The man smiles. "They are not my men. Rather I know of the one that sent them on this fool's errand. He preys on their desperation. And although they would benefit from the fish, his only interest is in keeping those who are desperate as the are. My name is Lucan. And like you, I'd rather this meeting end with out any further injuries."
The man takes a slight step back from the aggressive man, motions and speaks in a voice full of authority. "Drop your weapon."
The would be attacker drops his weapon, his expression of anger is tinged now with a growing amount of confusion.
"See, was that so hard?" Maka said to the man before walking over to Lucan and giving a bow. "Hi Lucan, I'm Maka. So who is this jerk making hungry people attack others?"
The would be attacker looks in desperation toward his weapon as Maka approaches, clearly unwilling to risk retrieving it.
"His name is Hartlegrath, one of the many ice troll guards within Whitethrone. He's intimidated this bunch into thinking he'd leave them some scraps after keeping Ringeirr from feeding those he can."
Ringeirr, rubbing a bump on his head blinks - as if to clear his mind. "I've heard his name. We've not met. What he's said about Hartlegrath, that much I know to be true."
Lucan, smiles answering Quasit's query cryptically. "Perhaps you'll meet the King as I have. His is a light that goes where it may. One that I marvel at when I stumble upon it. Perhaps that is not all that different from serving?"
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Lucan, smiles answering Quasit's query cryptically. "Perhaps you'll meet the King as I have. His is a light that goes where it may. One that I marvel at when I stumble upon it. Perhaps that is not all that different from serving?"
Quasit clearly has no idea what Lucan is talking about.
"Cute." she says. "All right, so we're not going to kill each other. And we've got business taking this food into Whitethrone. I hate to reward these men for attacking Ringeirr, but I can understand what made them do it. I've been hungry in my life, and it made me do things I wouldn't normally do. So I think we can spare them enough fish for them to eat today. But I get the feeling this Hartlegrath might be a bigger problem. Is that why you're here, Lucan? Or are you going to tell us you were just passing by?"
"A friend of mine sent word they had left Whitethrone and I suspected they would be up to no good. I would have tried to talk some sense into them had I gotten here sooner. Lucan pauses, as if considering something. He walks a bit, thinking. As Lucan stops to tend to the unconscious beggar Ringerr speaks up, clearly feeling a bit more himself.
"The fish I can spare. It's Hartlegrath I'm worried about. If he's trying to disrupt the bit of good I've been trying to do our plan may need to change."
After healing the beggar easily and encouraging the man to sit and rest, Lucan turns to Ringeirr. "It isn't my business to pry. But you weren't planning on brining your companions to Whitethore were you?"
Ringeirr looks to Quasit and then the others. The implication seems to be that he isn't sure how much to say to Lucan.
"I didn't know Laalaten Raaja had followers this far North. What did Hace say "tiny planet"? And of course we'll feed them, what kind of jerks wouldn't feed someone whose hungry?" Maka proceeded to hand out some fish before she began to cook one in her hands.
"So do we need to go have a stern talking to with this Hartlegrath?"
Laughing a bit at Maka's suggestion, Lucan shakes his head. "I wish it were that simple. Perhaps you can thaw the hearts of Hartlegrath and his fellow ice trolls so they will see the error of their ways."
Turning to Quasit, Lucan nods, "That he does. However, Hartlegrath is going to expect something from these fellows. He motions at the beggars. If Ringeirr approaches without any word from them don't you think he'll be a bit curious about his new companions?"
As if to add to the voiced concerns, Ringeirr chimes in. "At the least we may need papers sooner than I anticipated. The guards may be a bit more thorough verifying the purpose of anyone who is with me if Hartlegrath has taken interest in my work."
Maka enveloped her fist in flame with a toothy grin. "I'm pretty good at thawing things."
At the least we may need papers sooner than I anticipated.
Maka groaned at the mention of papers. "Why is everything about papers in this country?"
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"We aren't planning to go in the main gate." says Quasit. "We planned to go in by the Howlings gate -- that's what it's called right? That's guarded by the wolves, not the ice trolls." Even as she speaks, it's becoming obvious that Quasit is feeling less and less confident about this plan. "Or there's always Plan B, I guess..." she mutters.
Maka groaned at the mention of papers. "Why is everything about papers in this country?"
"If you think this is bad I've heard terrible things about Molthune..." Bulvi responded but his eyes darted around the area in case someone did something more unexpected.
Maka groaned at the mention of papers. "Why is everything about papers in this country?""If you think this is bad I've heard terrible things about Molthune..." Bulvi responded but his eyes darted around the area in case someone did something more unexpected.
