"Heh, now you all know me enough to know that I don't usually get all philosophical and such on you... but we're looking at an hourglass here, with the sand coming down on us... but, what's to stop us from turning the hourglass over?"

Xavier pauses briefly, making eye contact with everyone in the room, then continues.

"I mean, this house seems to fade out and in. But, it probably follows a pattern, you know? So, if we miss it this time it fades out... then we'll just wait for the pattern to start again, and go back. If you people need time to equip yourselves, you need the time. The house isn't going to disappear forever... and if it does, all the better. But it'll come back, and we'll be ready then. Of course, I'm ready now... but that's not important. We are a team... so the team needs to be ready."

Xavier stand up and stretches out, contorting his body in many different shapes, and having his bones crack as he did so. Shaking himself out, he says, "So? Are we ready to do this thing, or are we going to sit here discussing?"

After listening to Xavier's idea, Tenacity turns to the governor once again. "Are there any discernible patterns to the house's appearance? Anything about what day of the week or time of day that you have reports of? I would love to have the knowledge to predict our windows of opportunity, but observing might consume too much time," she said.

She thought it over a while longer. Perhaps preparing everything for an excursion and then trying to ride the house to its next destination would tell them something more useful. "Satya was trapped, yes? Were there exterior windows in the main room? What do you think would happen if we were in the house when it faded, but the door was kept open?"

Seluumiel turned to face the knighted woman, "There are no patterns that I have yet noticed. I am sure with time and observation the pattern would become clear, but you are right, we have not the time for that. We will have to place our trust in what magic can illuminate for us."

"As for what we do know of the house, there were no windows in the entry room. Sadly Ardulace was the only to venture further into the place and without her we cannot say what else the house was built of. She spoke only of a black dragon and ogres, not of the architecture."

The moon elf paused a moment letting her eyes fall wholly on Tenacity, "I would think it unwise to remain in the house as it fades. We know not where it will lead us and it may go to realms where our bodies cannot survive, we just do not know. I say we wait until we have more knowledge of the phantom place before making any decisions. Bailash has kindly offered his couriers to teleport us throughout the city to equip ourselves. Let us go forth, gather what we need and sojourn to the house."

Bailash summoned simon the butler, " Please summon my best and most powerful mage courier for he has a group to teleport to the best shop or shops in town."

Simon says, "Right away sir!"

Half an hour passes when the sounds of two sets of foot steps approach the library.

Simon and a courier arrive in the library,"As you requested sir. This is Tannif, the more powerful of your couriers."

Camille lifts her head from her brother's shoulder again as he gets up to stand. and then looks around at everyone else standing with a puzzled look on her face.. she stands up and stretches. "what's going on?" is it time to leave already?" she says looking around. forgetting her own troubles. as she walks to her brother's side. she looks around to each and every face that is in the company? "i am coming along with you if i may?.. you might need more help. she says in a strong silky voice. i am not going to lose my brother. i thought i lost him once and i don't want the fear of losing him again. i know" she sighs as she continues "i know i have my own troubles to deal with but they can wait. this seems to be more important." she still looks at each and every face

"We don't even know if the house is actually leaving that location or simply turning invisible. Something I'd like to try once we get out there is to tie a rope to one of the inner doors and stand outside, with the other end, while the house fades away. If the house doesn't try to pull the whole rope with it, and whatever phasing is happening doesn't sever the rope, I don't see why we can't continue to explore the house ever while it's fading in and out-- maybe stake the rope to the ground outside just in case-- but it shouldn't be dangerous if nothing happens to the rope."

Chiron stood again from the table, "I think we should spend a limited amount of time buying any last items we need from town and then all meet at the town's outer gates in... say one half hour? We'll set out from there and go discover what secrets that house still hides."

"Will that be enough time for everyone to acquire whatever supplies they feel are needed?"

Bailash sighs with head in hands in exasperation and says,

"I didn't call the courier here for nothing. I feel very strongly that the group needs to stick together. I also feel that the best way to solve this mystery is to go with the flow. There is too much guessing and second guessing about the few clues gathered so far. I only hope that Satya can change Lacey's mind because we could use even half her courage in this case. I sense too much caution. We need to get you equipped and back to investigating the house as soon as possible. As long as the group stays together, no matter what happens I'm sure you will all survive, IF YOU work as a team."

"I'm open to the rope experiment," Tenacity said. "Any step toward getting to the bottom of this." Though she was of a mind to charge in with everything and sort it out after, she could abide this concession to caution. The idea of having to leave Diligence behind was intolerable, though. If they ended up riding the house to its destination, she would make sure that no one left anything important behind.

She turned to address the man who had just arrived. "Tannif, I need to see an enchanter in town who can fortify my shield. Perhaps a few potions of healing from the apothecary that was mentioned, and I will be ready to leave.

Seluumiel stood back listening for a moment before stepping forward. Her eyes watched Bailash closely. I sense too much caution. In her mind there was not enough caution, recklessness all too often killed. She had every intention of seeing this problem through, but she would not do so willy nilly like some mindless chit. Sighing softly to herself the moon elf stepped forward to join the others.

"The rope experiment is a good idea Chiron, I had not considered invisibility. I have magics that can give us that very information faster, but we can discuss that along the way."

Seluumiel turned to faced the newly arrived courier, "Many thanks for your aid Tannif. I have need of a magic shop, a place where scrolls, spell components, and other arcane materials might be found. If enchanter, apothecary, and magic shop can be found together so much the better. I also think it would be prudent to visit a weapon smith. Unless there are any other destinations let us be off."

"Well governor, I thank you for your time, money, and actions, and I'll be seeing you around again. I couldn't live if I didn't come back to bother my employer at least one more time." The last phrase was said with a smile on his face, but a little less of the easy going attitude that Xavier usually had. This was the first time he was really beginning to realize he might die. But, he had made a promise to come back... so he would of course. As odd as some of them may be, Xavier kept his promises.

Xavier suddenly had an idea. Hmm... That would be a good thing to have, and it's not like they'd have a shortage... Well, sooner was better than later.

"Tannif, my good friend, I need your aid at once! There must be a shop in this town that can fulfill my needs!" Xavier paused for dramatic effect. "I need you to send me... To a BUTCHER SHOP!!!" The last was said with a mighty yell.

"And after that, I will meet you all at the gate near the house. I say we meet at noon. Do you agree?"

Tannif smirked quirkily at Xavier and said,

"I will be dropping everyone else off at the Merchant Square Center and every thing you would want to buy will be within walking distance, including the Meat Shop. You may want to visit the Shop of Wonders in the square to pick up some bags of stasis for the Meat."

"What? Bag of stasis for the me- Oh. Yeah. Sure, I definitely will check out the bags of stasis for the meat which I mean to buy. Yes, that's it. Let's go. There's not time to lose."

Xavier stood with the people who were ready to leave.

Seluumiel sighed as Xavier announced his plans to purchase meat, to her it seemed a grand waste of time. She said nothing, if he wished to spend his time at a butcher shop while she gathered tools of magic then that was his decision. Regardless they needed to be on their way. The moon elf stepped towards the courier.

"Very well then. Shall we be off?"

Tenacity rose and followed the others to stand next to Tannif. She was anxious to get started so that she could see this mystery house with her own eyes but, for once, was at a loss for words.

Diligence was being attended and she'd be able to worry about the horse later, when it was time to leave town. Until then, the few items on her list were the nearest concern.

After making some estimates on the total price of the supplies Chiron wanted, he addressed Bailash, "Governor, what is to be done with Lacey's share after her unexpected departure? Is it simply forfeit, or will it be divided among those of us who remain?"