The gnome snatches the list from the table with both hands wrinkles her nose.
"Hmfph. Why you want this stuff. Why's Dalvis sent you? He wants somethin, he can come get it hisself."s
She looks down at the list, squinting again, and swiftly brushes back her hair with one hand, scratching at her ear before untangling herself from the nail and climbing up onto the table to look down on those there.
"What's my name? What's your name fella, why you askin?"
"Well?"
Paul sighs and takes out the purse with the coin in it.
"I asked your name on account of the fact that I was trying to be polite," he says as he hefts the coin purse.
He looks around with a bored expression.
"This is a shop, right?"
"You sell goods, right?"
"I got coin - I'm doing a job for Dalviss; he said to mention his name, so I mentioned his name."
"Meantime I want to buy stuff."
"You going to sell?" he adds, watching the gnome.
Frowning, the gnome wrinkles her nose again and hops off the table.
"Hrmpf. Well I 'spose it is a shop, and I do sell goods."
Looking at the list, she walks quickly around the room, occasionally picking up a random item and putting it into another pile.
She looks back up at you, but not before scratching at her ear again.
"I got this stuff. 23 gold for the lot."
Paul looks at Ayreth.
”She wants some fodder for her horse, too,” he adds with a jerk of his thumb at the young woman who had entered.
”How much more will for two days worth of food for the horse cost?”
As he waits for the bill to be settled, he glances at the gnome.
"Heard tell that some prospectors were in town recently... They did any business with you?" adds as he looks at the gnome.
The gnome frowns again, and looks down at Ayreth. She tips her head up and flares her nostrils, seemingly sniffing the air.
"12 copper for the feed."
Her back to Paul, she places her hands on her hips, the pinkie of her left hand twitching slightly. She then closes one eye at him and widens the other.
"Maybe they did. What's it to you? You a miner too? Them mines is tapped, so you're better off lookin' someplace else."
"Maybe they did. What's it to you? You a miner too? Them mines is tapped, so you're better off lookin' someplace else."
Paul glances at the young woman next to him and then looks at the gnome, getting a little tired of her attitude.
"I've worked some mines before... but I ain't here to do mining," he says slowly.
He decides on another track to attempt to persuade her to be a bit more friendly.
"I'm just here to help some people is all," he adds.
"We figured ya'll could use help..." he says, nodding to Ayreth, indicating that they're together.
"Don't you want any help in this here berg?"
The gnome frowns a bit, and shakes her head. She brushes her long hair from her face and sits down on the countertop with a sigh. She tugs on the straps of her apron slightly and then rubs her eyes withe back of her hand.
"Yeah, I guess...I'm...sorry. Haven't been sleepin' well as of late, and this business with folk missing has got us all worried."
She looks back and forth to Paul and Ayreth.
"Would be nice to know if'n they're even alive."
She sighs again.
"Let me get the things you want gathered, shouldn't take but a minute."
And with that, she quietly gathers the requested items from around the room. She moves more slowly now though, although it doesn't seem to be intentional, shes just weary.
"Name's Jodysa, by the by. If you're here to help. I suppose that's good."
A minute or so later she has two bags of feed, and a burlap bag with the sunrods, lantern and bottles of oil.
|
When Paul introduces Ayreth, she smiles and nods indicating friendliness.
Before they leave, Ayreth will approach Jodysa and offer her hand. If she takes it, Ayreth will put her other hand on top in an attempt to be comforting. "We really are here to help. If we can find out anything, we will. Please try to take some comfort in that."
"Name's Jodysa, by the by. If you're here to help. I suppose that's good."
A minute or so later she has two bags of feed, and a burlap bag with the sunrods, lantern and bottles of oil.
Paul nods at the woman.
”Name’s Antairis,” he says, offering his hand to her.
”This here is Miss Ayreth,” he says nodding to his companion.
”Mister Delviss’s asking us to help find the folk that gone missing here,” he says, his eyes on hers, his voice sincere.
”We got a few other lads in town that’re trying to help keeping an eye out for ‘em, too.”
”If we can find your mates, we’ll do what we can to bring ‘em back safe and sound – you’ve my word on it, ma’am,” he says, tipping his hat to her.
