Excellent. We shall start where we left off.

The man lowers the leg of horse; "Well hello there! Care for a bite?"

Mina smiles although tiredly "Well if your "trip" here was as soft as the rest of us then I can imagine..."

JamesAberkson approaches the open door of the stables, keeping to the side of the door and as silent as possible. He peers in, trying to case the situation as best he can.

Aramil snarls, "Hardly. You caught me at a bad time." Aramil lets out a terrible scream releasing all his pent up emotions, and charges the horse-eating bastard.

JamesAberkson hears the scream, and draws back from the corner. Dead horses. Slaughtered horses. Aramil entering and screaming. James slowly considers the possible conclusions that could be gained from this

Gorland just stares at Lilith, and smiles softly. "..Yeah..I..Got your letter." Letter? Gorland asked. Was that the last thing she remembered? Sending the letters?

Lilith smiles brightly; "It took me a long time to find the parchment for those letters; I am glad you all enjoyed them."

Soren remains at the door, not letting too many people through at a time; he watches the visitors carefully.

Kansu hovers around Soren.

Kansu mumbles something about this 'darkcaster stuff' and 'bizzare'.

Soren raises an eyebrow, catching only a few words from Kansu. "Something the matter?"

Kansu shrugs, "The sooner we leave, the better. I'm not at all comfortable with death. Not now anyway."

Lilith turns her full attention to Mina; "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Mina considers here answer for a moment "Well I was close, I guess. I got your letter though and decided that helping my friends was a little more important that my current objective."

Lilith tilts her head slightly; "Oh, that was very nice of you, Mina. But you really didn't have to worry about me."

<+Mina> "Well your letter did sound...rather urgent."

The man laughs as he stands and wipes his bloody hands on his long coat; ‘Calm down now, Aramil. They were only beasts.’ He reaches under his coat and grips the hilt of his weapon. However, he does not retaliate as Aramil charges him.

Lilith blinks in surprise; "It.. it did? I'm sorry... I." she trails off.

Soren frowns at Kansu's comment. "I'm not particularly fond of it either; but Lilith isn't in much of a state to go anywhere. Better to let her recover first, and we can decide where to go in the meantime."

Aramil's step falter as he nears the man. He draws his weapons as he approaches, "Calm down? I simply can not let you commit these crimes without crossing blades."

The man picks a bit of horse flesh from between his jagged teeth and flicks it towards the ground; ‘Well that would be a down right shame now wouldn’t it? Crossing blades every time one took to meal. A man has to eat you know.’ he narrows his eyes as the Tiger purrs deeply behind him. ‘I came here to speak with you; Aramil. In a way.’

Kansu nods, "True. I shall have to be more subtle with the arts at the moment I suppose."

Aramil raises an eyebrow, and inches closer still. "You may as well start then, I have few words for you."

Mina looks puzzeled "Well nothing to be sorry for I guess, but I am surprised how your letter found me to be honest."

JamesAberkson listens carefully to the exchange up above, furrowing his brow. He keeps his eyes closed, taking in every word. His grunting and groaning is thankfully silenced now.

<+Kansu> "Curious this world is. I wonder what triggered this fear of the arcane?"

<+Soren> "Not understanding tends to lead to that." Soren leans against the wall, thinking mostly to himself. "If we intend to find a way back, we'll need to get information from somewhere. We can find out then."

A voice speaks from behind Aramil fluently with a cold edge; ‘We may not be familiar to you, Aramil; but we know of you quite well. I think we can assist you in reclaiming your wife.’

Aramil turns his head to face the new voice, keeping his blades pointed at the strange man, "What... What do you mean?"

Lilith frowns; "Well Mina, I only had to send it down the hall... why shouldn't it have reached you?"

+Mina begins to look very confused "H..hall?"

As Aramil looks towards the voice he finds a stranger only ten feet away from him; he smiles almost kindly. ‘We have a deal to make with you.’ he motions almost directly with his arm and the man by the horse flesh sits.

