"Well, he'll be the one risking life and limb when he has a row with ME!
Slavery of any sentient being will NOT be accepted.
Evil creatures will be stamped out or driven off, not kept as pets or slaves."
Calming down with a visible effort, The Green Man slowly manages to let go of the table he had been gripping hard enough to almost mark the wood.
"We have made an alliance with a small clan of kobolds, so you best know that in the future, they will be your DISTANT neighbours.
Perhaps you will never be friends, that I can accept, but as long as you at least show each other enough respect to leave each other alone it will be a step in the right direction."
Sitting down again, The Green Man takes a deep breath and then smiles.
"Well, my ire is played out. Let us eat and move on, words can be forgiven and mended much easier than legs, and as you can see, they CAN be mended."
"By the way, the general speaks truthfully, we will be recruiting men at arms to patrol the city and the lands, but we won't draft anyone against their wishes, it is an offer and a choice.
Just to make this clear."
The small one pulls a chair between Ta'de-win and Furiel. She removes her cap to reveal a bob cut. She looks over Ta'de-win "You don't wear dresses neither? You know I can still tell yer a girl... You need a hat. Is this your son?" She points at Furiel.
Ta'de-win smiles at the young girl sitting next to her. "I do not wear dresses now, but I have in the past. They are most...uncomfortable though when running through the woods, climbing trees and rocks, and just exploring. More than a few embarrassments. So this is my preference. Dresses can be quite pretty though. It is not that I am trying to hide who I am though. But I'll think on the hat still."
Giving her a smile, she laughs a bit at the mention of Furiel, "I'm afraid I have no children yet. Perhaps I'll consider finding a mate and raising a few in the future, when we can relax for a while. Furiel is a gnome and quite probably older than I am. Possibly older than your parents."
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When the mealing is reaching its natural end, and the people are starting to relax, Norton catches the younger boys eyes pleading for the promised story.
"Alright, alright" he says standing up "No need to look at me like hungry puppies, I'll tell you the story..."
"You all well know the monster that called himself the stag lord..." Norton takes the stag helm from Green possessions to impersonate the foe, and steps on a bench to gain a more imposing stature. "… how he liked to torture people and kidnap small children, since its favorite dish was infant liver stewed with dehydrated goat eyes. You might even know how he came to be, and how he, and his old and maddened father, recruited an hoard of half-demon men to plague this land, cause he could only found his pleasure in warm dropping tears from the poor people."
Short pause to let everyone remember some personal frightening fact about the stag lord.
"BUT!!!" he cries to drag people attention back to his telling "This is not that story, this is a story you never heard, a story that has not yet been told since the clamor of its battle has not yet faded between the very same walls which witnessed it."
The cavalier removes the helm, jumping down the bench and changing is tone in a more conspirator tone.
"And you can believe me to speak the truth, as I was there, blessed by the gods to outlive such events."
"It was..." he resumes with a stronger attitude "…a fine day, the sun had raised to find a cart wagon approaching the obscure fort, but the two solitary figures couldn't see it: the fort was always surrounded by a foggy atmosphere, like the ground itself was exhaling sins. The small wagon came to the gates, which were surrounded by spikes and threatening carves"
" thundered a voice from the top of the wall. -I… I br… I bring… offers… for… for… the Lord.- answered a trembling and insecure voice. Rest assured these were the exact words that were spoken, and what you just heard was the exact voice that spoke them, as it was me, disguised..." Norton pulls part of his cloak to hid his face in a dramatic posture "A small kid… you sir..." Norton walks behind Furiel "Because, if you have been listening closely I have already said there were two figures on the wagon, and one…" Norton elicits with a gesture of his hand that Furiel was the other figure …one was a very small one.
" cried the voice and as he commanded, without a sound, the gate opened as moved by its own will."
At this point Norton casually reaches for some water to drink, letting a bigger pause sink in, waiting to the point the audience fears he might not resume his narration.
"Inside the sight and smell were dreadful. The stench and the fumes seemed to draw wounds straight into my lungs, and seeing bones, whether of animals or not I can't honestly tell, scattered on the muddy ground I almost faltered. And I would have, damn, who am I fooling... I wouldn't even have been there if I had to go in alone."
"But a trap had just sprung. Like the flickering bait you can use to fish trouts, the kid disguise was just as such. Blinded by their own hunger, fooled by the same meanness that was granting them power, the evils where headed for their destruction."
