Hyre shakes his head. "I don't know. I don't want to split, but... I have much to do here in Guiston. Aside from studying, one way or another, the egg I'm carrying will hatch soon, and I'll need the help of those who know how to train what comes out of it. I also have my obligations to Hana and..." he blushes slightly and doesn't finish the sentence, but his eyes dart towards Barna a few times as he speaks.

Grimbuld's eyes flick over to Aelar, then to Raia, who looks upset at first, but then averts her gaze.
Grimbuld grunts and folds his arms after the two share... some kind of unspoken exchange.
"I'll hold my tongue if only because you have proven yourself to follow through on your promises, boy." he says, getting up out of his chair to round about and stand behind Hyre.

Hana pats Hyre on the shoulder.
"We managed this long without you, kiddo. If you want to go, we can hold down the fort 'till you get back." she says.
"I don't think we'd be in Hon for very long. The outpost garrison just needs to be told what buildings are to be left alone and not used to build more fortifications or base structures and which can be dismantled or repurposed." Kina says. "If you're present, you can make sure that's ALL they do."
Grimbuld peers over Hyre's shoulder.
"Let's see the egg, just for a moment. I might be able to make a guess as to how many days you have left before it hatches."

Aelar doesn't look at Raia, but reaches out with his mind.  What's going on with you and Grimbuld?  I think I need to know, Raia.  Why is he so upset with you?  Did you burn down his favorite tree or something?

Kallista lays out her merger belongings, hands shaking. She tips all her rocks onto the bedspread, staring at all of them for a moment before putting them away and pulling out the only thing she had from home, a small blanket that maybe could have covered her when she was a small child without wings but at this point could barely cover her torso. At this point it was starting to show its wear, but Kallista hugs it and starts crying for the first time in a while.

Leon thinks for a moment, brimming with excitement. "Training in Hon?"

He longed to return back to his home town, and though he's sure his friends have grown just attached to Guiston as he is, returning back to Hon would do him some good. That chaotic night still lingered in his memories, and he knew he needed to see the town again if he's to get over them. 

"I'd definitely want to go, if we all agree to. I could learn much from militia."

((Dude Bacon that got me all misty eyed!))

”So when do we leave?” Lazlo asks, inspired by Leon’s enthusiasm. 

((Sorry XD))

 ooc: Razor...are you going to be resuming your DMing?

So...you'd rather I worry about the unknown?  Because I can't not worry about it, Raia.  I can sense how much it bothers you and what bothers you bothers me.  I trust you so I'll try, but while I respect you and more than that, you're not my mother so please don't treat me like a child.  Even I can see that we're partners.  Please treat me like that.  What was left of my childhood died the night the Skell attacked.  So...on to bigger things.  You still haven't said when we can do the ritual?

Aelar nods at Grimbuld, "Thank you, Mr. Grimbuld."  He says this with his most winning smile, meaning it.  Turning to his friends, he continues, "I'm all for heading back to Hon, though hopefully after a certain ceremony is performed and maybe after your egg hatches, Hyre?  I'm sure Mr. Grimbuld and Sir Geoffrey can tell you how to care for the hatchling and we'll do all we can to help.  You and I, we can do more research in Hon's library, and even look at the books in the richer homes, come to think of it."

"But... still..." Hyre mutters as he reaches back to his pack, pulling it closer. He opens it and carefully takes out the purse that contains the egg, lying on top of everything else. He takes the egg out of the purse and shows it to Grimbuld. "We only just got back, and already you want to go. I don't really understand why though. If my old house is the difference between a fortified Hon and unfortified Hon, I'd rather live somewhere else in safety than comfort myself in that familiar place until the next attack." He looks at Barna, trying to get her opinion on this matter. If Hana doesn't need him and he can study in Hon, only her and the egg hold him back. He didn't think caring for the bird would be as easy as Aelar made it sound, but Grimbuld will probably say what he thinks, and he should know best. As for Barna, however, he didn't want to leave her again after only just meeting again, but neither did he want to bring her with him. It's the same thing all over again.

Kina laughs lightly at Leon and Lazlo's enthusiasm..
"Well certainly we won't be leaving tonight. Give yourselves a little time. The captain has cleared the charter of a kite to take us back to Hon. The trip will only take a couple of hours." she says.
"Yes, for now, I think y'all have earned a breather. Trapsing around the wilderness, hunting, and mounting a rescue all in a few days, not to mention finding your lost friend here, give yourselves a moment and enjoy your victory."' Hana says, raising her mug and taking a swig as she eats at the table with the others.

Grimbuld takes a thorough look at Hyre's egg and hums.
"You've got time yet. The rock around the shell is cracked but still whole. The chick is taking its time. Maybe a week or two. When the rock shell fully falls away, you know you have only days before it will emerge." he states.
Barna folds her arms and rolls her eyes.
"Oh please, you CANNOT be thinking of asking me to stay here AGAIN. Hon is safe with a garrison in place. Besides, I want to see your home and flop on your bed and roll around like a cat." she objects. One wouldn't think that an orc would know how to pout like a child, but Barna's doing it.

