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Knowledge(local):
Kailee looks from one orc to the other and back, trying to recall what she knows about trolls.
Tr . . tr . . trolls? Big? Green? REALLY ugly? Have a tendency to heal real fast? Um, well, I have never seen one. I think fire or acid slows the healing. My bombs are mostly fire. I don't know how to make them acid. Um . . She thinks for a bit. But, I can easily make flasks of acid. Not as good as a bomb, but should keep trolls from healing. Acid is pretty easy to make and anyone can throw a flask pretty easy. I have some stuff in my pack, but would need to order more reagents to make much. Probably costs about 5 gold per flask.
"Yeah. Those things. If your bombs are fire, that will be sufficient." he states simply. "And don't worry. With our luck, you'll get to see one soon enough."
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" HAHA! That was the best fight! Though if we had run that would have ended in a few deaths at least. We slaughtered them to the last! " Sugua drew a Greatsword in a demonstration of the swing to emphasize his point. He rests the blade on his shoulder.
" Hrm, I guess I should tell you my name. Sugua Bran't, I've been showing these ones the way it works out here. Try not to be too green and you should be fine. I have to admit, this pinkskin sounds like she knows a thing about monsters. Where did the short one go? "
Oleg seemed to have noticed the groups return at last and exits from his house his arms spread wide, Trent at his side, "Haha! Welcome back friends! You were gone so long I was beginning to fear the worse."
"Not that I had much time to ponder it with all this fresh blood. I'm going to have to add on to this place soon or all the new arrivals will be sleeping under the stars."
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Miro hopped up on to the table, beside his lute, and carefully fitted the instrument back in to its hard case again, before closing the clasps and setting it down gently. He pulled his crossbow in to his lap and began to clean every inch of it till the metal gleamed. When this was done, he pulled a cloth from his pocket and began to polish the darkwood handle also.
'Now that I don't have to travel like a simple Minstrel any more, you'll see some proper use girl, don't worry!'
He pulled the cartridge to him and tested the spring, before applying a little oil and filling it with bolts. He tested the catch and the trigger next, before fitting the box and slipping on the safety, making sure the arms wouldn't draw, unless he removed the latch.
'Soon!'
"The short one is right here... Though he prefers the name Miro, or the title 'Bard'!"
" Ha! If I died it would have to be in a glorious battle! I'm surprised the Trading Post is in one piece, we ransacked Kressle pretty hard and she didnt have many places to go. I'd think she would have tried to use you all as hostages or somethin'. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that.. she got away. "
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Suddenly realizing that she has not introduced herself, Kailee looks at the large orc that just introduced himself. Was it Sugar? No, Suga? She is not sure.
Um. The small woman begins to twiddle her thumbs nervously. I'm Kailee. Kailee Daikov from Restov. I . . . I have spent my life but a few miles north of here, but never dreamed of coming south until the Swordlords' recent proclamation. Um . . . She continues to think. Oh, monsters. Um, yeh, I . . . I have read a few books on monsters. But, mostly I have studied magic and magical monsters. And, um, about nature. She pauses again. Yeh, um, those are what I am best at. Sure, I know a little about demons and devils and goblins and orcs and oozes and . . . and . . . and lots of other stuff. Pretty much anything in a library in Restov, I have read.
Sitting quietly in the corner, Zel takes in the groups arrival, noting they look about as bad as she did just yesterday. they look like they've been through hell, and one I'm, only too acquainted with
Finally rising, Zel removes the hood of her cloak and makes her way over to the gathering throng. With the hood down, it is easy to see the bags under her eyes, and the healing marks of small bruises and scratches on her face and arms.
Did someone ask for a healer? If you would allow me to travel with you across these lands, I can offer you what healing the goddess sees fit to grant me.
"Aah. One if you IS a healer...and others of you have healing abilities, whether focused or not. Good. Trust me, you'll be receiving much practice in getting better at it." he states simply.
His piece said, he looks over to Sugua. "Anything else we need to handle? The Lands aren't going to rescue themselves. Do we need to return to Kressle's camp or should we continue our mapping?"
and who is Kressle? When I was captured by bandits, I think I may have heard that name.
Alphonse quietly listens to the banter of his friends that he has chosen to stick by and yet more newcommers. it seems these lands to really chew people up and spit people out. He had hopes for vlad and the others to make a new home here, safe for the common folk but they gave up when progress was still in the making.
