*With nothing else to do, Vanitri and Mearran eat a hearty meal of stew, bread, vegetables, and a small slice of meat at one of the tables downstairs, served by a pretty girl who also works as a barmaid. After heading upstairs, they rest peacefully for the night and wake rested the next day. Laynie sleeps with whichever of them prefers. Triton sleeps on the floor.*

Mearran gets up quietly, and communes at dawn. He'll then go down stairs and find out about breakfast

*Mearran finds that the breakfast entails some warm buttered toast with eggs and fresh juice. Laynie is still sleeping, if no one disturbs her.*

Vanitri rises in the morning, and does not desturb Laynie. He enjoys a fine breakfast, and then brings up some for Laynie.

*When Vanitri comes back up, Laynie is still sleeping, although Triton has climbed up into the bed and is lying cuddled up against her, as she sleeps peacefully.*

"Come on Laynie, it's almost time to get moving. I brought you breakfast."

"Zxarv? Bqarch Draxavis," Laynie murmurs back softly, her eyes still closed as she is still mostly asleep.

Vanitri tries again to rouse her, though only half heartedly.

"Zxarv?" Laynie yawns and speaks again, a smile still on her face as she is dreaming, but then she opens her eyes, and turns to face Vanitri.

"Oh, sorry, was I sleeping too much?" she looks over and discovers Triton and her smile fades, "Y'know, I haven't slept in a bed in a long long time. It brang back memories..."

"I brought you breakfast little one," Vanitri says, and a calming voice. "I'm here if you'd like to talk about your memories.."

"Breakfast? Oh, thank you Mister Freefolk Guy. Nah, I don't really need to talk or anything. Just nasty algae or something, you know?"

"Nastalga?" Vanitri asks, not wanting to know what nasty algae is.

"Nostalgia? Is that the word? I don't know...I thought it was nasty algae."

"Yes, that is the world you're looking for I think." Vanitri says with a smile.

"Oh, okay...grownups know so many words, it is hard to remember them all sometimes..."

"Oh, okay...grownups know so many words, it is hard to remember them all sometimes..."
"I'm not the wordsmith myself Laynie, but you'll learn, it's part of living and exploring."

"Only another day or two journy, are you excited?"

"I guess so...Should I be, Mister Freefolk Guy?"

"Well, aren't you excited to find a teacher?"

"Well, I wanted to find a mentaur, but now we're gonna go to a cadme instead, and I'm not sure what it is, but it doesn't sound like a mentaur."

"Well, I wanted to find a mentaur, but now we're gonna go to a cadme instead, and I'm not sure what it is, but it doesn't sound like a mentaur."
"It's a collection of lots of mentors. You can even do your own studying as well."

"So lots of mentaurs is a cadme? That's even weirder than when lots of crows is a murder."

"An Academy. Academy is one word. Students go there to learn, and teachers go there to teach as well as study, but it's much more advanced than normal schooling."

OOC: I'm just glad she's not looking for Minotaurs.

"Oh...but I never been to school at all, Mister Freefolk Guy...is it going to be too hard for kids?"

(OOC: She still isn't entirely clear that a mentor and a minotaur are different things from her talk with Mearran. She thinks mentors live in a maze and have horns, but also wings and can teach people to fly :D)

"Well, you're a special kid Laynie, and I'm sure they'll have something for a young one like you."

"Really? Aww, you're sweet," she gives Vanitri a big hug.

Vanitri smiles and hugs Laynie back. "Now eat up kiddo. Got a long trip ahead of us still."

Once Laynie and everyone else is ready, they'll head out.

*Laynie eats and makes herself ready, if Mearran and Vanitri are as well.*

Vanitri is ready to go, simply neading to retrieve his horse.

*Vanitri, Mearran, and Laynie, continue onwards, following the road for two more days to the small town of Triesk, from which they can continue offroad for two days to reach the Academy. Unlike some of the rest stops on the initial stretch, Triesk is situated perfectly so that they reach the little town just as they are getting ready to stop for a rest.*

"So, any ideas? I'm just about tapped out for for money." Vanitri says.

