A red hat? I think we should wait, since we sent them out as scouts anyway we might as well get the info.
There is wisdom to be found in both sides of this debate.
"Then we wait for an hour, at most. I doubt the redcaps will adhere to the plan, though."
Gerard meets everyone's eyes. If you feel comfortable waiting, we wait... But, I'd counsel against being idle. As to the redcaps, better we find out now than in the thick of it.
Plus Dogtongue and company would no doubt be ticked off if they learned we took off without them after sending them off. Remember, we asked them to put aside their instinct of killing off council forces and dipping their caps. To them it made perfect sense to whittle down patrols. So we can compromise a bit here.
Euphemia pulls out a few trail rations to tide over the wait.
"We might not have the chance or the desire to sup again in the near future. Eat them if you've got them, I say, or share mine if you're without."
Andrea takes out some little nut bars that Fiosa makes whenever Andrea has to go out and munches with a few sips of water.
Euphewmia anything more you can tell us about The Mother? Just what kind of hag is she? is she a witch like yourself? It seems that you have had dealings with her before.
Frank's spines shoot up into the air and his eyes widen.
Now, now, mistress, deep breaths will do you good now. Just give basic facts, don't think too hard.
I have many reservations about this alliance. I am trusting in you all to help decide how we deal with both the threat and our so called allies. The forces allayed against us mean we need help, but I hope we have not invited atrocity by working with these beings.
Clearly caught off guard, bits of Euphemia's meal crumbles out of her mouth as she stares dumbfounded at Andrea for a moment as her hair rises on end.
"Not like me, no." she manages
As the other talk, Gerard gathers some stones and small branches. Reaching in his pack... he produces a tinderbox and works on starting a small fire.
Then he pours water into a small kettle and begins to boil it.
Would anyone like some tea?
Andrea pauses. I did not mean to offend, I assumed that you were more familiar with her since you know Dogtongue who is allied with The Mother.
Andrea turns to Daniel. We are quite aware of the nature of those who have sent the forces against The Mother. Even though there might be desperate and poor people among them, the leaders have shown themselves to be utterly ruthless and so we need to treat this as war. As for the Redcaps, I trust Dogtongue to keep his word and fight with us and cut everything within reach to pieces. We can't expect them to grant mercy in the heat of battle once we start it. Plus The Mother no doubt will want her revenge if we are able to secure her aid.
"Tea would be lovely-," the witch concedes before staring at Andrea with the eyes of someone haunted.
"Before I knew this was her domain, Andrea, a couple of years ago... I blundered into Hagwood with Frank looking for razorleaf schunback. She thought me a spy."
Euphemia shudders.
Frank, I don't want to talk about this. Period.
Gerard had already started on the tea... Eventually, he produced cups and some sugar.
Here, clear your mind. That's history, the past... Everything's going to be fine.
"I do need to say a few things, though. She's a powerful magistier, though she certainly doesn't get her power in the same way as me. The impossible entity that granted me my dearest wishes and infused me with magic would never deign to appear to one such as her, though we both use the less appealing sides of nature to our advantage."
She takes the tea, quivering.
"She is like most of the stories say. I should know... I told some of the more recent ones, Sinishakti forgive me. Months in her hands and those of her servants gave me plenty to go off of.
I would not advise opposing her. Not even in Sir Arrisen's case... She would paint the bark of the maggot tree red with our blood, and the festering servants would make short work of the rest, leaving us as fetid as the tree's namesake. At least... that's what I assume."
"But... despite all that... I got lucky. She let me go. Oh, you should have seen the look on my brother's face when I told him where I'd been."
"As for Dogtongue, I suppose he's the closest thing I made to a friend during my time here. His attentions keep me shielded from the Mother, typically, since I can deal with him instead."
I see this causes you discomfort so I will not press. Perhaps when we are in a less stressful situation.
Andrea sips a little tea.
"Thank you." Euphemia responds, breaking a smile as she takes a sip.
Frank, quick, social liner!
I believe you mean to say "Frank, please grant me something to say?"
Well, regardless, mistress, why don't you just calm down and let someone else speak or simply sit in companionable silence?
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Oh, okay... I think I can do that-"Male ducks are often rendered flightless for a month after breeding." Euphemia blurts out.
Pharasma's teets!
Frank squeaks.
MISTRESS! I must cite the colloquialism that demands you watch your language!
So it would be best to check when breeding season happens and then take the oppurtunity to corner the market on duck soup/selling to inns?
Andrea rubs her scruffy, very short blonder hair. Would you happen to have any good tips for stimulating hair growth? I had an unfortunate incident which forced me to shave my head and had to wear a wig.
Euphemia proffers a piece of dried fruit from her trail rations.
"Eat things with skins such as vegetables and fruits. That's what I would suggest. There's also a couple of oils that might react well on your scalp, though they cause tingling, I hear."
The witch looks at all of her new companions and gives a guilty chuckle.
"And then there's avoiding stress. Somehow I don't think that's going to be an easy one."
Would you belive I am only twenty? Andrea bites into the fruit and offers the last nut bar. I have had enough stress to turn me into an old lady before my time. Oils? I will have to ask the hairdresser if she can get some for me, she is a marvel with pedicures as Lucrezia can attest to.