Alphonse found a seat and caught Sugua's attention when he found a moment "How attached should i really become of these newcommers, seems this land is taking people and and spitting them out just as i think we are getting somewhere, im glad at least to see you and Khargol have stuck about, you give me faith that this land will have peace in it in time, if perhaps with a strict rulership at its head"
Alphonse takes a seat and rests his weary legs, taking the time to remove his armor and clean it, the mithril shirt being quite valuable he wants to ensure proper care so as to help it last. His wings lightly rustle in the winds of the outdoor space in the camp and Alphonse lets his thoughts drift to thought of how the others are fairing, after dealing with the bandit camp he was so disheartened when he heard their decition to leave. his glowing eyes drift skyward and he wonders if these newcommers will bond just as easily as he had with them. and it seems his crush on Durielle had gone unrequited. you are young still Alphonse, perhaps love may still yet be in your path, one day perhaps
Sugua looks over alot of the newbies and snorts, " The Waif is smart, Milo there has an interesting weapon and a healer.. aren't we in luck! HAHA! "
He looks to the tired looking female Human, " What's the catch with your healing, what god do you praise? "
His attention going to Khargol, " I'd say explore a bit, especially since I dont know if any of these whelps could live against a bear. besides we need alcohol to poison and I aint seigin' the Stag Lord's base without knowing the help is ready "
He looks back to the Waif, " Well Pinksin Kailee, we do have a map of sorts, its bein' made by us. But we also have some things we didnt know before, you might want ta' look at it. "
Looking to the priest once more, " How could you not know who Kressle is.. I think she is the number 2 person in the Green Belt. If some Bandits didn't take advantage of you it was because of her.. she's pretty brutal but ran from us! Makes my wound itch! "Sugua chuckles at that.
Eventually the questions die down and Alphonse speaks to him. Sugua's smile dims somewhat as he takes time to think on it. He folds his muscled arms over his chest and then grins once more. He pats Alphonse heavily on the back " Don't get attached ta anybody.. you never know when they might die or betray you the next! But don't worry, we'll make this place good and boring soon enough. As far as Leadership, that will come later t those who survive! "
The halfling sighed, before shaking his head and looking up at the Half-Orc. "Miro. It is Miro. I'd spell it but I don't think it would help. It is pronounced Mere-oh. Mere as in 'Your brain is MEREly ballast implanted in your head, so your ego doesn't knock you off balance' and Oh as in 'OH f#*@, what is this bolt doing lodged in my throat?" He smiled at the Half-Orc, raising his mug of ale to his lips and taking a sip. "Savvy, Suga-t+@~?"
"But I jest, of course. A little light hearted banter between soon to be colleagues. You need people and all I need is the common decency provided to tall people. So how about it? How about we work together then?"
Sugua stares at the little bard for a moment... Before laughing loudly, " HAHA! You have some spunk! Alright then Mere-o, you show me something to respect and I'll give you that but, so far I havent seen anything you all can do. How Do I know you can even fire that mini-crossbow? "
Miro frowns for a second before slamming the magazine home grinning. "Give me the time and the target and I promise I'll hit my mark." He hopped down off of the table before yawning and stretching.
"When are we away?"
"When are we away?"
Maekrix slams back the last half of his drink. "Soon, I hope." He grins and belches.
Sugua taps his sword against his neck, " Calm down there Mere-o. I love to fight, actually I think I and everyone here LIVES to fight. However, we sort of transported quite a group back here, so likely we aint leavin till tomorrow. "
"Tomorrow it is! Let's seal the deal with drinks and cards!" He takes out a worn deck and waves for another round.
Sugua sits down hard next to the Hammer user and looks at him, " You're on, but dont use it as an excuse if you fall on your Blade the next day! Hrmm I havent had anyone alive to play cards n a while HAHA! "
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Miro grins, grabbing his drink and moving over to the table with the two men. He arches an eyebrow, as if to ask 'May I?', before reaching for the cards and picking them up, looking at them. Miro studied the cards for a moment longer, before beginning to shuffle them with one hand, cutting, splitting and shuffling the deck with a grin on his face.
"Wow. A real game of cards in a Tavern. I have only heard of such things in tales..."
"Anyone fancy playing a few hands for some silver maybe...?"
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Kailee looks confused for a minute when Sugua asks what the new comers are capable of.
