Johnathan quickly turns around to the sudden appearance of the stranger. Johnathan is caught off guard and begins to conjure black shadowy flames around his arm. He sees this strange creature approaching with a very calm and friendly attitude, but that could just be a trick.  It isn’t nice to listen in on conversations stranger. Johnathan lowers his arm, but is still suspicious of this character. He gives a cold frown towards Ward, clearly not impressed with how he snuck up on him. He turns to the others, What is this thing? I’ve never seen a machine this advanced before Johnathan asks as he gets a closer look at it. 

Johnathan hasn’t seen this kind before. It’s alien structure confuses him. Is this some weapon of the lord of darkness? Can it truly be trusted he thinks to himself. Johnathan is a young human with very pale skin. His hair is curly and red with a goatee on his face, though most of it is covered by a hood. His skin looks malnourished and he is struggling to stand up straight. It seems as if he hasn’t eating properly in days. He gives Ward a careful stare, as if hoping to reach inside the mind of this unusual creature.

What business do you have with the mare? Are you some bounty hunter for a lord or lady that wishes it for their own, or are you serving something darker in nature? 

Kerwyn turns at these words and examines the new arrival, wondering what this means.  “Bounty hunter?  You aren’t one of those TK-421 bounty hunters are you?  Living tissue surrounding metal endoskeleton?”  Kerwyn’s hand instinctively goes to his belt and his thrown glaive.  

“Explain how and why you were following us and where you come from.”

"Well I don't think it is an exoskeleton, though I don't personally know the technicals. And it's only partially metal, at this point I think it is more wood though. I started mainly because I was a bit concerned for your fairy friend there but it seems that I misunderstood. Then I heard talk of the Unicorn and realized that you were all together, though I do apologize for the eavesdropping." He says motioning over to the fairy that was previously bagged.

"I am not a bounty hunter, I heard about your fairy friend asking around about the Mare and wanted to meet up. I have some information that I needed to get to the Ivory Tower. I'm not exactly in my prime at the moment however so I figured I would find one of the adventuring groups and avoid that whole part. I come from a town called the Mistycomb Hamlet, it's centered over on the Trident river." Ward says, motioning vaguely in that direction. 

Shavaris, being too occupied with being called a coward and then allowing said blasphemer sit on her shoulder, to notice Ward until he appeared with the group.  She watches Johnathan react, so she hangs back and watches the conversation unfold between the newcomer, Johnathan and Kerwyn.  She whispers to Delph, “Well, looks like your bonkers way of asking everyone about the unicorn appears to have shaken out one apple.  Though this is a strange apple indeed.”

She walks forward to Ward and joins the conversation, “The name is Shavaris.  What information is it that you are needing to get to the ivory tower?  And I’m afraid we are not heading in that direction.   And I’m curious on your words, you say you are not in your prime at the moment… does your situation change?” She raises an eyebrow as she looks at him.  He sees a lean, pale wood elf with short brown hair and shock of blonde in the front.  With a 6” fairy on her shoulder.

"Not commonly. I was in a sort of "Hibernation" before I was very rudely kicked out of it. This degradation of the magics, due to the state I was in has sapped a great deal of my previous skills. Which let me tell you, I very much got used to being able to just teleport back to bed, so it's been a bit of getting used to. I heard from a squirrel that a wizard named Schmendrick is being pursued by a Calibos fellow. Considering he's helping that friendly Mare I figured telling the Childlike Empress so that he could get a leg up on them." Ward says

Delphinium was looking around distracted and seeming very concerned as Shavaris talked to the tiny fairy grabbing their attention.  They look at Shavaris with confusion as they say "Well, of course it worked.  When you need to find out something asking others is the fastest way.  But... they are definitely not an apple.  I'll find you an apple later to show you but an apple is a big red fruit, it can be green too though.  Very yummy.  Actually, my favorite food.  Wait, maybe that's why I see so many evil looking people around here.  Are apples very rare?  I would be upset if I had no apples.  That explains why that child stole one.  Why chain those poor creatures up though?  Definitely not a healthy response to a lack of apples.  Should I go punch them and tell them not to do that?"  As Delph explains what an apple is and rambles a bit of what they have been observing the fairy stays on Shavaris' shoulder while they go over to the metal man.  The fairy seems very concerned at first but a delighted distracted of a man made of metal definitely provides a moment of relief from their distress.

