Aftermath 37.

The Kaldel Plains...

"I don't know if i trust them or not" says Arvelle the leader of the crew of illegal wreckers.
"Who?" asks Sasha the former mercenary, who continues on with "Samiel?" and adds "Or Sara?".
"Both" says the tall plainsman with the shaven head who leads the illegal wreckers.
"Well of course you don't" says the good looking woman with one eye, who has a wicked looking scar down one side of her face "You're a plainsman, all of you don't trust spellcasters" adds the former mercenary.
Arvelle sourly similes, while behind Sasha, her lover Pallen the blademaster grins.
"You not what i mean" says Arvelle as they stand just outside the front door of the two storey house he lives in, as they look across the village green, on what's a cool morning here in the northeast of the Kaldel Plains.
Sasha, who like her lover Pallen, hails from the kingdom of Girdane, nods her head, then says "I know" she continues with "Mac never really liked Samiel anyway, and only got along with him for necessity".
The former mercenary then adds "I can't see them working together for something like this" Sasha follows that with "And Sara never does anything without her brother Famic, and Mac just plain out disliked Famic".
"I know" says Arvelle, who looks at the two from Girdane who are a couple, and tells them "That just leaves Davon".
"We'll know when he gets back" says Pallen the blademaster, the tall plainsman who was born and raised in the kingdom of Girdane continues with "That's if he comes back, because if he doesn't i think that's pretty solid proof he was working with Mac".
The other plainsman Arvelle sourly grimaces at the prospect of that. He still can't believe his best friend Mac the dwarf stole from them.
And that if he had magical help doing so, which seems likely as they've yet to find any trace of the former shipwright and the loot he stole.
And it's looking more certain that it was the wizard Davon was his accomplice in the theft of the chests of gold and gems.
"And if he does come back, and didn't have anything to do with it?" asks the leader of the crew of illegal wreckers "Then we're fucked" bluntly says Pallen the plainsman, the dangerous blademaster continues with "Because if he didn't, that means pretty much only one thing" he briefly pauses before adding "Mac had outside help".
Both Arvelle and Sasha wince, as they've all contemplated that, but no one as yet had voiced it, until Pallen did just now.
"That" quietly says the tall, shaven headed plainsman who leads the crew of illegal wreckers "Is something we do not need" adds Arvelle as he thinks about the possibility of outsiders helping Mac steal from the rest of them.
The leader of the illegal wreckers, shakes his head, and sighs, then as he looks at one of the nearby airships, the only one that's being worked on, fewer than ten of the wreckers doing so.
He says to the couple from the kingdom of Girdane "With potential buyers arriving in two or three days time, we've got to get some of the others back to tearing down the ships".
Arvelle continues with "Not all of them will be able to afford the remaining magetubes" he then adds "Ship parts have always been our main source of coin, and will continue to do so".
The leader of the crew of illegal wreckers then says "And we have to send more of the wagons with the sundry bits and pieces south to that town down there" he follows that with "We're always able to sell to them".
Both Pallen and Sasha nod their heads in agreement, then the good looking woman with just one eye says "We'll go and round up some of the others who are searching" she continues with "Get them back working on the ships". Arvelle grunts, then says "I'll do that too".
The trio head across the village green, completely oblivious to the fact that Narladene the ground pixie, who is invisible to all, who has been watching and listening to them, is following behind them.
Meanwhile south of the village, near the route that's used to travel between the village and the town that's further south on the plains.
A rift appears, which once it's formed, the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury, Gorlic walks out of, followed by the mage Samiel, who drops his rift spell, and it vanishes.
After quickly looking around, Gorlic the former arena fighter says "About halfway to town are we?" as he spots a nearby waypoint that looks familiar.
"Almost" says Samiel the mage as the two of them walk to the waypoint, looking at the ground as they do so, trying to find any tracks belonging to Mac the dwarf.
"I still can't believe it" says the powerful mage, it's the umpteenth time he's said that since they left the village earlier, around mid morning.
The former arena fighter, who is a bit of a hot head at times, just grunts as they come to a stop next to the waypoint, and look up and down the well worn trail between the village they're based at, and the large town nearly thirty miles south of the village.
"Beats me what we can find" says Gorlic who continues with "People go up and down this way all the time" the former arena fighter from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury then adds "Most of the time it's us".
Samiel sourly grimaces, though he nods in agreement with the Brattonburian as this is the usual route their wagons and riders use as they travel to and from the town further to the south.
"Still" says the mage who is originally from the city-state of Tuledare "We have to do something" continues the powerful spellcaster, who then adds in a mutter "I still can't believe he did it".
"So you've said" sourly says Gorlic, who follows that with "Numerous times already this morning".
"Sorry" says Samiel in a contrite tone of voice, next to him, the former arena fighter sighs then says "I know the feeling mage" he continues with "I've said the same thing over and over to myself since yesterday morning when we found him missing and the gold gone".
Gorlic shakes his head, then says "I don't know what the hell he was thinking" the hotheaded former arena fighter then adds "Damn dwarf".
The powerful Tuledarian mage nods his head, then sits upon the pile of stones and rocks that marks the waypoint, Samiel then says "I'm not really that kind of spellcaster".
In response to Gorlic asking him "You got a spell that can locate him at all?".
The spellcaster who once worked for the airdock authorities in the city of Tuledare then says "We mages tend to concentrate on destroying things" followed by "Other spellcraft is kind of secondary to us".
Samiel after a brief pause, says "Though if i get anywhere near where he is, i might be able to locate him".
"Oh" says the former arena fighter who hails from the coast of the Southlands, Gorlic then asks "How would you do that?".
"With a mageglobe" says the powerful mage from Tuledare, who continues with "I personally don't know any spells that can locate someone, but a mageglobe i can create will be able to find him if we're fairly close".
"How close?" asks Gorlic "Few miles i guess" says Samiel who continues with "That's why we have to find some sign of where he's gone, or more specifically where he's going".
"At least that's something i guess" says the Brattonburian who rubs his chin as he thinks about something, then he asks the Tuledarian spellcaster "Can one of your mageglobes locate the missing gold and jewels?".
The powerful mage thinks about it for a few moments, then he says "Maybe" he thinks about it bit more, then adds "They're not exactly smart, as they can only do what they've been created to do. So if i tell it to go and find the gold and jewels, it could very well head to the nearest place where people are digging up the ground looking for gold".
"Hmmm that might be a bit of a problem" murmurs Gorlic, who is beginning to understand the frustration that Arvelle their leader has with spellcasters.
"And the fact they can get distracted at times if you give them more than a simple task" says Samiel "Oh?" says the former arena fighter who has only seen Samiel create mageglobes to bring down the airships they've targeted "Distracted by what?" asks Gorlic.
"Anything" dryly says the powerful spellcaster who is originally from the city-state of Tuledare "The wind, the sun, a horse, a child, you name it" adds the mage who continues with "If it sees something interesting, it will stop and watch it".
Samiel shakes his head, then says "It's why we tend to create them to do simple tasks, like attack another mage which is what they're actually intended for" the Tuledarian mage then adds "Or have it blow something up. Which is about the most simple thing imaginable. As it doesn't have to think too hard about doing that".
Gorlic grunts, then says "We'll never find him at this rate" the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury continues with "Or the missing gold and gems".
While he sits upon the waypoint, Samiel frowns as he thinks about something, then he says "You know what, there's something i could try" the powerful spellcaster then adds "I might not be able to find Mac or the missing gold and gems".
The powerful mage from Tuledare then tells Gorlic "I might be able to locate the chests and lockers the gold and gems are in" he then adds "That's pretty specific, especially as i know what they look like".
The former arena fighter who is pacing back and forth on the well used trail next to the waypoint, stops and looks at Samiel, and asks him "You think so?".
"Pretty sure i can" says the Tuledarian spellcaster, who continues with "And i doubt I'll need to be all that close to wherever they are".
"Hell, that's definitely something" says Gorlic who was of the opinion that they were never going to find Mac, and that they're only wasting their time trying to find him and the stolen loot.
Samiel gets up off the pyramid shaped pile of rocks and stones, then holds out his right hand to create a mageglobe.
Gorlic who has seen him do this before, stands there and waits for what seems like an eternity before a white coloured ball of living magic, the size of a small apple appears in the right hand of the mage from the city-state of Tuledare.
Samiel tosses the mageglobe in the air, and after it circles around them a couple of times. The living piece of magic goes away, not exactly in a hurry. As they can see it wandering away in the air, kind of going east, as it often heads north, then comes back south.
"Why did it take so long to create?" asks Gorlic, who has seen Samiel in the past when they've taken down airships, create mageglobes almost instantaneously.
"Searching for those missing chests and lockers isn't exactly a simple task" says the powerful mage who continues with "I had to give it detailed descriptions of the chests and ship's lockers to search for".
The former arena fighter nods his head, then says "It's not exactly moving that fast compared to the other ones I've seen".
"That's the price you've got to pay for doing something that isn't simple" says Samiel who then explains to Gorlic "The more difficult the task, the harder it is to create one, and the more time it will be alive" the powerful mage from Tuledare then adds "They tend to take their time to complete something that isn't simple".
"Should we follow it?" asks Gorlic who can still see the mageglobe weaving through the air, heading more or less to the east, well northeast as it seems to be going.
"Nah, it'll be a waste of time" says Samiel who continues with "Though if it does find them, it'll get back to me quick smart" he then adds "And we'll know where they are".
"Let's hope it finds them" murmurs the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury, who looks up into the sky and says "Almost midday".
"Almost" says the powerful mage, who shades his eyes as he looks southwards, and after a moment he says "I think there's wagons coming this way".
Then after Samiel casts a farsight spell, and takes a better look, he says "Four of them" followed by "They're ours".
Gorlic nods his head "The lot coming back from town" the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury continues with "They left the same morning you did, before Mac did what he did".
"We'll find out if they know anything" says the mage from the city-state of Tuledare, who then adds "You do the talking, and I'll find out if they're telling the truth or not".
"Right" says the former arena fighter, who moves over and stands beside the powerful mage, who then teleports the two of them south.
When they reappear, they walk towards the approaching wagons which stop at their sudden appearance.
Seeing Samiel and Gorlic, those on the wagons who were ready for a threat, relax and call out in greeting to their fellow illegal wreckers.
The former arena fighter who is often a hothead at times, talks to those on the wagons, finding out what they've been doing in town.
In the conversation, he casually mentions if they've seen Mac the dwarf since they left the village to go to town.
As he does, Samiel checks to see if any of them are lying when they answer the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury.
After he does, the powerful spellcaster glances at Gorlic and slightly shakes his head no.
Then he too joins in on the conversation after the former arena fighter sourly smiles at knowing none of their fellow illegal wreckers here, had anything to do with Mac stealing from them.
After talking to those on the wagons, which continue on their way back to the village, Gorlic and Samiel disappear as the powerful mage teleports them away again.
They reappear further to the south, closer to the town, only about ten miles away from it now. And the two of them head to a few roundhouses. The only plainsman settlement between the town and village further north.
As they go to find out any possible sighting of Mac the dwarf in the last couple of days. The mageglobe created by Samiel a little earlier, is still wandering away at it's own pace.
The living piece of magic which earlier was weaving back and forth, not going in any particular direction.
Is moving more or less in a straight line as it goes to complete it's task.
It still isn't going all that quickly. Infact it's still moving slowly through the air.
But for all that, the mageglobe is going more or less straight, back towards where the village is located further to the north . . . . . .

