The kobold flinches as Herger's morning star grazes him, but he maintains focus on the spell.
The kobold finishes his casting, and suddenly the room is filled with a palpable terror, and menace.
Autumn moved up to this shaman and swung her axe.
But swung far too wide.
He frowned as he tried to watch the purple kobold cast his magic spell,and he frowned as the wave of fear washed over him leaving him feeling... a little off put. Just a tiny bit more power behind the spell and he was sure that he would have been a gibbering fool of a man fleeing from the magic. That thought gave him pause. What if this Shaman was stronger in his magics than Herger could deal with?
The force of terror focusses on Regina, who runs away.
Pyros and Caerwyn move to flank and pincer the purple kobold.
Sootscale moves up and stabs at his hated foe.
This time his spear scratches the hide of the purple kobold despite his magical protection.
Despite knowing it would probably catch the purple kobolds attention he tried to deftly swing around the side of him actually cutting off his escape to the side passage... or at least making the kobold have to go through him to get to that passage.
He hoped the kobold chieftain's attacks would keep the Shaman's attention divided, and once more he tried to bring his morningstar down on the troublesome pest.
Tartuk can't manage a hit, as Herger maneuvers around the stone column. Herger's attack is solid and brutal. The kobold is definitely winded now.
Not being a fool, the purple Kobold (a.k.a Tartuk) steps out of the flanked position Herger had just placed him in. Then he triggers magic from a wand he carries. A bright, silvery bolt of force strikes at the kobold leader, causing injury.
Noticing what Herger is trying to do, Autumn moved behind the cleric and into a spot in the tunnel. From there the hunter swung at the purple Kobold.
Autumn's axe rebounds from the resilient disk of magical force that protects the purple kobold. Probably would have missed anyway; the fellow seems somewhat agile.
Pyros steps up, slashing out with his dueling sword.
Smoke from the brazier get into his eyes throwing his aim off.
Caerwyn dithers.
Sootscale darts in with his spear, once again.
Tartuk is definitely bloodied now.
Confident they had the little purple bugger cornered now, he made sure to keep his shield up as he brought his morning star sweeping across. He panted from exertion, adrenaline running hot through his veins.
He telegraphed his blow too much clearly, it came no where near the mark
Tartuk spends another charge from his wand, and another of the silvery bolts crashes into the kobold chieftain.
Autumn swung once more at shaman, hoping to actually deal a bit a damage.
Pyros tries to follow Autumn's lead.
Pyros cuts deeply into the purple kobold, splattering gore everywhere. Somehow the kobold remains on his feet.
Caerwyn moves in with his curveblade, trying to finish the kobold off.
But his slash is deflected in the last instant. Tartuk still stands.
Spinning his spear, Sootscale attacks the purple kobold.
Tartuk is staggered, but fueled by hate, he triggers his wand one last time. Striking the chief.
Then the purple kobold collapses, unconscious.
Seeing the kobold fall Autumn puts her axe away and looks to the chief. "Your people a free." Autumn told him with a small smile. She looked to Herger at her side and paused a moment before reaching out to him saying "Hold still." She placed her thumb upon his forehead and her other hand upon his shoulder.
Autumn focused energy into him, stitching up his wounds as if they never happened. "You should be more careful." She told him as she let go. "Your gifts from Erastil make you a far better healer than I." Autumn said with a small smile. "But I think I do alright, would you tend to the chief while I deal with the kobold?" She asked after a moment.
The kobold chief stalks over to the prone form of the purple kobold. "Never again will you bother Sootscale."
He raises his spear, preparing to finish off the purple kobold.
"Aye Ol' Deadeye's faith has granted me a bit more in the those talents."
He huffed frowning slightly as he watched the kobold cheiftain prepare to strike a killing blow on the Shaman. He wasnt exactly thrilled with the kobolds decision for that sort of justice... but it also wasnt his tribe or people whom had been evidently maliciously wronged.
Besides... they were in kobold warrens with who knew how many of the creatures. He did channel the holy energys granted to him by Erastil letting the positive energy wash over those close to the chieftain.. but not included the purple kobold at all.
Autumn allows him to execute the purple kobold. After all his execution was no different than that they had done to the bandit. He had a trial by combat, and he lost. Now the question was... could they leave with the ring, alive.
Once the chief finished the shaman off, Autumn made her way over to him. "Your tribe is free, and I hope you will remember we helped you. We do not wish to hostility between your tribe and ours. So when we come to settle the area proper, would you consider trade?"