"Uhhh....how about we ask some nice people for money? Maybe they'll give us money?"

Vanitri chuckles "Perhaps, but few are that generious. They usually want something in return. But, we shall see."

Vanitri looks around for a suitable "mark", perhaps someone he can lift a few coins from, or perhpas a good spot to setup a small acrobatic performance.

*After scouting around, Vanitri finds a little spot with enough space for some tumbling, and he also notices a small caravan with a rather wealthy-looking half-orc merchant coming into town, perhaps a good mark for a quick pickpocket.*

"Mearran, you take Rambler and Laynie and see if you can find a good Inn. I'll meet up with you later."

Vanitri slips off his horse and hands the reigns to Mearran. He then heads off and blends into the crowd, looking for an easy mark on the half-orc merchant caravan.

*As the others head off to look for an inn, Vanitri blends into the shadows, waiting for an easy mark to present himself. Eventually, he sees a slightly tipsy human man in the caravan walking alongside a wagon and turned to face it, talking to someone inside. Both drunk and looking the other way, this seems like a good chance.*

*As the others head off to look for an inn, Vanitri blends into the shadows, waiting for an easy mark to present himself. Eventually, he sees a slightly tipsy human man in the caravan walking alongside a wagon and turned to face it, talking to someone inside. Both drunk and looking the other way, this seems like a good chance.*
Vanitri will go about this the best way he sees fit.

Given I'm Not a pick pocket, I'm wondering weather a stealthy pick or a bump/pick would work better. I'll let you decide and Van will do whichever works. However, if he spots more than one likely coin purse, he'll aim for the smaller one. No need to take much more than he needs, as is the mongrel/freefolk way. He's just "salvaging" ;)

*Vanitri manages to lift a few gold coins from the man's purse without the man noticing.*

(OOC: 15 + 5 = 20, yay--Vanitri gains 4 gold!)

Vanitri smiles hearily as he puts them away once he finds a quiet spot, and then heads back to find his friends.

*Mearran is standing outside of a small inn that he has found, apparently called the Rising Sun, and he waves to Vanitri when he sees him.*

*Mearran is standing outside of a small inn that he has found, apparently called the Rising Sun, and he waves to Vanitri when he sees him.*
"Looks like they're generous here in town, let's get a room and a bite, shall we?"

"See? I knew they would give you money if you asked nicely!" Laynie replies, as they enter the inn.

"Welcome travelers," the innkeeper greets, "I guess you three are together, right?"

"See? I knew they would give you money if you asked nicely!" Laynie replies, as they enter the inn.

"Welcome travelers," the innkeeper greets, "I guess you three are together, right?"
"Yes, one room with a double bed, and I have a horse that needs caring for."

"Very well, that'll be two gold. Here's your key. You may want to bolt your door tonight--it's a full moon tonight. We haven't seen any critters about, but it never hurts to be suspicious, y'know?"

Vanitri chuckles and nods "Aye, ya never can be too careful."

Vanitri hands the key to Mearran "I'm going to go see if the people are still feeling generous."

Vanitri will head out to that spot he saw where a tumbling show could be easily done, and see what else he can earn.

*Vanitri spends a few hours tumbling and has a great performance, one of his best ever. He manages to make 6 silvers for only a few hours of tumbling, and he could have had gold if he had spent the whole day. But it is getting pretty dark, and people are clearing the streets.*

(OOC: Lucky roll--17 + 4 = 21, yay!)

Vanitri smiles and returns to the inn, hoping for a hot meal before he catches some rest.

*Vanitri shares a nice meal with Mearran and Laynie, who seems a bit agitated, bouncing about just a little, excited, perhaps, that their journey is almost at an end.*

"Feeling excited Laynie?"

