Helgrim visibly struggles to keep himself in check as he stands flexing his knuckles after Teedum is out of sight.
"By the Great Forgemaster's beard I would've liked to have burried my spiked ball in his head!"
He lets out a deep breath and turns to Liam, Naomi, Wulf and the others near him.
"Thank you all, I wasn't going to be able to abide by that, him stealin the medicine from kids. An I freely gave my Ironbloom Mushrooms for it, it wasn't for profit. I hope I didn't make a royal mess of things."
He shakes his head in resignation.
"He'll be back I'm guessin, and with more men. Anyone willing to help me get that medicine to where it needs to go?"
The dwarf stomps a heavy boot on the ground.
"Dammit! I was trying to keep my nose out of things."
Visibly cooling off he offers his hand with a smile.
"My name is Helgrim Ironstar by the way. Engineer, by trade."
"Kinda wanted to put the bastard back on his ass again. Oh well." He walked up to the Sheriff and nodded.
"He'll be back, You know he will Kreed isn't one to let things as important as this go. He tried to persuade me to not allow you all access to my well. You know how that turned out" He said before he looks to the others and smiled.
"Thanks for standing up for the townsfolk. I appreciate that. I won't lie you'll have a target on your back, Pay Day will be watching."Wulf said looking at the others gathered before he walks into the building, looking to see if she had any seeds.
Boggel enters quickly and quietly along with the others. When he has a chance to gain Laurel's attention, he says, "Friend Laurel. Glad to see that you are not harmed and that violence was avoided. Please meet Friend Naomi," he says, indicating Naomi. "Appreciate that sheriff and town's people are willing to protect you. Such shameful behavior from the Fatman Payday."
He will take Helgrim's proffered hand as he has no real notion of whether dwarves are squeamish around his kind or not. "Thank you for standing up for Laurel. Would like to talk to you some time about ironbloom mushrooms. Quite rare indeed." Although the crowd around him is clearly taxing to him, he is genuinely glad to be among people willing to stand up to petty tyrants.
Liam extends his hand to the dwarf. "Liam. I'm from...well, deeper in the woods, where the Consortium hasn't been. Yet. I have to thank you. I didn't really want to get involved eiter, might've just kept walking if you hadn't spoken up first. It was the right thing to do."
Helgrim chafes a bit that the big human doesn't shake his hand, but tells himself that Wulf probably just missed it.
Feeling a strange appendage grab his hand, the dwarf looks and sees a frogman shaking hands with him. He begins to gawk, but he locks it up and vigorously returns the clasp.
"You're welcome. The mushrooms aren't as rare in Dwarven lands, we use em in several delicacies, uh, kinda like truffles. Would love to find some more. I didn't catch your name friend."
He then shakes Liam's hand.
"Well met Liam, I understand you offered an ingredient for the cure as well, good on ya! If you hadn't help stand up I mighta been sapped by that ruffian. If your from further in I'll want to pick our brain. I am looking for some former Dwarven sites in the forest."
Seeing 'Pay Day' and his ruffians leave, Naomi smiles at the sheriff, "Well, at least no one was hurt and we kept the medicine."
Turning she notices the Dwarf visibly relaxing and nearing, Taking the mans offered hand, she nods, first to the Dwarf "A pleasure, Helgrim, I'm Naomi. I think your little speech put 'Pay Day' over the edge. Nice work."
and then to the two humans. "Names Naomi, boys. Should we head in?"
Following along with Boggel, Naomi waits patiently until her amphibian friend introduces her to the lady of the house. "It's a pleasure Ma'am, is there anything we can do to help?"
Laurel scarcely has time to offer her own thanks, as a number of locals push their way inside with you and queue up to purchase medicine.
She hurriedly bounces between her workstation, where she mixes and measures out doses, and the shop counter to exchange them for a couple silver.
"If you're offering help, I could use some assistants for the day to handle sales. That'll actually give me time enough to prepare the medicine itself."
Her words are curt, but you attribute that to the lack of respite between the stress of the standoff and the stress of managing an onslaught of desperate customers.
"Well I thank you Naomi."
"Well, I guess we'd better get to distributin the medicine before we are interrupted again. I see why she has to charge, what kinda company tries to keep their people sick then charges em for it?"
Helgrim shakes is head.
"It just isn't efficient. I swear if I find what I'm lookin for I'll do something for this town."
The dwarf sets about getting people lined up and moving out in an orderly fashion to keep the crowd moving.
"Step on up here, let's get that medicine and get it down the gullets of those that need it." Helgrim says with a hearty jovial tone.
Smiling and shrugging, Naomi follows Helgrim to the countertop. "May as well help, Not like I don't know how to run a countertop." Looking around she asks some quick questions about quantities and prices and such. Then starts to help.
