"Blood 'n blades! You people are being detained! You do understand what that means don't you?!" Marshal Tomas has snatched my sword from Raven and now points with his small scriber pad at each of us. His face flushed. "You can't be walking around with weapons while in guard custody!" Held by the blade, just below the tines, Marshal Tomas shakes my sword in the air to accentuate the point.

"Am I to understand that prisoners they now are?" Plogz struts over, "Because if that be the case then you would need--"

"Don't play with me on this, Plogz!" Tomas whirls on the Goblin.

Seeing the seriousness in the guards face Plogz backs off from whatever argumentative point he was going to bring up. Ducking his head he shrugs, hands held up in a surrendering motion. Still the smirk on Plogz face is plain as day and I can tell the goblin gets a good deal of pleasure out of trolling the Marshal.

"You men. Get your damned fingers out of your noses!" Marshal Tomas turns toward the group of loitering guards at the steps. The camaraderie chatter and chuckles between the guardsmen dies immediately and they start to get into more organized formation. "Alec?! Sully? Get over here!" Tomas strides off toward the edge of the platform, placing a little distance between each group.

Two guards stiffen then break off from the rest to hustle over. They both come to stand at a variant of military attention in front of their commanding officer. We had briefly met the two men earlier when we had handed over our packs and weapons.

I strain my ears to listen in as he begins to berate the men carrying our belongings.

Perception: Success!

" --me how in the hells are you keeping a watch on them? You're standing closer to the damned city gates than to your charges!"

"We didn't see any harm, Marshal. They can't go anywhere from here." One of the guards says. He has my backpack thrown over a shoulder. I recall his name is Alec.

"Yeah, I mean, except for the Gleam it's only the steps and the lifts for the others." Sully, the other guard, looks in both directions to indicate the platform exits. "And... we can see them, sir."

"Oh? Is that correct, Eagle-eye? And did you 'see' the Captain there nearly pass a man we have been told to bring in for questioning, a sword?" The Marshal makes a motion toward us with the hilt of my blade. "And by the look of it, an enchanted one at that."

The two guards give sheepish side glances to each other.

"I've a good mind to bring you both up on charges, you know that? I have personally witnessed a dozen men cut down faster than a dartbeak's wing beat by a skilled sellsword." Marshal Tomas reaches over to Alec. He pulls him forward roughly and sheathes my blade in the empty scabbard protruding from the top of my pack.

"Perhaps if the both of you spent less time flapping your lips the wind wouldn't get in and cool your brains." The look the Marshal gives them makes the two guards again lower their eyes and shuffle in place. "Now get those men in order and sort yourselves out. You're Corporals for spits sake." Tomas jabs his finger in the direction of the steps.

"Sir." They both snap a bit straighter and dash back to their group.

Marshal Tomas watches them for a moment then turns and starts to walk back to us, still looking irate. From the corner of my eye I catch movement and see that one of the lifters is sliding across a track toward our platform. The Marshal adjusts his stride in the direction of the lift and makes a motion with his head to Plogz

"Looks like the lift assessment's completed and functionicity's been restored." The goblin states. He ushers us to move to the lift platform and we catch up to the Marshall to stand and wait.

"I do hope that the crews manage to salvage enough from the combobulation below to piece together what transpired with the cogs." Plogz says.

"Yes. I'll expect to get a report soon as you have one, Mr. Plogz." Marshal Tomas scratches out something on his pad.

"So, you four. I have Mr. Plogz statement but what can you tell me about the accident?" He turns to each of us. The platform shudders and clamps lock down onto the lift as it slides into place.

"It was no accident or wear and tear failure." I say before any of the others can pipe in, "Something struck the lifters gears."

The Marshal's brow crinkles.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Positive." I say thinking back to the moments before the horrible, elevator ride to hell, freefall.

Intelligence: Critical Success!

Special Ability: Perfect Recall -Available for purchase.