Gorland has been sitting next to Lilith, well, rather kneeling beside her bed. He smiled at her, now and then, before sighing, standing up, and walking out of the door, leaning against the wall just outside.

Lilith shakes her head slightly; "I don't know anymore... was it a hall? Perhaps it was a corridor."

<+Mina> "I'm sorry I'm not following...what do you meed a corridor?"

James, after a moment of standing below the loft, you realize there has been no more noise or movement above for a good long moment.

JamesAberkson holds steady a moment, piecing together the meaning of this situation. He looks over to the Inn, and steadily nods his head. He slowly steps away from the stable, and approaches the Inn

Lilith shakes her head; "I don't know." she raises her hands and clutches them in front of her face; "Go away now. Please."

Soren drifts off for a moment before Lilith speaks, turning to face the rest of the group. "That'll be plenty for today; she needs to rest."

Gorland is still outside, lifting his hands to his face.

Mina raises an eyebrow at Lilith's comment "A..alright." *Mina turns to the doorwar and leaves the room*

Aramil numbly descends the rope ladder, once again witnessing the unpleasant pile of horse corpses.

Needing some firmiliarity, he travels back into the Inn, and slumps down on one of the couches, covered in blood and dirt. Quite the ragged sight indeed.

Soren waits for everyone else to head out of the room before taking a seat. "Try and relax. If you need anything, let me know."

Kansu mmms and leaves the room, "Sleep well, Lilith."

Lilith says nothing and falls back onto the bed, curling into a loose ball.

JamesAberkson is sitting on a couch across from Aramil, quietly inspecting his throwing axes for defects. He doesn't react to Aramil coming in

Aramil stares ahead, eyes drifting over James from time to time.

JamesAberkson remains mute, running a grimy thumb on the edge of his axehead.

Duke walks into the entryway; "What in the blazes Aramil! You are getting blood all over my good couches."

Aramil half registers towards Duke, "Sadly, there is much more in your stables..."

He eyes James and his axes. "... I see..." he then walks into the next room.

This however, sparks some action from Aramil, "He bolts up from his seat and follows Duke, "Duke, wait!"

Duke pauses at the doorway and turns towards Aramil; "Yes?"

JamesAberkson grunts. He looks at his axes, and then up at Duke and Aramil. He lets loose a long, self-depricating groan.

<+Aramil> "It wasn't..." He looks to James, "It was two men, one looked like he imbodied the plague itself, and there was a tiger with him. He was quite clearly eating the horses... A second man came later, a dark caster. They both disappeared before I could stop them. I don't... I'm sorry."

JamesAberkson suddenly locks his eyes at Aramil. He taps the axehead with his fingers

Aramil is not quite sure what to make of that, and returns James a confused look.

Mina final enters the main room and faces Aramil "Wha..what happened?!"

Aramil sighs, not wanting to shock Mina, "There was some... trouble in the stables.." He looks away, unfortunatly making eye contact with James again.

<+Mina> "Trouble? an understatement I'd say, are you alright?"

JamesAberkson continues to stare. The only change is that his nostrils flare open wide, taking in a long breath of air.

<+Aramil> "I am, it is not my blood."

<+Mina> "So umm whats in the stables?"

Aramil moves towards the couchs, "Many dead horses."

Aramil sighs, having failed at shielding her from the whole truth.

<+Kansu> "So we have strangers, possibly murderous strangers, around this place and you're just now mentioning it?"

JamesAberkson finally looks away, putting his axes from his hands to his belt, carefully putting them in their safe, dangling state

<+Mina> "Okay so umm are we planning to DO anything?"

<+Kansu> "Lilith should rest for awhile. I'm not sure what we can do besides investigate the bloodbath that's aparently outside."

<+JamesAberkson> "Aramil..." James begins, slowly shifting his weight on the couch. "Aramil... did investigate."

<+Kansu> "Did they say anything to you? Or just run?"

