The old ashik surveyed the small collection of mud brick buildings clustered around the small muddy oasis and smiled. He looked at the sibling herders as they were greeted by those few people in the village, if that few buildings could be called a village, he then hobbled forwards as the older of the brothers introduced him to the elder. He was welcomed with the warmth of the desert people and was told that they looked forward to hearing his tale, and a little later sat outside one of those mud brick dwellings he carried on his story.

Looking down at the elf laying at her feet, Scar swings hard with the Sword of Kemalok but the elf rolls out of the way at the last moment. On the driving deck of the mekillot wagon both Arthur and Marvek swing for the same elf, the unfortunate individual stands no hope against two such powerful blows and dies before he knows what has hit him. On the north side of the wagon two elves had managed to clamber over the balustrade and were facing off against Kollus, but as soon as they saw the reinforcements of the freed slaves rushing to support him they decide to retreat. A similar thing happens to the south where Kank sees the remaining elves leap from the mekillot wagon in a bid to run. Some of the elves do not stick their landing and there is the sound of breaking bones and screams of pain as they land.

Arthur fires one of the heavy crossbows at the retreating elves and manages to catch one of them in the leg bringing him down. At the rear of the wagon, Scar stabs down with the Sword of Kemalok and slays the last remaining elf on board. With the skirmish over, Arthur takes a handful of the freed slaves out to scavenge anything useful from the bodies of the elves while Balboa sees to the wounds of those injured in the short combat.

With all of the freed slaves now armed, and a number of them armoured, there is a sudden standoff. The newly freed slaves stand staring at the members of the group, and it is Marvek who is at their head. He looks around at the group and then turns to Balboa and says;

Now what?

Balboa spreads his hands wide in a peaceful gesture and reiterates;

You are all free to do as you wish. You can leave us here in the middle of the desert, or join us and live free in our village.

The newly freed slaves head outside the mekillot wagon and huddle in discussion, while they are doing so Kank suggest that the group load the bodies of the dead elves onto the wagon so that they could be used later to make it look like the wagon had been attacked by elves and all of the occupants taken. By the time that all of the bodies are loaded the freed slaves have made a decision, and they have decided to join us. Arthur makes sure that everyone of them is given eight ceramic pieces from the groups coffers to seal the deal.

The following dawn Kollus steers the mekillot wagon off of the road to Tyr and towards the Hidden Village. By the end of the second night Kank and Arthur find a location to hide the goods bought at the bazaar ready to be collected by those from the Hidden Village. They quicker unload the stash and move on for another hour before setting camp for the evening. When the sun rises Arthur and Balboa lead the freed slaves to the prearranged rendezvous point while Kank, Miloch, and Scar accompany Kollus to ditch the mekillot wagon in the middle of the desert. Kollus drives for half a day and then stops. They arrange the bodies of the elves and smash up the wagon enough to make it look as if it was raided. Kollus then frees the mekillot and the four of them head for the rendezvous.

An hour after Arthur, Balboa, and the freed slaves get to the meeting place they see a group of figures approaching them from the direction of the mountains. As the group gets closer it becomes obvious that they are from the Hidden Village of The Free and are led by Generals Charanim and Selanu. As soon as they have arrived they begin the process of interrogating the freed slaves to make sure that there are no spies planted within. While that is happening Arthur describes the goods stash to some of the patrol and they send a runner back to the Hidden Village to arrange for collection. After a few hours the Generals declare that they are content that the freed slaves are all genuine and so everyone returns back to the Hidden Village.

Twenty four hours later the remaining four members of the team arrive back at the Hidden Village, almost as soon as they have cleared the gates they are all summoned by Bartras and Major Drog for a full debrief. Kollus gives them a full report with Balboa filling in some of the detail, when all is told Bartras says;

Well done! A very good job done, and I think that you were wise not to attack Vlock given the number of guards. You have earned a rest. But the desert doesn’t allow for resting, so it is back to duties from tomorrow.

Bartras smiles and dismisses the friends. And so they return back to their duties and their training and their daily lives. Life is relatively comfortable and regimented for the next six weeks, that is until Bartras and Major Drag once again call for the group to meet them. Bartras tells them that a reliable contact in the City State of Tyr has contacted him saying that they have important information for The Free. Scar says aloud;

I really don’t want to go to Tyr!

Bartras looks at her and states;

That could be a problem as we really need to make contact and recover this information. But I will not force you to go.

Scar looks around at the others and then back at Bartras;

Of course we will go!

Bartras nods and then hands over to Major Drog. Drog tells everyone that it will take several days to walk to Tyr, and that Tyr only has three heavily guarded city gates and that it will be almost impossible to gain entry through those gates. But the Major has a plan. He was a slave in Tyr and he managed to escape via the Under-Tyr. He tells the group that Tyr is an ancient city and that it has been built again and again and again, and that below it’s streets there are the ancient streets and byways, some of them are deadends, and most of them are dangerous, but you can gain entry to the city via them.

The entrance is near to the mines of Tyr, via an old dwarven complex. The Major goes on to say;

Once you have gained entrance to the city you will need to secure lodgings at the Weeping Widow tavern, which is located near the elven market on the edge of The Warrens and Shadow Square.

Major Drog pauses to make sure that everyone is listening closely to his instructions, when he is convinced that they are he continues;

When you have rooms you will need to go to a merchants called The House of Lace and Frills which is located in the richer end of the Merchants District, and order an unusual frock coat made from a very particular material. Once done the agent will make contact with you.

There is a long moment of silence as what the Major has said sinks in, then Kank starts to list the equipment that he thinks they will need for the mission. His list includes rope and grapple, enough food and water for the return journey, city garb and in particular a set of merchant clothing for Balboa. Arthur also requests a couple of lamps and enough oil for them, and he also asks if we can have the use of Stanley the kank for the outward journey and a couple of people to bring him back.

Bartras hands Arthur five silver pieces for expenses and says;

Stay away from the tower at all costs, and remember that all magic is viewed with suspicion. If you are caught casting spells you will be arrested on the spot and killed, or worse, thrown into the slave pits.

The following afternoon Arthur, Balboa, Kank, Miloch, and Scar are joined by Marista and Tor-Gal as they head for the dwarven complex near the mines of Tyr to the north of the city.