While it was strongly discouraged, robbing another party after they completed a mission was not as uncommon as it should have been. Facing the unknown in the underground cities was considered more dangerous than ambushing a weary band of adventurers on their return trip. Safety for adventuring parties didn't begin until they reached the city gates. Gordier seemed to approve as he smiled at Gerritt. "Now that's decisive leadership! They were fools to let you go!" This put a wide smile on Gerritt's face, as it was exactly what he'd been telling himself on his return to Genthale. Ungar's man was still nodding. "I just so happen to have a team of excellent swordsmen in my employ that would be willing to follow your orders to ensure you get your fair share for the mission they stole from you. I have some healers as well." This was welcome news, but Gerritt wasn't a fool. Nothing was given for free. He locked eyes with the man. "And what would you want in return?" "A third share of wha

Alex moved closer to Agron. He felt like a speck next to the God, but he held one thought in his mind. Agron needed his help. He pushed the concept of his being willing to help. Then he slammed an image of Agron trying to take over because of his impatience. He still had no idea of the scope of the task, so he expressed that as a huge unknown and suggested a long-term commitment requires patience. They had to work together. Ffornexa's calm approval swept over him like a tsunami and he felt himself tumbling as he was overwhelmed by the power of it. Ullentra slipped close and eased the pressure on his mind with a flash of red. Human minds weren't meant to speak directly to Gods, even with impressions. Ullentra healed him as she slipped him free of their communing. -=- Lyra was looking into his eyes as they opened slowly. No music. No mixing of his senses. He felt relief at that and sent his thanks to Ullentra. He struggled to sit up and realized he was still naked amongst the

Dystra quickly performed the coup de gras on any still moving, then worked with Jhaan to collect the cooked meat from the larger beasts that Thorn finished off with lightning. "Ugh!" Lyra looked back at Alex's large eyes watching the two collecting their dinner. "We're not going to eat that, are we?" Alex gasped. Dystra grinned at Alex's discomfort. "It's a delicacy! Especially when cooked this way!" Jhaan just grinned back at Alex and continued to cut loose the lightning-steamed claws until they had a large pile of them collected in a tarp. Dystra tied it closed and walked over the strap it to Alex's side amongst the bags. "That's not too heavy, is it?" the assassin asked with a crooked smile. "Gee, I hope it doesn't accidentally fall off and get left behind," Alex griped, drawing a chuckle from Dystra. Lyra shared a smile with Dale, who rolled his eyes and glanced at the map. "We shouldn't be far from the next rest area, which is just before the ramps down to the s

Alex settled down to his belly to let the rest of the party begin unloading the bags from his harness straps. They were getting quite good at this, so it didn't take long. Once cleared, he loped off to relieve his bladder across all the access halls to the maintenance area. He recalled they were close to the ramps down to the sixth level, so he didn't go too far from where they'd set up camp tonight. He crushed one of the gardeners rolling around in circles in the hall furthest from the maintenance area, pissed on it, then rushed back to the others. "See anything?" Dystra asked. "Just one of the sick gardeners. I put it out of its misery," Alex said and got a nod. "Do we have a boundary line around us?" Dystra asked with a sly grin. Alex snorted involuntarily. "Ya know, I don't ask about your bathroom activities." It was Dystra's turn to chuckle. He walked away with a small grin. Halle approached him with a tunic, and he immediately switched back to his human form with

The impression came through urgently. There was a danger he needed to address. Danger to himself or to... Lyra. He let the memories of his wife wash over him and felt his heart swell painfully. Alex realized that he couldn't sacrifice the life of the living for the memory of the departed. As much as it pained him to do it, he reached for Ullentra and agreed to her terms. Immediately, the images surrounding him of his wife became indistinct and began to dissolve into mist. He struggled to hold onto the sight of her lovely, smiling face as his body switched back to its human form. "Laura..." slipped from his lips one last time as a bright red flash covered his body. Then he felt the oddest sensation but couldn't grasp its source. His mind felt scattered, and he was confused by finding himself in darkness with no memory of how he got there. Light passed over his body, and he heard an odd buzz noise and a brief gust of wind. He was in complete darkness again, so he allowed a partia