Karl 61 - 80

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Missiledine's Archives</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missiledines Archives"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl Lingsted"><U>Karl Lingsted</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl Posts 20 40"><U>Karl Posts 20 - 40</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl Posts 41 60"><U>Karl Posts 41 - 60</U></A>   |   <B>Karl 61 - 80</B>   |   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl 81 100"><U>Karl 81 - 100</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id209.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl Posts 101 135"><U>Karl Posts 101 - 135</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id268.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl Posts 135200"><U>Karl Posts 135-200</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id296.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Karl Posts 201250"><U>Karl Posts 201-250</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Missiledines Archives"><U><B>Archive Directory</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Karl 61 - 80</I></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>           Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>             PBEM Exchange</div> <div>            Series 2 PC POST # 46</div> <div>             Player : Ray</div> <div>            Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>          </div> <div>               "Amanda, do you want to wait for our companions while</div> <div>  I  check  out  the rooms, or would you rather check out the rooms?"</div> <div>          </div> <div>          </div> <div>           Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>             PBEM Exchange</div> <div>            Series 2 GM POST # 47</div> <div>             Player : Ray</div> <div>            Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>          </div> <div>          </div> <div>           Amanda says that she will go, and she follows Pollit</div> <div>  across the common room and up a flight of steps.</div> <div>          </div> <div>           A few minutes after she leaves, Turek and Ferral come in,</div> <div>    carrying  the luggage that will be needed for the night.  Turek sees you</div> <div>  and comes across, stacking everything carefully, out of the way.</div> <div>  Sitting down with a sigh he says, "It's a good thing we aren't camping</div> <div>  tonight,  it  looks like rain blowing in from the west. Probably rain all of</div> <div>    tomorrow  too...   Won't that be lovely."</div> <div>   A young boy, about Ferral's age, comes  by and takes your orders for drinks and tells you what is</div> <div>  available for supper.   Shortly after he leaves you see Amanda and Pollit coming</div> <div>  down  the  steps   Amanda appears to be giving Pollit some instructions and</div> <div>  the  halfling  is nodding in agreement.  He goes his way and she returns to</div> <div>  the  table.</div> <div>           "Well, that is all arranged." She says with satisfaction</div> <div>  as she sits down.  "The rooms are comfortable and clean. Turek, you</div> <div>  and Ferral will share one room, with two beds."</div> <div>           Turek nods in agreement.</div> <div>          </div> <div>        </div> <div>          Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Exchange</div> <div>           Series 2 PC POST # 47</div> <div>            Player : Ray</div> <div>           Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>         </div> <div>        </div> <div>        </div> <div>          "Turek was just saying it will probably rain tomorrow, and I</div> <div>    must  confess  that is one thing I didn't think to plan for on a trip to</div> <div>  the desert. I  guess the question is whether we just accept the discomfort</div> <div>  or  whether  we  need to wait it out. Turek, will the rain cause any problems</div> <div>    with any of your equipment?"</div> <div>        </div> <div>        </div> <div>        </div> <div>        </div> <div>          Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Exchange</div> <div>           Series 2 GM POST # 48</div> <div>            Player : Ray</div> <div>           Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>         </div> <div>        </div> <div>         Turek shakes his head, "No sir, everything is wrapped,</div> <div>  bundled, oiled  and protected from anything short of being dumped in the river."</div> <div>         Amanda gives a little shrug, "I don't mind a little rain and I</div> <div>  am anxious  to get to Nygg. Why don't we wait and see what kind of day it is.</div> <div>  If  it's  really pouring then we wait it out, if its just kind of wet and yucky</div> <div>  we might as well go on."</div> <div>        </div> <div>       </div> <div>      </div> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 PC POST # 48</div> <div>           Player : Ray</div> <div>          Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>      </div> <div>            </div> <div>            Karl nods. "And be sure to order something warm for</div> <div>  breakfast. And how  much did the rooms cost us tonight?"</div> <div>      </div> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 GM POST # 49</div> <div>           Player : Ray</div> <div>          Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>      </div> <div>      </div> <div>        "$16, but that includes our supper and breakfast" Amanda smiles,</div> <div>    "It's a  nice  room, you'll like it."</div> <div>      </div> <div>       Eventually the server returns for your orders and the food is</div> <div>    delivered.   The  meal is quite good and it is very relaxing after a full day in the</div> <div>    saddle.  Looking out the windows you can see that it is completely dark now</div> <div>  and  it  is starting to rain.</div> <div>       Ferral gets up, excusing himself. "I think I will go to bed, sir.</div> <div>  Mam,  could you tell me where our room is?"