"The fire is lit but you've destroyed most of the fuel Carina."
What a waste of power. Such displays are what killed Donal.
"No kidding. Yer jes better off learning how to convince it ta leap outta da wood." Sitting by the fire Telias demonstrates by touching the tobacco in his pipe which ignites handily enough.
All unnecessary showmanship aside, Ganit takes a seat at the fire with a fresh rolled cigarette and listens to Bronwyn as he recounts the 'heroics' of the company since their last encounter with Jhod. When the tales come to a close he rolls out his bedroll, slides a knife beneath his pillow and covers up (booted and fully clothed) underneath his thick blanket.
Bronwyn sits by the firelight and cleans his throat.
"From distant lands beyond the reach of the Dragonscale Throne, there came a humble man, his feet sore and tired from the long journey. He wore a simple leather tunic and sandals, and carried little, for his possessions were long gone, as his wealth. The only thing weighing on his back was his sense of purpose, a religious zeal driven by a divinely-inspired vision."
The bard stops for a gulp of clean water, prolonging the pause purposefully.
"You see, this faithful man, called Jhod of Kavken, had been visited by the gods. Erastil himself touched him, enchanting his conscience so he would dream green holy dreams. He dreamt of green forests, long untouched by civilization, rife with game and the bounty of nature. He dreamt of a long-forgotten temple to the Old Deadeye, reclaimed by nature but carrying a terrible curse. He dreamt of another story."
He takes a moment to crouch near the fire and kindle the flames with a stick, crimson flames flickering in his eyes.
"In times ancient there stood on this very spot a huge and holy temple of Erastil, erected by the first Taldane colonists, a hardy and adventurous lot. Even as the tides of civilization receded due to barbarian attacks and inclement weather, this place still stood as a beacon of civilization and peace. But the unrelenting rhythm of water can wear down even the mightiest rock and this was no exception. The High Priest of Erastil, seeing his entire kingdom collapsing all around him, conducted a foul ritual, slaughtering animals and offering their souls to any power that would be watching."
Suddenly he stops, his gaze distant as he constructs the scene in his mind's eye. Looking at his own shadow, he seems to find something worth of his attention there, drawing everyone's gaze toward it.
"And as Ganit said, that he got. The clouds darkened and even the trees wept for this black example of faithlessness and heresy. A dark shape lingered at the shadows, a crown of horns atop his head.
As he speaks, he takes his hands to his head and spreads his fingers, sculpting a horned figure out of his shadow.
"The power said, his whisper as low as the rustle of trees but clear enough to be heard over a battefield:
I can grant your wish,
but it will cost your soul
One last chance you have
before you are no more
Recant and repent
Bow before your god
Face proud your torment
Turn from this fraud
But if your wish is true
the power to destroy
I will grant to you
Accomplice to my ploy
His mind taken with thoughts of loss and despair, the priest accepted. The shadowy figure asked him to first renounce his god. That he did. He asked the priest to renounce his soul. That he did. One last time he offered the man a chance to turn back on the deal, but he was adamant. "I'll have the power to defend my land and turn back these invaders, and all will be well", he thought.
But see, when a man relinquishes what is deep within his soul, he is a man no more. He has turned into a terrible husk, still alive, but incapable of all the things that makes us human, like enjoying the warmth of a child's smile or longing for that small moment where you look into your loved one's eye and they look back at you.
That power gave the priest his wish. He was turned into a gigantic bear, his hulking muscles coursing with the strenght of ten men, capable of ripping a breastplate with its claws. But in abandoning all that made him human, the priest turned rightly into an animal. His mind burned with half-remembered memories, and madness took hold of him. Incapable of exacting his revenge, he lingered, lashing at the shadows of faint ghosts from his past. For centuries and centuries he lingered, until the power that turned him decided that his penance had to end. And then, he sent a humble man green dreams.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for when he stepped out of the shadows, the power that answered the priest's summons was Erastil himself, his crown of elk horns proudly displayed on his head. He cursed his own priest, for abandoning his faith and his humanity in the proccess. The curse lingered for aeons, until Jhod Kavken. And us."
"Marvelous, Marvelous! Indeed you are a talented storyteller, Bron. What a tradgedy that he let go of his own soul for the want of power! So sad! So how does this end? What happened to the bear? Did the creature defend the temple to his last dying breath? Was he ever able to break the curse and become a human once again, or did he simply die?"
