The sparks flew as he landed right in the middle of one of the camp fires. The chute, full of wind dragged him out of it but not before burning logs scattered into the men crowded around the fires. He clutched nervously at his case as the chute dragged him across the compound until it fetched up against the wall.

The enclosure was full of confusion with screaming orders and flaring light where people beat at the sparks in their robes. Naemanson struggled with the strps that held him to the parachute when a hand gathered up all the strings and cut them through. That same hand grabbed his arm and pulled him into the alley between two of the buildings.

Though the light was uncertain he could just make out the features of the woman(?) who had rescued him. She seemed to have what could only be described as a beer gut. The beard seemed out of place considering how she was dressed.

"Davinia the Gnome" she introduced herself. "You got to be careful around here," she said indicating the compound. Naemanson looked out from his shelter to see that the fire had spread to one of the cooking pots. A woman was there trying to put out the fire and at the same time it seemed that she was trying to reassure the men helping her that the food was still good for them.

He turned back to Davinia. "Whats..."

"Did Spaw send you?" Davinia wasn't looking at him but kept a careful watch on their surroundings.

"What, who, is a spaw?" Naemanson was confused but since that was his normal state of mind he found it reassuring.

"Damn, I gotta tell Kat or she'll be doing something foolish." Stay right here" And Davinia was gone, moving very quickly and quietly for someone of her(?) size.

Naemanson tried ineffectually to get the parachute harness off but it seemed to be stuck. Then he remembered his psaltery. He needed to check that it wasn't damaged. He opened the case and took it out. It seemed OK. He ran the bow over the strings and grinned as the paint peeled back off the wall next to him. Still in tune too! He began a little tune and found it comforted him to hear the familiar strains of music...