Seid listens quietly to the discussions going on and nods. "Please do not take this as cowardice, because I feel I have proven my valor time and time again with you all, but in regards to this fight against these dragonborn sisters... I feel I would be more beneficial here, researching more into our nemesis and delving further into the anomaly beneath Sheercleft. I had thoughts that Matthew was tied to this... Morrigan. I know the creature's true name now, but we must be careful in using it. I feel such a being knows when and who is saying its true name. I am no war wizard, storming a keep sounds like something less suited to my skills. I can also oversee the creation of the new buildings here in Sheercleft for us while you are on your journey. Should you demand it, I shall accompany you, but I feel my place is here for now."

Seid has a sudden thought when the topics of names arises. “I have an idea I’d like to test. To see what powers these names have. When I spoke the name aloud that we found in Matthew’s seal, there was a reaction. I wonder if I speak Matthew’s true name if a similar reaction would occur. Perhaps I could journey as ways outside town to speak the name safely. Vark would you like to accompany me on this? Is this too dangerous? Or a bad idea. What say you all?”

Vark pales ever so slightly at the suggestion. “Uhm there’s actually... ah...” he thinks for a moment and then seems to change his mind about whatever point he was about to make. “Actually.. y-yes maybe that is a good idea. I’d like to come with you. Just the two of us. Uhm. B-but... maybe we should do it tomorrow? It’s uhm... it’s been a long day and if that might... summon him somehow or something then maybe we should be uhm... well rested.” There is a clear anxiety about him, something that he is holding back. “In fact... I’m going to get some rest now.” Vark departs in a hurry, and is unseen for the remainder of the night. 

The next day Vark does his best to avoid any of the others, waiting until Seid is ready to depart. It’s immediately apparent that there is something off about the sorcerer. He looks... older? More mature? It’s hard to place; there is something darker about his eyes though their color hasn’t changed. His hair on the other hand has shifted in hue. The silver-white streaks that ran through it just the day before have been replaced by dark crimson locks that shine like copper when the light hits them. “We should go.” he says in a grave tone. He is silent as they make the short journey, and remains so as Seid begins shouting Matthew’s name to the echoing rocks. There is clearly something he wants to say but is having trouble finding the words. At last as the wizard’s attempts come up fruitless, Vark finally swallows the ice in his throat and speaks up. “Uhm S-seid... I... I have something to confess. I know that we talked about n-not... making rash decisions and-and consulting the group but... well... some things I think are for me to decide and... Matthew came to me again last night. There’s... some part of his essence attached to me, it’s become infused with my own. And I decided that... that I shouldn’t try and fight it. Instead I... I tapped into it. I know that I can use it in the upcoming fight and Seid... I think I can use it to- to learn. He wants me to. And I know that it’s dangerous and I know that I’m putting myself and maybe others at risk but... I’ve already learned so much. He revealed his true nature to me... you all were right... he is a devil. He wasn’t born one, but he made a deal for immortality. He told me where he is now: in Sarameia searching for his brother who is... he’s a dragon,  and also not his real brother,  he’s-he’s- I mean... they served some ancient god together, The Fifth, of the Dawn Gods. I’m not sure what any of that means really... I’ll have to ask him more. But he also knows about the Morrigan! And apparently the dragonborn sisters... they’re just pretending, invoking that name to spread fear. They’re not as powerful as they’d have us believe.  I think he also referred to the Morrigan as Talona, and said she usually favors Akadi’s children. It seems that maybe she’s kinda like him, and his brother too maybe. They have different  names and different forms... ancient and...” he shakes his head, still processing all of this himself. “Seid, I think Matthew can be an ally. He just knows so much. I know it’s a risk but... I think if I allow myself to get closer to him... there’s so much knowledge we can gain. And... if the cost of that becomes too great then-then... well I have you all. To help... to watch out for me and to-to... to put an end to it if that’s what it comes to.” The young man looks with pleading eyes at his friend, hoping that he’ll understand.

