Giving Jax the most menacing grin a female can give a man while in a position like this, Arteschka twitches forward with the knee he hit. But then she suddenly starts pulling him with both her hands towards herself, rushing her head forward. Shortly before their heads crash, a certain other knee of hers moves up to hit his genitals as well.

Nelja snaps out of her freezing. As Arteschka makes her move and their enemies are closing in on her she graps the piece of wood she saw earlier. "Leave her alone!" she shouts and her body in an instant turns to a small gust. As her enemie's jaw dropped, the gust of wind passes between everybodies legs and lands behind Jax. With the presicion that she was taught to have in her moves, she tries to make a hit on Jax's neck.

Jax is fast and clearly a very practiced brawler. He blocks Arteschka's knee with one end of the club, leaving the leg unpleasantly a-tingle. He takes the headbutt full-on, however, but does manage to counter somewhat with his forehead, and both combatants recoil from each other. Just then, Nelja materializes behind him and whacks him with a piece of plank. The blow lands a little off the mark, on his shoulder, but is enough to daze him thoroughly. Jax's partner had just climbed on top of the crates when he saw Nelja turn mist-like and swoop underneath Brownhoof. When Nelja hits Jax, he closes his gaping mouth and gets ready to jump down into the fight. At that moment, though, Arteschka recoils from the headbutt and gets shoved against Brownhoof. The horse, already unnerved by the strange surroundings and the unnatural gust that just blew underneath it, turns violently. Despite her daze, Arteschka manages to duck underneath its belly, but Jax is not so lucky and gets thrown against the alley wall by Brownhoof's rump.. His companion is even less lucky, though, for the pile of crates he's standing on topples, sending him crashing into a barrel tht promptly breaks, covering him in its sour, liquid contents. Panicked by the noise and confusion, Brownhoof neighs and rears, and runs off through the narrow lane between the barrels. A couple of barrels fall down and spill their foul-smelling contents onto the ground. Jax is leaning against the wall, blood trickling into his eyes from a wound on his brow. Too dazed to focus properly and barely standing, he holds his club before him protectively. His partner is in an even worse shape, doing little more than groaning from the middle of a pile of barrels. Brownhoof is starting to gain notice from the locals as it careens down the alley. Someone yells "What in The Deeps was that?" from inside the building behind which all those barrels had been stacked. Judging by the sharp smell of urine, the building is most likely a tannery. What do you do?

Getting slightly annoyed of Jax's club, Arteschka pulls out a dagger and charges towards him. The dagger aimed at his protective forearm, the rest of her body aimed at his torso. All the movement, noise and widespread, sharp smell seems to upset Arteschka's backpack, for immediately after her impact on Jax, suddenly a shrill, earpiercing yell emerges out of it.

Nelja continues to have her attention on Jax. She tries to hit him again with the plank... "WHAT DID WE EVER DO TO YOU??" as soon the voice inside the building sounded she stood still, they shouldn t be noticed... this is a stealth mission.

Trying to fend off Arteschka, Jax is left open for Nelja's strike, which lands on his temple just as Arteschka's dagger slashes his forearm. His club hasn't even hit the ground before the Blackorc slams into him, and she can feel some of his ribs breaking under the pressure. He collapses onto the ground unconscious and bloodied. The tannery's door opens and a red-faced man barges out, but, being more interested in hurling insults after Brownhoof than looking around, doesn't notice Arteschka, Nelja, or Jax behind him. The tanner tears at what little hair he has left, kicks at the debris, and lets out an impressive array of Islish invective. Brownhoof comes to a stop at a crossroads and looks back at her mistress in confusion. Jax's companion sounds a winded moan so faint it barely registers through the racket of the various items falling down along the alley due to Brownhoof's recent charge. What do you do?

