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[GiglameshDespair]

: "They allow me to hold things, you see."

The singer placed a hand over her mouth in mock shock.
"By all the devils in the desert, surely you jest!"
She paused, then smirked, dropping her hand.

"Of course, I am sure you could do quite fine with only one hand. Merely open up your skull. Being hollow, it would be a helpful container to compensate for your missing limb."

: "You've had plenty of rest in your prison cell, dancer. A horse might not be magical, but we've still got a few good hours of daylight riding left and that will get us closer to our destination. Not lounging about. Your days as a nobleman's plaything are over."

: "In any case, you don't actually need details about what we're doing. Especially not here, with curious ears around." One of those pairs of ears was even now returning, arms full of parcels.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, milords and ladies! We don't have much here, but I've managed to scrounge up some things. Hopefully they'll come in handy on your journey."

As Porkins began to speak, any humour Ghamina had evaporated like a snowflake in hell.
"Dancer? Dancer?"
"Did you see me prancing around, shaking my stomach for you to stare at? No!"
"I am a musician, you muscleheaded boar. I sing. I play instruments. You will not see me dancing."

[Solymr]

: Hypocrite.

: If time is so important to you then I guess you won't mind if I let your wounds stay open until our job is done.

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Pity fight is already over."

Wolf replaced the wooden sword on her back and crossed her arms. Since there was no more blood to shed, she was impatient to be on their way again.

[Sirus]

The village elder looked somewhat bemused at the conversation; possibly as a result of shock. Porkins threw up his hands in exasperation.

: "Enough! Elder, I apologize on behalf of Duke Eastland for the state of your village and I thank you for your generosity. It's more than any of these ruffians deserves. However, we will be on our way at once."

Zelda gathered up the items offered by the Elder and stowed them away.

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Oh? And vhat of you and the lady who vanted to leave these people to the vastelanders? It is true I only vanted to fight, but some of these criminals actually vanted to save people. You, little pig, had places to go. But that is Eastland vay. Take credit for vork others do for you, forget their faces and names. Look down on people of courage."

Wolf spit on the ground.

[Chevaleresse]

"Lady Ghamina, I realize the Captain is. . . difficult, at best, but this will only slow us down. Save your fury for when the headsman's axe no longer hangs over your head." She glances over at Wolf. "Though I cannot say I disagree with Wolf. This constant derision of us, who risked our lives to save people who, in many cases, are not even our countrymen is disgusting."

[SeriousConcentrate]

Wolf merely shrugged.

"Used to fighting for people who are none of my concern. Difference is I normally get paid for it."

[Lucus Casius]

: "It's true.  He's terribly rude."

: "But it's also true that this doesn't matter to me in the slightest!"

: "And if we're not going to stay for tea, then toss the torch and lockpick at that quiet assassin girl and let's be off.  She seems the sort who can make use of those types of things."

: "Hm.  I suppose Lady Cawallader should take that concoction, too.  I, obviously, have my own means of healing myself."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Vhatever. Divide the little spoils and let us be off to retrieve this treasue or vhatever it is ve are to be retrieving."

Wolf walked back to her horse and got back in the saddle.

[Sirus]

And so, feeling somewhat disgruntled, the convicts left the village of Briarpatch behind and continued their ride east, towards the mountains. No longer did they ride throughout the night; instead they set up camp as the sun began to dip low and continued onward with the dawn. Both Porkins and Lady Cipio remained tight-lipped about their mission, and aside from wild game or farmers working in the fields the group saw no signs of life.

Porkins calls a halt somewhat early on the eighth day of travel, as the mountains loom before them. Ahead lies Zrossan Pass, the easiest route through the mountains that make up Diodormant's eastern border. In times of prosperity this pass would be crowded with traders traveling to and from the Dwarven Kingdoms, but at the moment it appears to be deserted.

: "Water is scarce in the pass, at least during the summer months, and there are usually bandit groups hiding out hoping to jump an isolated wagon or two. Take the rest of the day to fill up your canteens and rest. We'll want to spend as few nights in the pass as we possibly can."

: "Also, I believe it is about time that you all were informed of the purpose of this mission. We're getting close, after all, and you will need to have some idea of what we will be doing as we proceed."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Bah. I am not delicate Yerbian flower, faint at own shadow. Let bandits come, like pigs to slaughter."

Aside from that statement, Wolf merely stared at Porkins and Cipio, waiting.

[Gaterhyme]

Funny. She had come out of the wild longing for human company. Now that she had been cooped up in prison and forced to share it with her fellow ex-convicts, Yara found that she was finally beginning to appreciate the moments of solitude she had - soaring high above, the wind ruffling her hair, following the line of riders on the road laid out below her.

The horses had stopped for a moment, so she brought her wyvern low to listen in.

"Aren't we just getting some kinda thing? What's the big deal all of a sudden?"

[Taricus]

: "Hmph, You'll need more than an artifact to drive us out."

[GiglameshDespair]

Ghamina was unused to such continuous travel on foot, and sank to the ground with relief, sitting against a withered tree.
"About time."
"How telling us now instead of a week ago improves things is beyond me, but by all means. Continue. I will be here, hoping my legs do not fall off."

[Sirus]

"Aren't we just getting some kinda thing? What's the big deal all of a sudden?"

: "Crudely put, but that is the basic gist of it. We seek in artifact that has been in my family for generations, one of great power. It is known as the Mask of Kings. According to legend, whoever wears it can inspire the men he leads to unparalleled acts of valor, fighting and winning against even the most impossible odds."

: "You all wouldn't be aware of this, having been in prison, but at this very moment General Eastland is building up his forces to march to the aid of his brother, the new Duke of Eastland. The Duke is trying to retake his late father's castle from the Wastelanders who have taken it for themselves, and the General believes that the Mask could be key to winning the battle.

The problem is that the Wastelanders seem to be gathering faster than we would have liked. If the General doesn't march to the Duke's aid very soon, it's likely that the Wastelanders will have fortified and reinforced Castle Eastland to the point where we won't be able to take it without the Mask of Kings. If they hold, they'll have a stronghold to build themselves up even further before more Imperial forces can be brought to bear. Capturing Castle Eastland may mean the difference between liberating Montega within the year or never liberating it at all."