No doubt we got all we could from the ones at the camp.
Soren nods at Andrea.
It seems the Stag Lord knows that he benefits from remaining unknown to his underlings. Hopefully we find out more as we map the area. I aim to help with that. Your idea of spiraling out from the post is perfect. We'll cover a lot of ground. Though, I won't suggest splitting up. We've already seen these woods have a bit more bite than most.
As he speaks he's refeathering arrows that he took from the bandits, making them less run down and, well, bandit-y.
Eduard shrugs. "Not that unknown. People seem to know even who his father was. He's come up through the ranks so to speak but it is clear that some union with some forest creature was the turning point in his life. Perhaps even the moment that he lost his own will."
Perhaps some kind of fairy being so he has fairy blood in his veins. We might want to read up on such beings for their powers.
Alexander chuckles, Sounds like a story I'd make up by the fire. But I'm sure you know more about such things than I. But if I were a clever bandit lord, I'd tell people I was the child of a god too. Makes it much easier to handle the riff-raff.
He straightens and looks around, At some point we'll need to work out with Oleg what we can trade for. I doubt he can purchase everything we brought back, but maybe he brought in some goods recently that we could use? I suggest we talk to him this evening about any requests we might have, get some food and rest, and plan on heading out tomorrow morning.
After spending a good bit of time unloading the horses and the cart and getting everything ,including the eggs, situated, your group is more than ready for a nice meal and some rest. Merryn has been putting his archery skills to use and Svetlana has roasted a deer over the outside firepit for dinner.
During the course of the dinner, Oleg is free to answer any questions from the group. If asked about his ability to purchase everything you have, he will shake his head and say no, not right now, but that he can hold your things in storage right now until the next trader comes by.
Alexander inquires over dinner what sort of supplies Oleg has and what he can bring in. We have a lot of things to unload, but we'd be happy to trade for better supplies. Well made shields, armor, and perhaps weapons if you can get them.
Radomir perks up at the mention of armor. I would like to acquire a suit of leather armor. Or, well, anything light. Chain, if you have it. It would be wise to sleep in armor while out in the wilds, and it would certainly be more comfortable than this.. He taps a finger on his breastplate.
A heavy mace or morning star, to help me aid others more in combat.
Alexander smiles and chuckles with amusement, Radomir, we have a good dozen of leather shirts in the back of that wagon. Feel free to go grab one. Some might need a bit of stitching. Maybe a bit of cleaning. But there's plenty.
Radomir nods. Thank you, my lord.. He pulls out a plain suit of leather armor. This shall suit my needs. He smirks at his pun. My lord, when you are done here, perhaps you would like to question the prisoners? They could have more information about the Stag Lord.
Alexander looks confused, Prisoners? Do you mean Happs? I think we have all we're going to get from him.
Correct, only Happs remains of the bandits we've encountered. I believe we received information on the general direction of the Staglord's base.
Soren leans back in his seat after he finishes refletching another quiver of arrows.
I believe Alexander has put forth he best course of action. Start mapping, learn more of the Stag Lord as we do so. I'm sure we'll run into more bandits as we travel. As for supplies, I believe we should leave a list with Oleg, so the next time he gets a visitor, they can place an order for us. Perhaps soon we'll be able to get a steady stream of supplies coming here. I'm sure Oleg would be willing to help, considering he'd be the only one providing supplies to us and whoever decides to help us settle the region once we've completed the clearing.
He ponders for a moment, and then smiles.
Not to mention, if people do start settling, we'll need a good rapport with the merchants in the city so as to have a suitable business agreement for providing everything the settlers would need. That's planning pretty far ahead though.
Oleg will accept any wish lists of supplies that you want to leave with him.
Also, Oleg can afford to buy about a quarter of what you have brought in. He is willing to store the rest of it for free for you until either he can buy the rest or until a trader comes by and buys it.
Oleg will also suggest you start out your mapping by heading a bit east and south of the trading post for about a dozen mile or so until you hit the Hermit Bokken's place. He hasn't been by the post for several weeks and Oleg is wondering if Bokken has run afoul of the bandits before you lot killed them.
