Gustav felt something rub against his right butt cheek, causing him to raise a brow in confusion while he persisted on his questioning gaze towards the captain.

A few jokes bounced about in his head, but he kept a stern face and his eyes on the matters at hand as the seamstress reemerged into the conversation.

Gustav felt something rub against his right butt cheek, causing him to raise a brow in confusion while he persisted on his questioning gaze towards the captain.

A few jokes bounced about in his head, but he kept a stern face and his eyes on the matters at hand as the seamstress reemerged into the conversation.

Heinrich cocked his head. The proposition was interesting, sure, but everything about it just seemed out of order. The payment looked promising, certainly enough to buy his blade, but there were plenty out there willing to spend money on an elaborate trap. He was important enough to spend money on, he knew that. He decided to try poking a few holes in the captain's plan, see if it held water- if it did, it was less likely to be a lie.

"Well, it seems like you know exactly where this ship is and who has it," Heinrich said. "Why not simply go the local magistrate and tell them it was stolen from you? It'd be much easier and safer to reclaim it legally. Not to mention cheaper."

The last rays of sunlight filter through the cabin's windows, making the metallic tool on the desk gleam under their touch. A smell of old rum and tobacco permeates the air.

The captain closes the chest, and turns to Gustav. "This chest contains roughly two thousand ducats. It is only an advance, to be divided between the four of you. When the job is done, you will receive one of these each." Lorenz turns to Heinrich, with a serious face.

"The law has no business in this affair. The Sea Serpent is currently located in a land where the Empire has no jurisdiction, neither de iure nor de facto. Thus, I am afraid that more...silent methods are required. If everything goes the way it should go, there will be no bloodshed involved. And I am sure that men of your competence will have no trouble in succeding."

Gustav nodded, "This suits my concerns jist fine, you have my blade."

He tapped the hilt of an imperial steel saber, as used in the calvary charges of the war, "I'll be eager to hear further planning or details however."

He looked over at his possible new comrades, " of course the captain mentioned no bloodshed, better off," he thought as he studed the girl beside him, "although, I'm sure Hienrich and myself would hold just fine in such a case."

His thoughts then moaned as he realized he would be dealing with natives.

The thought of that much money made Katya's head spin, literally, she was light headed. Reaching forward and steadying herself in the captian's desk she decided to try and engage herself in the conversation.
"S- Sir, I a- am here w- why?" she said in her usually stuttery broken speech, avoiding eye contact with the captian because of her unconfidence, "I n-not so skilled in m- much." she said slowly, putting her words together to try and for a semi-coherent sentence. Having lived most her life speaking Rus she was very weak in her imperial, having to stop and think before speaking, however even though she spoke Rus fluently her stutters were what was heard most.

The captain lifts an eyebrow. The Rus have never been a seafaring people in the slightest, so he doesn't think too much of Katyna stuttering.

"Well, madame, as I said this should not end in bloodshed. Diplomatic ability such as yours should be immensely useful in taking back the Sea Serpent from the For-erm, the thieves."

Lorenz mentally slapped himself in the face for his slip-up.

Rattlebones woke up, sweating profusely. He did not even notice when he passed out, but he did. The vision he had was not very clear, but he knew it was important. The spirits only talked to him without being asked when it was important. "I have to move over water.", he said to himself. The forestlings had developed a dislike for the open sea in recent times, because since the empire appeared the sea was just not save. Forestlings had small boats not waged for war but for transportation, were the imperials had gigantic monsters of wood, moving twice as fast and sinking a forestling ship immediately.

But how should he find the place the voices of the spirits told him to?

Gustav, who was mentally planning what to do with the money snapped back into the conversation, "four thieves!" He proclaimed.

He began to chuckle, "sir, if it is four thieves we are to be going up against, I'd say your're clearly mad to hire so many people, and a diplomat!" He pointed at Katya.

"Unless of course," Gustav gave the captain a lazy stare with an eyebrow raised, " you mispoke." A deep skepticism traced his words. However before he let the words sink their teeth in as if the captain was under interogation he smiled, "lucky for you, a proffesional mercenarie knows better than to pull apart such a graceful donator so early in the relationship."

"Five hundred ducats, eh?" Heinrich hadn't even landed in King's Stone and already the money was coming in. This would be a prosperous place for him indeed. "Sounds like a grand lark indeed. I'll play your game, Herr Captain." Heinrich smiled, though as always it didn't seem to touch his listless blue eyes.

