Charlie was absolutely adorable! He loved paperwork! To Irmiel it sounded in line with "I like to sit on the porcupines or eat broken glass on breakfast", but to each his own - she would not complain about that particular quirk of his character. Or the other one - to see a doll in a harpy. Most likely even that "nice lady" could not find it in her stone heart to offend such a sweet man. (Which meant she did have a heart and there is still hope for her? Irmiel began to lose her train of thought again)

He also sells books! Truly the man was godsent! And he will learn to like them too, Irmiel was sure of it. Now about her new companions... "He is sweet, is not he? A bit awkward but I can work with that. But speaking of work..." She looked at each one of them, smiled and began from Sistri. "Sorry about earlier. Are you alright? So many miscalculations on my part! I did not even ask if you want to be magically affected - just saw someone fighting and threw the spell. I can be a bit ... brash sometimes but I am working on it." Irmiel smiled again and turned her grey eyes with inescapable pink sparkles in them to the satyr.

 Of course, the "cleaning magic" was offered in full. "Llwyd. Lovely name." Irmiel was talking while "magicking away" ash and blood. "I never saw your kind before so up close. Some say it's possible on the borders with Cormanthor but never happened to me. Quite ... curious." She did not say more than that but even if a bit too invasive, like Kris's hug, her comments were made in the most friendly tone she could muster.

Kris got a long serious look. "The governesses... Right. Kristafelle, no offence, but are you sure you can go... anywhere? Don't get me wrong I saw you fighting but if your family will be searching for you constantly... Not sure we will be able to do much. I can not disguise you, sorry. The only option is running and hiding. But say honestly - is there a chance we can simply convince your parents to let you join some quest? Like... I don't know, telling them you signed to contract already? Or that it's more dangerous to be in the city now?" She really hoped there was some option - the last thing poor Charlie needed is to be declared a kidnapper.

Kris chuckles.  "I don't see Mother and Father ever allowing me to do anything other than read or play dragonchess.  It took monumental effort to convince them to give me fencing lessons, and only then because they thought it would be an effective way of showcasing me as a bride to some nobleman or other.  To say nothing of the magic!  They won't even speak of it!  But honestly, everything will be fine.  I"ll leave them a note!"  She looks extremely mischievous.  "Mother.  Father.  The time has come for me to return to sea.  I have enlisted as a trimmer on the fishing vessel The Salty Dwarf.  The horizon calls.  Give all my love to cousin Beatrix and little Nessy. Oh, it's fantastic, I would dream to see their faces!"  She practically cackles with delight. 

For some reason everyone finds themselves thanking their lucky stars that they don't have a teenage daughter, as they listen to Kris narrate a potential letter. It's unclear if she's expecting someone else to be doing the writing, and sending, and so on. She simply just sits there, her face alight with mischievous thoughts. 

That just left the matter of what to do with the rest of the day, besides arranging for a letter to be sent to one of the most powerful families in the country about their daughter skipping off on a fishing vessel. Of course, none of you knew if there was actually a vessel called the Salty Dwarf, but if there was....they were about to have a terrible day. 

Irmiel has a room at the Leaning Post, a quiet respectable Inn owned by House Hawklin.  Llwyd meanwhile was at an Inn called the Roving Dragon. Sistri has her homestead outside of Suzail. It's about a two hour ride, her horse being stabled at a stable called 'Leroy's', right next to the Winter's Light gate...the north and westerly most gate leading from the city proper. She'll need to decide if she wants to head home for the evening or not.  And of course, Kris' has the estate here in the city....but...she can hardly stay there.

Irmiel suddenly felt very ... not old exactly but so grown up and responsible, it was nauseating. "Sweety, if your family honour and reputation, your responsibilities, or feelings of your parents mean nothing to you, I am not the one to stop you. Go as wild as you wish, it's your life. But go big, then and make sure no one is searching for you. No letters. We just had an attack of the Shadovar - as unbelievable as it is. You could be killed in it. Or maybe kidnapped? A piece of your armour where the portal was might go a long way. Then it's a matter of your outfit and colours. Change the hair, sell the expensive armour for something cheaper - and no one will look twice at the starting merc." It's not like Irmiel was an experienced escapee, she just was smart and pointed out obvious problems. "I am not from around here but surely someone can help with it all."

