Jack nods at Sparky
"Yes what are our assets, liabilities, and what is the threat assessment of this cargo and other cargos, passengers that will also be on the conveyance, and expected hostilities?"

Guild Master Renfold shrugs at the questions. He seems little interested in the details, but this could be feigned disinterest. "From what has been explained to me, the bodies are in coffins and marked by their family crests. By preference, the cargo should arrive as it was sent off, though I am sure if the Karnnathi should object, accidents do happen and all we promise as part of the contract is to protect the cargo to the best of our ability. As for passengers, there will be Lord ir'Vachlan and his retinue, whoever else has booked a ride on the rail, the crew of the rail, and that is about it. The bodies should not be...currently mobile, if that is a worry. For information about other passengers, you may have to ask House Orien. Expected hostilities are anyone who may have a grudge against the Karnathi, so your list is quite long. Who has the money and time and access to knowledge about this trip, that is harder to pin down, but I would expect a strong force if they were to try." He spoke, resting his fingers together thoughtfully.

Jack listens and steeples his fingers as he appears deep in thought....

"So it seems we should  gather ourselves and be set to go as soon as possible, since the longer we delay the more who might catch wind of rumors and formulate contrary action..against us."

"Are we attempting the Mournland Line or taking some other means of conveyance? I thought  House Orien vehicle now refused to travel along the Mournland lines." Straight to the point "Sparky" asked about the plan. The non-stop theoretical time would be about three days from Wroat station to Fort Zombie the first Karrnathi station but this would take you through the abandoned Merrol Station in the Mournlands. Normal people couldn't simply book passage House Orien refused, though it seemed entirely plausible House Vachlan had gotten special dispensation and a House Orien train would make the dangerous trip. The alternatives were either they'd transfer to a private train willing to make the dangerous leg of their journey, which would mean transferring the coffins from one train to another probably twice or transfering to boat or airship to cross the Mournlands. While it was a useful question the Construct didn't give any indication this was unexpected or frightening, just details that would aid in planning their escort behaviors.

Guild Master Renfold pulled out a map of Khorvaire, one which highlighted the various road and rails across the continent. "As you can see, there is an alternative rail that bypasses the Mournland, which runs through Hatheril, Sword Keep, Passage, Fairhaven, Thaliost, and the last stop for your group Rekkenmark in Karrnath." He spoke, pointing out the route.

Jusepus positions himself so he can inspect the map.  He cocks his head as he muses over the cartography, admiring the details and artistry of the map.
It seems the obvious route to take.

Guild Master Renfold actually smiles at Jusepus's comment. "And who really wants to experience the Mournland? At least, not without an army and a prayer to the gods?" He spoke, settling back into his seat.

Radira had heard the stories of the Mourning and the deadly wasteland that was left behind. Of the things she wanted to see of the world, that place was not one.

"I believe that clears everything up, at least for me....."

Jack reaches behind the door and pulls his polearm out from behind it....

At the words "...experience the Mournland...", Jusepus seems to shiver, as if experiencing a sudden draft.  I think not even with the backing of an army.

"I assume this is a standard contract, with no special riders?"

Jack having retrieved his weapon moves toward the door

Magnus looked over at the two battlers before the bird talked.  He had himself a seat amd as the man himself started to go over the details.  He watched in silence as he absorbed the information.

Few questions were asked, and the leader said they were going by lightning rail.  He looked at the route and frowned a bit.  The path was... Tricky.  He looked over at the monk a moment before back at the map.  Going over the new bridge.

"Master Renfold.  While I agree this path is safer then taking the possibly destroyed tracks of the mournlands. But, Thrane and Karrnath are far from friends.  If undead are detected can House Orion help us should the need araise?

Radira tired of the questions. They spoke of weakness and doubt.
"You all worry too much about that which you and the taskmaster cannot change. If there are enemies, we will face them. The noble set the route. He is coming with us and such a man likely values his own hide. He will have thought of these things. If you want to mewl like cubs, bring your fears to him."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:04, Mon 29 Aug 2022.

Sparky's eyes blazed like lightning at the question of who wants to visit the Mournland, but despite the tell-tale sign of powerful emotion the construct replied neutrally. "Wasn't aware they had managed that. I had expected House Lysander to tie up the process endlessly in committees and court intrigue.

