Airion rose from the corner he was sitting in and walked over to the table. He picked up the small silver symbol in his hands and examined it. It was interesting but he did not recognize it. He picks up the parchment and reads it ..."All has been arranged.....May the shadows protect you"

Running the words through his head he tries to piece something together. Unfortunately there is nothing there. "It seems as though these are our instructions to get out of the city which I don't recommend we be late for. I have a feeling something has been arranged at the south gate. The last line sounds like something that may have come from the Illurian clergy but I don't recognize this symbol." Airion lays the parchment back down on the table and quickly pockets the symbol. "I am sorry I cannot be of anymore help. We all want answers, but it seems the only way we will get them is to continue where we are being led and to survive. Eventually our answers will come."

He walks back over to the corner and lays down. "For now I agree with the Umbral, we should rest."

Gronz sighed and shook his head, he knew that he was in deep now. It wouldn't be long before the guards at the prison had wanted posters with his face plastered all over the city, too many of them had seen him and he wasn't eager to wait and see what they would do if they found him. They hadn't received anymore answers than what they had started with, but at least they had a general direction to get them started on this journey, get them tangled even further in whatever web they had found themselves caught in.

Clearing his throat he spoke in his typical gruff tone, "I want my daggers back from whoever ended up with them." That was all he said, and all he intended to say, it wasn't as if he had the answers they wanted anyway, in fact he had questions of his own.

"That's it, huh? Well, I had hoped for more information. But it seems we have all been led here by seperate roads; yet all roads in shadow. I wonder why our old boss, well the old boss of a couple of us anyway, would have been paid off to change his story? We're nobody. Who is trying to make us out to be more than we are?"

Turning to Gronz he adds, "Here is your dagger sir. Regardless of who sent you and for what reason, I am pleased to be out of that cell, and thank you for it. My name is Heironymus Nattvakt, cleric. It seems we are likely to continue to share each others company."

Turning back to the group he adds, "Rest time it is. The adventures continues tomorrow. Unless someone else has information to add?"

With no answers forthcoming, the group finishes introductions, ensures the door is locked and settles in for the night. Not surprisingly it is the best night's sleep many of you have gotten in a rather long time. The soft linens and comfortable bed are a welcome change from prison cell and the hardness of the ground.

You awaken at mid-morning the following day (I'll let you guys decide who wakes up first, if it matters). Thankfully there were no patrols that came knocking, and no disturbances in the night. In fact, looking out of the shuttered windows, the city seems to be going on as it would any other day. The guards are no more plentiful than you would expect on an uneventful day. There is one strange thing about the morning. A small pouch is found sitting on the window sill in the kitchen. Within are 25 pieces of platinum and a small parchment on which is scrawled the words "Use it well."

Stopping to consider the events of the coming day, you realize the time. High moon is just over two hours away, and you must re-supply and make your way to the south gate. The next leg of your Journey is about to begin.

Kyara has remained rather quiet. To many questions with not answer. What was truth and what was not. So much of all these occurrences mad no sense whatsoever.

"Heironymus, I do not like being a pawn either. Ever since the attack and our journey to that underground lair of the Sorcerer/illusionist, we haver being pulled this way and that way by forces we know nothing about. And that I like least of all. I owe nothing to anyone here. She dress in her a clean set of clothes adding her chain mail shirt and checking her bow and arrows to make sure they were in good shape. Now this "person" appears and say we must do what again someone else we do not know wants us to do. I for one am ready not to do this. I owe no one anything and am not ready to entangle myself even more into these unknown matters. ."

She walks over to Arion. "I am so sorry that Ele was lost to us. I grieve for her. Someone should be made to py for this entire travesty."

After Kyara had walked away and spoken to Arion, Heironymus spoke up again. "We all grieve for Ele. It pains me to have left her behind. But as I saw no choice at that time, I don't think I do now, either. Kyara, we do not exactly owe anyone anything, except perhaps Gronz here, but what are you suggesting? Do you have a plan to rescue Ele? I doubt it can be done by us here."

"As for bein a pawn . . . sometimes it feels good to vent. I hate being manipulated. But a skilled manipulator will leave you with no options and I am afraid that our providential hand is quite skilled. We needed to escape the prison and he offered us a way. We must escape the city, and he offers us a way. Once outside we will have more options, but will likely seek more information. And, again, a way has been offered."

"I don't like it, but I suspect we will be best off if we head to this home in the woods."

"Few options, I must agree with you about that Hieronymus," Kyara said and then mutters under her breath mostly to herself,"and I like that not either."

"So let us plan on how we will leave here and get to that gate at the appointed time. To bad we did not have a sorcerer to alter our appearance. We are rather a noticeable group."