“Thank you.” He said to Imriel, noticing the clean clothes. That spell would have make wonders for his laundry duty. “I have always been told that the are the kind to stay in the forests.” And no druid in the circle ever told otherwise, so he believed this to be the truth. “I guess it is to expected, considering our mothers.”

Unfortunately the wizard could not disguise Kris. The warrior adapted to this, having a plan that suddenly made the Satyr extremely grateful for not being a father. Oh, that is how Coch felt. He realized remembering the things he used to do in his younger years. Steal food, eat spell components, play with fire and almost put the King’s Forest to the torch. Compared to younger me she may be an angel.

“As the resident specialist on wilderness, let me say that it is not a matter of any of those things meaning nothing, but a matter of they not being the most important thing for her. Everyone, everything, have their own nature and to abandon it leads to pain, aggressiveness, unhappiness.” It was not so simple, he knew. It wasn’t always possible to follow the way one wishes for. “That said, the letter is not a good idea.” Llwyd mentions turning to Kris. “Imagine there is a ship called the Salty Dwarf and your parents start to pursue them thinking you are part of the crew. It may be better to first ask if the attack reached your home area. If it did not then your parents are safe. If it did reach then it may be better for you to simply send someone else, one of us, maybe, to check in your name.” Then he turns his attention back to Irmiel “By the way, do you know what are the Shadovar?”

"I suppose you're right," Kris admits to Irmiel and Llwyd as they walk.  "It was a delightful idea, but it would be irresponsible to make them actually believe I'm drowned or something, or have someone arrested on my account.  And it would be impossibly scandalous for other families to think I'd become a fisher."  Her expression suggests this last bit would be fantastic.  "But they will sentence me to harp lessons and cotillion if I'm found out.  I can't just waltz in the door.  So maybe the note will just tell them the truth, that I've joined an adventuring company.  Without disclosing its name.  And then maybe one of you could drop it off at their mailbox?  Discreetly.  That way, they'll know I'm alive at least.  Oh!  And this is all assuming the house isn't burnt to the ground."

"And then there's the matter of where I can sleep.  I do have a few gold.  But I can't just stay anywhere.  If someone recognizes me...  Irmiel as a good idea bout swapping out my armor!  Llwyd, perhaps the inn you're at has an available room?  Can we check there?  What about you, Sistri?"

“I thought your intention was to check if your parents are well.” He said visibly confused, especially after the mention of cotillion. He had no idea what that was. “If that is the case and we confirm that the Royal Gardens had not been attacked then I would advise against any note or at least any note saying anything more than ‘I am fine’ because even something as vague as saying that you joined an adventuring company, even without naming the company, can put then on track to find you. I mean, I just arrived in the city after spending literally my entire life on the wilderness but I found my way to administrative building. I doubt your parents wouldn’t start talking with the staff of the bureau if you said you joined a company. A bit of coin and your physical description would easily reveal to them when you were there, and any good tracker could pick up your scent.”

Her parents certainly had more than a few things with her smell. It wouldn’t be hard to find her using it and there was the possibility of using spellcraft too. Llwyd was quite sure there was magic to find specific objects and persons, even if he didn’t know how to use it yet.

“I’m staying at a place called the Roving Dragon. There should be room there still, but if not I can leave you with mine and sleep in the stables.” He said imaging that no prudent woman would want to share a room with a stranger, specially if said stranger was a satyr. “I am kind of half goat and like to sleep surrounded by animals. Had to, growing in a forest.”

Sistri responds to Kris, "There would be room at my family's home. But that is perhaps a two hour ride to get there. And of course, two hours back in the morning.  I don't have any lodging here in the city." She considers the situation. There is nothing she specifically needs to do, so the time really isn't an issue.  "You are more than welcome to stay with me Kris." 

It felt a little odd using her proper name, knowing she was a Truesilver, but that was what she'd asked.  Looking at Llwyd, she figures if the two are friends then perhaps he would not want to stay with her going elsewhere.  "You sir would be welcome as well."

