Subject: Re: Argh!

Must . . . refrain . . . from . . . comment. . .

Subject: Back to the game at hand

For the third time, Kayla looks around and finds a bench sitting near the Inn. She puts her things down and watches as the last of the fire brigade winds down.

Delicately, she pulls out her fiddle and begins a peaceful melody.

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Anybody remember when Matt gets back from vacation? I think it's quite a while from now, isn't it? A couple of weeks or so?

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Dunno when he gets back, but he's not doing anything until we've all talked each other silly and have settled for the night. So we might as well have some conversation or other some such interesting filling.

Doncha wanna get t' know yer companions?

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Well, *I'd* love to, but Buchek's head feels like it's been backed over by a truck (not that he'd know that, not living in a universe in which automotive technology exists and all), and he's feeling incredibly weak and shaky as well. He's also pretty busy reproaching himself for having failed to kill Tossuc. He might be coaxed into a conversation, but he isn't going to be initiating any.

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Elotai?s still tying up bad guys and/or helping to put out fires with Bermid, and at some stage is going to broach the subject of tagging along on this expedition with him, but I need Matt to be around for that.

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Since Buchek is trapped in darkness for the next hour or so, Erk intends to engage him in conversation.

I sent out a turn where Erk was asking Buchek about why the raid happened. I will repost it:

"I fear that he has, along with several of his raiders. Many of them have fallen here though, and I find it strange that he would throw away the life of his men for what seems to be so little." Erk sits down at the edge of Buchek's darkness. "You seem to know this man. What was his goal here? What would he have to gain? It makes little sense to me, though I admit to being mostly ignorant of the peoples who live in these wilds."

He says a little more quietly, "But take no offense at that. I am glad you fought on our side here. The valor of your people is without question."

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Weird--I never got that one. Give me a second to read through it and Buchek'll respond.

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Buchek lies face down in the grass for a moment trying to pull his wits together. It's plesantly cool here, out of the sun, and the smell of the grass and the soil is comforting. It smells like home. It would be much more plesant to allow himself to doze for a time, at least until the blood pulsing through his temples stopped feeling like dull hammer blows. The scent of the clansmen's bombs cuts through to clean smell of earth and growing things, though, poisoning it with its sulfer stench. It's an evil smell, and it brings him back to reality. With a groan he sits up gingerly putting his palms to his temples and pressing gently. Why would Tossuc have raided this settlement, and done it in such a way that he carried off little if any plunder? What was it that his uncle had said to him, just before he left? Something about his purpose being done here? As though detonating the bombs, blowing up the towers, had been the end, rather than the means to it.

"Know him? Yes, Erk, I know him," he says with a low, mirthless laugh. "That man is my uncle, murderer of my father, and my sworn enemy. When I saw him today I thought that my moment had arrived, that my ancestors would lend strength to my hand and let me bring that thrice cursed dog to justice. I don't understand why they did not. He could not possibly have their favor, nor Kipshaa's, not after his crimes..." He trails off.

"I'm not sure what his purpose here today was. He is many things, most of them foul, but he is no fool. What he did here today...he had a goal, and from what he said to me before he left, he felt that it had been met. Tell me, what did his raid accomplish? I heard explosions just before he indicated that he had achieved his purpose. What did he destroy?"

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Erk replies, "I saw one tower destroyed. His men tried to burn as many buildings as possible, but the only building destroyed with an explosion was the tower. In such a raid, burning buildings is often just a distraction."

He sits quietly for a moment, then asks, "Buchek. I know very little of your people. Are such raids common? What is their usual goal? Do your leaders spend the lives of their warriors so carelessly? I want to understand."

As the battle rush fades, so too does Erk's stern demeanor, and he begins laughing quietly. "And what gods protect your murderous uncle?! I haven't heard of that many failed attempts to hit the target since my brother's first try at losing his virginity. And none of us were even drunk! If I hadn't landed at least one good blow before he left, I would have had to trade in my axe out of shame. If we run into him again, I hope we acquit ourselves better than this time."

"Do you think we will see this man again?"

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

"One tower destroyed? Hm. I wonder what it contained. You're right that burning buildings is rarely the point of a raid. We must ask the farmers who live here about this tower."

In response to the dwarf's questions, Buchek replies "Common? As the farmers' settlements push deeper into clan territory they become more common, but still they are rare. I am not surprised, though, that my uncle would be in favor of such raids. He said that my father was weak, and had polluted the Cushat by allying himself with the landed people, and by trading with them. The usual goal of such raids is plunder--horses and cattle are commonly taken. And women, of course. It is said that vegetable eater women have skills beyond imagining, and are voracious in their appetites.