Again Norton shifts to a softer tone as he were telling a secret "Me and my little friend here" he points at Furiel again "We were not alone in that mission. Silently hidden in that special cart" and now the man walks behind Green and Ta' letting non verbal language telling part of the story "There were pretty powerful allies. They had endured the cramped accommodation…" here the storyteller makes a comic relief pause before diving in the gruesomer part, and standing right behind Green says "You know, trying to squeeze somebody into a tiny hiding place could be an epic adventure by itself"
"So, while the wrongdoers were distracted by the thought of a succulent children soup, our heroes moved to place, and suddenly a roar erupted from the cart." Norton jumps on the table swinging a chicken leg and mimicking the raging barbarian in a mix of heroic and funny way.
"The bandits, paralyzed by the terror and surprise are slow to react. I see the heads of those near the cart flow away in one single blow, and me myself makes short work of other two." Norton stabs the air with the piece of meat "To my surprise, as they fall their body become stiff and they crumble like dry mud. But I have no time to investigate, a third one, gnashing his teeth is already upon me, the surprise is finished and they started to react. On top of that from above death dropped on us in the form of lethal arrows."
"Somebody needed to get on the roof and stop the archer: I glanced at the situation around me and see that we are all engaged in combat, the big green man is being assaulted by so many opponents they are literally climbing on his shoulders to get him down. The lady you can see sitting quietly there was confronting two men and an owlbear at the same time. If you don't believe me come to the fort yourself and see: the fierce creature is still there, alive and subdued. The little kid, that, truth to be told, is a powerful wizard, was already engaged in a fierce magical battle with the old madman, around them was all sparks and lightning. I was left the nearest to the stairs, so as I got free of my opponent I ran for the roof to deal with the archer. I shouted, confident that a sword is a no match for a bowman, but the archer turns my side and, as he does so, his frame seems to grow to a staggering height. That was no common archer, that was the Stag Lord himself.
Dramatic pause before the epic conclusion
You can understand my surprise and my astonishment. I was right in front of the beast, I nearly lost my footing, and all my surviving instincts were yelling to run. But I couldn't, everybody was doing their part. Could I match an owlbear, or a necromancer? Or stand firm between twenty opponents at once? Surely not; sure as sure was I couldn't face the Stag Lord alone and not fear for my life to end that very same day. But, by fate, I was dealt that undertaking and, if I wanted that mission to have not been for nothing, I had to do my part.
"The monster came at me, smiling, crazed by his own power. I could literally do nothing than dodge his impressive blows, but my space was running small" Norton, still on the table, enacts a fight where he is cornered on one side. "He is closing on me, but at least he is not shooting arrows at my friends anymore. That was my only consolation: maybe I can distract him long enough the others can regroup and come after him."
"Well" he speaks with less drama in his voice "As I can tell you this story today, my luck exceeded even the greatest expectations of mine."
Then the narrative starts again "I might have evaded a couple blows more that I had expected, because I was there, my ears engulfed by the swearing of the vile enemy, and shards and splinters fly all around me from the wood the blows were shattering, when I heard a roar dominate every other sound. The Green man had dealt with every single enemy that had the nerve to engage him and now the battle against evil looks much less grimm."
"But that wasn't enough, two of us against such hellspawn and we were still facing a probable defeat. But while evil works alone, and alone dies, the goods in heart can always count on their friends to come to aid. Suddenly I found myself glowing in a mystical light and felt so strong I could lift an ox. But that was not the end of it: a couple of eagles magically appeared and attacked the Stag Lord, aiming for the eyes. The spellcaster had dealt with their threats and were now able to aid us. The Stag Lord was distracted" Norton voice get excited "His filthy hands raised trying to get rid of the eagles so he leaves his chest and belly unguarded, and is there that we stroke!"
"Once!" Norton stabs the air fiercely.
"Twice!" another stab.
"Thrice, we must hit him before he falls to his knee, still breathing though, that monster."
"I can't be sure on the number, but not less than ten might lunges were needed to extinguish the life in his body, but at last, covered in blood, ours, as well as his, he fell on the ground and was still."
"Thats ooold..." She inspects Furiel with a sidelong, skeptical glance before whispering agin to Ta'de-win. "He must not eat his veggietables."
"I'm not having children... I'm gonna go live with my aunt... I was named after her, but everyone calls me Roanie."
-- -- -- --
Another man, who seems to be on near equal status as Enzi speaks up after Green. "You don't speak like a noble... you speak your mind and heart, and we can appreciate that. I could not see a future for us... but today there is hope." He stands and raises his mug.
"No more shall we cower, fro this day forth, we live."
Enzi leans in close to Green, and whispers.. "Benaldo has always had a gift for words."
And then Norton begins his tale...
As Norton enters the denouement of his epic tale, the settlers sit enthralled with food on their forks and mouths agape. What started as "how sweet to tell a story to the boys", becomes the most vivid and elevating experience of their lives.
