[center] [h3][b][color=00ff00]J'eon the Blacksmith[/color][/b][/h3] [/center]

"My family and all who were known to me were taken from me," J'eon said, unsure how much the thought mage could explain to the sky person.  "And I was sold to a miller, to turn the millstone so that he might grind grain into flour."

"When I freed myself, I made my way to Mythadia. I had heard of the Blacksmiths' Guild and took myself there, to learn how to control the flame. I was... very sot after," he shrugged, "And I was making up for lost time. I saw little of the world outside the Guild's gates."

"In my travels since, I've not met Lord Silbermine, but from what i have seen this day, I do not believe he is thinking straight. It is like the fever that grips many a buck in spring, pushing them to fight."

"How he has gone unchallenged for so long, I dare not venture."

[hr]

[center] [h3][b][color=00ff00]Jack Mallory, X.O.[/color][/b][/h3] [/center]

"I'm not against communication," Mallory sighs. How could someone so clever be so unworldly? "But can they teach us their language so we can converse with them directly?"

The idea of these cervitaurs taking apart the Jo was unthinkable - but then so was magic. But would magic protect them from radiation sickness? Or a nuclear explosion if the reactors overloaded? This contested border they were on would be worth nothing to either side for many generations of their people.

But how to explain it to this lord? If they claimed it was a mystical flame, he might want it as proof of divinity, even as it slowly killed him and his followers.

"We know what Silbermine wants, what do these others want? Why is it in their interest to protect us? What are they like? What do they believe? Do they have gods, philosophy? We need to understand their culture and religions as much as we need to communicate."