The kobold chief's reptilian lips draw back from his teeth in what might be confused for a smile. "Longshanks are of many tribes. Some tribes friendly with other tribes, some not. Other tribes of longshanks do as they wish, with no law. Still others wish to bind all to their laws. Kobold laws are the only laws that are good for kobolds."
Sootscale wipes the blood off his spear tip.
"You have done Sootscale a great favor today." The kobold draws himself up to his full height, facing you.
"There is a ring you wanted. The ring is a small value; Tartuk has gathered a good pile of wealth. I give it all to you. Ring too. Because of valuable help you give me today."
With no teeth showing the kobold continues. "Such treasures are small compared to debt that Sootscale owes. Sootscale is not interested in trade with longshanks, but we remember. Perhaps Sootscale help you one day..."
"If not trade than friendship?" Autumn asked with a smile, showing no teeth as well as she had picked up on how the chief smiled. "We shall gladly take what you offer Chief, and may fate smile upon you and your tribe now that you are free of that shaman. We ask but a moment more to gather the gifts you have so generously offered than we shall leave your tribe in peace." Autumn told him as she offered a bow before going about and collecting what had been offered.
"Sootscale pays his debts." Is the kobold leader's noncommittal answer.
The purple kobold's treasure is made up of quite a few useful items, as well as Svetlana's simple gold wedding band. Of note is a journal, but it is written an an obscure language The journal seems not to be of kobold workmanship.
He nodded to the Kobold rulers decision, well aware that perhaps that might change, perhaps not. It remained to be seen.If they werent open to trade now, perhaps in the future.
"May Erastil bless your tribe Chief."
He said simply helping Autumn gather the treasures. He couldnt wait to be out of the dark hole and back into the proper light.
"Very well." Autumn said with a nod
Autumn tucks the journal away before finishing up with the treasure thanks to Herger's help. "I believe that is all of it." Autumn said as she specifically picked up Svetlana's ring and ensured it was more secure than anything else. "Oleg will be pleased." Autumn said with a nod. "Now, why don't we head back? Maybe stop and get some of the moon radishes for a stew?"
Sootscale and some of his warriors escort you back to the surface. Of Regina, there is no sign, and her horse is gone. Apparently she has lost her desire for adventure.
Frostbite perked up when she saw Autumn and the group come out. Being a dutiful companion she had remained behind to guard the horses, and the gladly welcomed her mistress back. Autumn smiled and loved on her wolf before looking at the remaining horses and notice that Regina was no where to be found. "I hope you find the place you belong." Autumn said under her breath. Then she put everything they got upon the remaining horses and mounted her horse.
"Let us head back." She suggested. "Get those radishes and get back to Oleg's."
He frowned more than a bit and then partially scowled back torwards where the kobolds had been hiding over the cave entrance. He didnt think they did anything untorwards, but he didnt think he could get satisfactory answers from theme about where their young friend went to. She had been taking things a bit... roughly ever since the bandits had arrived. He hoped she found her path.
"That sounds like a good plan, It will be nice to see what can be done with those radishes in a stew."
He added rubbing his stomach with the thought of it. Good home made food always put him in a better mood....even better when someone cooked it who knew what they were doing.
On horseback, and knowing the way; the trip back to the radish patch takes around eight hours.
The place is quiet; the kobolds having moved on, but the devastation left by their presence is clear. Fully half of the patch has been uprooted. Half eaten radishes litter the ground, here and there, while more of the radish greens litter the churned earth. Apparently sometimes the whole radish was eaten, other times the tuber was not finished.
If the kobolds return, and keep after the patch at this rate, the radishes will be annihilated in short order.
"Well... this is problematic." Autumn said as she dismounted Solstice. "At this rate the radishes will be gone before the season for them is over..." She said before she knelt down next to them.
Remembering that they had a farmer back at Oleg's and Herger here with her, Autumn moved to secure some of the seeds of these radishes and if she couldn't do that, properly unearth some of them to be transplanted to another bed of solid. "Maybe we can take some of these back to Curley. He could properly store then so that we can grow a radish patch." Autumn said to explain her actions.
"Thats a sound idea. I've no idea what they will taste like, but Its sound long term thinking. I like that."
He said with a smile giving the pretty Aasimar an nod.
