Jemini chuckles as she rides alongside Tandlara, "These untamed lands... the attract all sorts, don't they?"
Berrin curses slightly as the true ownership of the ale becomes aparent. Nevertheless he counts out the coin for Bokken and asks him to deliver the ale for them, telling him they'll hopefully catch up before he hits Oleg's and to watch out for the footmen there, not to let them near the ale untill Oleg says so.
Mounting up with a content feeling in his belly Berrin rides of with a smile on his face, waving goodbye to Bokken. "Look out for the Mantis's... Crazy coot..."
'They certainly do. We're still probably the maddest of its inhabitants, wandering around the countryside looking for trouble,' she smiles at Jemini.
'I do hope Bokken will be alright up here though. I know dwarves like their mountains, and the people of this land are here for the frontier and freedom, but I can't but help he'd be safer with others. Whos to say what he'll drink or get up to?'
"Wow! That horn was pretty super loud. Anyone know what that thing was? I don't know a whole lot about dwarves, I'm ashamed to admit, and even less about musical instruments." Taisper thinks for a second. "I wonder how long Svetlana and Oleg have known Bokken? Or known about him? Huh."
With Bokken's cabin receding from view, the expedition completes its mapping of the mountain and continues to head towards the boggard's location. Verik is strangely quiet, unusually absorbed in thought of some ancient maxim Abadar. Zander, not so strangely, is likewise quiet. He, perhaps, is still upset about the action of the bird last night.
Before they realize it, they are in the wooded valley between the two mountainous regions. It is dusk, with a cool breeze coming off the mountains and running between them. The wind tunnel is beginning to drop temperatures rather quickly, causing the expedition to call it an early evening and set up camp. Still wary from the ambush of the previous evening, they arrange only a small fire to warm themselves and keep a close eye on their surroundings.
The boggard's lair is only a few hours by horse. Thanks to the detailed maps drawn by Zander, it should be simple to find the old ruins the frogman calls home.
Jemini seems slightly distracted herself, as the evening meal is supped. "What is the rate at which he produces this liquor? Can we merchandise it? The quality and many-layered flavors would make this a rare treat indeed; it will fetch good prices not just in Brevoy, but far beyond. I must message father, he will be delighted."
'Though, I'm not sure Bokken would be reliable in terms of regular production, unless you got him on a schedule. I don't entirely see that happening. It would be a good thing to sell, give him some money too, maybe hire someone to take care of him,' Tandlara ponders as they settle down, stroking Riddleskin in her lap
Mercantile eyes shine from Jemini to Tandlara. "Irregularity of production just makes the product rarer and thus more sought after, and thus more expensive." Jemini grins, "Really, it comes down to how a drop is promoted and marketed."
Tandlara blinks her large elven eyes at Jemini, obscuring the green swirls for a moment.
'I suppose so. Trade is not my area of expertise, noe has it ever really been. I prefer learning about how things work, the ways of nature and magic, even brewing. Making money of them is not something I've ever been very adept at. I'm afraid.' Tandlara smiles at Jemini.
'So I'll take your word for it! Actually I should really start a notebook on the local flora and fauna. So that we can pass that information on to the people of your budding nation. What other things would it be useful to teach children?'
"As long as I can drink my fill.." Berrin mutters at the discussion of pawning the ale, he had fully intended to drink all of it, not sell it. Stroking the fire Berrin settles into a quiet routine of cleaning his gear, stroking down Bessie and cooking while absent mindedly playing with Reggie. Forgetting himself in his tasks he acidentaly steps on Reggie, earning a growl and a yelp. The thylacine scampers off a ways with it's tail between its legs and sits down with his back to Berrin, casting him the ocational glare. Come dinner time the hurt is long forgotten as Reggie eats from Berrins hand, although wary of sudden moves by Berrin.
"So, can I suggest I take point when we approch the Boggard tomorow?" he says, thinking about the coming encounter. "I rekon I can take it if they decide to run us off instead of talking."
"Trade, more than nobility, runs in the blood of House Lebeda," Jemini explains, "my mom likes to tell that I learned counting before I could say mama or papa." She grins at that, some memory drifting through her head.
Snapping out of it, she adds, "I have no trouble with you taking the front - Berrin - but Verik will want to be there with you, both to calm down the creatures by his presence, as well as by being the closest of us to understand and converse with them."
Taisper grins at Jemini's anecdote. "I'll bet that would've pleased the Keeper to no end, to hear a baby able to count at so young an age, and before any other words were being formed. Do any in your house worship Abadar? I can't remember if I asked before, sorry. I remember you saying that you took away what you could from many gods, but I'm wondering what presence the Keeper has in a House heavy with traders, and merchants...?"
