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< The Sevsimtali | Red Ice Logs | Planning the Escape >

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• Mendhari has started to shiver a little."

Only two merchants man their storefronts, peering out from behind their windows. The others have placed "Closed" signs and barred the doors. A healer and grocer, knowing the value of their wares before danger, keep their doors open. The smithy has smoke rising from its chimney, signaling that it too remains open for business. A few inhabitants scurry through the square and streets, hurrying about essentials

• Mendhari looks around, searching for somewhere warm, almost cold to the bone.
• Anstice sighs. "K? Give her your coat."
• Mendhari frowns and shakes her head. "I'll be fine."

Anstice: "Fine, yes. But stiff joints make it hard to dodge demons."

• Kinqueduran glances at Mendhari suspiciously. "Yeah." He tosses his coat from his shoulder to the Blue, then turns to examine the fortifications.
• Mendhari sighs, and pulls the coat on. "Fine, fine." She smells the fabric and makes a face.
• Kinqueduran ignores her reaction - the smell wasn't his fault, it was like that when he dragged it out of Xansha's closet.
• Mendhari looks around. "Can't we just hurry and find a campsite or a nice inn with a warm loaf of bread?"

Anstice: "Inn's closed. Campsites are probably watched by demons." Anstice: "K, go talk to the healer about the sort of wounds that have been showing up."

Mendhari: "... the inn is closed? Let's let them get eaten by demons. Uncivilized brutes."

• Kinqueduran nods a bit, inwardly gleeful at the opportunity to get away from Mendhari, and seeks out the healer's shop.

Mendhari: "We could break into the inn..."

Anstice: "We'll have someone open it for us. Or rent a room elsewhere." Anstice: "The inn would be a proper place to lay a trap, though..."

• Kinqueduran proceeds to pry into the healer's business, albeit with a marginally less abrasive manner than usual, to get details about injuries and especially corpses.
• Mendhari nods. "A nice fire... a great cup of tea and a big loaf of bread..."

Anstice: "Why don't you go talk to the grocer about that? I'll wait here."

• Mendhari shrugs. "I'd prefer it freshly baked...."

Anstice: If you think one of us is going to build an oven in the inn, you're mistaken. But perhaps your sunny disposition will encourage the town's baker to cease hiding?"

Mendhari: "I'd prefer to wait." Mendhari: "Any good inn has a nice big oven."

• Anstice shrugs.

Anstice: "Very well."

• Mendhari sits down between the roots of a large tree, hiding from the wind.
• Anstice 's less affected by the cold, not really feeling it even if it does chill him, and waits for K to return and report.
• Mendhari looks up at him. "How can you NOT be frozen?"

A few of the hurried villagers peer at the two strangers in their midst. More then a few of the men glance at Mendhari and her oddly inappropriate clothes. One woman peers at Anstice with obvious interest before being elbowed, hard, by her male companion.

Anstice: "Lots of practice."

Mendhari: "Lots of practice. I see."

• Anstice nods. "I'm sure you don't get sunburned often, and are used to sand. I'm used to wind, snow, and cold."

Mendhari: ".... true."

Anstice: "Of course. If it wasn't, why would I say it?"

Mendhari: "... men lie."

• Anstice waves at one of the villagers who slows to look. "You! Over here for a moment, if you would."
• Mendhari shoots poisonous looks at the men that glance at her.

At Mendhari's look, the man who was about to approach returns to his path, wandering away again. Further men are discouraged from watching Mendhari.

• Anstice sighs. "Be angry later, Mendhari. Don't frighten the mortals."
• Anstice tries again with a woman, just in case.
• Mendhari shrugs. She looks victorious for a moment.... then lonely.
• Anstice thinks a moment to recall the proper neutral form of address, and calls out at a woman, asking her to come over and talk, if she would not mind.

Sevi: "Aye, sir?" the smiling young girl hikes the bag of purchases higher on her shoulder as she approaches, idly adjusting her dress. "You wanted to speak with me, sir?" white eyes survey Anstice's handsome features and trim form with interest

Anstice: "Yes. Why is everything closed? My companions and I have traveled far, and it is most disconcerting to be greeted with this." He waves a hand in an encompassing gesture at all the closed shops.

