Subject: Turn

Again, no turn.

I'm sure there is a reason. Bioshock 54 just came out, he had to paint his toe nails, etc.

Subject: Turn

Gotta keep those Toe Nails painted. What if there were surprise houseguests and he couldn't find his covered slippers?! Oh the embarrassment.

Subject: Turn

Wow, I'd never thought of that. That would be awful, wouldn't it!

Subject: Turn

Working on a turn now.

Subject: The Lady takes charge

Ragnar turns to Ran "Go get the Lady and Maximus." The ½ elf turns and jogs towards the door and up the stairs. Half way up he meets The Lady and Maximus already heading down the stairs. Mr. Corron, if you would kindly join us instead of frittering away the day upstairs" the Lady says as she passes the fighter. Ran sees the black mood that the centurion is in as the man passes. The ½ elf turns and follows the two back down the stairs and out the door to where Ragnar and Harp are still standing. The Lady hardly stops as she moves towards the dwarves, Maximus following a few steps behind.

At her approach the shield wall forms up in tight formation again. Daral's voice rings out "Halt there or die." Maximus grabs the Lady and she spins on him whispering "Do not forget who I am. Touch me again and you will spend the rest of what career you have training recruits." She turns to Daral, her voice suddenly sweet, "I am the Lady De Blum, Ambassador from Byho to your King's Court. I was expecting to give my letter of introduction to the King himself, but I guess you will have to do." She stands there, holding out a piece of paper that she has taken from her waist.

Daral does not speak to the Lady. "Centurion, are you called Maximus?" The fighter takes a step ahead of the Lady "I am. Who asks?" "Daral, Force Leader" the dwarf replies. " I remember you. I was in a force that did a patrol with you a year or so ago. I recognize you. Can you speak for the others?" Maximus nods "I can. The Lady here is your new Ambassador. The others are either what remains of my command or allies who fought bravely by our side." Daral signals the dwarf force to stand at ease and he moves closer to Maximus and the Lady. "How many man did you loose?" It takes Maximus a few seconds to get out his answer "Sixteen of my men and women are dead. Three still live, thanks to these allies I told you about. How is it that you come to be here?"

Daral whistles "That is sad to hear indeed. How did we get here? We walked." The attempt at a joke falls on deaf ears. "About an hour ago" continues Daral "we received a bat signal. The message said that the fortifications were under attack. We were dispatched to reinforce or retake them. It looks like you and your friends saved us from that." The dwarf turns and shouts out some orders "Patrol's one and two, secure the east side. Patrol's three and four the west side. Patrol 5 your with me."

The ground rumbles the the stamp of armored feet and 50 dwarves move out and follow orders. Daral turns to the Lady "Ambassador, I apologize in the name of my King for your rude reception. Please accompany me and I will find a place for you to rest and refresh yourself." Daral turns to Maximus "My friend, we will take care of your fallen in the way of your people. Please, come with me and take care of yourself. What remains of your command and your friends are welcome as well." Maximus nods to Ragnar, Harp and Ran and they follow Daral up through the east door and up the stairs to the east battlements.

Once there the dwarf goes to what seems to be a blank section of mountain wall. He whispers a word and a large door appears. The dwarf takes out an ornate key and unlocks the stone door. As the door slides open, 10 dwarves rush in. The Lady makes to follow them but Maximus coughs "My Lady, the dwarves are making sure that there are no other surprises. It would do well to wait." Her terse reply is "Oh. Of course. I knew that." While the one patrol is searching, the other dwarves are carefully moving the dead off of the battlements. A few minutes later a dwarf shows back up at the door and gives the all clear signal. Daral nods. He turns and shouts. "Patrol one, your on guard, patrol two, your on mountain side recon. Make sure three and four are doing the same. Find out what happened." There are shouted acknowledgments.

Daral signals for the party to enter. The hallway is well lit and wide. It tunnels back into the mountain side. The party passes rooms with wooden doors ever now and then as well as other tunnels that branch off of the main one. Soon though Daral opens a door and the party enters a room with a large table. The table is large enough for about 40 people. Several dwarves are moving through the room and into an adjoining room. Daral signals for everyone to sit and as soon as they are other dwarves start bring out trays of food and ale.

Daral turns to Maximus "Ok my friend, tell me what happened." In short clipped words the Centurion relates all that he knows of the story. When he tells of his men's charge to the doors the Lady chimes in "That was what that mage was waiting for you buffoon. If it had not been for the Lord Ran here" she bats her eyes at the ½ elf "and his friends, I would likely be dead." Daral turns to the Lady and the party "Tell me what happened to you." "Well you mean besides almost getting burned to death? You would have to asks these others. Their mage used a spell to get me to safety. I did not see anything after that."

OODM: you can tell him what happened and ask him questions.