"I would join you as well. If we're going to be taking research material from the archives, as good as my connections are, I want to guarantee the clerk the safe return of the books by coming with them. I could help direct fortifications as well. Some of the younger soldiers put too much faith in magic constructs and barriers and have forgotten the finer points of siege defense." Geoffrey states.

Listening to the unspoken words coming from Hyre, Lazlo thinks about his own burgeoning relationship with Carrie. They'd just met- and though he cherished their time together, was this anything more than just a moments diversion in an otherwise hectic life full of uncertainty and dragons? Neither he nor she was living anything other than hand to mouth. Would either of them be better off if he stayed? What could he offer her in Hon? A barn? Uncharacteristically thoughtful, Lazlo reaches out for Carrie's hand and speaks in a low murmer close to her ear. "I...may have to go sometime soon. I don't know for how long. I hope to be back someday...what I mean to say is, you're worth coming back for, if you'd like that that is. Um... I'd stay, but I owe these folk a debt. Though ungentle, they took me in, in their fashon. I hope we'll meet again- and maybe we can pick up where we left off... but that's wishful thinking. I don't know what dangers lie ahead for me and if I'll keep out of the dead book for long.  I'd not ask a promise or a pledge from you nor expect it. Be happy and joyful in everything you do." He pauses, uncertain if the words coming out of his mouth did what he felt justice. "I just want to let you know...that...you're so COOL..."  The Satyr sighs deeply and leans his head against her neck, having used up all the wisdom and intelligence at his disposal for the day. 

"I... but..." Hyre wants to object, but he can't. Everyone had sound arguments that shot down all of his. Eventually he sighs. A little sad, but also a little happy. He doesn't say anything more, but it's clear he's done arguing for now. Seeing Lazlo in his state, Hyre envys him a little. It would be great not to worry about everything from time to time.

((Kallista, can you roll the following: CON save, WIS save, CHA save for me please.))

Con: 16

Wis: 11

Cha: 10

Aelar looks from Grimbuld to Raia and back again.  Clearly there's some history there but also something else, something he's not going to be told.  It's irritating being kept in the dark and clearly there was something about this bond, some danger to him, or maybe her but he thought it likely to him, that she didn't want to tell him about.  Well, there was time.

"Yeah, I don't see any reason we can't all return to Hon, as long as we can get there before the egg hatches."  He turns to Raia.  "You're coming with us, right, if we go?"

Raia smirks at Aelar.
"Of course I am. I told you, I need to look after you all, don't I? Besides, I'm not going anywhere until I regain the strength to change back into my own body." she says.
"And YOU are being dramatic, Lazlo." she says, folding her arms and smiling bemusedly at the satyr.
"You're going to be back regardless. It can't take that long to close up your homes and tell the garrison what buildings to leave alone, and it's going to take time to make a sufficient rescue plan. There are nine thousand souls minus seven to save. If we're to save them all, there is much to consider, much to do. Surveillance, reconnaissance, information gathering, allocation of military volunteers, and preparation for retaliation and escalation." she explains.
"That means diplomatic meetings with the closest other city states at risk, Valis, Fortesss Wolfbane, and Rondo, to acquire additional reinforcements to push back if the Skell continue their march." she adds.
"The Skell have committed not only an act of war, but also proven they have no intention of following the practices of conventional warfare. No negotiations, no conditions of surrender, no chance to resist. The other city states won't stand for it." Geoffrey adds.
"It's all going to take time. No one is making a move until a plan is made that will free the captives without loss of life, and with an entire village on the line, that's a tall order. I hate to say it... but you're all going to need to be patient. For now, the people of Hon are alive and they're not being treated like typical hostages. That's reason enough to hold onto hope... and work hard to prepare in the meantime." Geoffrey states.
"Though with you lot, I don't really need to make a speech to inspire you to do that."

“I’m being dramatic? Whew!” Lazlo picks his head up and looks at Carmina  “False alarm, don’t mind me. Nothing to see here.”

((completely unrelated coincidence- I’m tracing my family tree back for my parents and my great great grandmother’s (b. 1838)  name was Carmina.))

Aelar laughs.  "Yes, Lazlo, you have, on rare occasion, been a bit dramatic...just a bit, mind," he says this with a friendly grin and clap on the shoulder.  "Don't sweat it, though.  We all like you just the way are.  And we're not the only ones."  He gives Carmina a sly look.

Turning back to Raia, he asks quietly so no one away from the table hears, "When can I learn more magic?  Also, Hyre's very interested in magic.  Is there anything you can teach him?  I'm not thinking a spell, necessarily, but theory, information, anything like that?  The more we all know the better."

((Allowing Atetra, Kallista, Leon a chance to post))