The reunion was short-lived as Guurnk pressed Coren for their departure. The first mate had made certain the animals were loaded safely before the passengers and their gear. It quickly became apparent that the crew was efficient and good at what they did, and that Guurnik was more than comfortable at his job. He excelled. Even Yahim was impressed with the way he controlled the flow of the crew as they went about making final preparations for departure. Tob noticed how Guurnik would issue commands without hesitation and with just a glance and nod. More importantly the men responded. Eventually, all were safely aboard. Gurrnik looked to Coren for approval.

“Take us out of here, Guurnik,” Coren commanded in a voice that showed his own comfort with command and the sea.

“Aye, Aye, Cap’n,” Guurnik replied. “Ye heard ‘em, mates. To the oars until Chamdar’s breath blows up or arses.”

Giacomo pulled out his lute and began to strum the tune to a shanty that sailors would often sing when leaving their homes. Within seconds the voices from below echoed in unison and in song

Twas on a dark and stormy night
The snow lay on the ground
A sailor boy stood on the deck
The ship was outward bound

Farewell, farewell, my own true love;
This parting gives me pain.
You'll be my own, my guiding star
Until I return again.
My thought shall be of you, my love,
While storms are raging high.
So fare you well!
Remember me, Your faithful sailor boy
So fare you well!
Remember me, Your faithful sailor boy

It took some getting used to, but finally each had adjusted to the jostling movements of the ship. Aislinn remembered and prepared a brew that would aid in those that suffered from traveling sickness, and it was a boon to more than a one.

Yahim, it seemed, had barely a moment to rest during the journey. Not plagued by seasickness or agoraphobia as some of his companions were, he spent his time with Aislinn as a rock and sounding board for her grief, as well as learning the intricacies of knotwork from her. He expanded that new knowledge with the sailors aboard the Aegir -- when he wasn't dicing with them to pass the time, talking with them but more importantly, also listened carefully to what they said, and what they did not say. He spent time in the hold with Murrad, renewing their friendship and praising the steed for his steadiness during the sea journey.

He also spent time with Janus and Tob, pipes in hand, trails of smoke disappearing in the wind. With Li-eira, flirting and joking with her to keep her spirits up, and with Coren, asking him for tales about his famous ancestor and listening with real interest in how Coren replied, as much as what he said. Even Giacomo found the Sundar at his side at least once a day, prompting him for knowledge or his thoughts on their journey and always, always, listening attentively to the answers.

The first night of the journey, Yahim had found a hammock in the men's stateroom, rolling himself into it as if he'd been doing so all his life. If Tob, Janus, or Giacomo had aught to say about it, none of it was ever aired publicly. To the sailors aboard and all else external, he was simply Yahim. So much so that sometimes he nearly believed it, himself.

The ship’s passage took them north east and then north towards Guardian’s Isle. The weather turned very cold and it was hard for many of the travelers to stay topside. Small floes of ice began to pepper the frigid waters, but the hull of Aegeir was built to safely traverse these dangerous seas. Still, the sound of ice crashing into the hull of a ship was not a soothing sound. It took some time, but the cry of “Land, ho” was eventually heard from the lookout three days after they departed the port city just west of Freehold.

There it was in the distance. It rose from the very water, the glacier known as Guardian’s Isle. As they approached, Castle Northwatch finally came into view. The white towers rose above the glacier and the minarets glistened in the sunlight. The dock lay on the north side of the island, the other side, and Guurnik shouted for the helm to bring her about as they approached. The sails were eventually lowered and the oarsmen went to work to bring the ship in and around to the docks. Within minutes they had the Aegeir safely moored in the deep waters around the island.

As the seven travelers looked they could see a pair of fur clad clansmen of Castle Northwatch nod in approval for them to step ashore. Once on the docks Guurnik led them up the path to the castle entrance where they were greeted then ushered into a large meeting hall. There, in the hall, stood Felg dan Bjoren, clan chieftain. He and Guurnik embraced in a gesture of familiarity. The first mate spoke briefly before Felg turned to face them.