Smiling at the mage's curiosity, the bard gets up suddenly.
"Hold your horses, I said. That's completely another story. And although you already know the ending, I expect that you'll still want to hear it, for the important is not the end itself but the road travelled. That will be tomorrow's story."
Winking, he exits from the scene.
Shaking her head as Bron wanders off:
The rest of the story is that we arrived here and Bron attempted to offer himself as a sacrifice to the bear. James thought better of it and impaled the monster much as he did the Tuskgutter this afternoon. Fortunately Bron had only been partially consumed by the bear and we were able to reassemble him from what the bear left behind.
Although I do not think that we did a very good job, look at him, he used to always have that classic uppity attitude and sneer of a noble. Now all he is left with is the rugged good looks of a warrior who has spent many days on the road.
"I haven't noticed you complaining about it much," Ganit replies to Carina with a knowing half smile as he takes another drag off his cigarette.
"Carina, thanks for the spoiler, but the telling leaves much to be desired. I think Sir Bron has a little bit of the bard in him. Don't you think? Did you hear the tone and the inflection in his voice? He truly brings life into his tales. I feel as if I was right there with him."
Zorestar relights his pipe and leans back against a rock to blow smoke rings in the air.
"Well I am pleased to know that more of a tale will be coming later. I guess I will have to be content with what I have heard thus far. Well, speaking of battles, I have to say, I am well pleased with our skirmish with the dire boar today. I felt a great deal of satisfaction in being able to contribute by discharging two arcane missiles to wound the beast. However, I admit that I was even more delighted to see James finish the boar off with a stab of his lance."
"I am sure Sir Bronwyn is far more skills that you joke. He is a noble afterall and nobles aren't trained to fight the strange and unusual creatures found in these lands." Jhod gives a smile, wanting to join in the conversation. "Did you managed to sort out the Kobolds and Mites with the problems they were causing?"
Carina starts to laugh: Bron, a bard. Your funny. Can anyone imagine Bron entertaining crowds in a tavern?
Carina starts to speak in a low announcer voice: My good patrons, tonight I would like you all to welcome the famous knight, Sir Bronwyn Raslov. He will be entertaining you with some juggling, a few tall tales, and perhaps even a song and dance.
With this, Carina begins to laugh too much to talk any more.
____________
Once she has finished laughing. She responds to Jhod's inquiry.
Yes, the mites are history. And we reached an agreement with the kobolds. I think that they may actually be a strong part of this land once it is settled. Most of the problems with the kobolds stemmed from an insane reincarnated evil gnome who decided that he was going to murder kobolds - someone else might be able to describe it better, but trust me, he was beyond evil.
"I can't tell you about a gnome Jhod but it is true that the kobolds have pledged their support to us and will work the mine in which they live. The mites are gone, we killed their king and his bug after we fought our way into the hive. As you can see Tuskgutter died yesterday and the Stag Lord, as he calls himself, will be next."
Jameson nods at the rest as he recalls their deeds.
"As for Sir Raslov, he has proved his mettle many times. Any coward can seek comfort in a press of bodies or fighting the known with no chance of failure. It takes a man of courage to face the unknown."
"Bron, a bard. Your funny. Can anyone imagine Bron entertaining crowds in a tavern?"
Carina starts to speak in a low announcer voice: "My good patrons, tonight I would like you all to welcome the famous knight, Sir Bronwyn Raslov. He will be entertaining you with some juggling, a few tall tales, and perhaps even a song and dance."
"You may laugh all you like, but remember my words. Some day he may become very famous and I will be able to say I knew him when . . . "
Zorestar lets out another puff of smoke from his pipe.
"I cannot comment on his dancing, you will have to ask the ladies, but his story telling is certainly excellent!"
Telias is off somewhere in the temple sitting crosslegged with his smoked pipe in his lap in quiet introspection and prayer by the statue.
Well, I think it is about time to call it a night. We have a long day of riding tomorrow to get back to Oleg's. And hopefully the headcheese man can be reached so that we can get Ganit the promised bow. I have no doubt that a magical bow would be most beneficial against old Staggy.
Carina pulls out her bedroll and finds a nice place upwind from the cancer crew to sleep.
"Ha! A bard! I like that one Carina." he smiled as he laughs at the idea that this noble man could be a bard of somekind.
