull some of the smaller pieces of glass from his back. "Kree...are you sure you don't know that person?" she asked softly as she worked, glancing to the stranger. The person didn't seem to take any move to harm them so maybe they were just a bystander who hates the Tou? "Or maybe your reputation has stayed their hand?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Wed 24 June 2020.

The sound of Reedrick's voice brought an unseen smile to her lips, finding a little comfort in the dwarf reprimanding Kree about his window. The news she had to break was already hard enough for her. Taking a deep breath, she carefully made her way to where the archers' bodies had fallen into a crumpled heap. Once there, she checked the bodies for coin, insignias and, more importantly, to retrieve her arrows if they were salvageable.

  Kree  winced  a little bit in annoyance as the  pain from glass  removal.  Kree  pointed to the stranger,..you there?,, Grab what spoils from that those bodies  and   come in for a Drink...

 Ivy looks and says ,..there was  a pair..in The Timber..used to do  some  'quiet' jobs.

  Waving the stranger to the Door,we will find out.

Glancing over to Kree when he spoke, she merely nodded and went back to her task at hand, her brother's words ringing in her mind of how she should always retrieve her salvagable arrows or at the very least, save the arrow head. With the dark deed done, she straightened and turned back to the trio that were outside of the door to the Inn. Her blue eyes met Kree's and she placed the tip of her middle finger on her left hand and bowed. It was a sign of respect and acknowledgment between the twins and a motion that has been given to Ivy and Kree by Mihail when he had worked with them. Taking a deep steadying breath, she headed towards the door.

 <<<<<<<<<< from Place thread... 'The Raining Sorrow' outside  The Plank.

  The  kid    took the release off the crossbow... but  jammed his   dagger into a barrrel  top to be handy, as he sat at the top of the gangway.

  ,,never been much anywhere..'cept on the ship?... i remember  living by the sea?... Playin' in the sand, Until  me  father had me  join up with me Uncle  so's i could help  earn coin...

 we get to a port?.. i normally have ta stay with the ship...sometimes, Uncle will take me along ta by provsions and such..we did that this morning..  they finished laodin' the supplies an' goods  we  are takin' down river... don't much like  Olant..it is  like bad water..scum on the surface and ugly moss under it...


 Cala  comes out  with  Pitcher of  Cold  Ale  for  those who are staying with the Lad...and wooden mugs,, she hands the adults a Bag and   the kid a Bag..

  She grins at the Boy...sweet meats and sweet breads all mixed up.... and she  flounces away.



 The  Boy watches the Maiden  go.....Me names i  Mik, by the way. me brother, the 1st mate, he be Tal... an' me Uncle , The Master of this vessel  is  Gravin..he don't like to say we are from Engar, cause he has  some words with the  merchants there.. so's he says  we are free merchants..

"Aye, lad, I can understand not wanting to talk about home, since home has become the road.  Thing is, our past, good or bad, molds us into what we are, and might become.  If free merchant is what you are, then Engar helped you become that."

Lysander takes a bite of the food and a sip of ale before he goes on.

"Lad, you need to decide for yourself what you want to pursue.  If you want to be a free merchant, this is as good a place as any to learn the trade, and maybe better, because someone here cares for you.  I tried what my parents wanted for me, but it wasn't what I wanted to be.  War came and changed me, I went back to mining but was never satisfied there.  I am new to the Arrows, but I feel it might be a good occupation for me, as our goals appear to align."

Lysander will keep watch, as the lad appears drowsy.

    Mik   sat . leaning  against the  Barrel  he  stuck his dagger in.,I dun know  ta be sure, But the sea and the Rivers have been alright, 'cept when we fight an' i think about  serpernts chewin' on me..very  few surviors  when a ship goes  down..  that's why, when the Irionmound  Nvay takes  pirates, Red Isles Haflings, or  slavers.. they tie them by the waits  an' hang them over the  side.. they do this when they Hail the Gate?... the
 prisoners hafta hanh there  until the ship docks.. then's  that are half  eaten amd
 cut  lose  fer the   serpents those who are alive, are sent  to  the  work houses
 for a time, before letting them go, as the serpents  did not judge them too harshly...

 Elandra smiles and says to Mik,"Well as my new friend Lysander said, if you like the sea and the rivers then stay where you are, if not always go where your heart and soul lead you. You just have to find your inner peace, and it is a pleasure to meet you Mik." 

Aye Ladd, As t'ese say, find yer own road. Meeself,? t'was half 'ome an half on the road wit' t'e men taught mee me craft, an b'liefs. Findin' yer own road is t'e main part o' life. Ye don' find yer own way, you a'ways gonna feel lost, an no at ease. Do w'at yee wish, an learn as yee go, like all p'ples do. Yee be sure safe 'ere if'n you stay, no doubt. he winks at the ladd to show he means what he's saying. the boy would surely be safe if he felt like leaving the ship, Nonoe will keep yee against yer will, no doubt.

  Mik listened to the others,well?... I'm not much good at the  reckoning, using the stars  yet... but i can  find me way up and down the river  well enough... it is bloody  scarey when we  fight though.. seen peopel swing across  and not make it.. and the serpents get 'em before they sink.... if the battle goes on long enough, the serpents don't waitfer  ye  to fall, they just snatch you off the railings....

 he points  with a hand holding a sweet meat....Thta frigate there  is better   then this old brig, if you get into a  fight..but this  brig is better then a sloop..

"Mik, you might just move up to a frigate some day, but you might prefer to stay in the family business, too.  Just make sure that whatever you chose, your heart is in it.  If you ever need us for anything, even just to talk, go to the Plank.  We might not be there, but we will be back there."

Motioning towards Lysander, Aye Ladd, t'e Dwarf be right, you seem t' 'ave found a new batch o' friends here. An... t'e way yee know ships, yee mayhap be on a path wit dest'ny on ships, yee know t'ings already.

   The   air  started to chill, the breeze  coming off the    river  as the   sun  was .

 Music  drifted  across the river from the   base Inns  and ships in the Navy docks.

   Hooka  rested her head on the gunwale   and snorted .

Mik   shivered a bit as the breeze  came

Laddy, Do yee not have a cloak? The breeze comin' off o' t'e river be chill. Vilmund says as he sees the boy give a quick shiver.

Lysander offers Mik his cloak.  He is accustom to the chill.

  The Lad shook  his head,..no thank you.... I have  Me own cloak..from  the Moorish folk  near Mouri..

  holding up a thick wool cape of  sorts...don't need it yet..

  Kree   sat on the Bench outside  The PlanK, the New  Window put in and Painted  with a  Red Bloodied  arrow on it.

 The  breeze to him was refreshing , wearing his  Tunic.  Some  folks walked  past him with a nod, some  didn't  care one way or the other.. Others   took a oath around him to get into The Plank

<<<<<<<<<<From the Plank

She walked up to where Kree sat, the bells announcing her arrival. "Can I...have a seat?"

  Aye.. seat yourself? This is Home of  The Arrows, if anyone  wishes  to take and seat, and gets it..it is An Arrow... Might be a might brisk for you.. wind is comign off the River...sign for rain, for sure.

 Elandra smiled and listened, she nodded to her two Arrowmates, then to Mik and Hooka, she then said," Well enjoy the evening I am going to head inside, good evening, may Peace be with you."

 Elandra smiled as she walked past Kree and Tyri, she then went inside the Plank to have a look around on who was there and what the plans where for the evening.

------>>> To Plank

"I love the rain," she smiled briefly as she looked up to the sky. "I just...can't leave things as they are...I wanted to apologize for reacting the way I did. I just...I've been rather sensitive the last couple of days and...with Riven calling me out on my ignorance in how the world truly is just made me feel like I don't really bring anything to the group." She looked down and shifted in her seat, the cool breeze giving her goosebumps.

  Kree chuckled, it was not mean, it was not happy,..first..off, what you do  know and do not  know  is not as  important, as knowing that you do not know?

 If Riven ran with Tental... and Tental sent her  here. its because  she knows more of the  dark world then you?

 he  looks around and Points   at certain areas of the city that Lights   shown brighter,..MosT people  do not know how dark the world is... or choose not  to?... there is nothing wrong  witht hat.. it is safe place to be, until the time Darkness knocks on your  door.

 His eyes   traveled to teh bright lights of the  Palace...in sharp contrast to the Dark Mound of Ironmound  with   simple lights of the roads on the  Dwarven Mount.

 ..Snapjack showed us the way of the streets... picking pockets..Stealing from the rich and Haughty merchants.. cutting purses.....we went to Tou to learn who to  end those who preyed....more darkly..then us... and it was fun..after all was  matter  if  we  killed a Tou folk here or there...

 ..It wasn't  until i heard those same words used about Elves  from a Slaver..that i decided to  start  culling out as many Dark folk as  i was able.. the  Slave master that we  turned his wife and DAughters over to goblins to use, before he himself  was spitted and cooked?.... He was freed ..by Magistrates in Tou....Some say , they were briebed...some say Law  does not  count the same for humans as it does  for Elves ..for me?.. It was Tou, Bribing them with Freedom, to  hit  The Timber  at its heart..

we learned about the  Dark... and we learned how to use it... does it make us dark?.. only in the eyes of those we kill...

She listened quietly, eventually turning her gaze to him. "I don't think you or Ivy are dark...you can be a bit abrasive but I understand the why..." With another sigh and a slight shiver since she didn't have her cloak on, Tyri looked down to where her hands were folded in her lap. "I just worry...that you guys will think that I am not worth having around as well and...I just..." She ended her statement with a shrug.

    Kree shucked  off his  Tunic  and Put it over her   shoulders,..Id you run with us, you learn things   you never knew  happen.. you will learn.. you may even learn good things

 He points one ship over  from the  Raining Sorrow..the point  was   quick  witht eh fellow's back turned...that human fellow. coiling rope..looks  every bit the Sailor, does he not... but he is not... his his shirt is too clean for having been coilign  rope for as long as he makes it seem.. the tar did not  rumb off on his hands  or  arm... he    sits barefoot... which is a nice  touch, but there is no  tar ground into his  heels and  soles, many a sailor  climb the rigging, and the tar protects  those  ropes  for  the sails and the ratlines?..But a real sailor who  would  be barefoot on leave?.. would be showing  hard
 soles, almost like doeskin.  He watches  The Rainign Sorrow.., which  is why i want the boy to come inside... Beastie or no beastie..that felow wants to see what kind of cargo would
 require the crimson Arrows as  ships  guards and archers...

There was a look of surprise on her face when he placed his tunic upon her shoulder. "Oh...thank you..." she said softly as he pointed out the 'sailor' and began to speak once again, showing her just how much she missed. "Yeah...I would have never seen that but the boy should be fine, right? I mean...Vilmund, Lysander and Riven are with him..."

  and there in lies  another test?.. Three  Arrows out there with a small boy left to guard a  medium sized ship... True, he has a beastie with him.. but the Beastie is limited , in what it  can do?.. it can't  torch the docks  or  its own shim..that would lead to  the death  of the Bou, the 1st mate and the Master, as   spys or worse?

 our  three  friends are  helping..but in the end?  they will be of little use to us in the morning, if they do not get rest tonight

 ..if the danger was rgeater? I would order them in. For now..i watch... and I learn  about me  people.

"Riven should be fine given her elven heritage...right?" she asked offhandedly, knowing that not all elves needed as much sleep as the others. "And you are not resting up tonight?" she muttered as she looked out to the others that remained at the docks. It seemed that she had a lot to learn not only about the city but in how to properly observe folks as well.

  it depends?  If mY folk go in and get rest, I can rest  as well.. if the  Lad  comes in, and i take up the watch i will rest, but not as comfortably... There is a big diffference , between  that sailor wanting to senak a board  with a kid there.. as  op[osed to an Arrow on board.

"Why not just take out the Sailor now?" she asked curiously, eyes darting to the man coiling the rope. It seemed simple enough to her...but then again, there was obviously more at play that she didn't quite understand.

...besides the River Tou..and  The Stom River , and the Lather  River.. we have  some nice streams and Ponds in The  Timber... you learn to  fish.. and..fish smart? it does you no god to catch  a fish, if you lose it to a  Serpent

 ..so?... you find yourself  a nice spot, bait the Hold  and toss out the line...and wait..rarely  do you get a big catch right away.... you get smaller  fish, which is  fine.. and you have to use the right bait, or you will not catch nothing...

 ..if thepeople who watch  our ship, are good?.. that sailor is only bait? there would be a good chance , that he would not even know he is bait... if  we killing  him, scare him off, or even let on we know.. those who are watching will..indded,think that ship has   a heavy cargo of goods...

 ..If the  people who sent that sailor  are  fools,  then we could, indeed , kill him  and . most like, scare them off.

 ..So..i put this in the Hands of the sister, and  gamble... should  they be smart and dangerous, they will show thier hand , sometimes to night, ... if they are fools..  that sailor  will go away after a bit.... Ivy and I ahve   often watched  the same place  for housrs, with  us strollign through somewhere, or havign a drink somewhere..all the while moving from palce tom palce.. rather then sit out in the open... he may was  well have a  bard singing behind him.

