Afternoon
--
You managed to fool them before - you would just have to find them first.

The centaur leads you both through immaculate corridors and up exhaustive flights of stairs until you are on what you assume to be the top floor. It is much quieter here, where you arrive at a dark, foreboding door. The centaur knocks, and at a terse: "Enter!" she peers around the door ahead of you.

"Guard Ephon is here to see you, ma'am."

"And why, exactly, would I care about that?" comes the snide reply. Curiously, the voice sounds familiar to you.

"He says it's urgent. He has brought Nicote Marker with him."

There is a pause, before a series of footsteps later has the door flung open. The receptionist backs off apologetically, revealing the figure beyond. Clad in lightweight leather lamellar armour with a viscious looking sword still strapped across her back, Captain Felicia is an imposing sight. Her visage is only made more frightful by the scar which mars her face into something cruel and malevolent.

As if that wasn't enough, you share a moment of mutual recognition as you realise you've met before. Far back at the beginning of your adventure - only a few weeks or so, though they felt like years - this is the same scarred elf from the Elvenor inn in which you stayed.

Morning
--
This shelf isn't quite as full as the others, since the Scholar's Corner is a library more specialised in study and skill-building. Nonetheless, you have a wide array of choice here.

You scan a few of the titles inscribed on the book spines.

'The Peaks are Howling' by hermit Bulgan: 'A tale of the mysteries of the Howling Peaks, and the many events which befall the isolated dwarves who make their home here.'

'A Pirate's Life' by Xanin Swifthoof: 'An autobiography of a retired pirate, revealing the vicissitudes of such a way of living and the many hardships to be faced.'

'Anaian Festivals' by Oris the Great: 'An informative guide to celebrations across the five territories, and some memorable anecdotes.'

Afternoon
--
Crimson's tail falls and she presses her ears to the sides of her head with a whimper. Numbat moves forward to pat her and Emberpaw on the head, looking grave.

"I hope you come back before then," he says sincerely.

The tension in the camp is almost palpable. You can see dwarves shooting you sideward glances as they pass hurriedly, getting ready for the journey. Everyone is on edge.

Murva and Aegis are waiting for you.

(I haven't really bothered with a water requirement thus far. Would you like one for your game?)

Morning
--
Such principles count doubly in the southern territories, where the territory and its people are vastly harsher than those you may find elsewhere.

Those around you appear to be occupied with other things, and don't pay you much heed - none show themselves to be as 'opportunistic' as you feared. Stealth successful.

You wander around the marketplace, making your way through the bustling mobs, and locate a couple of stalls with items you are looking for. A stall selling waterskins of varying sizes and a few with desiccated foodstuffs and other such consumables for travelling. The latter are surrounded by the pleasant smells of finely spiced, hot food, which attract many customers over for something to eat.

There don't appear to be any stalls with heat-resistant gear in this marketplace. You may have to go looking for a more established store for such items elsewhere.

Morning
--
The book is heavy, filled with many more pages than you expected. The materials it is made of are also quite crude, and when you open it discover very neat scripture, contradicting its outside appearance.

The prologue reads:

'Very few venture as far into the wilderness of the northern territories as I have. Fewer still who are not dwarves, my kin. The season of Clearsky is harsh here, Chillsky harsher still; when the mountains are laden with heavy snows, the dragons hibernate in their caves and the yeti come out to play. But such is the cycle of the Howling Peaks - and my life revolves around it. Because no matter how difficult the living is, all that I have experienced here outweighs any of the wonders I have seen anywhere else.
The Howling Peaks are shrouded in secrets, waiting to be discovered by those who are brave enough to do so. In this book I will cover but a fraction of what these mountains have to offer, from its primordial cave-systems to its abandoned mountain-top structures and the awe-inspiring creatures which reside here.'

Do you wish to read this book?

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=227#2264 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 10/8/2021 at 2:10 PM Afternoon -- Crimson's tail falls and she presses her ears to the sides of her head with a whimper. Numbat moves forward to pat her and Emberpaw on the head, looking grave. "I hope you come back before then," he says sincerely. The tension in the camp is almost palpable. You can see dwarves shooting you sideward glances as they pass hurriedly, getting ready for the journey. Everyone is on edge. Murva and Aegis are waiting for you.

Asteria nods once, "Don't worry Crimson I'll be back soon." She quickly walks over towards Murva and Aegis, "Let's go."

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=227#2261 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 10/8/2021 at 12:08 PM Afternoon -- You managed to fool them before - you would just have to find them first. The centaur leads you both through immaculate corridors and up exhaustive flights of stairs until you are on what you assume to be the top floor. It is much quieter here, where you arrive at a dark, foreboding door. The centaur knocks, and at a terse: "Enter!" she peers around the door ahead of you. "Guard Ephon is here to see you, ma'am." "And why, exactly, would I care about that?" comes the snide reply. Curiously, the voice sounds familiar to you. "He says it's urgent. He has brought Nicote Marker with him." There is a pause, before a series of footsteps later has the door flung open. The receptionist backs off apologetically, revealing the figure beyond. Clad in lightweight leather lamellar armour with a viscious looking sword still strapped across her back, Captain Felicia is an imposing sight. Her visage is only made more frightful by the scar which mars her face into something cruel and malevolent. As if that wasn't enough, you share a moment of mutual recognition as you realise you've met before. Far back at the beginning of your adventure - only a few weeks or so, though they felt like years - this is the same scarred elf from the Elvenor inn in which you stayed.

At this point Nicote was halfway sure Newt wasn't joking when the two had exchanged "gifts" on their last official meeting (which for the duo was just some supposedly lighthearted insults) and Newt had declared Nicote would have "bad luck so bad that you'll be wondering how many four-leafed clovers you stepped on."

"Ah. This is....a bit awkward." He chuckled. "Just to clarify this is most definitely not about what happened in Elvenor."

Evening
--
The three of you begin your journey through the darkened, forested slopes. The dwarf pair walk in eerie silence and you can barely hear the soft sound of their footsteps. You haven't put so much work into stealth lately, though, and find yourself making a conspicuous amount of sound in contrast. Stealth failed.

When only the last dregs of sunlight remain, Aegis holds out a hand to halt your group. Ahead of you, the forest floor gives way to a void. The ravine. At the bottom you can see a rushing stream glinting in the shadows.

Murva points further along the chasm. "There. You see the firelight?"

Downstream, the muted glow of fire makes its way past several obstructions and onto the rocky ravine sides, forming dancing shadows on the walls.