As they work, she looks at her new companions, "None of you boys look like the normal 'Hollow' residents, what brings you here?"
: "How silly of me. Boggel is my name."
: "You are correct. I am not a Hollow resident. Some of the children said Laurel might be in trouble. So I came to check on her. I've rarely been in the town before."
While he isn't going to be too much use in the actual "selling" of things, he quickly learns which items to fetch for Helgrim and Naomi as they deal with distribution.
Wulf takes off his hat and smiles with a slight bow to Naomi."I am Wulf, I own the farm outside town. Been allowing the residents to come draw water while the towns' well is out.Its nice to see others standing up to Pay Day for a change."
”I was figuring the illness was related to the water. The sawdust chokes it and makes for algae and fungus. I was workin on a way to filter the water actually.”
”By the way, how many men has he got Wulf?”
" The Consortium will give bonuses to some of the more roguish fellows to do deeds for them. They also have what seems to be the coin to spare. Either way Pay Day is not liked by many, and I doubt with no money or incentive they would fall away like chaff. All I know is I had to send them packing once when they thought they could strong air me into stopping my neighborly hospitality. I mean you wouldn't turn away the thirsty when you have enough water to spare. Besides I sell the locals some of my vegetables and meats, while the city gets the grain. " He says seeing one of the older women shaking and helps her by offering his arm to lean on.
"Good to see you Ms. River, Let me help you" He says with a wide smile, before he looks back at the others.
"Otherwise I am not one to do recon. I have two kids and a relative to look after.Otherwise, I would have done a bit more."
Not much for paperwork or money, Liam does his best to organize the lines so that the people flow in and out of the store efficiently.
When the others strike up a conversation, he says "I'm from farther into the forest, past where the Consortium's sway holds. Well, so far. My people have lived there a long time, while your 'civilization' gradually draws nearer. I came to see how the 'civilized' people live. So far, I can't say I'm impressed." he says with a shake of his head.
Boggel agrees with Liam. "I know what you mean. We may be called primitive, but we take care of the sick. Seems more civilized to me."
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Timothy does his best to help Miss Gebre, grabbing things that she needs and assessing basic symptoms before relaying that to the good doctor, as well as handling the sales with Naomi- but when he sees others beginning to step in and help, he finds an opportune time to slip away. Doesn't pay to be more visible than is necessary, and by the looks of it, she's got plenty of help. So he darts off at the first opportunity.
"Got to run," he quickly tells Naomi , before heading out the door with the line of people.
He quickly heads his house . As he does, he takes the long way home, stopping by the Corinth household as he does so. [i]Well, Milara, I'm trying. Did something stupid today, and it paid off. Don't know how much good it'll do- the Sheriff might have run off Pay Day, but I doubt that's going to last, and will probably provoke something worse- but we did it. People are being saved! That's progress, right? Well, goodnight- till tomorrow, we'll have work soon, I bet.[/ooc]"
And with that, he finishes his walk home.
'Well, we have a start, at least I'm not the only one willing to act for change.' Listening and nodding between customers she smiles and tells Boggel and the wanderer, "What you say is true, but with a little help they can change for the better."
'Time to start getting these men to stop thinking of themselves as individuals and to become part of the cause.'As the man with leather armor and a rapier announces he needs to leave, Naomi, deciding to go out on a limb, quickly asks, "Does Laurel or anyone here know where to reach you for when we need your help?"
'Need my help? Serious trouble? does he thing that much of himself?' Turning so no one else hears her she hisses, "Get this right, I'm no ones 'Sweets'!"
She discreetly pulls open her collar quickly revealing the Tattoo enhanced 'birthmark' on her shoulder Smirking slightly, "If you know this symbol, you know exactly what kind of trouble I intend to cause. The question is are you part of the solution or part of the problem? I'll leave word with Laurel where you can find me if you figure it out."
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Timothy has no idea what that symbol means (), but he gets the gist of what the woman intends.
Halfway to the door, he instead changes course, spins on his heel, and walks over to Naomi, grabbing her arm. His face is serious, and he's visibly upset in a way that contrasts the normally smiling man's features. Eyes are like stones, and his posture is stiff, uneven.
"Upstairs. Now."
'Well, I've got his attention.' Shifting slightly she keeps her body between the gentleman and the others in the shop so no one can see the altercation. Maintaining eye contact, she Reaches up and gently takes the upset mans hand in hers and lifts it off of her arm. "I will not be pawed at. Nor will I be going anywhere with you until you answer my simple question. Are you part of the problem here in ‘Falcons Hollow’ or are you part of the solution?"
'Poor man, I wonder who hurt him.' Giving the poor man a sad sympathizing smile, Naomi rests her hand on his shoulder. "You must not know what the symbol means if you think I'm silly or naïve. I am home. I will see a 'free hollow' or I will die here. When you make up your mind, come speak to me."
