A woman answers.

She smiles at you.

"Do you have anyone that is sick?"

Lurel waits for the others to speak. When no one does, he smiles at the woman, and says. "Most of us have been injured at one point or another. Perhaps there are lingering traces of sickness in some of us, even if we are not consciously aware of it - would you be able to spot and treat them?"

'Well, come in!'

The woman glances at you in turn.

'The woman with no feet seems fine to me. The small boy needs to lie in a pine grove with a fire of fallen larch branches three feet to his left. Do not take branches from living trees. His more serious illness is beyond my ability to heal. The warrior woman has several cuts and abrasions. I can sell you essence of willow for five gold. It is very effective. The elf,' she presumably means Arturius 'looks the kind to find his own cures'.

She regards Ford for some time. 'Your scars are to the mind, boy. Wearing a crown of fir mixed with elder for a day will help ease those troubles. The effect is temporary but easily repeated. I could produce a tincture to drop into water that has a more permanent effect but it will take several days to distil.'

To Lurel she says 'you have the same sickness as the little boy, I have no cure but you too will gain from lying among pine trees.'

"That seems cheap enough." Lisette hands the woman 5 gold coins. "How do I use it?"
[OOC] If nothing else, it will act as a painkiller.[/OOC]

The woman says to Lisette as she passes it across.

"If you put it on open wounds it will speed their closing. If you rub it on bruised areas the bruises wikll come out faster. The pain will not change much but it will last a lot less longer."

OOC> off until Monday

"Thank you," Lurel says. "I will certainly follow your advice, as soon as I get a chance."

He hesitates briefly. "I'm sorry if it appears that we have been eavesdropping, but we heard someone talk about the Lindan Yar as they walked past. We have also had an encounter with the Lindan Yar which was not entirely pleasant, and wondered if perhaps we could exchange information?"

He uses his empathy skill on the woman.

The woman is a bit fanatical about her chosen subject.

"The Lindan Yar is uprooting trees and clearing a swathe of forest for some nefarious scheme of their own. What can they want in the middle of the forest? We all know they smuggle illegal narcotics but what source of narcotics can there possibly be in the forest? We are angry at the destruction of the trees but they seem to be building a small army there and we can certainly not go against them. I would keep well away too. They are seriously bad news."

She glances at you again.

"If you would do me a favour. We acquired a bucket from the people just around the corner and it has a hole in it. I know the goods are second hand but it's no use to us in such a condition. It's a small hole so it was probably an oversight. Ask them to pop around with a new one when one comes in."

She holds out the bucket expectantly.

Lurel accepts the bucket. "We'll take it back for you. What are the bucket people called again?"

He pauses briefly. "The Lindan Yar seemed to start pursuing us from Chert Hollow onwards - do you know anything about that place?"

Before he continues, he uses the spell Thail has taught him to contact her. "The Lindan Yar are clearing trees - something to do with their narcotics business, probably. Do you have any idea what they might be up to? And can you warn the Held to be careful around them, should the Lindan Yar stary into their territory?"

To the woman, he says. "We were also wondering if you know anything about the lower level of the sewers, and their inhabitants?"

"The bucket comes from the whatdoyoucallem Yar round the corner to the right as you leave. Begins with c or k. As for what the Lindan Yar are doing I don't know. Chert Hollow is haunted or said to be, you think they'd keep away. We do."

She glances again at Midge. "I don't want his infection speading amongst us. Please take him away now. I don't know anything about the lower levels of the sewers."

Thail acknowledges Lurel's message and agrees to warn the Held.

Lurel nods, and bids the woman farewell.

Back in the tunnel, he shrugs. "We were going to pay the whatyoucallem Yar a visit anyway - might as well hand over the bucket."

He sets off in the direction indicated.

As you round the corner there is an altercation taking place. Two men in red jerkins and blck breeches and boots are trying to take a small shield from a third man who is completely naked.

Amid the squabbling voices it is hard to make out a single word. The appearance of Siffli and Lisette started all three men into silence.

One of the two in red says to Lisette "Madam you might want to take your family back around the corner until we have sorted out this little dispute." The naked man is trying to cower behind the shield.

"What's going on here?" Lurel asks, puzzled. He uses his empathy skill on the three men. "Why is he not wearing any clothes?"

