Alydrezea moved happily and confidently through the town. It was all so different from Iroas! The buildings were made out almost entirely of a bright red clay mixture. When hardened it was like stone. They were simple, oval shaped with chimneys that bellowed out smoke from the hearth in the homes. She noticed fewer standing shops, and more market stalls. Also, there were a lot more dwarves and tieflings here. Her bare dark feet became stained with the dusty red of the road, and she was always moving out of the way of some horse or oxen drawn cart laden with goods. There was a briny smell in the air, they must be close to the western oceans.

“Miss elf! Oh miss elf, over here!” The voice of a half elf male called to her. He was behind a wooden stall, near the opening to a clay house. His stall was covered with textiles and clothing. He had needles in his brown hair, done up in a man bun. “Welcome! Welcome! My dear lady, what are you wearing?”
Alydrezea looked down at the simple but worn cloth she had. “What I always wear.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. That wont do! A lovely lady such as yourself deserves some nice clothing. How about this purple dress, hmm? Look at that wonderful gold lace trim. It would look stunning against your skin!” The drow looked over the dress, her eyes almost sparkling. “How much is it?”

In a different part of the town, Kara was beside herself. “Graaah! How come someone who talks so much slip away so quietly! I’m supposed to be the sneaky one!”
“Relax.” Boris responded. His presence earning a few glances, but no where near as many as in the capital. Of course, people gave him space to walk, which he loved though did not show it. “Drezea has a knack for wandering off….but she always turns up eventually.”
“You know her best.” Kara groaned out, still frustrated. “But try not to beat up any guards while we’re here. Or steal from any libraries.” Her hazel eyes narrowed at Grukk, who looked away with embarrassment.
“Aren’t you a thief?” Grukk nodded in agreement with Boris’ question. Kara just rolled her eyes.
“What I do is an art. Because I don’t get noticed or caught.”
Grukk couldn’t help but chuckle. “Then what were you doing in that cell back in Iroas?” That cracked earned a smile from Boris, and a blush from their human companion.
“T-that was different! Can we not talk about this now? We must get supplies. I’m going to sell off some of the gems we found. Grukk, you take the coin and get us some healing potions. Boris, you go with him. I’ll meet you guys by that blacksmith over there.” With a nod from the two boys, Kara swiftly disappeared into the crowd.

This kind of city reminded the amber-skinned woman Raja. Bustling streets. Shifty street vendors. And lots of people in and out. All that time in a cell in Iroas made her rusty. But now, she felt some of that rust shaking off. She bumped into another woman. “Oh! I am so, so sorry my lady!” Her voice honey sweet, and her hands quick and quiet like an owl. Snatching up that same stranger’s purse. Another fifteen gold coins. She hid it behind her back, and the stranger just walked off in annoyance. Leaving Kara free to admire her handywork. “It’s all coming back…” She said to herself, placing the purse in a pocket on the inside of her cloak. She was itching to do some more ‘fishing’, when she spied a familiar twirl of silvery-white hair.

Back at the tailor, the half-elf man was putting on a smile for his new customer. Alydrezea twirled in place after trying the dress on over her current clothing. The base spinning out wide as she did so. “It is really pretty!”
“I knew you would love it! And its only fifteen silver! But if you are willing to pay another twenty silver, I have these lovely pair of shoes.”
The drow woman had a look of disinterest in the shoes, but her attention was quickly brought somewhere else.
“Alyderzea!” It was Kara’s voice. “Please tell me you didn’t run off just to buy a dress.”
The druid frowned. “I just wanted to try it on. Get off my ass.”
“Wow, so you can swear. Well take it off, we need to go.” Kara’s words and sudden appearance made the tailor worried. “N-now ladies, there’s no need for that. I-I can hook you two up with a deal. Two for one on these lovely purple dresses! Silk all the way from southern Raja.”
Kara’s eyes narrowed at the tailor. Looking the dress up and down. “How about a different deal? You give my friend here a hooded cloak-“
“In that purple!” Alydrezea interrupted.
“….in that purple. And you bring the price down to ten silver. Alright?” The drow took off the dress that covered her normal clothing, handing it to the tailor who was a bit miffed.
“Ten? My clothes are expertly crafted with quality thread. I wont go lower than twelve!”
Kara sighed. “Well, it would be a shame if everyone found out-“ She made her voice intentionally louder. “-that you’re lying about using silk from Raja!” The tailor immediately tried to shush her with a panicked expression.
“Fine. Ten silver.” He took the money with a sour look, and Kara took the hooded cloak with a proud smile. Taking Alydrezea by the hand to lead her away from the stall.
“How did you know he was lying?”
“I have a lot of personal experience. How’s the cloak? Does it help with the sun?”
Putting it on, it was simple cloth. Well made but nothing special about it. It was a solid, midnight purple. With the hood up, Alydrezea could see a bit better. “It’s still bright out…but my eyes don’t hurt so much anymore! Thank you, Kara!” The thief cracked a light smile at the druid.
“Alright. Lets meet up with the others.”

