Sophie and Stella were watching the two yellowtail lizards attempt to climb into the airship. It was the first of many attempts that they had expected to repel. Sophie had asked if she could be the first one to let them know and no uncertain term. That said, there was nothing there that was worth their lives. But Stella had other ideas. Using some actual preparation time as they watched the two lizard folk come by, and assuming that they weren't some sort of tax compliance officers, she got dressed up.

Sophie's ideal image of the grim Reaper involved a black hooded cloak and a scythe. Stella had done her best to imitate that design except with a spear. Neither of them were able to use the side in combat mostly because they didn't have one. Stella also had grabbed a card that gave her red eyes, he nearly used this uncommon that let her see an infrared. It was a trade-off, because privilege is seeing the infrared also made her eyes change colors and glow.

So when the two of them climbed up over the side of the ship and picked their heads over, they were greeted by a tall dark figure with pulsing red eyes and a spear.

"Welcome to your doom!" Stella said.

Both yellowtails shrieked, before a splash was heard. Sophie, not one to be left out, initiated the choppy seas. All the available water benders began to make the ship rock up and down as the waves grew higher and higher.

So far, it had proven to be effective. I didn't want to kill to lizard folk, Just make it so that they didn't come into conflict together. The waves quickly washed them back onto shore. A few seconds after the yellowtails showed up on the beach, somehow the waves subsided.

Sophie gave Stella a high five. The waist height railings on the outside of the ship covered up their antics a little bit more than the distance had. The two sprinted down the beach, As that, they're being followed by an army intent on cooking them for lunch.

"That worked out pretty well," Sophie said. "And you got to play a trick on them!"

Stella dropped the cloak on the ground and returned her eyes to a non-disturbing normal.

"I'm so glad that I didn't try to board the ship anyway. That would not have been in their favor. Oh well I guess I'm going to have to wait to see what is actually going on down there," Stella said.

The doors to the operation center opened up.

A disheveled Anthony walked out, his legs all wobbly.

"What the hell just happened? Was there a tornado or something?" He said.

"Just a few rich people's Yachts passing by at high speed," Stella said.

"All right then," He said returning to the door.

Five seconds later, yelling could be heard from inside the cabin.

---

"Tasha, we want to thank you for all of your hospitality," Valerie said. " And we understand that you're going to take some time to process all of everything we talked about. We will return. As I mentioned here isn't done yet but we need to talk to the captain of the guard or some government representative about our status here. Can you point this in the right direction?"

Valerie had stopped them after the second beer in memorial of the people of Noveria. You couldn't stop it during the first one, because that one was about all that they've lost. You couldn't stop them after the second one because that The one where you talked about all that could have been. And if there was a third one, Finley would have stopped them himself.

"We are here on a diplomatic mission," he said. "We're also going to be looking for people to supply the war efforts. Mostly I think what we're going to need is fresh food. So if the group here is able to supply some fresh food in bulk, we would pay handsomely for it."

The normally talkative merchants all kind of grumbled around for a bit.

"Lad, we'll talk business tomorrow," a dwarf merchant said. "Today is for those that we lost."

"Understood. Just know that we are going to do our best to reclaim the territory, and we will need considerable support."

They said their goodbyes and left the merchants with the promises of another visit the next day. This time, they would eat at an establishment that all the merchants liked.

Outside of the merchants home, Valerie directed them towards the center of the city.

"I feel like we need more landmarks here," Brianna said. "Nothing is distinct. All the buildings are the same. How would you tell the difference between say this building or that building when they are just pallet swapped versions of the same thing."

"And none of the buildings have numbers or letters on them," Juan said. "There are no street signs. Just these little candles every so often."

As he spoke, the group passed a small candle lit in the center of a street, when family got close enough, he could spell that it was giving off a scent. All of a sudden he could smell more things in the air.

"You can't distinguish them. However, the lizard folk can," he said. " Each one of these places smells different."

"They do what now?" Brianna said, stopping to turn. Her ebony skin was on full display. She had been given the customary yellow tail garb; a loin cloth and a bralette. She was extremely impressed by the elves wares and he had noted that his ex-girlfriend had left it there and he wanted it gone. She had taken him up on his offer.

"Everyone here has a sense of smell that will distinguish between locations. So you think they can't distinguish things because they can't see it. They can see it with their noses. Maybe even with their tongues," Finley said. " I heard stories about this but I've never seen it in action. It's impressive."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I need to signal the ship," Gigi said. She had remained in dwarf form to facilitate their time, but it was clear that she was only going to have so much time left.

"We're not splitting the party. Anthony's orders," Brianna said.

"I can signal it in goat form," she said, stripping naked and handing Finley her clothes. He took the clothing and put it away.

"But you're staying with us," Finley said. "Five people tried to buy you off of us and I think that they all wanted to eat you."

Gigi quickly morphed into goat form, then moved to be right next to Finley.

They made their way to the only building that appeared to have a stone foundation. The larger, near Central building was larger than any of the homes that they had seen by far. This building has several lizard folk guards posted around it.

"Well, let's go ask some questions," Valerie said.

The group was stopped out front.

"No goats are allowed inside after the Short Tail incident," a tall yellow golden lizard folk said.

"This is my uh..." Finley said.

"It's his emotional support goat," Brianna said. "He takes it wherever he goes because of his support needs."

What she left out was that his support needs included heavy magical artillery.

"Still. You can wait out here with your goat then," the lizard folk grunted. "Who do you need to speak to, exactly? Statz your business."

"I am here as a diplomatic envoy from the Irumian Kingdom. I bear terrible news."

"You name?"