“Guurnik,” he began, “tells me you seek entrance into the catacombs under Castle Northwatch. He will only say that you come upon a mission most secretive and dire. He tells me that I should give you what you ask and grant you free passage into the bowels of Northwatch.” The chieftain looked at them for a moment. “Other than him being my cousin, why should I listen to him? Well, then, upon Guurnik's words I shall open our larders to you as well as the entrance to the catacombs. Once inside, you shall be on your own. I cannot send any guards with you. You may take whatever supplies you need and that we have. We are well stocked. Once you are in, we shall close the gate at the top of the stairs. It must be locked, for our safety. There are sentries outside that door every hour. Simply knock and hail them when you are ready to return. Will there be anything else?”

Janus disembarked the ship, slinging his pack onto his back, and bouncing on the balls of his feet to test its weight, and settle it into place. "Well met, Felg dan Bjornen." He offered in greeting, as he surveyed the man, taking his measure, and noting the lack of questions the man had asked.

"Aye, Felg dan Bjornen, 'tis a honour to meet one of the guardians of the north", Coren said in greeting to the northman. "Your strength and vigilance are renowned throughout the southern clans"

Coren stepped forward and grasped the man's strong and powerful hand.

"As I'm sure Guurnik mentioned, I'm Coren dan Balor, of Balfor's line and Captain of the Aegeir. These are my companions". Coren gestured to the others nearby but, for now, did not give out their names. "We thank you for your hospitality and allowing us to make port here".

Felg stopped for a moment as the realization dawned. He rose, formality not being a practiced ritual here, and shook Coren's hand in a warrior's grip as he stared at the face of the descendant of Balfor dan Ifus. Founder of Freehold.

"This is truly an honor to have you here at Castle Northwatch, Coren dan Balor."

Coren then looked across at Janus and, bowing to his wisdom, decided to let the druid answer the man's question.

"We wont be requiring any of your gallant men to guard us, for we know not when, or if, we will return." The young blond did not intend to volunteer any information, to anyone, and busied himself double checking the buckles of his armor, and winding his sling around his forearm. "Has there been any activity in the catacombs recently, that you know of?"

"Nay," Felg replied as he shook his head. "We have not opened the door to the catacombs in over ten years."

Li-eira felt particularly small in this large meeting hall among these towering men. Her balance was still off from the sea voyage and even the most simple movement required great care. The half choshu's usual gracefulness was most definitely absent over the past four days. She listened intently to the exchange between Janus and Felg, blood drained from her face and a shiver of the deepest kind sliced through the chill in her bones as the Druid made comment of not knowing when or if they would be making their return. His casual tone though did much to lend another meaning to his words, but still the unsettling fact that they didn't know their fate once they stepped beyond that gate was terrifying to the path mage.

Aislinn shifted in their small crowd and wrapped an arm about Li's waist in a supportive hug, the path mage responded with a smile as she rested her head briefly against her friend. The priestess had spent the voyage in relatively quiet contemplation, letting her grief fully run it's course. The denial she'd gone through at the Tower, but the sorrow, fear and anger remained. She vented that anger mostly with Yahim as she and the sailors taught him more about ropes and knots. The Sundar seemed unflappable and supremely understanding of her emotions, allowing them to run without overly fueling them. By the time they landed, she'd come to some semblance of calm acceptance.

She wasn't much enthused with going into the catacombs, either but this had to be done. Her firm resolve to see this quest through as much as she was able hadn't waivered. This was her path, now and she'd walk it to the next crossroads.

“What about activity outside the catacombs then?” asked Coren in a friendly, but gruff, manner. “Any other visitors to the isle recently? Or any other ships passing nearby?”

"Nay," Felg began. "There has been none about here. And our spotters have seen no ship-sign save yours. We know that the Dragonlords move soon to war, but they have not approached this island. They shall not come to Guardian's Isle unless Freehold falls."

