A look of sudden realization crosses Garret's face at Jellena's statement, "Ah! Encouragement, I see. Sorry, didn't think about that. You could say I have a one-track mind at times."
Garret watches Jellena's reaction at the so-called elixir, "Hmmm, yeah, I'm not interested. I'm plannin' to get some cookin' skills anyway. I'll make do till then. I'd rather have real flavor than depend on some snake oil with who knows what in it."
The salesman puts away his samples and takes a look at the writ. He then with a smile says, "That will do... 8 gold and 5 silver back, then 3 flasks of elixir. Here have some extra meat to go with it. Any other buyers? No, well have a good day!"
With that done he continues down the road.
Bye!
After he is gone, Aien shakes his head.
Where did he come from? I swear the road was clear before he approached.
The group likely gathers and heads down the road. Another three hours and all your feet hurt from all the walking. A sign post you stop at which points to the right fork as the lumberyard. The left fork as Lake Orn. The road seems to stay out of the forest.
Garret pulls out his map, "Hmmm, looks like the shorter route to the northern part of the forest would be to go through the lumberyard."
"To the Lumberyard then!" Baris exclaims as he hops off Board.
The group follows Garret down the road to the East. Another hour and you come upon a massive lumberyard with many tents and several large buildings. Many of the men are milling about doing nothing more than entertaining themselves with dice or cards.
At seeing your approach several men get up and rush towards you, they all start to try to talk over each other:
"Hey I saw em first.
They don't need you!
You need help right?
You need a guide?
You need a carpenter?
How about a laborer?
Etc."
Garret stiffens a little at the onrush of people, "Whoa, whoa, o-one at a time, fellas!"
He takes a full step away from the crowd and turns to the others, "Uh, um, I think we can manage. A guide might be helpful, though. What do y'all think?"
"A guide could be useful. I'm fine with hiring one. How much does your guide service charge?"
The men begin bidding their services...
"I'll do it for 7 silver,
6 silver
5 silver
3 silver
2 silver
1 silver
3 silver and I can get you right to the marshal
2 silver and I can get you right to the labor boss..."
Baris walks off to the side with Board for a moment. Board returns all puffed up and looks at the crowd of men and yells at one of the men, "YOU COME WITH ME, NOW!"
Since the men are eager to work but likely not get pulled to the side roughly, the singled out man runs. Board face palms and shakes his head. Walking back to Baris in defeat.
Still ten men are vying for service to give to you.
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She pulls out her fiddle and walks to the other side of her group and begins to play her fiddle. It is a soft tune one that could help people calm down. She ends it with a screech and says, "Now that I have your attention, each of you will be paid 3 copper if you lead us to those in charge, in an orderly fashion. You make a wrong move and you don't get paid." She winks at her fellow companions then takes a step forward to be lead.
Jellena likely read the group of vying men correctly, there was no work and they were trying to get work. Now You have guides and a wall of men to get you where you want to be in an orderly fashion.
The men lead the group forward and you can see the lumberyard is shut down and there might have been more problems but you have your guides. The men ask questions to see how you want to be guided, "What business do you have here? Did you want to see the Marshal, boss, or someone else?"
Garret responds hesitantly, "Uh, actually, we're tryin' to get to the northern part of the forest to collect Emerald Devil spidersilk. So, I'm not sure who we should talk to."
Whoah. She's good.
Aien whispers to Garret.
Probably who ever owns the land. We'd need to get permission to hunt there.
"Impressive, Jellena. You're pretty good with people."
Quitely to Aien with a big smile and a chuckle, "We only need permission if we got caught."
"Well, the witch didn't mention anything to that effect. In fact, is there even anyone who rightfully owns the forest? I'd think they'd be hirin' people to clear it of threats, if that were the case. Especially, with this lumberyard here.", Garret replies, rambling his thoughts.
To my understanding, you have to own the land to clear it.
Sighing, Aien speaks. But I don't know much about law, and this is a fantasy realm.
The men discuss quickly and decide to take you to the Marshal, "Yeah he will know what needs be done."
It takes a few minutes for the men to lead you to a small tent that has banners in front of it of a motif of a golden lion rearing back on stripes of white and red. They took you through about half of the camp and you can see all of the men just waiting. The tent is near the forest and no one stands near it at least 50 feet.
Before you get to the banners, a man with a massive black red deformed arm comes out and asks what business you have with the Marshal. The men repeat what Garret said in not so much words. He nods and admits your group.
There are two captain chairs before a large desk which looks like it was made from a stump that still is rooted. Behind the desk sits the Marshal, a man in better clothing, a breastplate, weapons sheathed, and a badge. The man with the abnormal arm says, "This is Grey Warden Theldore Greigore, they have come to harvest spider silk likely looking for a permit."
The ten men wait about 10 feet away from the tent, patiently and quietly.
