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When Azrael looked at her and informed her of the foothold. Kayla thanked him and stepped forward toward the wall and found the first of the indentations so she could ascend through the opening more easily. She looked around to make sure there was no danger about just to be safe. Kayla let her breath go that she unconsciously held. "Your tunnel stem is a marvel of engineering sir." Kayla said down to the pair as they began to rise after her.

"Farewell then, Alunn," Logain bid him once more, not adding anything else. He underestimated the power that the clasp held, but that was nothing new, and perhaps experience was the best for it to be learned. Not wanting to prolong a parting, he turned to and returned to Elizabeth and bowed to her apologetically. "Forgive my rudeness, I wanted to see him off properly, " he told her frankly, and returned to the question that she had asked before he had gone off so abruptly. "From what I understand, it seems that your compatriots have come into direct contact with a tribe of werewolves that call these forests home. I sense that they managed to avoid any conflict, but I don't know how close to blows that they came." He said as he gestured for Elizabeth to follow after him.

"This is the work of the tribe as a whole. We did some work in creating it. Though it was not so difficult as we thought, the caves below were quite extensive to begin with, it is all a matter of finding the right tunnels." Azrael told Kayla as she went up, waiting until after they had both climbed up, he was able to pull himself out of the pit, owing to his great height in his wolf form.

Shinn looked around, and then at the circle. A pup was going around tapping heads. "When I say go, we'll creep our way into the passages." He said to her, to prepare her for when they would go off.

((Certainly. I warn you, I might get carried away and make a wall of text out of it, but despite the detail involved, feel free to take a few liberties with the information.

Bedaious is a nation located very far to the south of the locations mentioned or discussed in Symphony of Destruction and Melody of Change. It is located within a large desert, and its capital is a great a port city known as Beda'i Abal'rish, though it was originally just called Bedaious and was only changed as it took control of its neighboring cities and established itself as a nation. The desert and coastline is shared with a neighboring nation known as Saidous, and it is important to note that both Bedaious and Saidous are almost completely identical to each other in culture, language, trade methods and goods, architecture, etc. Both countries were originally cities belonging to a larger empire known as the Grand Sultanate of Saibel'Rut, which disolved during the War of the Graces when the Sultan died with no heir, and a trade disupte between the Grace of Destruction and the Grace of Life caused a political schism between the city of Saidous, which was the capital of Saibel'Rut during that time and maintained the Sultanate's political authority over the loyal parts of the state, and the city of Bedaious, whose great wealth had been impacted by difficult trade practices imposed by the Mandate of Neutrality, as well as the Sultanate's laws prohibiting strong trade agreements with either the Grace of Life or Grace of Destruction, and took itself and other parts of the country that wished to defy Saidous's authority. Saidous still announces itself as the Grand Sultanate of Saibel'Rut, though Bedaious and those who trade with either country merely refer to it as Saidous.

Despite charged political dissatisfaction, no particularly violent event marked the Sultanate's split into two separate countries. It was not until several centuries later that a war occured between the Bedaious and Saidous, however it and most that followed after, were not so much wars of conquest or ideological expansion, but territorial skirmishes that had more in common with sport-fighting than war, and were fought for national prestige and honor. National relations between the two countries is actually quite amicable at most points, given that they have matching societal values, there has never been a need to impose true force on each other.

Bedaious and Saidous are both characters by a a fairly strict caste system, with citizens generally stuck in the same societal position that they were born in. The hierarchy of Bedaious is made up of the Ruling Seltore, (which is also the name of the ruler of Bedaious. In Saidous Seltore is defined as the ruling council and the families of the members) the Praelate (basically the priest caste), the Parivir which is an order of warriors that has provided protection to the two countries for centuries, the Merchants, the low-born or commoners (Canor is currently a member of the Low-born), and the Hi'sheen, which stands for "shunned" in the native tongue, the Hi'Sheen perform the most base and unclean tasks in society and are not actually mentioned in the official caste in either Bedaious or Saidous. Hunting, butchery and leather tanning are included among the tasks considered unclean and dehumanizing by the majority of Bedaians and Saidouans.

Despite strict enforcement of the castes, there is possibility for class mobility, though it is limited. Low-born who exhibit ability in magic are quickly recruited into the merchant caste, which controls the local equivalent to a Mages Guild known as the Order of Hazchel, and those who are exceptionally talented or more scholarly than the average student are often either recruited by Parivirs, who are rumored to possess an arcane library more extensive than most of the few remaining colleges of magic elsewhere, or are raised into the Praelate. Parivirs can also take on young members of the low-borne or merchant class as apprentices, who upon the completion of their training are official raised to Parivirs, and it is not uncommon for the immediate family of a newly raised Parivir to be allowed to move into the quarters of Parivir, and new children born into that family are born as Parivir. The Hi'Sheen, however, are not recognized as a true class and it is impossible for them to advance. The merchants especially use Hi'Sheen as tools for profit, and often discreetly organize groups of Hi'Sheen, and use these gangs to make strikes at other merchant's operations, and create rivalry and violence within the parts of the city that Hi'Sheen are forced into when performing their taks.

