I'm sorry to say that work is demanding more of my time. I can not play online as much as I would like. It looks like it will be like this till about Feb 09. I'll still troll the forums often, I just can not a lot much time to actual play.
The RP reason for Beli's absence is he needs to spend more time in the family mine and with his newly developed family. Buddy has gone as well to help in the mine and will surface when the time is right to strike.