• Kinqueduran approaches where Anstice and Mendhari wait, his thumbs looped in the loose belt he wears over his armor to carry a few alchemical brews.

Sevi: "Oh, the demons and the invaders, of course. People are getting ready to flee to the western cities, Vengrad and Nurkan."

Anstice: "Demons? We heard rumors of this on the road, but assumed they were merely stories."

• Kinqueduran interrupts but doesn't step into the circle of conversation. "Sevsimtali. Nasty, but not too tough."
• Mendhari continues to watch the exchange.
• Kinqueduran steps over to the tree sheltering Mendhari and leans against it, shedding his messenger bag to rummage through it.

Sevi: "Oh, they're real.." she gives a short, frightened laugh. "They got my cousins a week ago..and my aunt not but last night when she tried to flee in the dark to the walls of the village." she gives another hysterical laugh and a tear leaks down her face

• Mendhari feels an arrow go through her heart, and stands to comfort the girl.
• Kinqueduran looks up from the bag and frowns a moment before looking down, choking down emotions.
• Mendhari rubs the girl's back, looking down at her with compassion.
• Anstice waits calmly. "I see. What would it take to convince people to stay for a day or so?"
• Kinqueduran slides down to the ground, watching Anstice talk, still rummaging through his back, producing about five foot-long red cylinders.

A small child, maybe four years old, wanders towards the young woman. Red-haired and willowy the little boy gives a wary look to the Sidereals as he approaches. "Sevi? Sevi, is my mommy going to be here soon?"

• Kinqueduran tightens his jaw to hold a straight face, and looks down to preoccupy himself with assembling the cylinders.
• Sevi bends down to hug the little boy to her leg. "No, no. She's..late. We'll see if we can find her when we go to the city. Now, be a good boy and wait a moment."

Sevi: "Sir, I think it is best if we do not wait. Things are fast becoming..less then hospitable here."

• Kinqueduran straightens, now holding what looks rather like a six-foot staff of red-lacquered bamboo with grey iron at the joints. "Where would you go?"

Sevi: "The cities in the west, sir. We have relatives there."

Alexi: "Is mommy there?"

Kinqueduran: "How long will it take you to get there?"

• Sevi forces a smile. "Maybe. Maybe she is, Alexi. We'll try to find her. Don't worry." She looks back at Kin to reply "A week. We're leaving tomorrow."
• Kinqueduran shakes his head. "I'd be surprised if you made it."

Anstice: "That is why I ask. Here, you have defenses. Out there is only snow and ice, no fit place for people in danger. I but ask one night, perhaps two."

Sevi: raises her head defiantly. "My sister and brother are in the Guard here. They're coming with us. And we all have good, fast snow-llamas. We'll have a better chance then...some people."

Kinqueduran: "Yes...you do have a better chance than some people. But you and those other people would have a better chance if you stayed."

• Sevi lowers her voice and looks steadily at Kinqueduran. "The demons can only get so many. But if we stay, the invaders will have us all. My aunt and cousins would not want us to join them in the underworld so soon."

Mendhari: "... run..."

• Kinqueduran whispers. "Don't take that boy with you when you leave. Maybe you've decided to die in the belly of a demon, but it's not right for you to decide that for a child."
• Sevi snarls at Kinqueduran "I will not leave my nephew to die on the spears of the invaders. We will all four make it to Vengrad. Good day, sirs."
• Sevi takes her nephew's hand and leads him away, back stiff and straight.
• Anstice smiles apologetically and wishes her good day, and goodbye.
• Kinqueduran frowns, leans against the tree, and watches them walk away. "We'll find them in a few days, I imagine. Or, at least, parts of them."
• Mendhari watches the woman go off, and looks angrily at Anstice. "How can you be so cruel?"

Kinqueduran: "The only cruelty I saw was from that woman."

• Anstice taps the sheathed blade of his spear, considering. "What sort of madness has come over the Algorans they are more frightening than risking demonic attack on the frozen plains?"

Mendhari: "Humans are easier to understand."