"Well those would be jobs to entrust to the others...I am not very good at waiting and tend to get impatient but that is also because I don't like...being idle I guess. I just...I guess I have too much energy and lose interest quick. It is one reason I love to dance so much...different songs bring a change and I find that I can focus..." She went quiet, pulling his tunic a little tighter around her shoulders.

    we have  had  Times when  we  had to  wait in ambush  for slavers, or caravans.. wait for them to set up  camp before  we come in  at night likes Shades of  Death....

  ..its part of the job i like... waiting and watching the enemy.. see them walk around , boasting and jesting..maybe you see a couple who  Kick a slave  or   foundel  one..... then the time comes, when  weapons  are laid down... and   the   guards  are  killed.. and you loose those first arrows.. the  surprise   people ahve in thier eyes as a shaft seems to sport from thier  chests or ehads... the Confusion as a few more drop.. and the pmaci as they realize.. they are now being attacked, as they have attacked so many people in the past...you notcie the hope on some slaves..fear on others..all in all its  about balance... the waiting  and lack of Movement... and then the sudden swift and harsh actions

"I just...have a lot to learn it seems," she murmured, glancing up to the sky. "I will try my best...you can be sure of that...and thank you." Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and let it out slowly.

Every couple of hours,  Lysander will walk the docks within 100 yards of the the ship.

 While sitting on the crates and the items piled on the dock in the area of the Plnk, Vilmund will take a position to someone viewing him as if he has fallen asleep and is in slumber. All the while keeping an eye on Lysander and the others, but ready to jump up if needed.

  Kree  gave a  small smile and  nodded  as he  handed her the bottle of his Elven Gold, leaning on his  thighs  with his elbows.. he looked  pensive, but he said  softly..

 there   2  stevedores ?   They  are not what they seem..  Stevedores on these dock  only load  from sunrise to sunset... sailors  can  load thier own boats at night, but t the guild  will charge them more, for taking food from the stevedore's  mouths...

 pay no mind to them as they pass.. but  a bet you a tray of  sweetmeats, they are  goign to go aboard that 'sailor's ship.

 they came  down, truned    right  at the wharf  , stopping to talk to the sailor...no  paperwok...no purse for collections..The sailor  will Protest..somehting.. and all three will go  Below thier  Deck...

  the  sailor  stood waved his hands  around to make  sure people saw him, the   two loaders  bitched back.. and the threw  went up the gang way  and below thier Deck..

 now? smart folk might say, 'go below and kill all three of them..and i am tempted to do that very thing....but that would tell folks   we know they aren't what they seem.

 ,,they are  either..very..very bad   at this...and hope  no one notcies.. or they are  very very good  at this, and made miskes like this to lure  us over... Killing  2 or three arrows   would be a damn good trade off to us  wiping out a crew...

"So...we just continue to sit here and wait?"she asked softly as she took the bottle, gently turning it back and forth in her hands as she looked at the bottle. Glancing over and noting the pensive look, she shifted, gently setting the bottle down on the ground where they sat and gently nudging him a bit forward on the bench to give her space behind him and began to massage his shoulders. Her icy gaze remained on where the sailors disappeared. Admittedly, she was surprised that he was able to predict what was going to happen.

  Kree    twisted his neck a bit as she worked the shoulder...aye?  Humans are not know  for being  wait too long.. with the  Arrows  out  by the ship now, they cannot  do  too much.. they cannot   try and sneak on board through the water. because of the serpents ..so?
 unless  our people leave the Lad..or the Lad  comes into the Inn and  one of us take over..there is not much anyone can do..

 ,,they could  hire  mercs to start a fight at out  Inn,,, but that costs  coin... and may not get them what they need.

Her hands worked skillfully along his shoulders, neck, and back as she watched the ship. "Now...is this...something deeper than just some thieves wanting to see what is on board or that remains to be seen at this point in time?" She glanced down to note his positioning and if he seemed a little more relaxed than before.

Lysander notices the two moving down the docks and the furtive glances towards the lad and the Arrows sitting there.  He was glad to see them enter a ship, despite a show put on with the hand guarding it.  While he felt a bit of tension ease, he was still wary of them.  His next stroll would take him within 20 feet of that ship, near enough to notice anything or hear something, or at least make them nervous; far enough away to avoid being caught alone, as he knew where the Arrows were and that they could make it there should anything untoward occur.

 Sitting up and rubbing his face and pulling his hair back into place to the rear of his head, yawning, stretching his arms over his head, Vilmund says Aye Lass, mee t'inks t'e Cappin' is sayin jet t'at. sit? wait? mayhaps make t'e ot'ers itch and squirm fer t'e wait'in. T'ats when t'e m'stakes happ'n, from t'ere itchi'n. He looks at Kree and winks, Smart t'inkin cap.
 he stands and walks to a pithcer they were left by the waitress, and takes a drink of water. Anyt'ing fer mee to do Cap? mayhaps make t'em move w'en t'ey not ready?

  watching the  Arrows at the ship , then shifting to the other  ship..i do not think they are pirates. you would have to be daft to come into Ironmound  as a pirate, and think you will leave....

 we will know   if they cast of  right before..or right after us... we may be seeing them on the River..

............

  Kree smiles a bit  at Vilmund....just get rest.. we may have some  fighting to do on  the River?  do not know how your  people like   the river..but you fall you, you may not  come back out.

.............

 Lysander  doesn't see any one else at the Moment, nor hear anything below the wooden deck... he can see dozens of   sailors  sitting out side thier Inns  like Kree is doing....any one of them..or more.. could be the sailors  for that ship./

Seeing nothing, for now, Lysander will sit back down for a while, but he will take note of anyone nearing that ship.  He plans to sleep in the morning, while they are on the river.  The watch is too important at the moment.

She nodded as he spoke even though she knew he couldn't see the movement and continued with the massage. "I get that...it's hard for me...but...I am occupied right now so maybe that will help with the sit and wait part of this," she chuckled softly, pausing once to tuck some of her long honey blond hair back behind her pointed ear.

 Kree nodded,..Finished soon then? I need  to talk a bit of a walk. Then, it will be up to the Lad..if he satys on Board, i am going to bed..if he goes in the Inn, I will stand his watch  to the uncle does not get angered.

"Oh if you need me to stop then I can," she chuckled, removing her hands from his shoulders. "Did you want your tunic back?" Removing it from around her shoulders, she held it out to him, biting her bottom lip as she did so.

..no..i stay out  enough  right now, with out  wearing a dress tunic down the  dock.. I just have to see someone...  he nodded to  the little  girl who was standing like a ghost, by one of the pole lights... those lights  were Mage Lights, rather then Oil..to many burnables  on the Doc.

She merely nodded and put it back around her shoulders, a small smile on her lips as she pulled it close and enjoying the fact that it smelled like him.

  Well t'en, I be layin' 'ere on t'e docks t'en. Lysander, I bee keepin' watch w'th yee, If you be watchin', I be slumberin', take turns. yes? he nods to kree as kree sets off, and grunts as he sits back down and squirms into a somewhat comfy position to slumber while Lysander watches for a bit. Wake mee if'n you bee needin' to slumber a bit aye?. not opening his eyes to see if Lysander was okay with that, he settles in.

Giving Vilmund the better part of 2 hours, Lysander wakes him before taking a quick patrol around the area, then he catches 20 winks himself without a word.

{OOC) This presumes there is nothing to note.

 At Lysander's urging, Vilmi=und awoke for his stint. Rubbing his beard and face and giving a scratch around his ear, he shook his head telling the Dwarf, got it, make noise if'n  yee need me. he took another drink of water before  settling into his watch, taking a lok up and down the docks, making mental notes of the shadows and lighted areas, being mindful of what his brain told him was the new normal and gave himself mental notes of the sounds in his immediate area.

  Kree  walked  down the  docks,  a jerkin on and his dress  breeches, his  sword  belt   still on.

 The Little Gilr  called out...please  Sir.. a copper..or some brass.. please?

 Kree turned  to the Girl  , reaching  for  his purse..  some  sailors  behind  them  from the next inn down cat call..

 hey!..Long Ear!..ain't she a might young fer ya! there are Laughs.

  Kree doesn't turn aroudn but hands the Girl a  silver,  as she   takes  the  coin a sliver of  papers   is defty  passed to his hand, which he m conceals like a magic trick.

 she says,..go on Cap'm..sort them out... and she   runs away  into the darkness , like a ghost in sackcloth.

 Kree   draws his  sword,  he swishes it a  few times in the night air, letting the sound of steel  sing.....Right?... Who is the one , witht he Biggest mouth?.. I would  like to make it  bigger..aye?..say ear to ear...

 ..Bugger Off , Elf.... you ain't got  enough people her  ta  help ya...

 he looks  down the   dock and gives his head a shake 'no'.. then turns back...you  may be  right?..but.. lookign at what's in front of me..i would  feel it unfair if one of the barmaids  from the Plank, took you all on...

 a couple of the  men stood up....

 ..now?  You witht he Mouth?..Come  here..Kiss my boots, and i will forgive the inference  of you thinking  i would be a slaver... no Crimson Arrow  will stand for that... at the 'crimson arrow.. a pair of men thought it better to go inside.

 ..you think i'm goign to kiss  some  pointy eared fop's  boots?  you are mad!

 ..you will..or you will die... i've killed three poeple today?.. hate to leave an odd number..

 two more men thought it would be better to find  another bar  Inland...which left the talker   and two others...you think you can make me  kiss your boots.. his  buddies  pull cutlasses...

 Kree smiles...I'm counting on you...not to....
.......................

  the others can see  some movement...barely..on the deck of the other ship.

Seeing the movement made her frown and she pulled her mask up to cover the lower half of her face. She had been quite content in her little hiding spot for the time being but it seemed like things were starting to pick up. Unshouldering her bow, Riven stalked closer to where the movement was, staying in the darkness of the shadows.

Lysander awakens to the loudmouthed ingrate.  His attention is immediately drawn to the other ship.  Thinking Kree able to handle himself, and knowing there were enough around to help him, Lysander decides to maintain his post, thinking of diversions and separation of forces.  There was no way he was leaving the lad to fend for himself.

 Noticing movement, Vilmund sits up as if to stretch, but was in reality trying for any better view of the movement.

Niphre strolled towards the docks, looking for the people she had been with. She was sure they were somewhere around here. Her time in the Trace Forest had been most helpful, or course. And relaxing, too.

Remaining in her seat, Tyri watched where Kree went, chewing on her bottom lip. It made her uneasy but she didn't want to run inside and get Ivy but she also didn't have a bow. Instead, she watched and waited.

  the three people spread  out around Kree, staying  a few feet from what looked like the reach of  The Elf's blade.

  ,,,, Maybe.. I'll have you lick the bottom of  our Boots...

 ..Kind of hard to do that  , from way over there...come closer.. there is  3 of you....there will be less, the closer you get... and all of you will be dead, if  you  don't  push off...Except you?  you still have to Kiss  my Boot...

.............

 the  three men on the  other ship were watching ....waiting....

Riven positioned herself where she could easily take out one of the guys on Kree but also to where she could see the men on the ship waiting...She notched an arrow and waited, concealed in the shadows and slowing her breath.

Lysander sees the men on the ship waiting for their moment.  He whispers to the lad, "It might be a good idea to wake your pet for a little bit."

He stands up to stretch.  Gotta make sure there are no kinks in the muscles.

    The  Lad   Nudge  the  Dragonette  its  head  rose only enough for its   eyes  to scan what what takign  place. 30 yards  away or so, the three  men  seemed like they were waiting for something...

................

 The   Kid  Picked up his  crossbow, loaded it fast.

..............

 Kree  took a  step to ward the   sailor   towards  The Plank... the swirled  as his   blade  hissed infront of  the Sailor to the North.. The Sailor  Dropped to his  Knees.. his  hands started to reach for  his  Belly  as    entrails   started to seep out.....help...me....

  You are  Dead, Lad.. better for you to dive into the water, and let the serpents take youm  then the pain that's  coming.

  The Sailor  to the South  looked stunned... The Big Mouth  fellow  drew hs  cutlass..

 ..the Lad didnot have a chance?.. his   cutlass hangs from a rope  on his waist, and you thought these were the type of people to Kill me?

 ..and yet, ye  kilt  him...

 he was  warned... as were you... you will not be as well off  as he...

 The Southern fellow   reached  for his hand  crossbow  to shoot Kree in the back.

While I hear the sound of steel, I trust that Kree can handle himself.  I will not pull my attention from the ship.

As soon as she noted the man reaching for a crossbow, Riven loosed her arrow in his direction, not aiming to just disable but to kill, notching another arrow as soon as the other left and preparing to fire that one if the first didn't finish the job. She frowned upon the coward's attempt to shoot Kree in the back.

AS Vilmund hears Kree and the three begin their business, he looks to the other ship and watches the three men onboard. he loosens the strap on his shield so it can be brought to the ready and then pulls his hammer to his grip.... and readys himself for a dash towards the gangplank if they decide to come down.

  Kree Holds the  Longsword out  Like one would a rapier... ne slides  to the North, cutting the  Big Mouth Sailor's chance  to run there..

