"Beasts is too nice a term for the demons made with the Dark Schematic, Lero. And I'm sorry for being so abrupt before, on the servo. I was at a particularly delicate bit of a project I was undertaking, and something that I couldn't stop working on. Even though I was not there, I could feel the pain you all suffered. I'm aware that Buama has been tasked with building him a new chassis, correct? If I were permitted to help with his aether-based protocols, I would do my best, but I believe Buama wants to do it herself, building his new chassis."

Flux is walking over to Lero and Namura, stuffing a strange cloth into their satchel. As soon as they draw near enough, the servo, still on Lero's shoulder until this point, jumps over to its creator. (The last sentence of the next passage is said in a somewhat joking manner, however, absolutely everything else Flux says in this post is serious).

"You should definitely take up on her offer with that quiver. It is a fine piece of work. Now on to a more immediate issue. What do we do next? We've lost the dark crew, but I can tell from what I've seen around that there are several elves of equal skill, so we might have some replacements for them here. Do we go straight to the dark site or do we help them with their cultist infestation first? Or perhaps we could do something else, like train a dragon to help us?"

Azi seems to snap out of a daze, the news of the crew seemed to upset him quite a bit, more so than he would have expected.  He hasn't really had to deal with large scale death before, and for some reason he keeps thinking back to his monastery.  What would happen if he were to return home to see everyone slaughtered?  This must be how Arial feels right now. 

Looking down at his sword, his staff, and his new scar from the aether beast and he comes to the quick realization that this mission is no walk in the park.  This outing will require his full devotion and zero holding back. Less he end up back on the ground again, possibly not getting back up next time.  He puts the quarter staff slung around his back, and while sitting with his legs crossed he slowly pulls the sword from it's sheath. Holding the sword up to his face, he turns it from flat side to thin side, "By this blade I will protect my friends and colleagues.  It is my solemn duty to protect them, and I have thus far failed.  From this point on, there will be no mistakes."  He will spend awhile meditating with his blade. 

Seeing that he will need all the tools he can possibly get his hands on, at some point when there is a moment of downtime he'll head over to the artificers "Flux, Buama... This sword is sacred to me but I do not think it will be enough for our coming fights. If we have time at a later point would you be able to convert it into a weapon that can use Aether to augment itself?" The thought makes Azi uncomfortable to use aether in such a way, but to disregard it and lose more people is unacceptable. 

Walking toward Lero, Flux and Namura direction: I think we should help the elves first, not only because killing this demons will relieve a lot of pain from many of us (Kraithee looks at Namura's direction then at Arial) and also, here we have people that know the lay of the land, so ambushes and guerrilla tactics will be best employed by us. We will get the jump on them this time. Said that, Kraithee waits a second or two then continues: As a last thought, if we go to the dark site from here we are leaving possible reinforcements to whoever took the Dark Site behind and dividing our strength, leaving the survivors to fend for themselves, something that recently didn't end well... Kraithee rests his eyes on Elto's sword.

Buama is still busy with an odd variety of tools around and what looks like a rework of a spare longer tunic that might be knee length even for her height. She hears Azi's request, but only gives him a quick look as she points at Flux who is over talking to some of the others. She resumes her work quickly.

As he walks away he will hear her make an odd screech that might have sounded pretty cool underwater and sees her suck on a finger tip for a moment before resuming what looks like sewing in rapid, fine stitches.

Lero turns around as Flux and the rest of the group begin talking. He hears their words, but they don't register all that much as he looks around the campsite. The elves are all sitting around in various groups with some of them nursing the wounds they got in defense of their town. They were ambushed from the inside - that had to be the reason they were taken so easily, but they've yet to tell the whole story of what happened that night.

They've yet to say anything, really. That's been his experience with elves in the past. They live their long lives and figure that tragedy will occur and move on in some crazy cycle. They feel they can wait out what happened to them and walk back in and take up where they left off. A small group entered the town for a few cinnamon rolls! The way they think never made sense to him. You need to seize the opportunity when it arises. If those bakers were able to just walk in and take a few pastries and walk back out, maybe now is the time for them to strike. 

But you can't force a grieving group of elves to act like dwarves. They'll decide when they're ready. 