• Kinqueduran shrugs, drawing his spearhead from his bag. "It may not be fear, you know. The Algoran assault may seem an inevitable doom, where risking grisly death on the plain is merely toying with fate."

Mendhari: "Toying with fate..." She looks highly amused.

• Anstice nods. "We are going to have to follow them, you know."
• Kinqueduran shrugs again as if to dismiss an unintended pun and secures the spearhead to the staff he had assembled. "Yeah. We have tonight, I suppose, to spend making a few talismans and preparing ourselves."

Mendhari: ".... More damn nights in the snow."

• Anstice nods. "Perhaps we can return before they have burned this place down. I prefer to have some illusions of stability to rely upon."

Mendhari: "Stability is nice."

• Kinqueduran shrugs, glancing down the street. "Maybe we should hurry up and find somewhere to stay."

Anstice: "I was thinking of that myself."

Mendhari: "Somewhere warm. With tea... And really, really big blankets.

Anstice: "I'll let us into the Inn shortly. Should we pay the inflated prices for supplies, or handle things ourselves?"

Mendhari: "Handle things ourselves?"

Anstice: "Improvise."

Mendhari: "How do we improvise a cup of hot tea?"

Kinqueduran: "I'm okay with theft under some circumstances."

There is a rather distinctive dust cloud rising up in the distance, quickly approaching the city.

• Mendhari looks up at the Dust. ".... Evil dust again?"

Kinqueduran: "What did I tell you about mentioning that?"

Anstice: "Let us hope not. It seems too large for K to stomp."

Mendhari: "That it was shiny and happy."

Kinqueduran: "...I'm fairly sure it had more to do with stabbing than shiny."

The gates of the village open to allow the travelers to enter, then quickly close once more to prevent any uninvited guests from wreaking havoc within

• Mendhari looks at the dust cloud.

The source of the dust cloud is quickly evident... why, it would appear to be a certain young man, running towards the group at such speed that he kicks dust into the air! Iron Horse would appear to be back from his mission, since its not likely he got lost.

Mendhari: "Is that a Dust Demon?"

Anstice: "Only if Iron Horse has been playing a very good trick on a lot of people."

Mendhari: "THAT'S Iron Horse?" She looks rather disappointed.

Anstice: "What did you expect?"

Mendhari: "Someone a little more dashing... and less running."

Iron Horse: "Ooooiiii!" The young Yellow raises his hands and waves at the group as he approaches, nearly screeching to a halt as he reaches, looking... not all that winded, actually.

• Anstice returns the wave. "How did things go?"

Kinqueduran: "Nice of you to rejoin us."

Mendhari: "You need a little subtlety."

Kinqueduran: "Subtlety's not that great, really."

Mendhari: "Neither is bathing, apparently."

• Anstice raises a hand. "Fight later. Stop end of the world now."

Mendhari: "Right right..."

• Iron Horse takes a deep breath. On his back, being half hidden by the afore-mentioned dust cloud, is... a rather wounded man, which he promptly sets on the ground gently. "I found him in a ruined village! He needs help!"

A young man in his teens is laid across Iron Horse's broad shoulders, his clothes stained with blood. That his grip on life is tenuous at best is clear to the others. As he is set on the ground and his face revealed, it has an ashen pallor.

• Mendhari looks down at him. "Help!!"
• Anstice turns Mendhari and points her at the healer's place. "Go already!"
• Mendhari blinks, and nodnodnods, running straight towards the healers.

The few villagers still in the square turn to look at Mendhari's shriek, a few moving closer to get a look. At the sight of just another dying stranger, they move off. Someone has already gone for the healer..

• Kinqueduran finds himself sorely tempted to just watch.
• Mendhari sees the other going for the healer and stops.
• Anstice drops to a knee and very carefully attempts to find out what's wrong. "K, anything you can do? Or am I going to have to improvise?"
• Kinqueduran holds up his hands. "The only wound-related skills I have involve a spear."
• Iron Horse frowns a bit, kneeling by the wounded man. "... I tracked the demons to a ruined village... they were gone already, but I found him under some bodies. The demons didn't do that though..."

Anstice: "I am starting to like the Algorans less and less."