I close my eyes and time rewinds in my minds eye, the scenario replaying itself out. I recall the spine tingling buzz of my 'Drowsense" warning me of danger. How on pure instinct I'd thrown my body forward into the group. Muscles acting faster than I would've thought possible. In my already slowed recollection, time seems to almost stop. Moving at a lethargic snail's crawl. No doubt my 'bullet-time' like lightning reflexes kicking in.

There is the a glint of an object in my recalled peripheral vision. Like I'm searching for a screen shot in a youtube vid I edge memory forward incrementally and see the weapon with crystal clarity.

It is thicker near the head with an inwardly curved blade, tapering toward a carved bone hilt. Its shape reminds me of a slightly straightened boomerang attached to a knife handle. I've seen the design before in my many Weapons and Equipment gaming guides. A Gurka knife or Kukri.

The blade is black, with a wicked silver edge but as I forward the memory, it flares with an internal light. Growing brightener until it's blade is pure white surrounded by a purple glow that reminds me of the visual special effects attached to a certain fan favorite weapon in a galaxy far, far away.

It spins end over end and hits the gears. Slicing through one of the joints as if it was made of warm butter and not metal. The handle bounces into a cog and the blade spins, causing more destruction as gears and springs are sliced and diced. Then in a flash of that same purple white energy the weapon disappears.

The damage is done though. Pieces and parts tumble and grind in the machinery. Gears spin uselessly, teeth sheered away, some catch, straining with the pressure and then, simply explode.

"...the gears couldn't take the strain and when they went the lift started falling." I pull back from the memory, finishing with my recollection. Tomas is furiously scribbling notes and he and each of the other give me an odd look.

"You remember seeing all of this?" The Marshal asks.

"Yeah, well." I shrug, "You know what they say. Whenever you are in a tense or dangerous situation your senses become more heightened."

At least, I'm pretty sure that's what they said in one of those braingame Youtube vids on testing your mental acuity. Or was it something else? Did I maybe stumble onto a key piece of information? Or make some sort of critical roll?

Deduction: Success!

"Yet you didn't see who made this supposed attack?" The Marshal presses.

"I had seen a figure on one of the crane pallets. Just a shadow of someone, but then that blade flew out at us..." I turn my concentration to the lifters large gears, studying them.

Magitech: Success!

"It struck right here at the spindle joint." I point out one of the cogs, "That caused the chain reaction and destroyed the brakes too."

"That'd surely do it. The boy knows his mechtanicals." Plogz nods with approval toward me and I notice the elevator operator goblins do the same.

"And why you didn't mention any of this before?" Tomas points at me with his pad, an accusatory tone to his voice.

"Oh, my apologies but us damn near plummeting to our deaths and then subsequent 'arrest' by the guard has been absorbing just a smidge of my attention." I try and keep the annoyance out of my reply but don't think I do a very good job of it.

Standing to my left on a safety rail, Kryst lets out a mirthful chuckle. No doubt pleased with my cheeky delivery.

 I shake my head and follow up with a sigh. "I just needed a moment to collect my thoughts."

Tomas lets out a snort but the statement seems to appease him enough.

I go over the rest of the incident, omitting the details of Cinnamon's transformation and simply state that after Captain Reigns threw the grappel both her and Plogz held on and made their escape from the death machine. Following suit I had grabbed on with Cinnamon and managed to swing to safety. As much as I wanted to brag on my wall running awesomness I refrain. If it came to it I'd rather keep my special abilities on the downlow. Even though I feel it's unneeded I do state it for the record that Kryst, obviously, just flew.

Marshal Tomas gives me a bit of a stink eye at that one, and Kryst gives a haughty guffaw. He is just about to question the others when one of the goblin operators chitters for our attention. While the dimunative humanoid turns away to do a final once over the second goblin raises the safety gate to indicate the lift is ready to board.

Kryst buzzes to hover over the platform and Captain Raven strides forward without a care. The rest of us however, guards included, have a slight delay in our step as we pile on.

Within moments the lifter is moving along the track toward another platform and the Marshal has begun taking statements from the others.