Quack-quack.... Gerard chuckles quietly shaking his head gently.
Tea and coffee travel well, they're light, keep their freshness and you can usually find fresh water. Gerard muses.
Seeing the others fading from sight, Euphemia follows suit, blending into goliage and curling up in a manner remniscent of her familiar... who followed suit after separating from master.
As the tea steeps you hear, "Hullo...got one still livin'" as a wiry little redcap pops out from behind the witch. "Holdin' 'im out yonder to keep 'im shushed." He looks at the small fire and shakes his head, "Crackling and scents of spice w'll git those wolfhounds goin'
I thought the same thing, then remembered the much larger fire crackling louder and creatng a thick oppressive choking smoke...
This is nothing. Thank you for reporting back, please... Lead the way.
Well we best cut our tea short and see to the captive. Andrea finishes her snack and stands up. Remember Gerard, the patrols arn't hindered by the smoke and fire. It is like looking out into the darkness while gathered around a campfire.
Quickly, Gerard packs up. Kettle and cups are stowed.
As has become habit, he helps Euphemia up into her saddle, then mounts and helps pull Andrea up.
Euphemia uncurls and thanks Gerard for his help handedly as Frank leaps upon her left leg and crawls back up her garments.
"And then we march, do you think? I still need to ask Dogtongue if there are any other forces to rally..."
The redcap lead the group deeper into the thickets and woods. The terrain is noticeably shifting to drier ground that has dense trees, redwoods, oak, fir, pine and elm mixed together in a hodgepodge.
He takes you into a small clearing and there is a severely beaten half-elf. You see his right hand is tied to a stump and his nails have been removed, his tips flayed open revealing bone. He has been gagged to muffle his cries. Dogtongue is there, "Good....good the prisoner is very cooperative now."
Andrea inhales and then presses her lips together. Not far off from what I have done before, don't get high and mighty. So does make sure to hold onto Daniel's arm so he doesn't fly off the handle. Remember Gerard, we did send them out 'scouting' so we shouldn't complain.
Andrea dismounts and moves to the prisoner. Lucrezia, I will need your wand of cure light wounds please. If she is handed the wand, Andrea heals the prisoner's hand. Listen carefully, you are in a dangerous situation, so answer us truthfully andlive to see another day.
"How close did you get to the main camp?" Euphemia asks a random redcap after she manages to stifle the urge to vomit. Her hair seems to be trying to move by itself again, but abruptly stops.
"You wanted talkers....correct?" He motions to the prisoner, "He eagerly chatters...now." His chest puffs out proudly. "Followed orders."
"Close to rear guard, not main camp." He motions to the East, "About half a mile or so down trial they cut a path through Hagswood to Mother's tree. Rear guard there...scouting parties there, foragers there. Main camp circling Mother's tree...at least that is what this talker says."
"Then the talker has already done his job... unless he knows the name of the halfling in the camp, I suppose."
Euphemia shoots Andrea a meaningful glance.
"And I can help get him right, too. I assume our thief prince here will want words with him, too, of a different nature?"
She moves over to the mutilated half-elf and looks into his eyes, trying to see how damaged he is mentally.
His eyes are panicked as you stare at him. He trembles a bit and shaves his head no, to plead no more pain. He mumbles into his gag. He appears fearful but mentally aware.
So we might want to circle around the rear guard and hit the main camp. If we do it quick enough and kill the leaders, then the rear guard and scouts will no doubt flee rather than face an enraged Mother.
"Dogtongue, if all she has are the swarms and birds, are there any other no-shows to the battlefield...? Oh, and please give me permission to help this man, now, if you would, Andrea... Gerard, Sir Arrisen... anyone."
Mistress, it's not really asking for permission if you use that tone.
The hedgehog chirps, wiggling off of Euphemia's shoulders to land on his belly on the prisoner's lap.
Daniel looks as though he might vomit. He quickly recovers as Andrea heals the prisoner.
He finds the apparent leader (hopefully Dogtongue). He tries to explain in words they will understand.
Have you ever been tortured yourself? It does not take long before a captive will say ANYTHING to make the pain stop! Any you take alive are to be bound gagged, Blindfolded and bought before me, from now on. Gerard and I have use for them but they need to be unspoiled. Clear?
Daniel, think about it this way; we told them to go scout and perhaps find a prisoner who could tell us about the forces. They did so in their own manner. We said NOTHING about how they would treat the prisoners. Did you expect them to come back with a neat list of enemy forces, with a securely bound prisoner with just a bump on their head? As for being put through torture, I suspect Dogtongue's humiliation by Madjaw was rather violent.
Andrea shows Euphemia the prisoner's healed hand.
"You wanted talkers....we gave you a talker. he tell truth or I'll eat his heart while he lives."
The prisoner nods up and down as Dogtongue speaks. "He's yours...do as you like."
"I'm not talking about that, Andrea." Euphemia whispers.
The witch looks to Frank.
Deploy the instinct modulation techniques.
Mistress, you know a lesser man would find this demeaning...
Frank makes a few cute peeping sounds and nuzzles his snout against the prisoner, acting as adorable as possible in order to calm him down.