The night passes with no event, though Jhod makes sure to get up early and cast his spell on the boar again, which keeps away the flies and the boar flesh long before you leave.
Zorestar tries to find a place to sleep on the wagon, so at least he doesn't need to sleep on the ground. The following morning, after a very uncomfortable sleep, he gets up and starts studying his spell book to rememorize his lost magic missile spell.
Always leave them wanting more, the old man by the fireplace always said.
Bronwyn calmly moves to the shadows, sitting on the ground with his back on the wall. He smiles when hearing the jests, trying hard in many moments not to laugh out loud.
It feels good to have someone defend your honor for a change.
Tired from the long travel, he ends up sleeping sitting down by the wall.
Telias's meditation has turned into a full on nap.
As the morning comes the group saddles up and heads up to Olegs.
Taking your time up her due to all the forestry you had to navigate through, not to mention that wagon you manage to make it to Oleg's where Kesten is waiting at the watch point, allowing you all inside.
"That's one hell of a boar! Tuskgutter I presume?" he asks looking over your kill in curiosity. "Good timing you arrived here actually, the hunter who posted the bill is waiting inside. I think he was confident you were going to kill this thing. You not delt with the Stag Lord yet?"
We ran into this thing first, actually James and his lance ran into it, which caused the boar to become bored with life. Figured that we would prefer getting this back here before it started to attract flies.
I am guessing that you all may have a lot of pork chops, bacon and ham for the next few days. So where is this hunter. I am sure that he would like to see his nemesis when it is not charging him.
"That's one hell of a boar! Tuskgutter I presume?"
Zorestar smiles proudly, knowing that he had a hand in taking down that dire boar.
"Indeed it is! One deceased Tuskgutter as requested. My magic missiles had some effect, but as Carina said, the real credit belongs to Master James, the hero of the moment! Without even getting off of his steed, he ran the creature through with his lance. I don't think he will be charging anytime soon."
We ran into this thing first, actually James and his lance ran into it, which caused the boar to become bored with life. Figured that we would prefer getting this back here before it started to attract flies.
I am guessing that you all may have a lot of pork chops, bacon and ham for the next few days. So where is this hunter. I am sure that he would like to see his nemesis when it is not charging him.
"These adventures down here make me glad I'm not up in Brevoy. The hunter in question is a aging elf with red hair. He's inside with his half-elf daughter. He mentioned coming across you back at the camp and when I tried to show off my skills with the bow to the young lady her father came out and managed to hit a target twice in what seems like a single shot!" he points to a nearby target with two arrows imbedded in it and another arrow that was possibly knocked off the target. It seems more like a threat than a mere display in bowmanship.
"Old Beaumont tends to be pretty particular about his daughter. Save yourself the trouble and go for the low hanging fruit," Ganit tells the guard commander as he makes an obvious motion to Kressel with his eyes. "I'll tell him that we're here with his bounty. Still can't believe he put something like that up on the board."
"We have your hog," Ganit announces as he walks inside the dining hall. "Took it down just like I told you we would. Soften her up with arrows and stones then leave it to the orc to run her through with his lance. Tell me, is this the little piggy who nibbled at your leg?"
Kesten looks a little downcast at what Ganit said to him about going for the low hanging fruit, but then sighs and throws his head back with a strech.
"That's what got me into this situation to begin with." he laughs off the embaressment.
You recall that there was a scandal when an affair between Kesten and a lowborn woman named Tania, a weaver's daughter became public knowledge. After this happened his Father Evan Garess, cousin of the Garess family patriarch, disowned Kesten so it is said he fled to Restov to become a mervenary.
Beaufort laughs as he sees Ganit enter.
"I see you killed the mighty beast. I have to say, you aren't the snot-nosed green horn who couldn't hit the side of a barn with a bow than I used to know." he turns to his daughter, noticing she's giving him a leer. "okey, fine, fine. Ganit, I've never said this to anyone but you are the best marksman with a bow I have seen in years. If anyone can beat the stag lord, you can, my boy." he puts his hands on Ganit's shoulder's then as a term of endeerment, but that's about as far as it goes with him.
"You give me too much credit Zorestar, if not for the rest of you my lance would only have angered the beast, which would no doubt have been the end of Donal and myself."
Jameson bows to Zorestar and nods towards the others as he says this.