 Jex stays quiet at Seid's suggestion, putting a hand across Thurston to try to stop him speaking. Instead he looks pointedly first at Val, then at Brundir, offering a shrug to say he is not getting involved. 

In the morning he stands at the town gate, half a mind to hide and follow them. Instead, he steps out at the last minute in plain view. 

"Have a nice walk. If something happens out there, please send some fire in the air as warning." He looks at Seid before turning and leaving.

After they have gone, he goes to seek out Dorno. 

"Friend Dorno, I know you care for these people and this town as much as anyone. I worry for our friend Vark. He has become very impulsive and not at all careful, and the new wizard friend, he encourages it. The wizard is not coming with us on our next journey, will you watch him, make sure he doesn't hurt anyone? And I can keep Vark safe for us."...

He spends the rest of the day drawing up plans with the dwarves, and making preparations to leave.

"This obsession with Matthew... It worries me. Are the rest of you not concerned? I know it may be the Morrigan, but the devil related activity seems far too coincidental to me..."

Bründir nodded in agreement to Seid and gathered his personal belongings from Jex's wagon. So much had begun following Sheercleft's liberation, and so much was left to do. Still, in the time he left for Hyranatar, Bründir  saw the town had already made great strides to recover. Debris was being cleared from many of the structures, the mine infrastructure was largely repaired, and isolated reconstruction had begun. In times like these, the dwarf found a good walk set his mind at ease.

First was the gatehouse they recently passed through. He still remembered the daring rush of their infiltration through the goblin checkpoint. A little shack now stood at the doorway of a wooden palisade, a small fire within evident by a plume of smoke rising out. Bründir knocked on the door and was greeted by a somber man with a half-helm and thick cloak. The dwarf cleared his throat, then answered the unspoken question looming in the guard's eyes, "We just come back, an' I wanted to see how ev'ryone's doin'." An awkward pause followed as the doorman studied the unexpected visitor.

"Oi! Who's there? Yer lettin' th' cold in," a voice called out from within.

The first man cracked the door open a bit more as he turned, "A dwarf, nice sword and fancy armour." Bründir couldn't help but take some pride in the description.

"Well shit, ye got one in four pegged if it weren't fer th' kit. A'right..." a few heavy thuds heralded a stocky figure approaching, and another dwarf opened the door to meet Bründir face-to-face. "Hmm....oh! Yer Brynja's boy, yeah? Come in, come in! Ye've earned a seat with us an' more. Don' mind lil Stan 'ere, he's greener'n goose shit." The dwarf was similarly dressed as the first man, but wore a badge of the town watch. He waved the unexpected guest in through the door without waiting for reply. Inside, a third tenant, a human barely old enough to grow a beard, tended a fire under a pot. Around the fire were five stools, and the pot smelled of roots and goat. Nestled in a corner were three shields, three spears, and a crossbow leaning on a table. Atop the table was mounted a cask, easily large enough to serve the trio for a day.

Bründir welcomed the warmth and took a seat offered by the fire. "What's the word 'round Sheercleft? Ev'rything fine as it can be?"

The young man poking embers scoffed, "If you count freezing at home and starving find, then sure, we're in paradise."

The dwarf gave the man a shove than nearly unseated him, "Mind yer mouth, boy. Would ye wanna be stuck with a blade an' laid up screamin' like those in town, or warm 'ere listenin' t'wind blow?" The young man offered no response or resistance, he just kept prodding the flame. "Don' pay him no mind. We're all just in a bad way. I was there, when we pushed th' goblins out. We're all happier now'n how we'd be then. Problem is, Sheercleft's got no head no more. Quinton's gone, hopefully burnin' on some devil's spit, an' Anders was th' next best, rest 'is soul."

The collective gave a somber nod, and the older man raised a steaming cup as a toast. "Mine should be runnin', yeah?" Bründir pressed whatever hope he could into the despair that was palpable in the air. 