Aramil wrinkles his nose unpleasantly, "Other than make threats, no. Not even a name."

<+JamesAberkson> "But... they knew your name."

JamesAberkson growls quietly.

Aramil looks at Jame, "You were there?"

JamesAberkson stares back at Aramil, but doesn't answer

<+Aramil> "..."

Duke scratches the back oh his head as he mumbles to himself, and then continues to leave the room.

<+Aramil> "Where is Soren?"

MorpheusDimitriou walks in the front door of the inn, looking around a bit for a member of the staff.

Emily hops up from behind the counter; "A guest!"

JamesAberkson stops staring at Aramil to stare at the strange girl who just jumped up from behind the counter

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Hello, I'm hoping I can get a room."

"Just for one?" Emily asks, flipping open the ledger.

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Yes."

<+JamesAberkson> "... This place.... bothers me."

JamesAberkson looks over at Mina.

MorpheusDimitriou looks over at the other people in the room, including the man covered in blood and the man who apparently has never heard the term 'personal hygeine'.

Aramil looks up at James, "Not like the forest eh?" Aramil stands, putting on his unfriendly face again, "I'm going to get cleaned up."

"Just one... all alone in the woods..." she narrows her eyes at Morpheus; "Not a Dark Caster, are you?"

<+JamesAberkson> "No.... it is... a lot like the forest."

<+JamesAberkson> "That is why... it bothers me."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "What? Can't a man travel?"

Aramil heads to his room, starting to take off his tunic as he climbs the stairs.

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Honestly."

Emily nods lightly and hands him a key; "Here you are. Sir."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Thank you."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "And, er, how much is the room?"

MorpheusDimitriou reaches for his pocket, to grab his coinpurse.

Emily lightly shakes her head; "Three gold upfront, the remainder will be accepted at checkout."

MorpheusDimitriou pulls three gold out of his pocket, handing them over to Emily.

JamesAberkson stares at Mina for a moment, and turns to the stranger.

Mina notices the stare "Wh..whats wrong?"

MorpheusDimitriou turns and looks at James.

Gorland walks outside of the inn entirely, in order to think about things.

JamesAberkson grunts, quickly turning back to Mina. His faces contorts and twists, the fur rearranging itself in a writhing manner. "Nothing... is wrong.... You seem... better..."

JamesAberkson holds there, breathing in deeply

<+Mina> "Oh,...yes. Thank you."

<+JamesAberkson> "... Where... are you... from? You and the others... fell from the sky... in winter clothing..."

JamesAberkson stops for a moment, blinking several times.

<+JamesAberkson> "... Sorry for asking you... to remove your clothes."

MorpheusDimitriou looks over at Mina and James, intrigued by the question.

Aramil walks down the stairs dressed up and looks ready to hit the trail. He stops in ront of the man, "Are you going to stand there all day stranger?" Aramil slightly motions for him to move aside.

MorpheusDimitriou turns, suddenly.

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Sorry."

MorpheusDimitriou steps aside.

Mina shifts unformfortably "Where am i from? well uhh thats along story, as for the clothing thing lets speak no more of that."

Aramil doesn't respond to the apology. "Careful on the trail. There's dark casters in this area, some strong ones too."

Aramil moves into the lobby heading towards Lilith's room.

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Really? I'd better be careful, then."

Aramil stops, "Say. Where are you going, after your night here?"

JamesAberkson blinks a few more times. Suddenly, he chest heaves, and he twists his neck. A sharp crack erupts in the room. "I have time... have a seat."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Oh, I was planning on heading up to the mountains."

<+Aramil> "By Moneth?"

Mina considers her words carefully "Well my group all have their own reasons for traveling, howver you could say I am..was searching for a certain man."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Somewhat."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "I was thinking a bit closer to the forest's edge, but it is the same mountain range."

Lilith suddenly sits up in her bed and glances towards the window.