Aftermath 36

The Kaldel Plains...

Tamric Drubine is awake early the next morning, well before dawn. The young field commander walks away from where the others are sleeping, to take a pee.
After passing water, the nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin heads back to where the others are sleeping.
Tamric Drubine, or Tam as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, is in the middle of yawning, when a quiet voice, clearly female says to him in elven "What did you lot do?".
The field commander in the armies of Farque stifles a yelp when in the gloom of predawn, he sees a tiny figure, about four and half inches tall, fluttering infront of his face.
"Hey" says Tamric Drubine in the elven language to Narladene the ground pixie who he recognises.
"Where are the others?" asks the young field commander "On their way" says Narladene the ground pixie, who then adds "They should be here tomorrow sometime i guess".
The naturally magical creature decided to reveal herself to Tam, for the simple reason he was the only one awake. And that he, along with Lisell Maera have seen her a number of times over the years they've been in the group.
Unlike Tovis the engineer, who knows of her existence, but has never seen her as she's yet to show herself to him.
While Beldane the cleric doesn't even know about her, as he's only been with the group for such a short amount of time.
"You didn't answer my question" says the tiny winged creature as the nobleborn teenager leans back against the trunk of one of the scrubby looking trees "What did you lot do?" adds Narladene who during the night checked out the nearby village after she found the four that were missing, were safe and well. Camped out amongst a patch of the scrub like trees that are dotted here and there across the Kaldel Plains.
Tamric Drubine faintly smiles, then quickly explains to the naturally magical creature who is attached to Helbe the elven thief. What he, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, and Beldane the cleric have been doing since they escaped their airship as it was crashing.
In particular what they're done in the village about five miles to the west of here. A village that the crew of illegal wreckers who brought down the Farqian warship they were all flying on. Are living, and working from.
Narladene listens in silence as the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine speaks.
Only occasionally lifting an arched eyebrow as he details what they did in the village to the west. Where they stole a considerable fortune from the illegal wreckers.
Killing one of the leading wreckers in the process. All without anyone in the nearby village knowing that it was them who did it.
He's got a devious streak to him for sure, the ground pixie thinks to herself as she looks at the nobleborn teenager who hails from Sarcrin. A kingdom that's to the west and south of the Kaldel Plains.
Probably because of that group of reprobates he's been with since he was a child, Narladene dryly thinks to herself, who after Tam finishes speaking, asks him "How much do you think you took?".
"A lot" replies the young field commander as the gloom starts to lighten up, as a new day dawns upon the Kaldel Plains in the central Southlands.
Tamric Drubine gives a rough guess of what they think they stole from the illegal wreckers, and Narladene's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
The ground pixie saw the chests and lockers they stole, paying particular attention to the barrel cask full of spell gems.
"How much are those spell gems worth?" muses the tiny winged creature, who has never bothered to learn their value because she can create them.
"Plenty" says the nobleborn teenager, who gives her a figure that Beldane the cleric reckons a small spell gem is worth.
"No wonder he bloody hoards them" mutters Narladene in the ground pixie language referring to prince Helbenthril Raendril who she is attached to.
The naturally magical creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains, switches back to the elven language, and says "Well, you lot are to keep out of trouble from now on".
The field commander nods his head, and the tiny winged creature tells him in a slightly dry tone "No doubt you'll get into plenty of trouble when that lot turn up".
Tam flashes a grin, then asks the ground pixie "What are they intending to do?".
"The obvious" says Narladene, who follows that with "They're a vindictive lot, you know that" the naturally magical creature continues with "They intend to inflict some revenge upon those wreckers" after a slight pause, she adds "And in some, i mean a lot".
Now, that doesn't surprise me in the least, Tamric Drubine thinks to himself, who then asks the tiny winged creature "Is it alright if we continue to observe them in that village?".
For though he knows he might be a field commander in the armies of Farque. He best do what the ground pixie wants, as she has the ear of prince Helbenthril Raendril. Who is a member of the personal council to lord Farque.
And the fact the ground pixie, can do pretty much what she likes. And can be extremely lethal if she wants. Secure in the knowledge that hardly anything in existence can harm her in anyway.
After thinking about it for a few moments, Narladene nods her head, then says "That fine" she continues with "Observe only".
"Will do" says Tamric Drubine who then adds "Best i get back to the others".
The ground pixie nods, and the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin, heads back to where the others are waking up.
With the tiny winged creature flying beside him, as Narladene intends to keep an eye on them.
After they're all awake, and they have something to eat, field commander Drubine says to the others "We'll go and watch what they're up to" he continues with "See if any of them have turned on one another".
"Want me to stay again?" asks Tovis the war engineer who gestures towards the chests they stole.
Tam glances to his right, where Narladene mouths the words "Bury them" as she points at the chests of gold and gems.
"No, we stick together" says the young field commander in the armies of Farque, who then adds "We'll bury this lot" as he waves at the chests they stole from the illegal wreckers in the nearby village.
"We haven't exactly got any spades" muses Tovis as he rubs his chin while looking at the two large ship's lockers, a smaller chest, and two small barrel casks.
After rolling her eyes, Lisell Maera the messenger says "We've got a spellcaster for that" as she nods at Beldane the cleric.
A short while later, the chests they stole are buried in the ground.
And Beldane the cleric quietly says "Wonder if any of their spellcasters are back?".
"They're still not back" says Tam, the others look at him, and the fighting cleric asks him "How do you know?".
"An educated guess" says the nobleborn teenager in a slightly dry tone of voice, who has to listen carefully to hear Narladene, who whispers information into his right ear every so often.
"Well hopefully none of them are on our spot this morning" says Beldane as he casts a gateway spell, he continues with "Because they're not going to like that, that's for sure".
The gateway forms, and Narladene is through it first, followed by Tamric Drubine, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, and finally the powerful cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine.
After going through the gateway, and making their way up onto the slight rise, the four of them crawl the last bit to the top.
Where in the first light of the morning, they look to the nearby village, that's less than a quarter of a mile away.
"Hmmm seems none of their spellcasters are back" quietly says Beldane, who hails from the kingdom of Nastell.
Lisell Maera, or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others, glances sideways at Tam who is taking his brass, cylindrical eyepiece from his cloak.
"And how did you know that?" quietly asks the messenger in the elven language, the young field commander doesn't answer that, and instead looks through his eyepiece, though he does slightly smile as does so.
When Tamric Drubine does finally speak, he says in elven to the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury lying beside him "I think the others will show up tomorrow" he pauses as he listens to Narladene, then he tells Lis "Or maybe even during the night".
"Who?" asks the messenger, who is a member of the scouts division in one of the armies of Farque.
"Helbe and the others" says Tam, who starts naming the others who are with the elven princeling "Mira, Dorc, Shur Kee, Darid, Dalin, that goblin Teabagger, and Percy as well".
"Hell, that's one giant disaster if there ever was one" dryly says Lis, who then stares at the nobleborn teenager from kingdom of Sarcrin, as she asks him "And how do you know this?".
The messenger then adds "Out with it" followed by "Don't put me off like you did before concerning their spellcasters" as she gestures to the nearby village they're watching.
Tamric Drubine doesn't say anything, all the same, Lis jerks her head back in surprise when she suddenly sees Narladene the ground pixie appear above the head of the young field commander.
The naturally magical creature who is grinning, waves at the messenger, before she disappears.
"Well, that explains that then" dryly says the attractive young woman who hails from the coast of the Southlands.
Tam just nods, then in the common language so that Tovis and Beldane can understand what's being said, he says "Seems some of them must of left during the night".
The young field commander in the armies of Farque, continues with "As there doesn't seem to be so many of them about this morning".
Tamric Drubine after listening to what Narladene has whispered to him, then adds "Those that have gone, are out and about searching for that dwarf Lis killed" followed by "And to search for their missing gold and gems".
"Good luck finding that" quietly says Beldane the cleric, next to him, Tovis the war engineer nods in agreement.
With the sun rising in the east behind them, Lisell Maera says "Looks like there's just a few of them working on stripping apart one of those ships" she continues with "A handful at most".
Field commander Drubine nods, then he says "Hardly any of them alright" he continues with "They're more concerned with finding the dwarf, and their missing loot".
They continue to watch the village and the surrounding area, and it's Tovis the war engineer who spots the horses "Riders to the north".
"They must of been up at that other village last night" says Tam as he watches the mounted wreckers, he identifies a couple of them, and says "That plainsman who is a blademaster, and that one eyed mercenary he's always with".
"The couple, Pallen and Sasha" says Lis, who a couple of days ago, snuck into the village disguised as a plainswoman.
"None of them exactly look pleased" murmurs the young field commander as they watch the wreckers ride into the village.
"Can't find what they're looking for" says the cleric Beldane, who continues with "Someone's going to pay for it".
The other three nod in agreement, then Tovis the war engineer says "There's the leader" as he points to the village green, where next to the two storey building at the northwest corner, stands the plainsman named Arvelle, who leads the crew of illegal wreckers.
A short time later, and they see Pallen and Sasha who have just ridden in, talking with their leader Arvelle. What ever they're talking about, they don't seem happy as they enter the two storey house that Arvelle lives in.
The same house that the four of them, stole a substantial chunk of the illegal wreckers wealth from.
Field commander Drubine is just about to mention something, when he quickly changes his mind when he hears what Narladene whispers to him.
And instead, the nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin quickly says "Beldane hold your power within yourself" followed by "There's a rift".
"Where?" asks the fighting cleric as he holds his power within himself "Oh there it is" adds the churchman as a rift appears on the village green.
"It's the mage" says Tam before anyone comes out of the rift.
And when people start coming through it, the young field commander adds "That sorceress too".
"That must be her twin brother with her too" says the messenger Maera, who continues with "They certainly look alike".
"Well, that's two of their spellcasters back" quietly says Beldane the cleric who continues on with "Let's see what happens with them thrown in the mix".
"Wonder what's being said" quietly says Tovis the war engineer as they see the leader Arvelle, along with the couple Pallen and Sasha walk out of the two storey building. To meet those who have just returned via a rift. The discussion is definitely animated as they all head back into the two storey house.
Tam glances at Narladene who points to the village. The young field commander slightly nods, and the tiny winged creature dives into the ground, no doubt heading into the village.
"Just that other spellcaster to show up now" says the powerful cleric who is from the duchy of Phelm, which is in the north of the kingdom of Nastell "That wizard" adds Beldane.
They watch and wait for some time, it's almost mid morning when those who went into the two storey house make an appearance outside.
Those who came through the rift definitely don't look happy, much like Arvelle, Sasha and Pallen.
Narladene reappears next to Tamric Drubine, who slightly nods when she whispers to him what she's found out.
"They'll go out and join the search" quietly says the young field commander in the armies of Farque.
"The mage and another just disappeared" says Tovis the war engineer "Teleported no doubt" says Beldane who is still holding his power within himself.
"They've gone south" says Tamric Drubine, and as the sorceress and her twin brother disappear as she teleports them away, the nobleborn teenager adds "And they're going north".
A short while later, and Tam tells Beldane it's fine to stop holding his power within himself.
The fighting cleric breathes a heavy sigh when he stops doing so, as the four of them continue to watch the nearby village where the crew of illegal wreckers are based in . . . . . .

