[h2][color=cyan]Leith Calder[/color][/h2] The carriage had stopped. They had arrived at Shimmerstone. Leith watched as everyone piled out. The conversation had been getting quite tense. Hopefully the bright and colorful city and festival was enough to lighten everybody's mood. Leith checked his supplies for the festival. Coin purse: check, waterskin: check, lifeline for Althalus' training game: check. The red cloth was tied around the clasp of his cloak. He double-checked to make sure that his gauntlet was covered by his cloak. It still pushed out against the fabric, but unless he uncovered it, it wouldn't scare the locals. Leith chuckled at the thought as he left the carriage. It had been a long time since he had been in such a populated area of Eanians, and it was the first that he actually had something that made their fear or distrust of him valid. He had spent his entire life surrounded by that mistrust, so he could handle it. He glanced over at Keri, who had just exited out of the carriage. He wasn't sure about the others, though. He approached Keri with a smile. [color=cyan]"So, is this your first time in-"[/color] [i]The shapeshifter is in the city. She has fixated on your firebrand. Careful, careful. She has plans for you and your cohorts, and will never forgive you for murdering her sister.[/i] Leith's smile dropped and he looked at the silver ring on his left hand with a frown. Shapeshifter? He hadn't murdered anyone. The only people he killed were trying to kill- A shudder ran through his body. The Eternal Hunger had a sister? And she was a shapeshifter as well? Not good. She could be anyone. She could cause so much trouble as one of the students of the college, and it would be hard to disprove that they were the ones who did it. The conversation in the carriage sprung to mind, or she could force one of the students to do something rash and there would be no denying that it was a college student that did it. Leith realized that he had been staring at his hand for far too long and looked back up at Keri. [color=cyan]"Uh..."[/color] He lowered his voice [color=cyan]"There's a shapeshifter in the city, and she's targeting the college."[/color] He glanced at the ring again. [color=cyan]"I believe she's associated with the same group that were at Lyn's hunt. We should get Helena and-where'd she go?"[/color] Helena had disappeared into the crowd. Henri and Lyn were no longer with the gathered students, who had also started to disperse into the crowd. The game was on, but now it had another objective: make sure that nothing came of the shapeshifter's meddling. [color=cyan]"We need to find Helena. If this shapeshifter is anything like the last one I fought, Pyromancy is a real threat to her."[/color] [hr] [h2][color=#C19A6B]Darius Jura[/color][/h2] [color=#C19A6B]"Out of the way."[/color] Darius growled at the pale man who deemed it necessary to stand just outside the door to the carriage to talk to someone. The man looked up. [color=cyan]"Ah, sorry.[/color] He moved out of the way and stood beside the pale woman he was talking to. Darius shook his head. Some people needed to gain some situational awareness. It wasn't healthy for people to be oblivious to the things going on around them. He was here to enjoy the festivities, not lecture someone about their awareness. Darius grinned. Where there was festivities, there was a selection of ales. As he was leave the group to find the closest tavern, he caught the words of Althalus. [color=00aeef]I suppose there is some sort of duels and sparring going on somewhere. You and Ssarak could join one together, beat the Pit out of some poor local guardsmen."[/color] Darius looked over and saw the elf. His mood soured. Darius had made it a point to not go anywhere near Alaira after their mission to Djarkel. He didn't think that he'd be able stop himself from starting a fight with the berserker. It was hard enough being in the same carriage with her. With Althalus' words, a thought popped into his head, and he grinned again. He approached the group. [color=#C19A6B]"I would not do that. The elf might start a fire or start fighting you instead."[/color]