“As to anything else, I can think of a couple of things at this moment. First, considering the danger we’ve heard about in these catacombs, some better armour than this flimsy leather would be helpful”. Coren pulled at his tough, but battered and cut, leather armour. “This has served me well ‘til now but its smell alone would probably wake any creatures below this castle before I got anywhere near ‘em. You don’t happen to have any chainmail, do yer?”

"I do believe," Felg continued, "that we might have something for the descendent of Balfor dan Ifus in our armory."

“Second, if you have any food and drink to fill our stomachs ‘fore we head down into the corridors, then that would be most welcome. Especially if you’ve any ale or spirits to spare”. Coren smile was obvious behind his white beard.

"Aye," said Felg dan Bjornen. "Why don't you take rest here until the morrow. We can feed ye fer dinner as well break your fast in the morn. The catacombs will still be there on the morrow."

Li-eira straightened at that and stood again without her light lean on Aislinn. Her tone was light when she spoke, but serious. "A couple of flasks to take with us, to help keep the chill off would be appreciated. ...but not so much as to dull our senses."

"I think resting for a night before continuing into the catacombs would be best," the young Sundar said, offering the words quietly. He'd picked a spot off to the side, where he could observe everyone during this meeting without obstruction. "It may be the last restful night we'll have for some time."

"A couple of flasks...", muttered Coren, gazing towards the lovely Li-eira. He smiled. "Well, that'll keep me going for now, I guess. What about the rest of you?"

Coren rubbed his beard and turned back towards Felg.

"Again, I thank you for yer hospitality. Before we're fed, can you tell us what you know of the catacombs and what lies within their depths? Anything you can tell us about what we might face down there, whether rumour or truth, would be useful."

"No one has been into the catacombs for as long as I have been alive," Felg replied. "My father told me stories of a time when the bravest of adventurers would come to the island seeking entrance. Back then it was allowed. So he told me. My father said he ordered the gates locked after the last man, a Nartuk named Enurn, came out and left in a panic. I know not the details other than the gates were ordered locked and watched after they. And they have remained so."

There were many vacant rooms in the massive building that sat upon the island. Castle Northwatch. They were led to a suite of rooms that opened into and shared a common room. They were brought food and left to their own. Yahim's search of the area revealed that they were indeed alone and safe from normal scrying. Li-eira was able to put them all at ease about any magical scrying.

The meal taken and enjoyed, they were finally able to speak plainly about what was to come on the morrow.

Janus pushed the plate of half eaten fish and cheese away from him, and stood. He tossed a cheese to Ellyn, and gave a half a grin as she consumed it in her haste, then packed his pipe from his tabac pouch as he crossed to the window. The view outside was impressive, from this height. Mathern was beginning her climb into the late evening sky, and lit upon the waters like a platinum frost. He drew deeply on his pipe, and spoke as he exhaled, to no one in particular.

"How well do you suppose they understand us, the Gods and Godesses? We always say their ways are unknowable to us, but, how knowable are we, to them? Do you think they really understand our natures?"

Aislinn looked up in surprise at his questions. Her gaze turned thoughtful for a moment before she answered. "Some of them don't understand us at all," she said into the silence. "But some do make an effort. Their reasons for doing that are many and some are unfathomable to us." She thought another moment on the part of Sarah that had been Mathern and again wondered why. Knowing there was more than one reason didn't mean she'd understand them. "I've thought a lot recently about the steps that led me here, what my uncle said, and what Holy Mathern herself has said to me," she continued quietly.

"I think overall, that they do understand, Janus. It's the finer details of the individuals that might be a little fuzzy to them. How we will react to certain things, certain situations they don't know. But they know that in general when faced with such a crises as we face now, people will fight, band together, make themselves stronger. But whether a foot soldier in the field will stand and face down one of Traugur's minions or faint dead away?" she shook her head slightly. "Things like that they probably don't fully understand, since it takes all of a person's experiences, his emotional state, his current thoughts in order for them to make that decision." The priestess grinned wryly and flushed slightly. "And I know those questions were mostly rhetorical, but it gave me an excuse to ramble, so I took it."