"Unless the elves here have a plan to re-take their town, we should make out for the Dark Site in the morning." 

Nodding, "I agree, unless they have a specific need for us we should move on to do our mission.  Once our mission is complete we can possibly come back here and help more.  Not to sound like a downer but they are just one settlement of elves, the darksite is very important to the renegade cause."

"Of course she'll take it," one voice piped up from behind her, pushing the quiver back into her arms. Another voice soon followed, as both Lero and Flux forced her to clutch onto the magical item tightly. Namura was prepared to protest more, but she was swept up into a hurricane of aether and plans.

"Now on to a more immediate issue. What do we do next?"  Flux asked the question on everyone's mind. Only half listening, Namura's fingers continued to trace the golden patters. Kraithee and Azi quickly joined the conversation, as almost everyone attempted to weigh in on the party's fate.

"They're all dead. The people at the darksite, this town, your crew. So what does it matter?" Namura abruptly spoke up, shouldering the quiver and turning away from the group without another word. She didn't want to talk about plans and what was and wasn't important any more.

The elf's eyes locked onto the little boy with his feet in the water, the one whose father had died. She plopped down beside him, her own bare feet breaking the surface of the water. "How are you doing, little one?" she said softly in elvish, swishing her feet back and forth in the water. "I heard you were very brave last night."

The little boy looks down at her feet, and then back at his as they both swish in the water. Sheepishly, he replies in Elvish, "I got mom safe. She says he's still out there, protecting us. I hope he comes back to us soon. I haven't seen him all day." It's clear the child doesn't fully understand what has happened and what is going on around him in the world.

As the party discusses their plan, Lahsuke can be seen entering the cave from the wurm tunnel. He must've slipped out sometime in the early morning for another scouting mission. Spotting the party, he approaches them in haste. "I'm surprised to see you all are still here. I thought you would've left by now on your way to this darksite from what Lefelynn told me." The elves slowly start to gather around, listening to him speak. "I just returned from scouting out Fhestrynn to see where we can strike next.... they've vanished. The place is barren. I'd say that they're just hiding, but you can even hear the birds chirping again..." Whispers echo throughout the cavern as the people murmur amongst themselves on if it can really be true. Did they survive this reckoning?

Lero once again finds himself behind Namura, completely ignoring Lahsuke as he gives the news. He whispers close to her, "Do you even know these elves, did you know the dark site crew, did you know my crew? You sat, distant from everyone this whole time and you expect to be coddled due to their sacrifice? There's Silence in Peema; this whole place is a dark site now. You are our guide so you either get your shit together or ******* leave."

"Best leave it a few days. They might want all of you the way the others are, and if you go back, you might be walking into a trap."

Flux speaks this loudly, in elvish. The worst may be yet to come. They walk over to Lahsuke as they say this, and then speak in a more normal tone to him.

"We were still deciding whether to go there now or clear out the cultists here, though it seems like we can go now. Hopefully I am wrong, and their absence is not a trap, but I always find it better to be safe than sorry, when it comes to lives."

"I got mom safe. She says he's still out there, protecting us," the boy's eyes remained trained on their feet. "I hope he comes back to us soon. I haven't seen him all day."

"I'm sure he was the bravest, that's where you get it from," she smiled sadly, taking a deep breath before reaching for her belt. "Have you ever used one of these before?" Namura asked, holding up one of her daggers. "It's very sharp, so you have to promise to be careful. But if you practice and if you use it just right, it will help you keep you and your mum safe." The ranger flipped the dagger in her hand, now holding the hilt out towards the boy. "Take it, little one."

"Do you even know these elves, did you know the dark site crew, did you know my crew?" her moment alone with the kid was cut abruptly short as Lero hissed angrily into her ear. "You sat, distant from everyone this whole time and you expect to be coddled due to their sacrifice? There's Silence in Peema; this whole place is a dark site now. You are our guide so you either get your shit together or ******* leave."

"And how much good have I done as your guide, huh?" the elven woman rose to her feet, fire in her eyes. "Just because I didn't lose my family today doesn't mean I don't know what it feels like." She closed her eyes and took a deep shuddering breath, her features softening. "I need to decide for myself whether I am more of a hindrance or a help, because right now, I don't know."

