Night passes without incident.
During breakfast and striking camp, grey squirrels continually make mad dashes across the west to north perimeter... mostly to and from an old oak at the edge of the main clearing. You hear the prisoners (after Garuld mentions how bad squirrel meat is) chat among themselves about the worst things they'd ever eaten.
The distance to Oleg's is about the same as what you traveled yesterday. You should arrive a few hours before midnight.
Marisol says to the prisoners, "Ugh, squirrels are just fuzzy rats. Fortunately we are better prepared than that." Then she watches the squirrels dashing to and fro for a minute... finally she says, "I wonder what it is about the tree that has them in a frenzy? I guess they stashed all of their nuts there."
"Well there you have it, gentlemen. No worries about having to eat squirrel while Marisol is around." Vladimir says with a grin.
"I doubt you will have to worry much about it once we make it to Oleg's either."
"Squirrel isn't that bad," Balter grumbles to nobody in particular.
Durielle watches the squirrels' antics with a smile.
"They are just so cute. Why would anyone want to eat them?"
She picks up a couple of acorns and tosses them over to the squirrels.
The journey to Oleg's is uneventful.
You arrive to find new construction. A simple cabin, small barracks, and a few sheds have been built on the far side of a quarter acre growing varieties of squash. A few hundred feet beyond and northeast of the trading post is a modest farmhouse.
The posted guard, Mauersberger, recognizes Vladimir and Hrafen immediately.
Kesten and Oleg are there to greet you as the gates open.
"Kesten, Oleg, good to see the both of you" Vladimir says as he waves to Mauerberger.
"Looks like you have been expanding around here. Well done. You already know Hrafen, but allow me to introduce Marisol, Durielle, and Balter. They have joined the exploration party after all the political mess between the Dragonscale Throne and Restov."
Marisol dips graciously from atop her horse. "Pleased to meet all of you," she says.
"And you... " Oleg nods and waves to all. "Yes, Ser Ducheski, just trying to keep busy."
Kesten brings a closed fist to his chest, and gives a slight bow to the group. "I am Kesten. I lead the militia here."
He then asks "How have you fared as of late? It has been quite some time."
"Well we have been busy." Vladimir says with a smile on his face.
"Between dealing with the kobolds, handling Natty Tulnov at the Crossing, investigating Elmere, laying Davik Nettles to rest, and ridding the region of the Stag Lord, we just have not had much time to return." the swordsman continues with a grin and a wink.
"That being said, we have some goods that you might be interested in acquiring along with potentially three new workers for you, should you be interested in such."
For once, Hrafen looks enthusiastic.
"It is good to be back - It will be nice to have a warm bed, and an excellent meal!"
"You've defeated the Stag Lord? A glorious battle I've no doubt. I will send word to Restov in the morning."
Kesten reaches into his coinpurse "Two bottles of your finest, Master Leveton." He drops a plat and a few gold in Oleg's hand.
"That being said, we have some goods that you might be interested in acquiring along with potentially three new workers for you, should you be interested in such."
Oleg veers toward the cart. "That so? I'll take what my coffers'll handle. You know you've my word I'll give the best offer in town. " After a first quick glance at the cart's contents, "How much upcharge you think I can get on a bandit lord's post hole digger?"
Oleg lowers his voice a bit..."Honestly... about your workers... I don't know if I have work for 'em. I've got five now... and winter coming on...." He shrugs. "I'll give it some thought. Lets sit have drink... toast your success on Kesten's copper, eh?"
There is a seating area around the cooking fire to the right.. between the keep and guest house. Oleg sends Budgie the ex-bandit to prepare the guest house and light the fireplace, and invites you to join him around the fire.
Marisol takes a seat at the fireplace and listens to Oleg's concerns. She looks to Vlad and says, "What about the Stag Lord's fort? If we wanted, we could start fixing that place up - turn it back into a fortified outpost. We could use hands around the place to help. We'll need to keep finding ways to finance the operation but maybe it's a start."
"No real worries if you do not have the work for them. We only have two in Chafwinth Crossroads, perhaps they would be able to take them on." Vladimir says contemplating what to do with the three presumably former bandits.
"Maybe Jhod needs a hand or two at the temple." the swordsman says to himself as much as anyone else.
"A celebratory drink sounds like a fine idea, but not all of our work is done. One of the Stag Lord's form lieutenants holds the Twigjack Tower and the surrounding village. We need to deal with him as well."
Durielle dismounts and bows slightly to Oleg and the others.
"It is a pleasure. I am Durielle Omenstar." She pauses to cough slightly stifling it as best she can.
"No need to worry. It...it is just road weariness. Thank you for your hospitality."
She sits next to the fire and relaxes after their travels to the trading post.
