Sokmen nods kindly and sits with Alaris, also taking a cup of tea.

"That is concerning," he acknowledges calmly in response to the news of the fallen janissaries. "I assure you that these creatures pose no danger to my troops as a whole. What's more, they rarely stray far from their origin. Nevertheless, to lose good soldiers for the sake of wood is a foolish waste of resources. Thank you for your warning - it is received and understood."

The colonel watches Alaris carefully from behind his cup.

Alaris sips their tea and enjoys the fleeting moment of quiet comfort on the long, cold road to Paragon. The silence sits around them like a comfortable blanket, and the aasimar rests in the stillness of the colonel's searching gaze, secure in Frej's strength. Would it be safer to bring the priors and the artifact this way? Or will this Sarameian seize the artifact to burnish his own wealth and reputation?

The colonel sits for a moment and enjoys his tea, before speaking again.

"What is it that brings you across the border, Bogatyr?"

"Orders, Chorbaji," Alaris smiles. "Same as what brought you here, I expect. My hunters are escorting travelers to Paragon, before moving on to Five Towers for reconnaissance and research. Met some bloodsucking flying creatures and dispatched them before we encountered your fallen."

Sokmen nods in understanding.

"Well, I imagine that your journey will be rather less eventful once you pass Mingol Bar. Will there be anything else? Otherwise, I must get back to work. As you say, we all have our orders."

"Nothing else, no," Alaris replies as they stand in a fluid, comfortable motion. "But I hope you will not find it rude or unseemly for me to attempt to further impress upon you the seriousness of this situation. The forest hungers with hate, and if the logging does not cease or move elsewhere... I believe the cost in lives and time will make your mission thoroughly unprofitable, Chorbaji, and add to the difficulty of my own."

Sokmen smiles and shakes his head.

"Of course not, I appreciate your going out of your way to assist us. I will speak with my quartermaster, but I expect that we have already secured sufficient lumber that it wouldn't make sense to risk further losses on the operation."

He too rises and offers a hand for Alaris to shake.

"Safe travels, Bogatyr."

Alaris shakes his hand with confidence. "Baris refah ve bereket, Chorbaji Sokmen. Peace, prosperity, and abundance to you until we meet again." The paladin backs out of the tent and rides Zadkiel at a sedate pace back through the encampment and towards the woods...

Some time later, Alaris returns unmolested to their companions in the woods.

Quote from ZeeOfIstus >>

While the group rests and waits for the return of their Bogatyr, Shiva’s mind is uncharacteristically still. Her thoughts carry her to the catacombs beneath the Black Sheep, down through the winding pathways to Temnitsa, then up the rising staircase to the abode of her Mistress. As she reminisces about the cold embrace of her lover, her focus suddenly flits to the copper-haired Sonya. She was likely enjoying the accommodations that Shiva’s gift afforded her. 

“Girl troubles, huh? You certainly know how to pick them.” Her Other’s tone is one of sarcasm. “Yeah yeah, says the woman who once ****ed a mouth-breathing tiefling twice her size.” “Warlock. And hey, I hadn’t gotten any in weeks. Seems like a wicked libido is another trait that we share. But anyway, they’re on your mind. Why not ask your dwarf friend if she can contact them? She seemed to be able to do so with Ling.” 

“Yeah, good idea. Thanks.”  Walking over to Astrid, she takes a seat beside her. “Hey darling. I know that we’re carrying out the plan tonight, but would it put a strain on you to ask you to contact a few people for me?” 

      "Huh, what's that now?" Astrid looks up with a cordial smile from her encyclopedia of knowledge on the undead that she continues to absorb during their free time on the road. "That shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just will take me a few moments to concentrate to send the message... Who are you looking to contact? It's always easier if I know who I'm going to be talking to."

"I would like to contact Andrei back at the Black Sheep and ask him how my guest is doing. And I would like to contact Mistress as well. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye before we left." Shiva shifts uncomfortably for a moment. "I really appreciate this, Astrid. I'll owe you one."  