Um. Well. I . . . um. I can show some of what I can do.
Assuming that Sugua and the others follow her. Kailee walks outside, and as she is doing so, takes out a small amount of some chemical from her pouch. Pointing at a rock about 40' away, she takes aim and causally tosses the ball of chemicals at the stone. When it strikes, there is an immense explosion of sound and flames which engulfs the stone leaving it scorched and the strands of straw and hay in the vicinity smoking and burning on the ground.
Turning back to Sugua, she smiles.
I am small. But, I don't think your bear would like my toys.
She then returns to the tavern, smiling smugly and ignoring the neighing of untrained horses as they strain at their halters from the explosion that just occurred.
Sugua enjoys a friendly game or two observing the halfling wistfully.
Sugua scratches his chin a bit as his tusks show " You know more than you act little mere-o, but your technique is pretty good. I'll throw some coin to you in a little bit, I just need to get going in a few games first. I'll play a few games for plunder after seeing what Pinkskin Kailee is on about. "
He laughs playing a few pick up games before taking Kailee on her demonstration. As she goes back in Sugua clamps her firmly on the shoulder.. " YOU... I Think I like HAHA! All that timid acting and it comes with an explosive package, GREAT! I'll make sure to give you ripe targets to burn! "
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"Perhaps some other time I will take you up on your offer, Miro. I am no fan of games of chance myself..at least, not this evening. Especially not if Sugua is playing. If he's half as good at playing cards as he is swinging that sword, you'll be lucky to walk out of here with the hair on your feet, halfling." Khargol replies, looking to Sugua with a slight grin.
As it always seems to be when the group finds time away from the constant worry of death, the night fades quickly and soon into morning.
The Greenbelt is serene in the gray hours of dawn as they usually are, belying their hostile nature.
As the newly formed group gathers their equipment together and checks over their supplies that Oleg and Trent are piling up for them, a black mass begins to emerge from the treeline from the south of Oleg's.
In the morning haze, it looks like a horse, but too wide and it appears to have fur.
Sugua looks at the beast and squint his white eyes before smiling, " Well if it isn LONGFANG! Where's Kressle!? " He yells.
Miro grabs his crossbow and moves forward to stand beside Sugua, staring out at the large creature. "We have a visitor, and I gather you know him? Does he need to be introduced to the point end of our weapons?"
The large beast coming ever closer seems to hear Miro's words and unmistakably begins to laugh, "Heh haha, try it dumpling, I'd snatch you up and eat you whole before anyone could so much as say otherwise."
Sugua starts balancing his sword on his shoulder and calls out once more, " Whoa Whoa now, don't get too close. What are ya doin' Here? I know you're smart enough not to just attack when you ran from your own camp. Gotta be serious. "
"Big talk from a talking mutt. Come over here and have a go, if you feel up to it!" Miro grins viciously, clicking the safety on his crossbow to off. Sure, it didn't do the most damage, but he wasn't nothing but support anyway. He didn't need to do damage, just to inspire it.
The Worg stops some fifty feet from the post's walls and sits down.
"Kressle requests a meeting."
The worg cocks his head to the side, clearly confused by the Halflings death wish.
Sugua places his hand on the Miro's Shoulder, " Hey you know Longfang here is known to bite a full grown man in half right? If you're up for it, have fun HAHA! " Sugua playfully almost pushing him forward.
" A meeting with all of us? Lemme Tellya' I'm not one to walk into ambushes. So ya have to tell me more here, what does she want to meet about and where? "
If the worg could shrug his shoulders, you'd imagine he would do so.
"Eh. Come, or don't. I don't care either way, we've waited long enough for you to trek back to here. But this will be the only attempted meeting. Otherwise the next time I see the Halfling, it will be in his tent."
Maekrix tilts his head curiously, resting his earthbreaker on his shoulder. "Not even into the woods and I already see something new. I'd shake your hand if I thought it wise." He grins.
Miro yawns at the threat, taking a step forward and giving the Worg the middle finger. "Jog on furry. I ain't afraid of the Lady of the Grave calling my name. I've lived clean and I'll die clean. Can you say the same? How will you be weighed when the end comes?" He grinned, shrugging and turning his back on Longfang.
"Nice day for it."
Sugua scratches his head, he had extensive knowledge of the woman from combat, 2nd hand information and past experiences from other bandits. Kressle was relatively... straightforward. He sighed. The fact she waited the entire time was a nail in the coffin.