"Valerie Lightfoot," she said. "I would request an audience with the Guard captain. Or the chief, if they are available."

The golden lizard grunted.

"Very well. Understand that out chief is not here currently, but I can potentially get the Captain to talk to you."

He waved for another guard to take his spot, then walked inside.

Gigi nudged Finley, expectantly. He didn't know what she wanted, but her bleat was insistent. He pointed to his pack, then brought out here clothes.

In front of his eyes, she turned back.

He shielded her nether bits from view. She emerged into the clothing much to the shock of the guards.

"I was going to offer you money for that goat," one said, dejectedly.

"That's a druid, not a goat," Finley said.

The golden lizard returned shortly to escort them in.

"Where did the goat go?" He asked, gruffly. "And I swear that I only saw one door for four. What happened?"

"We had a goat. She got better," Valerie said.

He let them in to the building. A large open area greeted them and there were several functionaries scrolling things onto Scrolls around the corners. On the far side, a red lizard with feathers all over his arms and back looked up. They related right to him.

He stood and formally classed both flawed hands against his chest.

"Pardon me, but I'm to believe that you are an official delegation of the Irumian Kingdom?" He said. "Welcome. I would offer you tea but as you can see I'm a little bit short-staffed. I am Captain Terrence of the Yellow Tail guard."

Finley looked around. Though there was a lot of empty space, he didn't think that the lizard was making a joke. Perhaps there was a busy period when this place was full?

"Yes. We are. My name is Valerie Lightfoot and I have grave news that it must impart to you, from one enlightened to another. This may be difficult to hear," Valerie said, now a practiced hand at giving the short story.

"Please. If it took you this far from home, then I will hear it."

He gestured at the center of the hit where a dip left spots to sit comfortably.

"Before we start," Valerie said. "Gigi, our druid is under a curse which necessitates that she turn into goat form every so often. She's going to revert at some time during our discussion and that isn't a threat to you. It's just part of her now."

He nodded, before sitting in the center. He waved two other lizards over to join them and they say in the back as Valerie went beat by beat over what was happening far to the north. The lizard folk listened in rapt attention as she regaled them with her tale. Captain Terrance even waved several scribes over to have them transcribe her words once he realized the importance.

Once she was done, she sat down.

"I think that the chief will need to hear about this," he said. "We're going to send a runner to the closest outposts with the news once it has been transcribe several times. It truly is an honor to be in the presence of someone who has survived such an attack. My heart goes out to you. Anything that I can do for you, I will."

"We would like to speak to the chief to formally request aid," she said. "But more importantly, we wanted to find the Irumian Foreign legion. I was told that they have been posted here in Sunderland, but I was not high enough in the hierarchy to grab their disposition."

Captain Terrance considered her words.

"I can send a note. I'm not aware of where they have been working, but if one of the other tribes know, my signature will let them know the gravity of the situation."

A scribe arrived with an inkwell and eleven copies of the same scroll. In quick succession, he dipped his hand into the yellow ink, leaving a hand print on each of the brown scrolls. It stood out. Then once they were dry, the scribes rolled them up and he sealed them all with wax.

"Take five outriders each," he barked. "East and west to the tribes. Ride until your legs hurt. We will send word other ways, but this... calamity... knowledge of this must spread."

The bustle of lizard folk moving temporarily took over the room, and just as quickly, it ended.

"Now. I would like to hear about how exactly you came onto land when no one saw a boat of any kind leave your ship," he said. "Your arrival caused a stir and I've been waiting all day to speak to you about this."

Finley nervously shuffled on his feet. The gate card was an important part of their arsenal and the sun, though high was starting to dip. They didn't need to give everything away but perhaps if they just mentioned that they had a wizard?

"If I may," Finley said. He displayed his water bending card, making the two dimensional image appear in front of the lizard folk.

"Water... bending?" he said, unsure of the wording.

"It lets some of us surf on the waves without going in. But also, there is this..."

He displayed his air bending card as well.

"Air bending? I've never heard of these. Has there been a shift in the card magic?" The red scales of the Captain glowed under the light of the two cards on large display.

"These cards have been affected by some of the men and women that we have been traveling with."

Captain Terrance got up.

"All chosen, I suppose?"

Finley nodded.

"You two are chosen?" he said, addressing Brianna and Juan. They stirred awake, having been lulled into a state of rest.

"We both are," She said.

"Two chosen at once, this is a great boon," He said. "May your days be filled with strength and honor."

"Two?" Juan said. "Oh no. There are fourteen of us."

The lizard folk had a moment where Finley was sure that he was going to die. His face went through an onslaught of emotion, from surprised to rage to fear and then back again.

"Fourteen?" he said in a dead pan. "Fourteen chosen have come to visit my city. Forgive this humble servant of the Yellow Tail tribe. I need to call the chief."

He stood up imperiously.

"Please avail yourself of our afternoon tea," he said. "Make yourself at home. I will find you suitable accommodations shortly."

Captain Terrance ran off faster than Finley had ever seen a humanoid creature run. Perhaps it was the tail. Or perhaps it was the tale. Either way, the Captain could book it with the best of them.

"He is so fast," Valerie said. "Also why did you go and tell him that there were so many of you? That's a little bit need to know, isn't it?"

"He's going to be on out side. We need to get as much help as we can get. He might be an evil guard captain, but he isn't a stupid one," Juan said.

"He isn't evil. He is an honorable lizard man," Brianna said, fixing her outfit. "He is just trying to do his best to not get yelled at by his boss."

"Oh man there is no world in which Anthony doesn't yell at us about this," Juan said.