these newcomers, though, there are far fewer heroes in the hall than there were the previous evening, and the atmosphere is serious and somber as Lady Jamandi steps up to speak.

"I would like to thank those of you who helped defeat the Black Tears last night," Lady Jamandi begins. "It's obvious someone doesn't like our plans to settle the Stolen Lands. Well, we're not so easily dissuaded, are we? I say no, and this morning, I would like to issue formal charters to all of you to begin exploring the Stolen Lands and make them safe for tomorrow's settlers.

"The first charter we would like to bequeath goes to the group called the Iron Wraiths," she states, with a wave towards a band of four well-armored adventurers. "The tales of your adventures have thrilled many Brevic nobles, and I'm excited to see what you can do with the exploration of the Glenebon Uplands. Your charter is to establish a base for Brevoy there after dealing with the Tiger Lords and then to open diplomatic relations with Pitax from a point of strength."

A group of obviously experienced fighters walk up to Lady Aldori. They hold an air of confidence and arrogance, so much so that it is a visible aura around them. Those who they walk by instantly and unconsciously lean away, as if a fire surrounded them. The Iron Wraiths take the charter and head for the door out. While they walk out, one calls, "Hey, 'heroes,' don't forget to bring your stuffed animals so you don't get scared."

Another chuffs him in the side, "Don't worry. I bet 30 gold these other 'adventurers' won't last a fortnight."

The whole group laughs as they exit. Lady Jamandi shakes her head and mouths a small curse at their antics.

Zrak is unprepared for the sheer gravitas from the Great Hall. He had been in there for the feast, but the feeling here was different. There was an uncomfortable sense of seriousness, unavoidable due to the attack last night; but this meeting marks an undeniable shift in tone. It leaves the ratfolk uneasy, just as he was when he first lined up yesterday. Without food to distract him, he simply sits down at the table and next to Malkala. The cuts and damaged armor hides under the table's large height as his head pokes out towards everyone else.

His anxiety turns to ire as he gets a look at some of the other adventurers. The Iron Wraiths in particular get a grisly sneer out of the ratfolk. If he wasn't still tired from the other night, he'd have given them a show of fury in front of everyone.

But with a hefty sigh instead, Zrak stays in his chair. "Damn, if only we got that charter," he mutters to Malkala; the name, "Tiger Lords" struck a chord in him; Malkala could see her companion slump in his chair momentarily.

The moment passes, however, and he waits to hear the next thing from Aldori.

Malkala looks over to Zrak and gives him a tiny smirk, "Don't worry. We apparently have the greatest adventurers ever to take care of them."

"Baron Hannis Drelev," Lady Aldori's voice cuts in, "as per our previous discussions, your charter is one of specific importance for Brevoy. Securing the southern trade routes along the East Sellen River and establishing a base for merchant caravans and barges alike is of utmost importance! Hooktongue Slough will be your base of operations."

The man who rises to recieve the charter is obviously a nobleman. His dour face holds not much emotion as he takes the scroll, bows, and starts walking out of the room. However, as he passes by Zrak and Malkala's table, they both see a slight sneer on his face. He does not say word or look at anyone as he steps through the door's threshold.

Lady Aldori then turns to look at a familiar face, sitting at the other side of the room from the pair of adventurers, ""Maegar Varn, your father Androth has long been a faithful friend. Your charter assigns you to Nomen Heights to establish a town with the Varnling Host. In time, we hope to establish an Aldori dueling school there, but in the more immediate future, we ask you to broker an alliance with the Nomen centaurs who roam the region. I trust you and your fellows are up to the task!"

Malkala watches intently as Maegar Varn, the black-clad human from the feast, stands up and steps up to Lady Aldori. As he takes the scroll, he bows to her and speaks for a moment in a whisper that could not be heard. After her response, he smiles, bows again, and starts walking out. But before he leaves, he stops at Malkala and Zrak, "Once you get established, I would love to have you come visit so we can set up trade relations."

