"Well I have never competed, but I placed a wager or two on the tournament. It may well suit you. You would need a mixture of agility, athleticism, acrobatics, guile and strategy", Drexon says looking Eremoz up and down.

"If you ask me, what we are doing now is the perfect warm up to that", he adds with a chuckle.

He looks over at Cob, surprised by the small outburst regarding the elves. "Not a fan of Elves, Cob?", he says quietly, not wanting anyone outside the party to overhear.

The train is not so much a traveling vehicle as it is a luxurious hotel traveling along a track. As you board the train and find the correct cabin according to your ticket, you can see that the interior of the cabin is very opulent. The wall is decorated with paintings of a man's back standing on top of a black ornate box looking toward a figure wreathed in light and dust, and of a stormy sea with an elegant ship surfing a large wave. A pair of benches wrapped in soft blue velvet awaits with a lot of leg room that more than seven people can fit easily inside. 

As you settle inside the cabin, a steward wearing a deep blue uniform comes and takes all of your tickets. He pulls out a device and slides each ticket inside before returning them to you. You notice that the ticket now has a red stripe at one corner. 

"Huh, they never do that before," the steward says. "It's always yellow or green, but never red. Well, no matter. All settled, sirs. Welcome to the Northern Spine Express heading to Erdelun. My name is Bastian Greel and I will be your carriage's steward during this journey. There will be a time that I will be away from the carriage as we are rather understaffed currently due to the incursion, but just push the button on the outside of your cabin door and I will be there. Do not hesitate to call me if you require anything. If you prefer, I can take you to the dining carriage. Most of the passengers spend most of their time there as it has the biggest windows to sightsee."

Dvark fidgets with the red strip in on the ticket. Glancing over at Drexon remarks "How much you wanna bet we're marked for something unfortunate. Just seems a little ominous." Dvark rolls his shoulders and sits up straighter staring out the window.

Drexon leans forward, "Now you're talking my language. I guess I am betting my life that whatever it is we can make it through, but I'll happily lay down 5 gold against your assumption", he says with a smile. "Of course the term unfortunate is open to interpretation, so how about we let our companions arbitrate?". 

After all, if it is unfortunate, he may not be around to need to pay up or Dvark may not be around to make him.

Cob looks up at Drexon when he asks about Cob's comments on elves.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?" Cob asks. He pauses for a moment then continues. "They just think they're better than the rest of those from Pancorona. Saying that the Fairies, Pixies, Centaurs, Harengons, and Satyrs are all out in something they call the Feywild. Like our kind are barbarians and the elves are something special."

He waves a hand a little dismissively.

"Pampered posers. Some day we'll just boot them out completely. Hyrsam's working on that."

Cob looks around to make sure that last bit wasn't overheard. Then he smiles up at Drexon with a bit of an embarrassed grin on his face.

"So, ah, you're not, um, married to an elf or anything are you?"

Once settled in the cabin Cob also examines the red stripe.

"Yeah, red never means anything good. Maybe we should head to the dinning car. Might take someone an extra minute or two to find us and kick us off the train."

Drexon cocks his head to the side as he recognises the antipathy in which Cob regards Elves, a twitch in the corner of his lips showing the barest hint of a smile.

"Oh no, don't worry, I have no particular love of Elves, or any race in truth. Live and let live is my moto, but then I obviously haven't been treated as poorly as you and your people have. These Elves of Pancorona seem like they have quite the superiority complex", he says trying to prolong the interaction, before the conversation turns to other things.

"I'll take the bet. Best to give us a reason to get out of here." turning to Cob, Dvark responds "I'm always up for food."

"Ah, they're just pompous," Cob says to Drexon. "Elves would have to get their fingers dirty to mistreat someone. They just shouldn't pretend they really know anything about Pancorona."

Then at Dvark's agreement to food, Cob's wings flap a couple of times quickly and he claps his hands.

"Good. Let's eat. And you can all tell me why on earth you're going on this wee adventure."

"I assume the stripe has something to with our employer. Maybe tracking to see that we are making our journey as intended." Eremoz surveys the room and wonders why anyone would want to spend their time somewhere so gaudy. As he begins to lose himself in his thoughts, he hears mention of food. He spins around quickly. "Yes, I could eat."

"Very well," Bastian says, "right this way, sirs."

He begins leading the group forward, toward the front of the train. He leads them two carriages over into a carriage that has almost half of it covered in glass. Fine dining tables are placed tidily to the sides and in the middle of the carriage is an open bar and kitchen.

A grey-skinned man with a silvery man-bun stands in the kitchen, stirring a pot of delicious-smelling soup. When the group comes over, he stops his stirring and waves his hand in a circular motion before the pot begins stirring itself. He wears black chef's clothing with a white waist apron with a hilt of a mean-looking knife peeking out from its fold. On his breast pocket, the name "Gustav"  is embroidered in silver thread. You notice the pointed ears -- or ear as one of his ears seems to be missing most of it. This is a drow, perhaps the first one you have seen in the Verdant Trammel -- or even in Vorgeris as a whole. 

"What can I get you?" The chef asks. His voice is calm and soothing with a hint of curiosity. "Soup of the day is the local Farm Soup with a variety of vegetables and chicken, but I recommend the Grilled Auroch Tenderloin entree. They just recently arrived and are still fresh."

Bastian motions for the chef to move away for a moment and whispers in his good ear. The chef nodded and a hint of a smile presents on his lips. 

"Bastian tells me that all of you are red passengers," the chef says. "We don't have red passengers very often. You must have a very good connection with the authorities to be able to secure permission to carry and use your arms while you are on this train." 