"We are traveling to Karrnath. Necromancy is legal there. Undead are ubiquitous, most are used for farm labor to bolster food production as they recover from the famine. Zombies being mindless made them inferior on the battlefield but easy to mass produce and easier to justify keeping as property. Karnathi Knights could be more extraordinary sorts. They have mundane knights but I've seen Bone Knights pale grim figures dressed in skeletal armor, and have little reason to doubt the stories of vampires and spectral Knights, too many first hand accounts. That's why the question of burial, passenger, or spell component arises. Is Karrnath still under martial law?"

OOC: Source books say they're under martial law and still suffering an extended famine, but I didn't want to assume. Zombies are used to fight crop failure.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Tue 30 Aug 2022.

Guild Master Renfold shrugged. "The task is to protect the cargo, protect the enterourage, and ensure the arrival of both. House Orien agreed to the details of Lord ir'Vachlan plan. He has shown me his orders come from the King himself calling for the return of fallen soldiers. If there are undead, the lightning rails are considered neutral ground, so attacking the rails is a bad idea, even during the war. House neutrality is useful Martial law is still enforce in Karrnath." He spoke gesturing to the route that the train would take as he spoke.

OOC: There are inroads being made into the famine, mostly by importing food via rail.

"Sounds as if everything is in order."

Whatever happens, says the Thranish clergyman, it sounds like this should be an interesting job.  He gives a small smile and moves to return the book he had been reading to its place on the shelf.

Provided there are no further objections or questions, Guild Master Renfold hands the closest individual a writ and summary of the contract. "Lord ir'Vachlan will be waiting for you tomorrow morning at the Lightning Rail station. It is there that all of you will sign the contract and finalize the Guilds involvement. Until then, you have free usage of the fascilities here. I wish you luck, but given your talents, I doubt you will need it. May your journey be uneventful and swift." He spoke, dismissing you group from his study.

Jack surveys the facilities and decides that a recon to the rail station might be a useful bit of mischief

But whom to invite?

“Say Sparky have you been to the station yet, I thought it would be fun to check out before morning.”

"Back in '94 we were shipped by lightning rail to Vathirond then marched into Cyre to protect the supply lines for the joint Brelish-Thrane operations." The delivery of this statement may have been flat but the recent history wasn't hard to work out. The the joint Brelish-Thrane operations began in the early winter of '93-'94, the day of mourning which wiped Cyre off the map a day that would live on in infamy was Olarune 20th, 994 YK the last month of that winter. Sparky would have been some of the last troops to arrive, unwittingly marching into what would become an arcane holocaust the likes of which had never before been seen and had never been seen since. But the description didn't sound much like a fun lightning rail ride in luxury cabin. "Stations are patrolled for import control and taxes, it's like a port. Trains seldom spend more than a few minutes at stations. The trains make money by running quickly and efficiently." The constructs head tilted slightly, The statements about trains almost sounded like a question.

"I will take that as a no then, perhaps a bit of sleep prior to the morning is something I should do instead.  I wonder who all will be there..."

Jack leans on his polearm as if he is suddenly tired...

The wild woman in the back watched the exchange. The false man intrigued her. It spoke so neutral, its face unmoving. Such a strange and unnatural creature that was uncannily calm and yet clearly capable of great violence. Warforged. Living weapons. They were perhaps the second largest crime of the Last War, after the Mourning.

Her mind went back to the mission. The Taskmaster had concluded his explanations and clearly wished for them to leave. Likely he tired as much of the questions as she had. She nodded and rose. Fang was at her heel as she quietly left the room. She wanted to go outside. These buildings of civilization still felt suffocating to her. Tomorrow she would go to the trains. She had no idea how long the journey took, but she would be enclosed in one of the metal boxes for the duration. Best to look at the moons while she could..

Jack watches as the others depart and waits to see if anything happens here, otherwise he will retire for the evening and meet everyone in the morning.....

Magnus sat for a minute as the meeting concluded. So far, it seemed an interesting group.  The mission had some risks, however he can review the contract tomorrow at the tracks and decide how best to manipulate it if he can, or what dangers might be involved if they are listed.

Between it being a Dragonmarked house property, and that there will be both nobility as well as another prominent Dragonmarked member, conflict should be non existent.

He looked as others started to get up and leave, and bounded after the wild girl.  "Please, wait up.  You were pretty quite during the meeting.  Would you care for some company lassie?  We dont see many shifters in the Mror Holds "

The monk gives a nod of acknowledgment to each of his soon-to-be companions as the head out the door, and he watches them thoughtfully before he leaves as well.
He heads for the nearest Silver Flame temple, where he had been staying.  There he will gather his meager possessions to rejoin this group of individuals after an afternoon of work and a night of meditation and self-reflection.