It's a cold and bitter wind that greets the party at Narthropple's camp when they awaken the next morning. The scent of sizzling, fatty meat on cast iron accompanies their awakening - soon it's clear it's some sort of bacon, though tougher and a bit gamier than that of domestic pigs. Narthropple appears a bit later, head still bandaged but out of his armor. He sits down heavily (for a gnome) and glowers across the fire toward the wilds.
"Well, have you reconsidered? I'm sure there's a trove of wealth and knowledge in the keep with the strange plants. Did I mention the architecture looked elvish"
Valeriya sleeps soundly, used to camping on the road. In the morning she wakes and performs her daily prayers to Abadar. After breakfast she offers Narthropple a revised contract.
"We have made our decision Narthropple," she says "we will purchase the locations of both this Elvish looking town, and the the keep with the usual flora."
She gazes at her party, making certain she has correctly represented their decision.
"Wonderful. Let's see your map. I'll need it to scribe the locations on to." Narthropple looks significantly happier, though he spends some time peering at the spot on the map where Roheline is, and especially the village (it certainly can't be called a city yet) of Elkheart. "I have about two weeks of food, give or take a bit, so we'll be coming through your town before then. If you find more gold or places we'd be interested in out there, let us know." His fellow gnomes begin packing up the camp while he continues talking.
"One thing, though. The elvish architecture is the old keep with the odd plants. The town is a bit more...primative."
With their carts packed, their ponies hitched to them, and their campfire put out, the gnomes roll off toward the south. The party packs their bags and rides north, but they don't get far before...
"Ooooowwwwwwooo! Yiiip Eep Eep Oooowwwwwwwooooooooooo!"
The sound isn't the cry of a wolf. As the party moves cautiously, they come across a hunter's trap. It seems to have been successful, as trapped inside of it is a wolf-sized creature. Its back is covered by a series of stripes that would make it blend in well in the Kamelands, but between the cries, the difference in terrain deep in the Narlmarch, and the creature's sudden, jerky movements as it tries to escape, it's easy to spot.
Luthor's eyes take on the cloudy look they get when he hexes someone with good fortune, and Laliytsa feels her luck getting better.
The creature gives another "Yiiiiiip Eeep eep!" and lunges toward Kazimir, only for the steel trap around its foot to catch it mid-lunge, jaws open wide.
Valeriya, edges carefully around the creature, to her it looks like a harmless animal, she hopes that she'll be able to peaceful help it. She removes a strip of jerky from her bag and hands it to Laliytsa.
"See if you can calm the creature down Lali." she says.