Dvark chuckles, shakes his head disappointedly and hands Drexon the money he owes. "Apologies for any discomfort it may cause. We have some risky business ahead of us and as such were asked to keep our things close. I'll take that steak if it's comped in our tickets. Otherwise I'll take the soup. My apologies for being uninformed, I mostly ride coach."

Yea some substance might get my spirits up again. I'll take the meat as long as i get by with 7 copper. He then turns a bit away from the man and says to the group We have some things to talk about, we might get back to our cabin during the ride

"Take a seat," Gustav says. "Keep your money. All food and beverages are already included with your ticket price. Would you like something to drink?"

Gustav begins to prepare the group's orders, giving commentaries and asking your preferences once in a while.

"It is quiet today. With the appearance of these strange and hostile creatures, most of the passengers canceled their trip. Only those who are traveling for business still board the train. What kind of business, if I may ask? There are not many business opportunities in Erdelun. Although, from your equipment, there are only two possible places you can go from Erdelun. One is the Vort's End Hiking Trail -- new ranger recruits, perhaps? The only other thing at the top of my mind is to hunt the mythical Beast of Lor Coast, but you lack the swimming equipment."

Drexon takes Dvark's coins with a smile. "I'm sure there will be ample time for you to win them back".

To Karm he replies, "Yes, we five are due a discussion it's true. Let's take refreshments and then we can talk".

He then watches the drow expertly move around the kitchen, making food and drinks. It made him hungry just watching him.

As Gustaf starts to query their purpose, he looks across at him with a quizzical look on his face.

"I would have assumed such a pricey ticket would have bought some discretion. Without meaning to sound rude, our business is our own", he says matter of factly.

I have to agree with my friend here but lets just say, ranger recruits is the right direction. Could i get a glass of your most average wine?

Gustav raises his hands for a moment and offers an apologetic smile. Nearby, Bastian has an annoyed frown on his face. 

"My apologies," he says. "However, there is precedent to my question. In the past, a red ticket always means a problem when arriving at the destination station. The arms regulation is stricter in Erdelun than in Vortesso. Other than that, you do not dress the part; the people there put a little purple in all of their clothing articles to commemorate the very first mayor who built the city and who died from a jealous citizen carrying a weapon. Erdelun has been the city with the strictest yet loosest arms regulation in the Verdant Trammel. You will be recognizable from the other citizens of the city, more so when you have no experience in concealing your arms effectively."

Drexon and Dvark, you notice that Gustav leans a bit closer to you and stretches out his hand a little bit further than necessary when serving the group's orders. From within his sleeve, both of you can see the brief gleam of a contraption holding a slender blade. 

"Erdelun is also not a big city," Gustav continues. "It is more of a township, and the people there are quite nosy out of necessity. It is not called the City of Revelation for nothing, as there are almost no secrets there that will not be revealed at the end of the day. I suggest you go to the At World's End Inn when you arrive. It's somewhat a neutral ground from the factions in the city. Also, do keep away from the northern part of the city. Get to the inn early, and leave early in the morning if you want to keep your secrets. The Enigma has a presence there."

What do you mean by 'problem when arriving at the destination'? Will we burst into flames once we exit this train? What even determines the color of that stripe? Please excuse my inquiring, its not really fair to deny answers and instead counter with my own curiosity. Besides that, i greatly appreciate the advice. We do not plan on an extended stay in Erdelun anyways.

Drexon clocks the concealed blade and nods in understanding.

"I am certain there will be no conflagration Karm. Is it actually illegal to carry weapons Gustaf, do we risk imprisonment or just unwanted attention? And what is The Enigma?", he asks, adding to Karm's questions.

He looks around the group taking stock of the weapons on show. He himself only carried a couple of daggers, which should be easy to hide.

You'd be surprized Drexon there are records of people combusting all of a sudden with seemingly no outer influence. But yes i agree with you, we probably wont expand that list speaks Karm inbetween bites. He is walking the fine line of eating fast on one side and trying to make a posh impression on the other

"It is frowned upon," Gustav explains. "As per the Arms Restriction Act that is ratified in the year 281 ABM, you know that there is freedom in owning and carrying a weapon as long as you have training on it. The same can be said for spellcasters -- that there is a period where you have to be trained in casting safety before you are allowed to cast publicly. However, two years after the construction of the Erdelun station, the mayor was killed by one of the first group of passengers. The citizens protested the right to own and carry weapons in Erdelun after the incident, and an Addendum to the Act was added in 312 ABM. This Addendum is implemented only in Erdelun and it allows only the city guards the right to own and carry weapons.

"However, while most of the citizens dutifully follow the new law, there are some that feel safer with the ability to defend themselves. They learn to conceal and hide their arms. As long as you do not show that you are carrying weapons of any kind, there will not be a problem. If you fail to do so, the station guard will put an arcane seal on your weapon and its holder. If you draw your weapon within the city limits for any reason, the seal will break and the city guards will be notified.

"The Addendum also encourages spellcasters, by force, to cast only low-powered spells within the city limits. When you arrive at Erdelun, everyone will be issued a runic tattoo on their hand. This is to log your arrival into the city and to restrict the amount of magic you can expel within the city limits if you are a spellcaster. This is also the reason that you will rarely find magical items in Erdelun. It is heavily regulated. An exemption is made for potions. I think Madam Zan's place is still open. You can find her shop near the gate that leads to the Faete Grove southwest of the city."

Gustav pulls one of the wines from the top shelf and pours a glass for Karm. "We don't have anything average on this train. Faete Grove's own brand of wine circa 495 ABM.

"Don't be too worried, though," Gustav continues. "When you exit the city walls, all the enchantments will turn inert. You will be logged  and branded again with the runic tattoo when you enter the city once more on the way back from whatever business you are attending."