Quarlin finally got up and ready to move on. He did not want to waste any more time than it would take to wash up and eat. Then he really wanted to be on his way. However he was at the mercy of the group. His mandate was to aid them during their travels, so it stood to reason that he couldn't leave without them.

Opening the door to his room he enters as the women is speaking.

"What was that about a sorcerer? I have magical abilities, though they aren't of much use at present. Has food been made? I personally would like to eat and get moving. The sooner we are out of this city, couldn't be too soon."

Not sure if it was self serve in this safe house, he headed to the kitchen to get some food rather than waiting, but called back,"and as far as that money is concerned, go ahead and use it here in the city if you want but I would advise against it."

"Well, I am short on supplies. We lived off what we had in our packs while we track Jocelyn and tried to rescue her. We had to walk back again using out own supplies Then we got here we got thrown into prison. We can't go far without some basic supplies. However since we can not just waltz out to get supplies what do you suggest." Kitara remarks after checking gout her things. Donning afresh clothes wrinkling her nose at her old ones. Many days n the same set of clothes had not dome much for them. normally she might had thrown them away but she didn't have the luxury of doing that. she would have to take time to wash them,

"Is anyone searching for you? If not you can go out and by us what is needed." I would say 10 days of rations for us each, I need some soap, and more arrows. That money will do us no good if we have no where to buy our supplies from.

With ears like his, it was hard not to hear her even through the kitchen door. After getting some food and coming back into the main room, he sits down to his meal at one of the tables.

"No, I don't believe anyone is searching for me, but the one that hired me confirmed that I am being followed. I believe I could be inconspicuous enough to get rations and supplies for us all, Though I think it might be wise to buy some make up and a wig for myself for disguises. I am hairless by nature and a white straight haired wig might give me a more Valshari appearance and throw off my trackers. As long as I keep my nose clean and my mouth shut in public, I should have no issue with getting everyone's supplies."

Much of what he said was done between mouthfuls of food, sometimes speaking with food in his mouth. He was pretty hungry and tired of trail rations, but he would soon have to resort to choking them down again. He only hoped that there was a decent hunter among the group. His hunger for meat seems to have dominated his appetite of late.

Kyara, actually laughed at that response shaking her head. "That will not help us at all. If people are looking for you then How are we to get you a wig of white hair. By the Gods this is impossible situation. We can not go out ourselves and apparently neither can you. Great escape plan." Kyara's voice filled with disgust.

Ever practical with realistic tendencies, Kyara tries to figure out a way around their current problem, "I suggest we will have to forgo supplies and hunt while we travel. It will slow us but not put us in the danger that purchasing supplies in town might do. perhaps we van pay a farmer for such excess they might have."

"Im sorry maybe my mouth was too full last time. You misunderstood when I said that I was being followed. I meant only that you and your companions are "Wanted". I am not Wanted. There are however spies following me observing my every move. They are making sure that I don't come into contact with any other umbrals in which I can "Corrupt with blasphemous indoctrination". That's right, I'm a heretic, not a criminal. We all need supplies, I was paid to aid all of you in this mission or travel, whatever you may call it. Let me do my job. Just make a list of what is needed by each of you, and I'll get it."

"A heretic, eh? In a world with multiple gods, I have always wondered what the word heresy actually meant. Unless, perhaps, instead of creating a new faith, you have a variation of the old? Regardless, it matters little to me."

"But food does. Amazingly, I have all of my other supplies, but not much food. I would be grateful for 10 days to two weeks worth of rations."

"And once you return, we shall prepare to leave at the appointed time. Is there a plan for how to get a group of fugitives to the named gate?"

"For now, I wish some food and clean water."

"Yes, a heretic. This world may follow many deities but my people worship only one god, Carious. I however became aware of a dormant power withing my people that has awakened in me. When I tried to create an awareness of this power among my people, I was banished from the Undercity accused of blasphemy. As you said, it doesn't matter. What does matter is the mission at hand and supplies.

10 days rations and waterskins for each of the party, Arrows, soap. Does anyone else have a request to add to the list?"

"Yes, I did misunderstand you. As for supplies, I need 40-50 arrows, 10-14 days of rations would be good as well, and a pound of salt and pepper. We could use a couple of healing potions if your funds would go that far. We could use some soap as well and for me a clean shirt or a sewing kit to repair the clothes I have." Kyara enumerates her needs and some others that the groups could use.

"I truly regret losing my horse and that dark elf will pay for that as well, once I get my hands on him. I have much to learn about what is going on so those who are responsible for all out tribulations are made to pay," her voice grew grim as the unpleasantness was recalled."