<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=227485.msg11645806#msg11645806">Quote from: AndyZ on 17-09-2015, 10:16:49</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">For once, Miranda seemed to have actually slept reasonably well.  It was a luxury, but not an exceptionally uncommon one, and made her feel as though today was actually going to be a decent day.<br/><br/>Noticing the captain, she offered a gentle smile, settling in for breakfast.  "Hi.  I'm Miranda."<br/><br/>As she glanced around the room, she said a word of power, gesturing about to help clean up the nearby area with some simple Prestidigitation.  Nothing amazing, but she liked to help out when she could, and it was much easier with magic than scrubbing by hand.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>The Captain looked at Miranda and gave a small grunt of acknowledgment.  It was neither polite or impolite but the Captain did not know exactly what the point of this introduction was.  Clearly the woman was not of this town.<br/><br/>tag - Miranda<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=227485.msg11648858#msg11648858">Quote from: Muse on 18-09-2015, 13:11:23</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><br/>   The next morning Ran was still feeling uncomfortably insecure about Dza's rebuffing her offer of an overnight cuddle.  The normaly relaxed and proud girl didn't know what to make of it, and she certainly wasn't accutomed to feeling so insecure.  <br/><br/>   The little wildling put her bet face on the next morning, changed panties and polished her leathers before making her way down to the commons.  Spotting Miranda, she felt her heart lifting quickly.  She moved up beside the warlock and took her hand.  “Good morning, ma'am.  My name's Ran Fletcher.  I see you've just met Miranda.  May we join you?”  <br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Marika looked at the two girls now holding hands.  Were they lovers?  Were they trying to ply their wares with her and hinting at their intentions?  The Captain did not know.  "I do not mean to be insensitive but I am waiting for someone.  Perhaps," she delayed, looking for a way to politely let them down.  "Later?"<br/><br/>tag - Miranda and Ran<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=227485.msg11648982#msg11648982">Quote from: Etherealgirl on 18-09-2015, 14:32:55</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><br/>The druid gathered her remaining items and re approached Caro. "Come! Let us meet our companions. Perhaps we will be lucky today and face death! Nothing makes you feel more alive, than death." she commented, giving Caro a wink and opening the door. <br/><br/>Downstairs the druid could smell the morning breakfast. It smelled wonderful. It hadn't occurred she to Orchid until just now at how hungry she was. "Greetings everyone!" Orchid said cheerfully, coming down stairs with Caro and taking a seat. <br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Marika noticed the halfling immediately as she announced her presence.  Realization came across her face.  These were those that Dza encountered to the South.  Marika rose and apologized immediately to Ran and Miranda.  "I did not realize that you were part of the group that was found last night.  Please sit.  I am Marika, the Captain of the Guard here at Melford.  To make amends, I hope that you will accept my paying for your breakfasts, though that may be more of a punishment.  I will leave it to you to decide."<br/><br/>She then motioned the halfling over to the long table.  "Would you join us, please?"<br/><br/>tag - Orchid, Caro, Ran, Miranda<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=227485.msg11653067#msg11653067">Quote from: Dhi on 19-09-2015, 23:17:07</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">A tiger spent most of her waking hours priming her muscles to take down deadly prey. As soon as Dza woke, that was what she was doing. She was short of breath at the break of dawn, touching her toes, twisting, using the raw timbers of the rafters to strengthen her arms, using the wrought iron of the window grill to lift her heels up over her head. When her armor went on, she was ready for it. She was ready for goblins. She was ready for Captain Marika.<br/><br/>If she neglected to humble herself as she arrived at the captain's table, it wasn't for lack of respect. She had shown every formality, once, the way the junior watch had taught them to her. Then she had gotten to know Captain Marika, and gone to the pub with her, and they had spoken about the past. She had come to understand what camaraderie meant, and it wasn't shown in a smart salute.<br/><br/>"That sure smells good after a time out under the stars." She took a seat, fully equipped, her bag cupped in her shield. Keeping it friendly was one thing, but she intended to be ready for whatever the captain had in store for her. Marika was a busy woman. "These are those people from the bivouac. Brannock wants to get back out there, but the tavern food brings me back." A smile would only have ruined the dry wit, and it had to be dry. The humidity seemed to irritate the captain's old wound. "It came just a few hours from the gates, this time."<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Marika returned the humor.  "I had just warned your new friends of the same thing.  But, it has been a long night and I suspect that tonight will be longer.  There seem to be more and more of these shadow goblins attacking each night and they are spreading like a wildfire.  If only we knew more about them....  And why Brannock wishes to get out so quickly, I do not know.  Then again, I do not know what the two of you see in each other.  He is a bit too strange for my taste."<br/><br/>Noticing that Brannock had sit down at his own table, Marika reluctantly called, "Brannock, this concerns you too.  Your company is requested."<br/><br/>tag - Dza and Brannock<br/><br/>"So, tell me about what happened last night.  I want to know from each of your points of view.  Each may provide me with unique insight.  Do not skimp on your stories.  I wish to know everything, including why you folks have come to Melford," she said looking meaningfully at the non-Melford residents.<br/><br/>tag - all