"Oh yes! Certainly. I don't think anybody closely affiliated with House Lebeda doesn't give at least a passing nod to Abadar. My mother is more cosmopolitan than my father with respect to the faiths, where my father is more of a traditionalist." Jemini nods, "Although we have a shrine dedicated to most credible denominations for visitors, the center piece is still Abadarian." Her face shows some humor as she adds with a wink, "I'm the rebel!"
Tandlara nods along with Berrins' suggestion. Best to be safe. Though I hope we can do this peacefully, a boggard is still a boggard. So it best to assume violence.
'I'll stay well back. Best not to crowd this frogman, and that way I have an open avenue to try and put his pet toads to sleep from a distance.'
Religious discussions and other small talk keep most of them up into the night, along with a healthy respect for the wandering bands of bandits and bugbears. Verik is brooding about something, clearly in a bit of a mood, and takes the first shift. Zander is likewise quiet, taking the last shift. It's a quiet night with little to bother them.
Dawn rolls in with an overcast sky. It might rain or drizzle, just enough to make them uncomfortable in armor, but not enough to really slow them down.
"Bah! Why this cold wetness?" Jemini mutters to herself as they make headway. "Zander, let me have a look at that map again. I'm sure we should be there about now."
'I hope so,' Tandlara says, rubbing her hands together. 'I want to get this boggard business over and done with. I'm getting a bad feeling about it. We should be ready for a fight if needs be. Also we'll be slow on the way back with the ale, and the festival is getting close.'
Tightening the straps of his boots and pulling the collar of his cloak tight Berrin does his best to keep the rain out as he packs his gear and gets Bessie ready to travel. "We should be about two hours out Jemini." he calls out as he sees her looking at Zander's maps. "And I agree with you Tandlara, I'm not overly confident of a peacefull solution to this." he says with a glance at the silent cleric.
"Don't see why not. Even if they felt hostile towards us, we're a fairly large party of well-equipped and combat-experienced explorers. This doesn't make us easy prey, I think these creatures are smart enough to understand that much."
'All combat is risk, and smart enough to understand danger doesn't mean they won't try anyway. One good blow good end any of us, and as unlikely as it is, it only takes once to kill you.' Tandlara says with a sad expression.
'Best to be wary is all.'
Taisper thinks on what he remembers about boggards, which isn't much. Humanoid anatomy anyway, so the basics should apply -- head shots, head shots, head shots. He chuckles mirthlessly. "when the only tool you have is a morningstar..." But then, that's not my only tool, is it. My magic, my connection to the divine, my prayer. I must not get so carried away with martial discipline that I forget my discipline in magic.
He steals a glance at the brooding Verik -- Or just thoughtful, I guess I can't really tell. -- and wonders. Why all the arguing? He's family for the Keeper's sake, why all the tussling. It's like...it's like I can't be right around him. He says he doubts everything but he sure is sure when he tells me I'm wrong. Why does he fear letting the Keeper into his heart, and directing him? Is he even capable of it? "Faith erases all doubt, and all fear." that's what the clerics taught me. It's like...it's like he's one of the hunters, always trying to keep me in line and make sure I'm doing things right, but he's not my teacher, he's just...oh. Riding along, the inquisitor suddenly looks consternated. He's just family. Family's only ever been supportive for me, only mom and dad ever would tell me I was wrong, and I suppose that was pretty rare when they did. So for family to be always policing me like Verik does, well...well I guess that really gets under my skin, doesn't it?
I told everybody I'll try, and I'll continue to try. I don't think I can make peace with Verik, 'cos I don't think there's any peace to make, but it doesn't mean we gotta bicker all the time. I gotta be a bigger man, like dad used to always say. I gotta walk away from those, keep my feelings to myself. He's not family family, he's just 'family,' and but that's okay. Maybe if I just watch, and just keep my reactions to myself a bit more, maybe I can help do my part to keep the peace until I get a sign what to do next. I just gotta keep praying, and have faith.
Gotta wait for a sign.
Verik suddenly stands up, a cross look on his face. "We'd better be on our way." He mounts Virtue, impatiently glaring at the others to join him. He seems to be avoiding Taisper's gaze, intently staring off into the distance if it seems that the two might meet. As the others mount up, he leads the way towards the boggard's camp.