"Captain Reigns, in your words, could you please tell me what transpired on the lifter." The Marshal wastes no time restarting with his questioning as we chug along at a slow but steady pace.

After I squash the butterflies in my stomach. I step to the rail and force myself to take a nausea inducing peek over the edge. What was that saying? Get back on the horse? I'm not sure if that's how it worked here but I certainly didn't want to check my character sheet later and learn that I had developed some kind of height related physiological disorder.

Far below at the base of the cliff a plume of dust drifts lazily about the crash site. A swarm of ant like specks scuttle about. Some guiding a mass of others from getting to close to the destruction. Most likely workers dealing with the crash and of course, just as it would be in my world, a crowd of rubberneckers who were simply there to get eye full of the accident.

At my side guards peer over the edge also. One of them lets out a sharp whistle and I glance over to Sully. He pulls his attention back and turns to Alec next to him.

"What a right mess. I do hope they get that cleaned up fast." Alec says as he looks down also.

"You are just fooling yourself if you think the Marsh won't have us pulling another shift tonight down there. 'Specially after that sword untidiness." Sully makes a motion with his head toward my sword and pack on Alec's back. In doing so Sully and I inadvertently lock eyes.

A ripple of guilt goes through me as I face the guard.

"Hey?" I clear my throat and Alec turns toward me as well. "Sorry about that earlier. I mean, I didn't mean to get you guys in trouble with your boss."

The two Corporals glance to each other and then shake their heads.

"Nah. Weren't your fault." Alec says with a smile.

"If it wasn't that it would have just been something else. Besides, Alec here was supposed to be keeping an eye on you."

"Oy! Way to throw me under the wagon, Sul."

"It's true ain't it? You're Senior Corporal, correct? Therefore responsibility clearly rest on..." Sully makes a motion like he is hefting an invisible heavy weight to toss onto the other guards shoulders.

"So that means that the rest of you can just idle about? First of all I became Senior Corporal by taking some initiative, which all of you could take some pointers on. And second, that's were delegation comes in, mate." Alec reaches over to bop Sully on the chest.

"I heard no such orders." Sully replies with fake innocence.

"Either way it rolls downhill, Sully, m'boy. So it's in everyone's best interest to keep on their toe-tips and not give the Marsh any excuse to pile on the extra work."

"Yeah, yeah." Sully grins in defeat and Alec in victory. But by the attitude in their back and forth banter they certainly didn't seem to be worried about being raked over the coals.

"So, you guys aren't in trouble then?" I look between them. The two corporals merely shrug.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"We may get a wrist slap but most likely the Marsh will just put us on another shift." Alec says

"But what else is new?" Sully scoffs. "All this activity of late? Sure it may be filling my coin pouch but it's murdering my social life."

There was something about these two that amused me. They reminded me of... well... me! Old me anyway. Not in the way they looked. Both were fit in that casual way that would have made me burn with jealousy over their superior genetics. They were Caucasian, but so were most of the people I had encountered so far.

They were of average height. Though Alec stood an inch or so taller than Sully and had a touch more base to his voice. His hair in contrast to Sully's wavy blonde was a deep, dark brown and shorn a bit closer on the sides.

No, it was something else.

Even if they hadn't been in the guard together I could tell these two were longtime friends. It was the way that they joked with each other, the casual body language. They had a familiarity that floated in the air between them.

Just like me and the buddies that I had lost contact with as we grew apart.

I got a taste of that friendship with Kryst and Cinnamon, and it had certainly started to fill a void. But with the girls it was different too. I was attracted to them. Very attracted to them. And that, no matter how hard I tried to deny it, altered my interaction with my companions in the most minute of ways. I felt like I always had to be 'on' around the ladies.

This was... relaxing? Just talking with a couple of guys who were around my own age. Early twenties human age that is. I had no idea how old I was in Elf. According to my character sheet Drow could live for thousands of years. That is almost too hard to fathom and I'm sure may cause me some kind of existential crisis later when I sit and really ponder it.