His mind was racing behind those eyes, though. He was sure the man had been about to say they were going after Forestlings. A dangerous proposition in the best of times, and it was hard to imagine no bloodshed occurring despite the captain's extravagant promises. Heinrich figured Gustav to be no coward, and probably good enough in a fight to be worth keeping around. But this nervous, clumsy seamstress seemed liable to faint at the first drawn steel. Not to mention this unknown fourth person- a completely unknown variable. Heinrich worried for this plan. But the pay was too good to pass up.

Falon looked at the letter that had been on her door, she looked around to see if anyone had followed her from the days job. Another loose end tied up, and another days work finished... til the next day. She opened her door and went inside, making carefully sure that no one knew of her whereabouts was difficult, but after that was done all that was left was to relax. Or so she thought.
She read the letter and sighed to herself. she went to her chest and pulled out a sack already filled with clothing, an extra pair of boots, and rations. She plucked her cloak off the makeshift hook on the wall, and put it on. She positioned her sack underneath her cloak and readjusted her crossbow and her daggers.
Grabbing the letter, she read it one last time and sighed, as she slipped it into her sack she pulled the hood over her face and made her way quietly to the western docks.
As she got the the docks she saw what appeared to be the Grey Swallow but stayed back a bit to make sure.

From the large balcony of his private office Carl Ribeck can see the whole town, still bustling with activity at dusk, the docks, full of ships of all dimensions and shape, and the setting Sun, far across the drifting waves.

Kingsfort is silent these days. The realtive quiet of the main fort of the town is caused mainly by the scarcity of men: most soldiers are on duty in the town's slums, or sent to patrol some gods-forsaken outpost in the middle of the Plains. At the entrance of the fort, a lonesome rider arrives. The sentinels, after quickly examining his documents, shout so that the sturdy iron gate may be lifted. In the castle's courtyard, the messenger leaves his message to a sergeant, and rides away towards the city.

The officer opens Carl's door without even knocking. He looks quite out of breath, as if he had just ran up all the stairs leading from the courtyard to the Commander's office. Still panting, the sergeant salutes, and speaks: "Sir, a dispatch just arrived. It is marked as extremely urgent."

Carl looks at the sergeant from the balcony, as he stepped back inside and took the parchment, sealed by blood red wax, with the imperial eagle impressed on it.

"To Herr Carl Ribeck, Commander in Chief of the Imperial Army in King's Stone and its territory." It was from Governor General Franz Werehneil. Carl started reading the contents of the letter as he moved around in his office. After he finished reading the expression on his face changed as he stopped and looked at the sergeant, who seemed better now. "This is serious business. Go to Captain Weber's office and tell him to come to me without delay." Said Carl with a serious tone. "Yes Sir! Right away!" Said the sergeant as he saluted and left Carl's office going to bring Captain Weber.

The captain massages his brow, and suddendly gets up from his chair. "We have discussed enough. We have landed in King's Stone: I suggest you to rest for the night, reflect, and come back tomorrow. You will find the Swallow here, at this very dock. Good night, gentlemen." says the captain, opening the door to his cabin, and inviting you outside. He whispers something to Gustav, pointing at the girl: "Take care of her. She doesn't look like the seawolf type."

The day has finally ended, and a full Moon shines in the sky, enthroned among her court of gazing stars. The night is very hot, but refreshed by a chilly northern breeze.

King's Stone and her many lights open before you. A town bustling with people of all kinds: pirate and soldier live shoulder to shoulder her, as do explorer and merchant, wealthy and pauper. Most of the people around are humans, with the occasional elf or dwarf. The vast majority of the buildings are wooden, with few exceptions: the Count Governor's palace, dominating the small island on which the town is built, and King's Fort, the city's fortfication, on the other side of city. The docks themselves are full of people: corsairs, merchants, explorers, soldiers...

A small store nearby sells many useful wares, such as weapons of various kinds, and you notice a map of the Rim, which could be most useful. There is also a small tavern close to it, which could be helpful to rest for the night and obtain some info about the new world.

Gustav nodded politely at the captains words, and shook his hand. He then turned to the seamstress, the lights of the town shining in his eyes, which have yet to adjust the brighter exterior.

Sheilding his eyes he spoke softly, "Miss, unless you have prior plans with local family or friend, may I suggest a local inn known to be very hospitable?" He tried his best not to belittle the woman, but after all, he had experience in this town, as well as the captains wishes.

He pointed past a few known sailor hangouts, known for their rough and tough atmosphere and landed on a simple building named just as simple, Kings stone kettle .