The older human gave a dismissive shrug, "Mine's only good if you've got people to work. Half the miners left don't have heart to come back, and most of the watch sits on whatever post keeps them out of danger. So barely a thing's come up, and people still say there's kobolds running amok down there." He takes a few sips of his cup, "Guard's either too new or disorganized to do much, the mine's got no push to get people digging, and no one's managing how the city's going to rebuild."

Bründir let the assessment hang in the air for a few long breaths, "Mind if I get a cup? Bit fer bit." he pulled a half loaf of trail bread and a handful of jerky from his pack. The jerky was broken and added to the pot, the bread was passed around to the others. With the new food, they happily gave their guest a helping. "Sheercleft used t'be strong, an' people need t'see that ag'in. Anybody headin' the watch?" the response was a unanimous shaking of the guards' heads, "A'right, so how 'bout this: miners don' want to go down, an' people don' want to leave home. All this 'cause they don' feel safe, yeah? So who's in charge of th' watch now?"

The sulking young man finally spoke again, "No one, really. There's a couple sergeants that people follow, but they mostly patrol their own home blocks. Quartermaster doesn't want anything to do with leading and keeps himself locked in the armoury most days. We've got an old drillmaster too. He's good for cracking a whip and scaring kids, but not much else. Our sergeant figures the gate is the most important place for us, so we report and rotate shifts out here everyday."

The bard nods slowly at the general assessment, "Where can I find yer sergeant?"

"Tanner's in th' main gatehouse o'er there, prob'ly at th' top starin' like another army's comin' up any minute." The dwarf nods back through the wall and up the road to the palisade. 

Bründir stands with a smile and toasts his cup of broth to the guards, "Best regards t'ye, an' thanks fer th' soup. I'm gonna talk t'Tanner, you all stay warm. Best take a few steps out there so Tanner don'ave t'go blind with starin'." The palisade was only a short hundred feet away, but the news of the watch's ragged state made it seem as ominous as when it crawled with goblin eyes. A house stood behind the gate, larger than the guard shack but not even enough for more than a half dozen to rest comfortably. Bründir pounded the door a few times and called, "Tanner! Sergeant Tanner, might I have a word with ye?" Several curses can be heard from as many men within. When the door opened, the dwarf planted his feet in the cracked gate and his shoulder against the barrier, "Evenin' gents! Concerned citizen, ye see, wanted t'ave a word with Sergeant Tanner, an' I heard he keeps watch 'ere."

The dumbfounded doorman was quickly yanked back within and the door swung fully open. A large, grizzled human stood within among confused subordinates. A tabard depicting a line of mountaintops hung over the mail coat entitled to those of rank. Sergeant Tanner's head was bandaged from a wound on the mend and his hand rested on the handle of a sword. "Explain yourself now, or I'll have you put out and made to sleep among the stones and wind."

Bründir was quick with his smile and stepped in with an entitled air. He still held the steaming broth cup close to his chest despite the warmth of a nearby hearth. He took a long moment to swagger a few steps in and survey those gathered. In the few moments, a visible tension rose among the guards and they edged closer to their arms. "Sergeant Tanner, I assume? Ye may know me, maybe ye don'. Bründir Halfshield, born 'an raised 'ere in Sheercleft under Ringrut's roof an' stones in th' mines." A few of the guards immediately shook off their tension. The dwarf's face may be unknown, but his reputation was not. Sergeant Tanner, however, did not ease. "Yer men on th' road tell me there's bad times 'ere with th' guard. I just want t'help. Can we talk a moment?"

Sergeant Tanner stood resolute as a statue, then turned and walked to a staircase on the opposite wall, "Come with me. I have the watch and cannot leave it."