I glance over to my group as Marshal Tomas continues to take their statements. Only too soon we will be walking along the steps and platforms again. Making our way toward whatever we had somehow become pulled into. Perhaps I could find out a little more about what was going on here in the city from these guys.

"I had noticed this place is pretty bustling." I indicate the surrounding docks above and below, " I've never been to Redtree so I just figured it was the norm. But Mr. Plogz said that the ships have been coming more frequent and something about general production being on the rise?" I ask.

Conversation vs Alec: Success!

Conversation vs Sully: Success!

"That be the truth of the matter, my friend. We are having a hard time keeping up with demand." Sully nods energetically.

"It wouldn't be so bad if it was just the locals but there has been a big influx of new workers for the dock construction and loading and unloading. Then the ship crews. Most of them have been at sea or sky for a bit so they are looking for some action when they arrive. We have been all hands on deck. No pun intended." Alec adds.

"Sounds pretty overwhelming." I say, "They have you guys keeping an eye on things then, maintaining order and so forth."

"That and dealing with the uptick in public disturbances. So far it's has been mostly breaking up arguments over hawkers selling wares too close to another vendor. Undercutting competition or some other slight. Bar fights and drunken brawls. Public urination, pick pockets. That sort of thing is on the rise." Alec says.

"There is an influx of traders breezing through too." Sully adds. "Which means more money is coming in but when that happens you have to be on the lookout for those less than honest entrepreneurial types looking for an easy score."

"Makes sense. Mo money, mo problems." I say.

"Damn." Alec and Sully's eyes go wide and they nod to each other. Sully reaches over and slaps me on the arm. "Poignant!"

I grin then continue, "So you guys just work the docks then?"

"Yeah. To tell the truth I wouldn't mind a transfer to gate duty or street patrol for a bit. This quarter is a nightmare."

"Cragcliff isn't that bad." Alec chastises.

"Maybe for you. At least you speak a bit of Goblin. For me trying to direct them or get anything sorted is like herding flash cats." Sully rolls his eyes in frustration.

"So what has caused this big increase in interest here?" I ask.

"The Council has established new shipping companies, opened up new trade routes." Alec gets a concerned look on his face, "I mean it's great we are getting those relationships forged but I'm just worried that things are growing too fast."

"I'd think that sort of growth would be a good for the community."

"It is. We have always shipped out wood products, sap and even fairies. But the city has opened up contracts with places like the Talsforth Institute of Magiks, and the Mage guilds in Galdonia and Cloudkeep. Now with the leaf and wood burns, even Redtree ash has started to become a good commodity."

"Yeah, I saw containers of the stuff getting packed up. Who would be interested in ash? I can't imagine it's that useful, is it?"

"Oh you would be surprised. It makes an excellent fertilizer, or so I've heard from some of the farmers. It's one of the reasons we have such healthy produce here. But now some of the city enchanters have come up with ways to make Scribers out of the stuff too. I don't know the how's, but has something to do with compacting it down." Alec shrugs.

"Really?" Somehow the implications of that pricks at my innate knowledge and I file away the tidbit of information. Adding it to the multitude of possible ways for magictek construction and design.

"It's used for making soap too." Sully says, "It was always one of our more sought after exports but further demand has swiftly taken wing."

"Soap?"

"Oh, yeah." Sully's hand dives to one of the pouches on his belt and he pulls free a couple of wax paper wrapped blocks. He unwraps the first to show off a translucent, near luminescent, purple glycerin cube that instantly has me craving grape jello.

He offers it to me and I take a sniff. It has a pleasant lavender scent. Much nicer than the somewhat harsh soap that Cinnamon had let us use this morning.

"Good stuff." Sully smiles, "Smells great. And gives you smoother more hydrated, just healthier looking skin. You know, removing blemishes like red spots and--"

"I swear you sound worse than those girls behind the counters selling it." Alec rolls his eyes. "I can't believe you are still blowing your pay on that high priced stuff. I hope that, what's her name, baker girl appreciates it."