"Hopefully such a simple building with a simple name doesnt harbor simpletons," he joked to himself and he began to walk towards it, slowly so if the lady wished, she could follow

"Where are you going Master Rattlebones?", asked the biggest forestling of the tribe when Rattlebones left. The old Witchdoctor slowly turned around. His eyes seemed to glow behind the mask. "I am no master. And I will go into the belly of the beast. Leave my children, but do not forsake your hope. I saw what i need to do."

With these words Rattlebones walked in the direction of Kings Stone. He looked back one last time than he headed his way. Two Ravens came flying from the woods and landed on his Shoulders. "I may need your help my friends, I need an Illusion.", said Rattlebones with his old, deep voice. The birds gave no answer, however started flying around Rattlebones, twigs and leaf began whirling around him and the ravens started going faster and faster. When they finally landed again on Rattlebones shoulder he was there no more, at his place was an old human with a long grey beard and unnatural seeming green eyes. The old man smiled and slowly walked to the gates of Kings Stone...

Nodding timidly, she scurried behind the man, keeping quit close to him to avoid preying eyes. The town around her was a hustling bustling center of activity, the crowds even dwarfing the population of Moscovey, so naturally Katya was internally petrified. Looking forward to the inn they were going to as a welcome retreat from the constant rocking of the boat she realized how tired she was, almost feeling the bags under her eyes, she gave a cat like purr as she stretched her arms, the drowsiness the only thing she could feel as she followed the man.
"excuse me," she whispered up to the man is she shuffled along beside him, "can I use you arm?", normally she wouldn't be so forward, or so fluent in her speech but the drowsiness had such a grip on her that she forgot her anxieties.

Gustav had the mental imagery of the woman fending off against forestlings with his severed arm, but he was sure thats not what she meant.

"Sure," he said a little curious to what she needed it for.

His boots shook off salt from the trip as it pounded the dusty cobblestond road, and with one final step he paused to wait for the woman, his arm outstretched.

As he did his mind wandered, " I wonder where Heinrich has gone to, I'd much like to know I have a fellow warriors back as he would mine. "

Katya stumbled forward to Gustav's arm and clutched it in both of her hands for a second, her consciousness hesitant to doing what her sleepy body wanted to do but her conciousness gave way and she slowly wrapped her arms around his arm and held it in an embrace, resting her head on his upper arm. She was tired and hadn't taken her medicine yet, a sickness that she had had since her youth was acting up again recently. A deep cough wracked her small frame as she clutched at his arm feverishly, shivering for no apparent reason.
"can we go Inn now?" she asked hushedly, her eyes shut in concentration as she tried to ignore the pain in her torso from the body shaking cough.

Gustavs' brow lifted as the woman cough, and with a silent nod he lead the way past the busy street to the brightly lit in. He rested his free hand flat on the oaken door and gave it a push.

Soon they were both engulfed in light as well as drowned in the smell of a sweet ale and savory dish being cooked. Gustavs' stomach roared at him.

"Easy," he said wittingly to his stomach as he stepped forward on the creaky floorboards.

The front lobby was filled with candles to light up bright tapestries weilding the eagle of the imperium. A stout, jolly looking man stood behind a glossed wooden counter and a few grizzly looking patrons sat with their heads in their arms and a mug in their grasp.

The pungent auromas persuaded Gustavs steps towards the keeper, "two rooms please, and perhaps some of what is making that glorious smell," Gustav said with a polite smile, sliding some coin to the man, who nodded silently.

"Something warm for the lady?" The man askedas he saw Katya shriveled on Gustavs arm.
"Tea."

Katya clung onto his arm as if it were life, mumbling in Rus to herself softly. The feeling of warmth suddenly hit her and she opened her eyes to a blinding light, they were shuffling into what looked like the inn Gustav was talking about, the hospitable one. They stood infront of a counter and started to converse, Katya watching through squinted, red eyes, all she could hear was muffled speech as their lips flapped. Another round of coughing ensued, rattling her bones as they emerged, she detached herself from Gustav's arm and almost collapsed, steadying herself she shuffled to the nearest chair and planted herself into it, letting her body sink into the worn leather.
"Gustav," she called hoarsly to the burley man "can you get from my bag" she continued with a feverish smile, "Medicine.", she was referring to a needle in her bag attached to a squeezable pouch, it was the only way that she could get the medicine into her system fast enough, directly into the blood.
She remembered the first time the sickness gripped her body, she was seven when she started to suddenly cough, she originally put it down to a minor sickness but it turned out to be more serious bedridden for days she was, she grimaced at the old memories, not fun times.