The ride is a bit uncomfortable, both in terms of the dreary weather and the strange mood that Verik is in. Instead of his usual banter with Jemini, he simply keeps straight ahead on his quest. The trip is fairly short, fortunately, and it only takes a few hours to cross into the western mountain. Not even the thought of their earlier snowball fight there is enough to bring the cleric out of his moodiness.
As they spot the stone ruins and approach the boggard's camp, they dismount and proceed on foot so as to not startle or worry the creature. For a frog-man, horses are likely quite intimidating. A few dozen feet away, one of the boggard's strange companions pops out of a very shallow pool and croaks loudly at them. The boggard pops out of the ruins and leaps towards them, holding his mangled hands up in the air as he joins in on the slurk's croak. "Gooooo!"
Verik holds his own hands up and speaks in as soothing a voice as possible. "Hello, friend! We are friendly! We want to help you!" When the boggard does not retreat or attack, he slowly walks up towards it. "We would like to speak with you. Is that okay with you? I'm going to use some magic! Isn't that exciting?" Warily, he casts his spell. As he moves to touch the boggard, it jerks away. He draws back, but slowly moves his hand toward the boggard until it rests upon his rough skin. "There you go, friend. We are not here to hurt you, just to talk. Do you understand us?"
The boggard's eyes grow huge. His head tilts as he regards Verik. "Yhhhhhhesss, I dhooooooo!"
Verik smiles, his mood wiped away by the successful answer to his prayer to Abadar. He turns to his allies. "Do you want to talk to him?"
Jemini lifts her hand, her smile is cautious and her approach slow. "We are explorers, sent to these lands to free them from the hands of bandits. You probably have met them? Mean people that look for violence." Jemini's face is a mask of disapproval as she describes the bandits.
"We hope to treat peacefully with you and your kind. We will not make you any trouble - and only ask that you make no trouble for us. Perhaps, one day, we can even trade goods and food?" Sarenrae, please touch my words
Standing well back from the clearing, Tandlara keeps an eye out for any signs of trouble. Her heart is pounding as Verik approaches the creature. But she relaxes somewhat when he successfully casts his spell and Jemini begins to entreat the frogman.
Not out of the woods yet, but thats a good start. She keeps her components for her slumbering spell in her hands, should she need to use it in a rush.
Taisper dismounts as Verik approaches, but hangs back and smiles, doing his best to look non-threatening.
Berrin silently takes up a place beside Verik clasping his hands in front of him and watching the boggard.
The boggard stares at them with huge watery eyes, tilting his head in a way that seems utterly alien. He takes in the words of the expedition before croaking a response. "I ahhhhhm Garuum. I ahhhhm friend! I give fhoooooood!" He reaches down and pulls a hand-sized insect from the bog, offering it to Jemini. "We are friends nhoooooow? Slurks my only friends..." Garuum is a rather piteous sight, offering his meager bit of food in hopes of making a good impression.
"Awwwww, that is so kind," Jemini cautiously reaches for the gift, then stops herself, "but what about you? Don't you need it? We're successful hunters - so our bellies are full. But don't worry! We're friends."
She points to the remnants where the boggart lives, "Instead of food, can you give us information? About this place, and about the places and other creatures nearby? If we can, we'll try to give you what you would like in return. Or we can help you if something is troubling you."
Garuum seems quite taken with Jemini's friendship, croaking happily at her. "This my home. After tribe khiiiick me out, I live here. I tell yhoooooou everything I knhoooow. Angry man lives to south in cabin. Tried to khiiiill me and slurks. Do not lhiiiiiike him. There is kobold tribe to south. Do not lhiiiike them either. They always fhiiiiiiighting with mites. Giant lizards north. Very dhaaangerous place. Bugbears and trolls roam frheeeeely. Groups of rhaaaaaiding humans too. Do not lhiiiiike."
There are a lot of dangerous things and people that the boggard apparently does not like.
Taisper is still feeling a little cautious after his ill-fated attempts to win over Bokken, and so he continues to hang back a bit, though he relaxes as the Boggard obviously warms up to Jemini. He listens carefully to everything the creature says. Well, the man was Orlivanch I suppose, and I sure hope the lizards he's talking about are just things like tatzylwyrms and not anything bigger. Kobolds, though, and mites, and trolls! The bugbears were bad enough, but trolls too? This may be harder than I thought...
"There is much danger around here then, I hope you and slurks can stay safe. The man in the south, did he have a big stick that makes a lot of noise?" Jemini tries to explain gesturing a man aiming a gun, "We fought him a while back. Although there was trouble, Taisper here," Jemini motions towards the inquisitor, "Saw the wicked ways of the man and put an end to him. I think we also ran into some giant lizards, I think they are tatzlwyrms - " again she tries to indicate with mimes, " - I don't know how many there are, but we fought and killed three of them."