"It's Arabell, and oh does she ever." Sully grins mischievously, "Beside with the extra coin from my shifts, It's not that bad of an expense. There are a lot worse thing I could be wasting my coin on. See? That is the trick, Alec. You need to learn to shop for presents that both you and the lady can get enjoyment from."

"Now the clues all fall into place. I had stopped by Blissful Biscuits this morning for a sweet roll to break-fast before shift. And couldn't help but notice that Arabell's breasts were positively aglow. I mean clean as a whistle. I can only assume that was your handiwork?"

"What can I say?" Sully gives us a straight toothed grin that was all charm. "I like to be thorough."

Alec chuckles and I find myself doing the same. Caught up in the friendly ribbing over life and ladies.

Sully slides a little closer and indicates that Alec and I should to lean in. "You travel with a few slices of candy apple pie yourself." He whispers. "How did you manage that?"

I glance back to my companions then back to the pair of guards. Both Alec and Sully are waiting expectantly. This was something totally new. All of a sudden these guys are looking at me like I'm Don Juan Casanova. Ready to hang on my next words as if I have some sort of magical pick-up line or have cracked the mystifying master code to attracting the fairer sex.

"To tell the truth. We met on the road. Helped each other out in a fight with some monsters." I reach into my pouch and pull out one of the Drayger claws that I haven't yet started carving.

"Sweet spirits. If working alongside ladies like those are what being an adventurer is like? Alec, I think we may have to forsake this life of luxury." Sully chuckles.

"If you want to go out hunting Drayger, Sul. Be my guest." Alec plucks the claw from my hand and holds it up in front of Sullys face. The other guards eyes blink as looks over the curved onyx claw. "Personally I favor my chances a hells of a lot more with belligerent, stumble drunk deckhands than I do raising swords against one of those beasts, thank you much."

"Perhaps we could hunt Drayger hatchlings?" Sully offers studying the claw and we all let out a chuckle.

"Those spectacles you are wearing." Alec passes me back the claw then points at the shades on my face. "I've never seen anything similar. Where did you get them?"

"Made them myself." I tap the frame with a finger. "From a couple of those same claws in fact. Had to smooth down some crystals for the lenses, obviously."

"Might I take a look? Try them on?" Alec asks.

"Sure." I pull the shades from my face without thinking and am almost bought to my knees from the painfully intense light from the afternoon sun.

"Hells below, are you alright?" I hear Sully ask. Holding my hand up to shield my watering eyes, I turn my back to the sun.

"Yeah, just wasn't paying attention." I blink as the world slowly comes back into focus and hand Alec my shades.

"You sure? If you need them that badly I don't want to..." He pauses.

"No, its fine."

"Alright. I just want to see for a but a mom--Whoa!" A wide grin breaks out on the Senior Corporals face when he slips on my shades and his head is suddenly darting about to take in the sky and our surroundings. "This is great. I mean its dark but I can still see! Hey, Sul. You have to try these..."

For the next minute Alec and Sully are all smiles and amusement. Trading my shades between them and causing a fair bit of panic to bubble up in the pit of my stomach as I imagine my coveted eye protection snapping in half, or worse, falling off the side of the lifter.

Their fascination continues until couple of the other guards stride over to see what all the fuss is about. Which in turn, draws the Marshals attention away from Captain Raven who looks to be finishing up with her statement. His head swivels in our direction and Sully hastily passes my eye wear back to me, unwilling to draw any more ire from his commanding officer.

"Thanks for letting us try your... shades, Brian?" Alec questions as I slip them back on, rubbing away the sting of in my overly sensitive eyes. I'm not positive if he is asking if he has gotten my name or the name I gave them for my 'new invention' correct. Either way I give him a thumbs up and a nod.

"Yup. No problem. Glad you liked."

"Definitely. If you make any more of them I'd love to get a pair." Sully says and Alec's head bobs up and down in agreement.

"I'm surprised you don't have them here." Shades didn't seem like a overly complex invention and if they already had eyeglasses making sunglasses seemed like a logical step.

