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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Deuce Traveler" data-source="post: 6528018" data-attributes="member: 34958">After a few more moments of conversation, there is a sound of flapping wings and pecking at the door.  A servant opens the portal, allowing Branwyn to land on Elsbeth's shoulder to the guffaws and glee of the Tsoylani.  The priest says, "That is indeed a wonderful gift.  I would be pleased to have you and your feathered friend visit my temple sometime tomorrow afternoon.  We can have lunch together inside and speak of spiritual matters.  I can show you some tricks that might help you on your journey, and give a blessing to aid you on your journey."Chor tells Briony as he saddles up next to her and rises to her knees to make a demonstration, "I do like the cuauholōlli, a type of mace with a copper head, when used in close quarters since it can break the bones of an enemy even though they may be well-armored.  But I have a confession about my love for the short spear.  I know it's a simple and inelegant weapon, but it has so many uses.  I can defend myself with it from enemies quite larger than me by setting it for a charge, I can slash with its tip, and if need be I can throw it with a strong thrust and impale from a distance.  I always start with the spear, then go back to the mace when the spear fails me.  I'll give you a demonstration sometime if you'd like."Laona chimes in and touches Zephia's arm lightly, "Friend Zephia, you should see a demonstration too.  Chor, let us take Zephia and Briony to the practice fields tomorrow.  Zephia can show off her technique that I want to see, and you can show Briony the spear and mace.  Also, the two of you would benefit, for we can show you how to fight the hlutgru, which we fear you will likely encounter on your quest."Chaturgha hiTokeshqu frowns and nods in acknowledgement.  "Ah yes, the hlutgru..."  Before she can continue, you hear a door down the hall open and numerous feet move out.  It seems like another meeting was in progress and just ended; and this is confirmed once an older Tsoylani with a bald head comes in whispers a few words in Chaturgha hiTokeshqu's ear.  She smiles at him, looks at Bella knowingly, and whispers something back.  The man turns, nods politely to Bella, and walks out the way he came.  "That was news about your male counterparts from Dlam of the Grey Cloak Clan, who are related to us of the Grey Wand Clan.  Their meeting was concluded, and Dlam was impressed with their tales of prowess but doubts they can handle situations which call for tact and etiquette.  So we will be sending them to the first route north of the swamp bogs where a joint military trading post of Shen and Imperial Sapphire Guardsmen operate.  North of that trading post are some main roads used for trade, but south are bandits and creatures of the bogs.  Their job will be to see if they can penetrate south through bandits and hlutgru towards the temple, and to support the trading post in scouting if need be.""You will be going to a village west of the bogs, run by members of the Black Earth Clan, and we will finance your expedition fully as well as provide for you passes allowing you temporary allowance for travel for the next few weeks.  We have reason to believe that the Black Earth Clan is involved in some disappearances of Tsoylani citizens, and it was they who suggested to the merchants that they traverse the swamp and bogs to the ruined temple, which resulted in the expedition nearly being all slaughtered by the four-armed hlutgru flesh-eaters.  Because of this, you will be accompanied by a member of the Azure Legion.  She will be working with you as a guide and will be operating undercover.  Get her safely to the Black Earth Clan and give her cover to conduct her investigations into that clan and we will ensure that each of you will be given a charter allowing you full access to the city of Jakalla for the purposes of trade and contract work, and you will also be allowed access outside of Jakalla as long as you are doing so in the service of a legalized contract.  There are many in the city that would procure your services, so this should open many doors for you."  "From there, you and the agent will go east towards the reported location of the temple so that she can investigate what cult the structure was made.  We fear that it may be an illegal cult, and if so we might have to send a larger force to destroy the building, and the agent's mapmaking skills will be vital for your mission.  Return with the agent's report and you will be given three crates of Tsoylani silks and one crate of rich baharat spice which I understand is now a sought after delicacy in your homeland.  Should you by chance find a strangely shimmering sphere in the center of the temple, know that we would be quite grateful for its recovery.  Even if you fail in your first two missions, we would still offer the same rewards just for the artifact, as the ruler of Jakalla himself, Lord Bedrántu hiSegutháne, has tasked our clan with its recovery.  Further, we would offer either 20,000 gold kaitars (coins) or a clan artifact of equal value in trade."</blockquote>

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