With a Cheshire grin I shrug and open my hands. ‘The Lord works in mysterioys ways, M’lady.’ After a cough I add ‘If one has the talent, time and persistence, almost anything can be concocted in a well stocked kitchen.’

Grinning, I add "Or with magic. Give me a day or two, and I'm sure I could come up with a way of having any spice you want, when you want it, every day. We now live in a universe of incredible possibilities, where you can use magic to create anything you can imagine, given the power. Base ingredients for cooking would be an easy start."

While it was not a tomato as you would call it there is a vegetable that is being grown in the farms around the stronghold that are very simar to an earth's tomato.     

Ok now that this day is done we can speed it up a bit to a week has passed.   Let me know what all you have done the past week and what you are planning to do next.

I am excited and happy that I got to be involved in bringing a taste from home to the group. I too had missed pizza and savored every bite I had. 

The rest of the week,Vickie spends her time at the Inn and helping others around the Keep as well keeping herself in shape. 

Continue practicing sword work and now magic use, along with assisting at the shop. I’ll be checking out mounts as well. Anyone wanting to spar is accepted, and if cook (or anyone else for that matter) wants more food ideas I’ll be happy to do so.

If I happened to see a church or cleric or clergy building, the night of the pizza I’ll make a visit there.

  I enjoy the pizza with the others.  Caesar and I stroll around the area making sure everything is ok.   While back at the keep I will be doing yoga and running to stay in shape.  I continue my practice of trying different animal forms on.  

I will work on the masterwork pair of daggers I had started, also smithing some shuriken for later efforts. 

The rest of the week goes quickly as everyone keeps busy.

Herschel there is a part of the main keep that has a couple clergy inside.  They will meet with you with no issues

Rachel as you go through various forms you will get a few odd looks from the people but most ignore your forms.  

I check in with Jason, "At what point do we plan on getting back out there and checking these forests? The lord said they were refilling with monsters and we still have that unfinished business with the swamp but we were waiting on Lywenta for that right?"

   I spend a lot of time at the inn visiting with Vickie.  One day I smile at her and ask, " How are you Vickie? Your pregnancy going okay so far?" 

I nod to Jonathan, "Grant and I have some stuff to craft over the next week before we move out, including some good armor to get Herschel started on the right foot. We should have the info from Lywenta by then. I figure that when that's done we can head north, hit the big pockets of nasties that have come back to the forest, and then east to our best guess on where to look in the swamp."

"I am doing well, Rachel. It's nice of you to ask.  Yes, the pregnancy is going well so far.  I'm sure after this next time  out and back,  I will be grounded from the adventures until the birth."

"How have you been?"  and  I whisper to her with a slight smile to my face;   "Missing the sailors?" 

  I nod at this.  " That is understandable.  You will be missed though. I will be sure to bring souvenirs back for you though.  " 

 As she whispers I turn bright red.  " Umm. ... of course.  "  I look away and then smile at her when I have recovered.  

As I have said the week goes by and soon you have the week's work done and just need to get ready for the next trip out to visit or be visited by nasties.

Lywenta meets with all of you in the inn the night as the week has ended.   She looks to you and states. "You all are familiar with me and my power except maybe you Herschel.   I have tried various ways to disconvern the place of this lair.  Knowing that a black likes a marchy stagnant area of water to hide it's lair makes me think it is on the edge or just inside the swamp area.  Knowi g it liked to hunt in the woods to the west may have thrown everyone off from its true place of hiding.   I can tell you that brackish water and other creatures in the swamp that may be near it's lair is confusing my magics.   One place of interest I have been able to find may be a an area south and east of the trading post by a day or day and a half.   I hope this helps you some.   I believe from looking about that Merklin may have this same info by now but if he tries crossing our claimed lands he may be met with some interesting things.   By no means are you safe from his people as smaller groups are very hard to detect.   Just be wary and remember there is a green dragon out there still."

"I see, our trip up the river also clued us into some form of camouflage that hid the denizens of the forest from ping's scouting. I think we should try to make sure these obfuscations don't cover that area and if they do, make sure that any party that ventures there can still be found in case an emergency extraction is needed again. I myself feel fairly confident about my abilities and the mission going forth considering my recent cementing of faith in Bahamut. Now having said that, please tell me if I'm being stupid out there and trying to do too much." I say being both boastful and serious.

  I nod at the information.  Ping and his friend can scout up above along with myself in some type of bird form.  Caesar can accompany the group below.  We can stay in constant communication so as soon as the view from below differs from the sky view then we know we are in an obscured area.  " 

On the evening of the seventh day, I place the last rivet for Herschel's new breastplate, then help him try it on. Given the time spent adjusting, there shouldn't be any issues with it impeding his movements, but I wanted to be absolutely sure. I also open up a bundle, pulling out a long blade and scabbard, one that the fighter had picked out himself, "Here, Dobby finished it up earlier this afternoon, it will cut more easily than ever before, and hold its edge much more easily. I suggest taking a few swings to get used to it."

As we wrap up and get ready to set out, I'll make sure to get reports on specifically where to look for anything that's been causing trouble along the route to the trade post lately. We'll hit them up on our way north, rest at the post, and then head for the swamp.

Examining the Havesack closely, I happily store all my trinkets and items of power inside, pulling them out on demand and exercising the magic properties of the backpack. "Nice! This makes getting all the items I use simplistic! "

With regards to the exploration, I say "Ariel certainly can provide visual checks on the areas we explore but he's fragile and I'd hate to lose his advantages. We'll be careful. I also may be able to provide some tracking talents when needed to locate the right spot, once we are closer."

"I finished my chess board. Well, it's complete, I don't usually varnish things. I made it for the our inn, but I think I should start on a portable one for out in the field. Gotta figure out who will want to play as well. I figured You and Jason were good options (as I'm speaking to grant)"

As the group gets ready to move out, I am mounted on my upgraded horse - with the Horseshoes - saddlebags lightly packed now that pretty much everything non-sharp is in the Haversack. Laughing a bit as the horse confidently walks on the air above the ground, I look forward to what could be the smoothest horseback ride ever.