Seid frowns as his experiment falls flat from his expectations. He has a thought to shout out the name Morgale one more time, but Vark seems to eager to say something and the words that spill forth from the sorcerer cause all thoughts of names to be pushed from his thoughts save for one; Matthew. He was silent for several long, tense moments after Vark's revelation. He frowned and started to speak, but closed his mouth as he began to pace back and forth, rubbing his chin absently. Finally he stops and puts his hand upon Vark's shoulder, his honey-colored eyes boring into Vark's darker eyes. "Vark, I like you a lot... and I... well... this..." he sighs. 'How can I judge him for this after the things I've done?' He steels himself. "You are right that certain things about your life are your decisions to make and that something this personal should not be prevented by others that do not..." He screws up his face and clenches his fists. "What I am trying to say is that that others will not be happy about this. I understand where you are coming from, and please listen to me when I say that I was you once. Young, eager, looking to prove myself. I joined the elite, secret Maginobi at my father's behest, because he say the raw potential and hungry in me. A need to learn, to know everything. They taught me a lot and I thought I was using them, when in reality they were using me. Devils or devil-touched are very manipulative. They are known as some of the greatest liars in existence. You cannot fully trust him, if you wish to try and use him to get more information, I understand that, but you absolutely must be careful. We do not know of what he is capable, he already possessed you once. What is to stop him from doing it again if you continue opening yourself to his influence? You need to tell the others. It has to be you, it cannot be me. They were throw a fit, but just explain to them your reasoning and perhaps it will calm their fears. Unfortunately, with Matthew traveling to Sarameia, I fear his presence most definitely caused the luck fluctuations in Hyarantar. We must be careful. Especially around Jex, he is quite slippery and I fear if he becomes frightened of your power he might slit your throat in the night rather than allow something great to pass. Watch him very carefully. Maybe enlist the big woman or the dwarf to your side? They both seem capable enough." He smiles as his eyes bounce back and forth between Vark's. "And in this case, I feel openness is the best option. Anytime Matthew shares anything, you should consider sharing that with the group. Does Matthew want you to keep this a secret, your pact? Or does he care?"

Responding to Jex, "Good! We'll need to begin building. Delg, one of the old foreman for the mines offered to help me put together a team and get the mines going again, we'll need more men when we're ready to start minin'. As for Khaz a Grungon, I would prefer if I did this in person. it's been quite sometime since I've seen home, and you are all welcome to come with me."

Hurrig heads to Ringruts for the night as per usual and drinks the night away.

The following day after the return of his friends, Hurrig is up early with Delg heading to the mines. "Might we make a quick stop at the temple? I want to see what we may need for the service tonight." Delg nods at the young dwarf. Entering the temple Hurrig begins to pick up little things that were left behind from the day before. The piles of scrap and garbage have been removed, sitting in the center still, is the burning brazier. Hurrig bounces back and forth, finishing setting up chairs, dusting off lanterns and as Delg stands in the door way. "Ya think this is enough chairs? At least for any of the ol' folk?" Hurrig calls out as he darts around to make sure everything is neat and prepared. Delg simply nods at the dwarf with a slight smirk at observing the energy that Hurrig has. Hurrig sets up a few more braziers for the evenings’ ceremony.

Upon arriving to the mines. “I will be heading to Khaz a Grungon in the next few days to talk about trade and gather some resources to continue rebuilding the temple and other buildings here in sheercleft. I’m going to see what I can do to gather men to come down in the mines with us. They may be able to ‘elp spread the word out to other dwarven villages to bring miners.” Turning to Delg, “I need ya ta make sure everything is ready fa when I return. Ya know these tunnels betta than anyone left.”

“I’ll take care of it, I will. We’ll have this up and running in no time.” Delg looks at the red-headed youth. He can see the glint of hope in Hurrig’s eyes. “We will make this town better! Grow it beyond belief!”

That night Hurrig gathers in the temple. Peeking out from the cloister room where he was preparing to see a room filled with all the townsfolk. The sweat begins to drip from his brow. His armor polished and clean, adorned with his holy symbol around his neck. He paces around the room for a little. Muttering under his breath, “Okay, it’s now or never… I shoulda never offered to do this service. A great idea, except I’m left to do all the talking. Should be Brundir up here with that silver tongue of his.” He takes one last deep breath, and steps out of the room in to the larger gathering hall of the temple. Candles are lit laid about in front of the ever burning brazier and lanterns are lit hanging around the walls.