As the battle rush fades, so too does Erk?s stern demeanor, and he begins laughing quietly. ?And what gods protect your murderous uncle?! I haven?t heard of that many failed attempts to hit the target since my brother?s first try at losing his virginity.

Buchek snorts with laughter at this comment, then groans involuntarily, clutching at his head. As the burst of pain fades, he gingerly rubs his temples. Perhaps that is it--perhaps he has made a pact with some Tall Grass demon, and from it gains the strength to resist even our ancestors, for a time.

?Do you think we will see this man again??

Buchek shrugs, unseen in the darkness, and begins idly tearing up tufts of grass. "I do not know. This will not be the last time he troubles the vegetable eaters, that is certain. It is possible that this attack was a feint, designed to lure the farmer's soldiers to this village while Tussoc's larger force attacks Segrada itself. Or perhaps there was a prisoner in the tower he destroyed, and his mission was to free him. Or perhaps the Tall Grass demon with whom he has allied himself [ooc: it is clear that Buchek has adopted this guess as truth] demanded this attack for reasons of its own. It is hard to say. But Tussoc is not done, and the vegetable eaters will feel his hand again. If I had to wager, I would bet against him following us into the Tall Grass; had he wished to slay me, I'm afraid that he could have done so here, it shames me to say. There is no reason that I know of why he would care about any of you in particular, beyond the fact that you are my companions."

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

Not really sure why I need to be around for that. The raiders are currently tied up, and Elotai's just standing around staring at them at this point. He has freedom enough to go talk to whomever he wants (aside from Bermid, really, who at this point is busy helping turn the inn into a refuge for the displaced citizens).

If you guys want to question the raiders, you may, but I can't answer really until Monday or Tuesday, when I get back. But yeah, Elotai's a new guy who saved the rest of the party's collective ass with a color spray and no one's seen fit to give him so much as a curt nod.

Just picture this in your heads before you go on:

The street is lit dimly by torches and the few remaining fires that are being put out. The dead are being carried to the edge of the village, but pools of red blood darken the main path. You've all just been in a high adrenaline fight where Telwyn almost died, and the rest of you could have easily if they barbarians had pressed their advantage and not fled. You're now in the post-adrenaline lull, looking at people who stood by your side facing possible death.

Some of you have never faced this before, and this should be big. Roleplay. :)

I can't tell you to just bond, but... um... bond, okay? The DM preacheth it, goddamnit. ;p

Later, folks.

Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand

OOC: Dammit, I want to talk to Bermid! Ah well, I can wait until he's done.

Okay.

Tying up the raiders with Bermid took long enough that the adrenaline rush of battle has faded from Elotai's blood. He stands near the bound raiders, hand absently on the hilt of his sword. From somewhere he hears the halfling beginning to sing, and a faint smile flickers across his otherwise impassive features.

There are too many scattered pieces for him to --

Spider eyes! But Elotai blinks and realizes that there's no one there. Fatigue. Must be fatigue.

He shakes his head, driving away whatever vague imaginings had been fermenting there, and runs his hand through his long, silvery hair. "I think we should see to it that these men are moved into the prison," he calls to whoever happens to be nearest (OOC: I think that's Telwyn, but I'm not sure).

Subject: Aftermath

ODM: I just want to give you guys a damage assessment of the outpost, really a description of the scene to set it all in your heads. It might make interacting in the space a little easier. I wanted to do this before, but I was paying for internet by the minute, and my timer was down under 30 seconds. :)

Hopefully this will serve as a push in a direction of chatting with one another. Any questions can be sent to me now, since I'm back from my trip. (which rocked, btw). I hope all is well with the rest of you.

***

The air is thick with smoke, heavier near any of the village's buildings aside from the inn. Most of the fires have been put out, but the smoke hangs thick in the still air and stings the eyes.

All of the buildings along the main road have sustained major damage, their thatch roofs entirely destroyed. Many of the burning roofs collapsed into the dwellings, setting all the possessions inside ablaze. More than half of the forty or so people who live in the village are now homeless.

The Tower is still standing, but none has yet braved entry. The dust from the explosion has settled, and there was no fire, but deep cracks run up and down the walls, spiderwebbing from the back of the tower itself. A cursory examination would show the back foundation is almost gone, blown to small chips and stones, and the deep fissures in the rock are ominous. A heavy battering ram could knock the entire structure over, but the floors inside are likely in bad shape. Bermid has warned his men away from it until daybreak when a greater assessment can be made.