And of course, she couldn't leave out anyone. "I do not know your arrangements for lodging, but I would love to have you with us as well Irmiel."

Having said all that, she now starts figuring in her head. Would there be room? She could always stay in one of the farmhand bunks. She knew her brother didn't have much staff this season.  Yea, she'd figure it out somehow.

"Um..." Kris considers Llwyd's advice.  She looks a little disappointed, kicking a rock ahead of them.  "Yes, you're probably right.  And I do want to make sure they're okay.  Of course!  Just... without being put under house arrest.  We just got hired as adventurers by Charlie.  It would devastating to miss out on the opportunity because my parents don't understand.  So yes, a simple note then.  And I want to spy on the house from a distance, to see if I can see them."

"Sistri, that is a capital idea!  We can have a good old-fashioned sleep over at your home!"

"Thank you, Sistri. I have a room here in the city but if want to stay together, your place sounds better. Two things, though: two hours by horse is a bit faster than on foot and I dont' have a horse. Would take longer to get there and back. And another... You are not of humble origin yourself. What if your servants recognize Kris?" The girl insisted on the simple addressing and Irmiel saw no reason not to oblige. "Besides, we will have to return to the city anyway. I'd say changing her appearance is the first thing we need to do. So, barbershop first! But then - where would you go to get a good but simple weapon? And to sell another without many questions asked?" It was unlikely any of the girls knew such a person, but they could begin asking in some inns, probably less reputable?

On the way to wherever they would decide to go first, Irmiel shared what she knew about Shadovar. Mostly with Llwyd, who literally lived in the woods and probably did not care much about the world outside. Irmiel herself was among those, who believed Shadovars were history. If not completely then for a long time - their strength was in that flying city, and the city is dead. What can they do now? Apparently, a lot. "I bet they hope to resurrect that city of theirs, Thultanthar. Make it airborne again. But it was stupid so openly attacking the army that already once repelled them. By the price of their own city but still!" (Irmiel would not say it out loud but she admired Cormyrian history!) "I wonder if they still want adventurers to go there or maybe now the army will scavenge what was left... If elves allow it..." Man, politics was tougher than any spellbook she ever came across.

 “If the intention is to avoid house arrest, I would suggest giving up on the idea of spying on the house, unless it was attacked, of course. Just having one of us hand in a simple notice on their mail.” Probably not him since he was quite the uncommon figure. At least until he transformed in a discrete beast. A power that given what happened o the building he would rather conserve. “And considering we have to meet at Charlie’s shop it seems your proposition is the best option.” He says turning to Sistri. “Besides, after everything, it seems like it is a good idea to employ as many safety measures as possible and there is strength in numbers. I can also turn into a horse so carrying one of you would not be a problem.”

He had barely spoke his mind as Imriel started to tell him about the Shadovar. Tales of the worst kind turned real, thought the druid. If the contract to the adventuring companies remained in value then it was certain they paths would cross again. They would have to deal with strange and powerful magic. With whatever were those black tendrils and their maddening screech.

“This attack was too organized to be simple folly. More likely the situation changed. Either Cormyr is too weakened by the war or the dark clothed bunch have found new strength. An ally or a magic item.”

"Alright.  Let's get to my neighborhood and see how things look.  We can also look for a barber, armorer, and smith where I might exchange my things."  She runs a hand through her filthy hair, thinking about a new style.  Resigned to the wisdom of the others on this matter, Kris turns her attention to the discussion of the Shadovar.  

"I learned about the war in my lessons, and I remember my parents talking about it when I was growing up.  But, I feel they kept many details from me so that I wouldn't be frightened."  She smirks.  "Or, maybe they thought I would try to enlist.  I'm afraid I don't know much about the Shadovar and Thulthanthar.  I'll be keen to hear reports from the investigation of the attack.  What was their objective in attacking us this way?  Was something stolen, or was it just a blitz to demoralize and weaken our city?  I mean, they attacked an administrative building, among other places.  Do you think they were looking for something?  That one Shadovar said something when they attacked.  The Mythallars belong to the Shadovar. Death comes swift for any who seek our domain. That was also the objective of the contract, wasn't it?  So both Cormyr and the Shadovar are interested in the ruins containing these things.  Do we know anything about Mythallars?"