Hurrig steps up to the dais behind the fire, feeling the heat upon his face. The sweat comes in a little heavier, before he steps back down. “Oh boy, definitely not doin this from back there.” Hurrig mutters under his breath but it was still loud enough for everyone in the temple to hear it, the townsfolk chuckle and lighten the mood. Hurrig steps to the side of the fire. “Friends, I stand before you today to honor those we have all lost. It was a hard trial that we have been tested with. And it will take some time before we really get back to our selves.” Hurrig looks out as he begins to fumble over his words, he sees Brundir and Jex, Ringrut and Delg, Thurston and Val, Vark and Seid, and Dorno, towering over the rest; and a rush of relief flows over him. “I am not from Sheercleft, as many of you know. But you have taken me in as family, and all of you are my family now too. We are a tough knit group here but we all fought bravely and did the best we could. There are many who we wish could have made it to be here today, but they gave their lives so we could continue on; Anders, Flint, and many many more. But that is exactly what we must do, we must continue on and honor and cherish those lost in everything we do. We are Sheercleft. We are strong! We are tough! And we, we will make sure that this never happens again.”

Sergeant Tanner and Bründir spent a whole two hours atop the palisade gatehouse. The spoke to great length about how Sheercleft was overrun, shackled, then liberated. On the whole, the sergeant was greatly impressed that such a small and relatively hodgepodge collection could infiltrate an army and cause a city to rise up in such a way. He was not so convinced, however, to believe that it was purely strength of character or supernatural prowess that granted them such success. The conversation turned to matters at hand, namely security of the town and the scattered leadership of the town watch. Of all the sergeants he could have met, Bründir had the exceptional luck to meet one who wanted simplicity and order in the ranks more than anything else. He gave details on the other sergeants, their personnel detachments, and the general jurisdiction of their self-imposed details. The most seasoned watchmen knew security of key locations took precedent over small residential blocks and streets. However, the more passionate leaders patrolled homes and businesses to appeal to the people and impart a sense of control, if not normalcy.

The dwarf took notes as best as he could from Sergeant Tanner. He also shared plans to re-unify the scattered town watch and get Sheercleft back to its daily routine as quickly as possible. "People feel better when they've got somethin' to do, yeah? When homes're fixed up, people sittin' in'em does no good fer th' whole." Sergeant Tanner gave a dismissive shrug, but agreed that someone needed to take charge rather than fighting the rest. 

Bründir offered his name for consideration and received another apathetic shrug. "Doesn't matter who leads, so long as they aren't a **** and keep the peace before their own self."

The two parted ways with much gained respect between them and better understanding of things at hand. Bründir's first stop for the next morning was now clear as well: Sergeant Gerlin, who muscled two other peers into grudging truce and tripled his ranks to control the mines and the immediate vicinity.

Vark drops his gaze to the ground for a moment, suddenly finding it overwhelming to stare back into Seid’s eyes. His expression constantly shifts as the mage speaks, from nodding in agreement to frowning in protest. Several times he almost begins to respond to a specific point but each time he catches himself and snuffs out the interruption. It’s not until Seid finishes talking that Vark meets his eyes once more. “I... I mean you- y-you’re right but... well you thought you were using them and you were wrong buuut then you turned on them, and used that knowledge against them. And... and now you’re here!” Vark says this last bit with clear excitement, emphasized by his hand reaching up and across to give Seid’s hand a soft squeeze. “With... with us. Stopping them would have been a lot harder without you. And I mean... well I know I can’t trust him but... but somehow I do think he does actually like me. Maybe for the wrong reasons, maybe because he thinks I’m naive and I’m not saying that I’m not but... I do think he does actually... care about me in some way. Plus, when he possessed me before I... I mean I... I let him. I don’t think now that he’s out my body that he could... I don’t know.” Vark is quiet for a moment to collect his thoughts. “I’m going to tell the others, I mean... of course. He did try to convince me not too but... I think I understand why. Just like you said, Jex is... slippery. And Thurston acts without thinking some times. They’re both gonna have a bad reaction which. That’s... well that’s kinda why I’m telling you first. I trust you, I knew you wouldn’t hate me for it and... well I don’t really know how to tell the others. What do you think?”

