Quest The Secret of the Swamplands

[Vice]

Quest Timestamp: 28th of Summer, 514

~Before the formation of the city of excess, the swamp stood alone. Before the transformation of Mizahar, the world was as one...

A sentient, permanent, all consuming and encompassing expanse of sentient thought and synchronization. It breathed as one, knew as one, lived as one...

Change. The will of the Gods, spurred forth by the Change and the power of Transformation...

The winds of Zulrav blew through the land, the flames of Ivak consumed and made new, the influence of the tides and currents upon the ocean shaped and warped the land through erosion. All changed and the will receded...

It breathes still, it swells, expands, slowly wishing to encompass the world as it once did. Rejection of change, the perpetuation of the peace and tranquility of a world uninterrupted by inconsistency and alteration. That is the will... the want...

It steeps within the swamps of Kenash still, a primal, wearing, present, knowing understanding. A will and force of nature, expanding through the world, rejecting the change of Harameus. The will of Caiyha stands by its side, enforcing her will of nature, influencing, spreading, but the mark of Change will seek to undo the permanence that is...~

The parable tells true, but the story begins much earlier...

24th of Summer

A sign is posted upon the doors of the Traveler's Inn, the Fantasia Zulaca, and upon a posting board for mercenaries, each one detailing the hiring of a number of souls to join a young woman, an explorer by trade, into the deeps of the swamplands between Morealis, Sitai and Lynint plantations. Though initially, there is protest regarding the placement of paper upon the polished surface of the right side door of Fantasia Zulaca, a scandal nearly taking place, it is quickly resolved without further conflict, the situation ending with the woman, obviously affronted by the encounter, being given free quarter in the Dream for a total of five days.

Four days pass in a blur, and four souls encounter the sign postings in turn and find themselves drawn to the promise of reward and intrigue. The sign posting reads as follows:

Attention, esteemed friends and adventurous souls in the city of Kenash!

I write to you in need of assistance and with promise of great reward and adventure. Please, join me in an investigation of the swamp lands between the plantations owned by the Morealis, Lynint, and Sitai families, for the borderlands have drawn me by their legend.

It had been told that those that enter the land are cursed by the place itself. Others that there lives a mighty creature or even the ghosts of legendary pirates hidden away and forgotten by time.

My theory is a different one entirely, but it is of utmost importance that this theory is proven right or wrong. Please meet me at the carriage services, which I understand are, for the moment, suspended.

Worry not, I have commissioned for one of the heirs of the Draer household to transport us via Casinor down the channel and into the deeps of Morealis plantation. From there we will set on foot due south and towards the body of swamp that I have selected for study.

Please, keep in mind that this is a place that has already led to the disappearance of more than six of your fellows, so I must advise that you wear caution upon your sleeves and come prepared for anything.

As a practitioner of Reimancy, I will advise that any aspiring fighters or practitioners of magic come fully prepared for the threats that may come to light. And I very gently encourage that any aspiring or practicing mages be open with their magical abilities. I will guarantee that the privacy of every individual is secured, even from one another, though I must know everything about each of your strengths.

Please come prepared with both your skills and any tools or weaponry that you may require, and a slip of paper that will act as the testament of each of your skills.

-Your friend,

Lessiya.

A great deal is asked of each soul by means of gentle encouragement and the promise of great reward is given to match the invasion of privacy. Lessiya, upon noting each person that read the sign with noticeable interest and a receptive attitude regarding the matter, privately met with each of the participants and gave them only a small note. Though, if each person opened the note, they would find an extremely small creature held within. By all appearances, it was no larger than a newborn rodent, though its features very clearly carried similarities to a kitten. An adorable creature in its own right, though they would find that its heart beat extremely quickly for even its tiny size.

The creature was meant for a purpose, and it would be fulfilled when they arrived at the empty carriage location, a noted 'Closed until further notice' hammered to the door, but in the place of Fire Fox Coach Services' carriage, stood Lessiya.

The woman was tall and wrought with a very present, powerful confidence that seemed to roll from her very persona in waves of personal strength. A smile cast over her lips as he motioned towards the Casinor, then to each of the participants in turn.

"Your notes, please. I would very much rather read them while we are still at shore so that during our journey deeper into the plantation lands, we can discuss the order in which we enter and the schematics of our journey. I have been deliberately vague with each of you, and I will, of course, tell you as much as I possibly can without prematurely spoiling the works that I wish to publish, which, of course, you will receive free of charge upon their completion if we are successful. I would like each of you to introduce yourselves, then we can step into the casinor and begin our journey."

[Adi Skyglow]

Her night at the Traveler's Inn had been completely unremarkable. She'd slept like a rock, thankfully not dreaming-Adi's dreams tended towards the nightmarish side most nights. Sure, they could provide some interesting stories, but it was never fun to wake up tormented because she'd been ground up and made into meatloaf. Shuddering at the thought of that particular recurring dream, the young woman stepped outside her room and walked briskly to the common area. She passed straight through, then made to leave the inn. As Adi swung open the door, a pale square attached to the door caught her eye.