Updated 27 September 2014 (22:17)

Arteschka grabs Jax's bleeding arm before it hits the severely soiled ground and puts it in a stable position on his chest. "Phew ... wouldn't want you to get a blood poisoning ..." Rubbing her ears she adds mumbeling: "... really find some way to prevent this shrieking ... *grumble* ... probably have that ringing in my ears for the rest of the day ... AGAIN." Looking back and forth from the yelling and the moaning man, she decides to take care of the moaning one first. She shouts "Bru’qua" towards Brownhoof and while turning around, Arteschka says "Nelja, please tell me, if someone tries to take Brownhoof away and stay with this one until I'm finished with the others." Pointing at Jax she starts her way to his companion, making purring sounds.

Seeing that Jax is unconsious Nelja lowers the blank of wood.... "I don't know" she says and looks around " I think we should make a run for it but ok I will keep an eye on your horse". Nelja seems surprised with the way that Arteschka fights, see almost smiles as she gives her new friend answers.

Brownhoof starts clomping back to Arteschka. The tanner looks at her, back at the approaching horse, and walks in front of her, gesticulating and yelling at her in Islish: "You did this? Destroyed half my piss! How am I going to treat my hides now? You tell me that! I demand reparations!" The tanner's wife and son appear in the doorway, attracted by the commotion. The young man, a stout lad, seems prepared to fight if it comes to that, but after a glance at the Blackorc does nothing to provoke her. Jax stays quiet, while the other one lets out a couple of coughs and a groan but remains largely motionless. The furious tanner stands in Arteschka's way. What do you do?

Updated 9 October 2014 (01:00)

Following the advice of her nose, she represses the growing urge to breathe deeply. After wiping both sides of the dagger on her left boot, she sheathes it in a fluid but slow motion. Also, she looks both ways along the alley to see, if any other people, armed or not, bring more trouble. Arteschka looks the tanner directly in the eyes and answers the angry man's rant with a (noticeable enforced) calm voice and her best ability in Islish: "I not cave-bear pup piss. Me not heal head you. Life Maa's give. Looking over his shoulder she adds: "There man hurt. I look please, yes?"

Updated 8 October 2014 (15:36)

"They started this!" Nelja shouts at the tanner's direction waving the plank of wood in front of Jax's face. "They should give you money not us!" says and looks at Arteschka. "They needed piss for leather preparation" says to her friend in common with a hint of smile. Really, piss? It sounds so funny to her...

Looking to Nelja with the wide open eyes of realisation, Arteschka starts snorting with laughter and manages to get out some words in Chatter. “They *haha* use *bwahahaha* feces to *ahaha* make leather *tchhaha* durable?“

"Not feces. Piss," the tanner states self-importantly in Chatter, and the smell of him supports his words. He continues "Brains are better for some hides, but..." then trails off as Nelja's comment registers and he notices Jax. He looks at Nelja with concern and asks "Did he try to hurt you, little girl?" At this the tanner and his wife start to fuss protectively over Nelja, any property damage or slurs at their trade forgotten. Meanwhile, their son, relieved at not having to fight Arteschka, leans over the intervening barrels to look on Jax's groaning companion. Arteschka, too, now gets a look at him, and the man looks like he'll survive - he's got the wind knocked out of him, and at least bruised some ribs. What do you do?

"Yes, they both followed us in the alley, we were just passing by. My friend only tried to protect us" and she nods at Arteschka's direction. "Thank you for your consern sir. But we should really go now." she gives the sweetest smile to him, looks him with her big eyes, curtseys and goes towards Arteschka. "Good Day Sir!" says as she gives a little push to Arteschka to start walking.

Arteschka checks the neck of Jax's companion for a tattoo and his chest for a chainmail. Also she looks down the alley, to see if Brownhoof still is coming towards her. As Nelja gives Arteschka the little push, the backpack does again something unexpected: It starts bulging here and there in the upper half.

As Arteschka approaches the man amidst the barrels, he makes a feeble, semi-conscious effort at struggling, but doesn't even slow her down. She quickly sees that although he does have chainmail - although of a shoddier quality than Jax's - underneath his tunic, the only tattoo she can find down his collar is one of a large-bosomed woman in a rather lewd pose. Meanwhile, Nelja has calmed down the tanner and his family, who are now tut-tutting at the unconscious Jax. Brownhoof walks calmly over to Arteschka and nudges her wiggling backpack softly with her nose. When Nelja, Arteschka and Brownhoof head off, the tanners quickly say goodbye before starting to argue about what to do with the two men lying on their alley. There is an air of distracted irritation about the tanners that suggests a long day of work. Greenwater Cove looks and sounds like it's already forgotten what happened at that alley, if it noticed it in the first place. The action at the harbour seems to have calmed down, and the streets seem to be waiting for the incoming refugees to spend their coin. What do you do?