She turns and continues working the counter for Laurel with Boggel and friends.
vs DC 22
The crowd seems largely disinterested in Naomi and Timothy's whispered conversation. One or two people turn a curious eye, but their grinning leers suggest that they believe it to be nothing but a doomed flirtation.
No one seems to take any notice when Naomi surreptitiously reveals her birthmark to Timothy, either.
Like you, he sees the Lumber Consortium as a parasite upon the people of Falcon's Hollow. However, unlike you, he seems to firmly believe that there is nothing to be done - that he, you, and everyone inside this shop are powerless against their corruption.
Smiling, Naomi gestures at the service counter, "I work for Brickasnurd Hildrinsocks at The Goose and Gander. We have many wares that may interest you, drop by anytime he is open. I will assist you the best I can."
Turning to the farmer with the staff and the Dwarf "The disease being related to the water. That's a good observation how would be go about verifying that idea?"
"Well, you could ask the woman treating the disease," Laurel calls sarcastically before hissing and cursing in a strange language.
After shaking her burned fingertips, she grabs a thick, padded mitt to retrieve a boiling decanter on the stove and continues mixing medicine.
"At first I didn't guess that it was the damned Blackscour since I've never heard of that good-for-nothing fungus being found around here. Once more and more people began coming in with the same symptoms, though, it was hard to miss."
She interrupts her explanation with some more Sylvan grumbling as a dangling sachet of dried herbs bumps against her head.
"Even though I'm no doctor, everyone expects me to diagnose every little sniffle, that and treat every scabbed knee and stubbed toe. Anyhow, once I had my suspicion, I asked Sheriff Baleson to check Brookman's Well, and sure enough, the fungus was growing along the stones and getting into the water. We quarantined the well to prevent new infections, but much of the damage was done."
Helgrim elbows Wulf and hooks a thumb and a wink at the two young people in a gentle tug-o-war near the stairs.
Heh heh, spring fever, ain’t no easy cure fer that..”
When he is addressed by Naomi and listening to laurel he becomes more serious.
”Water and waste becomes the biggest problem for all towns, cities and civilizations. Most of your illnesses can be tracked to one or the other or at least linked to it, like rats, fester pools, bacterial growths and so on. Makes sense that’s why Teedum wants Wulf’s source for his own, I’m betting it’s clean.”
”Besides, it’s the one thing all the sick people have in common. The ones that get their water from another source aren’t sick.”
”The question is, was it due to the conditions the well was contaminated? Or was it caused on purpose? I could see that bastard Kreed doin it to make gold. People will pay for their lives and will give theirs to save their loved ones. Did he want people to enter into eternal servitude in exchange for the cure? Heh, if people are in debt on paper you don’t have to pay’em in silver.”
Wulf helped a lot of the other elderly or clearly weak forward to get the medicine. He kept his ears open and nodded as Laurel Spoke.
"Yeah my well is clear. The kids have checked it and I check it before I settle in for the evening, and in the morning before I begin my morning rounds. Not sure about the river." Wulf says before he turns to look at the others.
"I wouldn't put it past Kreed and some of his associates to do such a thing or at least cover it up. It makes them a profit as I doubt their water supply is affected and can charge people for it." Wulf says with disgust as he grips his staff tightly his knuckles going white.
"I have not encountered any trouble with water from the river. But I'm not sure I have the same, ummm, what's the word... weakness? to this disease." He shakes his head.
’She’s right, I should have asked her.’ Rolling her eyes a little, Naomi calls back over her shoulder. ”Your right, I should have asked you. So if it’s blackscour fungus causing this how do we kill the fungus so the people can use the well again?”
”I’m glad to hear you know what to look for to guarantee your well is clear. As for Kreed, I wouldn’t put anything for a profit past him.”
Turning to Boggel, she asks, ”Does the river have any Blackscour fungus growing near it?”
Asking in general, ”I’m not even sure what the fungus looks like, Ms. Laurel when were done here, should we go to the well so you can show us what the fungus looks like?”
"Yes, Miss, I would hate for my well to get infected and leave the city without any source of water aside from the river. And if it was Kreed who got his hand on the wells I will make sure he knows not to do it again. "He said as he looks to Laurel.
"Besides Ms. Gerbe told me what to look for"
"Wulf, you know this town's dynamics. What do you think is going to happen next? You ran Teedum and his boys off out of town, but now we faced him down in public with his new hired swords. I would not put it past him take care of you or yours out in the sticks. You got any kin or neighbors out there watchin your back?"
”Uh, Boggel, are your kind common around here? I have to be honest I’ve never encountered someone like you before. Back in the first edition days of my life I came across bullywugs, but they were larger, like lizard men.”