 There is a  Surprised   Shout of Pain as  the fellow with the Hand  Cross bow  fell... and Arrow   quivering in his back..

 Kree looked at the   small bolt in is Knee high Boot..he snorted  reached  with his left hand     and jerked the bolt  out, Flicked the Bolt like a  dagger   into the  dead man's  back.

 what are you!

 ..I am  an Elf... with friends....  he smiles...Edhel-o gurth..some  people call me that.. I like it...very few hear the words twice...

..........

 as the  Man with the cross bow fell the  Three   men Jumped from the    other  ship to  crates, leaping for  the Arrow's   ship..  Bodies  started  to up up from the Hold of the enemy ship

 Hooka   shot  out a Blast of Oily fire  that hit one of the 'stevedores'.. he screamed In fright and Pain , falling into the  waters  splashing as the  Oily mixture  still burned    while the serpents   rushed to investigate at least 8  people  broiled out of the Hold a  weighted net  was  slung in the   Air  and  landed opn Hooka   causing her  to snarl and roll  about, tangling herself   even more.

Lysander jumped to life, great axe in one hand, a hand axe in the other.  He called out, "Lad, get the net off of your pet!"

"Now it is time to take out the trash", he said as he throws his hand axe at the nearest enemy and brings his hand back to the axe to start swinging.

"Fucking cowards..." she muttered in elvish and let the arrow that was already poised and ready to fly loose towards one of the men trying to jump onto the ship they were protecting.

Come! Meet the Cold Ones!! Yells Vilmund as he rand towards the men trying to get to the ship as the dragonette fireballs the first one in line. he brings the shield up to fend anything that might come his way, and charges the rest. hammer being brought back for a smashing delivery..

      Crossing the  kid's  ship Vilmund  meet one of the boarders    Shield  to shiled, the mercs from the hold of the ship were armored   and  ready.

 Lysander's    Hand   Axe  hit  the other  stevedore   causing Himn to   fall m bouncing of  crates  to  Lie  on the  wharf  near his own ship.

  Riven's  Arrow lodges  in the wooden shiled of   a grizzled   warrior that hand a  Limp  , as the fellow tried to    climb into  the  Raining Sorrow.

 Ivy steps out the door     Nocking an arrow  as he  has a roll in his Mouth,..I hate when Kree is right... i really , really do...

    the others   running  out  see the  'boarding party;  trying to get to the ship for some reason..

 Reedrick shouts as he comes out  with his battleaxe.....ye bloody bastards  break me windows, an' i'll use ye  for serpent bait!

................

 who sent  you..who is paying you..tell me   now.. and your   Death will be   quick and clean....

 ..Bugger  yerself Elf...  I'll be usin' yer head  to drink from...

 ..You know who i am?.. do you know  those   people down there  who are about to kill your partners?.... The Crimson Arrows... some  idiot  sent..dumber folk to attack the Crimson Arrows. right out  side thier Inn.. who..is that stupid?

 The   Fellow's  heavy cutlasses swished through the air    only to be batted  aside  by  Kree's Longsword...

   The fellow's eyes got big...Elves  are build   thin.... our muscles  are just like yours... the more  we use them, the stronger they get.... I have been swinging this  blade for 60 years..how long have  you swung yours?... one more chance... your  reward is a quick death... or a death by Pieces....who sent you...

Seeing the others arrive to help the ship, Riven turned back to the man that still faced off against Kree. Instead of notching another arrow, she pulled out a dagger and flipped it to where she was holding the tip. Taking aim, she threw the dagger, aiming for the back of the man's knee before moving back towards the ship though stopping at the halfway point between Kree and the ship, still hiding in the shadows. She notched another arrow and took a bead on the same warrior she hit before and let her arrow fly.

Hoping the Arrows would move in behind him, Lysander moved towards the next target and tried to plant his great axe into his flesh.

   Hooka   was snorting Smoke, and   getting herself in a worse tangle, the   mesh  was   braided  Metal.


  Mik  Fired  his   crossbow   dart at the swarm  comign   over the crates, he managed to hit one in the Thigh.. the Fellow  fell backwards    shouting and swearing  'his; side of the crates.

............

 Lysander  , Moved  ,  and was met  By  one fellow waving a cutlass and  anothe r  fellow  with a wooden shild  and a  curves , Blade from Mouri

............

  Riven's   Dagger swished through the air, catching the  burly man in the calf.. He shouted  in suprise..Riven then  sent  another arrow  at the  fellow , he , once more   ,managed to get the  shaft shuck in his   shield.

...............

 Ivy sent   an Arrow, just into the Mass.. he was  rewarded     with  a  fellow    screamign at the sight of an arrow in his  left  Bicep .

   He took a bite of the Roll  and said.....trust the sisters!

 there  were   7 men  still  attacking, 4 of them on 'our  ' ship.. three on the crates.. two  wounded  on the other side of the   crates.. and one slightly toasted  fellow getting eaten in the water.

Lysander will swing his great axe at the man with the sword.

Slamming his shield into the other man's shield, He pulls back the shield and layes it flat like a table top, again slamming it into the shield, but this time hitting it with the edge of his shield near the top of the other. hoping to change the angle of the other man's shield and open the bottom up for a hot. When his shield makes contact, he has the hammer swinging with full force towards the man's left side ribcage. grunting as he makes the swing.

As soon as Krwyn leaves the Plank, he assesses the situation and start to shoot arrows in the group of attackers while he walks in their direction. Together with Ivy he is able to rain arrows on the men, forcing them to use their shields as cover or be wounded or worse. That leaves them open for attacks by the Crimson Arrows on the ship with their hammer and axe.

With a snort, Riven notched another arrow, this time aiming at the man's legs. She stayed at the halfway point between Kree and the ship in the shadows, keeping an ear out in case something happens and Kree needs her help.

Cursing softly, Tyri ran inside to grab her own bow and quiver, now seeing why Kree and Ivy kept certain items on them.

 Elandra walked out of the Plank and surveyed the area, looking for where her help was needed mostly, fighting or healing. She will access the situation and then if no one is in dire need of healing she will fire a Guiding bolt at the closest attacker without endangering her group or Hooka and Mik.

 the Battle ensues  with people scattering away from the Docks...

 Vilmund  fights   with his  opponent, , finally getting  a Crack into   the  Top of his  hit on the  second   swing.. The Fellow screams  In  fallign inward  and  ontop the  strugglign Dragonette

 Lysander  brought his  Axe  around the Mad's  cutlass might be heavy, but it  couldn't  take  on the   weight of the Battleaxe, the   weapon sunk into the  Man's leathers and  stopped in His chest.. He Groaned  and    moved  back  and forth  on the  balde as Lysander  tried to  get the wounded man off ..

 Krywyn and  Iv  sent shafts  into the   Same  Man... he hand a dumfounded look on his face as he fell back, onto the Docks.. Ivy frowned.. That was my fault. i thought you had the other guy!

 Elandra's  Bolt   flash bright  gold , hitting into  the 'sailor' who had been on watch.. as he  truned  from the  wound, Mik fired his crossbow  Again, droppign the man from the Gunwale and onto the Hapless Hooka

 3 of the enemies were still able to fight...One was on  the  'Sorrow's" deck.. the  other  two on the crates...whistles  were Blowing,, and shouts  of 'The Guard..the Guard": came from the north and South.

  Kree frowned, the Big Man said,.. yea  won;t  be able to  do a damned...UGHHH!!! , Kree  leaned on his  blade  that  went through the Man's thigh, he reached over, taking the man's Dirk from His   sheath... Kree whispered harshly to the Man...

 ..in the  wilds.. i have more time... so you just get a hurried  job... But first thing i do.. is  pin a Slaver  to a Tree....

 the Man's  Dirk was slammed into  his  right shoulder , Pinning him to the  Wall..   Then, I take one of my Blades  and make a mark,,, right...here....  the  Man  screamed  as   Kree cut a rune into his forehead.. Then, a jerk of his sword   cutting a large   chunk of thigh  from the  man.. .. he screamed  and begged  for help.

 ..Then i let  The Sisters  decide  if he lives or  dies....mostly they die...

 Kree    cut  patches of the other  two  dead men..he  cut a plug  of flesh around the arrow in the Man's back to retrieve  Riven's  arrow, and he  took her blade  out of the screaming man's  calf.

  walking down towards  the Battle , he flicked the plug of flesh of the   arrow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:23, Sun 26 July 2020.

She could hear Kree's footsteps and once he reached her position, she emerged from her spot, falling into line with him. She didn't say anything, instead letting another arrow fly at one of the enemies that were still standing.

 Elandra saw Hooka was netted and trapped, she saw three bad guys up and fighting.  She will summon her Spiritual Staff next to one of the bad guys , and she would swing it to hit the man in the back of his knees hard. She will look to see if anyone needs healing, she will look at her friends first, if bad guys where hurt she would help them after if they where still alive.

Her arrow flew, hitting its mark and embedding itself into the man closest to the river, causing Riven to smirk though it was unseen. She reached out and plucked her arrow from Kree's  hand and notched it.

With the great axe stuck, and draining life from one, Lysander grabbed for his short sword to take on the next opponent.  He says, "I will want that axe back when it is done with you!"

  Kree   walked   down the Dcoks  as if he  oweed it.. torches  from guards  comign from each and of the  Docks grew brighter and brighter

 He  didn't  twitch as the arrow  shot  passed him, nor  as the bloodied  arrow  was  taken from His  Hand

   one   merc  fell  sideways into the water.. his wounded screams changed to screams of  terror and pain..

  Elandra's  Staffbrought  one  fellow  to his knees  in front of Lysander..

 Laysander's  Axe  had the dying man bleeding all over  poor  Hooka, who , now..had  three  dead  bodeies on her

 Vilmund  was  face to fase  witht he last of the boarders.

 Kree turned up the Wharf of the mercs vessel

As the man fell, Vilmund smiled and stepped toward the next opponent that was otherwise unengaged. looking at the axe in the dead man, yee forgot sumt'in Dwarf, Don't be fergett'n wh're it be. He chuckled as he and Lysander strode forward.

"Aye, mate, I always know where she is, and has been."

She came out from the tavern with her shortbow, an arrow nocked. Seeing that they had everything under control, she relaxed just a bit though looking around to make sure that there was no one else attempting to sneak up.

Riven kept a bead on the last boarder, the arrow dripping with blood. Should Vilmund not take them down...she would.

Stepping forward to face the last man, he said, yer mates are all dead er dyin', are yee sure yee wish to go 'head an join 'em? he didn't wait for an answer, but advanced on the man, with a swing from the high right side, he turned his wrist at the right moment to the left, making the weapon switch and come high form the left towards his enemy's high right side. Aiming for the man's right side of his head and neck region. Stepping through the swing and hitting the man in the chest with a shield smash.. he he used the forrward movement of his rush and attack to push the man bodily, whether his attack worked or not.

 Elandra would keep her Spiritual staff up and move it towards the closet able enemy that could still fight. She would also look to see if any of her friends where hurt.

Lysander was ready to attack anyone left, given there were no un-engaged enemies, he goes back to get his great axe and finish off the wounded.  They should be forced to suffer, but that wasn't in him.

Afterwards, he says to Kree, "maybe we should ensure there is no one left on their ship?"

  Kree looked at Lysander, , there was a bit of  frustration showed on the ..normally grim face.Aye we should.. but  we cannot , witht he troops  coming in..right now? everyone  saw us attacked. we cannot  go looting about ...

 ..Having said that?.. look  for company  markis  and take them.. take  coin and  weapons.. and get the  scum out of our boat, and lets  get some  folks to Untangle that beastie..

 Reedrick thumped  down the  wharf. he  dragged the  dead  onto the wharf  like a catch of  fish

 the  three wounded, Including the one  Vilumnd  whacked  were  kneeling.  Kree took a Look  at the  torches  coming  Close.. Ivy  shouldered his Bow  and   went to meet the troops  comign   from the   south, waving  'in panic"   Quickly!.. My friends have  save a lad and his pet from attack.

 The  troops from the   north   have not  yet reached the docks...

 You?.. who hired you... he said  to the first one...

 The man  said  in some pain, "...Can't  tell ya.."

 Kree   slashed open his  throat..the  next two  Looked at him...

 who hired you...

 " Bugger off , long ear.."

  then man choked on his own blood  as well...

 The third  guy said, "..you kill me..you'll never know..."

 Then?  I will not  be losing anything, i do not  already have..
 his blade  lashed out   even as the man screamed 'to wait'..but the  throat was gone...

 kree was wiping his  Blade on the last man's  jerkin, when the SGT  came...

 what the 9 hells!

 This lad  and his beastie  were guarding the  ship we are to take in the morning....some folk thought they could rush the lad..maybe still the cargo?  They did not  count  on us  being here, it would seem

 one trooper  said,..these three have thier  throats gone?

  Luck of the Sisters?.. not often you see three men die  in battle witht he same wounds..

 what about them three    down by the other Inn...

 what?.. oh them?... aye.. I killed them.. seems  they do not like elves.. i made it so that will not bother them any longer...