Autumn had a small smile upon her face as Herger praised her idea. "I tend to think long term when it comes to things such as this." Autumn told him as she continued. "I think I'd like a small garden of my own, my sister Spring was well named as she had a green thumb. Had a lovely garden that bloomed every year." She told him though her voice was heavy with sadness.
Autumn sees that the moonradishes have not yet gone to seed; that is something that will happen later into the summer. Perhaps the plant could be transplanted, but it would have to be kept in moist soil while being transported.
Autumn also knows that moonradishes are very rare, perhaps they only grow in certain soils.
Thinking it over Autumn swiftly got up and moved to her pack. "Transporting them will be difficult but not impossible! We only need Curley to keep them alive long enough to seed. That should be in summer, but they may not be here come then. So, this is what I am planning Herger I don't have too much in my pack, is there anyway we can put it all in yours? Or possibly split it up among all of us? Then I can fill my pack with soil from here and then the radishes. We can take the full pack back to Oleg's give it to Curley and if he needs more soil I can return tomorrow to gather more with a larger basket maybe..." Autumn explained. "The soil needs to be moist so we're lucky! Because it rained recently, meaning all of the soil should still be moist. Moonradishes are rare, they don't just grow anywhere so I do believe that taking the soil with us is in fact a must." She went on as she was already removing things from her pack. "Think of it though... if we could get a farm of these, one of the rarest vegetables in the River Kingdoms, we would have the beginning of our iconic trade item. Our people could become known for dishes made of moonradish, stews that hold local game with it, spiced moonradish served in a skillet, and much more." Autumn spouted off obviously excited at the idea.
He blinked at her at first. Bemused more than anything at her excitement over the prospect. he watched her just for a moment before he nodded simply transferring her things she was removing to his pack. It was a sound idea. He had been looking at things mostly from a homesteader's point of view... but if one looked at it as if they were founding a village... why more trade goods than just standard farmstuff was very sound.
The attempt was at least worth it, or the Kobolds might just eat them all and ruin them.
"We will have to mark this patch down as well, come back closer to the time they seed and see if we can salvage more... assuming the kobolds dont entirely eat the patch."
He continuing to load his pack down.
"Well, they seed in summer. We could come back around the end of Sarenith, and maybe the beginning of Erastus." Autumn told him as she ensured her pack was empty before she began to shovel in some soil. "After Archerfeast of course." She grinned.
The moonradishes, and some of the thick, dark loam are packed up for travel. By then it is time to set camp up. The evening passes pleasantly under the stars. The air is chilly, but a fire drives back the chill as well as the dark.
Morning brings a warm day, spring seems to be finally here in force. Birds sing, the trees are green with new leaves.
Mid afternoon brings Oleg's trading post into view. The place seems busy, with many new faces. Outside the fort walls, new buildings are going up. Tents house the additional people until the more permanent structures are completed.
Oleg is outside, overseeing the construction of one of the buildings. "Yer back! Good to see you." He gestures to the framework of the building. "New stable. I'm converting the old one to rooms for let. Place's getting busy."
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It had taken Titian less then 5 hours to finally reach Oleg´s Outpost.
The sun was shining and Esprit had eaten the miles in his steady trot.
Turning a final bend of the road, the wooden palisades had finally come to view and the end of the journey was close.
Guiding his trusted friend through the gates towards a rail to bind horses, Titian dismounted and moved his aching muscles.
Fishing for an apple as reward he took care of his friend first before putting his head in the water through, to refresh himself, feeling the cold water rush down his spine.
Moving slowly into the common room he made his way to the woman standing there.
"Well met, goodwife.
Am I here at the correct spot? I am looking for Oleg´s Outpost.
I have been traveling for many miles and I hope I am at the right spot."
Sniffing the air he continued with a charming smile.
"I can smell some delicious food in the kitchen. May I order some and a mug of ale or mead?"
Autumn smiled as she heard the sounds of spring all around them come the morning. "Spring has finally shaken off winter's chill." She said before she went about helping break camp.
As Oleg's got closer Autumn was surprised so many had begun to call the place home if only for the time being. "It seems we started a reaction." Autumn commented as they finally got to the place themselves. She offered a wave to Oleg as he greeted them. "Business seems good, but I have something that will make the day better." Autumn said with a grin before she dug the ring out of her pocket and held it out to Oleg. "I believe this belongs to you, though more correctly your wife."