"There are worse places!? Do they eat paper?" Maka mumbled through a mouthful of fish.
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"I think in Taldor they do. They've had about 12 centuries to invent new kinds of paperwork and rigamarole. You need everything signed off on by 17 officials, each of which wants his own bribe, all so some clerk in some department can file it away in an archive no one will ever see. But I suppose the difference is in Taldor if your papers aren't in order, they don't suck out your soul or have you torn apart by wolves."
Then she blinks and looks at Maka more intently. "Maka we just ate breakfast. Why are you eating another fish?" she says with a half-chuckle.
"Ugghh Hace always said there was too much paperwork to burn it all but I never believed him. Also fighting always makes me hungry, all this fire needs fuel."
Lucan laughs, "It seems to me there are better things to feed that kind of fire than fish. Though with the cold the game in this area is beginning to get scarce. He pauses, considering his words. I may be able to introduce you to someone that might be able to at least address the paperwork issue. As for the winter wolves they can only do so much these days and mostly for their own. Even without the proper paperwork I doubt I'd be able to get you through that gate without at least a cursory inspection."
Bulvi sighs "Even if it's not a great route if it's the best one I guess you have to walk it."
Lucan returns Findurel's nod, "Perhaps your friend here could sneak in? Are the rest of you this stealthy? He smiles as he continues.And even if you're not quite ready to see if the person I know can help with paperwork, there is the matter of these fellows. Lucan gestures toward the beggars.
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At this point, Quasit is digging at the snow with the toe of her boot peevishly.
"So that's it? We're just giving up on our plan? You sure seem to know a lot about the guards of Whitethrone and what they'll do. All right then, let's get specific -- who do you want us to go to for fake papers? Where is this person exactly?"
"I'll tell you what *I* think we should do. Go straight to the Howlings gate like we planned. Just because one ice troll's scheme to steal some fish got disrupted doesn't mean the whole city will be on high alert. We get in, we go to Ringeirr's forger contact inside the city, then we go deal with this Hartlegrath before he knows what hit him."
She kicks at the snow a little harder. "It won't be the craziest thing we've done." she grumbles.
Ringeirr shakes his head, "I wish it were that simple. I think you're right about being able to get in. At least there is a good chance. But if my contact has gotten wind of Hartlegrath's involvement they may get.. skittish. He trails off, as if mulling his own thoughts.
Lucan nods, "That is your choice after all. And I'm afraid it's a few hours journey in the wrong direction. We'd be there before dark at least. And hopefully he could have papers ready by morning. He looks toward the beggars again, But I can't risk them coming."
Maka stood in contemplation while eating her fish. "Let's go meet the papers person first, since they are so important. Worst case it's a trap and we just beat Lucan and his friend up, then we go beat the troll up. And our new friends shouldn't be a problem, we gave them food and will deal with the troll."
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Sakitu scrunches up her nose as the discussion between everyone continues. It is confusing to follow. All these new people and the changing plans. The confusion keeps building and finally she blurts out, "Wait! I don't understand what's going on here." A few wisps of her auburn hair fall across her face as she puts her hands on her hips and a bit of a pout on her lips.
"Ok. So we're still here, outside of Whitethrone and we wanted to use Ringeirr's cart of fish to sneak in. Right? But then these guys attacked us. And you," she flicks a finger in Lucan's direction. "You were a wolf and then now your a man. But you said that these guys were sent by an ice troll called Hartlegrath? And also you know someone who can get us official papers so we can get inside? What about our plans? And how do we get the papers? And what do we do with this fish?"
Sakitu blows the hair out of her face and crosses her arms in frustration. She casts a pleading look at her friend. "Quasit? What do you think?"
"Wait, now I'm confused again. Aghh I wish Hace was still here." Maka said with an angry scowl.
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Ringeirr shakes his head, "I wish it were that simple. I think you're right about being able to get in. At least there is a good chance. But if my contact has gotten wind of Hartlegrath's involvement they may get.. skittish. He trails off, as if mulling his own thoughts.
Quasit throws up her hands in frustration. "Well... that's just *great*!" she expostulates.
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"Ok. So we're still here, outside of Whitethrone and we wanted to use Ringeirr's cart of fish to sneak in. Right? But then these guys attacked us. And you," she flicks a finger in Lucan's direction. "You were a wolf and then now your a man. But you said that these guys were sent by an ice troll called Hartlegrath? And also you know someone who can get us official papers so we can get inside? What about our plans? And how do we get the papers? And what do we do with this fish?"