You all turn in for the night in the guest house again and the next morning you wake up refreshed and are treated to breakfast before you start off on your exploring mission. So it is with full bellies that you head off to begin exploring the areas around Oleg's trading post and try to find the hermit's hut.
Andrea starts thinking of getting some serious riding lessons. He legs are going to be so bowlegged.
Thaliar was busy securing the eggs while the others continued their planning. They were most likely leaving again the morning so he had to write a letter as well.
***
Before they left in the morning Thaliar hands the letter to Oleg, "If a merchant comes by while we're gone and he's heading north, could you ask him to take this along? The messenger services in all Brevoy's great cities will be able to deliver this to the intended recipient and they know the Medvyeds are good for a decent tip."
To Antov Medvyed
Hello Antov, I hope this letter finds you well. I myself am doing quite well in the Stolen Lands. The locals range from hospitable to murderous. The latter ones found that neither I nor my new companions are easy marks and we killed enough bandits to feed a Sellen Alligator for months.
On to the business at hand. I chanced upon the eggs of an owlbear during our scouting and have secured them. Does House Medvyed still hold an interest in these fine wardens of the wilds? If so, make me an offer and I'm sure we can figure something out.
Your friend,
Thaliar
Alexander spends a little time working out what supplies Oleg can buy and which to store. After a little bit of haggling (though not too much) he sells off most of the weapons and armor, along with the crates of hides and furs.
If you can get your guys to bring in a couple of well made shirts of chain, that'd be great. Maybe a decent shield or two. Can't say we're too hard up for weapons, but Andrea mentioned she could use a mace or morningstar. He smiles as he unloads their wagon, Thanks for letting us store the rest here. Not that there's much left. Figured we'd hold on to the small stuff and let you move all this gear. I imagine furs, weapons and armor aren't too hard to sell out here.
Once finished he fishes out two days worth of rations from the crate and a single arrow to restock.
In the morning Alexander rises early as usual and walks around the post, looking at the repairs that have been made while they're gone. If Happs is about he strikes up a conversation, hoping to see how well the man has been handling his new life.
After that he prepares his gear and his mount for the day's travel.
Soren leaves a list with Oleg, with consists of the bits and pieces of ingredients he needs for making arrows Bits of alchemical things, certain types of small glass vials, certain types of twine, small amounts of holy water, and few other minor things.
Then, he sets off to help map
Alexander, almost surprised that he's the one that notices something, looks around the group.
Anyone else see that door? He chuckles, Looks like the perfect place for a potion-brewing hermit. He dismounts and approaches slowly. Let's hope that Oleg's fear is unfounded.
He pauses and looks over his shoulder, Cautious...but not too cautious. With that he continues with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, but makes no move to draw it. When within decent shouting distance, he calls out,
Hello there! Is this Bokken's place? We've come from Oleg's trading post. Anyone home?
Andrea gets off her horse and waits while Alex addresses the door.
Radomir guides Czernabog so that he is within striking distance. Caution, my lord. These wilds are full of treachery.
"I'm optimistic that we might be able to handle this with words. Information is more valuable than swordplay after all."
"What's that? Who's there? Be warned I'll turn any and all bandits into toads! Now go away!"
Alexander laughs, Well, it's a good thing we aren't bandits! We're friends of Oleg's and sent by Brevoy to tame these lands. He looks around the area, I assume you're the Bokken that Oleg spoke of. I'm told you made the potions he has? Fine work, indeed.
"Not bandits you say?" The door opens enough for a scraggly maned head to poke out and look the lot of you over. "Well, I suppose Oleg wouldn't have sent you here if you had any plans to kill me."
Bokken opens up his door wider and motions to the lot of you before disappearing into the depths of his earthen home.
Those that take that as an invitation to enter his home step down into the sunken floor of the main room. And a very cluttered main room it is, with all wallspaces not taken up with doors are crammed ceiling to floor with shelving and a large desk takes up the center of the room. The shelving and desk are full of various plants, flasks, fungus, animal parts and unidentifiable things.
Standing off to the side in the room is a human looking man in his 50's with shaggy grey hair and rumpled clothing stained with the results of his various experiments. "Welcome to what I call home."