Seeing the exchange Elirious perks up instantly, having been somewhat down on his luck without his master's expertise to backing up his schemes. Sizing up the woman's attire, he decides that flashy probably is not the way to go and with a flick of his wrists alters his clothing to a set of well made, but worn practical attire in earth tones, such as might be worm by a prosperous, but hard working farmer.
He is a handsome youth, clearly only in his mid to late teens, with a mane of dark touseled hair that hides his ears, and a lean, but muscular build. Upon his back is a pole, the top of which is wrapped up in cloth and tied, likely a banner or flag.
Taking a breath he moves forward and addresses her his tone ringing with embarrassment, eyes wide and pleading, "Excuse me Ma'am, I am terribly sorry to bother you, but I find myself embarrassingly impoverished, and could not help, but notice you coming into some coin... Ummm, could you possibly, please consider purchasing a magic item from me? If it is something you could use coin would be extremely helpful to me..."
Grimacing as if pained he produces a 12-inch iron bar lined with small plates and spikes,
"I am told it slices, dices, hammers, levers, levens, and more, and indeed I have used it for that and more myself. It is called a Traveler's Any Tool. I purchased it for 400gp, but given that I could badly use funds for a horse, and somewhere to sleep tonight I would be willing to take..." He swallows and bites his lip, "300gp for it?"
He had been mostly quiet during the day, keeping just a general look out over the lands wondering if any of the soil here or there would be good for farm work. He would have to ask Curley about it, though he was still holding judgement over the man to see if he were true to his word. A slight uptwinge seemed implanted on his lips though. Autumn's excitement about the possibilty of Moon radishes was contagious. Which strangely got him thinking about the woman herself.
That was a line of thought he didnt think he would have again really. He found himself glancing her direction more and more as they neared the trading post. . . Thankfully the trading post's sudden growth caught his attention. He kept his eyes open for his son, but had little doubt he would find him on the outside..unless that where those soldiers were.
Things were fine until the youth slinked over trying to sell them something. He reminded Herger of a snake oil salesman He cleared his throat and glared only slightly... he did look just a few years older than his boy.
"We have one, if you need coin lots of work about here. Start pitching in."
He said gruffly giving Elirious a simple nod, as he got off his horse. He couldnt help but smile as he saw his son rushing over from near the soldiers torwards their small returning group.
Autumn began to say something but Herger jumped in and spoke up. She raised her eyebrow and smiled at the cleric. She had noticed he was off in thought about something but had yet to put her finger on it. Though now she wondered why he lied... maybe it was to show the young man how to look after himself? After all Herger was a cleric of Erastil and that was what they did.
"Yes there is always a bit of work to be done. We'd greatly welcome the extra hands." Autumn agreed with Herger though she did give him an odd questioning look. However when his son began to make his way over that look faded. "Oh and Herger, when you get a moment I would like to speak with you bout something."
Then she turned back to Elirious, "Head just inside there," Autumn pointed to the main area of the trading post. "and I will join you after I have finished here with Oleg. In fact if you could find a man named Curley for me, and tell him Autumn wishes to speak with him I would be much obliged."
"Work? Alas Sir, though I have tried long and hard," Elirious says, the momentary crinkling of his nose at the W word lending the lie to his words, "nobody seems prepared to take a chance on one as young and untested as myself. You see my Master, a bard of some small repute, passed away only a few weeks ago and without him I find myself rather lost." Elirious says, voice quavering slightly,
"If you have one yourself then I am sure you can tell the Lady here how useful it can be? Unless the two of you are joined at the hip it would surely be worth more than its weight in gold."
"The truth is I see myself as more of an adventurer than a worker, and for that I really need a horse. How else is an aspiring bard meant to travel experiencing danger, hardship, and valour to distill into thrilling tales to inspire and entertain the people?"
His eyes brighten seeing , "Perhaps you could pass your own down to your lad there? A gift useful throughout his life that will always warm his heart and remind him of his dear old Father?"
To Autumn's words he nods, "Well it can never hurt to talk in my experience, though I'm not really interested in any line of employment where one could be described as a "hand", a spear perhaps. Oh, and forgive me, I am..." Eh, no reason to lie, I'll either move on or, I'll forget the alias
"Elirious. If the gentleman is sure he doesn't wish to pass on a treasured heirloom to his boy I'll happily go and find this Curly for you."
"you been good boy? I aim to ask Miss Svetlana about it."