Even having been a while since anything had happened, Midge only just picks up on what the woman at the door had said. Suddenly aware...

"err, what infection?!... I hope it's not too serious.
I don't suppose I could go back and ask, she seemed hesitant to talk with my presence."

One of the men in red nods towards Midge.

"Yes. Why not go back around the corner for a moment? The naturists are not supposed to leave their room without a least a modest covering. This one seems to have forgotten. We will escort him back. Please return in ten minutes if you need to see us. We are the Camereni Yar."

"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I would be able to close my eyes at night much better if I proably didn't see this". Midge goes back around the corner to think about how he will manage to find fallen larch branches... but wonders what hi "serious ilness" is.

Ford whispers to Lurel.

"We can't just leave them to beat on that guy, no matter what it is he did. He's defenseless!"

He puts a hand on his sword sheath.

Lurel nods:

"Actually, our business is with the naturists, so if you wouldn't mind.. perhaps your friend here would be so kind as to take us to his group. Meanwhile, though, perhaps you could take care of this for me?" He thrusts the bucket at the nearest Camereni Yar member. "The treehuggers wish to return this faulty item for a repair or refund. Please see to it as soon as possible."

He pointedly addresses the naturist. "Excuse me, would you mind taking us back to your group? There are a few things we need to discuss with them."

The Cemereni Yar take the bucket but smile amusedly at Ford. "We're not hurting him, he's cowering like that because there aren't usually members of the female sex this side of the sewers - outside his own area that is."

Lurel's empathy shows this to be correct.

"Your young friend has wandered off. Shouldn't you keep him with you? Not everyone in the sewers is as friendly as we are."

Midge is hovering outside the treehuggers' door uncertain whether or not to go in on his own.

Ford looks over to Midge.

"Hmm..."

He walks over to him and pokes him gently on the shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

OOC> Stampede should be joining us from Monday. I won't be around until then as I am off to Bristol/Gloucester after lunch. I still want to know what Midge intends to do or whether Lurel will deal with it!

Midge is startled at the poke,
"Yeah, I think I'm good to go now... things just happen too quickly arounf these parts"
Midge follows Ford.

"Alright then."

He smiles slightly and heads back to Lurel and the others.

Lurel walks over to Midge.

"I'm infected with the same thing," he says softly. "We've had it for a while... I was hoping that the Treehuggers might have a cure for us. I... I don't know how to cure it. I've been hoping that during our quests we'd find someone who knows... but I think the only one who knows might be Anromainyus... and he won't tell us. All I can do is stop the infection from progressing - and from turning us undead."

He swallows. "I didn't tell you - at first I thought I could perhaps cure it with magic, but that didn't work..."

Lurel sighs, and puts his hand on Midge's shoulder. "We won't give up, and let Anromainyus win, will we? Somehow, somewhere, we're going to find a cure."

While you are talking the two members of the Camereni Yar encourage the naked naturist back to his part of the sewers. They have taken the treehugger's bucket inside. You are on the west and final side of the upper sewer and may see the other two groups or not as you choose. You may return to the Ton Ton Yar to escort you to the lower sewer entrance or look for it yourself. (You may leave the sewers and retire to a farm in Iowa, Argonia, if it turns you on.)


It is still theoretically possible for the arrow to be with one of the groups you haven't seen. The evidence however suggests it is most likely to be with the Black Slayers on level 2. They are the only registered group on that level.

Lurel looks up. "Ford, Ari - could you have a quick chat with the naturists to see if they have anything helpful to say or offer? You know, find out about arrows, the Black Slayers, the Lindan Yar or anything else they may have noticed. Lisette, Siffli - could you enquire the same of the Carmeneri Yar?"

He sighs. "I think Midge might have a few questions for me that should be answered before we visit the Black Slayers."

Ford raises an eyebrow.

"Hmm, all right."

He heads off with Ari as asked towards the naturists. He knocks on the door when they arrive.

Siffli cannot help but stare wide eyed at the males nakedness. She wrinkles her nose partly in disgust and partly in slight confusion.

Upon hearing Lurels request she shakes herself out of her perplexity and approaches the Camereni Yar to begin her queries.