Bart chuckles at the womans poetic words. Who ever thought he'd be finding a moral discussion with her! He expected it from Mr. Stuffy Pants, but miss... er... He really needed to think of a name for her or something... Or maybe just get her own? ...Nah. Anyway, Miss Bright Eyes seemed so serious that it almost came out of nowhere to Bart's perspective. "I realize that its a lot of metaphors and what not we're exchangin, but ya do know there's nothin wrong with the dark right? It's as natural as the light is... and if you look up at the sky at night, you can see there's a lot more of it. Just because some nasty things use it to hide don't make it evil."
Bart stops when they reach the gates both of them had set out to go to. He wonders how coat man was doing with the locals and hoped the guy could get some more info then Dalviss could give. He also wished he had agreed with the older inn-keeper. Sticking together didn't seem such a bad idea with people missing. Bart was never alone, but anything that could take down a grown man and make them vanish was probably at least somewhat dangerous. He was glad he was with Ms. Mighty One, and after only a moments hesitation, he sent out a wordless question to Alar. Bart took comfort in the confident reply. The Lion could see him and was near, but no one had spotted him. That was good.
Delviss slowly limps his way into the store, a wary look on his face. Red eyed and looks very
"My appologies for taking so long. Yes. I sent these people, I would appreciate it if you could tell them anything you know of those other prospectors that came the other day"
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"We were talking of malice, wickedness, and suffering -- not the night sky."
In her experience, children said intentionally silly things when they wanted to change the subject or when they wanted a reaction from an adult. But she would yield to him only what the willow yielded to the wind.
Blue Heron once again begins her katas in front the town gate. Perfecting the body would lead to disciplining the mind and spirit.
Jodysa looked at "Dalviss" and scratched at her ear.
She peered at the innkeeper and moved to the counter. "Dalviss, you old bounder, you know them folk don't talk to us...Keep to themselves...Now off with ya, I have work to do." The abundant-haired gnome tugged at her curls and sniffed the air as she set about piling new items neatly on the table.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Paul looks at “Dalviss” thoughtfully.
”Mister Dalviss, I’m also curious to know where your church or chapel in this town is? Mind telling me how to get there?”
He waits for the answer, clearly looking for a few more items at the church before leaving.
Once Dalviss gives him the information he nods once, then turns to Ayreth.
”You ready ma’am?” he says to her.
”I reckon I got what I need; unless you need anything else, I say we should get going,” he adds to her.
"Im sorry, been so busy and tired, my bearings are abit slow, uhm, i think it's that way?" he points in a direction somewhere into town
"Im sorry, been so busy and tired, my bearings are abit slow, uhm, i think it's that way?" he points in a direction somewhere into town
[dice=Bluff]1d20+17
"What do you mean 'you think'?" he says looking at the man suspicious of the motives of the townsfolk and now suspicious of his new employer.
He looks at Dalviss hard, his eyes a bit flinty.
"Look, bub - you're asking us to risk our necks for you; now I got no problem with that if the coin is good... But if we're putting our lives on the line, don't jerk us around, alright?" he says.
He glances down the street to where the man pointed at the chapel. Then he turns back.
"I'm not eager to waste daylight - tracking in a swamp at night ain't my idea of a picnic," he says with a growl, then turns and heads down the path to where Dalviss said the chapel was.
Pausing, he turns around -
"What god or goddess is the place built to? Was it Erastil - what?" he says calling out "I want to know who I'm dealing with when I get there," he adds.
"im sorry. Im trying to help, but as you can see, entire town is under severy pressure. Come see me at the inn. There we can talk with out getting into an insult match or yelling match." with that he slowly turns around and leaves
-Posted with Wayfinder
"im sorry. Im trying to help, but as you can see, entire town is under severy pressure. Come see me at the inn. There we can talk with out getting into an insult match or yelling match." with that he slowly turns around and leaves.
Paul turns and gives the man a very confused look.
He looks down the street toward where the chapel was supposed to be; then at his quickly retreating employer.
Wiping his hand over his face to calm down his frustration at the circumspect methods of the man - and the time being wasted - he sighs.