"Eye correcting spectacles are fairly expensive. But those? You could make some good coin selling them, I'd wager. And I bet would be a damn sight safer than going out and fighting monsters and sleeping in the bushes." Sully says. "Although..." He makes a sucking whistle sound with his teeth, then glances over to Cinnamon, Kryst and Captain Reigns, "The lack of other... attractive fringe benefits that seem to be associated with your current occupation might be sorely lacking."

"So what is the deal with you all, anyway?' Alec picks up the line of conversation, "I've seen Captain Reigns in port before. But seeing as you don't have the right equipment to be on her crew. Unless... Are you a passenger?"

"Umm, No. We just met on the lifter." I say, pointing over the edge with a thumb. "I don't really know her." I pause for dramatic effect, then add with a smirk." But, I'd like to."

That gets a laugh from them.

"I'd put on a pair of gauntlets if you are thinking of trying to catch that particular shooting star." Alec cautions, "I've heard she has left a line of broken hearts and would be suitors from Esterford to Ka'lkesh. The entire lot, love sick and pining for her affections." The Senior Corporal takes a longing look at the Airship Captain then gives a grin and shrug. "Not that I blame 'em."

"Thanks. I'll take it under advisement." I feel that rush again from their bolstering. The way they were looking at me like a hero. If they only knew about my previous poor show of a love life. I had spent my fair share of living vicariously through others, particularly some of my less awkward, social butterfly like acquaintances. So I knew how they felt. I just hope that their admiration didn't turn to antipathy and jealousy. After all, these guys were pretty cool.

"What was that thing that you said, Alec? About, equipment?" I ask. Alec and Sully chuckle at the private joke.

"As far as I've been told, or seen for that matter, Captain Reigns runs an all female crew." Alec explains, "I wouldn't call them regulars here in Redtree, but it's not uncommon for them to swing through and resupply."

"And when they do they can be a right handful, I'll have you know." Sully adds.

"He ain't lying." Alec makes a motion with his head to the other guard then turns to address his friend face to face. "In fact, if we're not dealing with that mess down below later, I can guarantee Marsh will have us cleaning up the ruckus some of those ladies will be causing in the bars tonight."

"Oyyy." Sully groans, "I didn't even think of that."

"That's why you're not Senior Corporal." Alec jibes.

I chuckle. Flipping the block of soap I'm still holding over in my hands I glance toward Cinnamon who is now giving her statement to the Marshal.

"Hey, Sully?" I lower my voice to a whisper, keenly aware of the sensitivity of Lepuri ears, "If you won't be visiting your girl tonight. Would you be willing to sell me a couple of these soaps of yours?"

"Feeling a bit dirty, mate?" Sully smirks and glances to Cinnamon. Lowering his voice as well he gives me a nudge in my side with an elbow. "Or are you looking to get a bit dirty?"

"I'd like to get Cinnamon a gift." I smile, "Something we could both enjoy."

Persuasion vs Sully: Success!

"You see, Alec?" The guards laugh and Sully slaps my shoulder. "He gets it."

"Far be it from me to interfere with cleanliness. So sure, one gold and you can have the both of them."

Insight vs Sully: Success!

It seems a bit pricey and he is probably making a couple silver on the deal but I don't bother haggling over it. After all, he is doing me a favor so I shake his hand and pass him one of the nickel sized gold pieces and a couple silver from my pouch. I wave off his objection to the extra.

"So, you and the Lepuri lady...?" Alec lets the question hang.

"Cinnamon and I... ehh, it's complicated." I know the answer is dismissive, but I'm unwilling to share much more. And as enjoyable as conversation about women was I more interested in getting a bit more information from the two of them. I'm closing up my coin pouch after paying for the soap and am reminded of the Captain tossing away some of her money.

"Tell me something, guys. I saw Raven, eer Captain Reigns drop a bunch of coins over the edge back there. You have any idea what that was about?"

Conversation vs Alec: Success!

Conversation vs Sully: Fail!