Attention, esteemed friends and adventurous souls in the city of Kenash!

I write to you in need of assistance and with promise of great reward and adventure. Please, join me in an investigation of the swamp lands between the plantations owned by the Morealis, Lynint, and Sitai families, for the borderlands have drawn me by their legend.

It had been told that those that enter the land are cursed by the place itself. Others that there lives a mighty creature or even the ghosts of legendary pirates hidden away and forgotten by time.

My theory is a different one entirely, but it is of utmost importance that this theory is proven right or wrong. Please meet me at the carriage services, which I understand are, for the moment, suspended.

Worry not, I have commissioned for one of the heirs of the Draer household to transport us via Casinor down the channel and into the deeps of Morealis plantation. From there we will set on foot due south and towards the body of swamp that I have selected for study.

Please, keep in mind that this is a place that has already led to the disappearance of more than six of your fellows, so I must advise that you wear caution upon your sleeves and come prepared for anything.

As a practitioner of Reimancy, I will advise that any aspiring fighters or practitioners of magic come fully prepared for the threats that may come to light. And I very gently encourage that any aspiring or practicing mages be open with their magical abilities. I will guarantee that the privacy of every individual is secured, even from one another, though I must know everything about each of your strengths.

Please come prepared with both your skills and any tools or weaponry that you may require, and a slip of paper that will act as the testament of each of your skills.

-Your friend,

Lessiya.

Cursed land? is such a thing even possible? Wait, what's her theory? Why does she need to know skill sets? Shyke, that's a Svefra boat she wants us to ride on. Will he be there-wait, he's not Draer, he's a-stop thinking about him, Adi! If he's here, he's here. If he isn't then he isn't.

...

Why does this intrigue me so much?

And intrigued Adi was. A mysterious stretch of supposedly cursed swampland that had claimed six lives already? The timing was perfect, too, since she'd be here in Kenash the whole season. Looking around for either a person with paper or a piece sitting around in the common area of the inn, her eyes landed on a small stack resting haphazardly on a table. Figuring no one would miss a single sheet of paper, Adi grabbed the topmost sheet and set immediately to writing a skill set on the page in front of her.

Competent with the use of daggers. Some wilderness survival skill.

Upon looking at her finished skill set, Adi sighed. Those were the only things she could do relevant to this exploration-she could tell stories, and ride Myaris, sure, but she highly doubted that the skill that made her a living would be needed here. Additionally, this Lessiya person had made exactly no mention of horses being ridden or needed, so that was out.

It was then Adi heard a small noise behind her, the sound of someone clearing their throat to draw someone's attention. The Vantha woman guessed her attention was the one trying to be drawn here, and looked behind her to see if she was in fact correct.

She was.

The woman behind her was dark-haired like Adi herself was, though this woman's hair was much shorter than the Vantha woman's own. She was tall and seemed powerful, exuding an aura that said 'mess with me and you'll regret it'.

"Interested in the expedition I'm planning?" asked the woman-oh, this must be the Lessiya who'd written the letter. Adi looked at her and quirked an eyebrow. "Did my frantic scamper for paper give it away?" asked the woman, laughing as the words escaped her lips. She extended her right hand to Lessiya in hopes that the woman would shake it. "Adi Skyglow at your service. I assume you're Lessiya?" Instead of shaking her hand, Lessiya deposited a small, folded-up note in the Vantha's extended hand and replied with a smile that seemed more polite than anything else to Adi. "Did my name on the paper give it away?" was Lessiya's response, and it brought a smile to the young Vantha's face.

"I'll see you at the carriage, then."

Before Adi could respond to that, Lessiya seemed to vanish in thin air-though really she'd just moved quickly and left the inn. Adi poked her head out the door, shrugged when she couldn't find the woman, and decided to continue on her business. She'd stop at the carriage service later. First things first, though, there was a note in her hand that needed opening.

So she opened it and almost dropped it when there was a small creature inside, her pink eyes widening in shock. The closest thing she could liken the creature to was a cross between a rat and a cat-it had kitten-like features, but was the size of a baby mouse! Adi cupped the creature in her hands, mentally deciding that it needed a name. She planned on going for a walk later, which would be the perfect time to come up with a moniker for the animal.

Later at Fire Fox

Adi was close to the carriage service, the creature still cupped in her hands. On her walk, she'd settled on the name Marsh for the little animal, as she was in a giant swamp. It had made exactly no noise and had barely moved. Concerned about the little creature-she still wasn't sure what its gender was-the young Vantha had pressed a finger carefully to its chest, looking for a pulse. Instead of a steady beat-beat, she felt an almost constant thrumming. This concerned Adi for a moment, but she thought about it for a moment. Her horse, Myaris, had a slower heartbeat than Adi herself had, and the white mare was much larger than the Skyglow woman. So it made sense that the opposite would be true-Marsh was tiny, so its heart beat faster than her own.