His conversation with Dorno a success, Jex returns to his makeshift orphanage to check on the progress of the building works. He is keen to set up the market wing and make sure that whilst building takes place stalls and tables are available and that someone is around to serve drinks. Happy with what he sees he heads upstairs to his study, pulling out several pieces of paper he begins drawing ideas.

When the group collects again that evening he sits with a stack of sheets in front of him. 

"I hope we have all had a productive day. I have several thins to bring to the group if I may?" He shuffles the paperwork in front of him but doesn't wait for permission to continue. "I am concerned for the defences of this town. Business will only arrive if they feel it is stable. We need walls, fortifications, something to show stability, control and power. I have put together some ideas, but I am not entirely sure where to place it. If have tried to consider what would most put me off entering the town with murderous intent, I have marked some suggestions on the map. Alternatively, we could place something in the centre as a reminder to people that live here that there is a lawful authority to answer to. The design of the building should hold up either way." He offers the papers to pass around the group. The quality of the drawings are very high, and made with the hiring of an architect in mind. "If you would like any modification I would be happy to make alterations to the designs." He looks expectantly at Thurston, Brundir and Hurrig in particular.

"Hurrig, Thurston, I had some other matters also. I have been thinking a lot on where I came from, and who I used to be. The battle here made me feel ill equipped, I have become less fluid since I have been working alone. Fighting an army is not something I have done for a while and different weapons become more useful. When I worked with others before I used to carry blades like these." He passes a drawing over the table. "They broke some time ago, and they aren't readily available in these parts, perhaps it is something you could help me with? I know you are both talented smiths."  He looks apprehensive for a second, unsure as to whether to continue. I also had some other ideas, something a bit more original. Sometimes I need fast access to a weapon, do you remember when I dropped onto the goblins from the wall? These would help." He passes an intricate design over to the pair of smiths, a thin sharp blade on a spring loaded mechanism, the side views show it hidden inside a casing under a sleeve. "Delicate blades, but I think they could be very effective, what do you think?"

Sitting down with Jex, and the group (maybe following the service?)

"Of course! That's a sound plan, we will most certainly need some sort of walls and protection. Guards as well! I'm not to particular about what the building looks like, long as its functional." He looks around at his friends, "Things are going well in the mines and with the temple, Just need to head out to Khaz a Grungon to see about getting some more building supplies. Until then, I will be in the forges working on some armour for myself and drawing up maybe a couple special projects." Looking at the schematics Jex lays out in front of him, "I can most certainly make these, especially the pieces, but the more intricate part of putting it together might be better left to someone with more nimble fingers like yaself. If anyone else has anything they want me to make in the forge, let me know. I'll be working until we leave."

Thurston spent his time between the forge and giving a helping hand on the reconstruction of the town. When Jex passes by he finds him working on the orphanage. 

Later when all are togheter after the service he looks at Jex drawings. 

"Sure! " he says " I can make those for you Jex. Would you care to join? he turns to the dwarf " I could learn a trick of two from you!" 

He looks to Jex. 

"I have a question. Of course we have to overlook things here, but I think... I feel that time is of the essence here. The long we let those sisters to their own the worst it will be. I think we should be moving as soon as we get your new blades ready..." he suggests looking to the others. 

Jex nods. "We should at least take a look." He wrongs his hands. "I do not wish to leave things as they are here though. We should have the protection underway before we leave."

"I can 'ave most of this stuff to ya tomorrow. I can do like I did with the mirrors, just need the value of the items in gold. Moradin is generous to his smiths, Probably going to spend the majority of the day in the forge making some armour for meself. Anyone else want anything special while we're at it?" The dwarf turns to the rest of the party and lets out a laugh. "When'd ya like to leave for Khaz a Grungon? I do agree that we need some defenses in place before we leave, but the longer we wait, the longer those mines stay unmined and the buildings unbuilt. I think if we tried to leave by next Thorsday, that may be enough time to set up some sort of defenses."

