Iona stood next to the fire as the moonlight pierced through the trees. It has been over a week since she left home, and life was quite different. She was not used to not living in the large soft beds of the palace and having servants at her beck and call, and her daily glass of purple wine. However, it did beat having her mother nag her, so life was quiet. On the fire was venison that was being slowly cooked. The aroma of salt and spices filled her nostrils and nearly made her mouth water. 

If she didn't have spices then the meat will be horrible, but she had spices from her kingdom. The meat was attached to a metal rod so she could grab it. After a couple minutes, she took it off the fire and bit into it. She never had anything so good and decided to savor it.

Beist walked along the outer part of the Kingswood, his walking stick tapping along the ground. He was still a bit wary of the place, but he had gained a good idea of where some of the plants he wanted for potions tended to grow and where the dangerous beasts tended to avoid. He was also a bit more confident in his abilities now. It was late now though, and he didn't like being in this forest at night. He needed to leave and go make camp for the night.

As he walked along, ducking under the occasional low hanging branch, he suddenly smelled something. It smelled like... cooking meat? And some kind of mix of spices? He found himself being lead by his nose toward the source of the aroma. Soon, he saw the glow of a campfire and the figure of a large woman sitting by it, eating the cooked meat off of a metal rod. A very large woman.

Beist's walking came to a halt for a moment. He was a bit stunned. He had never seen a woman, or anyone really, quite as large as he was. No, she actually looked like she might be a bit taller than him. How interesting. A Giant, maybe? He had never seen a giant before. He continued on, stopping once he was just inside the firelight.

"Um, excuse me! Hello! I was travelling through these woods and happened to stumble upon your campfire. Would you mind if I joined you? It's rather late. And these woods can be rather dangerous, especially at night. It would be a relief to have some company" He said, giving a slight wave with his clawed hand and a little fang-filled smile.

The air had been mostly calm for part of the day as Sarris had been flying on her broom. She had become more of a messenger, and a bit of a spy. As she could travel faster and farther than her walking. She was still scared to fly over the seas or when there were storms in the area.

Sarris had spent the day flying messages to different places. She was proud that she only got lost once. She was tired and when she saw the glow of a fairly large campfire and the smell of meat being cooked she decided to investigate.

It was getting dark and she did not want to fly after dusk.

She landed in a clearing and walked to the camp sight.
As she approached she heard a familiar voice, Beist.

“Hello?” She said entering to the light of the fire.

The logs on the fire were large. Limbs and drunks. What struck her next was the vision of a woman much larger than herself.
“I am a traveler might I take rest here tonight?” She asked is a bit more tentative tone.

Iona widened her eyes upon seeing two newcomers to her massive campfire. Well, this was better than having a wolf or a bear attack her. And this beast man, and this elf didn't seem like a bandit. After biting another piece and swallowed, she sat it down while having her sword nearby. The wood cracked in the fire as she lookeed at two of them.

"Of course, you can join me but tell me your names? Unfortunately, you will have to rest on the forest floor and not a soft bed." She said with the elegant tone of a highborn or a princess. There was still some meat and berries that Iona collected.

"If you are hungry, I have some berries in a bowl, well a large bowl to be accurate."

Sarne had been tracking something large in the forest some said it was gentle giant other had said it was a fierce giant. It was not too hard to track the giant with its 20-inch-long footprint. The only thing he did get was it was a woman some 10 feet in height.

As the day past Sarne got the impression it was not violent. There was no destruction in her wake. as night was falling Sarne knew he was getting close the ground was not that hard on the forest floor and the tracks were easy to follow.

it was almost dark the air was getting chilly. Sarne worried that he would not be fined the giant this night. and Sarris had taken off so time ago He still was not sure how she disappeared the way she did without a trace.