The Inn is quickly being turned into a refuge shelter, with spare blankets and mats lined on the floor of the tavern. The tables have been cleared away to one side, and a maid is scrubbing the blood from the fallen raider. Some of the women sit weeping in corners, and the rest of the men and women seem to be moving mechanically so as not to think about their situations.

The bodies of the raiders have been piled along the road leading back to Segreda, and the fallen soldiers have been draped with sheets along the back of the inn. Women wail over them, tears streaming down their cheeks as they throw themselves across the inert bodies. The morning will see their burial.

Elotai's thought to move the prisoners into the jail is overruled by Bermid, who seems a man possessed by duty. He hardly recognizes Elotai, but breaks a moment to stare at the elf. "Thank you for standing by my side, friend." He reaches out a hand, clutches Elotai's forearm and pulls him close into a powerful one armed hug. "It is good you were here." With that he pulls away.

Watching the young man fall back into an organizational role, he feels a light tingling on the back of his neck. Whirling, he beats at his back with his hand to shoo away the nonexistent presence - a mosquito, or some other insect from the grass. He is unsure why the thought of the creatures bothers him so.

Kayla watches the interchange between Bermid and Elotai as she plays, and remembers the color spray used to stun some of the raiders. If all of the barbarians had been able bodied, who's to say they would have run off? She then watches his frantic beating at the back of his neck, staring in bemused confusion. There's something just a little off center about the elf - harmless, she feels, but strange.

The darkness falls around Buchek, and Erk can finally see the outline of his form against the bank. Buchek's eyes, totally accustomed to the dark, see the glow of torches from behind the walls framing Erk's crouching form. Slapping a mosquito on his arm, and another on his neck, he thinks it would be best to get indoors, or at least into the smoke of the town to avoid the pests. Erk, brightening considerably with the lifting of the inky blackness, walks along with him, continuing their conversation.

Telwyn grits his teeth against the pain from the arrow wound, which has opened again with his efforts to aid the townsfolk. Blood oozes from it, but he pays it little mind. He will seek out Erk or the outpost's cleric once the business of preparing the shelter has been attended to.

Holn also lends his hand putting out the fires and falls in with a salvage team looking to recover anything of use from the rubble. His efforts bring him close with Elotai just as the elf suddenly and violently spins and slaps at his neck and back. Jumpy. Perhaps the battle has rubbed raw the elf's nerves - he sure knows his own calm has been ruffled quite a bit, despite his outward facade.

Subject: Re: Aftermath

Where was our gear stored, again? I can't quite remember.

Subject: Re: Aftermath

Erk sits chatting quietly with Buchek. He wants to create a bond of friendship between the big warrior and himself, because that bond will help glue him to the party for their trip through the tall grass. Erk can see that they will need the man's strength and knowledge of these lands, if they are to have any chance of success. His ferocity during the fight was, well, astonishing. Erk had heard stories of the berserker warriors. It was something else entirely to see one up close. He is also worried that some of the raiders might come back to finish Buchek off while he is trapped inside darkness and unable to defend himself.

When the darkness dissipates, he grins at Buchek. "Let there be, ummm, marginally less darkness!" He walks over and slaps the fighter on the back once. "Let's get back into the outpost. I wish we could tip a tankard together, so celebrate surviving another fight, but there are probably many inside that need our help."

Subject: Re: Aftermath

Holn views the charred little town with bitterness. This was an evil portent, and that was for sure. Since the little band had set out on this expidition, malevolent forces seemed determined to end it. This Elotai, an elf, what was his motivations for helping them? He was stolid and dependable, more than just another wizard. And what a fine spell he had cast to disperse the enemy.

Holn strokes Fancek Fa's whiskers, cat clawing into his shoulder in affection. "So, Fa," he asks the feline "shall we go see who this elf is, anyway?"

Holn approaches Elotai, hand extended. "Thank you, friend elf. We couldn't have gotten through this without you. But I feel as though we are not properly introduced.

"I am Holn, Sorcerer of the Grasslands, and I welcome you on our journey--if you wish to proceed, that is."