</div> <div>       Amanda gets up, "I will show you." She makes a 'come hither'</div> <div>  gesture  and  Ferral dutifully follows her.</div> <div>       Turek watches them go, then twists his head around to watch a dice</div> <div>    game  going on over in the corner. "If you'll excuse me sir, I hear the call of</div> <div>  the knucklebones." He picks up his ale and heads towards the game.</div> <div>      </div> <div>        (Your lunch was $8)</div> <div>      </div> <div>    </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Exchange</div> <div>         Series 2 PC POST # 49</div> <div>          Player : Ray</div> <div>         Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>     </div> <div>      Karl looks arround, then decides to watch the dice game until Amanda</div> <div>      returns.  BTW, how long is the journey supposed to take?</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Exchange</div> <div>         Series 2 GM POST # 50</div> <div>          Player : Ray</div> <div>         Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>    </div> <div>     Turek stands and watches the game for a few moment. As you come over</div> <div>  you  hear  him say, "How about some fresh money for the pot?"</div> <div>     One player laughs, "There's plenty of room in my purse for your</div> <div>  money!"</div> <div>     There are six players. Four seem to be locals, out for a bit of fun.</div> <div>  The  other  two appear to be from one of the caravans, perhaps drivers or</div> <div>  wranglers.</div> <div>    One of  these two looks to be from the desert. He doesn't say much but he</div> <div>  grins and  laughs a lot.</div> <div>     They pass the dice to Turek who throws a few coins on the table. The</div> <div>    stakes  appear to be low mostly pennies, ha'pennies and bits (Ha'pennies cut</div> <div>  into  4 parts worth about $ .12) Rarely does more than a farthing change</div> <div>  hands.</div> <div>    </div> <div>     (The game is a basic version of craps. The thrower rolls for his</div> <div>  'Point'   and  must make it before rolling a 7 or 11.  A roll of 2 or 12 on the point</div> <div>    throw is automatic loss. A roll of 7 or 11 on the point throw is a win.</div> <div>  Shooter  wagers whether he will win or loose before the first throw.  Those who would</div> <div>  bet against him must match part or all of his bet, or the bets of any</div> <div>  wagering  with  the shooter.)</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Turek wins the first two rounds admidst a chorus of boos and cheers,</div> <div>  then   looses the third. The dice pass to the next player.</div> <div>     You are watching the game when you notice the desert man nudge the</div> <div>  other driver and nod towards something across the room. The two men stare intently</div> <div>  and  the desert man whispers something out of the side of his mouth which</div> <div>  causes his companbion to nod slightly.</div> <div>     Turning to look at what they are staring at, you see Amanda coming</div> <div>  towards  you with a smile. When she sees you looking at her she repeats the 'come</div> <div>    hither'  gesture of earlier.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Exchange</div> <div>        Series 2 PC POST # 50</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>        Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>   .</div> <div>  </div> <div>    "Later Turek, I think I'm headed to my room now." Karl heads off to</div> <div>  Amanda,  grabs her arround the waist and kisses her.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Exchange</div> <div>        Series 2 GM POST # 51</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>        Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Turek waves good night in an off hand way, his attention on the game.  One</div> <div>  of  the other men makes some remark, that you couldn't quite catch, about</div> <div>  "..good  nights!" And the others all laugh.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Amanda leads you up the steps and down the hall to a door. The room is</div> <div>  very  nice, clearly one of the more expensive rooms and you realize that Amanda</div> <div>  had  actually gotten quite a good price for the four of you, two rooms,</div> <div>  including  this one, and meals.</div> <div>   "Turek and Ferral don't have as nice a room I'm afraid" She says with a</div> <div>  smile </div> <div>   Outside you can hear the wind pick up and the rain splattering heavily</div> <div>  against  the windows.  The fire in the fireplace is  very comforting as you listen</div> <div>  to the  storm</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 PC POST # 51</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     "That looks like quite a party you are missing down there. Guess we</div> <div>  better have our own up here instead." Karl leans in to kiss Amanda.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 GM POST # 52</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The two of you settle in for the night. You can only faintly hear voices and</div> <div> laughter from downstairs, it is too muffled to make it out, but it is quite late</div> <div> when it finally stops.</div> <bR> <div> The next morning is wet and blustery, with rain coming in intermittent waves,</div> <div> but the sky shows promise of clearing later. As you settle in to breakfast with</div> <div> Turek and Ferral present, Turek says. "I figure one more night on the road and</div> <div> reaching Nygg about noon tomorrow.  The stretch between here and Nygg is the</div> <div> most desolate part of the road, with only a few villages along the way.  There</div> <div> are inns, but none as nice as this." He gestures to the surrounding room.  "Of</div> <div> course, we could camp tonight. If you want."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>             PBEM Exchange</div> <div>            Series 2 PC POST # 52</div> <div>             Player : Ray</div> <div>            Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>     </div> <div>     </div> <div>     "If we leave later in the day, will we still be able to find an inn</div> <div>  by  nightfall? I'm thinking it would be worth arriving a few hours after</div> <div>    noon  the day after next if we could avoid the worst of this rain."