Reprise! Act 1!

[Carthrat]

Carthrat ponders this for a moment.

"Well, I suppose we can safely conclude that it sucks to be them," she says, cheerfully. "Which way're you headed?"

[Rezantis]

Relm hummed.

"You know, I think we can."  She flashed a quick grin.  "And nowhere in particular, I was only here to pick up a couple of books.  But getting away from here might not be a bad idea."

Relm thought for a moment.  "You don't know the area, do you?  There's the port town of Linsoltear to the south, which is a good choice if you feel like leaving the country; The capitol is to the north, and the Mystic Forest Of Doom is to the west."

[Carthrat]

"Hey, it's called the Mystic Forest of Doom?" replies Carthrat. "What, really?"

[Rezantis]

"Yeah, really.  They say that nobody who goes in ever comes out alive, too."

[Carthrat]

Carthrat ponders. "Weird. Y'know what? I think I'll just tag along with you," he replies. "I'm in no hurry to get anywhere or do anything, and it'd be fun to have someone to talk to."

[Rezantis]

Relm blinked, then shrugged.

"Suits me, I guess, I don't really have anything much to do right now."

She hmmed again.

"Actually, I might go and see if my brother's still in Kelusk, it's been a while since I've seen him and I'm not really that far away.  Quickest way there is straight west through the Mystic Forest Of Doom."

[Carthrat]

"Sounds fun!" says Carthrat, brazenly.

With a swirl of her dress and a flick of her fingers, her entire mode of dress has changed from a somewhat dignified day-dress to her clothes from the day before, armour and all.

[Rezantis]

"Actually, it'll be boring as anything.  I've been in more dangerous cornfields than that forest.  The only reason people don't come back from there is because they get lost, but you try convincing the average farmer of that."

[Carthrat]

Carthrat blinks. "I can believe that. Sorta. Though I wonder where that big worm-thing came from."

[Rezantis]

"You know, nobody's really sure, but they tend to pop up all over the realm.  Not very often, though, and they're generally not beaten back quite that easily . . ."

[Carthrat]

Carthrat-chan shrugs. "Well, when you shoot that much shit into it's open mouth..."

[Rezantis]

"Well, at least it eventually took the hint, unlike certain other people I could mention."

Relm paused for a moment.  "So, why were you disguised as a man back in the bar?  Or are you disguised now?"

[Carthrat]

"Because men have better alcohol tolerance than women," replies Carthrat.

[Rezantis]

"And tend to get charged more for their milk, apparently."

[Carthrat]

"Absolutely," replies Carthrat. "Naw, I turn into a guy when someone hits me with hot water. Some weird curse thing. Reversed by cold water. Yeah, that's right. Forgot about it. Dosn't come up that often, y'know?"