<+Aramil> "We may be headed in that direction, or what's left of it... It's not wise traveling alone..." Aramil finishes talking, and enters Lilith's room.

Soren frowns at the sudden movement. "Something the matter?"

Lilith looks to Soren and frowns; "Why are you still keeping me here Endain?"

Soren scratches his head. "Alright, now I'm confused."

<+Aramil> "Maybe I can answer a few questions. Soren, I need to talk to you."

Lilith picks up a small medical journal from the side table and throws it at Soren, "You have no right to be confused! I'm the one stuck here."

Soren turns to face Aramil, trying to ignore the books flying his way. "Then let's talk. What's up?"

<+Aramil> "Not with her, preferably."

Aramil motions into the hallway.

Soren shrugs and moves to the hall, but keeps an eye in the room.

JamesAberkson nods his head. "A man... Killed someone from your family?"

MorpheusDimitriou walks off to sit in the lobby while Soren and Aramil talk.

Aramil moves with him, and keeps his voice low, "You probably haven't heard, being cooped up in here the whole day." Aramil looks around for evesdroppers.

<+Aramil> "The first pressing matter, someone has slaughtered all the horses in the stables, I encountered the 'man', who was eating the flesh. He didn't look quite human."

Mina looking bitter "lets just say someone took everything from me, I really don't want to talk about it."

oren nods. "Alright. The next one?"

JamesAberkson leans over slightly, face deadpan. "I help people... who are hurt... unfairly.... You seem hurt... but I don't know if it is... fairly"

JamesAberkson leans back, looking up at the ceiling

<+Aramil> "After I had confronted him, a second man showed up. He knew my name, and he also knew a lot about you and your group."

Lilith stands and walks around the room, examining the items on the shelves. Every now and then she glances to the doorway.

<+Soren> "Hm." Soren frowns, mulling over the information. "Did you tell him anything?"

<+Aramil> "Nothing. He did however, tell me a few things about you. the man likes to hear himself talk."

<+Soren> "Anything interesting?"

<+Aramil> "I assume you figured this much out already. You don't belong here. Where you are truely from, and how to get there, I do not know. I do know now, that you are not the man I grew up with and that." He nods to the doorway, "Is not my wife. After gloating about this he vanished. Obviously a dark caster."

Lilith stops beside a table by the far wall and grabs the hilt of a knife, lifting in from the table slightly. She seems to be contemplating it.

Soren nods slowly. "That's correct; and I can't say I'm sure where we have ended up." He glances into the room for a moment. "Can...can you excuse me for a moment?"

<+Aramil> "A moment." Aramil grabs his shoulder, "I need to return home. I can take you whereever you want to go, be your guide, but I need to see my daughter. It's also best, if she never meets that woman." He releases Soren, "We can talk more later."

Aramil walks back into the lobby.

JamesAberkson grunts as Aramil enters the lobby

Aramil grunts back, almost instinctively.

Soren reenters the room, eyeing Lilith for a moment. "Do you need something?"

Lilith shakes her head, still staring at the knife. "No, Endain. I am quite content."

<+Soren> "You seem to be mistaking me for someone else; and I don't much appreciate being called by that name."

Lilith takes the knife and moves over to a picture on the wall; she doesn't seem to be paying much attention to Soren anymore. She stabs into the picture, swinging the blade down into the costly painting.

<+Soren> "Well, good thing that isn't mine." He mutters, moving forward to take the knife from Lilith's hands. "Lilith, you're confused. Sit down."

JamesAberkson looks at Mina for a moment, and then over back at Aramil. "Oh... And Aramil..."

Gorland has grown tired of being by himself, and heads back into the inn, and cautiously steps into Lilith's room, aiming to see if it was..less crowded.

Lilith grits her teeth and hugs the knife to her chest; "No."

Soren reaches for his greatsword...dropping it onto the ground. He holds his arms out openly. "I'm not going to hurt you, Lilith. Put the knife down."