Continuing to listen, Zrak can't help but raise an eyebrow toward the next few who receive their charter. What in the hells are noblemen doing here? The two who approach do not appear to be fighters, and while Zrak gave Maegar Varn the benefit of the doubt, in hindsight the noble shows no capability for combat.

Perhaps the nobles are sent to more peaceful regions of the Stolen Lands? Maybe they have the funds to hire mercenaries? Aldori mentiones "your fellows,' so surely the nobles have their own forces. Though Zrak has nothing but speculation on his mind.

He gives no response to Hannis beyond a hasty turn of his head, but the ratfolk musters enough of a care to look back at Maegar Varn. "We'll have our land up before you know it," he insists, attempting to be confident in spite of the utter uncertainty ahead.

Malkala gives Zrak a small smile before standing and holding her hand out for Varn to shake, "I think we would love to have a positive relationship with you."

Maegar Varn nods a bit deeper than a normal bow, "That would be wonderful. Good luck." With that, he heads out with an air of confidence and determination.

Lady Jamandi Aldori watches him leave before turning to Malkala, Zrak, and the rest of the tablemates from the feast before, "And last, but certainly not least, last night's heroes. First, I want to thank you again for risking your lives to help defend my manor. The courage, gumption, and skill you displayed will take you far, I suspect! For your charters, we're asking you to travel to the southwest into the region known as the Greenbelt, a swath of wildlands that includes the forest known as the Narlmarches and the hill country of the Kamelands. We've heard that the bandits have grown particularly aggressive in the Greenbelt, and they need to be stopped before anyone safely settles in the region. A small trading post in the Rostland hinterlands has been particularly hard hit—I suggest starting there. Once the bandits have been dealt with, we will be ready to bequeath to you more permanent charters to settle the land and establish a government of your own!"

Everyone at the table stands up to receive a copy of the charter. As he takes his charter, Tartuccio brags, "I'll have my own kingdom carved out before you all are done wrestling in the dirt with bandits!" His eyes are locked onto Malkala and Zrak as he says this, clearly aiming his bravado at the pair. Before anyone has time to say anything, though, the gnome spins and heads quickly out the door.

Harrim, Valerie, and Jaethal look at each other, seeming to have already come to a decision. Valerie gives Malkala and Zrak a curtsey before saying, "We thank you for your help, but we have decided to join together to stake out the Stolen Lands. May we meet again."

The other two nod toward the adventurers as they walk out with Valerie. Amiri and Linzi, however, seem indecisive and unsure.

The charter's lush, hardened parchment fits comfortably in Zrak's thin hands as he reads over the gold-colored font. The wording sends him into a small chuckle. Punish banditry by sword or rope? Oh he can do that; After assassins and giants, fighting off bandits should be a more straightforward process.

There are matters of how to keep them out should they flee, and the potential stretch of land he and Malkala will cover; but that's a future problem, not a "now" one.

With this in mind, Zrak gives his farewells to some of the other adventurers, at least for what they deserve. The ysoki has nothing but a scowl to Tartuccio and a hope that the gnome loses his way and winds up in Numeria. To Harrim, Valeria and Jaethal, Zrak merely nods. The three will probably be fine. He did not see any of them in combat but if they survived the night, they'll get through some ravenous thugs.

Amiri and Linzi, however, catch his rough green eyes, and for a moment he's torn between his competitive spirit and his pragmatic, collaborative side. "So are you heading out together?" He asks the two, approaching on his skittering feet. "Me and Malkala are gonna do real well out at the Greenbelt." He speaks with a greater comfort toward Amiri and Linzi, knowing them as more reliable than the other adventurers. "You're welcome to come along, if you want."

The two women look at each other for a moment, as if conversing silently. Amiri shrugs, "I typically travel alone. But, I think travelling to the trading post together will be nice."

Linzi nods, "Yeah. After last night I think I would like some traveling partners."

Malkala gives them a smile, "Your company would be greatly appreciated."