Subject: Re: Aftermath

[Ty, I'm including the revisions to what I had Buchek say to Erk in this email. Rather than redoing that turn, I'm just going to follow it up with this]

Buchek snorts at Erk's joke, and at the dwarf's suggestion climbs wearily to his feet. He still feels weak, but his headache has receded to a dull grinding in the base of his skull that is easy enough to ignore when something else is occupying his attention.

Massaging the back of his head with one hand, swinging Nauhata idly by its thong with the other, he walks with the dwarf toward the outpost.

"There is much anger, in the tribes, about the Sunset People's stealing of our lands. Every year, their farms move further out into the territory given us by our gods, and we are pushed further into the wastes not meant for men. A man like my uncle...he has always lusted for power, for control of the tribes. A man like him could use that anger to forge the tribes into one great tribe. This village--it is the furthest outpost of the Sunset People, yes? To many, it is the Sunset People. This makes sense? And like the Sunset People, it is soft, full of grub-men, and yet strong. "No raid can touch them", it is said. "Our men throw themselves against the walls of their stone tower, and fall, pierced through by the arrows of the vegetable eaters cowering within. Hiding within, refusing to face us like men, they bring shame to themselves and their gods, sacrificing honor for life."

"Do you see what he has done," Buchek asks, stabbing a finger at the ruins of the tower, faintly visible in the night. "He has destroyed their fortress. When this village faces warriors of the clans again, whether it be a day or a season from now, they will have nowhere to hide, and by now, after years of hiding, they are so without honor that their gods will surely abandon them to their fate."

He pauses for a moment, and those listening to his bitter tone could be forgiven for wondering why he fought against Tossuc instead of along side him.

"That is the lie that my uncle will tell them. That is the lie that he will use to draw the tribes together beneath him. My father saw it true, when he was alive. He knew that the Sunset People were more than many in the tribes would believe. Not without honor, but with a different sort of honor, apart from our own. It was their gods who taught them to build with stone, to forge the steel of their breast plates and swords, he said. We should befriend the strangers, he said. We will not check them--we must find a way to live with them, or we will be pushed into the wastes, where we will weaken and die, or be devoured by the Grass Demons."

"Tossuc will lead a larger attack on this village. He will do it soon; possibly as soon as tomorrow, possibly a few days from now, but soon. They will wipe out this village that is the Sunset People in the minds of many, and the clans will flock to his banner. From them he will forge the Tossucat, larger than any tribe in living memory. But it will be short lived, both because he underestimates the strength of the Sunset People, and because at the heart of the Tossucat is an unclean act, a brother killing, despised by the gods. Its pollution will spread, and poison all of its people. The Tossucat will rot from within, but because it will have devoured all of the other clans, it will bring an end not just to itself, but to The People."

Subject: Re: Aftermath

Elotai swats at a mosquito, grimacing, then takes Holn's hand and shakes it as is the human custom. "My name is Elotai Arun, and I am from far to the west of these human lands," he says, louder than normal to be heard over the flames and the crying. "If your leader will allow it, I am hoping to travel eastward with you."

He glances around again, but doesn't see anything he can readily help with. "Damnable insects," he mutters, swatting another, "leave me alone!"

Subject: Re: Aftermath

"How far would his people have ranged? Could they be responsible for the loss of the expedition we seek?" Erk sees a guard moving toward Buchek as they pass through the outposts gates. A curt shake of his head sends the guard away. It will be important to make sure the people here do not see Buchek as a scapegoat for their pain.

"If nothing else, we will have to pass through the lands of your people on our way to follow the lost expedition. We will need all your wisdom to help us pass through unharmed." He looks as though he means to speak further, when he sees a crying woman cradling the head of a fallen guardsman. "I'm sorry, Buchek. We must speak more on this later. My help is needed here."

He hurries off to help however he can with the wounded and dying. His healing prayers are spent, but he has some small healing skill (rank 2), and he will use it where possible.

Subject: Re: Aftermath

The bucket drops heavily from Telwyn's hand as he extinguishes the last of the flames from the inn. He lets out a long sigh as he surveys the damage. A slight breeze tugs at his shirt and he shivers as he feels the air on the wound in his gut. He lifts his shirt and examines himself. The wound had begun to scab up, but the exertion of tossing water on the fires tore it open again. It will need attention before the night is over if he's to avoid infection. There should be a good scar for a reminder.

