The wagon had traveled quite a ways from Cascadeia. They were on their way to the city of Istan by way of Kellen, but she had aspirations of finding the elven city somewhere in these very woods before hand. Weather she would find it or not was another question. For now though, as the brightest time of the day was upon them, it was time to make camp. After all, drow were not made for the daylight. They traveled mostly at night. So just off the road, in the shelter of the trees, sat a finely made drow merchant's wagon. The drow herself went inside to sleep and the rest of the drow went to teir appointed tasks. This was one of the few times that the pair of driders were allowed to get out and walk around. That and the hour before and after midnight. The two half spider creatures had to stay near the wagon and inside the ring made my the drow males and their dire wolf mounts.

Four drow were on patrol around the edge of the camp, just within sight of the wagon. Two walked clockwise and two counter-clockwise and they nodded to each other as they passed every few minutes at different spots, each varying their pace so that they would not be able to be timed. This lasted for about four hours, then the sun reached it's zenith and they switched out and the new patrol repeated the procedure.

The rules they followed up here were very different then the ones they had followed at home. Here, they were not to kill any strangers unless told to by Ruby herself. They were to capture and question anyone approaching when the wagon was not set up. When it was set up, they were told that they had to help the person look for anything as cheerfully and pleasantly as possible, and to keep an eye out for any who were attempting to steal. Any attempts of thievery were to be brought before Ruby first and foremost, even if she was with someone else, unless it was a drow she was speaking with. Then the offender was held for Ruby to finish, then brought to her. It was a little tricky to keep with these new rules, but each was determined to do so. They had no more choice then Ruby had herself, though they only suspected she would have the same fate... though none wished to test the concept.

Astalder strolled about the thick woods of Norwood aimlessly. He was not followed by his regular three familiars today which was odd. They were free to roam Imythess today and he was all alone for once in a long time. It was a beautiful day today, the sun shining clearly across the sapphire blue sky. The Elf carried his bow on his back along with a slim quiver of ten ordinary arrows. His lightning bolt shaped blade hung loosely at his right side, thudding as his leg hit the hardened leather. Astalder was not bothered very much by all the noise he was making. He figured in broad daylight he was fairly safe against intruding on any mischievous gatherings.

The Elf continued bending branches and leaves out of his way to make it through the dense wood. He wasn't in Norwood for any particular reason other than it was really his last home left in Imythess. Taras was in ruin, which is where he'd spent most of his years in Imythess. The Debon Plains were no more, merely a stretch of wasteland. Norwood was a good home for now though, surrounded by many Elven kind, lush wooded environment which he was quite used to, and a full four seasons worth of temperature changes.

Astalder soon found himself face to face with a tough looking Drow bouncer. "Vel'bol ph'dos xundus ghil Darthirii?" he spat out in his native tongue, drawing his blade and pointing it in Astalder's direction. He didn't seem too interested in the answer as much as he seemed to be in making fish fodder or the Elf. "I'm merely wandering Norwood forest good sir, I assure you I mean no harm. If you allow me to pass I will pay no attention to what may be going on." Astalder said stretching his wings and drawing his blade, taking a defensive stance. "However, I do not fear you young Drow and if you rely on violence to solve your problems, I'm afraid you may end up with more than you started with." he finished. The Drow seemed not to hear him though. "Terini'nestg alti'uin whol folt Avariel srow... he said begginning to circle Astalder. He noticed the Drow stepped off with his left foot, moving to his right so Astalder did the same. "Dos orn naut tlu has'syn jalbol dal jaluss yallt, rak'nes l'Ilythiiri Euol'gui." Astalder quirked an eyebrow but addressed the question first. "No I am no Avariel, these wings were actually a gift I received a few years ago... You think I am here to rob you of something? Well I'm sorry to disappoint but that just isn't true. I just want to make it to Norwood Village is all..." The Elf said after stopping and lowering his weapon, which was a grave mistake. Astalder blinked and the Drow was on top of him pinning his arms down with his hands. "Ichl myar..." Astalder was ready to call Lightning down on the Drow's skull but he wasn't quick enough. The Drow delivered a swift head butt. knocking Astalder out cold.

When Astalder awoke his hands were bound behind his back and he was in a different part of the woods. The sun had gone down several hours ago and now it was nighttime. The moon's light danced on an intricate looking merchant's cart that sat a few feet away from him. A small bonfire crackled nearby, keeping him warm against the chilled summer night...

Ruby had slept in, mostly because of the extent of her trip from Cascadia and failed attempts at adjusting to the daylight, She woke late and still a bit groggy. Damn the surface world... She got up slowly and knocked on the wall once after she had risen and stretched. The female drider whom she had taken to using as a hand maid came swiftly in, despite or perhaps because of her legs. The drider female was very efficient and Ruby was dressed and her hair done up within only a few minutes. Barely enough time for the news to reach her that they had found someone snooping around the camp. The news reached her as she came out of the wagon. She walked over to the winged elf and despite their words had the one who had knocked the elf out before her and backhanded the drow hard enough to make him stagger. “I said bring him to me, not knock him useless! She snapped and sent the male off with two others to get some decent meat for the camp. She went back to the wagon for a moment and then, as she was coming out once more with some cloth she saw that the elf had woken up. Relived, she gave the swift order to untie him.