"It's just me My sister and the kids."He says as he looks over to Boggel and raises an eyebrow.
"Boggel is it...I have ta say you are the first frogman I have ever seen? Kinda feel bad for those times I ate Frog Legs"
Boggel snickers. "We are not common in this area. It is unlikely you would have met many of my kind. We are grippli. Do not feel bad, Wulf. I have eaten many frogs myself."
Several long, crowded hours are spent in the shop, aiding Laurel endure the onrush of customers.
The smell of burnt earth and spicy incense chokes the air of the cramped, mud-tracked shop.
Bunches of dried herbs hang from the ceiling, along with dangling pots, presses,alchemical apparatuses, and glassware of more arcane purposes. Pouches of rare plants, jars of colored glass, and all manner of dried, preserved, and jellied animal parts fill high shelves and tables doing double duty as displays and workspaces.
A slew of worn, weathered faces parade themselves through the shop. Some are impatient and stressed, but most are very grateful, and a rare glint of happiness appears in many eyes.
Without your help, Laurel might have been working well into the night, but instead, the line is finished by lunchtime.
With a heavy, relieved sigh, she passes five silver to each of you who stayed to help.
"Perhaps now I can finally get some..." her words are cut off by a mighty yawn, almost too big for such a rail-thin woman. She curses in Sylvan before continuing. "Anyhow, this may not be much to you folks, but it's not every day I can afford to hire on any kind of assistance."
The Dwarf takes the coins and looks at them.
"Ma'am, normally I wouldn't take this, but I am almost broke and I figure I had better have a few coins on me in this town. I've been staying over at Jak's place if you need me. I met splint, but you all are about the only other people I know in town besides that lady at the other inn I met on the way into town."
'Five silver, that's a small fortune in this town.' Reching her hand out, accepting the silver. "Thank you Laurel, Now that your day is done why don't you join me, I mean us. I'm meeting my boss at the Jak-a-Napes to have Pancakes."
She turns to her new friends. "That includes all of you, forget frog legs! Since we have a little silver in our pockets we should celebrate with pancakes and maple syrup." Her smile widens. "Or honey if you prefer."
She winks conspiratorially "Maybe we can figure out what to do to help the town."
”I was thinking ale, stout or dwarvish spirits, but pancakes will do in a pinch.”
Naomi smiles, "I'm pretty sure Jak-a-Napes serves ale as well. While were there you can introduce me to him. I hear he's quite the story teller."
'It wouldn't hurt to have a few friends to turn into co-conspiritors.' Naomi, putting on her best smile, looks expectantly around the room at the others. "Come on Boys! What could go wrong?"
”Boggel, do you drink? You should join us. Heh, I’m interested to hear what story’s are being told at the bar tonight. And you there, Tim is it? We didn’t really get to meet. Do you work here at the shop?”
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Boggel drops his coins into a small belt pouch. He looks curiously at Helgrim. "Don't all creatures drink? Dehydration is a serious issue. I am glad to join you. But first, please, what it a 'pan cake?'"
"You are too kind Laurel, but keep it, I'll be needen some of those salves later, doubt the bugs will be any less numerous than last year. So me livestock will need some of them to stave off infection. Besides you know me I wouldn't let you pay me if it were platinum" He said with a earnest smile before he looked at the dwarf and the woman.
"Well I have missed a day of work already might aswell get a stiff drink before I head home. My sister is suppose to be making fired potatoes and chicken with the halfling herbs. Still a drink sounds lovely" He says as he walks after them.
"And I'll buy my treat"
'This will be fun, how do I explain it.' As they begin to walk Naomi explains to Boggel, "A pancake is breakfast heaven, but if you mean what's in one: it's a mixture of ground wheat which we call flour, sugar, eggs preferably chicken ones, milk and a little baking powder. You mix it all up and pour it on a hot skillet. The ingredients are similar to the ones used in cake and since it's cooked in a pan their called 'Pan Cakes'" Her smile widens. "But the best part is you get to cover them with butter and sweet maple syrup or honey." She stops for a moment, turning. "I guess you could put BOTH honey and Syrup on them, but that might be a little TOO sweet."
Turning to Wulf she frowns placing her hands on her hips. "I'm not used to letting a man I've just met but me a drink." She then winks and continues walking toward the inn.
Hooking her arm with Boggels. "Come Boggel, we will introduce you to 'pancakes' and then their cousin 'Ale'."
"That's' wise, but I said a drink. If you can't handle just one little drink, then My dear you might reconsider the whole drinking thing" He said with a chuckle as he began to follow whistling afterwards.
Why not? Perhaps it’s good food that makes ‘civilization’ so appealing. Liam thinks, before following the rest to the pancake house.