</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>             PBEM Exchange</div> <div>            Series 2 GM POST # 53</div> <div>             Player : Ray</div> <div>            Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>    Turek thinks about that for a few moments then shakes his head, "I</div> <div>    wouldn't want to promise that, unless we stopped well before dark."</div> <div>     Amanda says, "I don't mind a little rain."</div> <div>     Ferral, as usual, doesn't say anything, just watches in his quiet,</div> <div>    emotionless  way.</div> <div>    </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Exchange</div> <div>           Series 2 pc POST # 53</div> <div>            Player : Ray</div> <div>           Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>    </div> <div>    "In which case it still might add another day. very well, then we will</div> <div>    procede."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    <something I just realized- I live in Kansas, and the way you described</div> <div>  the  weather: "wet and Blustery" to me calls up images of sheets of water</div> <div>  being  blown sideways. 'A little rain' is an entirely different story...</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Exchange</div> <div>           Series 2 GM POST # 54</div> <div>            Player : Ray</div> <div>           Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>   Once you have decided to travel you are soon on the road. The air is wet</div> <div>  and  heavy and the wind chilling, but the rain is not constant, coming only in</div> <div>   intermittent gusts which come from a quarter that you are able to keep</div> <div>  your back  to most of the time.  Still you ride with your hoods pulled up and close</div> <div>  and  your heads bowed against the wet. There isn't much talking, except from</div> <div>  Turek  who is constantly cussing at the mule which is sullen and cranky at being</div> <div>   dragged out on such a day.  You are under the distinct impression that</div> <div>  Turek  would be much more loquacious towards the mule if Amanda wasn't along for</div> <div>  the  ride. As it is many of his more colorful comments are lost in a strangled</div> <div>  garble  as he tries to chivy the beast along.</div> <div>   The road is mostly empty today, all but those with the most pressing</div> <div>  business  opting to stay warm and cozy indoors. The fields are also empty, even the</div> <div>   livestock are conspicuous by their absence.  You ride for many hours with</div> <div>  no  sign of life except the roadside cottages with their haze of woodsmoke</div> <div>  from  their chimneys and the occaissional farm dog that stirs from under the</div> <div>  shelter  of a cart to bark at you or sniff halfheartedly at your horses. The only</div> <div>   excitement comes when the crabby mule irritably takes a kick at one of</div> <div>  these  mutts, but even that is rather a half hearted effort and the dog was not</div> <div>  injured  enough t o keep it from running off.</div> <div>   Noon will come and go before you reach a village with an inn. As Turek had</div> <div>   observed, the accomadations on offer have notably declined in quality.</div> <div>  The inn  is a low, ramshackled affair with a thatched roof that clearly needs some</div> <div>   attention.  The sign outside, barely ledgible from years of neglect, is</div> <div>  that of  a purple cock bird.  Turek reins in, snapping the lead rope at the mule</div> <div>  that  tries to bite the flank of his horse, "May you burn you son of a...!" He</div> <div>  trails  off with a grumble. Turning to you he says, "Either here or we eat cold in</div> <div>  the  saddle. Biscuit and cheese."</div> <div>   Ferral looks at the inn and shakes his head, "I doubt we'll do much better</div> <div>  in  there."</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 PC POST # 54</div> <div>           Player : Ray</div> <div>          Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>   </div> <div>      Karl nods. "Ferral, rrun in and ask what they have to eat that is hot.</div> <div>  If they have stew or something like it it will be worth it on a day like</div> <div>  today, even in an inn such as that."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 GM POST # 55</div> <div>           Player : Ray</div> <div>          Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div> Ferral climbs off his horse with a glum look and goes inside. He's gone what</div> <div> seems an interminable length of time, but is in fact about five minutes.  He</div> <div> trudges back out with an equally glum look.  "They have stew, but I won't swear</div> <div> whether it was bubbling from the fire or because something was swimming in it."</div> <div> He awaits your verdict before climbing back onto the pony.</div> <div> Ammanda shrugs, "We can get sick from the weather or the food.  Your choice, my</div> <div> dear."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 PC POST # 55</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>         "The weather at least we know is natural, and will pass. Bad food</div> <div>      lingers far to long. Let's eat what we have, and hope we find</div> <div>      somewhere  better for shelter by nightfall."</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 GM POST # 56</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>     As Ferral remounts the rain picks up a bit. Down the road a bit, at</div> <div>  the far end of the village, is a black smith shop with an overhanging roof</div> <div>     over the shoeing area..  At the moment the shop is closed, but the</div> <div>  roof  is inviting.  Turek leads you and the horses under the cover of the</div> <div>     overhang.  There is no where to sit, but at least you can take a few</div> <div>     minutes and eat dry.  