Dark you have to choose one next time alright. Even if Alexander has touches of a mental disorder. He can't do all three.

You shrug. May as well right?

"Yes my lord."

The two of you sit down. Despite your hopes for more liquor it seems Lord Dominic is a traditionalist. That means Tea can cookies. Not a bad trade all things considered.

"How are you getting along with Lady Kamini?" Dominic asks.

"She seems nice enough. Competent too. I'd have to see her fight before I was completely for her though." you say with a shrug.

"You expect trouble?" he raises an eyebrow.

"My Lord" you say. This quest has been nothing but trouble.

"Always hope for peace. But prepare for bloody war. " Dominic answers his own question.

"Yes sir." you say munching on a cookie.

"I understand. Do you have any questions?"

We have a lot of questions.

Any proof of Seefolk involvement? Hints as to the background characters? Kaminis escapeds under the influence of alcohol and the whereabouts of her shirt at the time... I mean any info on Lady Kamini, fighting styles, likes dislikes, the lot.

Well you voices work it out so that our...protagonist can ask Dominic.

But... But...

Anyway, structure and modus operandi of the organization should be of interest to us. Codes, secret handshakes, safe houses, orders verification method, exemptions from laws of the realm and such.

Agreed. If we are to taint ourselves with such skulduggery, then at least we shall attempt to be competent at it. Secret handshakes et all are a must.

As for our opinion of her, well, it seems too early to tell, really.

Alright I'm surprised no one took advantage of the first Mr Exposition of the Quest. The next one is quite aways down the line. But very well. I believe the questions were about the Watchmen, Lady Kamini, and Alex's mission.

"Tell me how the Watchmen work" you ask.

"You do not contact them they contact you. Generally to prove themselves they will show a tattooed trident on their forearm. Or tell you something no one else could possibly know. The important thing that they all use the same name when contacting you. Your contact shall always introduce himself as Duncan Black. If he doesn't you've been detected and have to escape."

Lord Dominic seems mildly impressed that you thought to ask that.

"What can you tell me about Lady Kamini?"

"She's a minor noble of the Elven court. She was trained as a ranger and a diplomat. As such she can track, fight and talk with some of the best. Fighting wise like most elves she prefers to use the Halberd. Oddly enough despite her age she has yet to marry" Dominic gives a wry smile

"How old is she?" you ask
Your not sure if you'll like the answer.

"Lady Kamini is nearly 150 years old." Dominic chuckles.

"Damn" you had guessed a third of that at best.

"They don't look it do they?" The lord says appreciatively.

"No sir. Anything else you can tell me?" You are eager to get more information.
Your just going to ignore that she's old enough to be your great grandmother.

"Don't let her drink ever." Dominic answers.

"Why?"

"Most elves have a low tolerance for alcohol. Her's is worst than average. And she's a sad drunk."

"Oh" That explains quite a bit. Hurray someone to keep you out of trouble when drinking.

"Anything else before we're done?" Dominic asks.
You look down on tea you've been drinking it's almost empty.

"Just one my lord. Do you think the merman could be involved with this?"

"It's possible but Merman are salt water creatures by inclination. Fresh water like the river wouldn't sit well with them. In my own opinion we have a rouge group trying to stir up trouble."

"Why?"

"Because the more fires we have the less chance we can see the real threat"

"You think somebody is trying to destroy Caledonia?"
You are well not surprised the voices have prepared you for that much but disturbed by the news.

"Yes maybe not intentionally but yes." Dominic answers. His earlier amusement gone.

"Anymore advice?"

"Just this: Always be ready to bullshit." Dominic answers deadpan.

"Helpful my lord."
You can do sardonic wit too see?

"Sure as heck helped me. Remember if Alfred never has another son. Maker forfend; than you will be the Baron of Luxely. That means you can't just be a simple knight" Dominic points out.

"Yes sir." You really don't want to think of that.

"Good luck Alex"

You return to the barracks and pass the night fitfully. Odd dreams disturb you but you can't recall them. Waking up in the morning you are presented with a choice. Go check on your sword, Grab your supplies or find Kamini
Which do you choose?