Kris realizes she's only asking a lot of questions without providing any answers.  But, she hopes one of these wiser and more experienced adventurers, these newfound friends, might know more than she.

She brightens.  "You know who might?  Charlie!"

 Irmiel laughed at the good joke. "Yes, let's ask Charlie about Mythallars." Actually, come to think of it, Charlie could know something - he kept a bookshop and did not look like a type who would start an adventuring company just for the potential loot. Way too risky of investment! It sounded much more like a romantic fantasy of someone who can not go adventuring himself but wants to be involved. "According to the description in the contract (and to what I know about the thing), Mythallars are the driving force of flying cities. No wonder Shadovar want it back. Or maybe afraid that other nations can somehow learn how to make more Mythallars? Or how to damage them? Very unlikely, of course." She looked at the houses along the street they were on. "Is this the barber over there? Though about your new still yet? We do not want to ruin your golden locks, of course," (Irmiel was proud of her personal decision to keep the glaring pink but understood it was not for everyone), "but temporarily colour them. And..." She looked at the druid with curiosity "The horse is good..." (let's not dwell on the ancient legends here) "... but can you take a shape of a small animal, Llwyd? To bring that letter to Kris's parents. They might not question a cute dog where it found the note but surely will ask a lot of questions if the postman will be human." 

“There is also a chance that those Mythallars can be used for something other than making a city float.” He said to Irmiel, her words about the war echoing in his head. “Maybe the conflict never truly ended and both sides are simply regaining their power. Maybe the stones can be used to power a weapon or spell that at this point could put and end to the other side and this posed enough of threat to the Shadovar that they decided to take action. If so, we may be in for some hard times. The cornered beast is the most dangerous, after all.”

That said, he doubted their group would particularly target. They hadn’t done anything noteworthy to the Shadovar. At least not yet. Sistri and Kris’ true names could caught their attention though. Llwyd was about to mention this what Irmiel made him the question.

“I can, but in this case I think it is better to use a flying messenger.” For some reason he could not assume a form of a creature capable of taking to the air. A brown bear? A dire wolf? Sure. A sparrow? No. Magic would never make sense to him. “I can call upon a fey spirit in the form of an owl. It would take me an hour and the ability to transform into an animal, at least until we take a short rest to catch our breaths. The spirit would remain in this plane for no more than an hour too, but I think it would have an easier time delivering the note. Not to mention that it wouldn’t be possible to track it back to me.”

Sistri listens to the conversations about how Kris should approach her parents and the nature of the Mythallars.  Unfortunately, she felt like she had little to offer on either subject.  The idea of sending a conjured spirit in owl form to deliver a letter to the Truesilver family was intriguing to her however. 

It seemed Irmiel wished to stay here in town. And though Kris had accepted her invitation, she was unclear on their plan.  "We have little staff at home.  My mother cooks and, other than my brothers, there are only a few hired farmhands. But there is a chance Kris would be recognized.  If we stay in town I can just find a room," she offers.

She then waits to see what the group decides. It seems looking into Kris' parents is first on the agenda.

No-no, Irmiel would love to go (if needed) but her a touch pedantic nature demanded to point out all possible complications of any decision. "I am pretty sure we can fit in one inn - how much space would we need?" (Probably more than she thought, but it could wait) " ... and not burden your family with uninvited guests. But first things first. The messenger that disappears is a great idea!" She lightened up but immediately sighed. "Poor Osrik... Anyway. So, if the matter with messenger set, some changes to Kris and let's see already what happened with the upper city and where is that shop we are supposed to come tomorrow."