After digging out sausages, cheese and biscuit</div> <div>  and  making a hasty meal, you remount and set off again.  The rain squall</div> <div>  has  died off a bit so now it is little more than a miserable drizzle.</div> <div>     "With the weather this way, it'll be dark early." Turek observes.  "We</div> <div>     better push it a bit faster if we want to make the next inn before</div> <div>     dark."</div> <div>     With that you push the animals to a faster pace.</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Around three o'clock the rain picks up. It is getting heavier and</div> <div>     heavier, limiting visibility and slowing the animals.  The roads are</div> <div>     empty, you haven't seen anyone in hours.</div> <div>     The road here is bordered on either side by fieldstone walls perhaps</div> <div>     four feet high. On your right you see a gate and what appears to be a</div> <div>     muddy cart track going off into the field. Turek reins in, shields his</div> <div>     eyes from the rain and peers into the field.  "Looks like a barn or</div> <div>  hay  rick or something over there." He calls. "Do you want to see if we can</div> <div>     hole up till the worst of its past, or maybe even spend the night?"</div> <div>    </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 PC POST # 56</div> <div>       Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>          I don't like the idea of dropping in on someone else's property</div> <div>    unannounced, but it doesn't look like we have much in the way of</div> <div>  choices.  Lets be sure and make plenty of noise on the way there so if someone is</div> <div>    there we are not mistaken for burglars.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 GM POST # 57</div> <div>       Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Turek leans down and opens the gate, leaving Ferral to close it behind</div> <div>  you.  Approaching the building you see that it is a ramshackled old barn with</div> <div>  two  open sides at  ground level and filled what looks to be mounds of cut</div> <div>  fodder  and straw inside.  There is no house or cottage anywhere in sight.  There</div> <div>  is  enough head room to ride under the overhang if you duck a bit and it isn't</div> <div>   long before you are dry and dismounted.</div> <div>   Other then pigeons roosting in the rafters, you don't see any living</div> <div>  thing.  There is a ladder leading up to the loft area. Ferral scrambles up it and</div> <div>  then  calls back, "More hay, straw and pigeons."</div> <div>   Along the walls are hung a variety of hay forks and coiled ropes used for</div> <div>   mounding.  There is a hay wagon parked off to one side, it's shaft resting</div> <div>  on  a block of wood.  There is a stack of firewood inside the overhang and</div> <div>  outside  you can see a stone firepit, probably used for temporary shoeing and</div> <div>  cooking  meals for the workers.</div> <div>   Turek sets to unsaddling the horses and rubbing them down with an old</div> <div>  blanket.  "Might as well give them a break." He says.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 PC POST # 57</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div>      Karl nods. "May as well make camp in the barn then. Someone should stand</div> <div>  watch, somoene might decide to check on things in the storm. If you see</div> <div>  anything arround here that look half done that we can finnish before we</div> <div>  leave, let me know. I'd like to give our unknowing benefactor some form of</div> <div>  payment."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 GM POST # 58</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> It is only the work of a few minutes to organze 'camp' for the night. The hay</div> <div> mounds make comfortable beds and Turek and Ferral use some of the firewood and a</div> <div> few planks to assemble a couble benches and a rude table to eat at.</div> <div> Turek uses a couple buckets to collect some of the rainwater pouring off the</div> <div> roof to water the horses. Amanda and Ferral throw together a cold supper by the</div> <div> light of a lantern.  Turek will give the horses some of the grain he brought</div> <div> along, plus a couple armfulls of fodder from the mound, saying "We'll leave a</div> <div> few bits to pay for it. Otherwise we'll have to hobble them in the rain."</div> <div> After eating there is little to do but watch the darkness descend and listen to</div> <div> the rain.</div> <div> Turek will suggest that you take first watch and Ferral second and he will do</div> <div> the late shift.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 PC POST # 58</div> <div>       Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      This sounds like a fine plan, and Karl will take Turek's advice in this.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 GM POST # 59</div> <div>       Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> Amanda will sit up with you through your watch, though she nods off towards the</div> <div> end.  Before going to bed you shake Ferral awake.  The rain seems to have</div> <div> stopped and patches of stars are visible.  As you and the boy switch roles and</div> <div> you get ready to settle down, there comes the sound of an absolutely blood</div> <div> curdling shriek!  It was clearly from outside and a quick glance shows you that</div> <div> Amanda is asleep, tho Turek is now awake and fumbling for his sword.  "What in</div> <div> Mitra was that!" He asks as he rolls to his feet.</div> <div> Ferral is wide eyed and staring all about into the darkness.</div> <div> With the still gusting wind rattling the roof and tree it is impossible to</div> <div> acurately determine where the sound came from, but you would hazard a guess it</div> <div> was in the direction of the road.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 PC POST # 59</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Karl grabs a piece of dry firewood and uses ignite to get it just</div> <div>  started burning, then uses apportation to send it out towards the road as</div> <div>  its fire builds up into a light.