"We can celebrate again once Dovan is taken care of," Balter suggests with a shrug, as he settles down by the fire. Despite it being his first time at the outpost he seems at ease, perhaps owing to the others' familiarity with the place.
"Since we aren't fighting Dovan tonight, I'll take the opportunity to stretch my legs," says Marisol. "Still haven't gotten used to this much cross-country riding."
"It will be nice to get a decent night's sleep for once." Vladimir admits.
Turning back to Kesten and Oleg, Vladimir asks, "Any other news of note since the last time we were here?"
Kesten's curiosity is piqued..."Twigjack Tower... hmm. If you would.. show me where it is on the map."
Once he is shown the location...
"I suppose that is inside your chartered area. The fort was known to exist when I accepted this post. The tower was not mentioned. It must have been built during the last major attempt to claim the lands.. a few decades ago." He nods thoughtfully... then smirks slightly.. "I am envious... another good battle I suspect."
"Any other news of note since the last time we were here?"
Oleg answers.."No real news from Brevoy... not much here. We have begun a bit of trade with Chafwinth."
Hrafen frowns thoughtfully.
"Well then, it sounds like we have every right to evict the 'former' bandit known as Dovan."
Upon hearing that trade has picked-up with Chafwinth, Hrafen smiles.
"I am rightly glad to hear that! Those honest really deserved a break..."
"Hopefully we can influence Chafwinth to be a bit more... respectful of the general welfare of its people."
"I do not believe that Chafwinth has really been an issue on that front, Marisol, unless of course you saw something I did not. Now Elmere on the other hand could be a different story."
Oleg makes a simple toast, and after a few drinks calls it a night.
"... we'll talk business in the morning." he gestures to the cart on his way into his keep.
Kesten bids you goodnight, before heading to his cabin by the small barracks.
"We've not seen a single bandit or other threat since you cleared this place out. Just the same, Mauersberger and Elbern are on watch tonight... they'll keep an eye on your prisoners. Sleep well."
The guest house is a little cramped, but warm, tidy, and the beds are soft.
Heading into the guest house, Vladimir says, "Might be a bit on the snug side, but it will certainly be nice to rest in a bed for a night."
"I'm fine with snug as long as it's a bit soft," says Marisol. "Sleeping on stone all the time is hard on the hips." She follows into the guest house, looking about to familiarize herself with the location.
"Indeed the beds are soft...or at least they were the last time I was here." Vladimir says with a smile.
"I suppose in the morning we will make any business deals we need to with Oleg, including putting in any orders for items he may not have." the swordsmans says matter-of-factly. "Oleg did mention that he may not be able to take our three most recent penitents on-board, so we may need to make a trip back to the Crossing before dealing with Dovan."
"I'm not sure what we could order. We haven't really made much in the way of money," says Marisol.
"Depends on how much Oleg can afford from us," Balter remarks as he frowns at the cushiness of the room. "We have plenty of crap that we won't be able to put to much use. Better to just sell the lot of it. Not that we really need to buy anything for what's coming next. Dovan will be dead in the water by the time the next shipment comes."
Seeing Balter frown about the state of the room, Vladimir quips, "If the accommodations are too comfortable for your tastes, Balter, I am sure there is a nice tree outside you could sleep in."
"Indeed, we do have quite a few things we can sell. How much of it Oleg can purchase is a concern, but there is nothing that says we can not take anything he is not capable of purchasing to Restov after we deal with Dovan."
"If you're on friendly terms with Oleg, you could always offer him a line of credit, giving him goods to sell on our behalf and accepting payment later," says Marisol.
"You're joking, so you probably don't know how close to the truth you are," Balter says with a smirk as he saunters over to one of the beds, reluctantly taking a seat. Cushy, as expected. "I'd take a bed of leaves over this any day. But a tree? What am I, a squirrel?"
He shoots Marisol a look, as though daring her to quip.
"Well, if you would like to be one, I am sure Oleg could order in a scroll that I could use to make it so...", Hrafen chips in with a devilish wink.
Allowing himself a small chuckle, hearing Balter's "protest" and Hrafen's "helpful" offer.
"I certainly have no issue trusting Oleg in such a way, but I would not necessarily expect the rest of you to feel that way, with the possible exception of Hrafen, as to the best of my knowledge this is the first time you have been here." Vladimir says is response to Marisol's suggestion.
"Do whatever works for you, Balter. I won't object," says Marisol cheerfully. "As for me, I can handle some living off the land, but why do it all the time if I don't have to?"
The next morning Kesten joins you for breakfast.
"Loomis will ride to Restov to give the news of your success. Any other message for the Lord Mayor.. or anything you would like Loomis to procure... preferably something that would fit in his saddlebags."