*poke*

(OOC: Oops. Me dumb :o)

"Ummm...I guess so. Should I be excited, Mister Vanitri?"

"Well, it's been a long journy, and we're nearly there. I'd think I'd be excited."

"Oh, okay. I guess I'm excited too then. I want to find a mentor some day."

"Well, it's been a long journy, but we're hopefully in the right place."

"Okay! Thanks for helping so much, Vanitri. You're a nice man."

"Glad I could help you Laynie. You're kind of like the little sister I never had."

"But Vanitri, didn't you say that pretty half-elven lady was you little sister?"

Vanitri chuckles "That's just my nick name for her. She's probably older than I am though. Besides, you never can have enough family."

"Oh, okay. I guess you're right...But I don't have any family..."

"Well, technicaly neither do but, but I'd rather think I have a large family out there of people who would gladly help me if I asked, and isn't that what family is about?"

"I...I guess you're right..."

"Tell ya what. If you want, you're welcome to consider me family. I already think of you as such. You can call me whatever you want, or not. It's all up to you." Vanitri offers a kind smile to Laynie, looking her in the eyes.

"What do you think I should call you, Vanitri?"

"What do you think I should call you, Vanitri?"
"Well, it's up to you. Uncle is often common in extended family. Or Brother, or even Big Brother."

"Oh, I see...you know, I never had a Brother or an Uncle before."

"Well, I don't think I can do both, but if you like, either one will work. It's all what you're comfortable with."

"Well, okay...I guess. So Uncle Brother Vanitri, are you going to stay with me?"

Vanitri laughs "I don't think you need to use both of them, and no, I can't stay for too long, but I can certaintly visit and write to you. But you know the ones who care for you are always with you, in your heart."

"Only sometimes," Laynie replies seriously, "There's a bad lady called Halina who takes them away from us to be with her cuz she's mean and greedy."

"I don't know about that. Halina is more about bringing life than taking it," Vanitri says. "Those that follow her say she brings them the harvest, and she also helps bring them little children such as yourself. Nothing about taking parents away."

Vanitri kneels down by Laynie and looks her in the eye. "Besides, when we love someone strong enough, they're always in our heart. No one can ever take that away from us."

"You're right! That mean old Halina can't have the people I love--I won't let her!"

"Layne, Halina isn't trying to take them away from you. I'm sure of it." Vanitri says. "Perhaps later you'll understand what these strangers did, but I'd not worry about that now. Just be happy that you're here, that your parents are with you in your heart, and let everything else sort itself out."

"So no more talk about those mean people or Halina or Mongrel or such, let's forcus on what's good, ok?"

"Well...okay...but they are bad people, and they'll hurt you too if you let them."

"Well, I'll keep that in mind if I meet them, ok?"

OOC: Ok, I feel bad, I'm completely lost about where we are other than close.

(OOC: You have reached the small town of Triesk--2 days from Old Medibaria. The moon is full and the time is ripe for the last leg of your journey :))

Once the night has passed and turned back into the day, they will set off once again.

*They settle down in bed and get some good rest.*

*However, in the wee hours in the morning, Vanitri hears a loud commotion outside, some bells ringing and people moving about. It is enough to wake him up and Mearran as well, although Laynie manages to sleep through it as children sometimes do, resting up against Vanitri in the bed they are sharing like a little girl who isn't used to having an adult to keep her safe.*

"Watch her, I'm going to see what's happening. Come if you hear me call for you." Vanitri says to Mearran.

He quickly grabs his stuff and runs downstairs and outside to see what the comotion is about.

OOC: Spot +3, Listen +3

*Mearran nods and moves over to watch Laynie as Vanitri runs downstairs and outside, where he sees some villagers standing around frightened as well as town guards moving about purposefully.*

Vanitri looks around for one of the less paniced townsfolk and ask "What's happening?"