<+Gorland> "..Soren..Lilith?" Gorland asks, looking from one to the other.

Mina turns back to her room, saying nothing to the others the delving into her past had clearly not improved her mood any

Aramil appraoches James, and claps him on the shoulder, gives him a knowing looks, not agressive, sort of warm and fuzzy, and steps outside.

JamesAberkson holds still, staring into space as everyone he knows goes away. The message Aramil doesn't seem to reach him. He sighs, and leans back on the couch, looking over at Morpheus.

Lilith narrows her eyes and stabs the knife back into the painting, then releases the handle. "F..Fine." She looks from Soren to Gorland, and then back to Soren.

<+Gorland> "..Soren..I'd like to have a moment alone with Lilith, please."

Aramil sits outside the Inn, on the edge of the trees. He takes out his knife, and finds a fair sized piece of deadfall, and begins carving, hoping like mad James understood him.

Soren nods, taking his weapon as he leaves.

Mina enters her room nearly slamming the door behind her.

Lilith watches Soren leave, and then looks to Gorland, a slightly puzzled expression rests on her face.

Gorland smiles softly at Lilith. "..Do you remember me this time around?"

Lilith nods, "Yes... you are Gorland. But... I don't understand how you are here."

<+Gorland> "I'm not sure how I am here either..But I doubt we both have the same concept of what here, is..Where do you think here is?"

"I..." she pauses; "I don't know. He's had me here for days and won't tell me anything! He wants... he wants them to bring the compass pieces here. But they can't do that Gorland. I trust that Lark won't. Perhaps I w

ill rot down here."

<+Gorland> "...Who's had you here? I won't let you rot, I promise.."

"Endain..." she says, but doesn't respond to his promise.

MorpheusDimitriou looks up from his book, looking at James.

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Yes?"

JamesAberkson silently stares, and finally, he nods. "What are you... reading?"

<+Gorland> "...Endain?.." Gorland asked, running his fingers through his hair. "Why does he have you here?"

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Oh, just a book on architecture."

"Because." she says, "He thinks they will bring the compass to me; I told him he was wrong, though."

<+JamesAberkson> "Architecture... why architecture?"

Soren paces a bit impatiently, waiting for Gorland to emerge.

<+Gorland> "Why does he think they'd bring the compass to you? "

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Oh, just a bit of a hobby of mine."

Lilith thinks for a moment; "I think... I think he is under the impression that they love me."

<+JamesAberkson> "Reading on it... or doing building designs?"

<+Gorland> "..I know I love you," Gorland said softly before shaking his head softly. "You seemed upset with Soren...You understand that that was not Endain, correct?"

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Oh, designing buildings is my real hobby. But I have to make sure I draw out the blueprints correctly."

Lilith frowns, "But it was Endain; he just likes to call himself Soren because he is a jerk and knows I dislike it."

<+Gorland> "No..That was really Soren, Lilith. I promise."

+JamesAberkson grunts. "What do you do... as a profession?"

As Soren is waiting on Gorland, if he happens to glance downwards he will realize that he is once again fading.

Lilith narrows her eyes; "No.. then... why am I still here? It doesn't make any sense."

<+Gorland> "You're not, Lilith..You're in an inn. With me."

If Mina also examines her hands or her image in the mirror over the vanity, she will see that the same thing is happening to her. Her very image seems to be fading from the world.

Mina suddenly exits her room looking slightly startled

"I'm... I'm in an inn?" Lilith asks in a strained voice, "Am I really? I don't understand... I'm not captured anymore? No.... that's right... I did escape. I... I recall that."

MorpheusDimitriou looks at Mina as she leaves.

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Hm. That's interesting."

JamesAberkson makes a pass at Mina as she bursts from the room.

<+Gorland> "Yes..You did. You even told me about it quite awhile afterwards.."

<+Gorland> "It all happened before we met, rmemember?"

Mina suddnely raises her voice the look of surprised and panic on her face still "Wheres soren?!"