Kinqueduran: "As am I." The young man stirs slightly, eyes blinking open. "Where..." his word is barely a whisper.

• Mendhari leans forwards toward him.

Anstice: "A safe place. What happened?"

• Kinqueduran steps back, then turns, going to the inn.
• Wounded Man? notices Anstice and gives a faint, bloody smile. "You..made it..."
• Mendhari looks up and blinks at Anstice.
• Anstice nods. "I was hoping to run into you in somewhat better circumstances..."
• Mendhari stares, wondering what exactly is going on.
• Iron Horse blinks, looking up at Anstice and back down at the man. "... huh?"

As Kinqueduran goes to find the Circle lodgings and protection for the night, the healer rushes up. Taking one look at the man, he shakes his head slowly.."Help me get him to my home. I can soothe him..for a while."

• Healer makes irritated, hurrying gestures at Iron Horse and Anstice
• Iron Horse makes a face. He has heard -that- before. Without waiting for much else, though, he picks the wounded man from the floor carefully and with ease.
• Anstice nods, and will assist Iron Horse in the moving, though more guiding hands and pressure than lifting the actual weight.
• Mendhari follows, curious about the exact nature of this relationship.

Iron Horse and Anstice are directed to place the man on one of the beds near the other two survivors of Algoran attacks. Quickly and deftly the young healer begins his work, cutting away blood-matted cloth and hurriedly trying to dress the wounds that mar the man's flesh. Ointments and poultices are applied but the healer's face is sad and stony as he works and he applies only substances to ease passing and pain.

• Mendhari has her hand over her mouth. "They should have sent an Endings..."
• Iron Horse frowns, and sits down at the nearest convenient place heavily.

Anstice: "We've got quite enough of those going on, thank you."

• Mendhari watches closely, slight fear in her eyes.

The healer checks his patient's face every so often as he works. His pace begins to slow as he continues to glance up at the man's face. Finally, he sighs and leaves the man's side, moving to wash the ointments and blood from his hands. Breath still moves the young :laborer's chest, but his eyes are unfocused and he does not seem to be in pain.

Anstice: "How long does he have?"

• Healer looks up and shakes his head slightly. He returns to washing his hands. The ragged breathing and bloodlessness of the man is answer enough. He will soon be dead. The healer's potions have not dulled his pain, he is simply beyond feeling it any longer as his body fails him.
• Mendhari looks at Anstice. "Who is he? .... and how does he know you?"

Anstice: "I ran into him on the way to Niestro’s. He was nice enough... lent me some extra supplies to make sure I made it safely."

Mendhari: "... kind man... I wish..."

• Anstice sits down and watches silently. "I was hoping to repay the favor some time..."
• Mendhari watches Anstice with.... respect..?
• Iron Horse closes his eyes, looking down. "... Sorry... I guess I wasn't fast enough..."

Anstice: "I don't think it would have mattered. You did what you could. Why don't you go help K prepare those talismans? I'll catch up soon."

• Mendhari looks up at Iron Horse. It's not your fault..."
• Iron Horse makes a face, and stands up. "... yeah. Guess I'll do that... sorry."
• Worker opens pale eyes one last time and gropes for another living being. Red hair, matted with sweat and water, falls into his eyes. "Someone?"
• Mendhari moves quickly to the worker's side.

Worker: "I have..a brother..take care ...sse.."

• Mendhari nods, stroking the top of his head. "We... will."
• Iron Horse glances at the young man as he speaks, blinking again.

Worker: "Al..thank.." the man runs out of breath as he tries to finish the word "you". He struggles several times to draw in another…but his eyes close and his chest doesn't quite rise. The groping hand falls, hanging limply off the side of the bed. And the head under :Mendhari's hand falls limply, pale eyes half-open watching her.

• Mendhari stares for a moment... then carefully closes his eyes. She then sobs quietly.
• Iron Horse closes his eyes and bows his head... and steps out of the healer's house perhaps a bit too quickly.
• Mendhari quickly follows Iron Horse, backing out of the house.
• Anstice just sits and waits, making sure to etch every bit of this into his memory. It is some time before he meets the others.

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< The Sevsimtali | Red Ice Logs | Planning the Escape >