And why the hell should he think that we'll get into an insult match or yelling match...
He looks at Dalviss from under the low brim of his hat.
He turns to Ayreth -
"Begging your pardon ma'am - seems our new boss needs us to go back to the inn to do the talking. As I now got to head back there, if you want I can take the feed for your horse back with me?" he asks her.
Then, slinging the new gear that they got over his shop over his shoulder, he follows Dalviss back to the tavern so he can find out what exactly is going on.
Hearing the shouting going on, Jodysa turned and walked to the door of her store and popped her head out,
"Stop your yellin'. Town's priestess is Alyssia Turpin, runs the Church of the Dawnflower. Sarenrae's her lady. She's east of main street, two streets over ... not too far ... you can't miss the buildin'", pointing out the direction of the church with her stubby finger before retreating back inside the store.
"Stop your yellin'. Town's priestess is Alyssia Turpin, runs the Church of the Dawnflower. Sarenrae's her lady. She's east of main street ... not too far ... you can't miss the buildin'", pointing out the direction of the church with her stubby finger before retreating back inside the store.
Paul waves at the gnome.
"Thanks, ma'am," he says calling out to her.
"Seems the boss wants to talk back at the tavern for some reason," he says and trudges off despondently back to the inn to find out what's going on.
|
|
He turns to Ayreth -
"Begging your pardon ma'am - seems our new boss needs us to go back to the inn to do the talking. As I now got to head back there, if you want I can take the feed for your horse back with me?" he asks her.
Then, slinging the new gear that they got over his shop over his shoulder, he follows Dalviss back to the tavern so he can find out what exactly is going on.
"That would be much appreciated. Thank you."
She begins walking back with him. After a few moments, "That was weird with Mister Crenn."
"That would be much appreciated. Thank you."
She begins walking back with him. After a few moments, "That was weird with Mister Crenn."
Paul nods and slings her stuff over his shoulder as the two of them flank Mister Dalviss.
As the three of them continue to walk to the inn together he does his best to keep his mouth shut.
Why the hell can't we talk in the street? Is there too many ears around? What the hell's going on here?
Still, he says nothing, and continue to walk with Mister Dalviss and Miss Ayreth until they reach the inn together and all three of them can enter it and discuss business properly...
She waits a bit as they walk, since she's flanked, as they go around a corner, she suddenly bolts.
As she goes around corners she will drop pieces of clothing till she finds a place she can hide or disappear. This was fun!
She waits a bit as they walk, since she's flanked, as they go around a corner, she suddenly bolts.
As she goes around corners she will drop pieces of clothing till she finds a place she can hide or disappear. This was fun!
Paul's eyes narrow as he watches the "crippled" man suddenly run off.
He bends down and examines the tracks...
He takes his musket off his shoulder and holds it loose in his hands. Then he pulls the hammer back on the weapon and turns to turns to Ayreth.
"It seems that he's been lying to us from square one - and now this crap," he says with a flat voice.
He looks at the miserable town with all of the unhappy people in it, and then he looks after the tracks on the ground.
"I don't know about you, but I'm done with this - I didn't come to a place to risk my life for someone who treats it like a game," he adds.
"But first I'm going to deal with him," he says, his voice dark, his hands loosening the blades in their sheathes.
"If you're still back at the inn, I'll be happy to trek with you wherever you're going next; but I wouldn't put high hopes on that basterd... He broke his contract with us; he's lied to us; he's invited us to a godsforsaken town to do a thing for him, and now he's acting like a fool or a madman... I don't know what his story is, but I aim to find out," he adds with a growl.
He watches where Dalviss disappeared to then moves off after him.
She waits a bit as they walk, since she's flanked, as they go around a corner, she suddenly bolts.
As she goes around corners she will drop pieces of clothing till she finds a place she can hide or disappear. This was fun!
Since she was a few feet ahead before they chased, when you catch her, you find "Sora" on the ground, rolling around laughing, between heavy breaths, two fox ears and a tail now to her body detail. she was crying thats how much she was laughing
"Your faces! The look on your faces! Priceless!"