The oldest farmer of the assembled group stammers with tears in his eyes... "Never in my life... Was like the first time I heard music..."
The boys immediately run off with the excited energy of a pound of cane sugar. You see them act out scenes just described, and argue what parts are owl and which are bear on that beast thought to be mere legend.
As the settlers push back their plates, and stuff their pipes - still in the afterglow of the tale,... you can see the boys trying to gently wake up Green's old mare - who seems to have fallen asleep in the grooming stall.
The Green Man shrugs, a little embarrassed by his previous anger, but he wasn't always able to keep his temper in check.
As this had been Rogars fault as well, it also made him a bit ashamed.
Eventually he smiles a little and chuckles.
"This is a new land, whoever rules will be a frontier king or queen, a founder, and such people have to be more direct and straightforward to be able to build something that will last for generations."
The Green Man pays as much attention to the tale Norton weaves as the farmers do, he was there, and he fought too, but since he had spent most of that time in a berserker rage, he did not fully remember things as much as he had a memory of feelings.
Secretly, he was quite happy to be told what DID in fact happen, even if the story is a bit embellished.
Losing yourself to the rage was so easy, and it was not always easy to remember what had happened afterwards.
"Ahem...yes...anyway, if you care to, you are all welcome to visit Stagfall and see where it all took place.
And you can also sell your crops there; we will need to fill our storages for the winter."
Following your meal, and a little time chatting afterward, the settlers of Quillor prepare to bid you farewell. This diversion from the day's plan will cost you a little more than a couple hours of exploration, but - bearing further interruptions, you should still be able to finish in time to get back to the fort for the night.
"By the way, you live in this area, we are out trying to map the lands, perhaps you could help us? I expect you know at least the close surrouding areas well enough to help us."
Just as they are leaving Norton approaches Enzi and Benaldo.
"I almost forgot, to celebrate the fall of the oppressor of this land, we will have a festival on the new moon. Since you have saved goods from which you will no longer be deprived, what about coming there to sell your surplus then, maybe you can strike a good deal for the occasion."
"Happy to take a look.. we don't travel much at all though."
They point out a couple river crossings, the trail they take to South Rostland Road... in the rare event its needed. (3 times for Enzi his entire life)
Benaldo indicates to the south where worgs are known to be.
"A festival! Wonderful! We will be sure to get in touch as the day draws near."
"So, off to the next farm then? I'm wondering if we won't be staying a bit longer at the THIRD farm afterwards, and the slaver..."
"Well, onwards now, let us complete the area around the fort, then we can spend tomorrow visiting the other farms and the estate.
...
I am particularly looking forward to seeing that third farm..."
The Green Man has a very evil look in his eye as he says the last.
Once out of earshot of the farms, Ta takes a moment to speak with Green. "When we go to meet this Kinsilvi, make sure not to judge with haste. Remember when you speak, you speak not for yourself, but for the entire pack. A pack which this Kinsilvi will be a part of if he chooses to stay. We all follow different trails to bring ourselves here, perhaps there is more that can be told if we learn of the trail that he has walked. Perhaps he is indeed a vile man forcing others to do his bidding. Perhaps the Quillor do not know him as well as they believe they do. And perhaps he is a good man who has just chosen the wrong path and needs guidance."
"Mmmm...I think it may be best if I leave the talking to Ser Ambrosi in this case.
Even if I want to lead, a good leader knows his strength and weaknesses yes?
And if someone is better suited, it is not weakness in a leader to let them be the ones to do it right?"
"BUT, if he IS a slaver that refuses to change, then he will have ONE chance to leave our lands, and one chance ONLY."
You return to the intended area of exploration, and continue where you left off. The areas of land are sparse in vegetation. ... As far as trees, you find mostly hacked stumps in varied stages of rot.
From this patch of the Shrike River, you see what was mentioned before... it is too rough for use as a reliable water highway. Along the river - and many other areas within a few miles of the fort, you find the remnants of abandoned campsites.
By early evening, you reach the Skunk River... and where it empties into Tuskwater Lake. This water runs much more slowly, but there is a hint of oily rotten egg smell to it.
Worgs hunt in packs, and their intelligence allows for complex strategies. Worgs that travel with goblins often allow them to ride on their backs.
In response to Green, "If that is what must be done, that is what must be done." She sounds neither excited nor repulsed by the notion, merely considering it a simple fact of course.
As they travel, Ta'de-win takes a moment to examine the rot of the trees, as well as the soil and the river, hoping to determine how well it may support fields. She relates what she knows of worgs as they travel. "Worgs are intelligent wolves, quite large. They often hunt in packs or with goblins. Or other such races. When they fight, they fight with cunning. We should be cautious."