Jemini grimaces at the notion of raiders, "We've fought several raiders and bandits. But there doesn't seem to be an end to them. We've originally come to this land to free it from these bandits. So if you're lucky, in a few weeks, there will be a lot less folks to bother you."
"Why did your tribe chase you away?"
Tandlara seeing that the danger has largely left the situation moves in from the treeline, approaching closer, not making any aggressive moves or threatening actions.
She approaches until she draws level with Taispar, before whispering to him. 'What news Tai? Have we made a new friend?'
Berrin raises an eyebrow at Jemini's handling of the boggard, 'That woman could talk a horse out of it's hooves I rekon.' he thinks to himself, relaxing unconciously he glaces around the premice. Catching Taisper and Tandlara's eye he gives a shrug and gestures toward Jemini before giving the thumbs up signal.
Garuum's huge eyes water up with tears as Jemini asks him how he ended up here. "I was fhooooolish. Wanted to take choooooontrol of tribe from bhaaaaaad leader. Lhoooost a fight, taken prisoner. I had to smhaaaaaaaash my hand to get free, save my slurks. Came here for frheeeeeedhooooom.." He offers a smile, a very strange sight for a boggard. "You are frhiiiiiends? You want sleep here?" He begins shuffling some pieces of broken wood around on the ground into makeshift piles.
Jemini looks kind, but a little doubtful. "I don't know how long we're staying here today. Guys?" she addresses the party, "do you want to stay over night?" Seeing the tears well up in Garuum's eyes she's quick to add, "But don't worry! We're friends. In fact, you can tell us if we can get you something while we're traveling; since we cover quite a bit of area, maybe there's something we can find for you. Maybe some boggart ladies? You can start a new tribe right here?"
Though her offer is sincere, a quick prayer races through Jemini's mind. Please, by all mercies, I hope that Garuum is a boy!
Taisper nods back at Berrin and returns the thumbs-up. He leans in to Tandlara and whispers back: "I...I guess so, but...I dunno, Tandlara this is all so weird to me. This creature is evil. I can see it. I'm trying to watch to see if he's playing us, maybe knowing we can overpower him and buying time, or...or hoping to have us destroy the 'bad leader' of his tribe. Or...or something."
Taisper is quiet for a moment, thinking and watching the paladin and the frog-creature interact, his golden eyes missing nothing. He begins speaking again, still in a low voice. "I just don't understand. The aura on this creature is the same as the bugbears and the same as Orlivanch. But it's...dealing with us, or pretending to." The teenager turns to the elven witch, and confusion is plain on his face. "What are we doing? Why are we treating with things that are evil? I would root out any evil, open these lands for trade and civilization, but does that mean I'm going to have to work side-by-side with...well, with evil creatures? Is that what it means to build a nation?"
"I just don't understand. The aura on this creature is the same as the bugbears and the same as Orlivanch. But it's...dealing with us, or pretending to." The teenager turns to the elven witch, and confusion is plain on his face. "What are we doing? Why are we treating with things that are evil? I would root out any evil, open these lands for trade and civilization, but does that mean I'm going to have to work side-by-side with...well, with evil creatures? Is that what it means to build a nation?"
Tandlara's eyebrows come together in frown, her keen eyes staying on the half-cavorting boggard.
'Are you sure about the aura? I mean are you certain. Aura's are new to you, and perhaps your seeing what you expect. But if your right, and I wouldn't be suprised if you are. This is a boggard, their usually flesh-eating demon cultists. But regardless... Evil comes in many forms. A selfish innkeeper who waters down his ale does not make a great neighbour or friend, but he doesn't deserve death. Certainly not in the eyes of your god. Abadar is a god of laws, and progress is he not? Rather than moral high grounds and absolutes. This boggard hasn't broken any laws, despite his evil, he may never break any laws. And that is your place in the church is it not? To find those who may cause trouble? To know ehen others don't. To worry when others can't. To wait for trouble, to wait for the breaking of laws and to exact just the right punishment, as decided by local laws. Thats a terrible burden for one so young to bear. And its okay to feel like you are lead astray.'
Tandlara rests one of her hands gently on the boys shoulder and gives him a gentle, motherly smile.