As he lowers his shirt, Telwyn's hand brushes against something jammed into his belt. The arrow. He must have stuck it there before getting distracted by the raiders at the inn. He fingers the smooth metal of the arrowhead, lost in thought. The edges are still sharp, though the tip broke off when it hit the ground. Strange to think that such a small thing could take something as big to him as his whole life. Without really thinking about it, Telwyn draws his dagger and cuts the metal arrowhead away from the shaft, which he throws away. He weighs the little piece of steel in his hand for a moment, then tucks it into a pocket.

Telwyn glances around for a moment, then heads into the inn to check on their gear.

Subject: Re: Aftermath

Holn smiles. "I guess you just get used to the buggers!

"We shall have to find our leader in all of this mess. We could surely use someone of your skills in our quest.

"But why do you wish to travel to these wilds? They are my home, and I have a purpose to fulfill, but you must have a pressing reason to follow into that hostile place."

Subject: Re: Aftermath

"His outriders range throughout the People's territory, of late, but they would have no reason to range deeply into The Tall Grass, and much reason not to. Besides, if a group as well provisioned as this expedition had been slain by Tossuc's men, their goods would have been bartered by the Cushat at The People's trademeets, and songs would have been sung of their victory. Anything is possible in the Tall Grass, of course, but if Tossuc killed them, he is waiting for the right time to reveal it, and somehow keeping his men silent. I think it unlikely."

"There are many horrors in the Tall Grass worse than Tossuc or his men, Erk. The grass children could be sucking the last of the marrow from their bones as we speak, or Tall Grass Demons could be holding them as the Sunset People hold their cattle, feeding on their souls one person at a time, using the bodies of the soulless to guard and herd those still human. Any number of things could have killed them."

A mosquito lands on Buchek's shoulder, and he slaps it away, then casually reaches down, grabbing several leaves from a low growing plant, along with a handfull of soil from around its roots. He pops the leaves into his mouth, chews them for a moment, and then spits the mass into his palm, along with a surprising quantity of ropy saliva. He spends a moment kneading the soil and saliva into the pulped leaves, then proceeds to smear the mixture across his exposed skin [ooc: ie home made bug repellant]. He spits several more times, then rinses out his mouth with a swig from a waterskin.

Subject: Re: Aftermath

"Bermid? He's directing traffic, keeping everything organized. He found the leader in himself somewhere, it looks like."

Elotai pauses. "Why? Well..." he sighs. "It may take some time to explain. Here, sit and watch these prisoners with me." The elf squats down about ten feet from the bound raiders, and begins drawing idly on the dirt with a stick. He thinks about how best to explain this to Holn, but then, figuring that the human is both a wizard and from the eastern tribes, settles on blunt honesty:

"As I said at the inn, I have... dreams. Sometimes they come when I am not asleep. This has been happening for five decades now, and gradually they have grown focused on the far east. I have tried many remedies, but none have worked... permanently." Elotai frowns, but carries on. "In fact, I have seen some of you in my dreams. The dwarf, the wolf..." he trails off. "Some of the things I have forseen have come to pass, others have not but may still. I just know that if I wish to be rid of this curse, I must go east, and I must go with this group, if it will have me."

Subject: Test

Sent 9/2/2004 at 9:26 AM

Subject: Testing?

Just want to make sure the cowgame list is working again. Did we miss any emails? Anyone send out something that never arrived back to them? It seems like the game was just gaining momentum and then died off again.

Holn and Elotai were chatting, Erk and Buchek were chatting and returning to town. Erk was making the rounds of healing. Is Buchek going to go chat with Holn, since they're buddies? Is Kayla going to come over and join the talking? Is anyone going to question the three prisoners that are now neatly tied up?

If your character is done, and just wants to go to sleep, that's cool, too. I can write up the night and we can finally progress to the SECOND DAY of the campaign. :) For those of you who have some claim to leadership of the party or roles as guides (that goes for Erk, Holn, Telwyn and Buchek), give me some idea of what you plan on doing come morning? What are the plans for the start of the expedition beyond Caro?

Hopefully now that fall is rapidly approaching, we can get this game rolling semi-regularly.

Subject: Re: Testing?

Buchek ambles over to where Holn is tending one of the wounded soldiers and squats down next to his friend. "He was there Holn, there before my eyes, and it was all I could do to force Nauhata to connect with him once. One time! He pauses for a moment, tracing his finger along the intricate designs that cover the axe's blades. "Do you...do you think that our ancestors could have taken his side? Could they have? He is a brother killer! And yet, if not that, what explains Nauhata's reluctance to take his life?"

After this conversation is over, Buchek approaches the prisoners. He scans their faces, seeing if he recognizes any of them. How he interacts with them will depend on whether or not he does.