She came forward as he was unbound and offered him back his weapons wrapped in the fabric. “My apologizes, good sir. This is the first time many of them have been to the surface and the hatred for elves, epically those with wings, runs deep. I'm glad that they didn't decide to kill you. It's a problem I've been trying to work on. Clearly it needs a lot more work. Are you well? Do you need anything?”

Her tone and voice seemed earnest, but she knew it was only because the last thing she needed in order to succeed in her mission was bad news about their wagon. Bad news traveled so much faster then good news and what she needed was good news and a feel that they were different from the drow most people knew. That and she was going to have to punish the one who thought this was what she meant by not killing them and bringing anyone to her... She hoped it was something this elf would not take offense to... though there was little to base such hope on.

Astalder was still trying to adjust to the headache that pounded his vision into a blurry mess. He shook his head at looked at the figure that seemed to be advancing. He blinked a few more times and steadied his head squinting at what seemed to be a female Drow. How did I end up in this mess?... he thought. This whole situation couldn't possibly look like it would end well for him. When the Drow woman spoke, however, Astalder was surprised by what she had to say. She began apologizing to him and she sounded quite sincere about it. Astalder felt the ropes wrapped around his wrist loosen and slip off. He struggled to stand up, eventually losing balance and grabbing hold of a large tree to stabilize him. The male Drow really did a number on him. He dry heaved a few times due to his splitting headache before settling himself and finally regaining his focus.

"Tookine..." he managed to slur together, reaching out to grab his weapons but dropping them immediately. "Damn..."[color] he muttered staring at the mess at his feet but not doing anything to resolve the problem. He looked up and noticed that the Drow woman was actually quite soft on the eyes, unlike many Drow he'd seen before. He massaged his temples and started slowly. [color=yellow]"Uhm... I suppose I'm glad they didn't kill me either?" he said with a nervous chuckle. "I uh... I think I'll be okay." he looked around at the glowing Drow eyes that stared at him. He gathered his things from the ground, strapping his blade around his waist, his quiver across his chest, his bow down his back, and his burlap bag hung over one shoulder.

"I see you're a merchant? Or perhaps there is one on the premises? I wouldn't suppose you have any light forms of chainmail, possibly magical?" Astalder was in desperate need of some armor since he'd left his homeland. To him he's considered it a miracle he hasn't suffered any fatal wounds. "I can pay handsomely, although, I'm not exactly the richest man in Imythess. If not that's fine as well, either way I'd like to help escort your cart to your destination if that's okay with you and uh..." The Elf looked around "... your friends."

As Astalder was attempting to compose himself, she signaled for one of the drow to get her things for her. They were quick to do so as she listened to him speak. By the time that he was finished, she had water on to boil with some herbs that she hoped would make him feel better. Damn these foolish men. Didi they not realize what was at risk here? She may end up joining the ranks of the drider if she should fail, but they would simply be slaughtered outright as worthless. She was going to have to make that point to them, and soon.

At least he didn't seem too upset about it, Thank Lolth! She wasn't about to turn down his offer to go with them though. With someone like him, they could no doubt gain entry into the elven city. It was exactly the look she was trying to achieve! She motioned for him to come and sit by the fire.

"How rude of me to not introduce myself. I am Ruby and this is my wagon. These men are my guards. Unfortunately, I don't have anything as lovely as the armor you are speaking of, but I could see about finding some. I do have a friend who can do some enchanting also, so if I could just find some good armor I might be able to do something for you." She smiled kindly at him and checked the water over the fire. Seeing it was hot enough, she poured some into a heavy clay mug that would keep the heat from burning his hands and gave it to him. "This is by no means magical, but it should help you feel a bit more focused and clear your head some. I need to go talk with with my men. I'll be with you in a moment." Ruby rose, nodded to him, and walked smoothly away from the fire.

She gestured to some of the men. Two ran off and one of them followed her as she went around her wagon and into the woods slightly. There she stopped and looked at her general. She spoke in hushed and sharp tones. "I do not want anyone beaten like that again! Captured and brought to me! Doing something like that," she pointed in the direction of Astalder, "may get me turned into a drider, but is guaranteed to get all of you just outright slaughtered." She hissed at him. Then the two who had left returned with the drow who had done that to Astalder. The mark on his face still as clear as day. The two held the drow silently as she walked over to the wagon and pulled out her crossbow. She walked over calmly to where they were, notching the bolt on the crossbow. She let the rune true flight sink into the bolt after drawing it on the object. Then she aimed the crossbow at the offending man. "Run." She ordered and they let him go. He started to run, one step, two steps, three...

The bolt was set loose, hitting true, right in the heart. She walked over and knelt down to retrieve the bolt. "Not fast enough." She said to herself and she wiped the bolt clean and started back over to the wagon. She shot a glance at the general before putting the crossbow and the bolt she had used away. "Take care of it." She said in a sharp, crisp tone before coming back around the wagon to rejoin Astalder. She smiled at him as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. "So what was this offer to come with us to our next destination?"