"Is this the way into the Underdank?" asks a tall, lanky knight in shining armor. Her voice is a shrill whisper, but upbeat. The green spiral symbol on her shield marks her as a follower of Freegh, the Goddess of Life.
Bobbobo the guard's eyes shift back into focus. At a glance, he may have mistaken her for a tallgoblin, but her large hooked nose and long skinny neck weren't like anyone he'd seen before. Her legs are more cat than goblin, too. Perhaps that is why he hadn't heard her approach. These thoughts occupy his mind for barely a second before he discards them. "Yes," he says, back to business, "Reason for leaving?"
M: She has a striking figure. She's as beautiful as she is kind. But she has a nasty habit of sneaking off, vanishing into darkness.
"I've been tasked with locating the Shadow Queen," says the knight, pumping her fist, "This is the closest entrance to her fortress... I think."
"Time to return, knight?" asks Bobbobo.
"I... hadn't thought about... that?" The knight turns around. "Do I need to know that?"
"No."
YL: Wait, I may have seen your mate.
M: You saw her? You met Kirono?
K: I thhink I did, too. Jusst briefly.
YL: Last week, yeah? Kee-RAW-naw? Cute name.
Before Kirono can speak, a bell rings out from within the dome behind the guard. He claps the fingers of his right hand against its palm, then slaps the dome. The magic barrier become translucent revealing the entrance to the Underdank. "Welcome back, Ling." He does not turn to face the gecko climbing out of the hole.
"G'day, Bob," says Ling, who looks up to the knight, "And ya too, sheila. Love to chat, but I've work to do." She races into the nearby building.
Kirono bends her neck ninety degrees and peers into the hole. She whistles. "That's... not the angle I was expecting."
"Four hundred metres straight down," recites Bobbobo, "The Township of Rankedge 'olds no responsibility for your safety. It is advised not to enter the Underdank." He eyes Kirono without turning his head. "Especially alone."
"I'll be fine," says Kirono, proudly, "I'm a wayang, I was born down there."
"Be careful down there," says Bobbobo.
Seeing the guards apathy, Kirono hesitates. "Maaaaaybe I should tell someone where I'm going first," she says, "Where's the... post office?"
M: I received a letter from her five days ago and- Oh, the ground. Thank you, both of you.
YL: No worries, mate.
K: Now, where shhould we sstart looking, dear?