Janus turned to face Aislinn as she spoke, listening and nodding his head. There was no doubting she had far more experience with Gods than he did. His doctrine was more focused on an aspect of Beldrem rather than the being himself, afterall. But he found himself in agreement with her sentiments. He leaned back against the windowsill, and crossed his ankles on the floor and his arms on his stomach. Propping his pipe arms elbow on his other fore arm, He alternately hit the pipe, and gestured with it as he replied.

"Ramble away, Mother. I find myself in agreement with your sentiment." He looked thoughtfully down at his boots for a moment, before he continued. "Take some of our basic hard-wired needs... I'm sure they all understand that we need to eat, procreate, breathe, socialize, and defend ourselves, and our families from danger."

Just as his verbal thought completed, almost as if some trick of the light occured outside the window, Mathern's light ringed him in a dim halo, shining directly in, and reflecting of the sea below. He knew little about her or her order, but he felt sure the Goddess of Mothers would understand the instinct that drives a mother bear to protect its young, the same instinct that is hard wired into every living thing. Self Preservation.

In her return gaze, Janus saw the moon's reflection as well as how just those thoughts have settled in with her. He might have been unsure how much his words had helped after the battle at the lake, but now he knew how much they did.

"Exactly," Asilinn nodded. "It's the details of how we go about seeing to those things that might be considered... interesting I suppose." Her elegant hand waved around the table, taking in all their companions. "Different cultures arise, sometimes fight with one another, sometimes getting along. All the while seeing to those basic needs you mentioned. In some ways, we are actors in a play and they both the audience and the director, except there is no script. We're improvising the whole way," she laughed. "They're as surprised as we are, sometimes at what happens and how it's accomplished."

Li-eira tried actively to follow the conversation, concentrating on every word and every syllable. Smiling faintly when Janus and Aislinn spoke of the Gods and appreciating the easiness that seemed to rest again with the sweet mother. Her own mind wanted to drift to the Catacombs below, to what awaited them and how they would manage to find what they were questing after, and return to breathe the fresh air again.

"I like that analogy a lot." Janus stated simply. His smile returned to his face and he puffed on his pipestem around it. "So to follow it, our stage is set, and the antagonists lie beneath our feet. In the fights we have had so far, my efforts have been successful because there was alot of plant life and vegetation for me to work with. It will not be so, down there. My role in the play will have to change somewhat, I'm afraid." Janus looked at each of his companions in turn, and the uncertainty was plain to see in his face.

"It may not be as bad as you think," Yasminna said from her place near the fire. She'd shifted to her true form once they'd been given their privacy, relaxing from days of playing male roles with a great deal of evident relief. Uncomfortable with the overall bent of the discussion at first, she silently puffed on her pipe and listened, feeling more qualified to speak up once it turned to practical, worldly matters. "Certainly most catacombs are dry places -- to preserve the bodies therein, I'm told -- but once we're in the wild caves beyond, there should be molds, mosses, lichens. These are green growing things too, are they not?"

Janus nodded over at Yahi...Yasminna. When are you going to trust yourself not to give away her name, Janus? Even in your private thoughts, you try not to betray her. "That is true, and an excellent point. There are other talents and tools at my disposal, as well. But the fact remains, I will be a bit diminished, and everyone should be prepared for that."

Janus drew on his pipe again, and thought for a moment, a pale puff of smoke exiting his nostrils. "So are we to use our map to bypass the tomb section, and proceed directly to the caverns? It would seem wise to clear the known parts first, so as not to leave possible guards behind us."

As the conversation turned tactical it was even more difficult for Li-eira to sweep the fears and questions out of her head. How cold would it be. Would his denizens be there? Would they find what they sought? ...and most troublesome of all, Would they all make it out again alive? Her blue eyes were focused on the floor, unwilling to meet the eyes of her companions, not wanting them to see the fear that dwelled in them.