Aftermath 35.

The Kaldel Plains...

It's early evening, and after popping up out of the ground, Narladene the ground pixie looks around.
The naturally magical creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains looks at the town that's a couple hundred yards away to the north.
The ground pixie who is attached to Helbe the elven thief shrugs her shoulders, and takes off. Narladene wings her way towards the town knowing that the four who are missing. Tamric Drubine, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer and Beldane the cleric are not in town.
The tiny winged creature knows so because she can't sense the powerful cleric in town. Nor could she feel their presence through the ground.
The naturally magical creature can usually detect Tamric Drubine and Lisell Maera through the ground. Even in a town as busy as the one she's approaching. But the tiny winged creature can't feel their movement in town, or anywhere within twenty miles or so in all directions.
Narladene who knows that the first of the villages to the north of town, is more like thirty miles away. Guesses that the quartet who are missing are either in or near that village away to the north.
She won't know until she heads that way, and is able to sense the magic of Beldane the cleric, and feel all four of them through the ground. 
But first, she makes her way into town. Which is lot larger than she thought it would be.
Even in the early evening it's fairly busy, full of plainsmen and foreigners alike.
The ground pixie who is invisible to everyone with the exception of animals, who can always see her.
Makes her way through the town, listening and watching the inhabitants, and visitors as well.
The tiny winged creature who attached herself to prince Helbenthril Raendril over a dozen years ago in the kingdom of Druvic, when she was living in that kingdom's capital, Leeabra.
Is here to find out information, almost as much as she is looking for the missing four of Tam, Lis, Tovis and Beldane.
The naturally magical creature when she makes her way around to the front of a tavern where she listens to a conversation between two men who have just left it.
Narladene's interest is piqued when she hears them discussing a possible purchase of goods, and where they goods have come from.
"They come from the village further north?" asks one of the men, as they stand to one side of the tavern's front door.
"They have" says the second man, who unlike the first, is a plainsman.
The tall plainsman continues with "Came in last night with four wagons full of goods" he then adds "By the sounds of things, they've sold most of it, and are looking to get rid of the rest".
"What have they got this time?" asks the first man, who might not be a plainsman, but he's obviously a local who has lived and worked here in town for quite a number of years.
"The usual, rope, wood, fittings, you name it" says the plainsman, who continues with "From ships no doubt".
"No doubt" dryly says the first man, and the two of them share a look.
Narladene as she sits upon the eaves of the roof looking down at the two men, nods her head. As it seems to be common knowledge amongst certain people in town. That the two villages further north is the haven for a crew of illegal wreckers.
"I'll go and have a look tomorrow and see if there's anything of interest" says the first man who spoke, who then asks "Are they over at the usual place?".
"They are" says the plainsman, who like most plainsmen, is tall, standing just over six foot in height.
"Over at Mards" says the plainsman, who falls silent as someone approaches, then once that individual makes their way into the tavern, he adds "No doubt others will be there early in the morning to try and grab a bargain".
Mards, Narladene the ground pixie thinks to herself as she takes off, the naturally magical creature then silently adds, now how the hell do i find that?
The tiny winged creature wanders about, going in and out of buildings, trying to find Mards.
Narladene who is briefly distracted by a cat on a roof, which tries to stalk her as she flutters by.
The feline has second thoughts, when she tells it to get lost in cat. The ground pixie like all pixies and sprites can speak the languages of animals.
The naturally magical creature shakes her head as she watches the cat scamper away across the roof, then she continues on her way.
Narladene eventually locates Mards, which turns out to be an inn. She finds it when she hears someone mention it to someone else, and she follows them there.
It's a prosperous looking place on the north side of town. And when the ground pixie makes her way around to the back of it.
And goes by the wagons in a row beside the stables. She sees four larger style wagons, off to one side. Three are empty, and the last has a canvas covering what's in the bed of the wagon.
There's also two men, armed with crossbows and swords, who are guarding those wagons. Particular the one that still has something in the back.
Narladene guesses they're two of the illegal wreckers who have come down from the villages further north on the plains. And that the rest of them who have traveled to town. Are inside the inn named Mards.
The ground pixie goes into the wagon bed, and sees a number of things in wooden boxes. Some of which she recognises as fittings from an airship.
The tiny winged creature, makes her way from the wagon, and into Mards. Simply by flying through the front wall of the inn. On what is turning into a cool evening, after what was relatively warm day in this part of the Kaldel Plains.
Inside Mards, who turns out to be the proprietor, who is behind the bar in the common room of the inn. Narladene looks around, hoping to spot more of the illegal wreckers.
It's not that difficult to find them, there's eight more of them. Who are sitting at two tables at the back of the room, well away from any of the other customers in the common room of the inn.
The more than seven hundred year old ground pixie, which is relatively young for one of her kind, as they can live for two and half thousand years.
Makes her way over to the two tables at the back of the common room, where the illegal wreckers are quietly chatting to one another as they have their evening meal.
The naturally magical creature who is originally from the Sunreach Mountains perches upon the fitting of a candle lit lamp on the wall behind one of the tables. There the invisible ground pixie watches and listens to the illegal wreckers, who have made their way to town from the villages further north of here, villages where they're based.
Narladene concentrates on two men quietly speaking on the table to the right. The other two at the table with them are relatively silent. While the four at the table next to them are relatively chatty.
For all that, they're all keeping a watchful eye on the other patrons in the common room of Mards.
Making sure no one sits at the two empty tables closest to them. It looks like no one is interested in sitting at those tables. As locals and visitors alike, just instinctively know to keep their distance from the two tables where the illegal wreckers are sitting.
"We'll be back down here fairly quickly no doubt" says one of the men who Narladene is watching and listening carefully to.
"I wouldn't be surprised others aren't already on their way" adds the illegal wrecker, who like the others with him, has no idea of the turmoil that's broken out in the village that they left yesterday morning.
"Yeah, what with those three ships that need to taken apart" quietly says the second fellow Narladene is paying attention to, he continues with "And one of them, with it's keel intact".
The tiny winged creature's arched eyebrows lift up in surprise when she hears that. Then as the more she listens.
She finds out the illegal wreckers a couple of nights ago. Took down a trio of airships in one of the villages they're based at.
From what she hears, Narladene knows it's the village she's already visited. After she went through a rift that was cast by a mage who is part of the crew of illegal wreckers.
The ground pixie listens to the conversation between the two at the table on the right for quite sometime. Learning all she can about the illegal wreckers, and what their plans are.
The tiny winged creature eventually departs Mards inn, as she still has to try and locate the missing group of Tamric Drubine, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, and Beldane the cleric.
The naturally magical creature who doesn't sleep, her kind doesn't need it. And who doesn't tire. Though they do rest at times when they feel like it.
Drops down into the ground just to the north of town.
Narladene senses northwards for movement through the ground. Then not finding what, or to be exact, who she is looking for. She starts heading north. Flying through the ground, which she can do quicker than if she was flying through the air.
As the night rolls on, the ground pixie stops every once in a while, to feel the movement through the ground.
The naturally magical creature originally from the Sunreach Mountains, who can feel the movements of people through the ground. Can identify people she knows quite well, from fairly long distances.
It's easy for her to locate and identity someone like Dorc da Orc through the ground. For the simple reason he's an ork, and is so big and heavy. And orks aren't exactly common. Infact they're rarer than her own kind outside of the southern polar region of the world, which is the naturally habitat of the ork race.
It's a lot more difficult to identify humans. As they're the most common race of people to found in the Southlands.
The ground pixie has to know the human being to easily identify and locate them. For the simple reason a lot of humans, on average, are the same size, and their movements are similar.
So every time she stops to feel for movement on the surface of the ground, she also senses for magic. Which is often more easier to locate people if they're spellcasters.
And during the fourth time she stops north of the town, Narladene senses the magical power of Beldane the cleric.
At least he's alive, the tiny winged creature thinks to herself, she then silently adds, now what about the others?
The naturally magical creature is completely still and silent as she feels the movement through the ground to the north.
She can feel the vibrations of movement of everything from worm to a lion, making their way across the ground.
Narladene waits a while, then she feels the movement of someone she knows close to where she senses Beldane the cleric.
It's Tamric Drubine, who by the way he moved. Has just rolled over as he lies upon the ground.
The ground pixie nods her tiny head, and realises that they must of bed down for the night. As she feels the movement of all four of them, a little under twenty miles to the north of where she is.
The tiny winged creature who from the movement she can feel in all directions, knows that the four of Tamric Drubine, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, and Beldane the cleric. Are about five miles to the east of the village that she knows the illegal wreckers are in.
She can feel the movement of the people in that particular village. Though she's surprised she can't sense any spellcasters in that village. When she knows there's a number of them within the ranks of the illegal wreckers.
"They must of gone somewhere" Narladene murmurs to herself as she continues on her way through the ground, heading towards where she can sense and feel the four who have been missing since the airship they were all traveling on, was brought down by the illegal wreckers.
As she heads northwards, the naturally magical creature continues to sense for magic, and feel for movement through the ground, out of habit more than anything else.
And when she stops and is able to feel the movement of the inhabitants of those in the second village, a few miles to the north of the first. The second village the illegal wreckers are based in.
The tiny winged creature frowns as she senses movement, of what's an animal or creature, infact a pair of them. Which are something you wouldn't normally find in a village or town here on the Kaldel Plains.
"Is that?" Narladene murmurs to herself as she pops up halfway through the ground, which she half sticks out of.
The naturally magical creature then adds in a tone of surprise "It is" as she feels the movement of two creatures, in the second village further to the north.
They're naturally magical creatures, though nothing like her and her kind. And they seem to be in a stable in that particular village, as she can feel there's horses and stock near them.
How the fuck did they get a hold of them? Narladene the thinks to herself, who drops back down into the ground, and takes off, flying quickly through the ground, heading to where the group of Tam, Lis, Tovis and Beldane are this night . . . . . .