He began speaking to his son while rummaging though his bag. He pulled out a bar almost exactly like the bar the young man had tried to sell them. He had sort of known what it could do when he found it in that purple kobolds loot stash, but now his thoughts were confirmed.
"tend to the horses Ufgar, like a good lad, I'll tell you about the mites and kobolds after dinner."
He began reaching out and ruffling the young man's hair. He sent him off and turned back to the 'bard'. He had a low opinion of bards, but thankfully it was a better opionion than what he had of bandits.
The Bards words struck him though
Joined at the hip?
He thought to himself slightly coloring for a very brief second.
"Bah! You make work sound like a vile thing. Work is the very measure of a man or woman's worth."
He began his tone slowly creeping into a preacher on a pulpit's tone. The weather oaken holy symbol of Erastil certainly stood out just a bit more. He handed his son the rein's to his horse and took to taking a hard look at the bard no doubt about to break into a sermon.
"Nothing is more satisfying than the fruits of a day's labor" Autumn told Elirious with a small grin. It was an old Erastian saying to chastise those who where seen as lazy.
She turned and carefully picked up the bag with the moonradishes, before looking to Ulfgar. "Could you take Solstice as well please? I need to get these to Curley and have him get them back into the ground." Autumn said.
"Also Elirious, we are in a way, adventurers as well. At least till we tame enough of the area to settle in." Autumn said with a smile. "Kinda looking foreword to it honestly... Maybe I'll plant an orchard as well. I love pears, and I think they can grow well here... I'll have to asked Curley, he might know." She said before she began to look around for the farmer turned bandit, now possible farmer.
Charter in hand, Drazen Prasec walked into Oleg's Outpost. The handsome half-elf was clearly ill-equipped for life in the wild and, truth be told, it was a small miracle that he has made it this far. He was tired, hungry, and thirsty; and while he was generally known to be self-assured and competent, he felt very much out of his depth.
He was not a particularly religious man, but nevertheless, he kissed his holy symbol and thanked Erastil for guiding him this far.
He had imagined himself being greeted as a hero and a saviour. He had fantasized about, for once, standing tall as more than he was: a poor bastard who could claim neither wealth or nobility. But, seeing the villagers come and go and pay no attention whatsoever to him, he realized that he was here, as he was in Restov, invisible.
I'll be right at home, he thought with a smile, taking note to never again let his dreams get ahead of his ambition.
"I have a charter," he said, catching the first person he could, seeking directions...
Elirious scrunches his face up and peers at Autumn with one eye, "I have it on pretty good authority that that is wrong. And even if its right, what about the fruits of two days labour? Honestly I don't think I want to live in a world where its right! Nice you know what you want though. I planted an apple once, but nothing happened for hours so I just went out and bought a bunch of apples. Now I am not saying there is a moral to that story, but"
He leans in raising a hand to his mouth, glancing about nervously, and whispers, "they sold pears to!"
Grinning mischievously he adds, "Don't get me wrong I do appreciate hard work in other people, but tragically I find it horrendously boring. Cruel fate has only enabled me to enjoy interesting and fun things, but I must soldier on with this burden. You need not weep for me..."
Titian finds the common room to be a pleasant place, the shutters open, curtains drawn back to let in the sunlight. A blonde haired woman who looks to be in her early thirties steps through a door.
"Welcome traveler." She wears a green dress with crisp white apron, and holds a large wooden spoon.
"Yes, this Oleg's trading post." She smiles. "The Food is for our paying guests, so of course you can order some. I have ale or wine. Ham's ready, there'll be fried chicken for supper."
She gives Titian a look-over, taking in his military gear. "Might I ask what brings you to our post?"
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Oleg's eyes glisten with emotion. He accepts the ring. "I owe you more than I can say. Or more than I can really pay you right now."
The merchant digs into his rather large belt pouch, dragging out a receipt book. Some more rummaging produces an inkpot and quill.
He writes in the book swiftly, then tears the page out, handing it to Autumn.
"It's an IOU, value 1,000 crowns. You can have anything I have in stock, just don't clean me out, I gotta have some for trade. I can get items I don't have in stock, if you give me time." Oleg's face takes on an embarrassed expression. "It's not much, I know."
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Ulfgar answers:" Yeah Pa. I been good." But his demeanor is perhaps a little sullen. He obediently goes off to tend the horses though.
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Autumn finds Curly easily enough. The fellow is listlessly chopping at the ground with a hoe. One of Kesten's guardsmen keeps an eye on the would be farmer from atop the wall of the trading post.