Well we're going to have to do all three aren't we? So whatever's closest. We should probably do our errands before we meet up with Kamini.

Yeah gather supplies first. We are planning to go right after we meet up with her right?

Meet with her if it is a reasonable hour of the day, check on supplies otherwise.

You decide that supplies should come first it's rather early. Besides you want your awesome ice sword!
Putting on your armor and grabbing the rest of your things you leave the castle. It takes you a few hours to find the shop. When you do you walk in. John and Tim look up at you with big smiles on their faces.

Why does the sight of both of them grinning fill you with terror?

"Alexander you're here. We were just about to send a runner." John says.

"Hello" you smile politely.

"Excellent Lorelei is ready. Now she'll handle a bit differently than you're use to." Tim says.

"How much?" You spent years learning how to use that sword. That difference is going to throw you off so much.

"Well combining the strengthening enchantment along with a weight reduction enchantment means it should have the same strength as a falchion but the weight of a short sword." John says smiling.

"Not bad. The freezing enchantment work well?" With that kind of force you could in theory take off a giant's head in one strike.

"Yes quite well this sword must have spent a lot of time in the north. Just being around it will cause people besides yourself to get frost bite in a few minutes." Tim seems almost giddy at the thought.

"Umm do you have a sheath?" For various reasons you don't feel like being old man winter.
Or would that be young man winter?

"Of course boy. I am an Enchanter not a novice. The sheath has been enchanted to prevent that cold from coming out unless it's drawn. It also has the standard binding feature to you along with some cleaning enchantments" Tim says with barely veiled annoyance.

"Binding feature?" Sounds like that could be bad.

"Only you or people directly related to you by blood will be able to draw and use this sword safely."

Oh that's good but the question of not killing off your fellow soldiers during war arises.
"How do I stop it from hurting allies?"

"The best way is to be quick about it. But if you absolutely have to prevent it we do have a few warming runes for sale..."
You smell a set up.

"How much?" you ask with a sigh.

"Say 200 gold?" Tim says.

"100" you reply.

"175"

"150"

"Done" Tim says with a grin
Now your sure he set you up.

"You set me up" You accuse.

"I have to make some money. Despite what John told you these enchantments are not cheap. The runes yes. Odds are that you could learn to make them in time. But for now draw your sword and claim it!"
Tim hands you a finely crafted leather sheath.

"I Sir Alexander of Luxely do claim this sword" You draw Lorelei out of the scabbard. It's metal is now has shades of blue and frost all over it. Just holding it out is enough to causes mists to form. You strike what you think is a heroic pose.

"That was horrible" Tim says.
Looks like they both have warming runes on them.

"Shut up Tim" you grouse.

You put the sword away and John shakes his head.
"Sorry about this Alex. Good luck on your mission."

"Thanks John. Hope things get better for you" you say. You rather like the Alchemist.

"They will thanks Alex" John extends his hand you both shake.

"Are you two going to hug now?" Tim asks.

"Shut up TIM!" you both shout

Well disturbing imagery aside you have retrieved your sword. Walking out of the shop you put the sheath on the back. It occurs to you that maybe getting a new sword for fighting with the army might be a good idea. Warming Runes are expensive after all.

You make your way back to the castle. It's eerily quiet this morning.

*Slash* You just barely dodge an Inumimi's claws. The large dog man snarls and prepares for another attack.
Horray your daily dose of someone trying to kill you has already been done. Do you Fight/Run/Talk?

The relevant information on Inumimi is posted in the spoilers

Keep on the defensive and try to find out what got this guy's tail in a knot. And keep that sword sheathed, if we have to, use it to block.

I concur, no need to turn somebody into an icicle yet. We don't want our little suprise to be known to fast.

Try to block only, if he get's to close to killing us... well our life still values more than his, broad side of the sword though, should be enough to make him seriously reconsider.

But first talk, talk like you have never talked before. And turn him to our side.

I want us to be a warrior poeth, with a tongue as sharp as our sword^^

Methinks we might want to get a second sword eventually, to use when we don't want to kill someone through cold, but have need of something pointy between us and potential maiming. Hell, get it enchanted for fire and we could dual-wield. Might even end up canceling each other out, or creating huge clouds of steam to conceal us as we fight. Our own personal version of the Kiri technique.