OOC: Sorry about the delay. Gareth has done his best to explain the situation and character to me, if anyone has any suggestions or hints, please let me know.

Ari, Ford

The naturists are as you expect them to be naked. They have created a garden in the sewers although the plants are rather feeble in the artificial light they serve the purpose of being something natural to sit and lie on rather than stone. There are about twelve members, although some may be behind the plants and invisible to you. None is ashamed of being unclothed. Both sexes and several ages from baby to wizened old crone can be seen. Indeed they might be part of one extended family.

A woman in her mid thirties approaches you. "Hello. You are somewhat overdressed for this part of the sewers. Is there something you need?"

Lisette, Siffli

The Camereni Yar in their red and yellow uniforms are all working busily stocking, cataloguing etc. The damaged bucket has been tossed into what is clearly a rubbish pile. Another has been set out for delivery. Man and women are regularly arriving with new items and taking others to wherever they are due to be delivered.

A man with some form of badge of office on his tunic looks up enquiringly.

"Buying, selling or simply here to look around?" He notes Lisette's dagger. "Sure they can give you a deal on that but not here."

The objects are many but 'ordinary'. You do not notice anything that you particularly need. Of course there are chest and boxes into which you cannot see.

Lurel, Midge

Lurel waits to find out just how much Midge feels he has to know.

Ford tries not to make his discomfort noticable on the exterior however how successful he is he doesn't know. He looks around the room and attempts not to cringe at the sight of the shrivelled bodies of any of the "old crones".

'Just focus on the eyes... nothing else... urgh...'

He turns to face the woman and attempts a polite smile.

"U-um, well, we were wondering if you have any information. Specifically, have any of you heard anything about arrows, the Black Slayers, or perhaps the Lindan Yar?"

Siffli could not help but sneer a little at the mans posturing.

"Yes quite. Have any arrows? Or perhaps some information about the Lindan Yar or Black Slayers?"

Ari, Ford

We are a peaceful group who keep ourselves to ourselves. What would we do with arrows? Where exactly could we keep arrows about our persons?

The Lindan Yar are drug dealers. We have nothing to do with them.

The Black Slayers are more interesting. One of our number once worked with them but he has sworn never to talk about them. Should you wish I can bring him here but you must not ask him for any secrets.

Lisette, Siffli


We don't deal in weapons, that's the Demveni Yar on the other side. The Lindan Yar? Why do you want them? They won't deal directly with users. They're busy with some project in Branden Forest from what we can gather. At least it keeps them out of our way. The Black Slayers on the other hand are just below us. You can go there if you wish although they are not always happy to receive unexpected visitors. Only thing is we've heard rumours recently about there being other things on level two that nobody has yet identified.

Ford ponders.

'Lurel is better at this sort of thing than me... I'm all right with merchants but this is important...'

He hesitates.

"Hmm... I might bring a friend of mine back here to speak with him, if that's okay. Thanks for the information."

Provided the woman approves, he turns to Ari.

"Come on, we should head back to the others and let Lurel know about this."

"Thank you for that information. Siffli, I think we may as well simply go and meet up with the others."

Malchik, I believe you are misinformed.

Argonia is in Kansas.
Satellite photo of Argonia.

"I have so many questions.... I suppose I just want to know the most important things."

"Well," Lurel begins, not sure what to say. "That's basically it. Anromainyus wants us undead - I'm not sure why, but I think it's safe to assume that he has plans of his own. Whatever he has infected us with, I can't cure. But I can stop it from getting worse, and that's what I've been doing. Until we find a cure - because we will. We won't give up and let Anromainyus turns us into two of his puppets, will we?"

He looks at Midge, wondering whether he will accept the explanation.

"I think Anromainyus is somehow involved in this whole business too - he interfered in Avelyssia, and there's another one of his brothers buried here in Levdia - so I'm hoping that whatever his motives are, they'll become clearer to us as we find out what's going on here in Levdia. Maybe that Lindan Yar lot are working for him... they did start to follow us after we passed that unwholesome place in the forest. Maybe the Black Slayers will give us a clue - but it's going to be dangerous, from what we've heard. Thank goodness we've got you and your danger sense to help us there!"

He grins at Midge.