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"Another one of the explorers, eh?" A disinterested guard asks Drazen. "I think they are just getting back." Then he suggests: "you look footsore. You should see Svetlana in the main room. Get you some food, and a bed."
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Titian makes a slight nod with a smile and replies.
"A mug of ale and some Ham and bread please. And I think I will stay for dinner."
Taking a deep breath Titian puts his hand in his left bracer and procures a document from it.
"I was sent from the swordlords to aid in the reclemation of the stolen lands. This was supposed to be the best place to meet the explorers.
Maybe you could help me."
Autumn gently smiled at Oleg and took the IOU if only to be kind. "You didn't need to do this Oleg. Honestly, I helped you because you and Svetlana have been good to us and had such a hard time." Autumn explained. "I wanted to help, though this is much appreciated. We'll need tools and such for building before long. So we'll come to you for that."
As Elirious went on about his planting an apple and nothing happening Autumn rolled her eyes. "It takes more than a few hours to grow things. Life takes time." She tried to explain. Then she saw an opening she couldn't refuse in his words. She looked down to Frostbite, who was being rather well behaved, and they shared a look before Autumn turned back to Elirious. "Oh I don't weep for fools hon, else I'd be crying all day." Her tone gave off more of a jest than an actual comment on the young man before her, though her raised eyebrow would remind anyone of a mother who had caught one of their children in a lie and was waiting on the truth. Frostbite seemed to give a wheeze that could be mistaken for a snicker as she swished her tail back and forth.
However her expression changed and she gently nudged Herger with her elbow and pointed to Ulfger as he walked away. "Maybe the sermon can wait?" She asked. "Your boy seems a bit... crestfallen."
Finally, Autumn made her way to Curley with Frostbite on her heels. Even inviting their younger newcomer along to meet him. "Curley! I've a favor to ask!" Autumn said as she get set the bag down and the farmer's feet before opening it to show him what was inside. "Do you think you could keep these alive till they seed in summer?" She asked. "I collected soil from where they grew as well, just in cause it would help. I know these guys don't grow just anywhere."
Drazen nods and makes his way to the main hall to find Svetlana. I think they are just getting back... Walking across the yard, Drazen studies the crowd and attempts to ascertain who it is the disinterested guard was referring to.
"Sure, but generally speaking some mu... body else will spend that time for you. Welp I suppose I had better try my hand at earning some coin. Hope to see you around Miss Autumn!"
Glancing around he seeks out anybody who might appear to be an authority figure, a guard or some such and asks, "Excuse me Sir, I was hoping to put on a performance, is there anywhere where I can do that without being too much of a bother? I am a storyteller you see, and hope to earn a little coin and entertainment some of these hard working folks."
* Titian.
"They were headed headed South toward Old Sycamore, I don't know when they'll be back. You can wait for them here." She glances over to one of the darker corners of the room. "Slev, over there, is a hunter. He might be able to lead you to them." The man in question sits at a table with a mug in front of him as he fiddles with a corncob pipe. He wears an outfit of pale buckskin.
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* Autumn.
Curley leans on his hoe. "I could try, I guess. Won't get much done on my rows, if I have to do that, though." It doesn't look like he's got all that much done on his rows anyway.
"Those don't grow just anywhere. Only in magic soil, I think." The ex-bandit thinks for a moment. "Don't blame me ifin they die. Then the fellow's face brightens. "Old Bokken might know how to get 'em to grow. He's been here forever, and he's an alchemist. Lives in a hut over east of here." Curley waves his arm in a generally eastern direction.
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* Drazen.
Drazen notes five guards about the place, mostly standing watch on the parapet. A pair of woodcutters are shaping a log with adzes. Three other woodcutters are working the lumber down into smaller, shaped boards to be used in building. Two groups of people look to be farm families, complete with children of various sizes, and assorted livestock. A large, bearded man and a younger, teenaged boy seem to be having a conversation near the old stable. The two bear a certain resemblance.
Outside the gate a man, woman, and what must surely be a wolf are having a conversation. Though to wolf just sits there, watching the man intently.
A young man who caries a stave with attached cloth wrapped bundle, like a vagabond is asking one of the guards about putting on a performance for coin.
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* Elirious.
"Folks with free time gather in the common room." The guard points it out. "Some entertainment would be welcome. I think everyone here has already told all the tales they know. It'd be nice to hear some new."