Satisfied with her problem-solving skills, Adi looked up from her thoughts and was surprised to see the woman from earlier again. Lessiya stood in front of the carriage, waiting for her and most likely the other participants of her expidition. With a smile, Adi quickened her pace, speeding up to reach Lessiya faster. As she walked, she produced the note she'd written earlier with her relevant skills on it and handed the slip of paper to the tall woman. She spared a glance at Marsh then. "So, why the rodent-cat-thing in a note?" inquired Adi in a casual manner, though she was very curious about its purpose. Hopefully the small animal wouldn't have to die-Adi was quickly becoming fond of it.

Adi's Thoughts. - "Common." - "Vani." - "PC/NPC Common."

[Edmund Morealis]

24th of Summer, 514AV The City of Kenash Edmund was not a mercenary. He was not a traveler, nor a warrior, nor a well-learned man. Never before had the dynast picked up a weapon or even made physical impact with another. No exploring his plantation as a child, no fisticuffs with his cousins. The closest he had ever come to adventure was the number of fairytale books he had read as a child between the more scholarly texts he was supposed to study, and while those books encompassed entire worlds none were anywhere near relative to Mizahar. That did not mean that Edmund would not jump at the chance to be an adventurer. Far from it, in fact. His lack of experience would make him all the more eager. Perhaps when he might have known better. The Fantasia Zulaca was on the West Bank of the city of Kenash, while the Orchid was on the East. The distance between them was anything but minor. However, at the beginning of the day Edmund sometimes found it relaxing to take a stroll around the wide open area of the West Bank before going to the Orchid, and along his path was the Dream. What caught Edmund's attention particularly today was the large notice posted to the door. Such a brazen attempt to seek attention Edmund expected to be taken care of swiftly, yet here it was. Not that it had any bearing on him, it had nothing to do with matters of his own business. I ought to pay it no mind, Edmund thought to himself, and immediately set off to his little cafe on the East Bank. It was a long trek through most of the city, past places both familiar and not, faces both known and unknown. Greeting each man and woman in turn, Edmund then spent the rest of the morning serving and chatting up those few customers that wandered into his little cafe, as he was happy to do. However, that simple yet glaring notice had never left Edmund’s mind the entire morning. Later, in the afternoon when the Orchid was experience a lull of inactivity, he surrendered to the impulse. Once more he stood staring at the piece of paper attached to the illustrious Fantasia. A few steps carried him closer to the notice, which seemed elegantly presented and written as if in an attempt to avoid detracting from the Fantasia’s charm. His eyes wafted over the page for a tick or two, skimming randomly with no real intent on paying deeper attention to its message, and then fixated a particular family name. His family name, to be exact. Another step carried Edmund right up to the door of the Fantasia, his hands folded behind his back and a frown creasing his brow. He began to read again from the beginning, this time more thoroughly with intent to digest the information in its entirety. Within half a chime he had finished, and he had some news to process. There was plenty to take in, as beginning to end the notice was written in an entirely unusual manner. Of greatest importance, however, was the understanding that six individuals had been found dead on the Blacksugar plantation, all without Edmund’s knowledge. It was true that he might not have been as in touch with his family’s property as he ought, but the multiple discoveries of fatalities seemed the sort of circumstance that would warrant him being notified by someone at the very least. Several questions sprang to mind about the incidents - what were the identities, when were they discovered, and how had he remained informed for so long? - but perhaps most curious of all were the little details included about the mysterious Lessiya herself. The one who posted this notice is either a studied magical theorist or a madwoman, and this are not the scribblings of insanity I see, Edmund thought, putting his hands together in front of him and resting his chin on his thumbs. A practiced Reimancer, clearly no stranger to the magical arts, who has commisioned anyone who happens to walk by to accompany her into danger? I have not heard of this mystery in our swamp, but there is certainly a mystery to be solved. With a start, Edmund suddenly became aware of a shadow that was cast on the notice from behind him, and as he spun around he came face-to-face with a strange woman. The way she stood, observing - inspecting - him, led him to believe that she was the author of the notice. "So, do I muster a pass for your visual evaluation?" Edmund asked, raising an eyebrow. Soon after he finished speaking, he folded his arms in front and behind him and bowed in the woman’s direction. It was not an overly deep bow, out of politeness rather than great respect, and soon he was at his full height once more. "Edmund Morealis, cousin of Dimitri Morealis. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, madame Lessiya." "So I’d gathered, Mr Morealis," the woman replied, offering a small polite bow of her own. "That insignia on your scarf is easily recognizable. There are only so many males of the Morealis family, and very few of them leave their magnificent manor. It is a pleasure to meet one of the dynasty in question in a setting like this." So it is still my surname that draws attention, thought Edmund to himself, wearing one of those signature Morealis smiles. I shall have to do my best to change that. "I assume all arrrangements necessary for an expedition of this nature have already been settled with my cousin. In that case, I will be joining as another assistant, and to keep an eye on the others to be treading in my family’s plantation. I doubt there is much of value near the borders with the Sitai and Lynint, but if there is the family should have a representative present." Lessiya nodded a curt reply, reaching out for his hand and taking the back of it when it was offered. Without so much as an explanation, she placed a small note folded similarly to an envelope into his palm. It was very light, but heavier than paper. "I will meet you at the arranged place along with the others." The young Morealis was quite taken aback at the forwardness and insistence she displayed around a dynast. It was not that Edmund minded, but he was certainly surprised to some degree. He looked at the note which he had been handed, inspected it shortly, then did his best to delicately place it within his chest pocket. "Very well. I have read your note in its entirety, so I am well aware. I am looking forward to our initial par-”" Edmund cut himself short as he looked up to see that the woman, Lessiya was gone from the spot where she had been standing moments ago. Too long she had to walk away, and by the time Edmund’s eyes finished scanning the area around him he was sure that she was already gone. Most certainly a great mystery, he thought himself, continuing his return to his cafe so that he might close it up for the afternoon. Whomever she selects to assist her will no doubt be useful to associate with as well. Either as likewise-curious arcanists or developed mervenaries, they will be contacts worth having. A grin grew on Edmund’s face. Yes, I believe that this will be a very profitable venture. Fire Fox Coach Services Once again, Edmund had underestimated the difficulty of a task. Whilst he had no exceptional difficulty hanging the closed sign in the Orchid, Edmund had not given any forethought as to how his cook was to return to Blacksugar. His first thought was to bring the cook with him since he was headed to Blacksugar anyway, but then he reasoned that Lessiya would likely not take fondly to a surprise stranger sharing their boat. It was not out of the question for Edmund to attempt to use his status as a dynast to apply some pressure, but he did not wish to be rude and he felt that Lessiya would not be one to respect his family blood in the same manner. In the end, Edmund was forced to resolve the issue by hiring one of the Draer ferries for a private journey back to Blacksugar ahead of him. From there until he found his way to Fire Fox’s coaches, it appeared that one other of Lessiya’s expedition had already arrived. This was fine, however. Edmund had not expected to be the first arrival anyway, and rather preferred to be the last to introduce himself that he might avoid as much scrutiny as possible. The young Morealis approached Lessiya by direction of the Kenash river and waited at a midpoint between her and the Draer casinor she had rented. He had written nothing on his abilities or practices, for he could not have such information written about on pieces of paper passed between hands that were not his own. If his practice of Hypnotism was discovered, no matter how petty or undeveloped, it would carry with it a much bigger risk of discovery that could be to the detriment of his entire family. In the worst scenario, discovery could lead to the isolation of his dynasty entirely, which would be worse than a tragedy. It would be a nightmare. As for whether he would trust Lessiya enough to share the information with her anyway, that would have to wait and see. While there was another there already, Edmund wished to suspend all analysis until all whose help had been enlisted had arrived. There was no point in studying half of the hand dealt when the other cards had yet to be drawn.