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 PC POST # 60</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The wood ignites easily enough and it is soon drifting slowly across the open</div> <div> space towards the road.  (How high off the ground?)</div> <div> Ferral says, "Was that an animal or aperson... or something else?"</div> <div> Turek, weapon in hand just shakes his head.</div> <bR> <div> So far the light shows nothing.... the ground between you and the road, as</div> <div> illuminated by the brand, appears empty. Soon you can see the stonewall and the</div> <div> gate... still nothing unusual.</div> <div> Turek starts loading his crossbow.  "Maybe I'll stroll on out there and take a</div> <div> look around." He says</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 PC POST # 60</div> <div>       Player : Ray</div> <div>        Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>     </div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>      About 6 feet</div> <div>    </div> <div>          Karl nods "Where do you want the light?"</div> <div>    </div> <div>    </div> <div>    </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 GM POST # 61</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>    </div> <div>     "Keep it where it is for now.  Then watch my hands to see which way to</div> <div>     move it."  To Ferral he says, "Get your crossbow and load it."</div> <div>     Ferral moves quickly to obey.</div> <div>     Turek walks slowly towards the light, looking all about him, pointing</div> <div>     the crossbow where ever he is looking.  When he reaches the stone</div> <div>  wall, he peers cautiously over the top, aiming the crossbow down as he does</div> <div>     so.... After a moment in which you see him look both ways, he points</div> <div>  to  his right then goes through the gate and starts walking up the road.</div> <div>    </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 PC POST # 61</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>        Karl moves the burning wood to the right as Turek directed.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 GM POST # 62</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Turek moves up along the road looking all around but doesn't  seem to see</div> <div>   anything and turns working his way the other direction, waving for you to</div> <div>   move the light with him.  After passing the gate he moves along the road</div> <div>  for a minute, then stops and crouches down for a bit. He's out of sight during</div> <div>   this, hidden by the wall. When he stands up again he moves to the other</div> <div>  side of the road and looks over the wall, aiming nto the darkness with his</div> <div>   crossbow.  Finally after a few moments he steps back and heads back to</div> <div>  you.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Arriving in the barn he says, "There is a large pool of fresh blood on the</div> <div>   road and a trail of blood leading across the road, up and over the wall</div> <div>  and  into the other field. I couldn't see anything out there though and there</div> <div>  are  no tracks, just drag marks in the mud... maybe we'll see more in daylight</div> <div>  if  the rain doesn't wash it away."</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Exchange</div> <div>    Series 2 PC POST # 62</div> <div>    Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div>     Karl thinks a second. "Okay, I was going to suggest that we just move on</div> <div> in the morning, but even if it was a wolf after livestock I think we owe the</div> <div> owner of this barn a cursory investigation."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Exchange</div> <div>    Series 2 GM POST # 63</div> <div>    Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Turek will tell Ferral to get some sleep and he will sit up through the rest of</div> <div> the night, crossbow across his lap, keeping an eye on things.  He will wake you</div> <div> in the frosty hours of dawn.  The fire has been built up and to your suprise</div> <div> there are some eggs cooking in the pan. When Ferral asks where they came from,</div> <div> Turek just smiles and taps the side of his nose.</div> <div> As you finish your meal Turek says, "Shall we go look at the blood?"</div> <div> Amanda immediately perks up, "Blood? What blood? What are you talking about?"</div> <div> She slept through last nights events.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Exchange</div> <div>  Series 2 PC POST # 63</div> <div>  Player : Ray</div> <div>  Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div>  "There was a disturbance last night, Turek went to check it out</div> <div> and found some blood by the road, and we decided that further</div> <div> investigation could wait until morning. If you want to stay in the barn till we</div> <div> finish we will come back for you shortly, or if you'd prefer you can accompany</div> <div> us."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 GM POST # 64</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> "You didn't wake me?" Amanda demands with apparant heat.  "Why didn't</div> <div> you wake me? We are all traveling together, we are all in this together,</div> <div> we do things together!"  She stands up.  "Of course I'm coming with you."</div> <bR> <div> Turek and Ferral will busy themselves cleaning up the camp and saddling</div> <div> the horses.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 PC POST # 64</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>     </div> <div>   Karl nods. "Lets get this taken care of quickly if we can, and</div> <div>  be on  our  way."</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 GM POST # 65</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Amanda is still clearly cross with you as the four of you walk your</div> <div>  horses  to  the gate.  Turek leads you to the blood stains....