"Agreed, please announce us. Let us not keep her waiting."
The pinched-faced luthier nods, and heads to the back door.
Yarnball steps from the doorway to let him pass. He then strolls over to inspect the nearly completed lute, and nods impressed. Yarnball then casually gestures to indicate the mud on your boots. "Pleasant evening? Be sure to scrape those boots before you step inside."
A moment later, the luthier returns to the doorway, and with a stately flourish. "Mademoiselle Beldame will grant you audience maintenant."
Inside the tavern, Beldame sits at a table in the center of the room - with satchel and walking stick, and looking a bit worn. Madame Abacus stands at her side. The barman, and a hairy squatly man are the only others inside.
Beldame eyes you as you enter. "Successful, I presume?"
"We believe so, but in the end, you must judge that for yourself m'lady."
The Green Man while not a natural diplomat like some, still did his best to speak with a mix of authority and deference.
I feel like she is staring right through me...
The pinched-faced luthier nods, and heads to the back door.
Yarnball steps from the doorway to let him pass. He then strolls over to inspect the nearly completed lute, and nods impressed. Yarnball then casually gestures to indicate the mud on your boots. "Pleasant evening? Be sure to scrape those boots before you step inside."
Sonechka gives Yarnball a frosty smile. There was no mud on her boots. No dirt on her, at all. Her black-feathered cape was glossy, sleek, and black as sin, and her hair, face, and other clothes were just as well- and magically- maintained. She negligently waves a hand at her companions and instantly cleans their clothes with a minor expenditure of will.
"We believe so, but in the end, you must judge that for yourself m'lady."
The Green Man while not a natural diplomat like some, still did his best to speak with a mix of authority and deference.
Sonechka again gives the Beldame a deep, respectful curtsy. At her invitation, the Iobarian witch pulls out the Tiny Dogman's hand with the ring still nestled on his finger. She also pulls out a few black rattlecap mushrooms and offers them all deferentially with both her hands. "We hope you are pleased, Beldame."
"Let's hold the ring back. It wasn't part of the bargain. We may get extra for it."
Beldame nods after inspecting the exotic mushrooms.
"It appears you've returned with no loss of life or limb."
She then eyes you all again raising the dogman's bundled hand with a slight smirk...
"You are not accustomed to failure, are you? I will honor our agreement in full - and I am ... pleased with your quick work, though there is another matter that has come to my attention. Something of which I had not been informed when our deal was struck."
She sits back - moving from bridged fingers to arms crossed - she raises an eyebrow... "Barndoor?"
Furiel smiles and pipes in:
"We have added a ring to the hand, which was NOT included in the original deal. I would like that ring to stand for the transfer of Barndoor to us as a liaison to help us further advance our growing relationship. A document granting his transfer to our service with your blessing would allow him to expiate his debt to us."
Furiel adds: "If you are thinking long-term, like I am, you can see how this puts the circumstances of his conflict with us behind us. We no longer try to unravel his plots, because we have brought them into the fold so to speak."
Furiel seems to have the art of brinkmanship down.
The Old Beldame shows a genuine flash of being caught off-guard by Furiel's proposal. She absently drums her taloned fingers across her elbow - nodding slowly as she considers its merits.
She then smiles a very human smile - one that does not evoke chills.
"Bold words.. not unexpected from a gnome."
Beldame reaches into her satchel, and retrieves a ceramic jar very much like the shattered one found within the dogman's shack.
Madame Abacus shakes her head: "speaks of things which cannot be done-"
Beldame interjects firmly: "It can be done and will be so." and slides the jar to Furiel. "His name, his memory, his penitent soul. The ring will cover what is owed... to the powers beyond the veil."
She then stands... "As to our first bargain struck... the Clat, the Clew, and I will not act against you when Vesket the Lizard King goes to war." She casts a stern gaze at both Madame Abacus and the freakish fop Yarnball. Both squirm under her icy stare.
Dolgrym was ready to back out of the room and move along. "anyone else need anything?"
Furiel grabs the items with a bow.
He knows to quit while ahead and prepares to leave.
Norton never felt at ease on the other side of the veil. The sooner they leave the better.
Sonechka curtsies deeply once again and leaves the room along with the others.