Posted by MuadMouseShe quickly sees that although he does have chainmail - although of a shoddier quality than Jax's - underneath his tunic, the only tattoo she can find down his collar is one of a large-bosomed woman in a rather lewd pose.

Pointing at the armor, Arteschka asks the lad in Chatter: "Please tell me the name of this kind of armor in the Trade tongue. And do you know anything about the tattoo this other one has on his neck?"

Posted by MuadMouseBrownhoof walks calmly over to Arteschka and nudges her wiggling backpack softly with her nose.

The backpack doesn't seem to calm down in general. Instead a soft, muffled growl replaces the bulging. Arteschka turns around, pets Brownhoof's head and neck, and again makes the purring noise. The thought of picking up the saddlecloth is quickly dissolved as she looks on the totally soiled blanket and decides to leave it.

Before leaving, she speaks a prayer for the family: "May Maa bestow upon you the riches that are in her nature.", and for the assailants: "You've proven a warriors courage and you have been defeated honorably ... well, one of you ... and I pray for you to get strong again."

Posted by MuadMouseGreenwater Cove looks and sounds like it's already forgotten what happened at that alley, if it noticed it in the first place. The action at the harbour seems to have calmed down, and the streets seem to be waiting for the incoming refugees to spend their coin.

After the group leaves the general area of the tanner's alley, Arteschka inhales and exhales so deep and thorough, it reminds Nelja more of a breeze, grazing along a shoreline.

Suddenly she says in Nelja's direction: "Yes ... it seems ... we are on *sigh* a mission ... *mumble*."

Updated 13 October 2014 (17:01)

The previously troubled face suddenly lights up. Nelja gives a bright smile to Arteschka. "We sure are!! You are lucky I was good at memorizing the drills." says and gives Arteschka a wink. "We need to stock up! Food, clothing, weaponry and intelligence... Do you know how to go to the city of Dirai? And a man named Stargaze? we need to find him cause this won't last for long" Nelja says and shows to Arteschka the oitment that master Dwarf gave her.

"Chainmail," the tanner's boy answered the query. He was clearly puzzled by such a question but shifted his attention back to the injured at his mother's insistence. Arteschka has heard of the city of Dirai - a pilgrimage site of some sort south of the Western Plains, on the other side of the Cloudfang Mountains from her homeland. Most of her kin consider the people of Dirai unreliable and corrupt. Arteschka reckons the trip to Dirai would take about two weeks on horseback. The name Stargaze doesn't ring any bells, however. Getting supplies and equipment should not be problem - the markets are teeming with keen sellers. When it comes to information, there is more than enough variety available, so it all comes down to who to approach. Judging by the noise drifting from the shore, the first of the refugees are entering the city. What do you do?

Updated 23 October 2014 (00:30)

Arteschka's mind seems to trail off, because the only thing Nelja gets as an answer after a while is: "No." Some time later Arteschka says: "Uh, what? Was I asking what's in this tin, or did you ask me something?" Without waiting for an answer from Nelja, she continues: "I think I can remember the general direction to Dirai, but with Brownhoof ...", she caresses the neck of the sweaty Horse, "I don't think we can do it within four sightings of Salimaar. She really doesn't like this warm weather. If we can get a horse, strong enough to carry you and the supplies it'll probably take us half the time." Looking around, she adds: "If we are going to buy things, why do we ... oh, right ..." Wiping some of the sweat off of Brownhoof Arteschka looks around for a shady place, where she could leave the horse for the duration of the shopping trip. The backpack seems to have calmed down appearently due to the purring of Arteschka.

Updated 18 October 2014 (09:08)