Since she was a few feet ahead before they chased, when you catch her, you find "Sora" on the ground, rolling around laughing, between heavy breaths, two fox ears and a tail now to her body detail. she was crying thats how much she was laughing
"Your faces! The look on your faces! Priceless!"
When Paul reaches the person responsible for wasting his time, his eyes go wide.
"It was you?" he says in shock.
"I was going to leave this bloody town on account of the fact that our poxing "employer" was a liar and a fool; leave that poor girl to who know's what in the woods because of 'his' lies and piss all over any kind of loot I might have earned, too - all on account of your crap," he says with a dark voice.
Paul raises the stock of his musket over Yuki's head and prepares to slam it down onto her hard.
At the last minute he checks himself and stops the vicious assault.
"You ain't godsdamn worth it," he says coldly.
Paul turns and leaves 'Yuki' in the street and returns first to the inn to deposit Miss Ayreth's horse fodder; then he'll head to the Church of Sarenrae.
I'm sorry, but i couldn't help it, all you people are so wound up and serious. Laughing does the soul good, i'm just trying to make you people smile. she slowly gets up and watches him leave, shaking her head
He's going to be a tough nut to crack she giggles as she too walks away
Bart found a spot to sit that he probably wasn't supposed to sit on, what appeared to be a small wall of some sort, and sat back to watch the lady dance. Or fight. He really wasn't sure which was which. Her movements were precise, but flowing, and Bart had -never- seen a brawler move like that before. Usually fighting with fists was quick and brutal, all about hurting your opponent before they could hurt you. Her dance routine gave him the impression of something far more versatile and deadly. Still after about five minutes he got bored, plucked a straw into his teeth, and lay back on the wall to look up at the sky. "I was speakin metaphorically too ya know. At least, to a degree. Some people see thieves and outlaws as malicious criminals, but they ain't all bad. Wouldn't be here, right now, if it weren't for a thief."
Gii stands passively in front of the way out of town, watching Bart talk at Blue Heron while the blue-haired woman practices. "Most thieves are not so altruistic. There is much to be said about not painting with too broad a brush, however," he posits, before looking back towards town. A small bit of frustration creeps into his normally calm expression, but he says nothing more.
The boy's words brush against her ears as she flows from one form to another. Finally, she comes to a form that allows her to hold a position and she responds. "I discount not unexpected virtue. But, in looking for exceptions, you miss my thrust. Look to the gate. It is. But what necessity does it have? It could be a different color or composition. It could be in this place or another. It could not be at all. Often people take what is and mistake it for what it should be."
Having responded, Blue Heron continues her practicing her kata from the beginning. She does this not to end the conversation but allow the boy to reflect on her words which were rich in implication. Nearly twenty years ago Blue Heron had learned that in teaching children it was best not to give them everything, but to let them work through an issue themselves so that they could own their conclusion.
Thinking of her princess caused a stutter in her kata. Blue Heron begins again from the beginning.
Alyssia Turpin greets you at the door of the Church of the Dawnflower. The human Cleric of Sarenrae seems disturbed and immediately ushers you inside the church.
"I had heard Dalviss recruited some outside help. I am Alyssia Turpin. I, too, was once a stranger, 28 years ago, when I arrived from Elidir. I am here to help your party to the best of my ability."
"I am most concerned. The town has become increasingly violent of late. Like Dalviss, I would like to know the reason for this change. Can you help us?"
"I have my suspicions and there are certain rumours spreading around town. But I will tell you this in earnest, I suspect that the Drumish strangers in town are not prospectors, as they claim, but cultists! I have no hard proof, however. May Sarenrae protect us all."
"It's also been rumoured that there have been more goblin sightings in the hinterlands recently, particularly to the east in the foothills. We hope they're not gearing up for another war!"
"Some are even saying that the meteorite's already been found, claimed by those so-called Drumish prospectors, and its ore shipped off in the dead of night a few days ago. Going in search of it may be a waste of time."
"Whatever it is you decide to do to help, I will provide you with free healing and spellcasting for as long as you are in town. Please hurry!"
She has 5 flasks of holy water available and hands them to you, before sending you on your way with prayers and fervent hopes.
Paul takes his hat off as he enters the chapel and nods at the lady.