"S...something...during the dead of night, just around midnight..." the townsman replies nervously, "They think it might be werewolves...But all those half-orcs on the travelling merchant caravan are dead. I knew they were pressing their luck camping outside with their wagons like that..."

"Is there a problem with werewolves in the area?"

"Well, not really until now. I mean, we haven't seen any...but it was a full moon, and that's when werewolves attack, right?"

"That's what legends say at least," Vanitri says. "Thanks for your help."

Vanitri will make his way over to where the "incident" happened, to see what is going on, and perhaps if there is anything the victems will no longer need.

*There don't appear to be any people who need help--the victims were either killed cleanly or left alone completely. While nothing seems to be stolen, the presence of town guards investigating the matter is a rather strong deterrant to 'liberating' the goods for his own. Besides, the families of the deceased will probably need those things now more than ever.*

Vanitri scounts the area, making his presence known to the guards first, goes about looking for tracks and potential clues outside of the camp, and even inside if the guards let them. If they ask, he'll respond "I'm just wondering what's out there, for I intend to hit the road if it's safe. A traveler can't be too careful."

*The guards hail Vanitri warily, but they politely request that he stays outside of the direct crime scenes for the time being. Nonetheless, he is able to detect tracks leading between the scenes of the murders. Not fresh enough to follow them, but they seem to be from a single barefoot human of average height and weight, perhaps a werewolf in human or hybrid form.*

Vanitri will not the direction they head off in (Is it the way we're going?) and alert the guards to their presence before he waves and heads back into town to the Inn.

*The tracks seem to meander back and forth, heading between victims and such. There is no clear direction of egress.*

Vanitri sighs and heads back to the Inn.

"Well, the rumor is that there was a werewolf attack, but I couldn't tell anything more than there was an attack, and they did a pretty good job of confusing their tracks. Is there a town between here and our next stop? It might not be safe to sleep on the road."

*Mearran shrugs, unsure.*

"I don't know...I don't remember seeing one on the map, though. Still, it is less than two day's journey, so if we can make it through one night, we should be good to go."

"Then let's get moving then."

Vanitri is more cautious than normal, keeping his eyes and ears open on the road.

*The group heads onward, and they do not encounter any werewolves, or really anything except local fauna, for the first day. After a good night's rest, they continue onward. Eventually, they see Medibaria in the distance with the evening fast approaching.*

"There it is, Medibaria," Vanitri says. "It's been a long journy."

"Indeed it has," Mearran agrees, "But we made it here in one piece. I was worried for a minute when I heard about those werewolves!"

"Just some town's folks misconceptions I'd bet," Vanitri says, quite knowingly.

"You're probably right, though if it wasn't werewolves, I wonder what it was? Maybe a band of thieves."

Vanitri shrugs, "No matter, it's behind us now."

Vanitri looks around as they enter the town, looking for signs of the order.

*The two travelers enter the gates into the city. It is a large town built of ancient stone blocks that have clearly been moved and reused. Once, this place was the capital of an ancient empire, but now it has lost its great influence. Even so, the people here cling to the memory of the Medibarian Empire.*

*The town is built aside and a bit above the ruins of a massive older city, apparently moving towards the nearby river, as the coastline has retreated over time.*

"Well, let's see if we can find the order, and then perhaps some place to stay."

Vanitri looks for the tell tale clothing of a member of the order.

*As Vanitri and the others walk through the streets, they thread through groups of other passers-by, mainly dressed in layers of loose linen in browns and whites that seems to be a Medibarian style, with large eyes in grey, hazel, and blue, some flecked with gold. Both men and women often wear their lightly-coloured hair long, though the men tend towards lightly-beaded braids and the women sport patterned scarves that help keep their hair spilling down the back in a controlled fashion.*

*Vanitri doesn't see any obvious members of the order, but he does see many buildings of various sorts, with writing in both common and a language that Vanitri cannot read. A friendly man from one of the buildings waves Vanitri over:*

"You are travelers here, yes? Are you looking for a room for the night? You can stay at my inn--we have good prices for you."