Talk fast, talk well, and talk now. Lets stay away from even blocking with the sword and focus on avoidance, while trying to discover his grievance. It would not fare well to slay an otherwise innocent creature that had the misfortune to be battle-mad at the wrong time or something.

However, if it turns out that he is an assassin sent to take our ears, then take out his hamstrings. We want one that can still talk, and he should have the pleasure of contemplating his error in Lord Dominic's oubliettes.

You take your sheathed sword out. Hope the sheath is self repairing. The Inumimi does a claw swipe you barely manage to duck.

"What the hell is your problem?" You shout.

The Inumimi says nothing. Merely attacks again. You block the slash and stagger. Inumimi are damned strong. Still your going to follow the voices. Hopefully they haven't steered you terribly wrong. Well at least the sheath is alright.

"Peace" You call out.

The Inumimi continues his impression of a rock. You dodge another swipe. Maybe third time is the charm?

"Stop this I don't want to kill you"

Nothing. You hear guards in the distance if your going to kill this being. You have to do it now.

Kill?

Hold him off, wait for the guards to arrive and provide backup. Do NOT kill him, we need to know why he's attacking us. If we draw Lorelei out of her sheath slightly, the numbing cold might hold him at bay, or at least get him to back off. Also, yell for the guards to help you.

While the idea of killing all morons who come at us does have appeal, we still have no idea what's going on. So I vote beat the ever living shi... snot out of him, then let the guards deal with the rest.

Maybe try to get some info out of him.

I agree, don't kill it especially since the guards are coming.

Oh dear, why is it that wherever we go, things want to kill us? Do we have a sign on our back or something?

Oh well, try not to hurt the poor soul more than we need to while we wait for the guards.

Subdue it.

Anyway, I don't quite understand how exactly are the Warming Runes supposed to prevent us from harming our allies? Are we supposed to give it to them as some sort of protective charm? Or apply the rune to frostbitten wound?

Charm. When active Runes function as permanent spell generators. Warming Runes are designed to go active whenever the heat goes away. I'm surprised by the lack of violence we've had so far. I totally expected you guys to have a higher body count. Regardless Alexander will try for the subdue option.

You pull your sword slightly out it's sheath. The Inumimi growls.

"I draw this sword fully and you will freeze to death before the guards get here" you say.

"Not happening human"

The Inumimi throws down a smoke grenade. You draw your sword and prepare for the attack but it never comes.

"Human....three days"

Well that was cryptic. Wasn't it? As the smoke clears you see no one. You sheath your sword no sense in killing your own side.

"What happened here?" the guard asks.

"Not sure some Inumimi attacked me"

"Huh they're almost as common as humans out here. Can you describe him?" The guard is a young eager faced man.

"Big, black fur, green eyes"

"Not much to go on half the Inu in the city fit that description. Anything else?"

"No nothing out of the ordinary."

"Alright sir we'll look around."

"Careful he's very good"

"He's an Inu it's part of the package." one of the guards says laconically.

You leave the guards and make your way to the castle. Inside you talk to Macphearson.

"Here's your gear."

He's a rather taciturn fellow. Kamini walks in. In comparison to her earlier attire she is now kitted out in protective leather armor with strategically placed metal pieces sowed in.

"Lady Kamini good your here. Do you two want to go down the river by boat or ride?"

You have to get to great bridge. Water is quicker but you'll have less control and be more vulnerable to ambush. Riding is slower but you have more flexibility.

Tough choice. The water route would be more romantic, whereas the land route would offer us more time with Lady Kamini. Still, my vote goes for land route.

Land route. If the past is any indication we'll trip over another five ancient conspiracies, assassins, or vile happenings related somehow to the main problem. Plus it's harder to fight on a boat.

Besides, as Magnificate said, the land route gives more time with Lady Kamini.

Normally I'd say take the boat, however we'd probably get sea sick, which is not cool.
Go land.

Land route, we can try and train Benny in some rudimentary combat maneuvers as we go.