Well, it looks like the decision was made for us, we now have a clear path to the Dark Site. Flux, you said that this people might be able to help make the Site operational again, right? I am thinking we go there, with open eyes for now the demons are now missing, so if some of us suspect they have something to do with the Site going Dark, they might have half a day or more of advantage on us. 

Said that, Kraithee around to see if everyone is close, and say: We should be on the move as soon as possible.

"Well Namura, you need to decide fast." Lero takes a step closer to her, "Because if what people say about you is true, this is your homeland. That means it is your family in danger right now. And what we do know is that it all started with the Dark Site. Maybe they moved on from that location; maybe not. But the Dark Site might hold the answers to the questions of who these people are and what these creatures are." 

Lero calms himself a bit, "Look; I crashed my ******* ship and killed three people. I made the decision to leave my crew at the crash site. I nearly left them there to die, if not for your insistence that we check on them. If I were even half as knowledgeable about the forest as you are, we may have made it there in time." Lero shakes his head and composes himself, "Anyone can take the blame for what has happened and anyone can blame themselves. All that matters is what we do moving forward, so I'm going to kill these creatures, save Peema, and avenge the death of my family. And I need your help to do it... because I don't want to end up dead by some wild tiger that got the drop on me." 

Duncan coming to the others said, "I agree with Kraithee! We've already lost time to them, we might as well start as soon as we have the provisions we need."

By the time all this talking goes on Buama had those last stitches done, her new piece of wardrobe on, and was efficiently packing her tools. She had things to do. Things that would help the Renegades and avenge the lost. She had new things up her sleeve, some almost literally. A smile spread her lips at the thought. The time had come for action that would lead to the finale of what she needed to do. 

She pets the package holding Elto's lifecraft. "Time for the next step of the journey. I'll make sure to remember it well so I can give you all the details when you wake up." Her voice is barely above a whisper.

She strode over to the rest of the remaining crew. "I'm ready to head to the dark site when you all are. I've had time enough to rest and work through some things that will help us. Seems I got it all done right on time."

There might be a bit of a smile on her lips, but the main thing people will notice is the set look of determination on her face and in how she stands. She actually looks taller than her six foot six. Or maybe the new tunic she had on with some odd patches that came to her knees helped the look. The new tunic hid most of the pockets on her pants, but was left open from the upper hips down along the sides so she could easily access any of the pockets. One hand rested on the pouch holding Elto. The rest of her gear sat ready to be slung onto her back when they left.

The boys eyes go wide as he sees Namura pull out the dagger. Quickly taking it when she offers it to him he thrusts into the air away from them, as if fighting a imaginary foe. Seeing a foreigner such as Lero puts him on edge, and he gets up and runs back to his mom.

While unable to see the position of the sun, you reckon it is around mid-afternoon, and have four or five hours of daylight before the sun sets. Lefelynn approaches the forming party, herself dressed for travel. She carries a gnarled wooden staff in one hand, wearing dark red robes covering a sort of leather armor beneath. "Don't forget the one that's suppose to get you all there!" She chuckles from the playful banter. "The way I see it, we have two options: We can cut straight through the forest and terrain towards the heart of Peema, or we can take the path that leads up north to the village Jaundalice. From Jaundalice, there's another road that leads to the capital city of Aelswyniveer, which cuts through the outer part of the swamp, placing us close to the Heart also. My estimate is both routes will take the same amount of time. The road will be less strenuous on the body, but it could be patrolled by the Barad'Ellil and their tanar'ri. The forest would be more difficult to move through, but we'd probably be safe from them, while exposing ourselves to the various natural threats found in Peema... " She blankly scans the room, as if looking at a mental diagram. "Wurms, tigers, hydras, jaguars, gorillas, rhinos, dragons, arborbacks, longtusks... and possibly tanar'ri also. I'll leave the choice to you all."

Kraithee thinks to itself: Those are some great odds…

He turns to Namura and say, finishing his sentence with a genuine smille: Namura, what is your sugestion? I will follow your expertise on this subject.

