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Q'Barra: Facing Truth

If Goludov noticed the discrepancy in Kaelan's voice, he made no effort to show it. Instead he folded his hands on the desk and nodded as the group made their exit.

"Good luck. Make us proud. Protect each other."


With that, he looked back down at his desk and opened a rather thick book.
 

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Charles is the last to leave. He stops at the door and looks back while Goluduv is browsing the book.

If I don't come back in time to see Brick on his next visit, tell him I said thanks. Charles shuts the door gently before he could get an answer. He heads for his living quarters to prepare unless he is stopped.
 

Rookseye said:
"I will join you Catherine, perhaps the children would like some fruit!"

Catherine nods her assent. "That's fine with me, but try not to scare them this time, ok? Some of those kids had nightmares for a week. As Catherine heads towards the orphanage, she smiles to herself. Enjoying both the warmth of the sun (and by extension, Dol Arrah's embrace) and the pride that she had been selected as one of the academy's representatives for the Havenwood mission.

I wonder how many of the others have been on previous missions? I know Kaelan has, and I think Charles might have been on one. I'm sure I'm not the only first timer here.
 

Jogging a little to catch up with Catherine, Darrick quickly falls into step with her. "This should be interesting, eh? Finally a bit of action, a chance to prove ourselves."

He pauses, a little awkwardly. "I've...ah...a suspicion that force of arms may not be the best way to prevail in this mission. I'm not certain why that is, but nevertheless...."

After another pause, and a unconfrotable clearing of his throat, Darrick continues in a somewhat lower voice, "I'm must confess that, if I am correct in this, that this will not...ah...play to my strengths, if you understand me. I'm trained to hit things until they stop being a problem. You, on the other hand...."

He trails off.
 

Rolzup said:
Jogging a little to catch up with Catherine, Darrick quickly falls into step with her. "This should be interesting, eh? Finally a bit of action, a chance to prove ourselves."

He pauses, a little awkwardly. "I've...ah...a suspicion that force of arms may not be the best way to prevail in this mission. I'm not certain why that is, but nevertheless...."

After another pause, and a unconfrotable clearing of his throat, Darrick continues in a somewhat lower voice, "I'm must confess that, if I am correct in this, that this will not...ah...play to my strengths, if you understand me. I'm trained to hit things until they stop being a problem. You, on the other hand...."

He trails off.

Catherine pauses for a second, before looking over at Darrick. "Darrick, you don't give yourself enough credit. You are a fine diplomat and strategist. I agree with your sentiments, I also believe force of arms alone will not solve the issue at hand. I will admit though, if it does come down to combat, I'll trust your lead." Catherine pauses to laugh for a few seconds. "After all, how many times have you beaten me in sparring? I've lost count. I'm combat trained, but I'm not a warrior."

Catherine resumes her pace towards the orphanage. With apparent confidence in her voice, but less so on her face she says "After all, I'm likely here to serve as the diplomat and translator, in addition to serving as our healer. Just remember, none of us can handle this task alone. I'll need your help to try and work something out between the settlers and lizardfolk. Two voices preaching peace are far better than one, wouldn't you agree? Who better than those bound by codes of honor to bring peace to these people?
 

Yeoman said:
Catherine resumes her pace towards the orphanage. With apparent confidence in her voice, but less so on her face she says "After all, I'm likely here to serve as the diplomat and translator, in addition to serving as our healer. Just remember, none of us can handle this task alone. I'll need your help to try and work something out between the settlers and lizardfolk. Two voices preaching peace are far better than one, wouldn't you agree? Who better than those bound by codes of honor to bring peace to these people?

"True enough," Darrick agrees, sounding rather more cheerful than before. "'Words before blades', as Silavaen wrote, 'But the wise man prepares for both.'"

"And I'm sure," he adds heartily, throwing a glance at Sepoto, "That the others will agree, yes?"
 

Rolzup said:
"And I'm sure," he adds heartily, throwing a glance at Sepoto, "That the others will agree, yes?"

Catherine thinks on that for a moment. "I hope so. I've heard about Kaelan's and Charles's encounters with the lizardfolk before. I just hope they can keep their tempers in check.

Loking over to Sepoto, I'd uh, appreciate if you kept this conversation between the three of us quiet. Please?
 

Kaelan was in the bunk area going through the chest at the foot of his bed, stuffing some of its contents into a backpack. Oils to better see and hear, check. Extra alchemical capsules, check. Auran masks, check. Alchemist fire, rations, waterskin, and sunrods, check. Where is my wand? We'll need that if things get ugly.

Kaelan digs through his trunk, looking under some extra clothes. Nothing. Maybe I put it with my weapons... Kaelan looks under the bed for his weapons, which he wraps in his bedroll. There it is. I don't remember putting it here, oh well, no harm done. I hope I get to use this, he thinks as he hefts his double scimitar, too much time lifting a mop and broom, I hope I'm not too out of practice.

The situation at Havenwood is strange, it is not like the poisondusk to act the way they have. Maybe they are not behind it at all, maybe the people at Havenwood have just found somebody easy to blame. Or maybe they are being organized by a bigger threat, though what that could be, I'm not sure. I think I'll find Argent and work on my bladework, just in case.
Kaelan smiles.
 

"That's fine with me, but try not to scare them this time, ok? Some of those kids had nightmares for a week."

Sepoto considers what Catherine says for a moment before responding, a look of puzzlement coming across his features.

"Perhaps then the fruit I gave them last time was too ripe, Catherine. I guess there will be no fruit-gift this time, merely more rides upon my back in the roof rafters..."

"And I'm sure," he adds heartily, throwing a glance at Sepoto, "That the others will agree, yes?"

"Forgive Sepoto, I will be returning of the moment..."

After hearing Darrick's comment and seeing Charles head in the other direction, the shifter suddenly turns on his heel to chase after his friend. He doesn't even here Catherine's polite remonstration.

The chakit shifter slows just behind the scout, taking a moment to scratch the burnt-orange fur on his naked chest a before looking over to the distracted-looking Charles. When he speaks to the scout his voice is low and conspirational, almost comically so, his soto voce easily overheard by the others to Charles' chagrin.

"Friend-Charles, something troubles you. Your scent is like...well, it is like the smell of caged jaguar. A caged jaguar put into foul humor because it is raining and his cage has no roof."

Sepoto puts a long gangly arm reasuringly around the scout, a broad grin crossing his face.

"Think, soon, we will be in the jungle again, helping those in need, upon a great adventure! Why does this not make you as happy as I?"

He then drops his voice even lower, so that only Charles can now hear him, though they have traveled far enough away by now to be inaudible to Catherine and Darrick. While doing this he rummages around in his fruit pouch.

"I'Katra has spoken to me again Charles. We walk his chosen path! Fear not, he protects those that would do his will..."

Concluding with a flourish, Sepoto hands Charles his prize with a smile. A lemon.
 
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For lack of anything else to do...the warforged was largely self-contained, with most of his worldly possessions on his person or in one of his belt pouches...Trebuchet follows the largest concentration of students. While the whispered counsel of Catherine and Derrick is of interest to him, he has learned that lowered voices is a signal of desired privacy, and he accepts that.

Sepoto's words are clearly audible however, though appear directed towards Charles. Still, a term catches Trebuchet's attention, and he shifts to a jog to catch up to the vaguely bestial humanoid.

"Sepoto. You have often referred to 'I'Katra' in context as a mystical guiding force. I have not been able to find references to this term yet in the books of religious lore I have consulted. What is I'Katra?"
 

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