The Old Beldame holds out her satchel and releases her grip - it hovers as if shouldered by an invisible servant. She nods in response to Sonechka's bow.
As you make your leave, she follows you out.
Keeping pace, she looks back before speaking - none of her fold are within earshot.
"Vesket is now blind... with both Dogman and myself plucked from his pocket. You've bought time to build your forces, and put doubt in those who've seen the fate of these lands. There is now hope to restore the Accord."
"Could....could you talk a little about that accord, I find myself curious."
The Old Beldame nods... almost mournfully "For many years.. denizens and arcane energies of the First World have seeped into the Narlmarches. Many parts of the wood are imbued with ancient protean power."
"These forces will not bow to the laws of men... only balance will temper their asocial ways. The Accord brought that balance. Those who followed various gods and credos of the natural world aligned against those who only sought its destruction. The Accord suffered through many struggles, but once the greatest evils were sufficiently quelled in their time, inner conflict brought about the end."
"Utopia is the goal of fools. What evils one strives against to reach a paradigm too lofty, return in the microcosm - once the shared fight is thought to be over. Good men become monsters when left to rule in the dark."
"Your curiosity is well warranted. It is a good thing about which to wonder. But... I must say again... focus on building your own forces. No matter the magnitude of your individual strengths, if you are alone, you can only control the ground upon which you stand."
"It reminds me of the old and still true lesson of the broken arrowshaft, how one can easily be snapped, but how a whole bunch cannot be broken even by a mighty strenght."
The Green Man taps his chin in thought for a moment.
"So, the First world and the Narlmarches overlap here...and that explains why nature itself seems more...wild and unruly than even my own homeland..."
Sonechka nods. "I have heard of this, Beldame." She glances at Green for a moment before going on. "I believe we would be willing to make the Walk of the Accords with your people. If we can find the path, would you send representatives to make the Walk with us?"
"We already have our liason Barndoor. Does he walk for you? Of couse after we defeat the immediate threat."
"As always, my companions both make important points.
Goes to show that everyone benefits from surrounding himself with people who can make up for ones own shortcommings."
"Walking the walk of accord sounds like something we should do, but we must make that a priority only AFTER our current task is completed."
"But we HAVE taken an important step on the path to do that. I feel...content I guess."
"Uh, yeah...I'd be willing to walk, too," Dolgrym mutters, keeping his head down, not looking at the intimidating Mage.
Beldame gives Furiel a mischievous smirk.
"Yes. You see why I've accepted your proposal?"
"My worms and I will retreat to my wood until Vesket is no longer a threat. He will seek vengeance against us when he discovers our treachery... but he will not find us."
She stops at the edge of "her woods". "Fare well, my lords of the Kamelands."
"When you go hunting, make sure that the first arrow in your quiver is wisdom, and make sure it is the last one you shot before your quiver is empty.
I think information should be the second arrow, and that means we have robbed Vesket of a vital tool indeed."
Sonechka nods at the Beldame at her finally acknowledging that she would withdraw herself and her people from Vesket's forces. She gives the ancient crone one last curtsy. "I look forward to speaking with you again, Beldame."
Mapping/ exploring any unexplored areas.
You return to Stagfall after midnight without further incident. Things are quiet... you only see a few small fires burning at various little camps as you make your way to your temporary housing near the keep.
Nearby you notice a pair of fine carriages with soldiers on watch you do not recognize. A banner matches their tabards - an arch of black stars over five red diamonds.
"Hmmm, I am glad nothing untoward seems to be happening, these people may not get a chance to sleep like this for some time once the true problems begin."
"It will take months, but I will rest easier once both the keep has been constructed AND the city has proper city walls."
"I should get some sleep, in the morning it is time for my announcement; I should wake early and think a little on what I need to say."
Know. Nobility
The dwarf grabs the others and quietly whispers a tidbit of knowledge to them about their new guest. "That banner holds the crest of the Ashmoors - The family of Akiros. Who knows why the royal family has decided to visit us? I'd expect we should greet them before the morning."
"Is that so? Let us check with the guards first, to see where Akiros is, I'd not want to intrude on anything family related.
But you are probably right master Sharpaxe, we should deal with them sooner rather than later."
"And probably convene a council meeting."
Furiel will visit Barndoor.