The population of Bedaious (and Saidous) is primarily human, though a disenfranchised clan of dwarves makes their residence within the border of the twin countries, and are accepted as merchants in most cities. The desert that the twin countries lie in, however, plays host to the Grell, a race of elves (also known as Grunge Elves) that exists as a scattered group of traveling warbands, who exist in a perpetual state of war with all other elves, but no more fiercely than the Drow or Dark Elves, who were once allies with the Grell (and are similar in apperance) but appear to have failed or betrayed them in the past. Grell extend their state of war toward most civilized society, and are a constant threat to merchant caravans and smaller settlements. Though in the past some Grell warbands have temporarily banded together to hold large settlements and even cities under siege.

The twin nations have large trading fleets, and have an extensive network of colonies and trade contacts, which allow them to be very influential, despite their remoteness. A recent prestige battle went out of control, and the two nations have come to the conclusion that they cannot fight themselves in their hallowed homeland. This has caused both an increase in the size of the battles fought by their generals, forcing both countries to create armies from the Low-Born, designed to serve the every whim of the Parivir, and basically act as insulation for Parivir's during battle. Battles are now being fought as contests for the colony rights to remote locations where resources that can be made into wealth can be required. According to rumor, some of the port cities that had conducted trade with Bedaious and Saidous have been taken over by these countries, albeit discreetly. Given the relative weakness of the nations remaining after the War of the Graces ended, there is currently little that can be done to reverse this trend, as the twin nations possess unprecedented wealth and stability. A time when either or both of the twin countries might begin to push to conquer the slowly recovering nations ravaged by the War of the Graces may be coming soon.

I hope this information helps and isn't too overwhelming.))

((Yeah, you've pretty much got it. Previously they did no state-supported trade with either state, Bedaious split so that they might be able to do major trade with whichever Grace they chose. At different times they have chosen one way or the other, if not simply playing both sides, however as war wound down they had several binding trade agreements with the Grace of Life.))

((Yeah it can roll with that, I don't see why it couldn't. Just because the caste's are a fairly strict doesn't mean all the merchants are scrupulous. If you think you can make it work, then by all means! It makes things more interesting.))

Elizabeth watched the exchange curiously, and responded so much as to tilt her head to the side in curiosity. She was pleasantly surprised with his manners. She shook her head, "Oh, it is not a problem. It is very kind of you to do so." She listened with a questioning expression as Logain told her what was going on. Her eye brows rose in question at the thought of her comrades with a pack of werewolves. Were they prisoners? Nodding Elizabeth quickly followed along behind Logain. "I must ask sir," She began, "Are they safe? Have they been taken prisoner?"

Once everyone was out of the tunnels Miluiel continued on towards the Long house where their guests would be waiting. "So dear, what do you think they are expecting to hear? What are they looking for?"

Shera nodded and watched her brother closely as she prepared herself to race for the escape when her brother gave the signal.


((I am so sorry guys! College has been taking so much time lately! I can't even believe it. >.< I feel so bad.))

“I agree.” Elizabeth said with a curt nod to Logain as she followed closely behind him. She was very eager to be reunited with her comrades after having been stolen away. Other than the sensation of a light head, and the sting of the wounds on her neck she was fine. She hoped her comrades were the same. “Do you think they would keep us as prisoners?” Elizabeth asked with a slight tone of apprehension. “What are the chances they would release us b-…” She let her words fall silent. She had been about to mention the troops she led, but what conflict would that alone cause? “After the struggles we have had today, I do not think conflict is the best thing.” She commented vaguely. If she had any say in the matter then the conflict would be gone. The werewolves were a strong foe, and a force that she, along with whoever else might have been captures, could probably not stand up to.

“Darling, you must calm yourself.” Miluiel said and placed a gentle hand on her husband’s shoulder. She leaned in close and kissed him briefly, hoping that something so simple could put him to ease. She watched Azrael as he spoke. Closing her eyes Miluiel imagines the prisoners who awaited them patiently. She could see them making their way through the forest, chopping down trees, turning everything they knew and loved to smoldering ash. She closed her eyes a little tighter, squinting at the darkness she found within. She shook her head slightly, hoping to clear the images. She had to enter that hut with a clear conscience. She could not bear grudges on her soul that would affect what she was about to hear.

“Yes dear.” Miluiel said and bowed her head. “We will await you inside.” She opened her eyes and looked at her beloved. “Treat them well, guide them with kind words and the result, hopefully, will be better.” She advised her husband. “Let us try to make them comfortable. I do not wish to give them the feeling that we are weak, however.” She placed her fingers gently to her forehead and shook her head slightly. “It will work out. No sense in prolonging this any further.” She reached out to take Azrael’s hand and gently kissed it before letting him go. “See you soon my love.” She said and turned to Kayla. “Come along dear, let us go inside and wait for them.”

Anxious jitters filled Shera as she heard her brother bark at her. She followed him closely, almost to the point of stepping on his toes. She jumped the rest of the way into the tunnel and landed with a soft umph on all four paws. Her fur stood on end as she looked around wildly, waiting for someone to shout at them. Silence met her waiting ears. “I think we’re safe to keep going Shinn.” She whispered softly. “Do you know the way out of here?” She asked hopefully. “I wasn’t really paying attention coming in.”