"Well, I think these worgs are creatures we don't want in the maze or animal pens."
"The worgs may be a problem, if we claim the area they live in, they may migrate, and there is a chance they will attack the farms, they are too close."
"I am not very keen on wiping them out as a rule, but we can't stir them up without expecting consequences."
"Goblins are known to raid, we MIGHT be able to strike an accord with them like we did with the kobolds of course, but sooner or later, our luck in making friends will run out."
"And as our lands grow, we will be forced to make the choice between making new friends and subjects or put the ones we already have first.
I am beginning to understand that old saying
"Heavy lies the head that wears the crown"..."
You are unsure of what the smell could be... there is no oily sheen or discoloration to the water, so likely it is some mineral in the riverbed... you don't know what.
That seems like a large enough area to hunt for a smallish pack... If they move around a lot, you would think the settlers would have had problems here.
"Keep a lookout, I'm going to examine the riverbed, there might be a clue what is causing the smell."
The Green Man dismounts and gives the old mare a gentle pat on her head, he then moves over to kneel by the riverbed and have a closer look.
for the smell
I understand we are not too far from the fort.
Norton looks at the murky water worried.
"Let me formulate a very wild hypothesis here: Something wrong with the waters of this river! A river very much closer to the fort than the one inhabited by a strange water creature that complained about the Stag Lord's dynasty. I'm sure there is absolutely no connection at all."
"Possible, since this part of the river IS closer, maybe they poisoned it to keep the water spirit from being able to swim back up the river and get closer?
Or maybe there is another spirit needing help.
Or it COULD be a mineral that cause the smell.
The water itself does not appear murky or tainted."
The smell of the riverbed is not as strong as that of the settling silt.
Luckily the current is so slow, it barely feeds the lake with its unpleasant taint.
"Whatever it is, it is in the silt, not the water itself.
We need to remove the silt to stop it from polluting the river.
Obviously we can't do it now; we'll have to assemble a work party."
"But I think we should find out WHAT is causing it too.
But it will be dark soon, so we can only make a cursory examination for now."
The Green Man begins to rumage around a little, seeing if he can figure out where the source might be.
Furiel summons an earth elemental from the silt. He then summons a water elemental. Between them, he tries to get a sample of the contamination.
Furiel's minions successfully retrieve samples.
With a fair amount of the hex taken up by the lake, you finish up the mid-evening of exploration by the aptly named Skunk River... in spite of the long lunch, and this current inspection.
Green finds no more clear clues this evening. Hopefully Furiel's samples will turn up something when investigated properly.
If not, when you explore the areas further up river, you might find the source.
"Good days work I say, let's return to the fort for now.
One of the best things about exploring so close is that we can always travel light since we just return in the evening."
Mounting up again, The Green Man sets of in a leisurely trot back towards Stagfall.
You return to the fort, and see the Broadhammers have already constructed interim shelter for themselves.
A few of them - including Brarim, are sitting by a fire-pit.. chatting with Akiros.
The dwarves wave as you pass, and Akiros moves to your side as you enter and dismount.
"No troubles today, my Lords?"
You also see Kesten up on the catwalk. He takes a moment from watching the other horizon to wave a greeting.
Brarim approaches as well "We start construction in the morning. Best get to sleep when you can... Gon'be mighty loud here right at dawn."
"Only troubling news so far, it seems like a local farmer is keeping kobolds as slaves.
Since we have made an alliance with a clan of kobolds, that can't be allowed to continue, moreover, slavery of any kind cannot be tolerated within our lands."
"It is...a problem..."
"On another note, we have samples of water and soil from an area of the river, it seems...contaminated somehow, does anyone have any skills to help us analyze?"
"I agree... slavery is not acceptable."
Regarding the samples, Akiros shakes his head and shrugs...
"I would be of no help.." He looks to Brarim - who shakes his head. "No alchemists among our number, I'm afraid."
"Since we are going to explore in that area tomorrow, I am hoping that we can come to some sort of arrangement with the man."
The Green Man fingers the haft of his eartbreaker as he speaks, clearly indicating what kind of arrangement he is hoping for, but eventually he takes a deep breath and gives Ta'de-Win a nod as if to say he still remembers their talk.
Morning comes - and as Brarim warned, construction begins at first light.
The number of dwarves appears to have multiplied over night. Two new large wagons have arrived with blocks of stone.
One dwarf is finishing a small pen for a decent sized young boar.
Brarim is near the front gates with Nogmil, and a lightly armored dwarf when those first to rise come by.
