"No. I have none. Perhaps these elves might be able to tell us more." Cale shrugs as he follows his companions.
The group takes the boat back to the Elven land, arriving just after dark.
The donkey's are beginning to get antsy, given they haven't eaten all day.
When the party steps back through, they find a dock with 3 white boats again, as well as a larger boat that seems to be floating about a hundred feet from the dock.
Lanterns hang from the large boat, as well as from posts that have been set up on the docks, lighting the area brightly.
A pair of elvish guards, one male and one female, are standing on the dock, looking bored. Until the group steps through the wall.
Male : "Oh, look, it's the green one with the odd dog."
Female : "It brought friends, do you think they're friendly, or are they invading?"
Male : "Probably scouting at worst. Attacking would be suicide with that small a number."
Female : "True, but they may not realize that. I suppose I should rouse the guard, just in case."
Male : "It's that or get chewed out by Lady Lestrina."
Female : "Like I need to give her another excuse..."
The female elf pulls a large conch shell from her waist and blows into it, letting out a surprisingly loud sound that seems to carry over the water with ease. The large boat nearby suddenly has people getting up and making noise.
Grim will look at the elves and will take mind notes to the differences with the ones he knows from his world.
@Grim - These elves seem much more hale and hearty than the ones back home. At least, these have more muscle tone, and tans, whereas the ones back home seem to be paler and with slighter builds. These look like they could run 8 hours a day without putting out too much effort.
Lilandra steps forward and raises her hand as she addresses the pair,
"Hello there! I don't suppose you might be able to help us? My name is Lilandra, Lilandra Faust. I do hope you'll help us, we've had something of a hard time of late."
The two elves look at each other, then at Lilandra's very long ears, and then they nod.
Milania : "I am Milania, I am assigned as guard to the Hectate Dock. This is my ally, Zilthine."
Zilthine : "A pleasure to meet you. If we can help, we will. What is the help you require?"
The two elves respond to Lilandra, in even measured tones. Not unfriendly, but not overly friendly either. More professional than anything else.
"We've been travelling across a number of hectates and the last several have been brutal environs. We've nearly run out of supplies and our animals will be near to starved to death soon. This is the whole of our number, if that eases any of your understandable concerns. And feel free to ignore the green one, if you care to. The dog is actually smarter than he is."
Abbas does his best to not stand too tall or in such a manner that his copious weapons cause concern. The Suli offers a quick question under his breath, Are they upset we are here?
"No, just understandably cautious. They've agreed to help us, and I've just elaborated on our needs. Hopefully they will hold true to their sentiment and welcome us."
Milania : "Well, the right godboat will take you to Li'Shan. It's an farming island, with some fishing villages. They'd probably have food for your animals, but not much else. The left godboat will take you to Li'Rasthear. It's an island with a city on it, Rasthear. Lots of people and supplies, but not likely to have food for animals other than the dog. The Eagle will take you to Li'Spyre, the central godspyre for the hectate. There is a trading bazaar there, they may or may not have food for your animals."
The female elf tilts her head and points at first the right most white boat, then the left most white boat, then the eagle prowed boat in the center.
That is rather fortunate. I do wounder how big of an elven settlement there is. Can you ask them if we can have the permission the visit this hecate ?
Cale waits, his face showing no expression as he waits for the translation forth coming as he is unable to follow the conversation.
[b]Maybe we are at a point we should leave the animals behind? If this farming community could use them it might be best to use them and other goods to barter for supplies for us to move on?[b]
"I vote for the trade. It'll be good to now what we can trade for."
Do we have things that we can offer for trade ?
"Best to know what do they accept in trade first. Perhaps they might have some form of currency." Cale muses.
Lilandra nods to the elves, thanking them for their help and translating her thanks to the others. "Well, let's hope this island we're headed toward has what we need." With that, she sets to helping load everything in the appropriate boat.
The group spends a few hours loading the boat up, while the elves watch, most idly. For the first time, the boat doesn't go straight, it takes off and curves slowly after it moves out of the slip.
Once on the boat, the group can get some sleep.
For about 3 hours.
Then it slides into another dock on a small island (about 3 miles long, a mile wide). There is a small village where the dock is. A single marble dock is surrounded by wooden docks on both sides, with wooden boats at each wooden dock. The boats look like small fishing boats.
As the boat slides into the dock, the village is still asleep, quite obviously. There are a couple of lanterns here and there.
A youngish elf in leather armor holds up a bullseye lantern as the boat slides into it's dock, shining light on the boat.
"Och! What the devils are you?" He asks in Elven, looking surprised.
Lilandra calls out, "An odd assortment of travelers, to be sure, but I for one am an elf. We've come from a far distant hectate and have need of trade, if you're amenable." Then, as before, she translates the exchange for the others.
"I'm not a trader, I'm just the night guard." He chuckles. "You'll have to wait until morning, when Mistrael opens up the general store. Assuming she's not hung over again. I wouldn't get up with dawn. We don't have any inns... You lot ok sleeping on your ship? I could wake up Slyndrestel and see if he can let you sleep in the barn if you prefer?"