"Your freedom has been ransomed from Beldame with a token of powerful magic. We propose you CHOOSING to work for us as a liaison to the fey court."
Furiel hands over the tokens of bond age to the rhyming fey.
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Furiel finds Barndoor with his head in his hands - whispering rhymes to himself. He raises his eyes and looks to the gnome.
"I am overwhelmed by this unexpected occasion
You've my word I'll strive to be an effective liaison.
My service to Beldame has been a long bumpy road.
I shall scrub myself clean of myself as her toad."
He strips down and tosses his rags to Furiel with glee.
"As ambassador I could stand for some proper attire,
Off with loincloth and cloak and put them to fire.
No more garb of a worm of the clew and the clat.
Just wash when its done for they've oft been beshat."
Sonechka, resplendent in her glossy, black feathered cape, nods at Green and Dolgrym. "Visiting nobility should be properly greeted, even if they are only visiting on a personal matter." She glances at Green. "For one thing, it sets a bad precedent. You would not want those with power to think they can intrude on your demesne without your knowledge and consent, innocent or not."
Her lips quirk up into the ghost of a smile. "For another, it is the polite thing to do. And the expected one. We should greet them as soon as we are presentable."
Furiel shows Barndoor the magic tower under construction.
"I will make sure you have a room near the magical area where we will be constructing and testing magical devices of all kinds."
Furiel shows Barndoor the original detailed notes Barndoor collected on them. "If you can, My Dear Senior Liason to the Fey Court, we would like you to prepare a similar book on the fey. I am sure you can come up with a list of those we can find a favorable ear with and those we cannot. My desire is to find a way to coexist."
Then he convenes a council meeting before Green makes another impromptu announcement.
The Green Man looks over at Sonechka for a moment before beginning to idly rub the tip of one of his tusks.
"I don't mean that we should avoid them lady Alkaeva, I merely think that if they are already talking to Akiros, we can wait to intrude til after they are done.
I think THAT is also a polite thing to do, aside from that, I agree with what you say."
He then turns to wave one of the guards over, to inquire if abut Akiros whereabouts.
Sonechka makes an equivocal gesture that could be a shrug or a nod. "Which would give us all time to make ourselves presentable to visiting dignitaries."
"Well, we have not exactly spent a lot on kingly raiment’s, so that won't take all that much time.
But certainly time enough for a quick wash and clean clothes.
And perhaps something quick to drink."
One of the Ashmoor guard approaches upon Green's beckoning. His gear and garb is well-crafted and well-maintained, and his demeanor is a bit more stately than most common guards. "Yes m'lord. Master Akiros is with his family. I believe they have turned in for the night. I will inform him of your return in the morning if that will suffice."
Another guard within earshot steps up "I'm certain Master Akiros would not object to be roused if it is you wish, m'lord. However, Elder Fievri is likely too weary from travel for any matter short of dire."
"Well, that settles that then, rousing people from sleep is not going to make a good first impression.
More than that, I myself am weary and wish to sleep."
Turning to the others, The Green Man grins widely.
"Shall we call it a night then? Or is there any other bit of bisnay that cannot wait?"
Returning Green's grin with a skeptical look, Sonechka shrugs. "Leave the elder asleep, but you may want to speak with Akiros now, to give you time to plan in case his family is here for more than just a personal visit. He surely won't begrudge you an hour's sleep."
"Perhaps, perhaps not.
Even if we do have some advance warning of their intentions, I'm not sure we have enough time to act on it, BUT I did say I was going to listen and take advice, so let's have a natter with him, just as a precaution."
The Green Man signals for the guard to go wake Akiros.
"Let's give the guard a few minutes head start so Akiros is at least fully awake before we get there, say five minutes. I imagine he would want to be fully dressed if a lady comes a calling."
"Yes, might as well see his business now. We can serve him a fine breakfast in the morning to assuage any hurt feelings from loss of sleep."
Akiros meets with you after you've had time to settle in and clean up.
"Salutations m'lords. I do hope nothing troubling is afoot?"
He gestures casually to the carriages of his family's entourage.
"My great uncle Fievri and his son Weidfer arrived late last evening. Lord Fievri was quite anxious to view the site himself upon receiving word of Nugrah's demise. Your man Kesten was good enough to find fair housing for them."