[Verena Lorak]

Fantasia Zulaca

It was from her other family members that Verena first found out about the odd request, promising adventures to those who were interested. The women of her household talked about this strange woman, who, for now, was dwelling in the Dream. A stranger. A visitor. Not much for any buzz, except for the peculiar announcement she had made. Clearly, some Dynasty women thought the woman to be mad of some sort. That alone was enough to spark the young healer’s interest.

And the next day, Verena found herself standing in front of the Fantasia Zulaca. It certainly didn’t seem like whoever posted it was mad, Verena thought as she eyed the piece of paper carefully. No doubt this Lessiya was new to Kenash, for not a lot of Kenashern would brave the swamps these days – everyone who had half a wit could sense something brewing in the air. Verena couldn’t but wonder if maybe considering joining was a stupid notion. It wasn’t safe to wander about the swamps.

She entered the holding and inquired for the woman named Lessiya. It didn't take long for one of the attendants to lead her to the rooms. He left her standing in front a door, wondering what to say exactly. She never even had the chance to knock when a figure came up beside her.

"I'm Lessiya and it seemed like you're interested to join my adventure." Verena opened her mouth to a reply, but the woman was already handing her a rolled up note. She accepted it quietly.

"We shall meet again soon."

Fire Fox, The day of the departure.

The Lorak could barely contain her excitement for this promised adventure. Though for the hundredth time, she let herself worry about the dangers. Verena didn’t exactly tell anyone what she was up to – except for her brother, Zorane. With the paranoia building in the plantation, she doubted she would be allowed to go in such a mysterious journey. Hence the secrecy. It shouldn’t be suspicious, since Verena tends to spend days in her clinic without any warning.

Verena was dressed in what would be frowned upon by any Dynasty. Her usually well-tailored dresses were exchanged for a simple shirt, a leather corset and a pair of breeches. The pair of boots she was wearing were worn and stained with dirt. She was slightly sweaty and out of breath, having walked from the Dry Island after picking up her possessions. The bag she carried bumped against her thigh as she strode along the streets. Inside were her healer's kit, a water skin and a bundled mess of Hallan's old cloak.