Sakitu blows the hair out of her face and crosses her arms in frustration. She casts a pleading look at her friend. "Quasit? What do you think?"
The dark-haired young woman is standing with arms crossed and pursed lips.
"Sounds to me like you understand perfectly." says Quasit.
Lucan nods, "That is your choice after all. And I'm afraid it's a few hours journey in the wrong direction. We'd be there before dark at least. And hopefully he could have papers ready by morning. He looks toward the beggars again, "But I can't risk them coming."
Quasit rolls her eyes. "Ugh. OK, fine. If Ringeirr's forger is likely to fink out on us, then we'll have to go with Lucan's forger. Which means we won't be needing to sneak through the Howling's gate after all -- once we have papers, we can pose as merchants or stilyagi or whatever and just go through the main gate."
" Which I guess means we don't actually need the fish any more. So we can give it to the beggars, and then they can take it back to the ice troll and declare mission accomplished. I guess. I mean, I don't really trust them to not snitch on us, but I don't want to send them back empty-handed, and we can't just kill them. I suppose we could keep them prisoner, but that seems like it could go bad too. It's crummy that all that food is going to go to Hartlegrath instead of the people that need it, but that feels like a secondary concern right now."
Ringeirr nod's his head, grimacing as he does. "That's as sound a plan as any Quasit. I can get more fish. I'm still a bit concerned about your gear. Even wealthy merchants don't go walking into Whitethrone.. so well equipped. He turns to the talkative beggar of the group. Were you all planning to take my cart also?"
The bagger shakes his head. "No. There are sacks on the ice in the well." A cursory glance now that the smoke has cleared confirms the beggar's claim.
Ringerirr continues, not missing a beat. "That's something. So we'll keep the cart, they take the fish in their sacks. I'll get more fish while you all meet Lucan's contact. I'll meet you all back at my hut at sunrise tomorrow. We can hide your equipment as planned and go through the Howlings gate as planned. How does that sound?"
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Quasit nods and exhales deeply. "Sounds good to me."
Then she turns to the beggars, making a point to look at their scuzzy leader.
"You bums lucked out. Normally you'd all be dead now for trying to rob us, but we're going to let you take this fish. But there's one condition -- as far as your story goes, you whacked Ringeirr, you stole his fish, and THAT'S IT. You don't mention us, you don't mention Lucan, you don't give a hint that anything went badly. We'll even heal your buddy up before you go."
"And your going to luck out some more. Because when we deal with Hartlegrath, you're going to know enough to not be around for the next couple days. But if we find that the ice troll was tipped off, or heard about us... then we're going to be really disappointed with you. And then you won't be so lucky any more. You guys all follow me?"
The men all nod vigorously. Even the talker of the bunch begrudgingly agrees to the proposal. "We only want to keep him off our backs. If you have it in for Hartlegrath it's all the same to us that you get to him. We won't be tipping him off to anything."
"Wait, now I'm confused again. Aghh I wish Hace was still here." Maka said with an angry scowl.
Bulvi trudges over to Maka while putting his sword into it's sheath. "It has become more complicated but sooner or later we'll get a proper fight." He attempts to draw his cloak around her shoulders "If not there's always sparing?" His cheeks had a hint of red which weren't there despite the previous chill.
"A good spar would be nice, I still owe you from last night." Maka replied. "Oh Bulvi are you cold?" With a toothy grin Maka drew Bulvi closer to her while forming a flame in her open hand.
With the plan established Ringerirr helps the men with the fish before rolling his cart toward the party as everyone gathers. The group of beggars trudge away. You can tell by the concerned glances back toward the party that more than half the worn group of men have taken the promise of retaliation to heart. These were desperate men backed into a corner. The willingness of the party to find them a way out is looked upon as no small thing.
Before Lucan leads the group onward he removes what appears to be a bronze scroll case from his belt. Within is a folded sheet of parchment, which he quickly writes a note upon, folds, and returns to the metallic cylinder. With the twist of a key from a chain around his neck, Lucan sends the cylinder into the air as a pair of rotating metallic blades emerge from it. The small contraption speeds ahead, traveling in the direction Lucan heads.
The clear sky seems to favor the group. Though the cold wind gusts now and then, the sun provides a degree of comfort. With the cart empty Ringerirr makes good time and parts ways with the group as his hut comes into view. He wishes the group a safe journey and reminds them that he'll be ready with a new batch of fish first thing in the morning. But a few hours later as the sun has only just begun its journey to the horizon a mound appears in the distance. Lucan points, indicating that the shapeless mound is where the group is heading.