</div> <div>     Though the mud and wet have washed most of it away it is still clearly</div> <div>  a   large pool of blood.  Unless it was from a very large creature it surely was</div> <div>  a  mortal  wound.</div> <div>     The pool begins next to the wall seperating the road from the field</div> <div>  where  the barn is and extends almost halfway across the road to the otherside.</div> <div>  From there a long smear continues across the balance of the road, up and over the</div> <div>    wall but  then disappears. There is no trace of any blood on the far side of the</div> <div>    wall.  </div> <div>       </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 PC POST # 65</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>        "Can we follow this any further Turek, or do you remember anything</div> <div>  from  last night that would lead us onward today?"</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 GM POST # 66</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Turek shakes his head, "If there are no tracks in a muddy field like that,</div> <div>  there is nothing to track at all." He says as he leans over the wall for a look</div> <div>  at the sodden earth beyond.  This is all I saw last night, except that the blood</div> <div>  was so  fresh it was still steaming."</div> <div>   Ferral bends over something at the base of the wall, "Look at this."</div> <div>   'This' is a palm sized scrap of pale blue cloth with a wooden button sewed</div> <div>  to  it. The scrap is clearly torn rather then cut and is about half soaked</div> <div>  with  blood.  "I wonder if it's from the victim or the killer?" Ferral says.</div> <div>   "Or dropped by some passing traveler who knows how long ago." Amanda</div> <div>  suggests</div> <div>   "Except for the blood, the cloth isn't very wet." Ferral says. "If it had</div> <div>  been  laying here yesterday it would be soaked through."</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 PC POST # 66</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div>      Karl looks at it "My guess would be victim, I doubt whatever bled that</div> <div>  much over there was tearing at clothing over here. Which means we need to</div> <div>  find out more if we can and quickly. Presumedly they were being dragged</div> <div>  somewhere in particular in this direction, so we should start to look for</div> <div>  likely places."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Exchange</div> <div>        Series 2 GM POST # 67</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>         Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Dragged?" Says Turek. "I don't think anyone was dragged off the road. There</div> <div> would be marks in the mud on the otherside of the wall."</div> <div> "So where did he, or she, or they go?" Amanda asks.</div> <div> Ferral points up towards the open sky, but says nothing.</div> <div> "Then how do we find them?" Amanda demands</div> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Exchange</div> <div>         Series 2 PC POST # 67</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>          Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      "They were dragged to this point apparently, and I doubt they went</div> <div>  willingly whether up or down. It is possible that we scared them into flight</div> <div>  at this point, but regardless of that they would need to head somewhere, and</div> <div>  they were carrying a heavy load whereever they were going. So the question</div> <div>  is what structures are there in the area. I'm pretty sure we can rule out</div> <div>  the barn we slept in, what does that leave us?"</div> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Exchange</div> <div>         Series 2 GM POST # 68</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>          Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> "They must have arrived the same way they left." Says Ferral. "There are Turek's</div> <div> foot prints from last night, from about the same time as the blood was spilled.</div> <div> But there are no other foot prints on the road. Unless they, or it, arrived</div> <div> while it was still raining and only left after the cry."</div> <div> Turek looks around, there is a copse of trees about a hundred yards off the</div> <div> road, roughly in the direction that the blood points. "Maybe there?" He suggests</div> <bR> <div> Amanda says, "The Palood is maybe ten miles east of here, if that.  If it can</div> <div> fly it probably went there. Probably where it came from." She adds as an after</div> <div> thought.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Exchange</div> <div>    Series 2 PC POST # 68</div> <div>    Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div>      "Lets check the trees first. They are here, and if whatever it was can</div> <div>  fly ten miles carrying a man or something larger, we may be having more</div> <div>  problems than I thought."</div> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Exchange</div> <div>   Series 2 GM POST # 69</div> <div>   Player : Ray</div> <div>    Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> The nearest gate into that field is about a quarter mile back down the road,</div> <div> you passed it yesterday, if you want to take the horses. Otherwise just</div> <div> clamber over the wall and leave the horses here. Unless you want to try</div> <div> jumping your mounts, but the pack mule won't be aminable to that.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 PC POST # 69</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>        I think we'll try and come upon it quietly, without the mounts.</div> <div>  </div> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 GM POST # 70</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>       Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Ferral will remain with the horses. Turek will load his crossbow and climb</div> <div>  over  the stone wall.  Amanda will follow quickly.  Turek keeps the crossbow</div> <div>  pointed  generally ahead of him as he heads  towards the trees.