{ROUND}

	"An orc and an elf at this time of night? What's next, I wonder?" Tiberius murmured to himself. He studied them both for a moment before coming to a decision. He drew his sword to the elf woman's neck. She stiffened.
	"Drop the satchel please," Tiberius ordered. "If you are telling the truth, you can get it back."
The elf woman withdrew the satchel and dropped it on the ground before him. She kept her expression neutral, but her clenched fists told another story.
	Then Tiberius turned to Vert. What he said next threw her for a loop. "Search her for weapons. Oh, and try not to eat her." Eat? She glanced at this "Vert," and to her horror, she spotted the telltale marks of a Devourer. Her eyes widened, and she made as if to back away, but the blade at her neck kept her still. Vert approached the elf, cracking her knuckles and allowing her maw to shimmer with power. "If you got any on you now, I suggest you drop 'em, don't want me to eat you," she said. The elf did as instructed - she dropped her two long knives and bag of throwing knives. A further search revealed various hidden knives in her boots, sleeves, and breasts.

Tiberius turned to her again. "Now, perhaps you could explain what exactly is going on? We've had one hell of a night and I'd prefer it if this conflict could be brought to a close, peacefully."

The elf woman gulped. "I was travelling down the road for the mines up north when an orc met me on the road. He attacked me and tried to reach for my satchel, but I escaped him and hid, and here we are. Please, you have to believe me!"

Gorman winced. "I'm so dead if they believe her..." he muttered.

"Gorman?" someone called out. He looked around to see who it was. It was the older woman in knightly armor. "Wh-[i]hnf[/i]...what the hell are you doing in the forest with this tart?" she demanded.
Gorman shrugged. "Hell if I know. Ask her. I came alone to deliver some stuff to you guys. Speaking of which, that's how you'll know it's [i]my[/i] satchel - I know what's in it, and I know who it's for. There's a letter in there addressed to Tiberius, and the Heart Ring that Mister Xen'Desh left behind is in the envelope. She said Vert could have it."

The enveloped was sealed. There was definitely a ring-shaped object inside, but the only way to know what kind of ring it was would be to open the enveloped, and the elf hadn't opened the envelope. If the envelope were opened, one would find a silver ring with the letters "ERU" inscribed on the inside, just like all the other rings the Champions wore.

The letter contained the following message:
[hider=To Tiberius Longshadow]
[i]
Hello again, Tiberius & Friends!

Since time is short and this may be the last time I can write to you all in a while, I'll get straight to the point.

Vert, enclosed is the Heart Ring left in Xen'Desh Ilindra's item chest back on High Council Hill. I want you to have it. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for helping my friends on their journey, and it is only right that you have our full support. Also, I've been considering how to break your curse, and I think I found a solution: Save as many lives as you can. Please do not attempt to give birth, as Sadron has so tactlessly suggested. I once saw a Devourer give birth, and the result was...unpleasant, shall we say.

Laina, I want you to know that if you ever need a friendly ear, please talk to me. I may not always answer, but know that I (almost) always hear you. You are not alone, no matter how much you may feel it. I yearn to meet you someday and learn from you.

Zenovia, your valiant efforts have not gone unnoticed. I heard how you staved off the team's blood loss and boldly confronted the Warlock. Well done, young lady! There is much left for you to learn, but we'll make a master of you yet. For now, consider both how the spirits can help you and how you can help them. The latter is more difficult, but if you know what they want and go out of your way to serve them, you will find them much more helpful.

Ivan, when you get to the mines of Mensk, pay a visit to the old embassy. House Stormwall once had a considerable presence in Mensk before the war. The dwarves have long since removed the humans from their lands, for reasons I have yet to decipher, but they failed to destroy all the documents in the embassy. You will find a title deed in the second drawer from the top right. The embassy is also fortified and has a secret passage out of town, so if you or your friends get yourselves in a bind, it's a good place to retreat to.

Kaite, dearest Kaite, you are struggling so hard. I fear for your life, and not from enemies. Just hold on a little longer, I pray you!

Storyteller, write me! The spell will come to you if you dwell on it for a while. I can't wait to begin swapping stories with someone who knows how to tell them.

Tiberius, please take care of Laina for me. She's a tenderhearted soul, and she needs someone to love her. And by that I don't mean romantic love - I mean real love, the kind that is patient, understanding, and self-sacrificing. Even if you can't stand the girl, you can still love her. I know it's a lot to ask of you, and I'll understand if you're reluctant to take on yet another responsibility. She can take care of herself in a pinch. If nothing else, could you at least keep an eye on her for me?

To anyone else who may have joined the group since the receipt of this letter, know that you are surrounded by friends, able warriors, and good people. Together, you can shake the world.

Sincerely,
~an Old Friend
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