"Good prices eh?" Vanitri says, heading over. "What kind of prices are you talking about?"

"Good price, my friend. All three for just one gold. We have nice cozy rooms, built from stone from ancient Medibaria, and some nice art pieces too. And safe for the kids and the cats, yes?"

"Indeed, were that to include meals, that would be a good deal," Vanitri says, leading the man.

"Ah, a canny bargainer, my friend, but food is not included so that you may sample the tastes of great Medibaria if you so choose. However, if you would like our home-cooked food, we will add that in for only 5 more silver for three meals for all three--a great deal! My wife and daughters have some delicious recipes too."

"Well, that offer is quite tempting. Perhaps you can help me my friend. How would I find the Chromatic Order?"

"Oh, I see. Here for the Academy?" the man looks a bit askance at the two, as they don't seem much like wizarding types, "Well, it is a bit of a trip to get there, but I guess that's how they want it. Here, you've come from Fallon and perhaps Orussus before that. You must be exhausted. Why don't I get you all a place to rest in your room while I lay out how to reach the Academy?"

"Aye, that would be nice." Vanitri says, handing the man the coin.

*The man smiles and pockets the coin, as he leads the travelers into the small hostel, which is more of a converted home than a huge inn with a bar like the Red Dragon of Orussus. As they enter, the man waves a finger at a young girl, who nods and runs on ahead. The interior of the hostel is decorated here and there with simple artwork that seems to fit with the Medibarian style seen in the city gates and building fronts. The man leads Vanitri's group up a small set of stairs to a hallway with six doors, one of which is slightly ajar. The girl walks out of the door and pulls a key from her pocket, which she hands to Vanitri shyly.*

"Thank you Darina, you can go back downstairs and play now," the man tells the girl, as he leads the trio into the room, which is far too small to be a triple but will fit the needs of one normal person and two child-sized.

"Here, take a seat on the bed," he offers, as he waits for them to get settled"Now, the Academy is not exactly the best tourist stop here in Medibaria. In fact, it isn't really near anything else. The mages are stubborn, you know, and even though the New City has moved towards the water over time and built up higher on the debris of what has come before, the Academy is still down among the ruins of the Old City, an ancient but well-preserved complex with a central stronghold and seven towers. It is an eerie place to visit in the night, as strange lights and sounds pervade the area around it after dark, perhaps the remnants of degrading warding magic. I've never been into the place itself, mind you, but I hear that there are strange things indeed within."

"Well, we've traveled too far to give up over an 'eerie building'," Vanitri says, "So that's certaintly not an issue. But I do appreciate your help my friend."

"It is no trouble. You can rest here if you like before setting out for that place. I will be downstairs," the man nods and heads out of the room.

"I'm going to see if I can't earn a little bit of money." Vanitri says to Mearan and Laynie.

Vanitri will look for a good place to do an acrobatic show, though if he spots a very good mark, he may lift a few coins if he can spot an ideal time to do it.

(OOC: How long will he be spending on this?)

OOC: Probably most of the eve. We need the money.

(OOC: So like 4 hours?)

OOC: Yup

*As Vanitri heads out and starts tumbling, it is not long before he is called over by an official-looking fellow in armour.*

"Excuse me, outlander. You look like you are new here. If not, please stop me, but you have the dust of the road on you, or so it seems. I thought I'd make sure you know that street performances of this sort in Medibaria are the province of the Jugglers, Tumblers, and Acrobats Guild. They can have you fined or jailed for unsanctioned performances, so if you plan on staying here for any significant time, you may want to become a member of the Guild--you do seem to have some talent at tumbling."

"Really? That seems rather like an odd arangement," Vanitri says. "Well, no matter, I shall stop for the moment then, as I've no wish for trouble. Thank you my good man."

Vantri picks up and counts what little coin he may have made, hoping that perhaps it will be enough to make it a few more days.