Part 1 - In Zwei Städten

[Mr. Handy]

"One of the ladies outside started telling me about it when she talked to me about our looking for Elsie," says Max. He turns to the Dotherite. "If we had said no, you could have asked someone else. We are not the only dreamers in Hlanith. Where is Kadatheron, what do you know about it, and how does one get there?"

[SunlessNick]

"It is an ancient city, on the far side of the Cerenarian Sea," the Dotherite says, gesturing in the direction of the dockside. "Surrounding a temple, where are told all the stories of the Dreamlands. But they admit few - only the wisest. But dreamers are not so bound. We could learn what afflicts Dother, and why my people suffer, if you would do this. I have fellows preparing a ship."

"Where you would have taken me, I suppose?" Elsie interjects in a cold tone.

"Yes," he says quietly.

[Philulhu]

”Why should we trust you?” snapped Alex. “In fact, why are we even having this conversation?! We should just report you to the Kripo for kidnapping Elsie - they’ll soon sort you out!”

[SunlessNick]

"Please," the Dotherite says. "I am asking you to help my people."

"Only because kidnapping me didn't work," Elsie says.

"Elsie and her friend may owe you nothing," Helmut says. "But I am curious to see this temple if it is all you claim."

[Mr. Handy]

"Do the rest of your people have the same criminal inclinations as you, or is it just you?" asks Max.

[SunlessNick]

"He wasn't alone," Elsie says before the Dotherite can answer.

"There are six of us," he says in response. "The rest are preparing the ship I spoke of. None of the rest took any part. This I promise."

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm not sure what your word is worth," says Max. "You've already been caught kidnapping, so what would stop you from telling a lie? Still, I won't judge an entire people on the actions of one or a few."

[Philulhu]

”You might not, but Elsie said there were more of them. It sounds to me as if they’re all rotten. We get on that ship of their’s and we’ll be overboard before we’re a day out and Elsie and Friede will find themselves being sold off to the highest bidder!”

Alex’s colour was up and he looked ready to swing for the would-be kidnapper again.

[HoneyDog]

“Please, Herr Alex” Karl soothes. “Violence won’t help. But you do have a point. I am not inclined to help either, on account of this kidnapping. You should have approached us with the hand of friendship” he tells the Dotherite. “How do you expect us to trust you now?”

[SunlessNick]

"I suppose I cannot. Go then, if you wish. I could not stop you."

OOC,Just to be clear, you won't derail things if you decide to do that. Follow your characters' hearts whichever way.

[Mr. Handy]

"If we go, what will you do?" asks Max. "Are you going to try to kidnap another dreamer?"

[Philulhu]

”Let’s go,” said Alex, heading for the door. “He’s shown he can’t be trusted. Whatever story he comes up with to get you on thar boat, you’d be a fool to believe it.”

[SunlessNick]

"If we go, what will you do?" asks Max. "Are you going to try to kidnap another dreamer?"

"We will try to find one to help us. Make of that what you will."

”Let’s go,” said Alex, heading for the door. “He’s shown he can’t be trusted. Whatever story he comes up with to get you on thar boat, you’d be a fool to believe it.”

Elsie goes with you, staying close by. Outside, the crowd seems to have mostly dispersed from around the now-empty food cart.

[HoneyDog]

“So you would take someone again” Karl says to the Dotherite.

He frowns, thinking.

“Very well” he eventually says. “I will help you. But I would hear what exactly your plan is”.

[Mr. Handy]

"I will as well," says Max. "I will not allow you to take another, and this is the only honorable way to prevent it."

[SunlessNick]

“Very well” he eventually says. “I will help you. But I would hear what exactly your plan is”.

"I will as well," says Max. "I will not allow you to take another, and this is the only honorable way to prevent it."

"You have my lifelong thanks. When the ship is ready, we mean to sail south east across the Cerenarian sea to the port city of Thraa. There we will travel upriver to Kadatheron. The city is hospitable to travellers, and we will be able to present you at the temple. It is a journey of a few weeks."

[SunlessNick]

Outside in the street, Alex and Eslie are met by Louis and Friede. "You found her!" Louis exclaims. "What did that thug do to her?"

[HoneyDog]

"Will you join us, Helmut?" asks Karl.

[Mr. Handy]

"What about provisions for the journey?" asks Max. "There will be more of us than you had planned."

[Philulhu]

”He had her tied up in a cupboard,” replied Alex tersely. ”Just as well we got here when we did. He was talking about putting her on a boat to God knows where!”

He tried to give Elsie a reassuring pat on her arm but he was tense - they weren’t out of the wood yet. He looked back at the building they had come from. He walked back towards the doorway and shouted through, “Cone on you two! Let’s go!”