Karen's Story

The man looks at the pair confused. "Steve said that his friends Rain, Shade and Neil would be coming. Are you fellows a different set of people?" he asked with an honest curiosity. "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Sam, my family and another visitor are inside." He says walking into the house

When the party entered they would see a girl with long blonde hair and dark eyes sitting at a table drinking a cup of water. She seemed to have a pristine aura about her though callouses on her hands suggested that she had been helping out in the fields here for a bit. He turns to the group and her eyes widen a bit in surprise. "Oh hello there, I didn't expect there to be a group coming." She says placing down the cup and getting to her feet.

"My name is Alexis, it's a pleasure to meet you all." She greets.

Sam holds up a hand. "Alexis is the strongest swordsman I've seen in a long time she's been helping to defend the village over the past two weeks since we've been having trouble with some local bugbears." Sam explains and as he does a small girl who looked to be about 12 steps out of the kitchen followed by what appeared to be a dire gribble. "This is my daughter Tabi and my wife Karen is inside. Make yourselves at home while dinner finishes cooking." He says walking into the kitchen to help Karen.

Sam strokes his chin before going to the kitchen. "I think the last time I saw him was a couple of days ago. He knocked on the front door and said some people would be coming in an airship and to take care of him. He was pretty beat up and I wanted to bring him in to fix him up, but he said that he needed to leave before this place was endangered. Well the kids a tough one so I'm sure he'll be fine." Sam says as he walks away into the kitchen.

At the table Alexis takes another sip from the glass and smiles up brightly at Neil. "The typical stuff, stealing crops breaking things, it was really quite a mess." She explains.

"I'm planning on heading to their lair to wipe them out later if you want to come along." She offers.

As she finishes saying this Karen, comes out of the kitchen and upon seeing her Rain and Neil would be able to tell that she was an elf. "Well if you're going to do that I suggest you eat up first. Although you should really let us come along to help." She says with an edge of exacerbation in her voice.

"I couldn't do that, I owe you all too much." she replies as she licks her lips a bit looking at the food hungrily.

Then as the group sits down to eat the door is swung open by a woman with long brown hair. A long katana is sheathed at her belt and she wears bagy red pants with a thin silk shirt that covers her wrapped torso. Sam looks at the woman surprised.

"Well I'll be damned, Kessel, what are you doing here?" He asks walking over to the woman and shaking her hand. Karen grabbed her a chair and she joined the group, all the while maintaining a neutral expression.

Lara had also come down to join them but aside from some simple greetings her presence was more or less ignored.

When asked Sam says. "No idea where he ran off to, Steve's never really been the type to sit still. Though I wish he'd at least trust us to help him out when he's in this kind of situation." Sam complains a bit but then returns to affable banter.

Kessel turns towards Lara and then to Alexis, Neil and finally Rain. Her eyes seem to display some comprehension but she doesn't say anything. "I'm looking for Dekar's group. Renji showed up in the centeral continent." Kessel replies calmly and Sam looks over at her in shock.

"Renji did? I thought he died during the battle with Grueberik." Sam says in surprise. "But don't you live on the central continent now? Why are you trying to get that group involved?"

"Zelphie was found." She replies flatly as she takes another bites of bread. This causes Sam to let out a whistle and Karen to stop eating and stare.

"If they come by here we'll tell them you're looking for them." Karen says and Sam nods.

Alexis watches on confused. "Do you two know what they are talking about?" She asks Avander and Rain.

Kessel looks at Rain with a completely neutral expression but nods. "He acted faster than I thought. Though I'm surprised he could defeat Lance, he's no pushover." she admits then takes another bite of her food.

Sam looks at her confused. "Who's Lance?" He asks apparently surprised that he could stand up to Renji.

"He was a comrade back when I was a warrior in the army of Law. A very dynamic person and skilled with a spear." she explains to him, not bothering to talk about the other names.

However when Rain mentioned Shengan being attached Alexis's face paled and she gets to her feet. As she tries to walk back Kessel catches her by the belt and forces her back into her seat. "If the fae are involved it will be a while before Renji can actually assault Shengan, we still have some time." She says as Alexis remains quiet.

Karen notices the confusion on Rains face and decides to explain. "Grueberik is the other continent far to the east beyond the central continent. Tensions between us and them tend to run high and every once in a while there's a battle." She explains "As for Dekar and Zelphie, Dekar leads a mercenary...or I should probably call them a vigilanty travelers who go around helping out various areas when something goes wrong in exchange for food and shelter. The group is very powerful and Dekar has the blessing of the diety of light Zelphie." She explains.

Alexis takes several more deep breaths and regains her composure. "There is no need to comfort me Miss Rain, I do not actually know about this city, I've only heard rumors of it on this continent...I had hoped to see it myself one day." She admits looking at the table.

Kessel looks at them "If Renji is attacking Shengan than the thing he wants is there. If Lance is defending Shengan then he will not be able to attack it for a great while." Her words carried a certain sureness to them that make it seem like he didn't even consider other possibilities realistic. Then she puts down her fork and both she and Lara look at the door.

In tramps a man in a large black cloak wearing shackles and manacles. He was covered in cuts, scratches and slices but overall he seemed well enough. "I figured you'd come here, Sam what's on the menu?" Narsh asks with a broad grin and Karen fetches him a a portion of food they had apparently set aside for him. "The wind carries many secrets, including how depressing this conversation is." he says with a laugh as he sits down.

"So you're back," Lara says glaring at him, but he gives her a smile and she simply sighs.