"Morning." Brarim nods serious-faced.
Furiel smiles at Brarim:
"Remember to keep the gnomes busy and out of trouble. Until I get my business quarters built, they will be assigned to you."
Furiel asks: "Brarim, would there be a nearby source of ore to support the construction of a foundry?"
He looks at Nogmil, then nods "Aye. We've enough for a foundry... if that's what you all want. It needn't affect the castle construction either. I believe we'd need that built near water... we'll work on that during lunch."
"We will also hafta get a bit of your time to talk about some other improvements... We'll put the incomin un-specialized labor onto thing like roads, bridges, fisheries... We could probly swing taking on two projects.. terrain improvements a month."
Merick bids you farewell for now... After a late night discussion with Kesten, he had accepted Kesten's offer of taking over Oleg's militia.
With that resolved, Kesten states that in severing all other responsibilities... his heart and mind can be devoted to Stagfall.
You ride out of the fort again, and head east. A light rain starts by the time you pass the Shrike River. A look at the clouds on the horizon shows - to the untrained, a 50/50 chance of heavy rains by late morning.
"Let us head to the Kinsilvi farm first, I want to get that bad business sorted out as soon as possible.
Since I know I won't be able to control my temper if the old man is belligerent, I'll let one of you do the talking.
Ser Ambrosi would seem a good choice after the way he touched the hearts of the people at the other farm."
You travel along the flat plains just south of Quillor Farms, and pick up a wagon trail. After a few hundred yards, a sign confirms your heading toward Kinsilvi Farms.
To the south, the terrain dips down, and the grass is a vibrant green wispy fescue. You see a few dots, and rectangular variations in the hue of the landscape... which is likely the Yeosum dairy farm.
A half hour later, you see a two story farmhouse at the peak of a rise. surrounded by short bushy trees, and rows of leafy shrubs.
You turn off the trail toward the farmhouse... it is set back about 150 yards. There appear to be dozens of crude boxy hutches among the trees, and one long similarly crude structure like a henhouse.
There are near a dozen small figures working the fields. They all wear hoods which are cropped just below the shoulder. A large figure watches over with arms crossed.. it is not immediately clear from this distance what it is, but it looks a little large to be human.
"Yes it see...it, I'm still calm, still going with the plan.
Unless provoked ABSOLUTELY beyond endurance, I won't draw my axe or even speak out of turn."
It is not raining now, but a downpour has clearly passed here recently. The sun is starting to fully escape the cloud cover, you see droplets of water dripping from the orchard around the farmhouse.
The large figure walks over briskly. He has a downward pointed crossbow in one hand. As he approaches you see that he actually might just be a large human, but looked particularly beefy next to the kobold workers in the field. He is well over 6 feet tall, protruding forehead, and dark bushy eyebrows which look about an inch too high.
He is wearing leather armor -several sizes too small, and studded fingerless gloves.
An older woman works her way down from the porch 100 feet behind the approaching large man.
Oh dear...old people. If it comes to that, how can I bring violence agains them? Oh, I really hope Ser Ambrosi can fix this situation with words...
When the group stops at a convenient distance and the big man approaches Norton rides a few steps forward to find himself between the man and the party.
Here we go, am I going to receive a bolt between the eyes, or an axe in the back? He smiles at the thought.
"Greetings to you" Norton speaks from the saddle My name is Norton, and these ar my fellow comrades. Is this Kinsilvi Farm? Are you the Owner?
"You may not have hear it yet, but the Stag Lord is dead, these lands are not under his rule anymore."
Norton stops to see how his words are received and assess the man attitude before going on.
Will be Green patient enough to wait all the time words need to get to the point?
Furiel dismounts to get a closer look at the little guys. He approaches them slowly.
"Mmm this is Kinsilvi Farm. I'm not Kinsilvi. Master Kinsilvi is inside."
The man eyes Norton skeptically as he continues, then responds.
"Dead and done? Hmm. So not his rule now..." He looks over the group, his gaze gets stuck on green a while.
He then sees Furiel moving toward the workers. "You leave them kobolds alone, boy. They got another ten hours a work, an' I don't need em all riled up. Was up all night..."
The older woman walks as far as she can without stepping in sloppy mud. "Hyassus.. " She is tall, lean, and slightly hunched... posture like a preying mantis. She has strong features, and her face is slightly mannish.
The big guy (presumably named Hyassus) glances over his shoulder, and casually states... "Nugrah's boy is dead... I'm thinking these folks killed him."
You see the crossbow is loaded with blunt-tip bolts.
The woman nods "I figured when I saw the helm on the big fella. Have em come in. Master Kinsilvi will wanna have a word with em."