After listening to James respond to Zorestar, I get a mug of ale from Svetlana and raise it to the group:
We fought as a team. Telias, Zorestar and I harass and disable the enemy with our spells. Ganit slows them down with his arrows. James packs a punch with his sword and even more so with his lance. And Bron, well, his sword is one dangerous item when he is not confusing the enemy by pretending to be food.
I have no doubt that without any one of us, most of the battles could have been won. But, they would have been longer and put us all in much greater danger. For instance my magic cut through those annoying mites with ease while the weapons of my companions were impaired by their fey magic. However, it was the mighty swords of my companions which defeated the giant centipede. Against the bear we all fought together, had we not, Bron might well not be with us. Same thing with the giant frogs. And my understanding is that it was Ganit and Lukan who used bear traps to disable the giants you fought before I joined the group.
We are a team, and the sum of our parts far exceeds the independent parts. I hope that you all continue on this quest to calm the wilds of the Greenbelt and to take down the vile Staglord. Then, we will settle this land together so that we may use our skills to govern this land so that it will prosper economically, socially, and politically.
"Less talk more cooking woman I'm starving and the pic ain't gonna slaughter itself!"
"Better than the guard captain?" Ganit asks mockingly, deflecting the compliment despite his appreciation for it.
Turning to the fiery haired huntress sliding between the shadows of the dining hall, "C'mon darlin, you wanna see the beast that's been haunting your old man here? There's enough of her for a little more than head cheese if you ask me." He motions Gwen to join them outside as he laughs and gives Beaufort a goodhearted slap on the back.
Knowledge, Nobility
Hmm? that must have been that scandalous affair with the weaver's daughter. What was her name again? Tanis, no, Tania. Yes that's it. This must have been when Father Evan Garess, cousin of the Garess family patriarch, disowned Kesten causing him to flee Restov to become a mercenary.
"Tell me, Kesten, how long have you been out here in the Greenbelt?"
Knowledge, Nobility 1d20+8
Hmm? that must have been that scandalous affair with the weaver's daughter. What was her name again? Tanis, no, Tania. Yes that's it. This must have been when Father Evan Garess, cousin of the Garess family patriarch, disowned Kesten causing him to flee Restov to become a mercenary.
"Tell me, Kesten, how long have you been out here in the Greenbelt?"
"Quite some time. I didn't come down until a day after the group here left Oleg's to explore. I believe they killed a giant trap door spider then, though I admit I didn't know who they were." he says embaressingly thinking back to about a month or so when this happened.
"Better than the guard captain?" Ganit asks mockingly, deflecting the compliment despite his appreciation for it.
Turning to the fiery haired huntress sliding between the shadows of the dining hall, "C'mon darlin, you wanna see the beast that's been haunting your old man here? There's enough of her for a little more than head cheese if you ask me." He motions Gwen to join them outside as he laughs and gives Beaufort a goodhearted slap on the back.
"Certainly." Gwen smiles and gets up whilst Beaufort grins at seeing the two go. "I have warned him about this jungle, but ya know him. Stubbern as a old mule, though I remember you being like that. I don't think you've changed much though have you?" she says with a smirk.
"Quite some time. I didn't come down until a day after the group here left Oleg's to explore. I believe they killed a giant trap door spider then, though I admit I didn't know who they were."
"So do you think you will ever return to Restov, or do you enjoy the freedom of being here in the wilds too much?"
"Quite some time. I didn't come down until a day after the group here left Oleg's to explore. I believe they killed a giant trap door spider then, though I admit I didn't know who they were.""So do you think you will ever return to Restov, or do you enjoy the freedom of being here in the wilds too much?"
"I do not think so. I have enjoyed the mercinary life. Sure is isn't all glamous, but it has it's rewards." for a moment he looks to the group in awe. "If you guys go down in history I can say, 'yes, I knew them from when they started."
""If you guys go down in history I can say, 'yes, I knew them from when they started."
"That's exactly what I was saying about Sir Bron. I think some day he is going to become a famous bard. Last night he told an amazing story and you should have heard the drama and excitement that he brought to that tale. We were gripped in suspense as he held us in the palm of his hand. Everybody laughs, but I'm telling them, this is a remarkable bard about to find his wings and his talent, and when he does, he is going to fly!"
"Certainly." Gwen smiles and gets up whilst Beaufort grins at seeing the two go. "I have warned him about this jungle, but ya know him. Stubbern as a old mule, though I remember you being like that. I don't think you've changed much though have you?" she says with a smirk.