Her sheathed cutlass was secured properly and her dagger was strapped on her thigh. Truth be told, Verena had little idea how to wield such a weapon. She had seen the blade in use a couple of times and Caedmon had offered a lesson once - which she completely forgot to do - but that was about how much her skill was. Still, it seemed smart to bring some sort of weapon, even if it’s sole purpose was psychological intimidation. Verena just hoped she wouldn’t accidentally cut herself. It shouldn’t be too hard.

Her dark hair was bunched into a single messy braid that rested on her right shoulder. She should be almost unrecognizable as a Dynasty if it wasn’t for the intricate tattoo of a coiling snake of the Lorak’s on her inner wrist. It wouldn’t be the best thing to travel into what might be Rujaro territory looking like the very people they wish to destroy.

From afar, Verena noticed that others had arrived before her – one of them she recognized as Adi Skyglow, while the other seemed well-groomed enough to be a Dynasty member. What an interesting set of people. She wondered how much more will join them. Unconsciously, Verena tightened her fingers around the jar.

The tiny jar with poked holes contained the small cat-like creature that she had received from Lessiya and along with the paper she used to conceal it. Verena wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it. She didn’t want to lose it, but she also didn’t have the time to keep an eye on it all the time – a patient was already waiting for her as she returned to the clinic. So, she had given the animal to Hallan and told him to take care of it. Her most trusted slave simply looked at her weirdly, shook his head and left with it. Thankfully, Hallan seemed to also understand that she didn’t want anyone knowing about it and kept it to himself.

Before she knew it, Verena arrived among the travelers. One of them she recognized as Adi Skyglow, while the man seemed well-groomed enough to be a Dynasty member.

"Your notes, please. I would very much rather read them while we are still at shore so that during our journey deeper into the plantation lands, we can discuss the order in which we enter and the schematics of our journey. I have been deliberately vague with each of you, and I will, of course, tell you as much as I possibly can without prematurely spoiling the works that I wish to publish, which, of course, you will receive free of charge upon their completion if we are successful. I would like each of you to introduce yourselves, then we can step into the casinor and begin our journey."

"Verena," she offered lightly as she handed offer the note she had written earlier. She wasn't quite sure what to write on it. Her abilities weren't exactly practical to use in the swamplands.

Trained in Medicine
Healer
Simple Auristics

Calmly, Verena waited for further instructions.

[Alexander Hamish Moore]

Alex had spent his days looking for work, the dynasties were always looking for hired muscle he was told. It had taken him sometime, but he had secured a position at the Sitai dynasty, under the watchful eye of a rather intimidating and very scary myrian named Varya. He was ordered to come back in a few days to start his job, the plantation had papers and other logistical documents to file and prepare before he could start. Alex was starting to get restless waiting. And as the sun was raising on the bayou, Alex needed to get out of the bustling complex he was staying at. He looked over his simple room, his belongings were stashed under his bed. He hated leaving his stuff here in the room where anyone could steal it, but there were rules in the city about carrying weapons. He didn’t want to have every dynasty enforcer stopping him to check the peace tie, so he elected to leave them behind as he walked out onto the west bank.

The city was beautiful this time of day, the summer heat had not started to build as the sun was slowly drifting up towards the sky. It lazily shed warm oranges, and reds across the river, and buildings. The streets were beginning on the west bank, and there was a caravan just arriving into the city, bringing in goods to trade. The guards, and drivers looked beat, and there were even a couple who were wounded on the round. They were only mildly happy to be in the city, who didn’t welcome the transients that were brought by trade and wanderlust. It was a wonder Alex had stayed for as long as he did. Were it not for the change of pace, he might have signed up with another caravan heading out of the city. He smiled to himself, he was in a good mood, despite the lingering listlessness.

He crossed the closest bridge, that led to a small island, only a handful of buildings dotted the neatly manicured grass, and landscaping. He paused on the middle of the bridge, thinking about what he was going to do next, when he remembered the posting board in the complex. Sometimes there were interesting jobs posted there for people like him. He took a last look at the sun, as it was beginning to dip below the horizon. To people watching Alex, it would probably look like he was pacing back and forth across the street rather aimlessly. But he had a purpose, at least until he got to the board to find that it had squat for him on it.

Alex pushed past a gaggle of caravaners who were blocking the board in idle talk. Alex eyed the board, looking for anything to catch his eye, when he spotted a rather understated poster buried away under a request to catch some sort of beetles, and another asking to kill a weasel. He plucked the poster from the board for a better look. It was in simple font, on simple paper but it drew his eyes. He read it several times over, slow. Then fast, then again slow. It posed an exciting question, and teased an ample reward. More importantly it offered adventure- and that was the real payment.
.

He was just about to cross the same bridge again, while reading the letter for a dozenth time when a very forceful and confident woman interrupted him.

“Ah, hello!” she called, shattering Alex’s thoughts, and concentration. “Sorry for interrupting you, but I see you have my letter.”

Alex looked up, and studied the woman briefly. She was young, and striking, but Alex couldn’t pinpoint the exact beauty that she held. “I didn’t mean to take it with me, I was sort of distracted. Would you like me to put it back on the board?” he asked, not understanding her meaning.