Within the next hour the mound begins to take shape. You can tell from a distance that there appears to be a small number of buildings nestled into the top side of a good sized hill that abuts a plateau. Many of terraces of the plateau seem to have been well kept until only recently. By late afternoon you can make out simple farming equipment frozen upon several of the terraces. A few figures can be seen upon some of the terraces, gathering. By the time the group is within the shadow of the hill, two rough paths are clear. One, to the left heads up the hillside toward the village. The second stays close to the base of the hill following its edge toward where the stone of the plateau dominates. Lucan halts to share his intentions.
"An uneventful journey, as I hoped. Before we head to the village I need to be sure my message was received. You are welcome to follow, though I will have to request permission before you can enter the monastery with which I have been working. Otherwise, you all can remain here and we can head up the hillside to the village."
Maka perked up at the mention of a monastery. "A monastery!? What kind of style do the monks practice? Can we fight with them?"
Lucan smiles, "I don't believe any of their order practice arts of the martial variety. I can inquire on your behalf if you like?"
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Shortly after they begin the journey Sakitu slips back into her fox form. "This is so much more comfortable in this cold." She stays close to Quasit and carries on with small talk most of the trip.
"There's a monastery up there?" Sakitu squints to look up towards the top of the plateau. "I'll go with you."
Lucan points at the path following the base of the hill toward the rocky base of the plateau before pointing up toward the buildings nestled in the hill. "The monastery is in a cavern at the base of the plateau. Up there is the village where I believe we may be able to get some paperwork sorted out for all of you. He looks to the rest of the group, Will everyone else be joining me as I stop at the monastery?"
Lucan smiles, "I don't believe any of their order practice arts of the martial variety. I can inquire on your behalf if you like
"WHAT!? But...what!?" Maka's face distorted in confusion at the new mystery presented to her. "Then what do they do?"
Fin nods. ”Do they have a hot bath?”
"Everywhere has a hot bath with me around." Maja thumped her chest and gave Fun a toothy grin.
Lucan pauses, as if an idea is occurring to him. "They are dedicated to the arts of invention and engineering. I do believe there is a source of water within the cavern. It is clearly within your ability to warm it. It would seem easy enough to accommodate your fellows desire for a hot bath. In either case it seems at least a few of you are interested in following. Those of you who wish to stay behind we shouldn't be to long, assuming you don't have a leisurely soak in mind." Lucan smiles at Findurel before turning to take the path to the right, heading toward the rocky edge of the plateau.
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Fin returns Maka's grin. "Ah yes, I'd forgotten 'bout that talent of yours, most excellent. If you wouldn't mind warming the water for me, m'lady, I'd be much obliged...I've dreamed of a hot bath for quite some time now..."
The ranger then eyes Lucan. The dude appears to be helpful, but there's a nagging feeling that maybe all is not as it appears...be a good idea to keep an eye on him...
But a short jaunt around the base of the hill toward rocky plateau quickly brings into view a cavern just over a quarter of the way around the rocky outcropping. Lucan gestures to the stone benches carved into the natural rock of the cavern's walls. "If you all will wait here I will ask if it is ok for you to enter the monastery grounds"
Lucan continues ahead into the darkness of the cavern. As he nearly moves out of sight you notice a light appear in the distant darkness. From the cavern opening it is but a dim light that seems to be slightly reflected off of something that lies further within the cavern. The light is tinged bronze.
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When asked if she plans to go to the monastery, Quasit nods. "We're sticking together." she says.
During the walk to this place, Quasit had seemed withdrawn and distracted, and let the bubbly Sakitu do most of the talking. Some of the time she was watching the enigmatic Lucan, and some of the time she seemed to be watching Maka and Bulvi.
Now as Lucan walked into the monastery, she exhales deeply, like she's been holding her breath for a couple hours.
"Does all this seem a little too lucky to you?" she says to the others in a low voice. "A mysterious monastery that has just what we need only a short march from the city? Filled with monks who are apparently part of some underground resistance? That Lucan knew about those beggars, and Hartlegrath, and they have a handy dandy forger and a secret lair... I dunno. I don't think he's lying to us, but he's definitely not telling us everything. And he didn't even want to know our business in Whitethrone -- he just offered to help. Does that seem reasonable around here?"
She shakes her head, then musses her hair violently, as she often does when annoyed.
