[center][i]The group exchange the common sort of pleasantries among themselves that were common of those of a civilized make. Though beside that they had little time to discuss what lay ahead beside the fact that they world be guarding Calwen to a voyage into the unclaimed territories. Lady Vekk risked to say nothing more as Highwinter was a city filled with ears and for the wrong ear to hear something could cause considerable problems in the future. Soon afterwards the sailors had finished packing their goods and supplies for the journey and announced it was time to board. The Loyalist was a ship well known to Iron Mountain. The captain was an old friend of the company a Slyvn by the know as Yyhr. Legend has that over one hundred years ago Yyhr left his home forest to partake on his Shamashal and never came back. They say that first time the man saw the sea that  he became enthralled in her beauty and vowed to sail upon her for the rest of his life. One of the few men to have sailed the entirety of the known world, and seen the edge of civilization and the endless waters beyond it. They say one day Yyhr when he feels ready well set off into this great unknown as a final journey but for know he was content with sailing less enigmatic waters. Yyhr owes Iron Mountain a few favors to pay back them for dealing with the pirates that sunk the original Loyalist almost thirty years ago. The Loyalist was heading towards Kailee's End, ([i]picking up some alchemist goods from the high population of Yericlyns's that live within the confides of the border city)[/i] so Yyhr was more than willing to help his old friends out as a few bodies made a little difference.

The journey crossing the Hollow Sea as the relativity small northern body of water was called was stereotypical of the area. That meaning the joureny was plagued by the constant storms that race across the open water. As the cold water from Niratrem's northern mountains flowed south and met with warmer water a constant series of fronts were created as high winds and fierce storms were a common occurrence in the area. Never the less if you were on a ship that was competent enough to face such storms it was till the most efficient way of getting to any of the port cities such as Kailee's End located on the coast of the Hollow Sea, this of course barring transportation magic which was dangerous, unstable and very expensive to travel even short distances. Though some call this wrath of nature a blessing in disguise as the storms generally keep out the raiders and rift-raft you see polluting more calmer waters and create an excellent natural defense from any serious naval threats as large fleets can easily be scattered in some of the bigger storms. Experienced captains like Yyhr even skirt close to some of these monsters storms gathering the wind in their sails and making their travel time even more efficient if a little bit more dangerous, a technique commonly know as Storm Skipping.

It was during this journey in bellows of the Loyalist that Lady Vekk deiced to indulge the group with more information in the journey as the crew fought the storms above and Yyhr bellowed sea shanties at the top of his lungs while he cursed at the Gods to dare to strike him down. As the Loyalist raced about mountain sized waves and the wood groaned they discussed their next move. While Calwen and Lady Vekk kept the fact of the artifacts a complete mystery as the others just figured it would be another escort mission. As the nature of the artifact they were trying to protect as the more people that knew of the existence of Afryl's lost artifacts that harder the sorcerer is to keep. She went into detail of how once they got to Kailee's End they would follow the northern trade routes passing through the south eastern portion of Niratrem following the Silver Run, the large river in the area into uncharted lands. Calwen assured them all that the task was not a dangerous one and he could another to get a feel about the others and how they operated something very important when you are about to go on a quest together. Beside this complet himself if not for the fear of the brigands and bandits that haunt the roads. After business they discussed a little more about idle things and small talk  allowing one encounter they mostly kept to themselves as the cramped corridors of the quarters of a trader's ship were not someplace to be used for mass gatherings and discussion. A day passed and another after it. It would be one week later that in considerably good time that the Loyalist made it to the docks at Kailee's End.[/i] [/center]
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The crew was surprised as the Loyalist pulled into the docks at Kailee's End as many more ships were leaving than arriving all filled to the rim with people. Taking a spot on the dock, Lady Vekk and the rest of the Iron Moutain stayed aboard as Yyhr left to go find the harbor master to go pay him and try and gather news about the situation. They waited and waited as the sun grew dark and the stars began to dance across the sky mysteriously enough the houses they could see from beyond the walls that separated the docks from the rest of the city no lights were seen to light up the sky and no sounds of tavern goers and others had been heard for most of the day. Eventually early into the evening Yyhr returned with a rare grim expression on his face as he approached Lady Vekk with some rather disturbing news. 

[b]"Aye missy, I don't think that you or your team are going to be getting into the city anytime soon."[/b] He muttered gravely as his hand played with the hilt of his sword, a habit that the Slyvn only displayed when he was severally agitated. 

[color=violet]"Huh? That's preposterous! What do you mean we can't get in?"[/color] Calwen explained in close proximity with the others all having leaned in to hear the news.