“No, no. I think I have enough interested parties. Here, why don’t you take a look at this note? Meet me at the Fire Fox Coach as soon as you can.” she said, while handing Alex an envelope.

Alex grinned, this woman certainly knew how to keep listless wanderers interested. Alex eagerly took the envelope, and grunted in excitement, and thanks. He peeled open the top, and emptied the contents into his hand. He looked up, rather confused as a small rodent tumbled out of the note. But, there was no answer from the woman who had handed him the note, she had already walked off.

Alex peered at the note, trying to find any clue as to what this creature was. He held it closer to his face, taking in the cat like features of the creature that was smaller than his pinky. He furrowed his brow, and deposited it gently back into the note. Alex crossed the street again, receiving several rather insulting looks as he barged his way to his bunk, while being careful not to damage the tiny beast held in the note.

He set the varmint down on his bed, while he gathered his gear. A bag with his everything he owned, a tent and bedroll lashed tightly to the top. He pulled out his sword, tightly peace tied in the scabbard. He sighed, sadly, he hated seeing his sword stuck in place like that after being free for 7 years. He tied the longsword around his waist, with his quiver of 20 arrows. Then he picked up his unstrung short self bow. He held everything he owned in his hands. Enough food for a week, and enough water for several days. He was as ready as he was ever going to be for adventure.

It took nearly a bell for Alex to get across the city, and across the only toll bridge in the city to the Fire Fox Coach. The sun had fully exposed itself, shedding more heat, and bringing with it humidity, and stickiness. It was going to be a long hot day in the city, and in the swamp. When he arrived at the Fire Fox Coach Lessiya and several others had already assembled. He liked to keep to himself, but if he was going to delve into an area of the swamp that has already killed 6 others, it might be better to know these people. Theirs, or his life might depend on it. He handed the note back to Lessiya, and turned to the people who had gathered, and extended his hand. “On the road, they say its bad luck to work with people you’ve never touched. My name is Alex.” he said, just barely loud enough to cut through the noises of the city, and river.

[Vice]

Lessiya's lips pursed as she was passed each of the notes in turn, looking over them in turn before realizing that they were only three in number. Even Verena Lorak, who had listed magic as her advantage, had complied, so the resulting anger that stirred in the sorceress was present upon her features. Pursed lips quickly turned to a scowl as she motioned for Alex, Verena and Adi to move towards the casinor, a momentary smile gracing her features as she remarked,

"You three, wait in the boat. Maybe get to know the driver a bit. It won't be a long trip, but he's a nice enough man."

The Draer man chuckled, extending his hand to each of the participants in turn.

"Name's Marius Draer. Pleasure to meet you all."

The Svefra seemed far less focused on the participants and far more on his casinor, casting his gaze about and directing the two young ladies and the mercenary to separate sides of the boat.

"You two, sit over there. The mercenary and the Morealis can sit together. Puttin' two people on each side'll make sure the boat doesn't tip to one side in the currents of the river, ye know? Casinor aren't meant to sail into river flow. A bit too wide, but we're too many to get into a rowboat. We'll make this work."

The Svefra managed a reassuring smile before he made his way to the knots, slowly working at them as Lessiya turned onto Edmund Morealis.

"You. You failed to hand me a note, Morealis. Now, you will tell me your strengths and weaknesses as part of the team, or you will leave. I am not afraid of your status as a Dynasty member, and I specifically requested that you arrive prepared. You look as if you are about to stroll into town and shop the sales at Zulaca Customizations. Now, I implore you to consider your next words wisely. I would have no problem extracting you from this mission and leaving you reduced to nothing more than a quivering mass of fear. Do you understand me? Now, will you assist me? Or will you leave?"

Lessiya had no room in her expedition for someone who did not play by the rules.

As Lessiya and Edmund continued their conversation, Marius would request for a volunteer to assist him in raising the sails and fetching coils of rope and hooks from the cabin.

"Lessiya's taking long enough, I swear. Wonder what she's talking about."

Sorry!Sorry I'm taking so long, I've been a bit busy T.T

[Adi Skyglow]

With a smile directed in the new man's direction, the young Vantha shook his hand. "That's a superstition I can get behind. My name's Adi; it's nice to meet you, Alex."

Looking around at each of the new arrivals in turn, Adi silently appraised the people she would be traveling with. The Skyglow woman had already formed an impression of Lessiya, but the others were-oh, wait. Maybe they weren't all strangers. Was that Verena?

A second glance confirmed it was indeed Verena Lorak. Offering her a smile before turning to look at the others in their ragtag group, her eyes landed on a man who seemed like a brat. He was rich and wasn't afraid to show it off-this did not sit well with Adi, who had never led a life of excess and plenty. Though she supposed it wasn't right to judge someone before they were properly introduced, the last man she'd interacted with who had money to throw around on clothing had made her life hell for several seasons. Was it likely that this brat-probably a Dynasty kid, she realized-was made of the same stuff that comprised the entirety of Drasna? No, but she could be wary of him until he proved himself to be a decent person.