Aftermath 34.

The Kaldel Plains...

"That's some sexy fucken goats they got" murmurs Dorc da Orc in the common language.
Who in typical fashion, murmured a bit too loudly if the sideways look directed at him by Teabagger the goblin Cunt is anything to go by.
"Filthy fucken goat fucker" the ork warleader mutters to himself in a high pitched voice that resembles the voice of his mother.
In actual fact it sounds nothing like her. As the big, burly ork can't remember what she sounds like. Just that her voice was annoying. And this is his best attempt at it.
"Shut up whore, me not fucken talkin' to you" grumbles the ork weaponsmith as he glares at the large ork skull tied to his belt.
It's his mother's skull, which he took after he killed her, and defiled her dead body. Which was only fair, as she was doing her best to kill him at the time.
The machinations of ork society is brutal to say the least. Killing one another is a daily occurrence.
Even within one's own tribe, and within one's own family.
The big, burly ork who hails from the southern polar region of the world draws some looks from a few of the others, not just the goblin commander Teabagger.
But he's reverted to muttering to himself in his native language. Which none of the others understand. Which is a saving grace for them. As they wouldn't want to understand it if they fully knew how orks speak to one another.
Dorkindle speaking in common, which is rough to begin with. Is only a slight reflection of how he actually communicates in his native language.
Mira Reinholt the mage shakes his hooded head as he looks back at Dorc da Orc who is next to the jolly boat muttering away to himself in the ork language.
The once powerful mage who figures the nearby flock of sheep and goats, the goats probably more than the sheep, has grabbed the attention of the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks.
Turns back to face the plainsmen that Helbe the elven thief, Darid Parsen the cavalry commander and himself are talking with.
"So no one else then?" asks Darid Parsen the cavalry commander.
"No one else" says the plainsman who is part of a caravan of five wagons, and about twenty people. Men, women and children, all plainsmen, who are traveling north with their flock.
Next to the cavalry commander, the elven masterthief, Helbenthril Raendril slightly nods his hooded head.
Knowing that the plainsmen are telling the truth, and that they've given all the information they have, commander Parsen says "Thanks for that" followed by "We'll be on our way".
The cavalry commander, and his fellow members of the personal council to lord Farque, turn and head back to the small airboat where the others are waiting.
As they do, one of the plainsmen asks "What's that green thing there?".
"A goblin" says Mira Reinholt the mage without looking back at the plainsmen.
"No not the goblin fellow" says the plainsman who spoke, who then adds "The big green thing next to it?".
"You don't want to know" is the extremely dry response from the once powerful mage, who glances back at the plainsmen and lifts a hand in farewell.
Those of the caravan watch the group pile back into the small vessel. Though the goblin commander Teabagger falls off the starboard gunwale trying to climb aboard.
And he has to be picked up by Dorc da Orc, who sighs and loudly mutters "Fucken gob-a-lin" as he plops the small, bright green goblin into the airboat before he climbs aboard.
The jolly boat with the mage Reinholt at the tiller lifts off as the children in the caravan wave and shout in excitement as they watch the small vessel take off, and head up into the sky.
With a magnanimous look upon his face, sir Percavelle Lé Dic sitting in the bow, waves farewell to them and the others in the caravan below.
Meanwhile, in the stern of the jolly boat, the mage who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil,  asks in the elven language "You certain it was them?".
"It was them" says Helbe the elven thief in the same language.
"Well, at least we're going in the right direction" quietly says the spellcaster originally from Vexil, who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
"Unfortunately" adds the once powerful mage, both the elven masterthief and the cavalry commander nod in agreement.
"They're definitely going there" says the young elven noble who hails from the island principality of Laerel, who continues with "They definitely know who took down our ship, and they know where they are".
"Hopefully they're keeping out of trouble" quietly says the cavalry commander, who in actual fact is really a hordes barbarian by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, from the southern tundra, who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Darid Parsen. Who is formerly a foot soldier in the army of lady Linara Lé Dic, in the kingdom of Druvic.
"Let's hope they are" says the Vexilian mage in exile, who is interrupted by Dorc da Orc who looks back and asks "They have no booze?".
"They had none" says the mage Reinholt in the common language, the warleader of the ork race grunts in a disappointed tone.
He couldn't smell any alcohol in the caravan they just stopped next to. And now the swordmaster from the city-state of Vexil telling him that there wasn't anything. Is doubly disappointing to the large ork, who is the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks.
As Dorkindle mutters to himself about the lack of booze that people have with them nowadays.
The trio of councilors in the stern of the jolly boat. Resume their conversation about where they're going. And more importantly, who is likely already there.
"You really think they're keeping out of trouble?" quietly asks Helbe the elven thief as he looks around in all directions, on what's a clear, and fairly warm day here at the end of summer above the Kaldel Plains.
"I'd hope so" says the spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
"And if they are doing something" adds Mira Reinholt, who nods to where Dorc da Orc is sitting in the middle of the small airboat as he continues with "He isn't around them, so Tam won't be influenced by him".
"That's something i guess" says Darid aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who after a moments pause, quietly adds "But if they are doing something, i hope none of them get themselves killed".
He quietly continues with "Because if they do" the cavalry commander just looks at his fellow councillors when he says that.
The two spellcasters faintly wince as they know the consequences if one of those in the group consisting of Tamric Drubine, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, and Beldane the cleric, are either killed or maimed.
"They better stay out of trouble" mutters the mage Reinholt, who out of the three councilors in the stern of the small vessel, is the one with the quick temper at times. Though he's much more considered and even tempered compared to when he was younger, when he still had his vast amount of power.
The young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, infact he's a member of the royal family that rules that particular elven principality.
Nods his hooded head in agreement with his fellow spellcaster, then he glances sideways at the once powerful mage who gestures to the elven princeling's shoulder, and says "When do you think?".
"Tomorrow" is the reply from the elven magic user, who after a slight pause adds "Or the middle of tonight sometime" prince Helbenthril Raendril pauses again, before murmuring "I hope".
Both Mira Reinholt and Darid Parsen nod, as they now have a fair idea when Narladene the ground pixie, who has gone ahead. Will most likely find the group who are missing.
Who they suspect have found the village the illegal wreckers who took down the Farqian warship they were traveling on, are operating from.
"And I'm guessing we won't until the following day" says the spellcaster from Vexil who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
"And that's if this constant breeze continues throughout the day, and into tonight" continues the once powerful mage, as he shifts the tiller slightly to his right, so that the sail that's up, can catch the prevailing wind that's quartering to aft on the port side.
"Can either of you do something to help with that?" asks the cavalry commander Darid Parsen gesturing behind them where the wind is coming from.
"I could do a small localized breeze that would get us out any still air we might get caught up in" says the elven master assassin.
"Same, if we were desperate" says the Vexilian mage in exile, who then adds "Even if i still had all my power you wouldn't want anything more, as i tended to do pretty much all or nothing when it came to the weather" he continues with "It was either a storm or nothing".
"I remember" sourly says commander Parsen, who indeed does remember when he was actually still Zubutai Timaginson, and getting caught up in storms that the mage Reinholt had created.
As they were probably the most destructive things that the once powerful mage ever created.
Darid aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman who clearly remembers a lightning storm Mira Reinholt created to help bring about the destruction of the floating city of Nors across on the otherside of the Great Western Ocean.
Then says "Hopefully this breeze lasts for awhile" the cavalry commander continues with "Because the sooner we get to them the better". He leaves it unmentioned that the sooner they find the missing group of four, the less amount of time the four can get themselves into trouble.
The group in the jolly boat continue sailing through the air, heading northeast above the Kaldel Plains.
They fly throughout the middle of the day, not stopping for anything. They even have the midday meal onboard the small vessel which survived the destruction of the Farqian warship they were traveling upon. A warship that was brought down by a group of illegal wreckers who are based in the northeast of the Kaldel Plains.
It's in the middle of afternoon, when Helbe the elven thief, who has gone ahead. And who is down on the ground. Has stopped at a waypoint. Those pile of rocks, pyramid in shape. That has a wooden pole sticking out of it, and has strips of cloth tied to it. That are prayer flags that the plainsmen tie to the pole.
He sees a well used trail heading roughly north, south. The waypoint is adjacent to.
The elven magic user shifts up into the air again. When he's a couple hundred feet above the ground. Levitating in mid air, the young elven noble who is blurred, which makes him invisible, looks to the north.
The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, with his natural farsight. Spots a caravan of wagons in the distance, heading north.
They're about four or five miles away, and the elven master archer watches them carefully for a bit. Clearly seeing that they're not plainsmen, but other travelers making their way across the plains.
The young elven noble shifts, and a little while later, he gets to the caravan. Where he sits unnoticed upon the top of one of the box like wagons.
The elven masterthief listens to the conversation of those on the wagon seat, who are just infront, and down below him.
The elven princeling who is also reading minds, nods his hooded head when he finds out the caravan are a traveling troupe of performers.
Which isn't all that odd. As you'll often find their sort crossing the Kaldel Plains during most of the year.
Where they stop at the settlements of the plainsmen, who pay for performances from such troupes.
The highly talented elven spellcaster finds out where they're going. To a town further to the north. The same town he figures that isn't all that far from the villages the illegal wreckers are working from.
As he goes from wagon to wagon, prince Helbenthril Raendril finds out as much as he can from the performers and their families.
Mostly to do with the town they're heading to, which they hope to stay at a while, and do a series of performances over at least a couple of weeks.
It's when he's on the top of the box wagon of the leader of the troupe, a short fellow with a thick beard who hails from the kingdom of Girdane, that the young elven noble finds the most important information.
"Those plainsmen we saw last week say they haven't gone north of town for the last year or so" says the troupe leader to the tall fellow sitting next to him on the wagon bench, who has the reins in his hands.
"They give a reason why?" says the tall man driving the wagon, who from his accent and colouring, is from somewhere along the coast of the Southlands.
"Something to do with those villages north of it" says the troupe leader, who shakes his head as he adds "Seems visitors aren't exactly welcomed up there anymore".
The tall fellow from the coast grunts, then says "We could of gone up there after leaving town, and done a few nights in each village".
"That's what i was hoping" says the Girdanian, who continues with "We haven't been there in over three years, we could of done a week in those two villages".
"Maybe things have changed?" says the tall fellow driving the wagon, he then adds "We'll find out in a few days when we get to town".
"That we will" says the leader of the troupe of traveling performers, who ply their trade up and down the Kaldel Plains throughout most of the year.
Helbe the elven thief has shifted away, and is heading back to the others in the jolly boat.
Which he spots in the sky to the south in the distance, between shifts in mid air.
The young elven noble who is a member of the personal council of the lord and ruler of the lands Farque. Realises that they're a little bit closer to where they're going to than he originally thought.
The elven masterthief as he makes his way back to the airboat the others are on, figures than Narladene will be at the town sometime early this evening. And will reach the first village to the north of it during the night.
Where he hopes she'll locate the missing group of Tamric Drubine, Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer, and the newest member of the group, Beldane the cleric.
"Well, i hope she finds them" Helbe the elven thief murmurs to himself in between shifts as he makes his way back to the others on the airboat as they continue the search for the four who are missing, and the search for the illegal wreckers who brought down the Farqian warship they were traveling on . . . . . .