"You must be the Reverend Mother - name's Antairis... I'm looking for some information and maybe some help about them that've gone missing lately in your town."
"Can you tell me anything about those who've gone missing, and what's going on with them?" he says, looking at her with a penitent gaze.
”I am most concerned. The town has become increasingly violent of late. Like Dalviss, I would like to know the reason for this change. Can you help us?"
”Can I help you? Well, I reckon that’s the plan, Reverend Mother Turpin,” he says, giving her a polite nod, but his eyes are serious at her information so far.
"You heard any particular details - anything, even a rumor..." he says tentatively.
"I have my suspicions and there are certain rumours spreading around town. But I will tell you this in earnest, I suspect that the Drumish strangers in town are not prospectors, as they claim, but cultists! I have no physical proof, however. May Sarenrae protect us all."
Paul glances around, as if the very walls of the church may have ears.
”Yeah…” he says slowly, thinking of those prospectors.
”I reckon it’s funny that lads would show up looking to dig ore in this town right after everyone said something fell out of the sky,” he muses slowly.
”Maybe they’re not here to dig up ore... Maybe it's like ya’ said – maybe they’re here to dig up what fell from the sky,” he says, glancing to the door of the chapel thoughtfully.
”If I see them on the streets, I’ll be careful of ‘em – and I’ll tell the crew I’m running with the same…”
He pauses, cocking his head and looks at her.
”Does Dalviss maybe know about this? I mean – the thing about the cultists?” he says looking at her, scratching his beard absently as he considers things a moment.
He rubs his sleeve across his brow.
”This thing with the prospectors – like I said, if they were cultist’s, as you seem to think – then my nose agrees with you; something about them stinks,” he says with a frown.
”If I didn’t know better I’d figure they’ll use the stuff about the mining as an excuse to get their hands on what that thing is that fell out of the sky…” he adds with a growl.
"Some are even saying that the meteorite's already been found, claimed by those so-called Drumish prospectors and its ore shipped off in the dead of night a few days ago. Going in search of it may be a waste of time."
David’s eyes grow flinty.
”Nah… it just means that we got some work ahead of us is all…”
”First we got to hit that bleeding cave in the swamps and see if we can’t rustle up that lost lass – then we get her back to town – and then, if we’re lucky – we stab out hard and fast and try to catch up to the lads carting away whatever it is they’re moving in their rig…”
”A laden cart ain’t going to move too fast; especially if it moves off the road… ‘Course, if it’s on the roads we’ll find it soon – but we got little time to do it,” he adds with a shake of his head, the press of information and knowledge coming down hard on him fast.
He lets out a grunt of brief laughter.
”Well – that said; anything else around here to look out for?” he asks as he wipes his hand over his face as if to push away the mounting tension.
"It's also rumoured that there have been more goblin sightings in the hinterlands recently, particularly to the east in the foothills. We hope they're not gearing up for another war!"
Paul lets out a tight sigh as he looks up at the vaulted ceiling and then looks back at the woman in front of him.
”Gods damn,” he mutters darkly, then pauses – ”beg pardon, Reverend Mother, no disrespect meant,” he adds quickly.
”Alright – so we got to get the girl from the swamp; get her back here quick-smart; then we got to hightail it fast after them that pinched the thing that fell out of the sky on account of the fact that maybe it’s a cult that’s hauling some dark artifact – meantime we got to watch out for goblin raiders in the hills and maybe we got to watch out for them that’re following us in the town; you know – left-over spies that may be selling information back to those basterd Drumish folk… And we got to do it fast, because whatever these scum are up to isn’t going to improve with sitting on our asses… er, no offense,” he says.
He shakes his head again.
”I know it sound maybe pretty dicey of me to be coming here asking for help, but I was figuring maybe some Holy Water might be handy if we’re dealing with gods-know-what in them swamps, you know?” he says.
”You ain’t got any of that stuff for sale, do you?” he asks her.
"Whatever it is you decide to do to help, I will provide you with free healing and spellcasting for as long as you are all in town."
”My thanks, Reverend Mother,” he says, kneeling before her briefly for a quick blessing.
”Go with the gods, Reverend Mother,” he says, and then turns to leave, taking with him the gear and blessings she’s offered.