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 PC POST # 70</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Karl will stay low to the ground and towards the back.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 GM POST # 71</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> Amanda, still clearly in a huff, is walking up alongside Turek as the three of</div> <div> you advance on the woods.</div> <div> At this time of year the trees are bare and most of the underbrush is dead as</div> <div> well, so cover in the trees is minimal.  On the otherhand, you can see a number</div> <div> of fallen logs, large boulders and rock piles, obviously cleared from the field</div> <div> and dumped along the edge of the tree line. Any one of these things could shield</div> <div> a man, or man sized object, from view.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Exchange</div> <div>    Series 2 PC POST # 71</div> <div>    Player : Ray</div> <div>    Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>   "Does anyone have a mirror with them?"</div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 GM POST # 72</div> <div>    Player : Ray</div> <div>    Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Neither Turek or Amanda apparently do, since neither one answers you.</div> <div>   Turek has been dividing his attention between the terrain ahead and the</div> <div>   ground he is crossing, but now, as you draw to less than fifty feet from</div> <div>   the brush, his attention is entirely focused ahead.  He slows his</div> <div>   advance and scans the brush, trees and cover ahead, pointing his</div> <div>   crossbow wherever he is looking.  You notice that Amanda has her hand on</div> <div>   her dagger hilt as she moves along with Turek.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Turek carefully pushes through the outer most barriers of brush,</div> <div>   sidestepping thorns and stepping branches down that are hard to step</div> <div>   over.  He is moving forward and sideways, working his way towards a</div> <div>   large, fallen tree to the left and ahead.  Amanda is staying a step or</div> <div>   two behind him.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   You would judge that the copse encompasses a little over an acre.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Exchange</div> <div>    Series 2 PC POST # 72</div> <div>   Player : Ray</div> <div>   Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      "Ferrel, follow me." I try to look for another piece of cover so they</div> <div>  cannot pin us all down in one location. If none are available I will join</div> <div>  Turek and Amanda behind the fallen tree. I also look over the barriers that</div> <div>  surround the copse and try to pick something that doesn't look too heavy</div> <div>  that someone would be likely to be hiding behind.</div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Exchange</div> <div>    Series 2 GM POST # 73</div> <div>   Player : Ray</div> <div>   Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div> (Ferral has remained with the horses back on the road about a hundred yards</div> <div> behind you.)</div> <bR> <div> It does not appear that Turek is seeking cover, instead he advances to each</div> <div> piece of potential cover, approaches warily, then steps around, crossbow ready,</div> <div> to check the back side before moving on.  He is obviously intent on 'clearing'</div> <div> the woods as quickly and efficently as possible.  Amanda continues following</div> <div> him, remaining a yard or two behind him.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 PC POST # 73</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div>      Pick one of the lighter pieces of cover and cast aportation to lift it</div> <div>  out of the way.</div> <bR> <div> (Sorry for the delay in responding. Real life reared it's ugly head and diverted</div> <div> my attention!)</div> <bR> <div> <Okay, this needs some clarification.  What kind of object are you moving?</div> <div> There is a lot of different choices here... Dead weeds, brambles, bushes. fallen</div> <div> logs, boulders that range in size from a basketball to a large desk.  What are</div> <div> you working on?</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 PC POST # 74</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Since I am trying to save the fatigue, I'll take a set of brambles</div> <div>  that someone could be hiding behind. Shortly after doing this Karl thinks</div> <div>  to look  at the top of the trees to see if there is any indication that a large</div> <div>  weight has moved through the upper branches.</div> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Exchange</div> <div>       Series 2 GM POST # 74</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <div> (It will require 4 points to lift the brambles)</div> <bR> <div> using Apportation you focus on a snarl of brambles dense enough to serve</div> <div> as cover and lift them... The mass of brambles was firmly rooted in the</div> <div> sodden ground, but the spell rips them free, tearing some branches and</div> <div> stems, bringing large clods of earth along with the rest.  A frightened</div> <div> rabbit tears away from its now devastated home, seeking new cover.</div> <div> Nothing else is behind the mass of vegetation. Your companions look over</div> <div> in surprise at this display of magery.</div> <div> The trees above are bare of leaves and you see no sign of broken</div> <div> branches to indicate any object or creature's passing.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 PC POST # 74</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>    </div> <div>        "If there was anything back there I think it would have had some</div> <div>    reaction to that. We can go and check but I don't want to spend all day</div> <div>    investigating these trees."</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 GM POST # 75</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>         Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Turek shrugs, "What ever you say."  