" Okay, Right now? "
"Not afraid of death, eh? I see...I see.."
Longfang stands up, "The Orcs here have an understanding with me that the halfling has yet to earn. I wonder, does the one who claims not to fear the jaws of death, feel so strongly about a life without hands?"
"Disfigurement is quite possibly my second most favorite activity."
"I'm done being taunted by my lessers, come now, or don't." Lonfang turns and begins to head back to the treeline.
Miro moves down to where his gear sits, taking a second to finish stocking his pack, before slipping it grimly on to his back and turning to await the groups decision.
'I do quite like my hands. It would be a bother to play the lute!'
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Throughout the discussion between the worg and the party, including the small halfling's rather overwrought bravado, Kailee stands quietly.
When the creature turns to leave, she turns to the others.
Strange. I know that worgs are intelligent, but they are also known for being evil, despotic and controlling. In addition, they will betray their own if they believe it will work to their advantage.
How do you know this creature, and who is Kressel? What do you know of this woman? Is there some manner in which we should prepare to meet her? Or, should we avoid her altogether?
Khargol gives a low, quiet sigh as the worg turns to leave. "Abadar's scales..." he mutters in a low voice, then looks to Sugua. "I am loathe to work with, or even leave to their own devices, vermin like Kressle, though I suppose the saying does go that there's no honor among thieves...and we did get back here without being attacked at all..."
"Fine. There are bigger fish to fry here than Kressle and Longfang; as dangerous as they are, the Stag Lord is certainly moreso. The very fact that we made it back here without even a ride-by attack from them is, I suppose, testament enough to their sincerity. If they were after vengeance for our assault on their encampment it would've been much safer to do so while we were on the way back here, weakened and tired, than after we'd rested and found new companions for our quest."
Khargol steps out from the rest, though he draws his longsword as he does, keeping it and his shield in hand, just in case. "What say you, Sugua? We can bring the others up to speed on the way."
Sugua had cocked his head back and forth to that question it seemed. He made a grimace that then became a smile as he started moving forward after the Worg, that was his answer he supposed. " Well, it SHOULD be fun at least. She ain't got any allies and She knows at least one of us can hurt her if it comes to blows. Longfang would be a great fight anyway. Really we don't have much to lose. Among the Bandits, she was like.. a leader? If she would have slayed that child-predator from before... can't be the worst. At least no worse than me HAHA! "
Sugua catches up to Longfang, " So, She must have talked about us a great deal to want to talk. "
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Despite her short stature, Kailee hustles along behind the tall orc, wondering what type of insanity she has gotten herself into.
We are following a talking worg and planning on meeting with a bandit leader? Perhaps I am crazy.
As she proceeds south with the rest of the group, her mind is continuously running as she seeks to determine what the outcome of this will be. A fight? Evil allies? An alliance? A truce? She has no idea, so her thoughts continue to stretch across the realm of reality, and into the mystical world of the arcane and divine.
Sugua gives a glance back at the one known a Kailee. Just from looking at her he could tell she was thinking about this a great portion. Simply being new to this land and the way you went about things out here.
" Hey, I know what you are thinking, why talk to this bandit? Especially with Longfang there? Well it's because there is more reason we can use each other... and they know a fight isnt worth the trouble, sad as that is. Another thing there Pinkskin-Kailee, If'n you didn't realize.. I was once a bandit. And there hasnt been anything yet that's survived if I planned on killing it. So stick close and you should be fine. "
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Bailee looks up at the taller orc, even more confused following his acknowledgement of formerly being a bandit.
A bandit. Can one truly leave such a way of life behind? Becoming a bandit requires in effect disavowing the rights of others. Has he realized that goodness and understanding the rights of others is the goal? Or, is he simply using these forays into the Stolen Lands as a means to make his own bandit tribe?
Suddenly realizing that she still has not responded, Kailee looks up at Sugua:
Um . . . sorry. You were a bandit? Why are you not a bandit still? Did you choose to change or were you forced? Do you wish to simply replace the lawless land that this is with a bandit kingdom such as those in the River Kingdoms to the south?
You can almost see the confusion as the small human seeks knowledge, while also simultaneously attempting to discern how to overlay her sense of values and morals into the group she seems to have joined.
Maekrix shrugs. "I used to be in a pretty dark line of work too. People change."