     Placing a ribbon to hold her place, Astrid closes the book and sets it aside. "Andrei should be easy enough.. Let's see now." The cleric reaches into one of her pouches and pulls out a copper spring. She closes her eyes and focuses her mind on the barkeep back in Pitrograd. She sits quietly, unmoving as her consciousness stretches back through the distance. 

     After a few moments, Astrid's eyes open but they gaze toward something far off. Bringing the wire to her she speaks the message. "Andrei, sorry to bother you. This is Astrid... Shivala was wanting to see how her guest, Sonja, is doing?"

"Oh, siema Astrid." Andrei's response is tinged with surprise. "Yeah, Sonja's fine. Why?"

    Astrid relays the message to Shivala and inquires if she would like to inquire further about her friend. The tieflng shakes her head but seems to pleased to hear that Sonja is doing well. 

     Raising the spring to her lips once again, Astird replies to Andrei. "Oh, no reason. She was just wanting to make sure her friend is well. Thank you, Andrei!"

Shiva smiles as Astrid’s message ends. “Thank you hun. Now for the more difficult message, since I don’t think you’ve ever actually seen Mistress. Hm….” Shiva wracks her mind, attempting to recall the manners in which she’d seen Ling or Nik manifest images and illusions, but she simply did not understand the method. With a sigh, her mind again drifts to Mistress. “The hunger that overcame her when I offered myself to her in her foyer, she couldn’t keep her hands off…”

A quiet hum rings out from somewhere, and the tiefling looks down to see that her blue electricity is running between the fingertips of her right hand. But it begins to fade as she focuses on it, and an idea dawns on her. “The way that Mistress swept me up in her arms, burying her face into my neck so passionately..”. The current strengthens between her fingers, and she holds her hand out in front of the dwarf while focusing on the alluring vampire. In her palm, the image of a face begins to materialize. The image is fuzzy, however; the features nondescript beyond high cheekbones and long hair. 

     "Hehe... You didn't make it very easy for me." Astrid gives a weak smile and squints as she tries to study the portrait created by Shivala. "Hmm... Let's see now." The dwarf once again focuses her mind and sends out a tendril of her consciousness searching for the vampire. A path is difficult to find to this recipient - whether from being unknown to her, or maybe the nature of the Mistress. After moments of searching, Astrid attempts to establish a connection.

    "Uh... H-hello... Mistress. I'm a friend of Shiva's. I have a message for you."

A screech of psychic static makes Astrid wince and a thin trickle of blood runs from her nose.

"Who Who is the this? **** What's is the Shiva? message?" A cacophany of voices rings in the Dwarf's mind.

    "Ahh!!" Astrid recoils within herself, hands grasping at the sides of her head. She takes a moment to recover, letting the echo of voices leave her mind. Her body heaves with the deep breathes as she ties to cope with the pain coursing through her skull. After a moment her breathing calms. A few drops of the blood from her nose drip on her robe. 

     "That... was... not... a good idea. Many different voices. I think that's what I get for not knowing who I'm trying to talk to," she says to Shivala, wiping the blood from her nose. "I'm sorry, hon. But that's going to have to wait. Next time we get back to Pitrograd you'll have to introduce us in case you want to do talk her when we're on the road."

"Shit!" Shiva calls out as Astrid shudders in pain, and she reaches out to comfort her ally. When the dwarf recovers enough to explain what had occurred, Shiva shakes her head. "That's alright, I need to practice my illusions so I can give better assistance." She then smiles weakly. "Thank you for trying. If I ever get the chance to introduce you, I think she'll like you. Level-headed and pragmatic and all."

The clop of hooves signals Alaris's return, and Shiva looks up to the treeline. "They're back. I guess they weren't able to stay at the camp."

Caio watches with a raised eyebrow as Shiva has Astrid strain herself so the tiefling can dote on her lovers. 

Someone’s bitter.

Alaris’ return provides convenient distraction from his intrusive thoughts. “How did it go?”