He could hear talking in the distance blinding into shadows and making no noise Sarne got close. He could see Beast Man? standing at 8.5 feet with horns, with a broad, muscular build. His bluish-grey skin is mostly covered by dark grey, slightly curly fur. His fingers and toes are both tipped with large claws. Tusks poke out of the animal-like mouth under his large, animal-like nose. His furry ears are pointed and droop down slightly. His green, tired-looking eyes remain the most human-looking part of him.

Sarne wondered if this was a giant convention. what was this all about as Sarne moved to get a better look He saw his cousin sitting by the fire? "Oh.." he mumbled to himself, "well dam." He walked into the light looking at the large woman. She is 9ft tall and dressed in elegant travel clothing. with pretty blue eyes and light brown hair in a ponytail.

"Good evening everyone, I am Young Lord Sarne Sequoia, Vanguard of Solaria of Grey Stone Keep," Sarne said introducing himself. The man you see has soft features like an elf with a husky build. Heh as strong and has swift movements. You can tell he is a nobleman in the way he presents himself, his armor, and his clothing. His perspiring green eyes shine in the light. He stands almost 6 feet. His dirty blond hair is neat and well-kept. His skin is slightly tan shows the time he spent in the wilderness. His armor has a crest that could be seen on his front and his cloak, A large tree with two wolf heads on each side pointing at the tree with three stars above it. With a black sword in the background pointing down.

"Did some one say Food? I do have some excellent tea I could add to the meal," added Sarne,

Iona was a bit more confident that there was a lord in her campfire. Sure she had company already, but maybe she can make connections. She was a new adventurer and had to make a name for herself. Turning to the lord, she said." Good evening Lord Sarne, my name is Princess Iona of the Earthbreakers." Despite being a princess, she looked like a warrior due to her muscles though she lacked any scars. Which was fortunate as she wanted to keep up her image. Upon hearing the word tea, she raised a eyebrow.

"You have tea that you want to add to the meal. I never had that before." She quickly reached into her oversized backpack and got a giant bowl of berries, and nuts. There was more than enough for everyone.

Beist was surprised by the sudden appearance of Sarris, turning to see her walking into the clearing, he gave a smile and a wave. "Sarris, a pleasure to see you again, as always" he said before turning back to the giant woman. He was about to introduce himself, when he was surprised by the appearance of another stranger. A man that seemed to be a noble. The man introduced himself as Sarne. Beist turned back to the giant again, slightly hesitant. He half-expected another person to emerge from the woods.



"Thank you very much for your hospitality. My name is Beistmild, but please call me Beist. No need to worry about me, I am quite used to 'roughing it' they say, and I have my own food. Though the spices on that meat smelled lovely, I wouldn't want to impose" he said as he sat down by the fire, across from the woman. "I wouldn't say no to some tea though" he finished with a smiling glance to Sarne.


After sitting by the fire, he began pulling some bundles of cloth out of his bag and unwrapping them to reveal some bread and dried meats.

Sarris sat by the fire eating berries she had not picked. She was surprised to see Sarne arrive.
“I am Sarris,” she said.
“and I am his cousin. But do not call me Lady,” she said pointing at Sarne then showing off her dirty bare feet. Shoes told your status and Sarris knew that.
She looked to the hostess and asked, “If I could have a small piece of the spiced meat, I think I can make more,” Sarris offered

Sarne walked near the fire and laid three rabbits there. "I was going to use this for something but there is no point now. So I give them towards the meal as well." Sarne commented.

Sarne turned and gave Sarris a look. "Princess Iona probably already knows yours status cousin and one day you can get your title back," said Sarne with a disappointing tone.

Sarne looked around the people around the campfire the around the woods. Sarne seems to be looking for something. "Princess Iona, did you run from home? I do not see an escort for you did you lose them? your security looks lacking." said Sarne now looking into Princess Iona's eyes to see if she says the truth. Sarne had never guarded royalty and in his life time most of the time being guarded.