 ..you might have to  wait until the   General of the watch releases  you  , before you and your people leave..

 Tell you what?..You go tell  the Emperor that   a Unit of mercs attacked   some kid  and his pet lizard, and the Arrows  cleaned  them up... tell him the  name of the ship is 'Raining Sorrow"... then tell him how we are not allowed to leave  in the morning...because?.. if  we do not leave in the morning..I will tell the Emperor.. and we wil pass your bdoies  as they hang from the bridge

 The SGt looked angry.. then Shouted,Call for the Orc cart! he points at Kree.....you take your people and the Kid inside. we will watch the  ship, you can come back after the  Orc   cart leaves...

 Half of  my people will stay on the ship.. ther other half  will be on those benches  there...no one goes on our ship

 The other  group of troops   walked up the docks.. as  Young LY  took off his Gloves  and he and the SGT talked  they argued  and the SGT lead his  men away, while the LTs  men  stayed..

 LT   Farbringer.. some little   waif said you saved her from three'bad men"..and some other  bad mean were trying to hurt  a boy on a ship?  his accent posh, trained at the sages guild.

 Kree nodded,..those  three  are to ones   the little girl encountered.... these are the people  that tried to board the ship we chartered ...

 ..I find it strange, the SGT called  for the orc Cart straight away

 As  do  I/// Lt? why now permit   Reedrick to take you into the warmth of the Inn..maybe get your lads  some thign hor to eat and cold to drink.. we will wait for the Orc  cart..I'll send someone inside    so you can verify  the trip.

 ..Thank you,  captain.. i will do m just that...   Reedrick looked back  at Shadow   in question, Shadow  shooed him along with a waved hand.. The LT and his  6  troopers  went inisde.

Tyri had shouldered her bow and watched the proceedings quiet, giving the LT a sweet smile when him and Reedrick came to the door. Glancing back at Kree, she decided to follow them in, maybe hoping that her dancing could provide some level of distraction.

Lysander waits for the troopers to leave and then he hops aboard with one of his daggers our and cuts the ropes from the net to free the dragonette.  He is very vary of irritating the beast further, but feels that the lad can quickly calm his pet.

"Easy there, boy.  Those who would hurt you are gone."

Riven released the tension she had on her bowstring and removed the bloodied arrow. “Thanks for the arrow…do you have my dagger?” she asked, holding out her hand for it if he said yes. “Seems those men grossly underestimated us.” Her crystal blue eyes traveled along the bodies before darting up when the Troops came. She watched Kree enact his justice and gave a brief nod of approval before the SGT came to speak to Kree. While he did that, she moved to where Ivy was. “I was wondering how long it would take for you lot to come out of the warmth.” She chuckled softly, watching Lysander free the dragonette.

  Ivy shrugged with a slight  smile,..ah well? we just thought Kree  was having a dance party on the dock, we all know  how  crazy he gets   after a glass of wine or two..

  Kree  waves  Ivy over,..go below... look for traps.. get to the Master's  quarters, find manifests, charts, anything  that tells  us where  this ship came from..and?.. if  you find some coin.. that would be fine as well..

 Ivy signed  and Nodded.. stepping  down into the ship.

  Lysander? go with him, watch his back.... The rest of us.. Mill about  on the   docks  and  getting in and out of  our ship...try to keep Prying eyes  from nocting  that two  folk have go aboard the other vessel....Lad?  go in and  get food  and drink.. The LT will expect to see you..go..now...

 Mik looked a bit  bummed  by be taking from his post

Lysander followed Ivy, sword out, but axe stowed, considering the indoor environment.  He stayed out of sight from the outside world and searched the main cabin for anything useful, both valuables and information.  The quiet in the room allowed him to have awareness of even the slightest movement.  After a quick search, he waited near the entry to ensure rapid response should the need arise.

 Elandra dispelled her Spiritual Staff, and then the troops came. She stayed quiet as the conversations went on. After it was all over Elandra then asked," Is anyone hurt." She will check everyone and help with freeing Hooka.

With a shake of her head and a soft chuckle, Riven headed back for her original hiding spot, waiting and watching for signs of anything else amiss.

Niphre could hear the sounds of a skirmish, and hurried to see if she could help. By the time she reached the place where the sounds of the fight had come from, the fighting was over. Pity she hadn't been able to help, she thought as she put away her sword.

  Ivy  looks around, he finds the  Master's  desk, a  roll top with a Lock.. and beins to  work the Lock.. he   says  quietly to  Lysander,Take a Lantern, cheak the hold for goods... also check for   chains and cuffs, in case this was  used  to  slavers... watch the     foor  and  your head.. for  strings   than might set off a trap..

  the elf  then gets serious  as he tries  to   open the lock

.................

 Outside  Reedrick looked at Niphre,..lets go iside  Lass, see if you and Tyri can  keep them troops   more interested  in ye both, then what  kree is doin on the docks.

 Kree  looked   down  the  Dock to the Bronze Goblet.. people  were lookign at the man staked to the  wall, he  seemed to be ..clinging to life...but the  patrons   who were going in or coming  out, saw the rune  carved on the  Fellow's forehead and  would move away..

 I must be losing my skills..he should have bled out by now...

This message was deleted by the player at 16:57, Mon 27 July 2020.

Lysander descend into the hold carefully.  Not as worried about the head-high traps as the floor.  He does as thorough a search as possible, remaining ready to react to trouble.

Kree, If'n they use t'is ship fer pir'cy, an we took it at sea, would not that be a prize vess'l? D that not make th's a Prize vess'l? your'n for the tak'n to be ransom'd back, or t' be sold off? He looked around and thought it was a decent craft, It could be turn'd into a ship fer fight'n th' slave trade here 'bouts.
 he walked around on the deck amongst and through the things stowed on deck and around hatches, even if'n you not wantin' it, I'm sure th're be others would like to have her, mayhaps seaman up North bound wat'rs.?

  Kree looks  at the ship over his shoudler,..if  we can claim it, we'll add it to the two sloops  we have. If we cannot  claim it, we will rob it blind... but we have to hope  we can fine  something   that says they used this for slaves, or  pirates....even privateers? They have to Have  a Letter  of Marque  from the  crown

Lysander finds a chest in the hold.  It is locked, but he is able to carry it out with no problem.

He also finds three sailors bodies with an extra smile on each.  Probably the actual crew of the ship.

After reporting this to Ivy, he says, "Someone might own this ship and be unaware it was being used for a staging area.  The harbor master might know who it is."

  Ivy   looks at the Desk,  he  seems a bit frustrated.  well.. there are   two 'harbor masters' outside  each  river gate  is a small island..Captains  and Masters have
 two show thgier logs  and Manifests.. 9 out of every  10  are  give  a search sometimes
 with a Mage about

   The  elf shakes  his head,  takes out his  dirk  jams it into the   desk and  snaps open the drawer.....look here? those  bastards  must have  roken into the captain's desk...

  he takes the Log  book and the Manifest,....let's  get to the  ship before   the Orcs  arrive, then the tropers can  do what they want..

"Should we mention the bodies?  That would tell them we have been onboard.  Maybe we should "suggest" they take a look?"

  Ivy     shakes his ehad  with a  frown,as far  as anyone  saw.. they came out of this ship... so? they are terrible bag  guys  who killed  threee people and stole the Captain's books...  If they don't  check... some one will  , after  we leave, and the same thought should  cross folks's  minds... On this ship's master, and those who hired  the mercs, know  the real story. Lte us be off, for an Elf, Kree  is not  one  for  waiting.

If’n they took th’ ship over fer bad doins’, the we free’d ‘we and is worth a reward ... :chuckles:

"Of course.  I will just go to our passage and stow this chest out of sight of prying eyes.  I will open it when no one is around."

 Two  carts  came onto the  docks,  4  Burley orcs  were  with each one, a Goblin sat in the   driver's cart. one  from below  The Bronze Goblet, near some of the shops, the other  from teh south alley where  Riven had Killed  archers  last night.

   Kree  met with  The leader, and Pointed   down the docks  to the three men  there..the fellow  pinned to the  wall had finally stopped  moving.

  Ivy  came     jogging over , Lysander  as  something in his chest... me?.. I am all for  going in to night and doing some reading... you never know how many more people might show up dead..

  Indeed?  well.. Go tell the  LT the   orcs  are here , for them to clear the Bodies and get paid.

   Kree  oepned his Purse, loks  down the  docks.. counts out 10 silvers...one for each of you, since me and Mine did the  killing?..Don't  tell the Watch... let them pay you as well..

 The orc  grinned  and nodded,  Ivy went to  fetch the   LT.. it took a few minutes  for the guards  to   gulp down thier food  and Ale.

 The LT talked with the  orcs, he sent people to check out the other ship while kree and His people  went into the  Inn.. Mik, refused to leave Hooka  alone.

 Elandra helped untangle Hooka and was trying to befriend her. Elandra stayed with Mik and Hooka until the Arrows where done searching. As they all headed in Elandra said," Mik if you wish to go in I can stay with Hooka I think she might like me." Elandra smiled at Hooka and then said," May Peace be with both of you."

Lysander mutters something under his breath about the stench of orcs and heads into the darkest recesses of the boxes.  He will remain there until well after the orcs leave.  He wants to try to open the lock on the chest once the docks are cleared.  The cool of the early morn will help to focus him.  With only the soft lap of the water hitting the docks for sound, he will be very quiet in his attempt.  He doesn't want to resort to his axe, as that will wake the dead.

  It wasn't  long before the  Bodies  were found in the hold. The  trooper  who reproted  it, said the Masters  Desk was broken into..

 the three bodies  were added to the orc carts.. the  lead orcs were quite happy seeing this much  food in one haul. it meant the clan would   not be goign  hungry, and the night was young..many more deaths to Come!

 The LT  moves off   with his men, the orcts  Move  off to  check the alleys.

 Kree, all but Forced Mik to go into The Plank, while he  sat , his   back against the  forecastle.. and his  blade on his  lap.

 Hooka started at him.....don't look at me like that..the  kid was  cold.. and..i want to point out, you only  killed one  boarder...

 the was a snort and she looked away.

 aye, that's   right..ignore me...but they would have  been  cutting bits out og f you  for  boots  nd Gloves  if we would not have   Been here...

 Hooka laid her head  down and sighed.

With the troops gone, Lysander will try to pick the lock on the chest.

On his second attempt, Lysander was able to pick the lock on the chest.  He keeps a couple bags of silver coins.

He takes the rest of the contents to Elandra on the boat.  He shows her two potion bottles with white powder in them.  "Do you have any idea what these are?"

He then shows her a map.  "I also found this in the chest.  Not sure of its usefulness, but it might help us determine the location of whomever had us attacked."

"Well seems you are on a streak with those of the female sex," she chuckled from her hiding spot, watching the interaction.

Lysander chuckles at the thought.   "It has been a few years since I looked at women being anything other than a companion in a fight,  or an enemy."

  Kree Loked  between  Lysander  and Riven. Hooka  just snorted.

  ..  next one of you that Goes in The Plank?  as   them to send me  out a  Cup of Caffee?  the   wind  was   cooler  now, and even the  elf  could feel the  breeze stealing the ehat from the  ship and the Docks

  The Orcs    moved off.., perhaps the Most happy  people   in the area, except for the  people who ran away when  Kree  drew  his  sword.

 Elandra sat with Hooka to keep an eye on her and keep her company. When Lysander came over with the potions  with white powder on them, she would look at them closely and try to figure out what they where. She then looked at the map and said," Very good idea Lysander, lets take a look shall we." After checking the potions she would take a look at the map. She smiled at Riven, and after Kree spoke Elandra smiled and was fairly warm with her armor and her robes on.

Lysander thought the weather was rather nice. "After the mountain breeze in the winter, this is actually quite comfortable.  May I suggest some movement, walk the docks a bit to get your blood flowing, after making everyone else's flow."

  Kree looked over at the  two  with papers  and such,..so..what did you find there..

  Ther Map  had   some lines  and some circles, there was a moutnain and a river to be sure..other then that, no markings.

 I've   dod  enough walking about these  last few days..  Hot Caffee  with Milk and sugar,, be  right  perfect, right now.

With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, Riven comes out of her hiding spot. "We can discuss payment for me getting you your drink after..." Her grin could easily be heard just through the tone she used as she went inside to get Kree is Caffee.

<<<<<<<<<<From the Plank

"Your caffee good Sir..." she said in a sickenly sweet tone, even batting her eyelashes at him...her eyes were alight with mirth. She assumed a more submissive stance as she let him prepare his drink the way he liked before moving over to the others, offering them the same.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:25, Thu 30 July 2020.

Aye boss, I will walk the pier to'night, you will 'ear a whistle and shout if'n I be needin' a hnad.
 He checks his straps for the shield and hammer, the placement of his maul strapped to his back, and the belt holding his Kilt before he walks off with his shield hanging in his left hand, and his hammer making slow arc as his arm moaves with his strides.

