Subject: Turn

Harp will keep to himself and the garrison members for the most part. He will also socialize with the other team members but would be unlikely to search out members of the Bhyo delegation.

Subject: Turn

I will get something out this afternoon or tonight.

Subject: Simple knowledge checks

Both Bhyo and Mnuhl are LN Monarchies. They actually do have a boarder with each other.

I am working on the Lady's response to Ally now.

Subject: The Lady De Blum

The Lady De Blum is a handsome woman. In her early forties, she is tall, close to 6 foot. Long, white blond hair that she wears braided in long pleats, pale skin and piercing blue eyes. She was obviously an eye turner when she was younger and is still very attractive. Her riding dress is of the highest quality, if a bit impractical for long trips on horse back. She is on the matronly side now but she still has a commanding presence.

The Lady seems a bit distracted by the conditions she finds herself in. She sits on the chair like it is the only thing keeping her from falling into a vat of acid. She is fastidious about not touching the surface of the table and she makes a big production of having one of the guardsmen clean her glass twice. When she is offered a knife and fork to eat with, she pulls her own set from her bag. She eats some, but does more pushing the food around the plate than actual eating.

She doesn't seem to notice Allistair moving up next to her and she startles a little when he starts talking. Up until this point the only thing she had said had been demands of the members of the patrol she had ridden in with. "What was that? Have I been where before?" Her voice is strong if distracted. A few seats down Ranthir recognizes the Lady's accent. It is similar to Rochelle's. Ally repeats his question and this time the Lady understands. "Why, no, of course not. Why would I want to live in those dank, dingy caves unless I had a reason to? I serve my King and my husband by doing this, but I don't have to like it. In fact I think I will dread every day I am there."

Once started the Lady seems not to know how to stop. For the next twenty minutes Ally finds himself the target of all the Lady's frustrations. She talks about mundane things and the mage is quickly bored. She starts to drop names, refer to people she obviously thinks are important or powerful. She never once asks Ally, or any of the other people around the table anything about themselves. She relays the hardships she has had to endure so far and all the hardships she has envisioned for herself once she gets to the dwarf kingdom.

One thing Ally does find out is an odd aspect of the treaty between the dwarves and Bhyo. It seems that the Lady has no retinue with her. No ladies in waiting, no personal servants, no one. According to De Blum each races Ambassador is waited on by the local population. "Do you believe that?" she asks Ally. Before he can even start to frame an answer she keeps going "As if those dwarf women would be able to make a proper dress. If there are even dwarf women." Ally tries to glance down the table, attempting to catch the eye of one of his compatriots, trying to signal them to rescue him.

His salivation comes from a surprising quarter. Maximus walks up and drapes an arm around Ally's shoulder "My Lady, we leave at first light in the morn. My guess is that our learned friend is also not use to the trials of the trail. You two should both head off to sleep, so that you do not slow the patrol down tomorrow. We still have seven days ride until we get to the gates." The Lady, her face contorting in anger, starts to protest but Maximus holds up his hand "I know you outrank me, my Lady, but the success of the mission was put in my hands. I must insist."

De Blum looks like she wants to argue more, but the stern look on Maximus's face forstals any more protest. She calls for two of the guardsmen to help her to her chambers. As she leaves Ally turns to Maximus "I don't know how to thank you. Is she always like that?" "You mean talkative?" Maximus replies. "No, she is under a good deal of stress. The Lady De Blum is a shrewd person, if a bit ambitious for herself and her husbands family."

OODM: Any other questions?