Adi's suspicion wasn't helped by the fact that, mere ticks after she'd come to that conclusion, Lessiya waved the members of the party save the brat onto the boat. Said boat was remarkably similar to the vessel that she'd once been on with a pair of Svefra-the Laviku's Wrath, that boat had been called. When the young Vantha realized that Tydus and Kel had wormed their way into her thoughts again, she shook her head to clear it. Nodding at Lessiya, she made her way onto the casinor and greeted its captain, making a note of his name. "And I'm Adi Skyglow. It's a pleasure to meet you, Marius."

She moved to sit down where the Draer man had instructed her to remain, next to Verena. It seemed that as soon as she'd taken her seat, he asked for someone to help him out with setting sail.

"I'm no sailor, but I can fetch and retrieve well enough. Just tell me where to go and what I need," said the Skyglow woman as she stood back up and stepped towards the Svefra man.

Adi's Thoughts. - "Common." - "Vani." - "PC/NPC Common."

[Edmund Morealis]

Once the full retinue had arrived, Edmund did a more in-depth take on each of them, keeping his distance from the rest. Immediately he was aware that he was sorely overdressed for such an occasion, but in truth he had no time to return to his plantation to dress appropriately and once there make the trip back to Kenash. It was of no importance, however - if he were to ruin this particular suit, he could purchase a new one or pay to have it repaired. Such were the benefits of being a dynast. None of the others were dressed to be dynasts themselves, though it was always possible that they had the opportunity to change into more sensible wear. The last one to arrive in fact looked to have brought all that he owned, such was the size of his luggage. A traveler obviously, and perhaps a mercenary from his equipment. The other two participants, the women, were a bit harder to place, but in truth Edmund's attention was not so much on them as Lessiya herself. He observed her face as she took and read each note in turn, nodding knowingly as a frown crossed her face upon realizing that she had only three of the four requested letters. Edmund did indeed have his, but it was blank. Better to do his best to talk to Lessiya than offer a blank note with no explanation. After lifting her head and glaring at Edmund for a moment, she offered curt instructions to the rest of the group and marched her way over to him. The Morealis watched out of the corners of his eyes the others pass him on their way to the casinor, paying them no direct attention that would be obvious but in truth observing how they regarded him. When it came time to listen to Lessiya's tirade, he braced himself for the worst of what one could expect when unpleasantly surprising an organizer by directly disobeying their clear instructions. It had gone about as well as Edmund had anticipated. "You. You failed to hand me a note, Morealis. Now, you will tell me your strengths and weaknesses as part of the team, or you will leave. I am not afraid of your status as a Dynasty member, and I specifically requested that you arrive prepared. You look as if you are about to stroll into town and shop the sales at Zulaca Customizations. Now, I implore you to consider your next words wisely. I would have no problem extracting you from this mission and leaving you reduced to nothing more than a quivering mass of fear. Do you understand me? Now, will you assist me? Or will you leave?" While this might have been a poor start to a working relationship, Edmund had learned a bit about Lessiya after her little outburst. Though hearing that the party already had Hypnotism covered - or at least he assumed from her assertion of leaving him a 'quivering mass of fear' - made him feel a little superfluous. "I have no doubt you would do such a thing, and believe me when I say it was not my intention to use my status as an excuse," Edmund offered, bowing more deeply in atonement. It would be a lie to claim he was not worried about Lessiya's action, but the political battlefield was a place where one could betray only confidence. Anything more would be one's downfall. As such his features were composed, relaxed, and arrogant - just how he'd always been taught. "The truth is, I have very little relevant skill, and that which I did have I do not trust lightly to anyone else. It would cast manifold implications upon the rest of my family, you see, and I cannot risk compromising the Morealis name. However, if Dimitri trusts you then I assume I can to some degree as well. The others I have not even that little faith in." Indeed, Lessiya was to be the first non-dynast to become aware of Edmund's moderate ability in magic. It was not necessarily for himself that he was so concerned, but it was his direct relation with his sister that was his main worry, as she was already under intense suspicion for what part she might be playing in cousin Dimitri's negotiations. Their status as siblings would only serve to associate any magical skill between them both, so if it got out that Edmund was a Hypnotist accusations of his sister might soon follow. And that would be unacceptable. He sighed. "I am a Hypnotist of meager practice. While I am sure you are aware of its versatility, I am less sure about what I can add to your group of volunteers beyond what you do already. In any event, now you know why I am loathe to share this information." With that out of the way, Edmund took a relaxed breath, shutting his eyes for a moment. Upon opening them, he smiled apologetically at Lessiya. "I very much am regretful for being difficult, but there is much more at stake here than merely my own privacy. Since we are now past that stage in the expedition where such a revelations must be made, you should have no reason to fear about insubordination of any sort. You have my most sincere apologies, and the promise that I will do my best to aid your foray to the best of my ability." That sounded a lot less smarmy in my head. Regardless of how well his words were received, Edmund would make his best attempts to remain smiling and polite, bowing once more and gesturing for Lessiya to lead the way to the casinor. Whether or not this was the start of a working relationship, he was looking forward to this little adventure. That is was so near his home - well, near in the relative sense - was an added bonus for which he was equally grateful and excited. It was a shame he had not the proper attire for such an occasion.