The Aftermath 33.

The Kaldel Plains...

"What are they doing?" asks Lisell Maera the messenger who this morning has walked the five or so miles from where they've hidden what they stole during the night. And buried the body of the dwarf named Mac she killed, when they stole from the illegal wreckers in the nearby village.
"They're definitely searching" says Tamric Drubine the field commander as they lie upon the small rise less than a quarter of a mile to the east of the village.
"Probably for both the dwarf and what we took from them" says the nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin as he watches the activity in the nearby village, through his brass, cylindrical eyepiece.
"Hardly any of them are working on dismantling those ships like they were yesterday" adds the young field commander in the armies of Farque, who has the messenger Maera lying to his right, while Beldane the cleric is on his left.
Tovis the war engineer is five miles further to the east, amongst some of the scrubby looking trees in that direction, where he has remained with the chests of gold and gems they stole from the illegal wreckers during the night.
"Wonder how long it'll be, before they turn on one another?" muses Lisell Maera who is more commonly called Lis by those who know her well.
"Before they realise that the dwarf couldn't of stole it all by himself" adds the attractive young woman who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury.
"I'm guessing they're thinking that already" quietly says Tamric Drubine, who after a moments pause, continues with "Well i hope they are".
The young field commander, who improvised when Lis killed the dwarf named Mac last night. Couldn't of planned it better.
As now they've cast blame upon one of the illegal wreckers. Instead of just stealing from them, without them knowing who it could of been.
Now he's hoping ferment and suspicion has broken out amongst the criminal wreckers in the nearby village. Or at least amongst those who know about the theft.
As he suspects their leader, the plainsman named Arvelle. Is keeping the disappearance of some of their loot close to his chest, so to speak. And probably only told those that he can trust.
"I'm waiting for the moment they figure out magic had to be involved" says Beldane the cleric, who must admit, he wasn't entirely sold on the plan thought up by field commander Drubine.
But once it was executed, and they had the added factor of the dead dwarf thrown in on it. It's worked out far better than he would of thought.
And more importantly, worked out better than any plan of action, that involved confrontation against the illegal wreckers who brought down the Farqian warship they were traveling on.
Because no way the four of them could of done anything of worth against more than two hundred of the illegal wreckers, some of whom are spellcasters.
"They'll have to realise that the dwarf had magical assistance in taking that gold and gems we stole" adds the powerful cleric who is a member of the church of Glaine.
"There's no other way he could of disappeared without a trace" continues the churchman who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, which lies to the east of the Kaldel Plains.
"It's going to be trouble for those spellcasters when they turn up again" says the fighting cleric in the half plate armour.
"I'm picking the last one who left, will be the one who cops it" says Tamric Drubine, who glances at Beldane, and asks him "The one who teleported away, what's he?".
"A wizard" says the spellcaster who is originally from the duchy of Phelm in the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
The nobleborn teenager who is the son and former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, in the kingdom of Sarcrin, nods his head, then says "We saw him talking to that dwarf just before he left" he then adds "So I'm guessing suspicion will be cast upon him straight away when he returns".
"The wizard Davon" says Lis, who continues with "That's his name" the messenger in the scouts division of the one armies of Farque then adds "He like the mage, and the sorceress went off to find some potential buyers for the remaining magetubes, and the ships they're tearing down".
"Well, he's in trouble when he gets back if they think the dwarf had magical help" says Beldane, who drops his head down, as he adds "Looks like they're searching around the village now".
As they see some of the wreckers moving out from the village, searching the surrounding area. Looking for signs of the missing dwarf named Mac. While a select few, are also searching for their missing gold and gems.
Seeing some of the illegal wreckers making their way to the east side of the village. Tamric Drubine, or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, quietly says "We might want to quickly leave if they come out this way".
Both Beldane the cleric and Lisell Maera the messenger nod in agreement to that, as the three of them continue to watch the hive of activity in the nearby village, where a crew of illegal wreckers are based.
Meanwhile, nearly five miles to the east of that village. Amongst a patch of the scrub like trees that are found across the Kaldel Plains.
Tovis the war engineer stands up from the locker he's been sitting on as he polishes and hones his axe.
The young engineer looks away to his left, to where he hears roaring not all that far away from him.
Tovis, who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, returns his axe to it's belt loop. He quickly checks his hammer. Then makes his way through the scrubby looking trees. Making sure to keep well clear of the spot that Beldane is using for his gateway between here and the slight rise where the others are observing the village where the crew of illegal wreckers are based.
The war engineer, who once served a baron Harkonin in the fief Harkonin in the east of the kingdom of Druvic. Hops over the shallow grave where they buried the dwarf named Mac who Lis killed last night as they were stealing from the illegal wreckers.
The war engineer in the armies of Farque, who hears the roaring which is sounding off every so often. Gets to the edge of the scrubby like, almost bare trees. And looks around, and in the distance he spots movement.
It's a lion, a large male one, no doubt calling for it's pride, or calling out a warning to any potential males who are in it's territory, who aren't part of it's pride.
"Ah come on, don't come this way" Tovis the war engineer murmurs to himself, as he sees the lion, which briefly stopped, and sat down, has got back up. And is ambling in this direction. No doubt heading for the shade of the trees, as the day, which is much warmer than it has been recently, continues to heat up, on what's essentially one of the very last days of summer here on the Kaldel Plains.
The young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic sourly smiles as he sees the big male lion wandering in this direction. The big cat is taking it's time, and doesn't seem to be in a hurry, as it continues to stop every so often and roar.
"Should of had Lis leave her crossbow with me" Tovis mutters to himself, who doesn't fancy facing a lion with either his axe or hammer if the big cat comes at him.
The war engineer, who can throw his axe. Knows he'll have to get extremely lucky if has to throw it, if the big male lion decides to charge him if it thinks he'll make a good meal.
Go by the trees, and head around the other way you stupid cat, the young engineer thinks to himself as he watches the lion.
Who then rolls his eyes, as from the other direction, he hears more lions roar in answer to the male that isn't all that far away from the trees.
It must be the male lion's pride, as it roars in return, and continues on it's way.
"Go away" mutters Tovis who then sourly adds "Fuck" as the lion, more or less heads straight in this direction.
The war engineer waits to take his axe from the belt loop, as he figures any sudden move might give away his position, unless the lion has already spotted him, he hopes it hasn't.
Then he realises it has, as it's whole demeanor has changed. Because it's far more alert, and looking straight at the tree that he's half behind.
The young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic goes to grab his axe when he suddenly hears something behind him, he glances over his shoulder and sees Beldane the cleric step towards him.
"Looks like you've got a bit of a cat problem" says Beldane as he stands beside the war engineer, while the lion suddenly charges in this direction.
"You could say that" murmurs Tovis as he watches the large male lion run at them.
The fighting cleric steps away from him and the tree, takes a few steps forward, lifts his arms up above his head and makes a roaring noise, a really bad imitation of a lion roar.
The big cat stops in mid charge, then scrambles away to it's right. Hissing, and swinging it's tail in agitation as it runs, heading around the patch of trees, to find it's pride.
Tovis shakes his head as he watches the departing lion, then he looks at Beldane and says in a dry tone of voice "That threatening posture and roar of defiance of yours wouldn't of scared a house cat let alone lion".
The powerful spellcaster from the kingdom of Nastell, chuckles then says "It's good to have magic at your disposal" the member of the church of Glaine continues with "I gave it a little mental scare to get rid of it".
Spellcasters, Tovis dryly thinks to himself, who then asks the churchman "Why did you come back?".
"We all did" says Beldane as the two of them head into the patch of scrub like trees "They're searching outside of the village now, and were approaching the rise we've been watching them from" he follows that with "The field commander thought it was best to leave". Tovis nods his head and quietly says "Wise move".
The fighting cleric and the war engineer make it back to where Tamric Drubine and Lisell Maera are. With the chests of gold coins and gems.
The young field commander asks the young engineer from the kingdom of Druvic "You do a count?". As the war engineer was going to count how much gold and gems they stole from the illegal wreckers during the night.
"I gave up, there's a lot" says Tovis who gestures at the two ship's lockers, one of which Lisell Maera is sitting on, and he adds "Especially in those two".
The war engineer then says "I'm no expert on it, but I'm guessing in total there's more than enough to pay for another warship to be built for our fleet".
Field commander Drubine nods his head to that, then Tovis says "But that's not the interesting thing".
The young engineer goes to one of the small cask sized chests, and he opens it as he says "This is the interesting thing" followed by "Look at these".
"Looks like jewels to me" says Tam as he looks at the gems in the small, barrel chest as he couches down next to the war engineer who opens the second, small cask like chest.
It's Beldane who, when he bends down to get a close look at precious stones in the first small chest, that immediately recognises what they are, especially in comparison to the jewels in the second small, cask chest.
"Hell" says the powerful cleric in surprise "Spell gems" adds the fighting cleric with a shake of his head in disbelief at the amount of spell gems.
"They are?" says Tamric Drubine "They are" replies Beldane as all four of them look at the contents of the two small cask chests.
"I didn't know what they were" says Tovis, who continues with "But to even my eye, they look completely flawless compared to the ones in this one".
"That they are" says the member of the church of Glaine, who is the most popular deity worshiped in the north of the kingdom of Nastell.
"You can take anything from glass, well not glass, since it can never be completely flawless" says Beldane who continues with "But anything from clear crystal to diamonds, which are completely flawless. Cleanse them with magic, and they can be a spell gem to hold either spells or just raw power".
The powerful cleric takes a small thumbnail sized chip of crystal from the first cast, and says "This small crystal is worth more than".
He pauses as he digs around in the second chest, and pulls out a giant diamond, the size of a small child's fist, and adds "This diamond".
"Damn" murmurs Tamric Drubine while Tovis whistles in appreciation, and Lisell Maera shakes her head in disbelief.
"All because it's a spell gem?" asks the nobleborn teenager who hails from the kingdom of Sarcrin.
"All because it's a spell gem" says the fighting cleric, who then adds "They're quite expensive to say the least" who as he looks at the contents of the first cask chest, says "And there's quite a few of them in there".
After a few moments of silence, the young field commander says "I think we might of took more than we initially realised".
As he thought since they took only a handful of chests from the illegal wreckers, and left quite a lot of them behind. They didn't make that much of a dent in the fortunes of the illegal wreckers.
Turns out they might of took a fairly significant chunk of the wealth of those they stole from.
Tam who originally thought they might of took a tenth of the fortune the illegal wreckers had. Immediately doubles that and suspects they might of stole a fifth, or even a quarter of their wealth during the night.
"Well, this makes it more interesting" quietly says field commander Drubine "I think they'll be a bit more pisssed off than i thought they'd be" adds the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin.
"Especially considering we've taken a large chunk of their loot" says Tovis, who picks up a spell gem out of the small, barrel cask chest, and adds "These must be the most expensive things ever".
"Pretty much" says Beldane the cleric "Anti-magic is worth way more" says Tamric Drubine in an offhand manner.
The fighting cleric in the church of Glaine grimaces at that. He's heard of anti-magic, but never seen it. As it's extremely rare, and in some societies, thought not to even exist.
How the young field commander knows about it, or even heard of it. As it isn't exactly common knowledge, even amongst spellcasters. Is more than a bit of a mystery.
"So I've been told" says the son and heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine. Who over the years has heard how members of the group acquired anti-magic in the past. And how they're worth an absolute fortune. Like as much as a small kingdom or city-state.
Even Dorc da Orc has that much in platinum bars stored somewhere in the lands Farque. Not that he knows it, as he pretty much forgot about it not long after they sold off the anti-magic they acquired. And in acquired, that would be stole. Or to be exact, what they took. And took by force.
As both Tovis and Beldane toss the gems back in the small, cask like chests, Tamric Drubine says "They'll badly want this lot back".
The young field commander briefly pauses as he looks at the other three, then he continues with "Once they realise they'll never get it back, I'm guessing they'll turn on one another, and turn on one another in a bad way" . . . . . .