Loomis adds "It'll take me five or six days to make it there and back again, but I'd be happy to."
"As far the message to the Lord Mayor goes, I would caution that we have dealt with a significant portion of the banditry in the region, but certainly not all of it. Also it should be noted that we have a fair amount of exploration to finish to complete that particular portion of the charter."
"I can not think of anything in particular that I require at this time, but thank you, Loomis, for the offer none-the-less." Vladimir says to the soon to be messenger, speaking only for himself.
Turning to his fellow explorers, the swordsman asks, "Anything relatively small you require from Restov while Loomis is heading that direction?"
Later in the morning Vladimir approaches Oleg. "Thank you for putting us up for the evening yet again. I hate to trouble you, but I believe there is a bit of business we should discuss." Vladimir says, leading the trading post's proprietor toward the cart of recovered goods. "Anything in particular catch your eye?"
"Meh... there's a bit I'd likely have trouble selling, but most of it.." he smiles and smacks Vladimir's shoulder "be happy to make an offer."
Oleg chuckles.
"Good to see you're doing well. Vorik, Jaestra, and that other fella.. Dieter? They all stopped here... I admit.. woulda wagered you and Hrafen wouldn't've kept at it. Good to see you've gotten some good folks with you. I've no doubt in my mind..." He points toward his keep... ".. that there's gonna be a Tatzlwyrm head hanging over that door come Spring." He winks.. acknowledging his old (somewhat petty) request in half-jest.
"I'll need to go through it all, and... prob'ly give you a number this afternoon."
"Some of that stuff had magic in it, right?" Balter asks, looking to the others for confirmation. "Any chance we can figure out what it all does? Might be able to use some of it. Save ourselves the trouble of having to buy anything."
"We've got one more step left to break the back of the organised banditry in this region; once that looming threat has been dealt with, I think I can safely say that we will be able to deal with other, lesser dangers."
"Sounds like a fine plan, Oleg." Vladimir says in reference to the upcomming offer for the goods.
Turning to Balter, the swordsman says, "Yes, there were a fair number of magical items. That being said, the vast majority were simple enchantments."
Turning his attention back to Oleg, Vladimir says, "Have no fear my friend, we have not forgotten about your tatzlwyrm, we simply had more pressing issues. I imagine it will be near the top of our list after dealing with Dovan."
"Tatzlwyrm hunting sounds like a good option after we deal with Dovan," says Marisol. "Good for helping to make the forests here safer."
She addresses Durielle and says, "Share a room again? I don't think there's quite enough space for everyone to have their own here."
Durielle has been pretty quiet and thoughtful during their stay. She makes polite if brief conversations, smiles shyly, but a wistfulness seems to color her demeanor.
When Oleg asks for a Tatzlwyrm head, Durielle's eyes widen and she puts her hand to her head.
Any who touch her suddenly see a vision of...another time.
"I'm alright, I'm alright..." she says waving off any concern before coughing briefly.
She looks at Marisol sadly and replies, "Yes, that would be fine. You are not nearly as noisy a sleeper as some others." Durielle seems to be trying to lighten the mood with a joke about her and Marisol's male companions, but it may not be too funny.
"Well let's get you situated then, because you're looking a bit more peaked than usual," says Marisol with a touch of concern.
"Gentlemen, should we see if we can order something easy to carry and relatively inexpensive? Some alchemical fire, perhaps? Healing potions?"
"That is a good suggestion, Marisol. I think both of the items you mention would be appropriate. Perhaps if we were willing to spend a bit a more a curative wand would be a more efficient use of our resources in the long run. I would not be opposed to purchasing a few antitoxins and antiplagues as well." Vladimir says.
Thinking on the subject a bit longer, the swordsman says, "There are a number of other types of alchemical weaponry too. Perhaps it would be wise to acquire a few of those too, as not everything is susceptible to fire."
"I'd be willing to see a share of our proceeds go to a healing wand that Durielle can use," says Marisol in agreement. "Did you have anything in particular in mind for alchemy? Weapon blanch, perhaps? Acid?"
"Could be any number of things really, acid, weapon blanch, alkali, liquid ice, bottled lightning, tanglefoot bags, alchemical grease...Honestly it is all very fascinating to me."
With a wink and a smile, he adds, "Who knows, maybe it will be something I study when I am old and gray, should I make it that far."
"Puttering around in your lab, making clouds of colored smoke and resilient bubbles to amuse the children?" says Marisol with a half-smile.
"Honestly, that does not sound so bad." Vladimir says with a shrug.
"No, sounds like a fine way to spend one's later years," says Marisol. She pulls her backpack off her shoulders in preparation to drop it off in the guest room. "In the meantime, it sounds like you have quite a shopping list in mind. Seems reasonable to me. How are our savings now?"