"I don't know, Janus," Aislinn said after some thought. "Do we have the luxury of time for that? We do need to get down there, to the pool, then back out to start looking for our objective before The Bright One snatches it from under us, true? We might be days clearing the catacombs and that might be a delay we can ill afford, but one he's counting on?"

The talk about the gods had been somewhat beyond Coren. What did he know of the powerful, ethereal beings that kept the sun and moon passing over their heads every day? But talk of tactics and their way through the maze below them was something a little more fathomable.

"I don't like the idea of leaving unexplored areas behind us", Coren commented as he put his mug of ale down, "though getting to our goal is our priority, of course. I think we should still quickly investigate some of the other areas... just in case".

Just in case there's anything of worth hidden down there, he thought but did not say this out loud. Perhaps, he considered, there was gold, jewels or fabled weapons down in the tombs - like a certain axe, f'instance.

Coren smiled to himself then quickly remembered the others were looking at him. "Still, we shouldn't dally, as Aislinn says. A quick search then onto the catacombs".

The luxury of time, how much of a hurry are we in? What does the bright one know? How close was he to finding what we seek? Janus listened closely, and knew everyone had good points, his new friends were lots of things, but fools they were not.

"Yes, time is a luxury. So is life. If it has been so long since anyone has tread these dark ways, then its likely the upper areas will be guarded, or repopulated, and I can think of few fates fouler than to be trapped like rats in a hole, with undead below us and Dolfanc above." Janus rubbed his eyes with the thumb and forefinger of one hand, an expression of weariness. "We must survive this next stage of our trial, or all the time in creation won't help us a whit."

"True, Janus," Aislinn said. A slightly confused frown creased her brow. "But, how many entrances are there to the catacombs? I thought the only one was guarded and locked by our hosts. Or am I misremembering things again? I have to be better at paying attention and absorbing tactical information, I swear," she sighed, shaking her head at herself.

Janus looked up, and let his hand fall from the bridge of his nose. He smiled, and the boy from the Highlands appeared in his eyes, for a brief flickering moment, as he moved to Aislinn and set a hand on her shoulder. "No Aislinn, you don't have to be better at it. Others here cover your shortcomings, as you do for them. I believe it was one of the Pathmages who told us that the Dolfanc had tunneled into the catacombs from below, and that entrance has never been sealed to anyone's knowledge."

"Good," she sighed in relief. "Because I'm horrible at it, really. But you're right. I remember that, now. Perhaps we should sweep through the catacombs, first and deal with what we can, there. They wouldn't be able to follow us then, and peek over our shoulders when we use the pool."

Yasminna stood at that, easily graceful despite the days at sea. "Then perhaps it is time for us to take a look at this," she said, removing the map from the inner pocket of her vest. "Let us plan our route now, so we have no need to discuss it while in the enemy's territory."

She stepped to the table, smoothing the parchment out across it. Her dark eyes scanned the surface thoughtfully. "Here are the known traps, the ones Enurn discovered," .the spy continued, pointing out the marks. "They do reset, we know this much. I suggest... we begin by sweeping the left, then backtracking to sweep out the right side before going deeper into the complex."

OOC: Yasminnna's proposing tackling the level in this order: rooms 2 and 3, then 1, 4, 5 and beyond BEFORE heading through the door in room 1.

ooc: I'm here and reading, great stuff... I was gonna add something yesterday, but when I reread the file, it seemed too soon to do any more internals - from Li, and I don't have a verbal. Just wanted to chime in to let ya'll know I'm paying attention. :)

GM OOC: Cleaned up some color tags and older OOC comments. Love the intro of the map, Song, and how you are laying out the plan with #'s. Keep up with the planning discussion until you are all comfortable. I will insert for Tob and/or Giacomo if the need arises. The new move will start with you in the catacombs. As usual, ask if have a question