Aftermath 32.

The Kaldel Plains...

There's a loud knock on the front door of their house that wakes the both of them.
The knocking continues, and in the darkness of their room, Sasha without even seeing Pallen, can tell he wants to kill someone.
That someone being who ever it is that's knocking on the door.
The knocking on the door is persistent, and a voice calls out "Sasha!" followed by "Pallen!" then a "You better get out here!".
It's Sovirn, the only wrecker who is a plainswoman. And one of those Sasha takes in the small group with her and Pallen when they search for future targets. And when they take down those targets.
"Something's happened" murmurs Sasha the former mercenary, Pallen the blademaster grunts, and as the two of them get out of bed, the good looking woman with one eye calls out "What is it?".
"Just get out here!" calls back Sovirn the plainswoman, the couple Sasha and Pallen who can just make each other out in the dim light in their room as it lightens up outside as it approaches dawn, glance at one another and wonder what's happened.
A short time later, and the two of them, who are originally from the kingdom of Girdane, make their way out of the home they share, where they find Sovirn pacing back and forth infront of their house.
"What is it?" asks the former mercenary with one eye, and a wicked looking scar down one side of her face.
"I don't know" says Sovirn, who like all plainswomen and plainsmen, is fairly tall, with many of the women standing five foot ten inches tall, or taller.
"Just that Gorlic said to get you two and hurry" adds the plainswoman who is part of the crew of illegal wreckers.
"Where is he?" asks Sasha as the three of them head into the village, while to the east, the sun is starting to come up over the horizon, on a cool morning on what's one of the very last days of summer, here on the Kaldel Plains.
"Arvelle's place" says the plainswoman, both Sasha and Arvelle glance at one another, then the two of them take off running, leaving Sovirn behind.
They head through the village, making their way towards the village green, where on the northwest corner, is the two storey house that Arvelle, the leader of the crew of illegal wreckers, lives.
They make quick time running through the village, and as dawn breaks upon the Kaldel Plains as the sun creeps up over the horizon to the east.
The former mercenary, and the dangerous blademaster, both of whom hail from the kingdom of Girdane.
Hurry across the village green, as they've both caught sight of Gorlic the former arena fighter, looking nervous as he paces back and forth infront of the two storey house where Arvelle lives.
The two from the kingdom of Girdane, who are a couple. Spot a number of the other wreckers standing here and there. On the village green, and around it. Looking towards Arvelle's house, wondering what's happened.
When Sasha and Pallen get closer to Gorlic, and they approach him. They spot the local woman, Arvelle's latest lover. Sitting on the steps, quietly sobbing.
Gorlic stops pacing as the other two approach him, and he quietly tells them "Something's happened".
"What?" quietly asks Sasha "I'm not sure, but he's in a mood" says the former arena fighter, who continues with "Hell, his temper is worse than mine this morning" Gorlic then adds "I briefly stepped inside before he started yelling at me, i retreated quick smart".
Sasha who has noticed the local woman on the steps, has a cut lip, and looks like she has a bruised face, she's trying to cover with her wrap.
Nods to the plainswoman sitting on the nearby steps, and asks the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury "Did he?".
"He did" is the quiet reply of Gorlic, who looks at the couple originally from the kingdom of Girdane, and tells them "Like i said, something's happened".
Sasha and Pallen share a look, then the good looking woman who has just one eye, goes towards the steps to head inside, but stops short when her lover the blademaster reaches out and puts a hand on her arm.
The tall plainsman, who hardly ever touches Sasha in public, slightly shakes his head "I'll go first" quietly says Pallen the blademaster, who moves forward.
Sasha moves aside, and the dangerous blademaster, ignoring the sobbing local woman on the steps, goes up them, and opens the door, and enters the two storey house.
Arvelle the plainsman spins around saying "I told you to get the" who stops in mid sentence when he sees who it is that's walked inside.
Instead he grunts, and says "Pallen" with a nod of his shaved head to his fellow plainsman.
The leader of illegal wreckers then adds "Sasha" as the former mercenary makes her way inside behind her lover the blademaster. The good looking woman with one eye, who has a wicked looking scar down one side of her face, closes the door behind her.
Then Sasha asks Arvelle "What's happened?" as she and her lover Pallen look at the state of things here inside the two storey house, in particular the main room that they're in.
Chairs and tables have been overturned, as have drawers. Some of which look like they've been kicked to bits. There's a broken door leading to the corridor to the kitchen and other rooms down here on the ground floor.
The couple originally from the kingdom of Girdane look at their leader, who is visibly trying to get himself and his temper under control.
Arvelle closes his eyes, and takes a few deep breaths, then after he opens his eyes again, the tall plainsman with the shaved head says "Mac has gone".
Both Pallen and Sasha blink in surprise, as they were not expecting that. Then the two of them stare in surprise, after Arvelle points away to his right, and says "And some of the chests have gone".
"What the fuck?" is what Pallen eventually mutters "I can't believe it" adds the dangerous blademaster. His lover, the former mercenary nods in agreement.
The leader of the crew of illegal wreckers sourly smiles, then wanders over to the row of chests and strongboxes along one of the walls. And he takes a seat on one of the larger ones, one of the lockers taken from an airship.
Sasha and Pallen walk over to Arvelle, who tells them "Two of these large lockers are gone, as is one of the strongboxes" he then adds "As well as a pair of the cask chests that holds the gems".
Both the former mercenary and the dangerous blademaster do a quick count of the remaining chests that hold the coins and gems they've made over the last year or so. With the exception of the profit Arvelle has already distributed amongst the crew of illegal wreckers.
Pallen and Sasha, along with Arvelle and Mac the dwarf, are the only ones who know exactly how much they have. And the amount of chests to hold all of their wealth. Both wince when the count comes up short. And is missing what their leader has described. More than a fifth, nearly a quarter of what they've made has gone. And so has the former shipwright from the Cascades, Mac the dwarf. 
"You think he took it?" asks Sasha, who to be honest thinks Mac probably took it, though she doesn't know how, or why. Considering the dwarf is Arvelle's best friend, and his offsider, his second in command, who he relies on more than anyone else.
"I don't want to think it was him" says the plainsman who leads the crew of illegal wreckers, who continues with "But he's the most likely suspect since he's gone missing, and no one has seen him since we went to bed last night".
Arvelle sighs in frustration at the betrayal from his best friend, who he has known for nearly a decade. Having met Mac in the Cascades, when the tall, fair, shaven headed plainsman was traveling along the coastal region of the Southlands, just inland from the crescent port of Gilsom.
The plainsman who leads the illegal wreckers shakes his head in disbelief, then looks at Pallen who says "That must of taken a bit of effort to move, even for Mac".
The blademaster, who though born and raised in the kingdom of Girdane, is actually a plainsman, continues with "Is a wagon or any of the horses missing?".
