From: Mike and Micky Gunn <m.m.gunn@xtra.co.nz>
Subject: [PORC] It's raining Nords.....

> Tenaka, seeing that there was little trust put towards him from the
> original group, and nothing at all from the fourth, reached into the
> confines of his cloak and activated another of his tricks to open a hole
> through nothing, reaching back to his Master's Tower.  Closing his hand on
> a familiar shape he withdrew it and held it out to the young wood elf with
> the broken blade. The Daedric katana gleamed softly in the desert sun and
> he waited to see if she would accept his offer.

Not for the first time J'layah wondered *is the world going mad?*  First
this dark stranger had appeared seemingly from nowhere, wandering up to
them casual as you please, and then hot on the heels of her embarrassing
performance with half a sword, *another* stranger - a woman this time -
had literally fallen from the sky to land on the man in a tangle of
cloak and limb.  *Then* the Dark Elf - Tenaka Khan as he'd introduced
himself - had reached into the folds of his cloak and produced a Daedric
katana from thin air (though how he'd managed to do so in this place of
null-magkica was a mystery to her), offering it hilt-first as though it
were a candied treat....and what a treat!  She'd never possessed such a
weapon in her life (nor was she ever likely to, judging by the recent
dismal attempt to demonstrate her fighting prowess).

Taking a moment to send Alabyn Mastercroft of the Vanshire Hockshop -
the man who'd sold her the shoddy blade in the first place - a silent
curse,  J'layah vowed to bury both pieces of the broken sword deep in
his chest upon her return, then tore her gaze from the katana's
beckoning call to address Tenaka.

"My name is J'layah and these are my good friends Mea and Twilight." 
Each acknowledged Tenaka with a slight nod, hands never straying from
their weapons.  "My mother warned me never to accept gifts from
strangers, but introductions have been made therefore you are no longer
a stranger, and since honour dictates that I consider your kind offer a
loan rather than a gift......I humbly accept."  She bowed deeply and
took the proffered blade, noting with delight how the leather-bound hilt
moulded perfectly to her hand.  A couple of trial swings proved the
katana to be perfectly balanced as well.  This was a beautiful, deadly
weapon indeed.

Twilight, who'd been silent for some time, turned to face the latest
arrival - a Nord from the look of her - and spoke, her voice laced with
weariness and a hint of suspicion.  "I know not from whence you came but
 Your unexpected arrival bears testament to the fell power of this
place.  Had you another destination in mind ere you were wrenched
here?"   The flame-haired Nord nodded and Twilight continued in a more
cordial tone.  "Care you then to enlighten us as to your name and
intentions?"

Three pairs of eyes (it should have been four but J'layah's were glued
to her new acquisition) watched the newcomer expectantly as she
disentangled herself from her cloak and stood, pausing to brush sand
from her armour as she prepared to speak........