"Youmu... well, Youmu, you're awesome.  Thanks for ... everything.  The rescue, obviously, and the lift.  And the restoration.  And for patrolling to watch out for others in trouble in the first place... we were just starting to be in a position to do that ourselves."  But the details of the Port Lannis situation would wait until slightly later in the ride, after Youmu had explained a bit more of what was happening outside of Rayne's experience.<br/><br/>She nodded, though from behind her rescuer that wasn't helpful.  "Right, exactly so.  That's twice that Shadows about did me in actually.  I fought off the first pair, and should have had that last one too."  A little bitterness tinged Rayne's musical voice.  "I screwed up - and I suppose I don't have your fortitude, either."  She leaned in a bit more closely to the back of the rider she was hugging.  "Fortunately, the Nymph didn't wind up with... two playthings."<br/><br/>She listened to Youmu's account of the re-occupation of Stag's End, and the news - wonderful news - of this new guild the G4.  "Yeah... yes, I can picture it pretty well.  Port Lannis was overrun right after the Change, I understand... I was off in the jungle at the time  And then there was a black dragon under Port Lannis, and he was ...<em>breeding</em>new monsters, to push out the last holdouts in the castle.  Umm... it wasn't just the<em>NPC</em>females he was using, either."  She gave a weak shiver at the memory, and readjusted her grip.  "We chased him into hiding, and the other PCs are getting ahead of clearing the city out again.  Though he's still in there somewhere."<br/><br/>She gave a brief account of the other PCs.  "Hopefully they can link up with this G4... my friend Starstrike has<em>Sending</em>, at least.  And we have a good crafter, now that we've gathered all the necessary stations."  Rayne paused, thinking of what else might be relevant.  "It sounds like some PCs were in on the first attack on Port Lannis, by the way.  Though... I don't know if they were just doing it to be jerks, and didn't know about all of the Change.  Or... if they were collared, and didn't have a choice."<br/><br/>She thought of what she'd overheard, that snippet of<em>real world</em>awareness while she was in the fungus' clutches... but decided she'd rather talk to her known friends about that, first.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>It was a far cry from the entry to Stag's End Rayne had imagined - swooping down from above on Dixon.  Though it could have been worse... at least it was in the hands of the players.  "I guess the town hasn't recovered.  It was too early to be sure what was going on in Port Lannis, but... I'd hoped the NPCs would return to normal, and the guards and so on.  Unless it's just a slow process... I guess it's mostly up to us.  For now, at least."  She turned her head this way and that, though she could still see nothing at all.  "I wonder how much longer we'll be stuck... I've got to say, from what I've heard, there's no obvious sign that those real-world authorities have a clue."<br/><br/>By touch, Rayne made one more check that she was approximately decent, before letting herself be guided inside by Youmu.  The archer was dead-tired, and every step with her diminished strength seemed so heavy - climbing the stairs had her totally sweating and out of breath.  She felt the wonderful cushy-ness of the mattress, and flopped onto it.  "No kidding?  The ones in Port Lannis aren't so generous.  Maybe the local merchants don't like it cutting into their profits of healing and restoration potions."  Rayne laughed, still breathing heavily from the slog up the stairs.  She accepted her bow back, and in the process managed to use the trade inventory to pass 600 gold coins back to Youmu... "for the potion, and a little extra.  I can afford to pay my way."  She cuckled, ruefully.  "I forgot to buy<em>restoration</em>potions before leaving Port Lannis - exactly what I needed.  Brilliant!  Apparently Wisdom isn't ... just my character's dump stat.  Luckily I can rely on the kindness of strangers."  She grinned in the direction of where she assumed Youmu and the door were, then sagged, useless eyes closing.  "'scuse me while I don't see you out..."<br/><br/>She relied on Youmu to close the door - if there any doors left in the remains of Stag's End.<br/><br/>Then Ishtar's now-familiar voice was there, inside her head.<em>Oh, Ishtar... uhh... thanks for checking.  Glad it's quiet there.  I've just reached Stag's End, after... a little trouble.  The town's mostly burnt down, but some friendly pl-... friendly people here.  Let the others know... they'll probably be contacted by some sort of alliance form, called "G4".  Trying to... protect everyone.</em><br/><br/>She pushed back against the darkness of sleep for a moment longer.<em>Oh!  And... please tell Starstrike.  I heard a little of... what's happening... "outside".  There's some sort of... AI.  Called, umm... Pandora.</em>Ishtar wouldn't understand much of that, but Starstrike/Teagan certainly would.  Whether it would be helpful, Rayne couldn't know.  She also felt a little uneasy discussing it through Ishtar, who was after all part of the "game" ... though clearly with considerable independence.  But this seemed about as private a means of communication as there could be.  Just so long as mentioning names didn't draw any unwanted attention.<br/><br/>Soon - very soon - Rayne gratefully lost the battle against sleep, looking forward to a new day, fully restored.  She'd look into paying to get Dixon Raised/restored/whatever worked for mounts, and find out more about Youmu and this very-promising G4.<br/>