Before the conversation can continue, there is a polite cough from behind Malkala. Everyone turns to see the same half-orc servant that grabbed Zrak and Malkala for the ceremony. When she has everyone's attention, she curtseys, "Hello! My lady thought it necessary to make sure you know the area, and where the trading post is."

Malkala immediately starts pulling out maps from her bag, having to put some back before she finally finds her map of the Stolen Lands. She sets it on the nearby table and the servant pulls out a quill and vial of ink. Once she inks the quill, she circles an area of the map that stretches from the northern path to the western forest, down south to a lake, then east toward a mountain range. She then marks an X on a curve of the northern path and quickly labels it "Oleg's."

"The area I am circling includes the Greenbelt and Tuskwater. It is on the border to the Narlmarches to the west, the Kamelands to the south, and the Tors of Levenies to the east. The place I marked is the trading post, simply named Oleg's Trading Post. That should be your first destination. From there, my lady wishes to make sure you know that you have free reign to explore the area that will become your future kingdom, but the sooner you can deal with the bandit threat, the better for everyone."

Zrak pulls up a chair and stands upon the seat as he looks over the map. The span of land becomes clear to him as he sees its vastness on the parchment. No wonder why Lady Aldori requested many adventurers to the Greenbelt; there is simply too much for one person to cover.

Leaning over on the table, Zrak points at the trading post mark with a bony finger, then moves it around the circle which the half-orc inked. "There sure is a lot here," he comments somewhat needlessly on the size. "Do you know where bandits often attack or come from? It's gonna take a darn long time to search every bit of land for threats." Surely him and Malkala won't have to scour the entire plains and forests. There had to have been a leader, or leaders, or something that'd crack the bandit threat. He just needs a lead, or a place to find a lead.

Before he forgets, Zrak looks back to Malkala with a sudden abrupt excitement in his voice. "So how soon are you ready to go?" He likes to travel light, for it lets him move in an instant, even if his family or Malkala aren't.

The servant shakes her head, "Unfortunately, the reports from Oleg himself just say that there is a major bandit problem. You will need to speak with him yourself to learn more." She looks to each person at the table, "Are there any further questions?"

Malkala nods, "Approximately how long will it take to arrive at Oleg's if we keep to the path?"

"Approximately nine days." The servant points to where Restov is on the map, "However, if you move straight west, you can remove one day. However, it is easy to get lost if you are not yet familiar with the area."

Malkala squints her eyes in thought, "But, isn't that all just plains?"

Zrak and Amiri both say at the same time, "Exactly."

Zrak knows from his life in Numeria that plains can be difficult to navigate for anyone if there is no points of reference to use. Sure, there is the sun and moon, but if that is your only reference, then there is still a good chance of being turned around. That's why, while not in the Stolen Lands, deserts are also dangerous. For those unfamiliar with an area, paths are the best thing.

Malkala, after being explained that, takes it in and shrugs, "Very well." At Zrak's question, Malkala starts putting away her map and other belongings she pulled from her bag, "I just wish to grab a few items and food for the trip. Otherwise, I am ready to go."

Observing the map one more time, Zrak looks at the plains and the path which leads to the trader post. A part of him debated getting there as soon as possible, for he has plenty of experience traversing featureless regions in Numeria. Yet he considered the exhausting last night and all the 'surprises' that awaited him and Malkala. And there, he decided to remain averse to risk-taking.

"We'll take the path," he says to the adventurers, looking at Malkala, then to Amiri and Linzi. "I'll grab some rations and a few things as well. We'll catch up if you two wanna go on ahead."

With that said, Zrak checks that he has his pack and equipment before taking his leave of the manor. Restov's marketplace is a vastly different landscape: full of commoners and adventurers walking about the stone-clad pathway and around all the stalls and stores. The walk sends an anxious Zrak skittering wildly, twitching his head every few moments. He can't help but think he's being watched; surely this would be an excellent place for someone to track him without being seen.

Or... can he even see them? Can they blend in? Perhaps they are invisible? No, no, that's not possible. Surely that sort of ability would've been used at