"I've changed enough I suppose," Ganit replies as he considers the question. "Not as much as you have. You've grown up, I can see it in your eyes. You've got a sense of duty now; found something." Taking a step back he looks her over curiously. "Somethings happened, hasn't it? This business with you and your father and even this tuskgutter seems peculiar. Whats happened?" he asks sternly yet with empathy.
""If you guys go down in history I can say, 'yes, I knew them from when they started.""That's exactly what I was saying about Sir Bron. I think some day he is going to become a famous bard. Last night he told an amazing story and you should have heard the drama and excitement that he brought to that tale. We were gripped in suspense as he held us in the palm of his hand. Everybody laughs, but I'm telling them, this is a remarkable bard about to find his wings and his talent, and when he does, he is going to fly!"
Kesten grins and gives Zorestar a pat on the back.
"Sure, I'm sure he is." he laughs and gives a smile. "I'm sure they all recounted the past, but you just remember Sir Bronwyn's take on things far better."
"Certainly." Gwen smiles and gets up whilst Beaufort grins at seeing the two go. "I have warned him about this jungle, but ya know him. Stubbern as a old mule, though I remember you being like that. I don't think you've changed much though have you?" she says with a smirk."I've changed enough I suppose," Ganit replies as he considers the question. "Not as much as you have. You've grown up, I can see it in your eyes. You've got a sense of duty now; found something." Taking a step back he looks her over curiously. "Somethings happened, hasn't it? This business with you and your father and even this tuskgutter seems peculiar. Whats happened?" he asks sternly yet with empathy.
Gwen is a little taken aback from this but she sighs and gives a nod.
"He acts like there's nothing wrong and he carries the pain well, but I think when Tuskgutter gored him and did more that wound him. It wounded his pride, but you felling the beast as made him see you more like the son he never had and feels he should continue exploring the wilderness until he kills a greater beast, but he just won't face the fact he's gotten too old and I'm afraid next time, I won't be there and he'll be taken apart by a troll." she grabs onto Ganit and then sobs into his shoulder, breaking down as she clearly hasn't been able to tell anyone this. "Please, don't say anything to him. You'll just encourage him to go out and travel deeper into the lands where more dangerous creatures live. Just...hold me." as she says this she wraps her arms around Ganit, holding him tightly for comfort and gentle sobbing into his chest.
"Certainly." Gwen smiles and gets up whilst Beaufort grins at seeing the two go. "I have warned him about this jungle, but ya know him. Stubbern as a old mule, though I remember you being like that. I don't think you've changed much though have you?" she says with a smirk."I've changed enough I suppose," Ganit replies as he considers the question. "Not as much as you have. You've grown up, I can see it in your eyes. You've got a sense of duty now; found something." Taking a step back he looks her over curiously. "Somethings happened, hasn't it? This business with you and your father and even this tuskgutter seems peculiar. Whats happened?" he asks sternly yet with empathy.Gwen is a little taken aback from this but she sighs and gives a nod.
** spoiler omitted **
Watching all the guys have their bonding moments, Carina walks over to Svetlana to get a drink and asks whether there is any other new news from the north, or elsewhere.
"Certainly." Gwen smiles and gets up whilst Beaufort grins at seeing the two go. "I have warned him about this jungle, but ya know him. Stubbern as a old mule, though I remember you being like that. I don't think you've changed much though have you?" she says with a smirk."I've changed enough I suppose," Ganit replies as he considers the question. "Not as much as you have. You've grown up, I can see it in your eyes. You've got a sense of duty now; found something." Taking a step back he looks her over curiously. "Somethings happened, hasn't it? This business with you and your father and even this tuskgutter seems peculiar. Whats happened?" he asks sternly yet with empathy.Gwen is a little taken aback from this but she sighs and gives a nod.
** spoiler omitted **
Watching all the guys have their bonding moments, Carina walks over to Svetlana to get a drink and asks whether there is any other new news from the north, or elsewhere.
"I don't really know much more besides the tension with the noble houses. Some claim a war could break out at any moment." she sighs then and gives a half-hearted smile. "I'm not sure what's worse. The politics and greed up north or the savagry and monsters to the south."
Well, there is not much we can do about the politics up north. Actually, from what I have heard I think that some of the noble families may be responsible for more savagery and be more like monsters than what we are finding in the wilds to the south. As far as the south goes. We are culling the monsters as quickly as we safely can. With some luck, we will have a new fort after our next outing, courtesy of old Staggy and his minions.