"I'm not sure" says Arvelle, who hasn't done anything really since discovering the chests of gold and gems missing, as well as Mac gone. Apart from smashing things in frustration, including the local woman he's been sleeping with.
"That's what we have to find out" says the dangerous blademaster, who after a slight pause, adds "And to find out if he had any help".
The tall plainsman, who unlike his fellow plainsman Arvelle, wears his hair long, and in braids, gestures at the wealth they've accumulated over the last year or so, and he says "Because i think he must of had help to move what he took".
"I agree" says Sasha, who will admit that Mac is the strongest of the wreckers, but no way could he of moved all the missing chests by himself. At least not quietly, without anyone noticing. Even if he took it in the middle of night.
Arvelle nods then says "You're right" he looks at his fellow plainsman Pallen, and tells him "Find out who might of helped him".
Sasha slightly winces at that, as she knows what methods her lover the blademaster will use to extract information. She quickly says "Maybe i should do that".
Pallen looks at her, then shrugs and says "Fine by me" then the dangerous blademaster adds "It would be a whole lot easier if one of the spellcasters was back".
The tall plainsman from Girdane, who like all plainsmen, isn't particularly trusting of practitioners of magic then says "They might be as useful as tits on a bull at times, but occasionally they have their uses, and finding information and figuring out who's telling the truth or not is something they're actually good at".
"That they are" quietly says Sasha, who after a momentary pause, continues with "Interesting that this happened when none of our spellcasters were here".
The two plainsmen fall silent at that, as they contemplate what the good looking woman, who has just one eye, and a gnarly looking scar down one side of her face, just said.
Then Pallen quietly asks his lover "You think he planned it like this?" followed by "Wait until Samiel, the twins and Davon all left?". "Could be" says Sasha, who then adds "Who knows?".
"Who knows?" murmurs Arvelle with a nod of his head, then the leader of the crew of illegal wreckers calls out "Gorlic get in here!" as he figures the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury is waiting just outside.
Gorlic opens the door, and enters the house, and Arvelle tells him "See if any of the wagons and carts are missing" followed by "And any of the horses too".
The leader of the crew of illegal wreckers who have brought down numerous airships across the Kaldel Plains over the last year or so, then says "And see if anyone can find any sign of Mac, and where he might of gone to".
Gorlic nods, and says "Will do" then hurries back outside, and starts calling out to some of the other wreckers waiting nearby, wondering what's going on.
Inside the two storey house, Arvelle says to Sasha "See what you can find out".
The leader of the crew of illegal wreckers looks at his fellow plainsman Pallen, and tells him "Meanwhile we'll search the village and the surrounding area just incase he's hiding somewhere, or he's hidden what was taken". Pallen nods, then he says "We'll need help with that".
"Anyone else you trust?" asks Arvelle "Well Gorlic, but he's busy" says the dangerous blademaster, who continues with "The brothers Tim and Tom".
"And Sovirn" adds Sasha the former mercenary, who then says "And no one else" she continues with "The less who know about this, the better".
"That, i can certainly agree with" says the tall, shaven headed plainsman who leads the crew of illegal wreckers, Arvelle then adds "Let's go".
They make their way outside, and after Arvelle closes the door, he sets a number of the wreckers to guard the two storey house, and to let no one inside.
The leader of the crew of illegal wreckers looks around and spots the local woman he's been sleeping with recently. Who has moved away to the corner of the house. She looks more than a little frightened to see him.
"You" says Arvelle to the local woman "Get lost" adds the leader of the illegal wreckers who follows that with "And don't ever come back".
She's just about to ask about her things in the house, when she sees Sasha behind Arvelle look her way, and slightly shake her head no.
The local woman turns and walks away. With the leader of the illegal wreckers watching her for a moment or two, then he walks away.
As Pallen goes to follow him, Sasha quietly says to her lover "Be careful" followed by "I don't like this one bit".
"You think there's more to this than just Mac?" quietly asks the blademaster, who trusts his lover more anyone, including himself. As she has a knack for working and finding things out.
"I do' quietly says the former mercenary from the kingdom of Girdane, who then nods for her lover to follow their leader.
Pallen nods, and goes after Arvelle, who is heading to one of the damaged airships. Where the brothers Tim and Tom are discussing with a few of the other wreckers. What's still to be done to dismantle the vessel from the kingdom of Druvic.
Sasha looks around and spots Sovirn, and waves her over. When the tall plainswoman walks over to her, the good looking woman with one eye quietly asks her "Have you seen Mac this morning?".
Sasha watches Sovirn's face closely as the plainswoman says "No i haven't" followed by "Why?".
"Nothing really" says the former mercenary who gestures over to the airship where Arvelle and Pallen, have stepped away to have a quiet word with the brothers Tim and Tom.
"Go to Arvelle" quietly says Sasha, who then adds "He and Pallen, and the brothers need help with something".
The only wrecker who is a plainswoman lifts her eyebrows in enquiring manner. But she doesn't say anything, and just nods her head. Then makes her way to where the leader of the illegal wreckers, and the dangerous blademaster are talking with the brothers Tom and Tim.
Meanwhile Sasha spots a couple more of the wreckers. And she goes over and speaks to them. Quietly asking them if they've seen Mac since last night. Closely watching their faces and their reactions to that particular question.
The good looking woman with just one eye and a gnarly looking scar down her face after questioning a few more of the wreckers.
Spots Gorlic hurry around from behind the two storey house where Arvelle lives. The former arena fighter looks around and spots the former mercenary, and he hurries over to her.
"The only wagons and horses that are gone are the ones that went south to town yesterday" says Gorlic when he gets to Sasha.
Hell! the former mercenary from the kingdom of Girdane thinks to herself, who then silently adds, how did he take it then?
Sasha then points to the otherside of the village green after asking Gorlic if he's seen Mac this morning, and closely watching his reaction to that question.
"Pallen and Arvelle went that with Sovirn and the brothers, go to them, they need your help looking for any sign of Mac" quietly says Sasha.
"Why?" asks the former arena fighter from the city-state of Brattonbury, who then adds "What's happened?".
"Arvelle will tell you" says the former mercenary from the kingdom of Girdane.
Gorlic just shrugs, and he goes off to find the leader of the crew of illegal wreckers and the others with him.
While Sasha continues to question both locals as well as her fellow wreckers to see if they've seen Mac the dwarf since last night.
As she does, the good looking woman with just one eye, wonders why the former shipwright decided to steal from them. Since he's been so loyal to the rest of the wreckers until now.
She also wonders if he had help. And if he did. She intends to find out who it was that helped him to take nearly a quarter of the wealth they have made over the last year or so by taking down airships flying over the Kaldel Plains . . . . . .

Aftermath 31.

The Kaldel Plains...