Iona was even more confused as she didn't know that the status of people can be known by their shoes. Was she in a weird land? Back in earthbreaker kingdom, people usually wore shoes, big shoes but shoes non the less. Iona herself was wearing boots that made it comfortable to walk for long periods of time in the wilderness. Looking at Beist, she took out some of her spices and handed them to him." You can try some, there are some of the best spices in the Earthbreaker Kingdom." Taking another bite of her meat, she turned to Sarne with a raised eyebrow.

"No, I simply left my palace in order to gain more glory and power for myself. Guards would only complicate such a goal." She said while looking into his eyes, well looking down to him due to her height.

Turning to Sarris, she said." Apologies, but it is pretty cute that family is always so close. Sure you can have a piece. I do have some left from the deer I hunted."

"Oh, thank you" Beist said as he took the spices. He pulled half of the slices of bread out of their wrapping and held them out to Iona. "Some bread? I believe it would go nicely with the meat. You could make a sandwich, perhaps"

He proceeded to do just that, putting some of his dried meat between slices of bread. He also added a bit of the spices he had been given, eager to give them a taste. His anxiety from being in the Kingswood was forgotten in the presence of so many others, sharing a meal. He swallowed the last of the sandwich in his mouth before turning to Iona. He didn't want to speak with food in his mouth. He tried to be polite, especially in the presence of three apparent nobles. Or rather, two nobles and a former noble? He was a bit curious about that, but he wouldn't want to pry into someone's personal matters. This was the third time he and Sarris had happened to run into each other, and he suspected it wouldn't be the last. He should have plenty of chances to hear the story.

"So you are on a journey to gain fame? Is that why you're braving the Kingswood? There are many superstitions about these woods. The local nomadic tribes avoid it. There are also beasts in here. Were you hunting one. or something along those lines, to gain glory?" he asked Iona as he started assembling another sandwich for himself.

“Thank you,” Sarris said taking the meat and then producing more with her magic.
She was not sure how much giants ate.
“Everyone has shoes??? Peasants do not have shoes where we come from,” she explained with surprise.

“I was delivering letters and had to land. Lord Sarne was probably on a mission to hunt something,” Sarris added. Making a sandwich like Beist was doing.

She looked at Sarne and asked, “Tarts or cake?”

Desert was her favorite food to make

Sarne was sure the princess was going to get a crash course on the world outside her lands. Sarne also knew like him. She had no real influence outside her lands. being called a young Lord around normal folk made them respect him some other nobles did not so much. But the title of the princess will raise some eyebrows.

"Tarts go good with my tea." Sarne answerd to Sarris.
"Your highness, be careful of who you tell you're a princess. On the road that could be dangerous. small towns could be too." advised Sarne. "Even when I say I am of the Vanguard of Solaria dose not always get me out of trouble I found out." finished Sarne

Iona looked at all.of them and wondered how she will address all of them. She decided that she will talk to the young lord first as she ate another piece of the meat." I am not stupid lord Sarne, I am a warrior that can actually lead men and women in battle. No way will I tell random strangers who I am if I couldn't defend myself." She said as she picked up her massive sword that could slice a bear in one go. It did wonders since she was 9ft tall and only see and others her strength could lift it.

"Yes Sarris, everyone in my domain wears shows. Though not as fashionable as the royalty and the nobility."

"I am not superstitious fool, but I can find some glory in hunting some beast. Unfortunately I am not hunting anything yet. You are more than welcome to join me on my hunts." She said to Beist.

Beist looked down at his own bare feet as the others spoke about shoes. He still hadn't found a pair that fit him and wondered if he even would bother trying to at this point. The problem was mostly the large claws on the tips of his toes. Any shoes he wore were either too small and were ripped apart by the claws, or they were too large, leaving room for the claws, but not fitting well. Perhaps some sandals would do? Well, he didn't really need them. The thick skin on the bottoms of his feet had proven perfectly fine for walking around.

"Ah, I am not really a hunter. I much prefer observing beasts from a distance, undisturbed. I am just a travelling alchemist and a researcher." he replied as he made himself another sandwich. "I would prefer tarts as well." he said, looking over at Sarris.