Subject: Growl

cowgame hates me and has eaten up my emails.

Kayla kept playing on the bench and went through a long memory-recall of an event in her life. I don't have a saved copy of it.

I'll send out whatever I can later this weekend for her, unless mike has a copy from a bounce somehow. She doesn't go out of her way to talk to anyone else. She's just reminiscing.

-clara

Subject: Test

I think Raja (Elotai) told me he sent something out to the list, but I haven't gotten anything. Also Clara (Kayla) said she'd send something over the weekend, and I never got anything.

Is the list working for anyone else? Or at all?

Subject: Re: Test

Nope, not working.

Oh, wait. I gues it is....

Subject: Test

This is a test of the Segreda game mailing list on my server.

Raja

Subject: Re: Test

Okay, this looks like it works! Awesome! Not only did Elotai save the party's collective ass, but he appears to have saved the entire game. Rock on, Raja. And you don't even have to play a dead wizard in this game. :)

Alright, now that we're up and moving, if anyone has emails they tried to send still stuck in their "sent mail" folders, this would be a great time to send those along. Don't worry about the order - I think we can sort them out.

Subject: Re: Testing?

Has this turn been received by everybody? Better safe than sorry.

Noemon [email address removed] wrote:Buchek ambles over to where Holn is tending one of the wounded soldiers and squats down next to his friend. "He was there Holn, there before my eyes, and it was all I could do to force Nauhata to connect with him once. One time! He pauses for a moment, tracing his finger along the intricate designs that cover the axe's blades. "Do you...do you think that our ancestors could have taken his side? Could they have? He is a brother killer! And yet, if not that, what explains Nauhata's reluctance to take his life?"

After this conversation is over, Buchek approaches the prisoners. He scans their faces, seeing if he recognizes any of them. How he interacts with them will depend on whether or not he does.

Subject: Re: Testing?

This is the last substantive message I sent to the list:

On 8/31/04 8:08 PM, "Raja [last name removed]" [email address removed] wrote:

> "Bermid? He's directing traffic, keeping everything organized. He found the
> leader in himself somewhere, it looks like."
>
> Elotai pauses. "Why? Well..." he sighs. "It may take some time to explain.
> Here, sit and watch these prisoners with me." The elf squats down about ten
> feet from the bound raiders, and begins drawing idly on the dirt with a
> stick. He thinks about how best to explain this to Holn, but then, figuring
> that the human is both a wizard and from the eastern tribes, settles on
> blunt honesty:
>
> "As I said at the inn, I have... dreams. Sometimes they come when I am not
> asleep. This has been happening for five decades now, and gradually they
> have grown focused on the far east. I have tried many remedies, but none
> have worked... permanently." Elotai frowns, but carries on. "In fact, I have
> seen some of you in my dreams. The dwarf, the wolf..." he trails off. "Some
> of the things I have forseen have come to pass, others have not but may
> still. I just know that if I wish to be rid of this curse, I must go east,
> and I must go with this group, if it will have me."

Subject: Here's poor Kayla

(copy of what I sent to cowgame on Tuesday)

(I apologize for the lateness of the re-release of Kayla's thoughts. This one is different from the original email. On the upshot, I had a good weekend.)

Kayla sits on the bench, watching the last of the clean-up efforts. She is playing a slow melody, and has been for the last candlemark or so. It feels good to settle into something so routine. After all, she could be sitting in front of the Silver Knuckle at home, playing a bit of a ballad as the night air sweeps through her home town.

But instead, she watches the townsmen bring burned pieces of wood into the center of town, to await a larger effort to bring the charred mess out of town in the morning.

Kayla sits, letting her mind wander into the past. She had been afraid, tonight. Combat was something she never came across as a roof walker, or even as a minstrel. While she was taught basic street fighting as a necessity, she was good about staying away from bringing those necessities to the fore.

Kayla had never been as anxious as she had been tonight. Years ago, just a few moons after she had begun roof walking, she had had her first real scare as a thief. Kayla is about to settle into the memory when a very loud batch of wood was tossed into the pile. Her mind jerks her back into the present, and she reprimands herself for letting her mind drift.

After this song, she will find her room and go to sleep if no one comes up to her.

Subject: Re: Test

Check one, two. One. One. Two. One, one, check, test, one.

Check.

Subject: Re: Test

I got this. I'm replying to both the list and to you personally Matt, so you should receive two copies if everything is working properly.