[Verena Lorak]

When the last man - a mercenary of some sort - had arrived, Verena realized that not all of them gave the notes to Lessiya. The Dynasty man. Maybe he was nervous about telling anyone regarding what he could do. A few Dynasty do that, in order to hold some sort of advantage among their peers. While nearly everyone who bothered would know what Verena was good at. She opens a clinic, it should be fairly obvious.

"You three, wait in the boat. Maybe get to know the driver a bit. It won't be a long trip, but he's a nice enough man." It would seem that the Dynasty man would have a private conversation with the woman.

Verena finally took the time to examine the vessel. It was bigger than what she was accustomed to seeing. Rowboats were more often used for travel across the river. She wondered what the boat was called. Already on it was an older man, completely at ease with the gentle swaying of his transport. "Name's Marius Draer. Pleasure to meet you all."

She gave him a brief smile. "Verena." A bit late she added, "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Without wasting any time, Marius guided them to the separate sides of the boat. Verena stumbled once, unaccustomed to the shifting surface. It made sense that they should maintain the boat's balance. She couldn't imagine if the whole vessel toppled over. She probably would be dragged by the current and drown. Not an encouraging thought.

Fortunately, Verena was paired with Adi Skyglow. She always interacted better to those she had met before, even it only happened once a few days ago. She offered the other woman a ghost of a smile before Marius started asking for their assistance.

The Lorak hesitated. She knew absolutely nothing of sailing. Marius mentioned something about ropes and hooks in the cabin and Verena figured at least she could carry things. Carefully, she entered the cabin and looked for the tools they needed.

[Alexander Hamish Moore]

Alex was motioned to the boat, and he was the last of the three to board. He was hesitant, he had never been on a boat, or was it in a boat? He wasn’t sure. And he was slightly confused to as to how a collection of wood, and cloth could float, let alone carry the weight of 6 people through the bog. He thought of leaving his bag behind, maybe the weight of all his gear would sink the boat that Marius called a Casinor. Alex closed his eyes, and stepped unsteadily onto the boat. He wavered, and slowly steadied himself. The boat seemed stable enough. He took of the belt that carried his sword, and quiver off, and set it on the benches next to where he sat. He tucked his bag between his feet, trying to keep the walkways clear, and he clutched his unstrung short self bow tightly. He tried not to think what would happen if the boat capsized. He didn’t know how to swim. He bowed his head, and said a quick prayer to Dira, and Kihala. One of those two would take his petition, one would surely hear it.

He look up and smiled briefly at the woman who introduced herself as ‘Adi’, she had been the only one to address Alex directly. He was rather taken back by her eyes, in his travels between Zeltiva, Syliras, Kenash, and Riverfall he had seen that only rarely, and only in passing. He couldn’t remember the name of the people who had such eyes, but he swore it was on the tip of his tongue. But her eyes were also rather unsettling. They were too sharp, too vibrant. Her hair seemed to have a violent tint in the morning sun. Alex quickly turned away, he didn’t want to stare too long and appear rude. She got up to help the boatman.

He turned his head to the other woman on the boat. She didn’t take his hand, perhaps she didn’t believe in luck. ‘Verena’ he had overheard her say. She looked young, but her eyes gave a sense of intelligence and vitality. She was armed, some sort of curved sword and a dagger were tied to her hips and thigh rather attractively. He wasn’t a weapons expert, so the name of the curved sword eluded him. The dagger, was rather self explanatory however. He wondered if she could use them, she was fit, but didn’t seem overly strong. Looks could be deceiving however. She got up to help the boatman as well, and Alex clutched his bow tighter as the boat shifted slightly.

The man that was dressed rather well was being rather comically manhandled by Lessiya. Morealis the others had said. He had been pulled aside for not following the directions, Alex had to conceal a chuckle. He didn’t think that a person from the dynasty would appreciate or enjoy humor aimed at them. He wasn’t evenly properly dressed, maybe that’s how all dynasty members were. Fashion, and class all the way to the end. He had no weapons, no gear. It was like he was getting ready for a picnic and light stroll.

After all these thoughts went through his head, he stayed sitting where he was. Clutching his belongings, and hoping that the boat would stay stable. He bowed his head back down, as the two women on the boat help Marius with the lines and hooks. Alex didn’t know what that meant, he wasn’t aware that boats even had lines or hooks, or even how to tie any knots that a boatman needed to know. Alex didn’t really know much, he knew. He had lead a rather simple life, barely leaving the sanctuary of Syliras, except under the tutelage and protection of his father. Then, he rarely left the sight of the caravan, unless he was working closely with Henry, the caravan’s guide. He smiled to himself. It was good to truly get out of the city. It would be an interesting trip.