The logs and obstacles that they encountered that ended up slowing down the group was barely even an annoyance for the woman that lead them. She kept a constant just-below-jogging pace through the woods, undisturbed by the mud and filth caused by the rain from two nights previous. She was very precise in every step and almost had a wind-like presence about her. When she got too far ahead of the group, whom trampled over everything and slowed down often, she patiently waited without so much as a peep. A normal person would have complained about the group's speed, but she seemed content to wait for the group, like she wasn't even in a hurry.

As they came to the end of their romp through the woods, they came upon a large two story oak log cabin. Very well maintained to the point that it was almost pristine. A covered porch made up the front, a fur and leather porch shade wrapped around it to protect it from the rain that was starting to come down in light spurts. The woman came up a set of stairs to the outside door and opened it, allowing the others to walk inside ahead of her and wait on the porch for a moment while the woman locked the door. The porch was very posh with many chairs and tables with candles on them plopped in two main areas. The porch itself was almost a full room, just without any windows to cover it. 

The woman moved ahead of them again to open up the carved oak door and lead them inside. The cabin was very high class on the inside, with obviously expensive rugs and tapestries. The walls had paintings of various vistas on them that looked like they were hand painted. There was a roaring fireplace that had two red chairs in front and finally a spiral staircase leading up to the second floor on the far side of the room. Again, the woman locked the door behind them and she moved over to the staircase but stopped when the group tried to follow.

"Please stay your feet for the time being." She said, putting up one of her bright blue gloved hands. "I must inform my master of your presence before you will be allowed to see him." She did not wait for a retort from them and went up the stairs.

While they waited, the group split up, looking about the room and exploring. There was a kitchen, wash room, and a locked door that seemed to go into a basement, judging from the window that was next to the door. Nyrette ran her hand over the furniture in front of the fireplace and couldn't help but gaze in awe at the paintings and decorum. "This is astounding. These paintings all all original. Pike, come here." She beckoned her and came up to a painting. She pointed at several spots and spoke about it. "See here and here? Mistakes made by the artist...and here? The paint dried in a direction that's not aligning with the rest of the piece. The artist must have been in a windy area while painting this. I can't remember the last time I saw an original piece that wasn't a digital copy...." The painting in question was one of a cliffside vista overlooking the ocean during sunset. The colors popped with a type of intensity that almost hurt the eyes. All the paintings were non-digital and completely unique.

Much of the furniture in the room was of the same quality. A mistake here or there saying that everything was hand made, not in a factory like almost everything back home. Cheshik was across the room, looking at the staircase and the carvings. "There are mistake on wood as well. Whoever master is, he is not from our home or our galaxy. Style is too...how you say...?"

"Alien. Strange." Nyrette finished the sentence for them as the woman from before came to the top of the stairs.

"My master is ready to see you. Please come up the stairs and follow me."

The group obliged, coming up the spiral stairs and following the woman down the hall that was the same quality as the rest of the cabin. There were but a few doors here, two side bedrooms and a master bedroom where the master was. The woman opened the door and stepped it with the others. The master bedroom was simple yet still high quality. Aside from the open closet door with several strange looking clothing and suits, there was an oak desk with a set of pens and paper scattered all over it, various notes on every paper. From Nyrette's position, they looked scientific and archaic. She was honestly a bit more astounded by how they were paper instead of datapads or computers. 

The other two pieces of furniture here was the bed and nightstand. The nightstand was nice and had a candle, but Canopy Bed had velvety red shades drawn over them and pearly white satin sheets and a burgundy red comforter on top and matching pillows. Right in the middle of it all was an old man with several lesions on his face as well as a swollen neck. He had dark red hair that hung from his head freely. With great strain, he pulled himself back and up against the headboard of the bed. The woman took notice and ran to his side to help him, but he put up a hand. [i]"No, Cynthia, my dear. I am fine. I can do this myself."[/i] She hesitated before pulling back and standing at his side. [i]"Good morning, outlanders."[/i] He said. His voice was deep, but ragged. He sounded like he had the flu and was under a great deal of pain.

[i]"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I am Delebor, Master alchemist and lord of this estate."[/i] He said, smiling as best as he could. Nyrette and Iisska moved up a bit closer while the others stayed back. 

"Alchemist?" Nyrette said. "Um...pardon my language but what is an alchemist?"

"Alchemists, like my master, are men that are very skilled in creating salves, potions, medicines, nature-related spells and have a hand in the creation of Haemonculi." Cynthia said quickly.

[i]"Cynthia had informed me yesterday that you had crashed in a metal beast on yesterday's eve and I am relieved to see that she is correct. Outlanders are a rare sight here on Eos."[/i] he took a moment to breathe and gather his strength. Nyrette chimed in while he recovered.

"Eos? Outlander? 'metal beast'? Where are we?"

"You are in the land of Eos." Cynthia spoke again. "Outlander is a term for those that have come from the stars."

[i]"I apologize if I am being an ungracious host, ma'ams and sirs. I am afraid that I do not have much time and your arrival in my home has been rather...coincidental."[/i] he cut to the chase. [i]"I am sure that you have noticed my skin and neck."[/i]

Cheshik came closer and looked at him, keeping a respectable distance away, inspecting him and trying to think of what disease he has, but nothing was coming to mind.

[i]"Do not try and discern my affliction, sir. It is a disease that even I am unsure of, which is why I am in this predicament. It is a disease that was bred from the rats of the land, coming from a dark place. It spread quickly and two weeks prior to now, there as a small outbreak within my home. A cadre of them made it around the house and even as Cynthia dispatched them, one had reached me in the night and had bitten me. Since that day, I have been on the brink of death. If not for Cynthia's caregiving, I would have succumbed some time ago. I realize this is brash and disrespectful, but I must ask a favor of you four.[/i] He stopped again to recuperate. Cynthia spoke in his place.

"There is a tomb, four miles north of here that, because of the care I must give to my master, I have been unable to enter. My master, on his death bed, would like to ask you to enter the tomb and retrieve a cure from within." She said.

"Aaand you're paying us for this...right?" Iisska said, crossing his arms. He ignored the glare shot at him from Nyrette.

[i]"Yes, outlander."[/i] Delebore said. [i]Years ago, my estate had many servants and guards to help take care of the property, before I had constructed Cynthia. There is an Armory in the basement that has many weapons and armors that they used in their day to day protection of my home. From what I have gleamed from texts and heard from old friends in my youth, Outlanders require many metals for their metal beasts. Agree to scour the tomb for me and you may take as much as you please."[/i]

Nyrette crossed her arms and pursed her lips. This was a decent deal for them to do, but since they were so new to this land, she was a bit cautious. She knew Iisska was still weak from the lack of the force from here and they were completely unfamiliar with everything. Plus, they had no weapons other than Cheshik's sword and her boot knife. "Our own weapons are unable to work here." She said. "I ask that we have access to this armory before we leave so we can actually scour this tomb of yours."

[i]"I do not see why that could not be a problem. Cynthia, if you would please?"[/i] He said softly as he slid back down into the covers and Cynthia lead the group back down the stairs and to the armory.

"I will be able to lead you to the tomb, but I must hurry back here and care for my master. I will bring markers for you to follow on your return." She lead them to the locked door and placed her hand near it. The group watched as her hand spun and morphed like it was made of liquid into the shape of an ornate key and stuck it into the lock, opening it and letting the group inside. "Please be quick. My master will not last for much longer. His heart will fail if you do not hurry." She bowed and waited beside the door for the group to conclude their armament gathering.