As Ward introduces themselves and mentioned Delphinium the fairy smiles and says "Oh!  You sound nice.  A squirrel?  I know a bunch of squirrels!  They are always so fun to play with.  So, this Schmendrick sounds like someone we should find!  Oh! Oh!  Can I go around asking about Schmendrick then?  I want to ask those jumping bug people!  I've never met people like them before and they seem fun! Oh!  I'm Delphinium although you can call me Fireflight too as that's a cool name."

"Schmendrick might want to stay a bit more discreet at the moment. I have to say I don't know if I've met these jumping bug people though. And nice to meet you Firelight." Ward says, reaching out a finger for the fairy to shake. 

Kerwyn nods to Ward.  “Name’s Kerwyn.  Glad to meet you.”

He takes a moment when there is a pause in the conversation to turn to the others and say, “Just heard from Greko the Green.  He says Blix has broken away from the Lord of Darkness and plans to use the alicorn for himself ruling over goblins. Ganon has the triforce of power and the Sacred Stones. Our sources tell us he is going to unlock the Temple of Time for what lies within. It also appears he is working with the Lord of Darkness.  I told him we were going to a circus.”  Kerwyn gives everyone a half smile sheepishly.

Kerwyn let’s everyone take that in and then says, “Whooooaaa, sounds like the goblins need a regime change…”. He then puts on a “Thinker” pose considering these words, thinking they are profound but he truly doesn’t understand them.

Johnathan remains quiet as the others talk to this ward. He waits to see what the others have to say about this stranger. That was when Kerwyn mentions the information from the others. Johnathan expression turns dark at this troubling information. Blix is going against the lord of darkness? This is terrible news. His ambitions are going to add more fuel to this infernal. And the temple of time. We can’t let an agent of darkness get anymore advantages against us, we need to find this mare and fast. 

He pauses as he looks around to his companions. He knew that they wanted to stay the night, and that he was in no shape to travel far without hunting. Well I won’t turn down help against the darkness. You say this wizard is helping the mare. Does he know where it is and how is he helping it? Is this wizard nearby? I say we stay the night and make plans on where we are going. I say we should go to the faron woods, but if this wizard is a better lead than I'm all ears.

Oh, and you can call me Johnathan.

I don't know sadly, just some talking about how this "Calibos" was after him for helping the mare, but I haven't figured out where they may be at the minute."

Shavaris starts reeling at the amount of information that is dumped in the short amount of time.  After so many days of just travel and worry that their way has gone cold, there is so much now to try and make heads or tails of it.  So she starts with what appears to be the issue within the closest proximity.  

Turning to Delph and ignoring the apple questions, she asks, "Who's chaining poor creatures up?  What are you talking about Fireflight?"  She looks at him with concern.  Figuring that everything Ward and Kerwyn mentioned can wait at the moment.  But at least they have a couple of leads to pursue, she hopes.

(On ship, will return to game in a few days sorry for the delays)

Aoe spends the 15 days eating and chatting with his band…

Shavaris becomes a close bond for him, sharing the secrets of the blade. And even Del, lessons learned of how to rile up his energies for battle… he becomes closer to Johnathan, having shared Their evening discussion that one night in port.

he spends his days twice a day training his ability to cast and wield Simultaneously, as well his reactive ability to concentrate under pressure.

(6hrs a day * 15 days = 90hrs + 30hrs = 120 hrs warcaster feat)

Johnathan contemplates there next actions. He considers the Faron woods. It was the last place where the mare was last seen, but Blix probably has many troops in the area. I haven’t been in Faron woods since …. It suddenly dawns on Johnathan that the woods is where he gained his affliction. Where everything changed. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling returning to the woods, but he knew eventually that he would need to. As he scrolls through his memory he suddenly remembers something the Skullsplitters said, the hobgoblins wanted to go home to Blix, back at the labyrinth. OF COURSE!!! He was so distracted with the mention of the lord of darkness that he didn’t realise what was shared with him at the beginning. 

Blix is at the labyrinth. And there was mention of trouble at the labyrinth. Either Blix is losing it or they have something difficult to contain, like say a unicorn. 