The weather seems fine enough we can just camp out here then come into the town at a more reasonable hour...
Cale Blinks, gives a short bow and then makes himself very comfortable on the boat having fashioned for himself a tarpulin combined with a sleeping area for him to rest his rather large frame. He has had have to something during the trip............
The party is awakened just before dawn, as the fishing village comes to life.
Dozens of men and women, along with younger boys and girls learning, board the fishing boats up and down the docks and begin to set off to sea. Overhead gulls begin to cry as they recognize the coming free meals to come from the fishermen.
The group gets some odd looks, but the elves are too busy getting ready to get their fishing fleet out and fishing to deal with the newcomers.
Before the sun comes up, all the fishercraft are out, strongly muscled elves using oars to send the craft cutting through the ocean water leaving V's in their wake.
The same guard from last night waves at the group. "Mohana, strangers. The shops will be open shortly. If you want to buy breakfast, you can stop in at Alsania's, I told her strangers were in and might want food. She runs the communal kitchen to feed the fishers before they go out. Center of the village, can't miss it."
Abbas grins broadly at the others, Food. Sounds. GREAT! The suli waves eagerly at the others to follow him to the center of town.
Lilandra reflects the guard's greeting with a smile, "Mohana" Chuckling at Abbas' enthusiasm for breakfast, Lilandra smiles and strides into town, offering a wave of thanks to the guard as she passes through the gate.
She mentions to the others as they move through the village, "I wonder what currency they use or if they'll either accept our own or perhaps trade for breakfast."
Abbas chuckles, Perhaps they will need something big moved. We can do that very easily. Abbas twists his fingers in "good luck" with a grin.
Lilandra, Abbas, and Palakka head on into the village, following Palakka's nose.
It's not hard to find the food, there's a small house with a dozen tables (picnic type) outside it. The tables are empty now, but it is clear they were in use earlier, as there's still bits of food here and there, and a few empty plates.
A heavy set female elf bustles out of the house with a rag in one hand and a brush in the other. "Oh! My, they weren't kidding about visitors!" She says with a good natured laugh. "Oh, and a Blinkdog! I thought they were extinct! My goodness. Well, sit down, sit down. Breakfast is all you can eat for 1 acrete, with water. If you want ale, that'll be extra." She puts the rag and brush down on an empty table. "THis morning we have eggs, cheese, bread, fish gruel, and roasted tubers."
The sun shining brightly into his eyes woke him up but Cale finds no one else on board. Guessing that the others may have gone to town first, he makes himself very comfortable as a guard for their boat.
Lilandra turns to the others. "Do we have any acrete?"
I don't, surely. I know of no way to preserve it though I thought Grim said something of it. The suli frowns to himself, Can you ask her if she would barter for mules or gear? I have a lot of gear...
The hunter trails off for a moment and then looks at Palakka, A Blinkdog! They know of your kind here. That seems strangely reassuring to me my friend.
Once it's explained that you don't have acrete, the woman looks at the group as if they are mildly insane, but agrees to look at some of the trade goods you have.
You finally work out a deal with her, and sit down to a fresh hot breakfast.
It's the first hot meal you've had in months.
"So, what is such a... diverse group... as you looking for here on our little island? I'm sure you didn't come here just for my food." The heavyset little elf asks with a laugh.
"We've been travelling across the hectates, actually. We've crossed a number so far and the only one we've seen that had any acrete was inhabited and the natives granted us passage through their lands if we agreed not to harvest any we came across. While we are hungry ourselves, we've run out of feed for our animals. Looking for feed or suitable food for them, we met some other elves across that way," she points toward the direction of the dock and the godboat they came over in, "and your island was one of their suggestions. I can't tell you how nice it is just to meet other people for a change. We've been in the wilds for quite a long time now."
Abbas nods as Lilandra talks, Yes this has been one of the few civilized places we have seen at all. We were thinking perhaps the animals might be best left here since it has become clear that bringing them might be more trouble than its worth. Other than hunger they are strong...know anyone who might trade for them?
"Oh, but.. all Hectates have acrete, except the stable ones, like this one." She sounds confused, but agrees to look over your wares and pick some things out in trade. "Well, the farmers never turn down a good solid animal."
Lilandra nods, conceeding the kind woman's point, but adds, "I've no doubt that's true, but the hectates we've passed through to get here have been bitterly harsh climates. We spent most of our time focused on surviving and didn't spare much energy to find or harvest any acrete that might have been nearby." She shrugs and looks at the others before turning back to the elven woman with a smile, "I think our poor beasts have earned their retirement so to speak. I'd be happy to see them pass to you and stay here, in a stable land such as this with kind hands looking after them."
The elf nods. "Oh, sure, I see. Well, I can put out the word right enough. You can probably sell a few things around here, but unless you take fish for your items, you're mostly looking at trade or selling only a little. Merionsa might like your mules though, she has a weak spot for the critters."