The group reassembles with the information and accompany Ford to the naturists. An elderly man is waiting for them. The other naturists are no longer in evidence. The man wears a towel around his waist in deference to the sensibilities of the ladies.

"I will not talk about the Black Slayers' secrets but some facts are not secret. What specifically do you want to know?"

"Would you be able to inform the Slayers that we wish to meet with them?"

Siffli narrows her eyes and gives a half smirk. At the old man, secretly appreciative for his display of modesty.

Lurel walks up to the naturist, and greets him politely.

"We have been told a few things about the Black Slayers," he addresses the man. "What concerns me most of all are rumours that it may not be safe for all of us to approach the Slayers - could you please advise us on that? I don't think we are an especially threatening party, but I don't want to risk offending them and endanger the lives of my friends!"

The man is surprised.

"They don't like unexpected vistors full stop. I can't see why the number would matter to them. Who told you it would?"

He glances at Lisette. "I was thrown out because I told the leader in Flen he was too fat to be in change. I was drunk at the time. I don't think they'd welcome me here even if they did know who I was. If you have legitimate business with them they won't bite. But I find it hard to see what business you can have. What guilds are you members of?"

"We're not affiliated with any of the guilds around here," Lurel says. "You could call us neutral, I suppose - though if I can avoid it, I want nothing to do with the Lindan Yar! It was the Ton Ton Yar, I think, who thought that only 2 people should go to meet the Black Slayers. Do you have any idea why they might have told us that?"

The shrivelled bodies don't bother him much its just a little addition the the culture shock he's already suffering.

"Hi, Can you tell us any more about the black slayers? or anything about level 2, Or for that matter anything about the lindon yar, or anything about onyone you've seen carrying arrows, besides me that is"

Ari mutters to ford *looks glum* "I don't recon we'll have much luck here, i hate to say it but i think level 2 is where we'll find things out"

The man glares at Ari. "I find it easier to deal with one question at a time."

He turns to Lurel. "The Ton Ton Yar are a law unto themselves. If they suggest two of you should go it will be what THEY want. I don't know why. You could try it and find out. And you are right to avoid the Lindan Yar, though not even they are able to evade the Slayers."

He looks back to Ari. "If you have found one of their arrows they would most certainly want it back. I doubt if they will give you other information about them but it will depend on your questions. I can only suggest you ask them. As long as you don't try creeping up on them they will not attack you. As for level two, I cannot help you. It is very dark there and there have been rumours of strange noises. We are not suitably attired to explore. I think only the Ton Ton Yar have done so. Although the boy Smudge goes everywhere too."

The man appears bored with waiting.

"Was there anything else you wanted?" he asks.

"Err.. what?" Lurel snaps out of his daydream. "Err.. not unless there's something you think we should know? Thank you very much for your help."

"Well, the only thing you might want to know is that the slayers only do what they are set up to do. Some of the wilder flights of fancy, them being invisible or invincible or in several places at once, are rubbish.

Go and see them. With or without the Ton Ton Yar. Your choice."

The man turns away leaving your group alone in the shop.

Lurel turns towards the others.

"Well, what do you think? Should we ask the Ton Ton Yar for help, or go looking for the Black Slayers on our own? I wouldn't mind directions to the entrance to level 2, but other than that... it sounds as though the Ton Ton Yar have an agenda of their own, which may cause us problems with the Slayers.... I was never very comfortable with the idea of only 2 of us going - I think we should all go.
But first.. do we have enough torches and other necessities? We might want to stock up first, otherwise."


He rummages in his bag to check his supplies.

Ford frowns.

"I don't trust the Ton Ton Yar. I think we'd be best off not dealing with them anymore. Let's just all head down there... I mean, I'd rather trust a nearly naked guy that seems sincere than someone who held a knife to one of our throats and clearly has their own agenda."

He lugs his backpack onto the floor and rummages through it, checking his supplies.

"Pah! I tire of negotiating with the working class. If you want something done right, do it yourself."

*Folds arms and pouts impatiently.*

Lurel shrugs. "I suppose if we run out of torches, maybe Lisette can help us out with her fire magic. Let's head down to level 2, and our appointment with the Black Slayers. Does anyone not want to go down there? If so, I'd suggest that you don't wait with the Ton Ton Yar... I don't trust them."

He sighs. "So, which way's the entrance?"