Johnathan turns to the others, Dawn Guard, I’ve just remembered something the Skullsplitters mentioned. Remember the hobgoblin, the creature that kept saying they wanted to go home. Well these creatures consider the labyrinth home, but they also idolise Blix. His voice lowers as he mentions the next part, I believe Blix is at the labyrinth, the goblin city. If we could take out such a powerful opponent then maybe we could cleanse Eternia from his grip. Blix is also our main competition in finding the mare. This is a great opportunity, one I think we can’t just pass up. Even if we find the mare it won’t be safe, the goblins will keep hunting it. We need to stop whatever Blix is plotting, and fast.

Kerwyn looks at Johnathan after his realization and says “I thought we were going to the last known location of the mare and begin the search there, to track the trail.  If you have a better idea or shortcut, that is great.  I was wondering about Greko’s news.  Where is the labyrinth anyway?”  

Kerwyn looks up like a bolt of lightening hit him.  “Wait a minute, goblin city, the Labyrinth?  That’s not too far away , it is to the north!  That’s where we need to go, the mare will be there.  And Blix unfortunately.  I have this image in my mind that Blix is wearing black socks with gray soles and the strange word “Dickies” across the toes.  But anyway… we should make our way there with all speed.  Does anyone want to get some breakfast burritos with me?”  Kerwyn looks around at all of you with a blank look on his face, rubbing his stomach.  

Looking at Shavaris the fairy replies "Over there!"  they point at a cart with two horse tied and chained to it forced to pull a cart extremely heavily loaded with luggage and cargo tot he point the horse are struggling a little bit but managing.  They have heavy tack and blinders on with thick rope setup latching them to the carts they are forced to pull.  Definitely a harsher setup then the majority of horse would deal with..   The driver pulls on the reigns to control the horses as Delphinium watches with a mix of sadness and anger in their eyes. "Why are they being chained like that?  Surely its not a lack of apples... right?  Can I go free them?  I'll just punch that one sitting on the front of the cart and take the ropes and painful looking things out of their mouths." The fairy looks pleadingly to Shavaris for permission apparently still keeping their word of not causing a stir.  

Delphinium is listening to the others but its clear their attention is drawn elsewhere with their gaze on the horses and as they reply in passing "Goblins, beat'em up.  Save the Unicorn.  Gotcha."

Shavaris looks to where the fairy is pointing and the situation dawns on her.  She looks at her new friend with fondness and pity, "Delph, those horses belong to those people and as unfortunate as it is, how they are being treated is not against the law and there really isn't anything we can do about it.  Please, I know we could take them, but we have a mission that we cannot be distracted from.  And yes, there are probably going to be a lot of distractions along the way, and I need you to listen and stay with us.  I will listen to you, and you need to listen to me, ok?" She looks at him directly in the eyes as she says this, being completely serious with no hint of irony.  "Please let me know you understand?"

As Kerwyn's revelations are dropped on the party, she looks at him wide-eyed as it all sinks in.  "Ok, so we're headed North when we leave this town and keep an eye out for Calibos.  That about sum it up?" As Kerwyn rubs his stomach she lifts an eyebrow, "Johnathan, what do you need so you don't look like you're going to keel over at any moment?  And a breakfast burrito?  Sorry, not sure I've heard of those?  We should also sell what we have and load up, we definitely will have a fight in our future.  Lead the way, boys."

Delphinium listens as Shavaris explains a very alien concept to Delphinium.  The fairy just looks confused and saddened as they reply "They... own them?  I don't want to take them I want them to be free...  I know we have a very important thing to do... I know you said we can't make a scene... I won't go free them"  Delphinium looks absolutely depressed as they sit on Shavaris' shoulder.  They become oddly quiet.  They listen to the others talk of heading north, Calibos.  Breakfast burritos, whatever those are and selling stuff.  Delphinium isn't really in a mood to chat as they just go along for the ride on Shavaris.  His wings droopy as he watches the poor animals being treated so poorly disappear into the hustle and bustle of the harbor town.

"Oh Johnathan, I don't know if you need some special food but you could try these" Ward says, opening his hand to show ten small berries. "It should give you what you need for a day foodwise." He says putting his hand out for anyone who might need it.