Paul moves out of the chapel and hurries to the edge of town, looking for his companions by the side of the town.
Once he meets his companions, he nods to them.
”Alright – let’s head out and I’ll fill you in,” he says briskly as the party moves off to the trail that leads to the swamp.
”Rumor has it that these prospectors are cultists – trying to use the gimmick of being a prospector to dig up what fell from the sky… Meantime, the folk are upset in this town on account of the fact that their friends have been pinched – so we’re going to find their friends, and fast…”
”Once we do that we got to get back and push hard fast after them what took the thing out of the ground… If they came to take something for a cult that means they’ll likely need it for some gods damned dark ritual – and a pox on more folk like them Cheliax basterds calling up demons and so on…” he adds, then spits to the side.
”Point is – we get the girl, get back to town, then track the wagon and the cultists… Oh yeah – keep your eyes peeled; there’s likely goblin raiders in the hills around us… that could be real ugly, real fast – if they decide to make trouble,’ he says as he trudges off fast.
As he moves in a quick-step he holds up a pack in his left hand.
”This here’s got some sunrods for them that need to see in the dark; and also I got five flasks of Holy Water in case we need ‘em in the swamp… The Reverend Mother Turpin’s faithful to Sarenrae at that chapel – she’ll help us in our quest for free of charge, so long as we stay true to doing right,” he adds as he moves on fast.
He glances to the others as he travels forward.
”Any questions?” he asks them as he pushes on.
”Does Dalviss maybe know about this? I mean – the thing about the cultists?” he says looking at her, scratching his beard absently as he considers things a moment.
"I am uncertain. He hasn't shared much since many of the townsfolk have openly mocked him a fool for his strange theories on what fell from the sky. You may need to ask him directly, I'm sorry I can't help you with that."
”Well – that said; anything else around here to look out for?” he asks as he shakes his head.
"Folk are angry, and don't appreciate strangers in town. So be careful in how you approach and speak to them. And if you're headed for Old Frog Swamp, know we have more than our fair share of frogs out there."
Tapping her lip, she adds, "There are others in town who might be willing to answer your questions. Employ your best manners even if they sound and appear surly. As I said, violent tempers have increased of late."
"Folk are angry, and don't appreciate strangers in town. So be careful in how you approach and speak to them. And if you're headed for Old Frog Swamp, know we have more than our fair share of frogs out there."
He nods his head.
"Alright - so... more than frogs... Anything in particular-like we ought to watch out for?" he asks her.
As he waits for her to tell him more about the swamp, a sudden thought seems to occur to her...
"There are others in town who might be willing to answer your questions. Employ your best manners even if they sound and appear surly. As I said, violent tempers have increased of late."
Paul nods.
"Alright, if there's other folk to talk to we got a lass in town who maybe can rustle up some clues..." he says with a dark scowl, as if the sudden recollection of this "lass" seems to annoy him for some reason.
Then he shakes his head and continues to get some more information.
"Any particular person we should ask questions at? And - while I'm at it - any particular lead that'll get the job done well? I don't want to walk into someone's place and find out asking for a drink will piss 'em off... I'm open to speaking fair with folk, I just need to know what to say - and what not to say - if you take my meaning?" he says, watching her.
Paul will then wait for possible names to pass on to Yuki - he'll also remember to ask for more information from Dalviss next time he sees him...
As Paul heads off with his companions, a sudden thought occurs to him.
”That Reverend Mother also told me that folk in this town think maybe Dalviss is some kind of crackpot on account of his theories about that falling rock from the sky… So if you spread around that news don’t be surprised if people seem to treat us crazy,” he adds.
As he moves along with the crew he adds some other thoughts.
”There might be more than just frogs in this place… Be careful where you step, you know?”
He thinks a moment.
”Oh yeah – the Reverend Mother also said that most of the folk in this town got a stick poking so far out of their collective ass that any one of ‘em could single-handedly win a three-legged race,” he adds with a grunt.
He looks at the others.
”Point is – they’re touchy; don’t piss ‘em off ‘cause they get real angry real fast until we do something to prove we’re more than just a few drifters.”