Thank you for your time, Bokken. As our intrepid leader said earlier, we've been tasked with clearing these lands of bandits and other dangers. Oleg told us of your skills, and some of us wondered if we could purchase some of your help.
Greetings. Oleg wanted us to make sure the bandits have not been bothering you, we eliminated several of them who were harassing Oleg and also a camp they had set-up.
Alexander enters the home and looks around with interest. Thank you, Bokken. You have a fine home. He steps gingerly around the clutter, trying not to step on anything important. As my friend here mentioned, we've heard of your skills.
He smiles as he continues to look around, I'm sure you know this area well. If you need help with anything, do not hesitate to ask. One of our goals here is to clean up this area...of bandits and anything else that might plague it. We just wanted to introduce ourselves, perhaps see your wares, and learn more about this area.
And an ally that can brew potions never hurt.
Radomir relents as soon as Bokken approaches. Aye, we have slain the bandits who assaulted Oleg's trading post and we put an end to their camp He keeps a tight hold of both Czernabog's reins and his own bardiche.
The old man gives a little cackle as he shuffles around his workroom. "Slain you say? Glad to hear about that and good riddance to the lot of them."
Bokken gestures to his laden shelves. "As for my wares, I have a few dozen concoctions all brewed up with no place to go. Those bandits were rather hard on my business you know. Though I suppose now it's safe enough to start heading back to Oleg's place to unload some of my wares now. Assuming of course those pesky spiders haven't migrated out of their nesting area yet. They're about several miles to the south west of here, so watch yourselves if you head out in that direction. Rotten little blighters ate my Fluffy. And of course you never know when you're going to get some acorns thrown at your head. Pesky little fae roam about the whole forest. I know they got a nest of their own in there somewhere, but I ain't stumbled across it yet."
Eduard steps inside, more curious about the clutter than explicitly attempting to avoid it.
"Yes, I'm also interested in other traffic moving through the area. Is Oleg your primary customer?"
What sort of potions do you have?
Anyone looking at what is on the shelving would notice what looks like a opossum hanging upside down and either sleeping or dead.
"Yes, Oleg is my primary customer, though I've had a few wandering trappers and hunters stop by from time to time."
"As for what I have, now, let's see." Bokken moves closer to shelves to look at the bottle to remind himself what is in them.
"Looks like I have some healing potions made up, some potions for resisting hot or cold temperatures, a scattering of various protection potions and a few potions that can temporarily enhance someones abilities. I also have a few alchemical items, like tanglefoot bags, antitoxins and fire and acid."
Spiders and Fae, Alexander chuckles, what an interesting forest you have here.
If we end up running across these...spiders...how big would you say they are?
If we are going to encounter spiders, we should look into gettign some antitoxins.
Radomir nods. Aye, my lord. If you stay behind me, I an use my bardiche and find them off, while you others use your arrows to strike. Perhaps, if we can find a choke point for them, we can take them one at a time.
"The one I saw was the size of a small pony. It burst out of the ground and dragged my poor fluffy down into its hole. Fluffy was a good two hundred pounds at least, so that's a lot to drag. A shame too since I had my own plans to eat Fluffy when he outlived his usefulness."
Such devotion.
what was Fluffy? I ask only to measure the spiders' strength.
"Hog. Great for rooting out some of the roots and fungus I use in potions. Guess I can ask Oleg about ordering me up another one."
I'm glad I asked. Alexander chuckles, That would have been a rather nasty surprise.
We could pass word next time we are at Olegs. Andrea isn't making any purchases. So spiders and fey are currently the only threats besides animals?
Spiders. I would be surprised if it were anything else. Do you have anything that would help us if we came across them in our efforts to clear the land? Anti toxins are a good start. Some alchemists fires would be good for clearing out large swaths of webbing, were we to encounter such a thing...
Bokken shrugs. "The only threats that I encounter. I'm a hermit, remember? Since coming here I haven't ventured more than a day's travel by foot from my house."
At Soren's question, Bokken gestures towards one set of shelves. "I have several alchemical flasks over there. I believe there are a couple anti-toxins and a fire or two there."
Andrea purchases an anti-toxin