They get some rest throughout the remainder of the day. With Tamric Drubine even able to fall asleep. Not so the other three, who are all slightly edgy after the young field commander tells them what they're going to do tonight.
The only time they show any nerves is when a couple of the younger locals, and one of the wreckers returns from the bushland a couple of miles to the south of the village, with the herd of goats they've grazed down there.
Instead of going directly to the village, they swing out to the east. Looking like they're heading for the small rise the four of them have been observing the village from over the last two days.
The herders and their goats get within a hundred yards of the rise, before they turn back into the village as the sun sets across the Kaldel Plains to the west.
Lisell Maera, Tovis the war engineer and Beldane the cleric don't even bother to wake Tamric Drubine with the herders and their goats not that far from them.
They only wake the nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin once the sun sets in the west, and night falls upon the Kaldel Plains.
Once he's awake, and gone down to stretch behind the small rise, then had something to eat.
Field commander Drubine takes out his brass, cylindrical eyepiece, twists the ring towards the end of it, which allows him to see at night through the magical instrument.
And observes the nearby village, especially the otherside. The western side, specifically the northwest corner of the village green, and the two storey house there.
"Looks like they're working into the night" quietly says Tamric Drubine as he sees some of the wreckers are still dismantling one of the damaged airships on the village green.
"Is that going to wreck our plans?" quietly asks Lisell Maera, who then quickly adds in a murmur "Sorry about the pun".
The young field commander in the armies of Farque slightly smiles as he shakes his head, then he says "Not necessarily".
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, continues on with "At least that lot won't run into us if they're busy".
"You hope" dryly says the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury, who is a messenger in the armies of Farque.
"I hope" murmurs the former heir of a previous knight of castle Drubine, a castle in the north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
Field commander Drubine then says "We won't go until much later" he looks over at the cleric Beldane and asks him "Can you sense anything on that house, or in it from here?".
"There's nothing" is the quiet reply of Beldane the cleric, who then adds "That leader must be awfully trusting of his crew not to".
"I think the threat of violence keeps them in line, and not get it into their heads to steal any of it" quietly says Lisell Maera, who is more often or not, called Lis by the others.
"Besides if they do, they're just stealing from themselves" adds the tall, lithe young woman who is a runner in the scouts division of one of the armies of Farque "And no one really wants to do that" adds Lis.
The others nod in agreement to that, then the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin who leads them, quietly says "We do it as quickly as possible" he then adds "And remember we don't have to take everything, just what we can carry" Tam follows that with "They'll definitely notice a handful of them missing".
"Then let the chaos ensue" quietly says Lisell Maera in the elven language, next to her, Tamric Drubine nods in agreement, and quietly says in elven "Indeed".
Then in the common language, the young field commander asks the cleric in the church of Glaine "Are you sure you're able to do it?".
"Easily" says the fighting cleric who hails from the kingdom of Nastell, which lies to the east of the Kaldel Plains.
The powerful spellcaster who is from the duchy of Phelm in northern Nastell continues with "It isn't far to the village, and the second one will be even shorter" Beldane then adds "It's always been distance relevant, and since it isn't far, it isn't difficult".
"And you're fine with casting multiple spells at once?" asks the nobleborn teenager who knows a thing or two about spellcasters and their abilities, having spent more than half of his young life around them.
Besides he has to know what they can and cannot do if they're under his command, and he has to use them in battle.
"I can" says the churchman who continues with "Two I'm fine with, three and it's a bit of struggle, while four is a push even for me".
Tam nods, as he knows most practitioners of magic struggle to cast two spells at once. As casting multiple spells has nothing to do with how powerful you are at magic. It has everything to do with how skilled you are, and how much willpower you have.
The young field commander is glad the fighting cleric has a good mix of both. He's powerful, as well as skillful enough to cast two or more spells at once.
"Were you able to get a good view of around the back of that place?" asks Tamric Drubine referring to the two storey house on the northwest corner of the village green. A house that Lisell Maera has described in detail from her time in the village today where she posed as a local plainswoman.
"I did" says the member of the church of Glaine, who continues with "When you were sleeping i took a wander away to our right, and looked through the eyepiece at it" the powerful cleric then adds "I got a good look all along the north side of the village".
"Good" murmurs the young field commander in the armies of Farque, who as he continues to observe what's happening in the village less than a quarter of a mile from them, quietly adds "Now we wait".
The four of them wait for quite some time, as throughout the night, the wreckers slowly leave the ships they've been dismantling, and make their way to their homes, to get something to eat, and have a good night's sleep, before starting again early in the morning.
After the last of the wreckers make their way from the village green, Tamric Drubine concentrates solely upon the two storey house at the northwest corner of the village green.
The house that's being used as the headquarters, and the abode of the leader of the crew of illegal wreckers, Arvelle.
The nobleborn teenager watches to see who enters and leaves that house during the night. Seeing a few people do so. Until finally the dwarf named Mac, and Arvelle himself enter it. After they've spoken with the blademaster named Pallen, and the woman named Sasha.
Tam watches the blademaster and the woman, who Lis found out are a couple. Walk away from the two storey house, heading to the southeastern edge of the village. Where the house they share, is a little away from all the other houses and buildings in the village the illegal wreckers have taken over.
Field commander Drubine quietly says "Looks like everyone is turning in for the night" then as he continues to watch the house that the leader of the illegal wreckers is living in, Tam adds "Hope there isn't too many night owls amongst them".
The others all whole heartedly agree with that, then the nobleborn teenager quietly asks the attractive young woman next to him "You absolutely certain it's just the three of them in there?".
"That's what she said" quietly says the messenger who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, who continues with "Her, that Arvelle the leader, and that dwarf Mac".
"We'll have to careful" says Tamric Drubine, who follows that with "Especially of that dwarf" he then adds "Even if he's half awake, he'll hear us, no matter how quiet we are".
The others nod, and as one of the last summer's night gets cooler and cooler, as it often does here on the Kaldel Plains.
The four of them, who are in the armies of Farque. Watch as one by one, the houses in the village go dark as lamps and candles are blown out, as people. Both wreckers and locals, go to bed.
Soon there's only a few houses left where people are still up. Including the two storey house that's the abode of the leader of the illegal wreckers, the plainsman named Arvelle.
Eventually the lamps or candles in the upstairs rooms in that house go out too. And it like most of the village, is in darkness.
Even then, the young field commander originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin continues to wait. Then eventually Tamric Drubine quietly says "Let's go".
The four of them crawl backwards  then only when they're on the backside of the rise, do they stand up, turn and make their way down onto the flat ground.
There in the near darkness, only lit by the faint white glow of Beldane's mace, they check their weapons and equipment.
"Remember, only as much as you can carry" quietly says Tam, then after the others nod, the young field commander looks at the powerful cleric, and quietly tells him "Do it".
The churchman nods, then Beldane casts a gateway spell. He could teleport them as it's far quicker than a gateway, but he'd have to look at where he's going. And that would be another spell to see in the night.
But with a gateway, he has already seen where he wants to go. Besides, teleporting is all to do with weight and distance. And with what the four of them are about to carry, they're going to way heavier than they normally are.
The gateway starts to materialise, then once it froms. Beldane goes through first, when he normally goes through last. He's quickly followed by Lisell Maera, then after a moment, Tamric Drubine then Tovis the war engineer.
The otherside of the gateway, is right behind the two storey house on the northwest corner of the village green.
The fighting cleric who has dampened the light of his mace, takes a quick step to follow Lis, who came out of the gateway right behind him.
The messenger is right up against the house, at a window. And as Tam and Tovis come out of the gateway behind them. She takes her dagger, and carefully pushes it between the shutters, and quietly prys them apart.
Beldane has already cast another spell upon himself, so that he can see in the dark. And he moves up right beside Lis, and looks through the gap she has opened between the two shutters.
He nods, and as the attractive young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, quietly and carefully pulls her dagger free, and closes the shutters.
The fighting cleric in the church of Glaine who has dropped his night vision spell, and is already casting again.
It's another gateway, which he places right next to the first one. It doesn't take long to form, infact it's almost instantaneous.
Once it's complete, Tamric Drubine is the first one through, followed by Tovis the war engineer, then Lisell Maera and finally Beldane the cleric, who leaves both gateways up and open.
They're in a room on the ground floor of the two storey house. They're completely still, and Beldane's mace slowly starts to glow white.
The powerful cleric turns to his right, and the faint light coming from his magical weapon, illuminates what's on the floor.
Tam faintly smiles as they see the row of chests of varying sizes, stacked up against the wall that way.
The young field commander doesn't even say anything, or even nod. They all move as quietly as possible to get some of the chests, to carry back through the gateway to outside.
Mac the dwarf is half asleep when he's certain he hears something in the main room of the house.
The former shipwright from the Cascades, those low mountains and hill country near the coast of the Southlands, inland from the crescent port of Gilsom.
Sits up in bed, and listens carefully. The former shipwright, whose bedroom is on the ground floor. As he sees it's best that Arvelle has all the privacy he wants upstairs.
Slowly gets out of bed, and in the darkness grabs his axe, and blades when he's certain he hears something from the main room of the house.
The dwarf, who wonders how the hell someone got inside, when he himself looks all the doors and shutters to the house. Slips out of his room, and on barefeet, makes his way quietly down the hallway.
He's certain that there's more than one person in the main room of the house, by the sounds of it, there might be three or four of them. Even though they're moving about as silently as they can.
But his enhanced hearing has picked up them moving about. And by the sounds of it, they're moving and lifting some of the chests of gold and precious gems that are stored there.
Mac sneers in disgust and anger as he moves silently down the hallway, thinking about how they've been able to get inside, and to try and steal what's stored in the main room of the house.
The dwarf from the Cascades plans to show them what he thinks of their actions, and as he approaches the end of the hallway, he spots the faintest of lights coming from the main room.
The former shipwright who doesn't need light to see in the dark, sneers again as he hefts his axe, and takes a long dagger from baldric across his chest as he prepares to attack whoever it is that's trying to steal the chests of gold and precious gems.
Lisell Maera carries two of the smaller chests, fairly light as they must contain jems instead of coins. Through the gateway to outside the two storey house, she steps to one side, and biffs them through the other gateway that leads to the east of the village.
The messenger steps back to the side, and hurries back through the other gateway that leads back inside the house.
She steps into the room, unconsciously as by rote, holding her crossbow that's always loaded when she goes into dangerous situations.
The attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury glances to her right, where Tovis the war engineer is carrying one of the large ship's lockers by himself.
While Tamric Drubine and Beldane are carrying another one between them, on top of which is a slightly smaller chest.
Lis steps to the side of the gateway to allow Tovis through, when from the faint white glow of Beldane's mace, which is the only thing they can see by in the dark room. She sees a glint of metal away to her left.
The attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury instantly turns that way, and fires her crossbow. The bolt hits, and a body falls to the floor with a groan.
Lis pulls back on the underside of her crossbow, quickly reloading it, while Tamric Drubine quietly urges them to hurry.
As Tovis goes through the gateway, the messenger takes a couple of steps to the right, and can just make out that it's the dwarf named Mac she's shot, who is lying on the floor, grasping at the crossbow bolt in his chest.
Then as the young field commander and fighting cleric are about to go through the gateway, Tamric Drubine quietly says in elven "Bring the body".
The two of them go through the gateway as Lis shoots the wounded dwarf in the head, killing him.
She swings her crossbow on it's strap across her back, and grabs the dwarf under the arms, and drags him across the floor, hoping that Arvelle and the plainswoman upstairs don't wake.
As she gets closer to the gateway in the dark room, the messenger is joined by Tovis the war engineer who has come back through the gateway.
He helps her to lift the dead dwarf, and they carry him through the gateway to outside.
The two of them step to the side, and with the body of Mac the dwarf between them, they go through the gateway that takes them to the east of the village.
A couple of moments later and the gateway that goes into the two storey house disappears, then the other gateway they've gone through vanishes . . . . . .