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"Tin man, thank you. Please watch from outside. Now what are your names, do you have any fey affiliations and what exactly brings you to the forest? The more information the more likely I can authorize your search and collection. Also are the men outside with you? He says in a deep baritone voice meant for his large girth.
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She speaks up likely after Garret or once called upon, "Jellena Darkling Priestess of Death. I have several items that could help prove our intentions. We have promised to pay them three copper each if they guided us to the one in charge."
She pulls a purple and green purse of sorts and one of the silver web collecting instruments out of her pack.
Garret removes his hat, "The name's Garret Ironheart. Uh, freelancer...for now, I guess. Um, Chosen of Death. No fey affiliations. Have yet to meet any, as far as I know. We're headin' to the forest to gather spidersilk for the witch back in Sanctuary, to craft us some packs. Hm, that pretty much covers it."
"Interesting... Protocol for a permit includes filling out this paper. Here I need each of you to fill out this paper with these four questions..."
On the paper:
So if you saw a fey or creature for that matter in the woods, would you attack it, approach it, or leave it alone?
If a creature attacked you, would you flee, defend yourselves, or fight to the death?
If you defeated a creature in the woods, would you kill it, tend to it, or leave it be?
What is your favorite color, only one?
Garret looks over the questions, "Hm."
He then begins scribbling his answers hestitantly.
2. Defend myself initially. If things turned bad, flee.
3. Again, would depend on circumstances.
4. Green.
Name: Aien Exalmim, Occupation:Freelancer, and I've came for the same reason.
Aien takes the paper.
1. Leave it alone, unless I am specifically hunting that animal.
2.Defend myself.
3. Leave it be. If it poses a significant threat to others, I'd kill it though.
4. R2-D2-blue.
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So if you saw a fey or creature for that matter in the woods, would you attack it, approach it, or leave it alone?
I would approach it and try to make friends.
If a creature attacked you, would you flee, defend yourselves, or fight to the death?
Defend myself.
If you defeated a creature in the woods, would you kill it, tend to it, or leave it be?
It depends on the creature and the situation but I would kill it if it was an animal and I needed food, tend it otherwise that is my nature.
What is your favorite color, only one? Red
So if you saw a fey or creature for that matter in the woods, would you attack it, approach it, or leave it alone?
I would approach it and try to make friends.
If a creature attacked you, would you flee, defend yourselves, or fight to the death?
Defend myself with nonlethal blows if it was not overtly evil or threatening.
If you defeated a creature in the woods, would you kill it, tend to it, or leave it be?
I would likely leave it be.
What is your favorite color, only one? Orange
"Baris Zanthias, Lord of Lightning, this here is Board my minion. I have some affiliations but this is their quest not mine, just along for the ride."
"Ise'dranl, Private investigator. No fey affiliations and I'm here for the Spidersilk as well.
Wonder why favorite color is on here? Maybe I'll be refused access because the color I picked is heretical! Who knows, maybe the Grey Warden is a Trekkie?
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He collects the papers and puts them in a drawer of the stump desk. He steeples his fingers together and says, "This is interesting, none of you are banned. You may go on your way to collect spider silk. You will likely come in contact with three creatures, only choose one as your guide. Otherwise they will bicker with each other. If you are lost call out for help but you never know what might come and help or at what cost. These are the Fey woods so be wary."
Garret cocks an eyebrow, "Um...okaay. I guess, we should be on our way then."
After leaving the Warden's tent, he looks to the others, "That was...odd, to say the least. Wonder why that color question was even on that sheet."
What did you put down for that one?
"Not that it matters, green.", Garret replies after a few moments.
Aien nods, then leans closer, and whispers: R2-D2 blue. He holds up his hands, Hey, it exists!
Baris exclaims at the question, "Orange!" He then punches Board and then shakes his head at the man's lack of words.
Ise points to the light blue air swirls covering his skin. Softly to the others, "I didn't pick to be a Sylph just because of the game mechanics."
The group goes around the tent and head into the forest. You probably notice that Jellena is not with the group.
Garret stops and looks around, "Wait, where's Miss Darkling?"
Once she catches up, he says, "What was that about, Miss Darkling? Ah, right, payment."
Garret ponders a moment.
"You sure that's a good idea? I mean, you were concerned about all the men back at the outpost last night.", he says as he scans the group of workers.
Garret shrugs and walks on, "True."
Baris looks at the two of you with astonishment in his face. Just standing there until Board picks him up or until someone interacts with him.
The group moves into the forest proper with the ten helpers coming along with equipment but still within sight. A black wolf with a blue flame collar around its neck jumps out from behind a fallen trunk. It barks at you then asks, "What do you hunt?"
Oh, sh!t ! Aien jumps. He begins to reach for his gun, but stops when the wolf asks the question. Spiders! Please don't kill me!
Ise respectfully bows. "We're hunting Emerald Devil spiders for their silk."