[u]NOT A COLLAB[/u]


The night had been a long one.  Finding replacements for the arrows he used up at Rorikstead wasn't hard.  But, making the healing potions proved far harder.  Still, after half the night was gone, Utu-ja finally found an apothacary with the equipment he needed and the disposition to let the warped argonian use it, even at night.  Though the man went back to bed immediately and wouldn't consider helping to improve the quality when Utu asked.  The brewing itself wasn't complicated though the final product was a little weaker than normal store quality.  It should still pack a wollop though.  So long as it kept some people breathing who wouldn't otherwise then that was good enough.  The whole ordeal had taken all night though.  The sun was already rising when he stepped back outside to head back.  He meant to find Edith and give her the potions to distribute as needed.  That plan didn't work out.

It was when he was heading back toward the Candlehearth that he heard the alarm.  Ships attacking from the sea?  Dough-boy was working hard getting the word out but he wouldn't have more details or time to chat.  Utu didn't stop him as he sped past.  He cursed under his breath and started to run instead, as fast as he could and with no thought to dignity or anything else with the one exception being the rattling of a dozen potions in his pack.  His fingertips brushed the cobbles and his tail extended out behind him as he bolted for the inn and his room.

Flashing through the door like a newlywed soldier on his first weekend's leave, he was little but a shadowy blur and a rapid set of soft footsteps as his tail disappeared upstairs.  His room hadn't been disturbed yet and he rushed to grab his gear.  His other pouch and his elven bow, his full quiver of steel arrows, and a hearty curse for whatever daedra was spitting on Ashav enough to call this kind of trouble.  For not being an educated individual, Utu knew exactly what parts of which animals most resembled the targets of his curses by looks, odor, texture and likely function.  He also knew that the delay in his return would not make him look great to the boss.  He was still running full tilt when he managed to meet up with the rest of the company.

Instead of moving directly to his place with the rest of the company, Utu first spotted Edith and Daelin.  The two of them were exactly who he needed to see.  This was no time for bonuses but it was the perfect time for a lucky windfall of valuable supplies.  He ran up to them, shouldered his bow, and quickly held out six healing potions toward each of them, thanking the gods for the long fingers that let him hold so much in each hand.  He intended to simply drop them off and then rush to a more suitable place for him, preferably one that was out of the way with a good view and clear lines of fire.  Then he looked out to sea and saw the ships.

He froze from his fingertips to the tip of his tail, though just for an instant.  Armored ships meant heavily armored warriors.  He would need to use that poison for his own arrows instead of spreading it around.  His eyes snapped back to Edith and Daelin and he spoke quickly and quietly.  They didn't need the whole story now.  They could ask for that later, if everyone involved survived the battle that was coming.

"Healing potions, almost store strength.  Couldn't get the alchemist to make them so I did it."  Then, his message delivered along with the packages, his head snapped to look at Ashav.  He looked like he had no plan or briefing to give.  That left Utu with one question to ask though he pitched his voice so that most of the company wouldn't hear him.  "Ashav." He raised his bow an inch or two as he pulled out one of the Frostbite Venom vials .  "Bows to heights, or on the ground?"[@gcold][@Leidenschaft]