 Kree  gave her a  droll look as he  splashed  some  Milk and places  two sugar sticks  in, using them to stir the milk until they melted.

  reminds me.. funny think happened   during the fight... the  fellow  behind me, shot  me in my half with a hand crossbow..but  the  boot and throwing  knife sheath  stopped the  quarrel from  hurting me... for some reason, that scared that  big mouth sailor  more then me gutting his friend?

 he sipped the  hot  liquid  and said, as he smiled,..The Sisters  work in mysterious ways..but at least they work!

She stifled a snicker at Kree's reaction to her act of a good little barwench. "Well aren't you blessed...I cannot say the same for myself. I bear many scars from my...profession...and you are welcome by the way." She threw him a wink. She offered Lysander and Elandra a caffee as well. If they chose to take one, she held it much in a similar fashion as she did for Kree.

Lysander takes a caffee and says, "Thank ye kindly, milady."  He wanders off to sit back down on the crates and continue guarding the ship.  Too late in the night to sleep now, there will be time for that later, he thinks.

 Elandra smiled, took the caffee and said," Thank you very much, May Peace be with you." Elandra was still trying to figure out what the two potions where. She will also show the map to Kree.

With the caffee distributed, Riven went inside to hand off the tray before heading back outside. The cold didn't seem to bother her much thanks to her clothing and armor. She looked out over the ships and stretched a bit. "So are we just hanging out here to keep an eye on things?"

  a short sip again, and keeping his hands warm with the mug, Kree looks over at the ther ship.

   we are on watch, in a way. I want to see  who...if any once comes aboard that other vessel.. we cannot  enter it  now, without looking,  heavy with guilt.

 we  are on this  ship, because  the others  wanted on this Vessel, they were not out to kill us, or some of us would have been dead, it would have been child's play  to kill a few and   run off into the city....  Let me  have a Look at that Map and the   Bottles...

  as he waits he adds,..The Master took his  eldest relative  to the  Naval base  to get get 8  sailors..maybe  7 if the Lad  can work the ropes?..He paid off his   old crew?... He should have  had  paid the crew off   after he came back with the   Ironmound
 sailors...instead  he  left  the younger of the  relatives   with  the  winged beastie to guard a ship...

hooka  snorted again

 most folk will figure  , that no one would have attempted to take a ship  , berthed next to the plank. But i have  known a few  captains in my day...and  none leave thier ship to chance.

"Maybe he had too much faith in the dragonette...maybe he was under threat that others were unaware of," she shrugged. There was no real way of knowing until he either made his appearance or didn't show up.

   Kree  sipped his caffee  and  found it was empty..he frowned.... it matters not? He left   a Lad   on his own....not counting the  beastie...

 Hooka  snorted  again and turned her ehad from kree.

   if we left young ones  to watch   horses or camels, or stay at a Camp, we knew they were safe... whether his  choice involved  The Arrows  being here, is something, we do not know,

 Elandra handed the potions and the map to Kree, as she drank her caffee, she then said," Do you think he knew something was going to happen and left Mik and Hooka because the Captain wanted them to get attacked? Like you said though he might have counted on the Arrows helping out if there was a problem."

    Turnign the maps around a few times in the lantern light , Kree  said,....  smugglers  map..no   names, no  markings. but anyone who uses maps   could tell you, this is  the  Furman's trail...

 he jerked the sleeve of his   shirt to  get a throwing  blade out to use it as a pointer.

 ..its localized .... the map starts  at  the scum pit of Olant.. and   ends  at Yad.... it is odd, because  We  are to travel the  Trail to get to Yad, with a side
 job of  destroying  pirates or whatever they are up that way.

  The Alt  Riverl , that intersects   the  Fur Man's   trail with thier own  ford  or ferry there .. is a damn good place to  get rid of  slaves, as all they have to do  is moved   down the side of the river, and signal your ship... Furmain rangers   and the Timber Wardens that help  guard the High Peaks would hun them  down... but the  Ironmood  elevs  can be  bought

From a short distance away, Lysander interjects, "Maybe someone will find the ship owner in a day or two wearing an extra smile.  Seems very shortsighted."

Then he fades back into the shadows.

  there  is  a chance for that..by why was the desk locked, and  why was  the chest found?.... even if they  just wanted to  use the ship to jump off for an attack?.. why  kill the sailors, why leave the  Chest...

   he Looks at the potion Bottles, he holds it up,   bottles  and shook his head.   this is   Power  from  Great pearls  in the sea....  Sea Elves  will  kill  any  , non
 sea liver , who has it... its powerful  for mages to use  in both, destructive  powers
 and  controlling sea Creatures.... This..is one of the  things i refused to dell to the Tou Mage Guild..which, then started    the  stone  rolling down the hill.

 Elandra looked at Kree and said," Well maybe they where going to get it or take the ship after they finished their job? " Elandra was basically thinking out loud.

"Maybe it is all a ruse," she offered with a shrug, looking over to where Kree was. It very well could have been with the way things were set up. She came over and looked down at the map, a finger tapping her clothed chin.

Thinking about it Vilmund says,.... The t'ings in the chest?? do th'y make it sound as if'n the ship be a slaver? if so, mayhap to make it look as a slaver, while we be on it.? be bo'rded, an search'd? we be slavers.?? Vilmund looks at Kree, :raises eyebrows: with a questioning look.

  Kree  listened to the others  as he said,its no slaver... there would have  been chains  and shackles .. and  only  a fool tries to take merfolk  priosners..... Mage Guilds  will pay enough  money for one live  merfolk , that we  could all retire in out  own mansions.... but we would have to stay there, merfolk, seaelves, trolls, spirtes..whatever lives  in the sea, will forgive you for   a death in battle, but they will hunt you and your family line down.... we Gains  some trust by having   'returned' the  last dust we  found , afyer  a faked  the sale to  the You Mage guild... we will need to  do much of the same with this two bottles.

 these bottles  are worth  100 Plats a piece..

Do we r'turn th'm bottl's to th' see'folk?

Lysander says, "that is a decision for sharper minds than mine."

  Kree  frowns  at the  Bottles,  we  will.. we had a chest of these... I truned them over to  The Elders... My father  wanted us to sell them.. The  3rd  Elder  wanted our own Mages to use them... The second Elde said  we should return them... My father said  i should break the tie?... H elayed out, that  my Unit would get 500 gold  if the  Village kept them.. we would get nothing  if  we returned them.. and we would get have to  coin should  we sell them.. It was an easy chosie to make, though i fear some of my members left ebcause of it.. we  contacted  the  Seafolk by using the LAther  River.. Our wardens   gave them the chest..... My Name, and the Name of the Arrows    were linked to the return...that should get us  some standing with   water folk, should we need it...or?...it may be i threw away 500 gold...  he grinned.

Riven nodded slightly. "If you wanted my two coppers, I'd say you did the right thing, especially given the little glimpse that I have heard from Ivyain about you and your father. Seemed like if the village kept it, you and your group would have been the one to suffer their ire but I could be speaking on something I know nothing of. Again, based on the little bit I had managed to get from Ivy."

Aye, th'n I say r'turn th'm to th' r'ghtful owners.

 ..and that we will, but  we'll have to leave  Ironmound first, Last thing the city needs  is merfolk  swimming around

 he waves  his  hand a bit at the river,that's not to say there is not any in there right now...

Lysander takes a look at the river, seeking sign of anything out there being amiss.  He thinks to himself that it will be an interesting voyage, as the only time he has been on the water is walking across a bridge, or, more recently, his time today, on the docks.  This draws his attention back to the docks.  He will take a walk around the area, just seeming to saunter to all but the most observant, but he will take everything in.  What might they have missed?  Are they still being watched?  He is determined to know.

 Elandra listened at sat with Hooka. She really liked the dragonette. When they talked of the viles and returning them she replied,Yes we should return them, and I believe you made the right choice, money comes and goes but making Peace and allies with others will always help us on our journeys.

  Kree  went to the  wheel  and looked around , pulling out a case , he used The Master's Telescope...on a warship... the boatswain  could  lash me  50  times for  touching the captain's  spy glass... But?/ right now?..I'm captain...

 he looked out over the  water  at teh  Naval  Docks  and the   inns and bars there....no  ship's  boats in the water... so i have to believe  we won;t be seeign the captain until Morning.. he'll ahve to  gather  his  Volunteers   and thier   gear and  row   back over.

"Do you suppose he just put too much faith in the dragonette?" she asked, looking around but keeping Kree in sight. Maybe it was due to losing her brother but she wasn't going to let him down either.

  Kree   keeps searching the   water  around them, lookign up and down the river.....I think  he  is either  a fool.. or some one attached  by coin, to the crown... neither is  a good thing for us...

 we also have a Jolly boat  cupping from the North.. 10 people in the boat.. dressed  like sailors, but  not Ironmound Navy..... It maybe  be , we  are getting another   visit..

"Well it's a good thing we are all already warmed up," she snorted, doing a quick count of her arrows. Once that was done, she looked out in the direction that Kree had said to see if she could spot said boat.

  He watched.....if that boat is comign fro us.. we have about  15 minutes.... mine be a good  idea to  'return the   mugs and  pitched  and  return with  somefresh?..maybe... have some  folks help you out  with them?

.............

 Lysander is  finished  walking about, he doesn't see any one  to his eyes, who look  like they want trouble.

huh.... warm'd up, aye mate, mayhaps we mak'n coin t'nite fer the Arr'ws.  Sign'in on w'th th's crew keep yee in shape, fer sure. He checks his shield lanyard to his wrist and the the same on the hammer, and comfortably waits.

Quirking a brow, Riven looked to Kree. "Are you asking me to go get more refreshments? Because if so...I want a tip this time." It was said in a more serious tone but she was glad her smile was hidden. Mihail was gone and nothing she did was going to bring him back...but she wasn't going to let anyone else on her team die if she could help it.

  Kree never looked away from the Jolly boat as he tried to see the people  rowing.. they didn't have lights..which was against  the dock rules.. they had to have a Lantern fore  and Aft.

...Just make sure  you  get help  carrying   thigns out. Especially Ivy..... as for your tip?... Make sure your boots fit, before you buy them...

"Oh no...that won't do as a tip I am afraid...but I will come collecting when appropriate..." With a snicker, she shook her head and headed back to the Plank, wondering when she signed up to be a mere serving wench. Grant it, she at least had some experience with it.

Lysander came back to hear talk of the incoming boat.  Now, a crossbow could reduce the amount of folks coming ashore, but their intentions were not really known, for now.  He decides to hide in the shadows of the crates and await the entertainment.  He has his throwing knives in hand, but his axe is leaning against a crate so he can grab it as soon as the knives leave his fingers.

 Elandra listened and then when Kree said a boat was coming down the river she got herself ready but was going to stay near Hooka. " How many people are they going to keep sending at us? It seems they might want to try a different approach, but who am I too say." Elandra readies herself to another possible combat.

  the  others  walked out of The Plank Cala  followed  as well... when they reached  the  ship  Kree looked Back,Cala?..Make sure my dress tunic  make it up to my room. aye?

 she  nodded as she put the tray of mugs  and   hustled off to get the tunic.

 ..Jolly boat coming slow  and strong.. taking  slow  deep pulls to keep the splashes   down, no  lamps fore or aft..  10 People  plus  the  man at the  rudder.. there might be a Mage with them as well, someone's  hidden in the back..so?.. 12  all together..

 ..They know what they are doing... used to taking ships  at night....

 Kree handed   Ivy    the scope  as  Ivy  handed Kree his pack, Kree    put his leather jerkin on again, and his cloak...Ivy watched  for a  minute.....no armor  that i can see?.. they sure  and the hells  aren't going into the water?..

 I do not know... if  i didn't have  much  doubt i'd  send some shafts into the back of the  first rowers, and challenge them after.. but  we  have to wait for them to  do somehting... or else   we will be  charged   and that will slow us in our task..

 Reedrick looked at the beastie.....ye gonna do sumpin  this  time?..or  just snort more smoke...?

  Hooka  just sighed

Lysander suggests, "why not put a flaming arrow into the bow of the ship.  Lights them up and lets them know that they don't have the upper hand."

He fades back into the shadows.

 Elandra looked at Hooka and said," Hey they caught you by surprise , well this time kick some butt ok Hooka. I think your great."  Elandra really liked Hooka, but Elandra would get ready with her hand x-bow and her magic. She would move away form Hooka a little bit so she had room to move if she had too.

  I do not see them signaling anyone.... I think, they think..no one sees them... if they are comign for us? you would think they might have mentioned ..elves?

 Kree    shouldered his   quiver, feeling much  better  with the cloak , pack and  quiver.......ley them come, if they are comign for our ship, we weill kill them.. if they attack another  ship.. we will kill them for that as well....Unless its that damn big friagate. they can take care of themselves...

When Krwyn comes out of the Pland, he looks for a spot between the crates on the dock that doesn't give him away immediately, someway off their own ship to bring crossfire on the men in the boat, should need arise.

She moved to the shadows, her bow out along with an arrow, ready for anything should those on the boat prove to be unfriendly. It was assumed so...but there was really no way of knowing yet.

Aye, e'ther way, if'n th'y baddies, th'y baddies, meet th' Cold Ones th'y will :shrugs: Good f'kls?

