<blockquote><div><cite>Jackal wrote:</cite>“You left your academy and travelled all the way to Eva Heights to do some research? I have to say I am quite impressed. I’ll be glad to give you whatever information I can offer. Still, there are a lot of topics that fall under your query, like which factions exist, what the people think of them- is there anything specific you’d like to know?”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>"Oh, thank you!" Alyssa quickly retrieves a pen and notebook from her backpack. With a practices motion, she flips the book to a blank page a quarter of the way through and hovers the pentip just over the paper, ready to begin scribbling away as soon as the jackal gives a response.<br/><br/>"To begin, can you provide a list of the prominent factions working in the Heights at present? I consulted the academy archives, but with the ongoing power struggles, I'm afraid the information I have may be somewhat out of date. In addition, if you could provide information on the level of xenophobia, territoriality, and predatory inclination of each faction listed..." Alyssa pauses and glances up at the jackal, making sure she hasn't lost her subject in details. "That is, which factions are safe for visitors to approach?"<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Spot to notice the cougar: 1d20 (14) + 10 = 24, failure<br/>Spot to notice Eruin's spell: 1d20 (1) + 10 = 11, failure</div></div></div><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Theron wrote:</cite>"Speaking of security, I don't figure you guys use hand mirror to signal Eva Height's docks, do you? Because a cougar fellow just signaled something with a mirror."</div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">A cougar?</span>Alyssa glances around the deck in search of a passenger matching Theron's description. A cursory examination reveals no one, but in conditiions such assituation she's inclined to trust the Shepherd's eyes over her own, a decision Eruin's confirmation supports moments later. One observer might report a false positive, but two is unlikely- and in this situation, erring on the side of caution seems the wise choice regardless.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Rea wrote:</cite>"What? I don't see anything. Damnit, Eruin, why didn't you tell me. I could ha...<br/><br/>....Oops."</div></blockquote><br/>Rea's outburst earns a doubletake from Alyssa- were she not preoccupied with the implications of the cougar's presence, it likely would have elicited an even more shocked response. As it is, there are more pressing matters to address than talking ferals- namely, who was the cougar signaling a moment ago?<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Eruin wrote:</cite>"Rea, you bumblehead. Gimmie a smile. I have a feeling...well, I just have a feeling. And it's not a good one."</div></blockquote><br/>"I concur," Alyssa says. "A handheld mirror is far too small to signal the shore, or to serve as a warning beacon... which means that the recipients are already on the water, and awaiting a signal. In this weather, I believe-" She pauses, and lower her voice until only her immediate company can hear her before continuing. "I believe a raiding vessel is this moving in our direction. We must alert the captain and crew as quickly as possible, and secure the rest of the passengers below deck."<br/><br/>She turns to the wolf and jackal, her interview now the last thing on her mind. "Sirs, you speak as if you have experience with law enforcement. Can you assist in maintaining order below while we prepare to defend this vessel?"