"Anyone can take the blame for what has happened and anyone can blame themselves. All that matters is what we do moving forward, so I'm going to kill these creatures, save Peema, and avenge the death of my family. And I need your help to do it... because I don't want to end up dead by some wild tiger that got the drop on me." Namura had never been one for pep talks, but Lero's silvery words somehow did make her feel a little better. In any case, if she gave up now, she would never be able to prove that she could be better.

"Maybe I'll let a wild tiger get the drop on you," she wiped her face with the palms of her hands before meeting the pirate's gaze again. "I do like them better." Namura shouldered the quiver into a more comfortable spot, dusting herself off. Her posture straightened, and she once again stood stall. It was time to end this pity party, and get back to business.

"Don't forget the one that's suppose to get you all there!" a much cheerier elf drew her attention back over to the rest of the group, and the ranger decided to join them. "... tigers, hydras, jaguars, gorillas, rhinos, dragons, arborbacks, longtusks... and possibly tanar'ri also. I'll leave the choice to you all."

"We want the woods," Namura spoke up, for the first time this morning contributing something actually constructive. "You don't need to worry about it taking longer or being more difficult, I can take care of that. I can reason with animals, tell them we mean no harm. But I do not want to feel hunted by devils."

To say that Lero felt relieved was an understatement. The thought crossed his mind that this wild elf would pounce on him at any moment... and not in a good way. Her questioning her own abilities would have had him questioning his own, and now was not the time for that. 

"There isn't much light left," Lero looks to the others, "And there still may be clues in the village that will tell us what they were doing and what they were looking for. It may be best to head out in the morning, and spend the rest of today scouting out the Village Spire."

Arial watched the proceedings between Lero and Namura from a distance, as she held Elto's blade. While Lero might not have sensed it, she wanted so badly to cry to herself, and give up as Namura had done. After all, she was the one that commanded for them to stay with the ship. It was a selfish choice. She just didn't want the ship to somehow get hijacked while they were away. Seeing Namura head off towards the gathering group, she strapped Elto's sword to her back and went to go join them. "We want the woods," Namura spoke. It seems like she's gotten over her own pity. It's high time you do as well. "You don't need to worry about it taking longer or being more difficult, I can take care of that. I can reason with animals, tell them we mean no harm. But I do not want to feel hunted by devils." Just as she is about to respond, she hear's Lero speak up. "There isn't much light left," Lero looks to the others, "And there still may be clues in the village that will tell us what they were doing and what they were looking for. It may be best to head out in the morning, and spend the rest of today scouting out the Village Spire."

Finally, she arrives at the group. "Am I the only one that can make decisions around here? Jukette, you children just bicker back and forth with no aim or direction. Here's what we're going to do. You kids can go sort your problems out. Moan, cry, fight... I don't care. I'm going to go do a sweep of the city with my thopter. Flux, you're welcome to join me with your new toy too. If they're gone, then they're gone and we continue. We've yet to get any information from these kuu'datti [bastards] before, so I doubt we'll find any clues. My guess is they were harvesting bodies like before...." She sighs heavily as her eyes get a little watery. It's apparent her "big girl" facade could break down at any minute. "Like the crew." She pauses for a few moments, slowing her breathing down. "This will take a few hours. Buama, I want you working on Elto. I refuse to let his aether leave us for good. Namura... It's hard. But it's not your fault, and you need to realize that. People die... it's a fact of life in our line of work. So dispense with the self-pity, and funnel that anger towards these demons. They killed our allies, not you." The advice seems like something she needed to hear, perhaps more so than Namura. She turns to head towards the mouth of the cave. "I'll be sitting by the entrance in my alcove. I'll let you know what I find."'

As Arial goes to leave, Lefelynn let's out a nervous laugh, in a poorly made attempt to ease the tension in the air. "Maybe we should go on a walk around the forest? That always clears my head." She smiles pleasantly as her teeth turn into fangs. You can hear bones snapping and rearranging, as aether begins to surge from within her. Her skin turns green as darker green stripes and fur begin to form. Her clothing seems to meld into her figure, which quickly changes shape into that of a four-legged animal. The few seconds pass, and her transformation into a Peema tiger are complete.