"Who are the Cold Ones?" Tyri asked softly, looking up at Vilmund, that curiosity clear in her icy blue eyes. There was a slight tilt to her head, brows raised as she regarded her fellow Arrow.

Looking at her as tho everyone knows,.... Th' Cold ones Lass, are the dead, them th't died in combat, cold and in the ground, wait'n a great feast with God Trall. Die in combat, honor'ble death. As he said the last part, he gripped the handle of his hammer, looking at the head and then smiling, he looks toward the craft coming in from the dark Honor'ble death. He stands tall, arches his back, stretching his shoulders, then stands ready, tense for the fight that may or may not come.

  Kree     takes the   scope from Ivy and  jerks his  head  to the Bow, he carefully puts the Master's  scope  away , secured it in the  chest   near the wheel.

  Ivy     points    to everyone  and  Motioning  for them to  Get  down....Hooka looked at  he   and he pointed  a finger at he r and  shook his ehad.. she lowered  her   head    and  watched...

 Kree had  his   Bow  in  hand, his  hood up   as  he stood  by the stern  railings , The Elf's  voice  was  changed , just a bit, the elven Lilt almost gone, and the vocie , slightly higher...

  HAIL!..THE BOAT!..where are your   running lights...and  do not  come near my ship! I have a Bow, and I am not afriad  to use it!!

 The Boat  glided  now, about   70 yards  from the  ship..a  thick voice from the boat said.....I ..yer the Lad  we're  supposed ta meet. ain't ya!..yeah..yer  captain told me about   your  bow!

   Did he now!.. whadda he say?

 you're a brave fine  Marksman ye are, for a Lad... we just come to   find our  berths, we did.. we's the new crew...

 //the Master  and Firstmate   aren't here.. you have to go elsewhere and until he returns!

 ahh..Laddie, i know ye  ain't for it yet?.. But   the Master  and first  mate  are greeting some of the Ladies, and they are makin' feel at home, don't ya know...

 I  will not let you board... you come  with in bowshot.. I will shoot you dead... turn,,go down the docks, you can charge a  a night to the ship...

 ..Can't   do that Lad?  we have to  be up an' goin' in the mornin'... ye wouldn't
 put a shaft in a futrue crewamte would ya...

 if you are a future  crewmate..you would have had your  lantern's  lit and Hailed me, before i hailed you... Turn about.... you can take it up with the Master, in the Morning...

 50 yards  and closing..   a few bold  strokes  now  to get the ship gliding through the  still water..

an' Lad?.. I know  fer a fact..you ain't  hitting one of  us , from  that far away...

 ..Aye?... Let us see....  the elven accent was  back the arrow   hissed   across the   water into the  Back of  the starboard , bow  oarsmen..  He  screamed in Pain  and fell  over his  oar, making it  stick into the air..

..ye little Bastard!.... you'll pay fer this in a big way...

 the   boat was   closing in on  30 yards...

 Right?... Arrows....  time to feed the serpents.

Krwyn waits till the boat has passed the place where he is hidden. Now he stands and send a burning arrow at the man who did the talk.

As the boat passes, Lysander will throw a dagger at the other port bow oarsman.

 Elandra listens and the boatman did not listen he was given his chance and now they would pay the price, she watched and then when Kree let his arrow fly, she got her spell ready and fired a Guiding Bolt at the the person next to the one who did all the talking.

 Vilmund strides to and r=fro on the dock, lightly swinging his hammer, waiting for the boat to get closer.

  The  Boat was  sliglty  off now  ,with one oar out of the  water.

  Krwyn's  Arrow   catches the  Man who was at the Tiller , in the  Left shoudler,  The  Man Howls  and swears  dropping  down the   flames  burn his  leathers   as he  tries to beat it out.

 Lysander make s a Look toss dagger  hhits the mench  and falls to the bottom of the boat

  The Robe d Figure  next to  the   wounded Talker  his  hit  with the   bolts of light, he  shouts   as he  too, drops  down to the  floor of the  jolly boat.

 Ivy sends  an arrow  from  the  gunwale  nearest the  Boat,, his  arrow   misses the fellow in the front,  but  sticks  deep into the  third man back's leg

 The Boat  is  now veerign away from the  docks, like a  wounded fish

Lysander will remain in the shadows, but he thinks, "Come back with my dagger!"

Krwyn fires another flaming arrow in the group aboard the little boat, almost sure he will hit someone. But if the robed figure rises again, he would be the primary target for any shot.

Riven took a bead on one of the men and let her arrow fly. Even as the arrow left the bowstring, she had another up and loaded it quickly, letting that one follow in the other's path.

  Riven's  First arro  hits  a rower , in the amidships...  the second  arrow  finishes hi   as he  slumps sideways  as the boat turns..

   Kree  has his  Bow up, the arrow at Half draw  as he watches..

  Ivy sends  another   shat into the Bow..a  scream of a Mad who  stares at the shaft that  seemed to sprout from his thigh.. Krwyn hits a starboard  side rower

   Kree begins  to laugh.... The  wounded fellow  who is on the   bottom of the boat along with the wounded  . robed fellow  shouts.....You Find Humor in this!.. wait until the guards  come!

 there is a great deal of humor in what has  happened.. Tell me?  what did the Little Girl  Tell you....

 the rowers stopped.. the boat   drifted  slightly on the still water....how do you know about the Girl!

 who do you think sent her? Your  watchers   were fools, they talked too much on teh docks , waiting for the idiots you had on the ship?... small  ears can catch many things... so i sent her to tell you the lad  and his beast  were the only ones  aboard, and the Beast was i the Hold...

 Heads truned, some blacks , sweat glistening , even in the cool night...some white  whose faces were a bit easier to  reach, as the first of the sister  Moons  began to rise..

 now you will tell me  who sent you...and why you wouldwish to board this  ship... you do not have long...me and mine  can  easily kill you all fromthis disatnce, and we  will not even get wet..

 There are  murmurs and  even a sob from teh Boat. the leader snaps at them for quiet...You'll enever get  enough  shafts off to kill us all!

 there are   4  elves with Bows  ready.. another  two bows waiting.. Even  if the sisters frown on our aim  we will kill enough of you, that your  boat will drift, until we    get a skiff  from up the shore  and  come to finish the job...But..it has been a long
 day..so we will end it   alot faster...

  Bugger  yourself , Elf!..you'll get nuthin' from us!

 Kree never   looks back over his shoudler as he says.....Hooka?.... it is your turn....

 there is a bit  of  rustling    the Dragonette  stands  and  Fluffs out her  wings   and   rises  out of the waist of the ship... the  men in the boat  began to scream...

 ..I hope you were able  to spend  some of the coin your  were  promised......your  contract is   at an end....


 The  beastie    glides  around    the   Boats, the  men    ducking one of the  waving   the 8 foot oar  around... Hooka  Coughs  a breath  and   the oily reddish  ball escapes her throat to   hit   a few feet  back from the Bow. The men it its  scream as the Flames   explode , drinking in the wonderful oxygen ,,  One of the men  fell  into the water..still Burning  and   screaming and thrashing...which causes  more thrashing   to appear on the surface of the waters..  they   try to smother  the  oily substance   with  canvas for the small sail  even as a second  ball hits   amidships... the  man the   ball hit was already dead.. but those  flames   spread faster witht he next man's clothes  catching fire.. they screamed in fear,,,in pain, and cried out for mercy...

 ..you came to kill  a child  and his   beastie..who would not leave his post, because of his honor... You will all die  now.... the flames, the serpents, drowning?..maybe you will take your own life, so you do not suffer... The real product of this night?  those who hired you are watching you die...and not  doing one damn thing to save you...

  One  man who was caught between the prow  and the  fires  fire...PLEASE!! MAster ELF!..I have  a Wife  and  2  Children..what will they do if i die!

 ..Your wife  will find a better man to bugger her, and your children  will be  better  off  for it, I suspect...Die  now... try to have some dignity...

 Hooka  Lands back in the waist of the ship... Kree turns,that is It?.. two oily balls?.. that is all you have?

 Hooka   Looks  sad  and looks away...

 Ah well..it would have  made a better  scene for those  watching,,but..you did  well enough.....he turned back to the boat  loaded   with   growing Flames and screaming  men... the fellow   who fell into the  water was gone.. a few dead serpents  floated on the surface..little ones.. that  tried to eat the burning oil-like substance. ...

 People ran   down the wharf between the ships as they watched  the    Boat  burn, the  small mast  fell into the water.. the  robed   fellow   tried to stand  calling out  to his God..  Ivy hit  him in the elf thight with an arro  and the  man fell into the  water screams of  pain from the arrow.. screams of Horror  as the   serpents   bit off  chunks

 Ivy looked at the  others , with a shrug,I hate Magelings.  It took  10 minutes   for the  boat to start to sink...peopel were shouting   for aid, some giving accusing  glances  at Kree and his people...  another Jolly boat was being lowered by the frigate... but   stopped  when the   water   began to pour into  stern of  the   burning boat.. the man at the prow  was screaming..what was assumed to be..his wife's name.., then.. the larger  serpents  came from the depths ..Ten minutes... a life time for the men in the boat.. the last to die  was  the fellow   on the prow  of the  boat.

  Kree   smiled a bit  as the  waters becan calm agaain... only a few  oily boards  floating   and burning.. Well now?    send  word to The Plank  for some  scraps for Hooka... the rest of you go and  get some rest, I am quite sure we are  done for  tonight

It was amusing in a way as she watched the ship burn, hearing the men screaming. It was all something she had long became accustomed to, the chorus of the dying. Still looking out, Riven replied, "I go where my Captain goes and there is still a tip he needs to settle..." There was a hint of mirth in her voice.

She had remained near the back, watching the proceedings with a slightly frown. It wasn't from disapproval or anything, more working out the why. Maybe she was just too soft and would have let the one man go...but then again, that could come back to haunt her later. She was trying hard to see both points which at times, she wished she could just give in to her inner killer and turn off the empathy. She licked her lips and looked at Ivy, then Kree and then the others. Why was it so easy for them?

 Elandra watched and listened, they where given warnings, there Peace was being broken by continuing their approach. More arrows where fired Elandra readied another bolt, but then Kree sent Hooka out. She hit the boat with two oily fire balls, and she did a good job.

 When Hooka came back Elandra smiled at her and said," You did a great job Hooka." Elandra smiled at her again as she landed. Elandra watched she was not the killer Kree and the others where, the screams of the dying did effect her. She bowed her head and prayed for them to find Peace, she wished a lot of these peoples Peace wasnt death but they where warned. Elandra would show no weakness to the others, but why would someone keep sending people to their deaths, this is what bothered Elandra more. She would look at Tyri and could tell she was feeling the same thing, Elandra gave Tyri a nod and a look of why do they send these people to their deaths, Tyri could tell Elandra wasnt a killing machine she just wanted to keep the Peace.

Lysander had seen the beastly Orcs send wave after wave in the mountains for no gain.  It seems that men can suffer the same delusion.  The real question, in his mind, was, are there enough fool-hardy men left in the city to mount a proper attack and, would that bring an all-out war within.  He prayed he would not find out.

Knowing the elves wouldn't sleep, he decided to take some rest among the crates until it was time to go.

    Kree takes the  spy glass out  and  searched the waters  again, all he sees the occasional  snap of  some  serpents  as they   found a bit of flesh  bobbing around in the  water,

  A fellow with  a  soft   angled  hat  came  down the  wharf, he  had a  clipboard  and  called, YOU THERE!.. you just  sent that boat of sailoers to thier  deaths..

 Kree  kept  scanning,aye, I did....

 The fellow looked flustered and looked around  at  any others   who were still there... Ivy walked past, laughing  with out hiding it.

 ..You are not the Master of  this  ship!

 ..right again?... You are very good at your  job..if your  job is   to not mind  , one's business..

 ..you can't  be on this ship!

  This  ship, we have signed on as   guards for their  way down River.... seems  we  got an early start..what i want to Know.. is  where the watch  was , that did not  see a  Jolly boat  rowing up r the river to this vessel?.. with no  running lights?

 what?.. I mean... how did you know  they were   goign to attack?..maybe they were late getting back form shore  leave!

 ..they , more or less told me?... They thought i was the Lad  who was  keeping watch... so?.. Carry on..if you have  any problems?  go to the palace..Tell the Emperor the   arows  killed a few dozen people this night..

 The   fellow  turne d and stomped off... Kree  grinned  as he scanned the river.

Lysander hears the 'chat from his perch in the shadows and smiles to himself,  thinking "not to shabby,  for an elf."

Krwyn is surprised by all the useless attacks and the long tally of dead this night. He turns to Kree and Ivy. "The only reason I can think off to send so many men so easy to their death, literally piecemeal, would be someone watching us to find out our number, tactics, strengths and weaknesses. By now someone could make an educated guess we are short of magery and strong on ranged attacks."

He turns to Tyri and Elandra: "What bothers me most is not that we killed so many men tonight, because they had evil intentions. Had the boy been alone, he would have been food for the serpents as easily as we made them. But the unknown face behind these attacks is the evil one at heart: he sent all these men on their tasks, probably full well knowing what would be the end if they would meet us."