"Sounds like an offering to Boutica." Sully says somewhat dismissively as he pockets the gold coin. In the silence that follows both him and Alec look at me, clearly picking up on my bewilderment.

"You haven't done much sailing or spent time around too many trade towns have you?" Alec grins.

"I'm afraid not." I say and the two guards nod.

"Most port towns have a shrine to Boutica located somewhere on their docks. Ours is up there." Alec points up toward one of the piers that just out far above at the top of the cliff. "Though it's not really needed, any dock, pier or even ship deck will do in a pinch. Boutica is a Goddess of the wind and sea..." Alec raises an eyebrow, "and Pirates."

"Pirates?" I ask incredulously, "Why would towns have a shrine to a pirate god on their docks?"

"It's not necessarily for worship but many a merchant, trader or siimply traveler will make an offering before when setting sail on a lucrative trade route or departing on long journey. A tithe so that she might show favor, grant fair weather, and safe travel through her domain. That more importantly, that her ire isn't raised and one isn't set on by pirates on the voyage."

I ponder that for a moment. Captain Raven didn't really carry herself like any of the other merchants I had observed while we'd made our way through the city or the ones making deals at the dock trade hall. She had a commanding presence. All flash and flair and... sexy. There's more to Captain Raven than just a simple merchant, of that much I'm positive. I wonder if Alec and Sully can shed anymore light about--

"What are you ladies over here babbling about?" Kryst startles all three of us as she buzzes over and lands lightly on my shoulder. She leans against the side of my head with her typical air of insolence.

"Alec, Sully. This is the bane of my existence, Kryst." I cut my eyes in the fairy's direction as I make the introduction.

"Charmed." Alec nods.

"A pleasure." Sully smiles.

"Yeah, I'm sure it must be." Kryst voice is all sass. She flicks my ear making me wince. "Too Tall, you might want to get back over there. Cinnamon is just going over the last of her statement. I think that Tomas guy may have a couple more questions for you."

"Alright." I nod, "Good chatting with you guys." I hold out my fist for a dap to both Alec and Sully. They pause for a few moments unsure what to do. Alec extends his hand uncomfortably as if to handshake my fist. I chuckle feeling like the cool guy amongst nerds before I give them a quick instruction on performing a fist bump.

The grins they give me are pure joy at learning the bro gesture. I start to make my way over to Cinnamon and the others but do catch a whisper of 'Wonder if it's a Drow thing?' between the two guards as I do.

I turn my head slightly, still smiling and whisper to Kryst. "What Cinni say about her curse?"

"Nothing." Kryst plops down on my shoulder, her voice low in my ear. "Just said you swung her to safety. Sailor girl didn't mention it either."

The Marshal turns as I approach and I catch the final bit of Cinnamons recollection.

"--given Brian some healing for his hands because they had been very injured by the rope. That's where you found us. On that shaky platform."

The Marshal nods. "And that is all that you recall."

"Yes, sir." Cinnamon says a little nervously. I walk close and place a hand on her shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze of reassurance. In response she looks over and gives me her cute closed-eye smile.

"Well I think that is everything. Unless you have something to add?"

The Marshal glances to each of us. When no one responds he nods and scribbles the last of his notes onto his scriber pad then presses his thumb to a small rune stone at the bottom. The enchanted symbol glows briefly and after a moment the Marshal produces a cloth and wipes the pad clean once more.

"Alright. Now, since that mess is somewhat dealt with. Onto the next one. Brian, you will--" The Marshal stops midsentence as the scriber still in his hand lets out a high pitched tinkling that reminds me of wind chimes. His brows bunch and he lifts the device to read the glowing words appearing magically across the surface. His eyes dart toward Cinnamon.

"Miss. Cinnamon Butter? Do you know Archmaister Midnight?"

"Uh huh!" Cinnamon bobs her head up and down, "He's my Pop-pop." She says sweetly.

"Your... Pop. Pop." Marshal Tomas blinks a few times. Then, he simply stares at the Lepuri in a long moment of silence.