JamesAberkson stares at her, dumbfounded.

Lilith nods, "That's right... that's why you are here. Is this... Opanka?"

Aramil hears the shout, looks at his stick, which was slowly becoming yet another image of a young woman. He breaks it in half and hurries back into the Inn.

<+Gorland> "No..We're not actually sure where this is," Gorland replied with a sigh, moving closer to her. "Remember..you sent letters. Your friends came to help..I came to help..But you were no longer at the castle.."

"Yes..." she pauses, "I did send letters... many letters. I don't think most of them went through... I think he burned most of them... and then... this must me... I... I'm lost."

<+Gorland> "Sh..shhh," Gorland says quietly, stroking her face softly. "Tell me where you are. I'll try to help you find your way again."

Soren finally approaches Mina, clearly displeased, but tries to put on a neutral face. "What's the matter?"

"I have a staff." she says, "In my hand... and I am speaking to a man... if I don't do what he wants, he is going to do something horrible... what was it..." she frowns, "I..."

Mina looks annoyed at the responce "Oh I don't know, one minute I'm fine the next minute I'm....well THIS!" *mina trys to get Soren to notice the fact she seems to be fading*

<+Gorland> "..Can you remember what it was he threatened? His face? Who he was?..Anything, lilith?

<+Soren> "Will you keep it down?" Soren hisses, annoyed. "Aside from that, do you feel fine? Anything unusual?"

<+Mina> "N...No I feel fine, but..."

JamesAberkson blinks a few times, and turns to Morpheus.

Aramil observes from a distance, trying to think of any explanation.

<+JamesAberkson> "This place.... is trouble."

Soren shakes his head. "Keep it down; and for now, don't worry about it. Just give me time."

"Yes..." Lilith says, "It was Wotoshi and his master. They had someone I loved... they were in a dungeon... yes... it was under Midgarn. They were going to destroy the city."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "I agree."

Mina trys to calm her self down again "Alright..." *Mina makes her way back to her room to lie down*

Aramil mutters to himself, "Great, another thing to worry about." And goes to sulk near James.

JamesAberkson makes another pass at Mina, before turning to Aramil.

As Soren and Mina are talking, Mina seems to solidify once more. However, Soren seems to fade until he is no longer visible; as if he has vanished under a cloaking spell.

<+Aramil> "Soren!"

<+Mina> "Oh no..." *mina look franticly around*

JamesAberkson stares at the man disappearing, and unleashes a loud sigh.

JamesAberkson stands up slowly, and begins to walk to the door of the inn

<+Aramil> "Where are you going?" Aramil turns suddenly.

<+JamesAberkson> "A place..." James begins, looking over his shoulder. "With less... crazy people."

JamesAberkson glances over at the desk, half-expecting Emily to erupt up as if from the Haunted Mansion.

Aramil abandons the thought of Soren momentarily, "And do you really think you're going to find any people less crazy? Last night you had asked me for help. Well I intend to give you that help, if you bear with me a short while longer. There are many questions going through all our minds right now, and we need everyone, in order to get these answers." Aramil breathes in after his short speech, "Soren, what's happening to you..."

JamesAberkson stops for a moment, and looks back. "I'm not obliged... to help you or these outsiders... But right now, I... I don't trust anything that goes on inside these walls."

<+MorpheusDimitriou> "Hm. This is indeed very interesting."

MorpheusDimitriou puts his book down.

Aramil folds his arms and gives James a hard look, "Sit down." Aramil thinks, "Outside if you must. But don't..." Aramil trails off.

Another man fades into view where Soren once stood, wearing an odd assortment of clothing; a dark jacket and pants, and what looks like a red buttoned shirt. His hair is a little shorter, his eyes a bit less vividly green, but there's no mistaking him for Soren. Blinking at the sudden change of scenery, he reflexively goes for an odd piece of equipment, pointing it straight at Mina. "The fuck...?"