  Kree came  down from the  wheel,  grabbed a  small Keg and carried it  up to the  wheel and  set it  down, making himself comfortable  with the spy glass  wrapped in cloth to keep the moisture from the cooling night.

 he   called down, a bit softly,..they were  2..maybe  3  groups... they operated  on thier   own, or  else they might have gained access to the ship..or?..maybe they are merely stupid..... The Plank is   100 yards  from us? They have no idea  how many Arrows  could be there, at any one time...

"But...how do you turn off that empathy?" she asked softly, looking to Krwyn. "I mean...the man clearly made a bad choice in taking this job...but he still had kids...and...we robbed those children of their father. Am I overthinking this?"

From the shadows, Lysander offers, "Lass, he made the choice that would have cost the lad his life.  He didn't consider that life to count, nor did he consider the consequences of their own failure.  Should we be forced to value his choices when we protect life?"

He thinks, "Now, shut up whilst I sleep!"

"But what if he did it because he needed the coin to support those he cared for?" she asked, tilting her head as she looked to where the dwarf was, clearly unaware of his desire to sleep instead of speaking on right and wrong.

Knowing sleep was too far from him, Lysander offers a rejoinder, "There is always honest work for those willing to do it.  Better a live dog than a dead Lion."

"What if there was a need for coin now that could not wait?" She paused, raking her fingers through her long honey blond hair. "Am I overthinking this? I am totally overthinking this...right?"

"I think you are overthinking it Tyri...there are a lot of what ifs and ignoring the facts that have been presented before you." Riven spoke softly, looking out over the water from her position. "If you give put a redeeming quality to their actions, you are going to set yourself up for someone who wants revenge. It's the problem with leaving someone alive that can later hunt you down."

"You are young yet, it is your right to put things together in your head.  Better to contemplate things in the cool of the night with good friends than in the heat of battle when a misstep could kill you.  We all got to put our mind at ease at some point, easier for some than others.  We will be here to help you come to grip with things at your pace."

  The elf  smiled  a bit as he  heard  the Talk,  getting up off the  Keg and treating the  scope as one might a babe..He Looked towards the Main Board  walk, and Whistled  loud.. he Pointed  to the  closest persom who  jerked thier ehad  around..You there!.. Tell The Plank we need  some  Hot  Buttered  Rum and some Caffe... Come  here with them and you'll get a coin for your troubles...

 The   Man who looked like artisan of sorts  with his  leather apron  ran into The Plank.

 Then he looked down  at the others,..The Rum will  aid you all to sleep...

 his head turned in the direction of Tyri,..You have heard me say, our  mantra .. has  two sayings... 'Be the fire , that fights the fire"...and " leave no live enemies behind you'..

 he walked the Quarterdeck   lookign down when he would turn , as if he, himself , were a ship's captain...,,if have reached  Villages   and Caravans..abit too late, with women crying out  for  slain husbands and children.. or worse?  Children who were taken by slavers... Men, beating the ground  with thier  fists , as  a woman lay dead over her  child that a slaver slew, because they would not stop resisting

 I'm sure you have all heard the tale of the  Slave Master  we hunted  down, and what we did to his family and..in the end..the slaver Master himself...

 Slavers  die a hard  death...Bandits...anyone who  attacks those  who are too weak to  defend themslevs.. that....includes those  folk  with coin and power , who  laugh at those who struggle..as  we saw  with the High Priest of The Alpower...

 ..The fellow who begged for  his life because of  his  wife and Child?  he Made his choice to take the coin... whether he  was constripted... or whether he was at an Inn and heard of good  coin for one night's work? Or whether he was with that band of men  for a long time... he made his chocie.... if we would have all been in  The Plank  as we all should have been?.. what would have  happened to the Lad and the  over grown newt...?

 Hooka  snorted

 At best,,  Hooka would have been captured, and the Lad slain.... The 3orst?.. the Lad   and  Hooka  would have been captured  and taken to those who have coin to buy such  goods...That fellow who died , would have  had a purse  full of silver and
 smiled  as he went home to his   family, never caring  of what his actions wrought to others...

   Had we  allowed  any one of them to live, it would be on our heads, the deaths  and stolen lives  of everyone they killed  or captured from this point on... for me?.. it is easier  to  punish those  folk who walk the dark, then it is  for me to allow them to keep walking...He made his   choice..whether for greed, or for his  gamily.. He paid  for his choice this night...

   Lookign up as the fellow was helping  carry apitcher of Miks  and tin of  sugar, While  Carla  and Ivy brought the trays  of  mugs  and the pewter pitcher of hot buttered Rum and Caffe.

  Kree gently laid the scope down, , coming  down the steps  to get his Caffe,You will hear, if you stay with us, The cries  and pleas of  Slavers and Pirates who beg for their lives, not for themselves, but thier Famlies..

 Handing  the   apron wearing  fellow  two silvers  and the fellow smiles and runs off towards the Plank.  Ivy speaks up, catching the last part  as he set the  tray down, and  picked up the empty Buckets of   'leavings' that Hooka had  eaten...If there  were any families..or  wives  or children... we never know the truth...

  Kree fills a Mug with caffe, adding the milk and sugar...In the end?... they chose to take the coin, that will ruin other folks lives, or....in fact..end those lives?.. they are not allowed to complain, if it costs them thier own life.

 sipping  the caffe  and adding,Folk.. especially , holy folk? Say this makes us  , not differant then those  we hunt?  I enjoy  smiling at them and saying, " I never said we were differant... we  are just on the other side?"

 he nods at the taste  and starts to turn for the steps again,..good  people feel the  evil that could, and sometimes is...put upon them... Evil  folk fear the  Evil they do, being inflicted upon them.. I enjoyed that fellow's  words as the ship bruned and he knew, there was no chance for  aid, except from the very people he was comign to kill, or steal from..or both...it is a small reward, to her  folk begging for thier lives and being ignored, Just as so many before, had begged them. He is  Lucky now?.. he will never need to make choices  like that again, he fed serpents so they may grow, and make more serpents, helping  fisher men provide for thier families.. the waste they come from these serpents   will settle  to the bottom of the River, and provide food  for creatures  who scavenge , and for   those plants to grow..again?  have  fish and other creatures  thrive  , for the fisher men who make  it, thier  hard tasks  to provide for thier own families...

  At the top of the steps  as he stepped on the quarterdeck,he ended with,My chocies  were made for me, those many years ago, when Salvers attacked  Razorhawk village, killing folks who would have never harmed a soul in thier lives..... and killing others who Kill to protect  those people?

 Ivy  turned at this    , his ehad low  as he walked back to the Plank with the empty buckets.

 i said before?  Any slaver  we allow to live, we are responsible  for every life they take  or ruin, after that point... Me? Ivy?... me are the ones the  Slavers should have killed, bcause each..and every death we inflict on the darker folk.. are on them...

"Well spoken," Says Lysander.  "Now, while I enjoy talking with you, Tyri, for now, I will empty my mug and chase some dreams."

With that, he will sink back into the shadows and very soon, he will find a brief respite.

Krwyn tunrs to Tyri again: "Our lives and our killings seem harsh, overly harsh sometimes. But if we don't our own people who be traited as harsh or even harsher. But nevertheless: the fact alone that you think about your choices and their moral implications makes you different from those we killed tonight and the days to come."

That said, Krwyn lays one arm over Tyri shoulder and hughs her short, as to strengthen her; a most unusual act from the elf who shows emotion almost never.

 Elandra listened she had the same thoughts as Tyri but she knew to keep the Peace some would have to pay the price for that Peace. Elandra smiled at Hooka, and said," We where here for a reason to stop these attacks Amot and the Sisters had us here to protect this ship Hooka and Mik. Keeping the Peace and helping others is what we do but that also means we have to kill to do it, it is not nice but what we have to do to keep the balance of Peace."

Tyri smiled and leaned over, planting a kiss to Krwyn's cheek. "Thank you...thank you all. I am really trying and I guess...overthinking things has made it challenging for me to see the potential dangers that letting those people live could cause." Without warning, she gave Krwyn a big hug and then ran after to Kree to do much the same followed by Lysander though in her hug and given his height, probably ended up shoving his face in her bosom.

Lysander is not sure what to say, so he just hugs back, his face a bit flush.

When the hug broke, Tyri smiled sweetly to the dwarf before turning to follow after Ivy, wanting to help him. She felt immensely better and it showed in not only her smile but the bounce in her step. Reaching out, she took one of the empty buckets from Ivy.

As she almost skips off, the crusty old dwarf smile to himself and can barely be heard saying, caging that spirit would be a shame.

After that, there is light snoring.

In reply to Ivyain Nightblade (msg # 152):

Niphre nodded and followed the girl, Tyri, to where the troops were. When they saw flaming arrows being shot at the ship, she hurried to go see.

Riven looked to where Tyri ran to and softly smiled when she caught up to Ivy and took a bucket. In all honesty, she had to agree with the dwarf's words. She turned her gaze back to the waters, after noting Niphre's arrival. "Be at ease...our battle is done...for now..." she said quietly.

  kree  sipped his caffe  from the overly larg mug, his   boots up on the  railing   as he scanned the river with the spyglass

 he  had  his cloak wrapped around him and his  hood  up, the why he sat he could have  been the   ship's  well with  some canvas on.

 The Sister Moons..chase  across the sky.. this  ten day, the moon of light  would  reach the  arms of the Mountains first... next tenday, the Dark sister would reach  the amrm of the mountains first.

 ..you should all enjoy the  Plank tonight, if will be a while before   we see the inside of an Inn again.

Lysander misses what Kree says, as he is sound asleep among the crates.  He is accustomed to the hardship.  The morning light will awaken him, or the sound of the next battle.

"I go where my Captain goes," she stated softly, taking up a position nearby. "And Lysander is already sleeping..." She motioned to where the dwarf was.

 Elandra smiled at Hooka and then got up and headed towards the Plank, she said," I will spend another night in the warm bed while I can. Good evening and may Peace be with you." She will wait for good byes and then head into the Plank.

---->>>> to Plank

Stil a bit shaken by the strong retour hug by Tyri, Krwyn searches for a place between the crates, out of sight for everyone looking, where he makes himself comfortable. "We can protect the boat unseen, but also cover the Plank against further attacks from here", he mumbles to himself while he wraps his cloak around his body.

  there is a Good natured  laugh from Kree,..the  day the Plank needs protected, is the  day The Arrows  are no more..... you think the Barmaids   to be helpless?, or the cooks?..  there are  people down in the Armory who guard the door to the Dwarven tunnels.. and work the forge down there... if any in the Plank have dark intentions towards us?  they will, nay , last long.

 As far as The ship goes , I should think whatever idiots  send  these folks to thier  deaths, do not have enough coin to send more... on the other hand? if they were wise, they promised to pay them After?... so.. they wasted no coin at all.... That Jolly boat... that cost  some one , some heavy coin

 ..I am staying out , for two reasosns... the first, is to see where the Master of this Vessel  is coming from. The second reason, is a promised the Lad I would watch his ship so he could get  warm and get food.. I'd let the lizard in, if   Reedrick would not  have  thoughts of  adding her hide to the wall.

"I don't think the Plank needs protection as well as we can prevent another surprise attack as by the Tou nobel with his croonies. Probably that would save Reedicks windows from damage again. I'll probably would rather like stand your fury, than Reedicks'" grins Krwyn. "I would expect that the master of this ship already would have been killed in an 'accident' by now. When the boy and the dragonette would have been slaughtered, it would have been fairly easy to replace master and new crew by men from our adversariesm whomever that may be."

  Aye...but he went to the Navy Docks to get a crew... The Emperor  gave him a chit to  hire   folks, i suspect the  sailors who would be available  would not be the best..but should be clean... if.. the fool traveled off to  other places, then he deserves what ill , may have befallen him.

 ..That Jolly boat came from a frigate, or bigger.... some one   either has really good thivese.. or a very fat purse.

"Let's hope for the latter," she muttered, finding a spot to sit. "At least that way, they are padding our own pockets once we rid ourselves of whatever rabble they hire." Once seated, she lowered her mask and took a pipe out from a pocket. Carefully she packed the bowl before putting it between her lips and lighting it with a tindertwig. It was a pastime that she enjoyed with her brother but he was no longer there so...she offered the pipe to Kree first and then to anyone else who wished to partake.

 Kree eyes  look at the pipe, that then ti Riven,like she was a three headed orc.

 what!.. NO!..get that way from me.... we may be in the city, and  the spells from the inns  and such are bad  enough, i don't  what smoke smell on my cloak and hair?.. may as well walk through the night with a torch, danging on a drum, to let folks you are there!

 he shakes his head,..that's  why Halfings  die  so fast away from thier  homes,  they tell all the ebasts and Hunters where a free meal is...

She laughed at Kree's reaction. "An occasional thing is not so bad." The pipe triggered the past, the good times spent among friends, the dark times when separated and working...and darker times still living the life of a slave. She let put a slight shuddered sigh.

In the midst of a bad dream, Lysander awakes, thinking he hears to sound of battle not far off.  He quickly realizes it is just the party going on in the Plank, and goes back to sleep.