Jex nods and puts a small bag of coins on the table. "How much do you need?"

He gives Hurrig a thankful smile for the agreement. "I could leave sooner, the sooner we can return the better, I am expecting several visitors and if we delay we could arrive back after them."

"I get why ye may be eager, Jex, an' I want'a get to a proper Dwarf city fer questions too, but there's lots o' movin' thing 'ere." Bründir had made his way from the kitchen in back. The supplies brought from Hyranatar made for some delectable sampling, but nothing able to be sold as meals for the masses yet. "Ye mentioned defenses, yeah? Well, walls're good till ladders go up. That's when we need fightin' folk on th' walls. Problem 'ere is no one knows who's givin' orders from top, an' those givin' orders instead don' see th' whole picture."

Bründir pulls a few fistfuls of copper and silver coins from his pouch and spreads them on the table. "I spoke with th' boys at th' gate comin' back, their sergeant said as much. Best as I can tell, there's two dozen givin' orders out there. Some're good an' want to keep the post." The dwarf splits a few silver coins into a stack to the side. "Some don' know, so they take to what an' where they know. That's most of'em, I reckon." The copper coins, far more in number than the silver, go into their own grouping. "Then there's those with power in mind. Gang bosses an' thugs, or so Sergeant Tanner called'em. Maybe we can talk to'em, maybe we lock'em up an' get someone promoted." This final group he takes the remaining silver coins and spreads them around the others in a circle.

The dwarf plants a fist on the table and perches his chin atop it to level his gaze at the coins, "I'm no governor, an' I got no claim 'cept workin' in mines. I feel like someone's gotta take charge 'ere, an' if I need t'grab these bums by their sacks an' drag'em out, then damnit I will. But how do ye jus' come in, green as grass, an' just say 'Oi! I'm in charge o'you lot now!'?"

Jex sits back with a sly grin on his face. 

"Just like that, I'd say."

He chuckles. "Were it me, I'd invite 'em all to a meeting. Friendly like. Sit' em down n say it like ya just did. Any problems, you'll no it straight. Or even if you don't recognise it, Val Thurston or I will."

As Jex says these things, his usually well spoken nature slips, becoming more common, perhaps even with a hint of a dwarven accent. 

“I could organize the men into a proper force “ suggests Thurston “still remember the days I used to serve...” 

"Yes, organise them. Get some experienced captains in charge of different areas. Schedules and patrols too. Nothing too regular though, that makes it too easy for people like me. " Jex sits back in his chair thinking deeply. 

Seid sits quietly a moment, thinking over what Vark said. "Honestly Vark, I do not know. This is something you decided on your own and something you will have to face the consequences for your choices. I cannot help you in this, I will support you, because you are my friend and someone very dear to me, but as far as what to say..." He shrugs. "The best suggestion I have for you is to just be open and honest, much like I was with my past with the Mabinogi. It took time, but I earned everyone's trust... at least I think? Maybe not Jex, but I do not believe he fully trusts anyone outside himself. I will stand with you when you tell the others, but it must be your words they hear. Be prepared for anger, for disbelief. As most small minds do when faced with something outside their plan of how things should be they will blow up and cast blame about, but this is a much bigger picture than any of them can feasibly begin to understand, I fear. There are forces at work in this world at this very moment, ancient forces we do not understand, that are seeking something. I do not know what it is yet and that... vexes me... greatly. I regret that I will not be able to join you all on your next journey, but I would like to send something with you that will remind you that I am always with you. You have grown in your confidence and it makes me very proud to see you growing into a strong man, Vark." He smiles as he reaches up and unclasps the cloak around his throat. "It is not much, but it helps cut a dashing figure and you have quite the dashing figure, Vark." He smiles sheepishly as he disrobes the cloak and leans forward to drape it around Vark's shoulder...