The city streets of Suzail have become oddly quiet. As the small group huddled and discussed their options they witness a fallen body, covered in a blanket, come be picked up on a stretcher and carried away. People who might normally be out and about have taken shelter. Glazed, stunned faces witness to sudden and unexplained violence stare out at their city, their sense of safety gone. The hardened warriors of the Purple Knights patrol the streets in groups of four or more, while griffons sweep past overhead, screeching defiantly to the sky. They foursome make their way down the street, stopping at a barber. For Kris the place looks like a slaughterhouse for hair and she absently pulls at her curled locks as the group ushers her in. The barber, who'd been staring out his window into the empty street looked at the odd group before him. Kris comes forward and he makes a face full of hesitation. But soon enough both Kris and the barber are pressed to their duty. The barber seems to take a long time, cutting each cut with cautious, a fine glass mirror showing his progress as if expecting to be stopped suddenly in mid-job.  An hour later, and one silver.....Kris is left with her requested cut, done with deft hands and as much care as anyone had ever taken with her hair. The man, who'd been stoically silent and focused the entire time had done an excellent job.  Her curled golden locks were literally swept away as the party leaves the establishment and makes their way to an armorsmith.  

The smiths in Suzail are prided for excellent work, having produced many fine works of art in their own rights. The group finds exchanging her armor for something a bit simpler is an easy affair and accomplished as a straight trade.  For swapping her fine rapier out for a well balanced, but more...business like model, is likewise simple enough. 

A couple hours later and the group is escorted by a much changed Kris. The finery removed, the military style to her cut, it was likely she could walk right past her parents without them noticing. Perhaps. 

Now, where to stay...

(Short rest achieved). 

"You look very..." Irmiel looked Kris up, down and even made a circle around her "... professional." Change of hair colour to dull brown and some uneven tan gave that final touch that had to assure full disguise. "Only temporary, don't worry. Will have to renew it every hour for you but should be enough to make you hidden."

Now all they needed is the letter from Kris to her parents and the group could walk to her house to see if the house is actually still there. If so, a summoned owl would finish all the obligations the party still had before starting a new life. "Do you need to want your family, Sistri?" Before it was just an adventure, but now, with shadovars involved, the quest became a quite serious matter and might need some preparations.

Kris apprehensively examines her reflection in the mirror.  She gently touches her new, shortened hair, her lip trembling.  Then, she beams.  “This is perfect!  I’ve been wanting a cut like this for ages, but Mother and Father forbade it.  I’m going to have to get a new portrait made!  Thank you so much!”  She pays a full gold piece for the haircut, insisting against any protest by the barber.  She’s equally delighted by Irmiel’s makeover.  “You’re a true artist, Irmiel!”

Acquiring new armor is another joy, even if the replacement is more utilitarian than fashionable.  “This one actually covers my torso,” she notes with approval, tracing the high neckline.  “I’ve never understood why women’s armor is so often cut so low!  This one is definitely superior in actual protection.”  

Trading in her rapier is a little harder.  She was quite fond of the intricate metalwork on the guard, crossbar, and sweepings of her own rapier.  “But, this one is definitely sturdier,” she notes, giving it a few practices swipes and thrusts.  “A little more weight to the blade, a longer edge, and definitely less conspicuous.  This is a soldier’s rapier, not just an ornament.  I think it will grow on me.  Now, considering all this, I don’t think Mother herself would recognize me on the street.”

Afterward, she coordinates with Llwyd.  She finds a shop and purchases a parchment, borrowing a quill to scrawl out a short message to her parents, informing them that she’s perfectly fine, and will return home in just a few days.  She signs it with her signature, looping around several times in a graceful style that she was taught specifically to use in written communications with her family.  This version of her signature was designed specifically to ensure her family’s security forces that she is not, in fact, being coerced.  Other versions of her name would indicate different, coded messages, to help them locate her in case of kidnapping and ransom demands.  Growing up the daughter of an elite noble family does brings its peculiarities…

“And I just want to know if the house looks in good shape, that they’re alright.”

"Sistri, I think I'm safe to travel with you without being recognized.  Can we visit your family's home?"

At Irmiel's question Sistri says,  "I have no obligation to see my family.  I've been away quite often, first as squire and then for training.  As part of the Knights of the Unicorn they expected I'd be headed away on some adventure."

She then looks to Kris, the transformation a little startling even having been there during the process. "That isn't to say I wouldn't like to see them.  You are quite welcome to come with me Kris. If that works."