Guilliame and Velma are helped inside where they remain the centre of attention for everyone in the room for quite a while.

"Sorry about the freezing," says the hostess as she passes Guilliame a cup of hot char, "but it was the only spell I had available at the time... Anyway, the villain knows he's been in a fight now."

"I'm still not sure what happened? Can you go through it for me, please?"

"I was near the door and heard a scream," begins the hostess. "I looked outside and saw you on the ground and this ruffian strike your girlfriend. Fortunately, there was still some water from the rain on the doorstep so I threw an Ice Knife at him. I hit him, and I hurt him, so he fled, but you were caught in the blast as well."

Looking contrite, she adds, "I'm sorry about that, but it was all I could think to do at the time."

[OOC: Also for the record, Guilliame is currently on 16 out of 23 hit points. He lost 6 hit points from Blackie's surprise attack and then another 5 hit points from being caught in the Area of Effect of the Ice Knife. He was then healed 4 hit points, which also brought him back to consciousness. Mind you, all he really knows is that he was knocked unconscious, his head still hurts, and he is cold.]

"Thank you for coming to our rescue. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't."

To Velma: "He said his name is Blackie did he look like...<provide rough description of Blackie>" 

"Yes," says Velma, still looking shaken. "That's him... I, I tried to use my magic against him, but he was just too fast. He hit me before I could do anything and then our hostess here intervened."

"Lucinda," says the hostess. "My name is Lucinda Damass. And my husband's name is Heracles. We are so sorry that your evening was spoiled like this."

"Would you like some char as well, Miss?" asks Heracles.

"Velma," replies Velma with a nod.

Heracles smiles and nods himself before heading off in the direction of the kitchen.

"So, this is something more than a simple mugging?" queries Lucinda.

"Yes. Blackie and his mate Will hang around the western markets. I stopped them robbing an old man and then later they tried to attack me there. So I expect he has been following my movements. Thanks again for coming to our rescue. I just hope this is the end of the matter from his perspective."

"I did not know you led such an exciting life," says Velma, curious. "Do you commonly try to stop muggings, or was this a special circumstance?"

"Someone has to stand up to the criminal element," says Lucinda. "The guard is stretch thin as it is. I feel that magi like ourselves have something of a duty to the rest of the lawful community to take a stand when we can."

Then she turns to Guilliame and asks, "Is that the way you see it?"

"That is definitely the way I see it. There has been a real change in the city recently. Religiously zealots have been harassing people who believe differently. Stirges about. The killing of the warlord. Things are really unsettled now." 

"Stirges," says Heracles, returning with a steaming mug.

He hands the mug to Velma and adds, "Nasty buggers those. Have you seen them this far north?"

"We saw at least three the other night and I've heard others have seen them in town recently. I'm going to talk to people at the school to see whether we can come up with an organised response."

"Good luck with that," says Heracles. "They come over from the King's Reserve. He won't let anyone do anything about it as he says it will affect his hunting."

"Maybe there's a way to convince them to go elsewhere," suggests Lucinda thoughtfully.

"Maybe," says Heracles, "But that will just make them someone else's problem."

He then turns and looks away towards a side room and says, "And now you will have to excuse me. My players need seeing to."

So saying, he heads off.

"I should get back to my kitchen as well," says Lucinda. "Stay as long as you like and I'll bring you more char, if you need it."

If Guilliame feels up to it suggest they head home now. Maybe not visit Naomi tonight. 

"I can walk you home. Hopefully I'll provide better protection next time."

Guilliame is feeling warmer now that he has been inside and had something warmer. His head still hurts, but not enough to stop him walking Velma home.

Velma takes up his offer and agrees that another night would be better to meet Granny Naomi. 

As they are leaving the Scholar's Retreat, they catch up with the elderly couple who commented earlier about the stirges. They are just getting into a carriage.

"We are heading west," says the old gentleman. "If you are heading the same way, we could share this carriage."

"Thank you for the offer but we are the other way I'm afraid."

OOC I think this isn't right but seeing as Guilliame has no money to cover the cost I'd rather say that than have an expectation that Velma would pay.

"Oh, well," says the elderly gentleman. "Take care and watch out for stirges." He then follows his companion into the carriage and it moves off.

"I hope it doesn't start raining again," says Velma, taking Guilliame's hand. "Let us go quickly. The sooner started, the quicker home."

Light the torch and cast a dancing lights and head to Velma's house.

The walk to Velma's house is uneventful, except for the fact that it starts raining again.

When the two of them reach Velma's small house, Guilliame can see there is a light on in the main room and smoke coming from the small chimney.

"Do you want to meet my mother?" asks Velma tentatively.

"I would love to. I can't stay long but enough to say hello."

"Come," Velma says, leading the way into the house.

As Guilliame follows, Velma calls out, "Mother, I am home."

"What time do you call this, Velma?" comes the quick reply from the person standing at the small stove. "The stew is overcooked and vegetables have turned to mush and—"

"We have a guest, Mother," says Velma interrupting.

There is a pause and then the woman turns around awkwardly on her crutch and looks at Guilliame. Apart from the fact she is clearly a middle-aged Stemian woman, the first thing that Guilliame notices is that she has a wooden peg instead of a left foot and that she has a patch over her left eye.

"Ah, so this is the man you have been stepping out with, is it Velma?" the woman says.

She pauses for a moment while she looks Guilliame up and down and then adds, "Welcome. Welcome to our humble abode. Please take a seat, and would you be liking a cup of char?"

"I've just had one thank you. It's nice to meet Madam Smit. How are you this evening?"