"I can't put my finger on it. Maybe this winter hellscape is just making me paranoid. But a monastery devoted too... what did he say? Invention and engineering? What in the seven hells is that? Just... everyone stay alert and stick together. Be ready for anything. Play nice. But be ready for the stab in the back. And maybe hold off on the hot bath for now."
Lucan returns a short time later followed by a disheveled gnome who wears a leather apron, it's front pockets bulging with various tools. Though the gnome steps out in front of Lucan once the two of them arrive at the entrance to the cavern, Lucan speaks first. He seems a bit surprised. "It seems your arrival was expected. This fine gnome here is Rega, one of the caretakers of the monastery. He requested I introduce him. Apparently he has an urgent request."
The gnome nods excitedly, wiping his hands on his apron. Though he continues to fidget off and on with the tools in his apron pockets he focuses intently on the party. "The clockfather foresaw your coming. He wishes to speak to you before you make your way to the village. It is a great honor to be addressed by the clockfather. When Lucan asked if strangers might have passage to the natural springs within the cavern I knew I had to alert the elder. Now, which one of you makes the fire? Rega looks around frantically, waiting for someone in the party to respond.
Bulvi grinned back at Maka "I was worried you were getting cold, its not so bad if I try to keep you warm is it?"
Bulvi spoke up again as the subject of thr monastery was discussed."Maybe they have some of those black powder weapons. They make big roars and shoot pellets at great speed. Very far north for it but if they are engineers you never know. I saw a few in Absallom, they'd never do on a mission involving stealth or suberfuge but if you wanted to scar the wits out of some goblins they'd work out very well!" Bulvi grins as he recounts the tale. "I doubt they can hurl fire or any other sort of magic though."
He sighs "Not all monks are so fun... I ran into some that mainly just copied books... not even write new ones. I mean copying books is fine someone has to do it but for your whole life!"
Bulvi grinned back at Maka "I was worried you were getting cold, its not so bad if I try to keep you warm is it?"
"I don't get cold but you can stay close, you'll definitely owe me a fight though."
Maybe they have some of those black powder weapons. They make big roars and shoot pellets at great speed. Very far north for it but if they are engineers you never know. I saw a few in Absallom
Maka grew visibly exited at Bulvi's mention of black powder. "Atashabaazee! Err what was the common word for them...fireworks? I saw some of those in Absallom too! Or well I don't think they were weapons though, more colorful and fun but definitely with a big roar.
He sighs "Not all monks are so fun... I ran into some that mainly just copied books... not even write new ones. I mean copying books is fine someone has to do it but for your whole life!"
Maka had a stunned expression on her face for a time, having difficulty comprehending what Bulvi had just said. "They what? I understand devoting yourself to wisdom and knowledge, but just copying books? It's like...they devoted themselves to paper. Dad was right, the Inner Sea is weird."
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"Does all this seem a little too lucky to you?..."
"Mmmm I don't know, lucky stuff tends to happen. I mean it was pretty lucky a fire monk and super smart healer were able to escape through that portal before you closed it. Plus we've had some good karma lately...although it is pretty weird that these monks don't fight." Anger took hold of Maka's face as she thought on Quasit's words. "Grrr there's been too much confusing questioning thinking today. I almost hope they do attack us, at least then I'd know what to do. And if I don't get a bath them I'm eating any food they offer." Smoke fumed from Maka's nostrils as she declared her stance on food.
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Maka bowed deeply to the gnome. "Hello I'm Maka Na'Shota, disciple of the Dragon's Eye Monastery, and I have mastery of flame." Maka's hand burst in to flame to demonstrate her words. "I would be honored to meet with your clockfather and to fight with one of your champions." Maka clearly had more excitement for the proposed fight than meeting.
Rega nods excitedly at witnessing Maka's hand bursting into flames, returning Maka's bow once he remembers himself. "It is just as Clockfather foresaw. Bowing Well met Maka Na'Shota. My apologies, I was beside myself to see for myself what the Clockfather saw in his vision. If you would be willing, will you hold this contraption of my making while you make the fire?
The gnome retrieves what initially looks like a small cooper pot from a pouch hanging from his belt. As he holds it in his open palm it is apparent that there are gear works within the cooper pot. Quickly, Rega takes a water pouch from the other side of his belt and carefully pours a small amount of water into the contraption.
"It is designed to focus and amplify the heat from fire to more quickly boil water. It this design works I may be able to restore the heating for our tubs. As if realizing he has left something unaddressed, Rega backtracks My apologies. Our only surviving champion is away. We worry for his return. I am working on a mechanical guard, but it is not ready for sparing."