He scans the woods one more time,</div> <div>  crossbow  ready, but there is nothing to shoot at.  "Are you ready to leave then?"</div> <div>  He  asks, still keeping a careful eye on the brush.</div> <div>   Amanda resheathes her dagger  and looks at you expectantly.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 PC POST # 75</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>         Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>      "Yes, I'm pretty sure that whatever we look for is not here. Unless you</div> <div>  see something to indicate otherwise. If it flew there are no borken</div> <div>  branches, if it walked there are no tracks. If it somehow avoided each, the</div> <div>  lifting of the brush would still startle it. I guess we go to Palood" (I am</div> <div>  guessing we are traveling east anyways)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Exchange</div> <div>         Series 2 GM POST # 76</div> <div>        Player : Ray</div> <div>        Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div> (The road to Nygg skirts the Palood  in a few places.  The Palood is enormouse,</div> <div> at least 2000 square miles in extant.  If the thing went in there it will be an</div> <div> incredible stroke of luck to stumble on it.)</div> <div> Turek keeps a watch over his shoulder as the three of you make your way back</div> <div> across the field to the road.  Ferral is waiting for you with the horses. He</div> <div> holds Amanda's horse for her to mount, leaving you and Turek to fend for</div> <div> yourselves.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 PC POST # 76</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>         Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      "On to Nygg then."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Exchange</div> <div>          Series 2 GM POST # 77</div> <div>         Player : Ray</div> <div>         Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> Turek heaves himself into the saddle and looks at the sky, "We should arrive an</div> <div> hour or so after noon." He takes the lead of the mule and starts off.</div> <div> Amanda mounts and follows, Ferral climbs onto his pony. "Did you see anything</div> <div> out there?" He asks you.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Exchange</div> <div>  Series 2 PC POST # 77</div> <div>  Player : Ray</div> <div>  Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div>     "Just an old tree."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Exchange</div> <div>  Series 2 GM POST # 78</div> <div>  Player : Ray</div> <div>  Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> Ferral says nothing more as he follows you down the road, though he</div> <div> keeps looking back over his shoulder at the woods.</div> <bR> <div> The morning will pass quietly with minimal traffic on the road. A little</div> <div> before noon you will pass a weathered mile marker that shows three miles</div> <div> to Nygg.  Shortly after that you will see coming towards you a coach and</div> <div> four with an escort of mounted soldiers, six all told, in the blue</div> <div> cloaks and surcoats of the Royal Army.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Exchange</div> <div>   Series 2 PC POST # 78</div> <div>   Player : Ray</div> <div>   Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div>      Karl turns to Amanda. "You know better how things work in these parts,</div> <div>  should we mention to them what we saw last night?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Exchange</div> <div>   Series 2 GM POST # 79</div> <div>   Player : Ray</div> <div>   Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <div> "They are probably messengers or payroll or something like that. They won't</div> <div> stop the coach, but the outriders might be willing to talk." Turek offers</div> <div> Amanda nods in agreement. "There are always closed coaches and riders running</div> <div> back and forth between Nygg and Drunmore." She adds</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Exchange</div> <div>      Series 2 PC POST # 79</div> <div>      Player : Ray</div> <div>      Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>        Karl approaches one of the outriders. "Excuse me, sir, we witnessed,</div> <div>  in a way, a disturbance last night, and I was thinking perhaps I should</div> <div>  report what we saw to you."</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Exchange</div> <div>     Series 2 GM POST # 80</div> <div>     Player : Ray</div> <div>     Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <div>  </div> <div>   You and your party are forced to move to the side because it is quite</div> <div>  clear that the coach has no intention of stopping.  Most of the riders go past with</div> <div>  little more than a nod to you, though to a man that take a good long look at</div> <div>  Amanda.</div> <div>   One rider, with the braids of a junior officer, will check his mount when</div> <div>  you speak up.</div> <div>   "Yes? What manner of disturbance and where?" He asks, keeping one eye on</div> <div>  the coach even as he watches you and Turek warily.  You can see that the last</div> <div>  two riders have slowed down and are watching the exchange between you and</div> <div>  their officer.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Exchange</div> <div>    Series 2 PC POST # 80</div> <div>    Player : Ray</div> <div>    Character: Karl Lingsted</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      "Last night, we were taking shelter from the storm and we heard an</div> <div>  unearthly sceam in the night. We investigated this morning and found large</div> <div>  amounts of blood in the road, and the trail seemed to end suddenly, as if</div> <div>  both the attacker and the victim, or maybe prey, had taken off into the air.</div> <div>  There was a lot of blood, and I thought you might want to know in case it is</div> <div>  still lingering around up the road somewhere."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>