'We may have to tolerate the existance of evil creatures, those who have not yet committed crimes, those who have served their sentence. And in truth, we may relay on you and those who train to be vigilant of them. You are trained as a hunter? Just as lion stalks deer, you stalk evildoers. But the lion does not attack every deer, he attacks those that show weakness, where you will bring to justice those that prove their evil nature in their crimes.' Throughout Tandlara keeps her voice low and soft, so that none except maybe Berrin can hear.
Berrin balks at the mention of sleeping in the mud with the boggard. "NO! eh.. No, um.. See we need to head back n' all. Wouldn't want to be late to our party.. umm.. no.. eh.. not a party, party, just a regular party, with people and.. aww.. s#~@! Look. People are expecting us and we need to get going, ok? Maybee you just give us a tour and we can be off, ok?"
Garuum hops around the ruins, shoeing them his empire. It is a fast tour, as the entire area is visible from a single vantage point. He sees them off with a friendly wave. "Friends now! I watch enemies for you! You need place to sleep, you welchooooooooome anytime!"
Jemini waves back in return, "Until next time! Happy hunting flies!"
As they make a bit of distance, Jemini wonders: "Okay, that went well. Are we doing anything special still - or is it straight back to Svetlana and the Taxfest? I think it'll be a good omen to start our next endeavor - bringing an end to the Stag Lord." Her face darkens a bit as a thought strikes her, "you don't suppose we need to worry about him coming to ruin our festival?"
'I hope not. We'll not let our guards totally down just in case. Shoudl we recover the ale from Bokken, maybe bring him and his cart along with us. I'm not sure he's entirely trustworthy to do it on his own.' Tandlara says, a worried expression crossing her features as she rides daintily on Avansatra's white back.
"hahaha - I think you have a point there," Jemini's enjoying the notion of a complete tripped out Bokken making his way to Olegg's. "It would be a shame to let such a fine brew go to waste."
'It surely would. I'm sure some of our fine sturdy menfolk will volunteer horses to pull Bokkens wagon. No shame in riding with the booze. We should be back in plenty of time for Taxfest, with a nice haul to show for it,' Tandlara winks at Jemini as she mentions pulling the wagon, and smiles softly to herself as they ride on, the ground getting drier and sloping upwards.
The expedition leaves Garuum's "dominion," heading back to Oleg's for Taxfest. The most direct route skirts the mountain that Bokken's cabin is built into, so a trip to see the strange dwarven brewer is not far out of the way. The trip through the wooded valley is fairly quick, reaching the mountain by late afternoon. The overcast weather really hasn't let up all day, though the light mist stopped a few hours ago.
As they arrive at Bokken's, it is dark on the inside. A piece of parchment has been attached to the front door. Gone To the Leventon Royal Court is scrawled on it in the arching handwriting of someone who writes primarily in dwarven script.
"He's left already. I'm not good at this, but see if one of the guys can find some tracks - it can't be that hard to follow a wagon full of swig." Jemini's keen to return to Svetlana's care.
"Here, le'me have a look." Berrin says turning Bessie about looking for tracks.
Furrowing his brow Berrin has a hard time locating any tracks in the hard ground. "Maybee if we move further off we can pick up his trail in softer earth?" he suggests.
Aid:
Perception:
'Maybe so Berrin. I certainly don't see anything to give us indication of where he is.' Tandlara looks around the clearing and then back to Bokken's hut. The cool mountain breeze ripples her hair and she pushes it away from her face and behind an ear. I hope he's okay, she thinks to herself worriedly.
'We should probably continue onwards. Given that he's a not altogether there dwarf in a full cart, we'll probably catch up with him if he didn't leave straight after we left to me our new frog friend.'
"Shhh!" Taisper points at the door. He makes eye contact with the others and mouths the word 'Unlocked'. The Inquisitor quickly readies his shield and morningstar and looks quickly around for traps before shoving the door open with the head of his weapon, staying low and to the side in case an archer awaits within.
"Bokken?" He calls. "Your, uh, your highness?" If there is no reply, Taisper steps in and looks about, hoping the mad brewmaster is just careless, and not a kidnap victim or worse.
Berrin instantly quiets at Taisper's warning. Dismounting he hefts his shield and draws his sword as he grimly steps up to Taisper's side, ready to give support.
Her frown deepening, Tandlara fetches ground mica from her pouch of spell components, keeping it at the ready she moves along behind the two armed men, a spell at the edge of her tongue.
I hope Bokken isn't hurt, I hope he's okay. She becomes abgry at the thought that someone has harmed the poor addled dwarf, and her face begins to twist into a snarl as the words of a cursing hex rise to the forefront of her mind.