[b]"I mean young man that it would be probably in your best interest to try again another damn time."[/b] Yyhr explained his voice sharp and rough as he had no intention of taking Calwen's upper class attitude giving the boy the devil's eye as to say that the grownups were talking.

[color=violet]"Now I'll say-"[/color] Calwen began to exclaim before his halfling companion shoved an iron gaunlent upon his mouth muffling his voice in an attempt to not anger the plantman who looked about to the point of skewering the boy. 

[color=cyan]"Yyhr what my client meant to say is can you care to explain the situation to us as we have been currently left out in the dark  as it has seemed.[/color] Lady Vekk replied in a polite and almost sweet tone trying to ease the old sea captains obviously agitated state.

Yyhr took a deep breath before he spoke again his voice grave and filled with something bordering on contempt. [b]"It is dirty business Anzira... dirty business indeed. In all my years I would of never dreamed it of happening. Uthar would of never done anything like it... But three days ago under the order of Emperor Malnor of the Nitraem Empire, a Nitraem occupational force marched into Kailee's End and slaughtered anyone that resisted."[/b]

[color=cyan]"The Niratemi? What in the name of the gods are they doing conquering a free city? What about the Lord's Conduct?"[/color] Lady Vekk asked clearly agitated at this news at this just complicated manners greatly as if Nitraem was going on another warpath things could get very dangerous around where they were at very quickly if they deiced to try and push into Yeric.

[b]"That's the thing missy it would seem that Malnor strong-armed the rest of the Free Cities into turning a blind eye as to not face his sword himself. Apparently his excuse was that Kailee's End was old Niratemi land back when they were goddamn barbarians prancing about naked and that it was Kailee's End Qalini progneators that took it from them and that Malnor's forces were just taking back what was rightfully belonged to their ancestors. Or as I see it a clever ruse to seize one of the more important cities upon which they could launch a full scale invasion into the West."[/b] The plant man explained coldly his voice as bitter as any poison.

[color=cyan]"Ah... this is bad news for things to come Yyhr for this will only end badly. Though at the current moment this is not our fight and we have a contract we must fulfill even if the world goes to barbarism."[/color] The halfing explained her voice strong and filled with conviction as her hard eyes starred back up at him, exactly the thing you'd expect for a warrior of Iron Mountain always the professionals never backing down because of a minor inconvenience. Though it seemed it this point the paladin was more so trying to convince herself of her current position.

[b]"Aye, I understand the sentiment missy but you know I can't stay any longer. With things becoming as bad as they are I must make it back to Highwinter in case the Loyalist must set sail for battle."[/b] He explained a smile upon his lips the boisterous quality coming back to his voice as he seemed to relish the idea of combat once more.

[color=cyan]"Yes of course Yyhr I understand. Thank you for taking us this far you have always been a good friend to Iron Mountain. May the gods watch over you."[/color] She explained making a sort of religious gesture with her hands, an old blessing for sailors heading out to sea.

The living plant smiled and bowed his head before ushering them off the ship and ordering the men to get ready to set sail. As the Loyalist pulled out into the night back towards open water he called back one last time.[b]"There is a tavern! The Wise Trader it is closer to the gates! You may find a way through the city there!"[/b]

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[i]After a quick walk through the mostly deserted port district they made there way to The Wise Trader. On the edge of the walls that seprate the port district from the rest of the city it seemed to be the only place still alive in the otherwise dead city. Travelers and sailors dotted the walls. A bard was playing an old elven tune in the corner the kind with a flowing melody that seemed to wisp through the air and tickle your ears about. The serving staff consited of what seemed to be a mother and her daughters frantically moving about setting down drinks as the bartender most likely the father with tired eyes kept on eyeing one table as the group walked in. At this table were a group of Niratemi loud and angry talking among themselves and groping about at the girls ferrying drinks and the female patrons. Around ten of them in total they did not have the appearance of Gallants but none the last they seemed to know how to carry the weapons they had among them.

The Iron Mountain group entered the tavern and sat a table with their lonesome trying to keep among themselves. They could watch the scene of the soldiers as they began to harasses one of the serving girls pulling her away as her tray clattered to the ground with a clunk. The bartender became visibly agitated his hands gripping the bartop the veins clearly visible. The leader of the Niratemi called out several slurs towards the girl as two of his men began pawing at her ripping her clothes in places. The other occupants of the tavern did their best to try and ignore her cries to not invoke the wrath of the soldiers among them. The members of Iron Mountain sat tense, for warriors for hire they at least had morals about them and there were some things that even disgusted them. Lady Vekk didn't need to say anything as her hand slowly reached toward the hilt of axe strapped to her back. They all knew the drill it was just a matter of who acted first. 
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