Boris and Grukk were already at the blacksmith. There was an old dwarf man working an outdoor forge by a round-top clay building. “Hiiii Boris!! Hi Grukk!” The drow waved happily; the minotaur had a slight smile. “Impressive cloak.” Boris’ tone was a shade happier with her around.
“Thanks! Keeps the sun out of my eyes.”
“Did you get the potions?” Kara asked, with Grukk showing his bag. Four lesser healing potions, and a potion to cure disease. “It took all of our coin, and Boris here using his own talents to uh…make the potion dispenser more agreeable.” The half-orc said with a shy smile. Kara was hopping for more.
“It’ll have to do. I got some coin from selling those valuables off. We’ve got about Eighty-five gold now. Though, that’s not enough to buy new weapons or armor for us.”
“Excuse me-“The old dwarf smith spoke. His beard was short and grey, and his head was balding with grey hair ringed around the back. “If you folks are looking for work, The Duchess; Lady Rennard is looking for some sell-swords to deal with a bit of problem.”
The ears of the party all perked up. “What sort of problem?” Grukk inquired.
“Apparently a pack of ogres has been attacking caravans from here to the capital. Been putting a damper on trade. Lady Rennard is willing to pay up to any who can take care of them. She’s offered a reward of 250 gold pieces. Oh, and you need to bring proof of the kill.”
The party looked at each other, grinning. Kara turned to the old dwarf. “And where is this Lady Rennard?”
“Well, she’s the ruler of Red Wake. So, she lives up there.” The dwarf pointed to the only building not made up entirely of clay. It was a mixture of clay and white stone. Similar to the royal castle in Iroas, though not even half the size. It was flanked by a large watchtower.
“Thank you very much, sir. Before we leave, can we conscript your services?”
“Aye. What do ya need?”
Grukk showed off his slightly busted chainmail shirt. The dwarf looked it over. “Want me to fix it?”
“No sir. Actually, I was hoping for some better armor.”
“Good set of plate will cost ya 2,000 gold.” Both Grukk and Kara visibly winced at that price.
“Um…what can you do for fifty?”
“Fifty? Hmm..well, I could make ya a decent set of scale-mail. Payment up-front.” Grukk handed the old smith the purse full of the coin. “Pleasure doin’ business with ya. Come back in two days and I’ll have it ready.”
As the old smith got to work, the party made way through the town, up to the heavy wooden doors of Lady Rennard’s castle. After informing the guards that they were here about the reward for the ogres, they were let inside. A grand hall, with banners for Iroas and the Obsidian Pass, as well as the Lady’s own family crest hung on the walls. There were several wooden tables being cleaned by servants. At the end was a woman, sitting on a simple throne of wood, stained red like the clay of the town. She wore a noble-woman’s clothing, with a ring of gold and a necklace of pearls around her neck. Her hair was in a ponytail and was a light blonde color. Her voice was overly proper, but welcoming. “I am told you all are here to collect the reward for killing the ogres on the road?” Next to the throne, stood a man. He was wearing a steel breastplate over an official uniform of the Iroanian army, and stood at attention. Hands clutching his poleaxe. This was the captain of the guard.

Kara and Grukk gave a light bow. Alydrezea copied them, and Boris did nothing. Lady Rennard did not seem to mind. “Yes, my Lady.” Kara spoke up, mostly to keep the others from speaking.
“And do you have proof of the kill?”
Boris presented a large ogre tooth, and after confirming with her captain of the guard that it was real, the Lady smiled. “Wonderful. I am unfamiliar with you four, but you did risk your lives all the same. Give them their reward. 250 gold, as promised.” As Kara took the gold, she bowed and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Lady Rennard called out, her voice more commanding this time. “I could use people like you for another matter. I assure you; it is no simple bounty. Rather, it is more…private. But first, I want you four to stay the night in my castle, as my guests! Alert the cook, we need to have extra food prepared for the night! Please, make yourselves at home.”
The party was genuinely happy at the act of hospitality. While Boris and Alydrezea ravenously devoured their free meal, Kara watched and listened. Weighing her options. Robbing this woman was probably a bad idea. Even the riches this Lady Rennard had wouldn’t help her.
Grukk, on the other hand, was rather talkative. “My Lady, I was wondering if you know anything about rune stones. Like this.” He showed her the ogre’s rune stone, and Kara gripped her fork so tightly, her knuckled turned white. The Rajan woman was glaring daggers at the half-orc, so tense as to why he would just flash around magical items like that! But Grukk didn’t even notice his teammate’s distress and kept talking. “I found it off those ogres on the road. I think it’s giant speech.”