  The deep night was upon the , the water  makign noise  as the breeze  picked up and waves  lashed against the Docks. the ships  bumped   gently agains   Cloth covered  posts.


 The Moons   were reaching out to the Mountains, it would not be long before  the    slipped behind to rest for the day.

 kree , like some clock work  machine, woudl raisew the spyglass and  scan the   water  and the farside of the  River

In reply to Riven Goldleaf (msg # 256):

"That is good." Niphre sighed in relief.

She remained where she was, watching the river and occasionally looking up to the sky but it didn't mean she wasn't paying any attention though it might have looked like she wasn't. When she finished her pipe, she put it away and continued to watch and wait.

   Kree   nodded off a few times, finding sleep augments the elves 'natural' resting.

 every time he a3woke, he  scaned the river, and looked across  the expanse of water to see if the Master of the ship, was coming.

 having the combat be one of range weapons and the beast, Vilmund decides to sit on a crate and lightly swing his hammer over his leg. J'st mee luck, arrow slingers all th' glory. no joy fer meeself. he settles and decides to grab any sleep he can.

  Kree was looking out at the river  again The sky was Black now. Millions of  stars  in the  sky and the god's fire  would flash now and then.

  Captain?</Brown

 kree looked  down on the   dock, a young woman stood there, her   clock   pulling   at her in the  breeze.Aye  , Lass... what do you want?

 <Brown>..you..saved  me.... about  2 years ago..in Tou... you send me on wa wagon to ironmound... i work for  a  wool merchant now...

  Kree stood  and walked down the  ladder to  the dock and looked at the girl,..it is nice to se  one  I have aided?.. but  how did you know i was here..and  why seek me  out  at this time

 merchants from Tou bring in wool from  farmers ..the   merchant treats those who  do business to a meal for serpent and Noodles..they drink, they talk..i listen...The Tou leadership has a Bounty on your head, and your cousins.. a smaller bounty on anyone with a crimson arrow... there are riders in the plains  , just beyound   Bowshot...

 ..Thank You  Lass,, Let ne give you...

 ..no?.. You saved my life, from folks who wpild have ruined it...ended it...I bear..much ill will towards Tou... if you want to reward me... return , so i know   Tou did not win..

 Alright  Lass..best get to your quarters...


 she   turned and walked  away and went into the   alley.

 Kree sighed  and   went back up the ladder.

"More work to be done?" she asked casually with a glance to the sky.

Senses tingling, Lysander awakens and hears quiet voices.  No sounds of alarm, just feet silently retreating.  He goes back to sleep among the crates.

As the sun comes up, so does Lysander.  He will gather his wits, quickly inventory himself - Missing a hand axe! -  and go talk to Kree.

"Okay, that was an ... interesting evening.  What next, boss?"

  the  Sun was just peaking over the trees.. Darkness  more  or less  across the way.. Kree loked through the spy glass and he  saw the    long  bloat being  rowed.. he shook his head.

  He  calmly  put the spy glass away , polishing it  with his Clack  and stick it in the back  by the wheel...he says to Lysander.... frist i great  this..."master".. then we get washed  up and food, aand make sure  we are outfitted...We  will not  find  freindly merchants Until we reach  the Furman's trail

 The   boat  drew closer.. Kree   called softly down to the   waist of the ship,After this idiot arrives.. we  all go to the Plank to eat

 MIK!!!!..You lazy urchin!.. Get the ropes  ready, didn't Ya see us  comin ye No Good fer Nuthin'..

 Kree  stood  smoothly,  his bow  up  and  the   shaft drawn  Back to the Fletchings.. he held the  bow, it didn't  move.. Until the  Man who  was shouting, suddenly saw the clocked  Figure with a Drawn Bow... as soon as  Kree's eyes  Locked on his the  arrow  sped    hitting the Master's  Clock  and  Pulling him  down in the  seat as  the  shaft  bit  deep into the wood..

 The oars Man stopped rowing and  the   Mate  stood  up . Sorry?  My aim is off a bit from the   rise and fall of the waves... I meant to stick you hand to the tiller.

 Who the 9 hells  are you!

 I am the fellow, who along with his Unti, aided Mik   and Hooka in defending this   piece of driftwood, you call a ship!..Who the 9 hells leaves  a  Boy and a over grown newt to guard a ship at night?...Brink your Own Boat in Captain,  and when you secure   your Long Boat, Come into the Plank For   Mornfest..

 The first Mate  said,..Your Name!

 kree  simple    waved   his hands  to the  arrows  who stayed with him,..let us go, freshen up , then get some food...You too  Hooka,  Lie on the    dock by the doors   the sun will be up in another  few Minutes, we'll get some fresh food  in you..Mik will want to see you fed as well..

 The dragonette stretched   and    Hopped onto the Docks to  follow the arrow  to the  Inn.

Arrows to The Plank
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

Riven stretched and watched the altercation with a passing interest. Once Kree started for the Plank, she would turn and follow.

Lysander also made his way to the Plank.



--->Plank

Vilmund makes his way with the others.

Krwyn comes out of his hidden post to join Kree and the others for mornfest.

<<<<<<<<<< from Plank

   As SHadow walked out...Right, Hooka?  Finish up..we are about to Leave...


 the dragonette  eager   Gobbled the last bits of   meat and bones.

  The taller of the mens  with a fellow  about Ivy's Size whispering to him  said,we're gettin' this straight   now.. we don't  take orders from you..Lomn Ear...


 Pointy ear, you  crab brain?..  Long eared elves  are some ki d of  missformed folk... Now?.. I really believe your friend there has his lips on you ass and is using your Mouth to  talk through?.. Why don't you step up?..or do you want your tall friend to   die in your place...

 The  Embarrassed  Man stepped forwardMen have  died for less then that, Elf boy...

 ..Indeed..almost 20 , yester eve..but? let us have this out..here and Now, so the rest of  the   cruise might be  close to looking like we have sailors on board?

 Ivy stepped out  one more tart in his had   as he watched with a amusement.

 .. we  use    blades, and not that  thing you have on your belt... a Dagger...


 Ivy laughed,

   Kree set down his  pack Bow  and   quiver his clock  and took off his leathers  and   shirt..

I'll use one of these... he   took  a throwing dagger from his left Bot, the  small leaf shaped   blade glistened in teh Sun,  the fellow  took off his  striped  sailors   shirt and the other  Crewmen Grinned..

 ..You?  Talk one  one? see if you can talk without  your  friends  sweet   word drifting up  your ass.. and  say ..'when'

  The  Tall fellow  said....GO...!

 the sailor  swirled his  Dagger  and went to close  on Kree when he reached for His belt  and Sent a throwing dagger  through the air to   LAnd  in the  base of the Man's throat...

 The fellow dropped  to his knees, the tall man said ....YOU CHEATED!

 Kree walked over to the man who was  holding the  tiny  hilt of the blade, even as  blood flowed  down his chest..I did not?.. I said I would use one..and I only used one...

  Kree looked at the Man whose eyes pleaded with him...I need that Blade.. when i pull it out , you will bleed and you will die, and you will make some orcs a happy meal... Unless there is a kindly  healer  about?.... should you be healed.. You will have elarned a lesson..should you die..maybe you friends will have learned... Fare you well...// Kree  jerked the balde out  swifty, and the Blood   flowed.. theman gasped  as his friends  looked on..

 Time to man the ship..get going, or Join him...

 the crew rushed to the Boat leaving the gagging man to his fate

 Daggers?  Gods be damned they did not  pick these poeple for thier  wit!

   Kree  wiped   the  Blade  and slipped it into the sheath.. then set  about getting   dressed again.

"Pity...and here I thought we were getting a show..." she stated as she passed, heading towards the ship. Whether she was referring to Kree being topless or the 'fight,' she didn't specify.

Lysander appreciated the show, but it was time for his first voyage.  He finds a seat near the bow.

But they did not quite escape the Knight, who had not been seen up till now. He had...an extended stay at the Palace last night. He seems normal, if pensive, and his armor is shined especially bright. It's a literal mirror finish, should someone wish a reflection.

"Captain? ...A word if I may? Something...interesting has come up. Though I wouldn't be surprised if you guessed what it is."

    Kree   buckled his weapons  Belt on as  he Looked at Luthien,..you had  some  Bad   Rock mellon and you are   afraid to sail because you will have   clean your armor once more? he smiled  a  bit, slipping on his   cloak to Fasten it.

Luthien chuckled.

"No, nothing so ill fated as that. No, your Eta spent a considerable amount of time on my behalf last night, and a certain...hunt, if you want to call it that...of mine was successful, at least in a preliminary sort of way."

Luthien's smile is...as radiant as ever it's been seen to be.

"His majesty granted his permission for me to court her Her Highness Dala. I expect...it will be about a month or so to sort that out, for good or ill."

So, he hands the Captain a scrap of leather with an arcane symbol on it, and he has another of his own.

"...That means I will have to remain here for a time. However, should something of great need come up, you can have a mage use that to contact me by spell...given the life you lead, it is not out of the question you will come upon a large enough group of slavers that assistance is required. Should you find such a nest...let me know."

But in the meantime, this particular son of the Huntress has fairer quarry in mind, at least in the short term.

 Kree  takes the   leather  and   carefully places it in his backpack. Then turns to Luthien, offering his  arm  for a wrist shake.

  we are  heading into Olant.. the  the  FurMans Way.. we  seek somethign for the Emperor. we are goign to  find our share of   Slavers, I am certain.. as well as  Some hargen reuglars , if  we   make it to Yad

 This Life is a Dark One  Luthien, grab the light while you are able...

Luthien claps wrists in turn.

"Your life is dark, yes. But the shadow you cast hides those who have been exploited from those who would use them. The people you save never saw the shadow you deal with, as I have. No. To those you save, you're the hero. You're the light. In your twin sisters, there is balance...and for all the dark you live in, many perfectly ordinary people find the light you leave behind. Even a Knight like myself, in open battle, must survive the darkness of war, to bring light to the people behind the lines he fights for. When the night is darkest, remember what the person you're saving feels like."

With yet another smile, "Good hunting, Captain. May the huntress help you find your quarry. I know from experience it will not escape you long."

  A very real smile  game to Kree. Closed Mouth and stern...but  real...'ware the ways of that court. There are people who hide behind  silks  and  furs, that are worse then the ones  we fight who wear leathers   and  rags...

 ..The Emperor  is good enough, to those who sure  him. I is   hard and cold to those  he views  as   foes..  Ivy   offers   Luthien  his hand  as he  is  ready to pass him.

 ..Fare you well.. we  will mists your  Healing, and  moderation.. I see many fires  and ugly Deaths where we are going, with out your watchful eye!

......

On board the ship the Master  and Mate  were getting the  crew settled, Mik and Hooks  stood  on the   docks   as the fr4esh water Casts where loaded last

As Luthien leaves, Krwyn offers him a hand: "Find your love and enjoy your stay at court! Keep an eye on the Emperor, besides the two eyes on the Princess. We'll meet again and drink a pint here in The Plank, or in your appartment in the Palace."

In reply to docks (msg # 291):

"Well...I still know how to see the darkness in men's souls, and I still see the light too. That works in court as well in the wilderness. I know that a few of suitors competing will be dark indeed, and I heard about the Allfather priest you had to...deal with."

He nods at Ivy too, "I'll remember that. And yes, it is your enemies that should be afraid. Just remember to check for bad guys that look like they don't wanna be there. Those on the wrong end of the chain don't always want to be holding it."

He clasp with Krwyn as well, "This won't be the last you see of me. Like I told the Captain, it's inevitable you'll find a big enough nest you want help. And on that day, I will fight by your side once more."

---->>> from Plank

 Elandra walks out to the docks and sees Luthien, she hears he is staying at the Palace, she smiles at him and says," It has been a pleasure meeting you and traveling with you Luthien, and may Peace be with you always."

In reply to Elandra Jalvian (msg # 294):

Luthien smiles wrly, "I Could wish I'd gotten to know you better, but such is the path I have to walk. On the other hand, if all goes well, you'll be able to tell all your friends you traveled with a prince."

 Elandra smiled and replies," Oh you are already a Prince to me Luthien, agin I wish you well, and when we come back here I know we will see you again, and never forget you will be in my prayers, Luthien Peace will be with you always."

  Hooka  boarded the ship and settled  dwon near the  Bow. Mik  boarded and began to lash down crates, as the Sailors    set the riggings and  started to cast off.

   Kree would board last, he waved to Luthien,when you hear of our return, meet us at the Plank , so we might have a Normal greeting , before  we attend   the Palace.

 The Master    Pointed the the  smaller  quarters   at the Bow.....There's  room for   4  people in there.. the rest will have to sleep on deck..., my crew gets the  spaces below deck ..Me and My Mate  and Mik  sleep in the Captain's  quarters

 the  ship warped  out into  the  River, turning it  bow  towards the South.. the sails  began to catch the wind... and the Arrows  were off.


>>>>>>  Arrows  going on the ship..Go to 'River' thread

In reply to leaving (msg # 297):

Niphre decided to go on the ship, and looked out at the water as the ship left.