Though initially shocked Ganit takes to the situation naturally, cradling Gwen solemnly as he strokes her sweetly scented crimson mane. "Shhhhh. Shhh. Shhh," he calmly suggests. It takes him a minute to figure out how to approach something comforting to say to her without sounding too brusque, a quality he normally wouldn't have to worry about when advising anybody else but he was too aware of Gwen's fragile state to chance it. "Your father is anything but an impetuous man," he whispers. "I can't imagine him doing anything that would put him in outright danger just for his own pride. Hell, it took him damn near three years to teach me to follow that little rule of his," he keeps to himself the fact that he still doesn't quite follow that all lesson fully. That wretched little mite kept dodging my arrows... After a short pause he continues, "All I'm saying, Gwen, is you need to know he wouldn't risk leaving you alone. Maybe after I'm finished here the three of us could set out again, just like old times. My cabin is... Well there's no going back to it. I can't afford to settle down again just yet but perhaps I can get you somewhere better."
Well, there is not much we can do about the politics up north. Actually, from what I have heard I think that some of the noble families may be responsible for more savagery and be more like monsters than what we are finding in the wilds to the south. As far as the south goes. We are culling the monsters as quickly as we safely can. With some luck, we will have a new fort after our next outing, courtesy of old Staggy and his minions.
Svetlana sighs a that last statement.
"That will be a relief. Once he's gone this land can be settled, we can have peace here and maybe traders won't be so scared of comeing down here trading with us." she smiles as she looks back to her husband who appears to be just lazing around in a hammock now. "He's been busy fixing this outpost up. He finally has everything fixed and ready."
Though initially shocked Ganit takes to the situation naturally, cradling Gwen solemnly as he strokes her sweetly scented crimson mane. "Shhhhh. Shhh. Shhh," he calmly suggests. It takes him a minute to figure out how to approach something comforting to say to her without sounding too brusque, a quality he normally wouldn't have to worry about when advising anybody else but he was too aware of Gwen's fragile state to chance it. "Your father is anything but an impetuous man," he whispers. "I can't imagine him doing anything that would put him in outright danger just for his own pride. Hell, it took him damn near three years to teach me to follow that little rule of his," he keeps to himself the fact that he still doesn't quite follow that all lesson fully. That wretched little mite kept dodging my arrows... After a short pause he continues, "All I'm saying, Gwen, is you need to know he wouldn't risk leaving you alone. Maybe after I'm finished here the three of us could set out again, just like old times. My cabin is... Well there's no going back to it. I can't afford to settle down again just yet but perhaps I can get you somewhere better."
She remains silent for a while then nods as she finally pulls herself away from him and wipes away the years.
"Promise me one thing, Ganit." she says then with a look of determination in her eyes. "Kill the stag lord, he's made life here for all us hunters difficult and I bet even the fey don't like them." she says then, though she looks deeply into Ganit's eyes. Why won't he go back to his cabin? What happened that makes him wish to remain away. "Why did you join this group, Ganit? It seems out of place for you to work for the swordlords."
Svetlana sighs a that last statement.
"That will be a relief. Once he's gone this land can be settled, we can have peace here and maybe traders won't be so scared of comeing down here trading with us." she smiles as she looks back to her husband who appears to be just lazing around in a hammock now. "He's been busy fixing this outpost up. He finally has everything fixed and ready."
Well, he will be gone soon enough. The real question is where the settlement will be. Oleg had done yeoman's duty getting this fort fixed up, but it will have to be determined where the best place is to begin settling. It may well be that this is the best place, but there is a large river south of here which will make water and food more plentiful. And as we map further south, we may well find other even more beneficial locations. Then the real question is whether you and Oleg will wish to remain here on the trade route between the new land and Restov, or in the new land providing goods to the settlers.
"I'm not sure what's worse. The politics and greed up north or the savagry and monsters to the south."
"It is certainly a Sjaak game when you play the politics game with the nobles, but at least they are well dressed and you don't need to sleep on the ground when dealing with them. When battling savage monster you always have to worry about getting blood, slime, or mud all over your clothes!"
"Kill the stag lord, he's made life here for all us hunters difficult and I bet even the fey don't like them."
"What do you know about this stag lord, mam? Is this evil bandit actually human or is it some kind of savage monster?"