Having retired well before the males who had continued their drinking and discussion into the evening, Durielle awakens early before the dawn and spends some time strolling on the walkway surrounding the fort palisade. Looking out into the foggy morning before the sun's rays begin to bring their light, Durielle contemplates the visions she sees formed from the mist of time. As usual when doing so, Durielle becomes unaware of how much physical time is passing, and it flows around her like a river.
Durielle realizes that Morgrym has joined her in her circumambulating, and he seems to have fallen into her step and is almost in a walking trance intoning words in a chant-like fashion. She smiles at him and places a pale slender hand on his shoulder even as his presence reassures her that she has made the correct choice in striking out on this venture far from anything she has ever known. Having never been exposed to the racial tensions between their peoples, Durielle is oblivious to how odd this may appear to the others, a dwarf and an elf walking together seemingly in harmony.
She once again lets her mind slip out of time and tries to make sense of the visions and the all the possibilities that come before her. One day she would be able to understand, one day.
Upon completion of his prayers, Durielle chooses to descend back into the fort with Morgrym, and assists Svetlana (despite her protests) with the preparation of breakfast. Durielle tries to goad Angor into helping since the half-orc seems very knowledgeable when it comes to the bear meat. Durielle also attempts to engage Tomas in a discussion of recipes and spices as she believes there is some interest in such things inside him. Durielle is sad to discover that the visions of Thessk vanishing into the night were true after all. But not letting that bring her down, she takes solace in the sense of camaraderie that seems to be filling her fellow explorers.
The sun's light diffuses through the fog creating an ambiance of mystery as the world outside the fort-turned-trading post becomes hazy. Oddly, Durielle sees this as a good omen since it is these times the world feels as does her vision, and good things always seem to come on days like this. Soon a figure appears, and the others muster at the gates while Vladimir and Morgrym go to investigate. Almost not knowing why, Durielle follows them, her step so light she feels as if her feet are almost floating through the fog.
As Vladimir proclaims his recognition, Durielle recalls the man's laughing face as well.
"Donovan! How lovely to see you out here in this place of danger and adventure," Durielle exclaims with a bright smile. As the man looks at her in astonishment and slight confusion, realization comes to her.
"Oh my!" she says as her hand reflexively raises to her mouth. "We haven't yet become acquainted have we? Forgive my forward behavior. I have been gifted with the power of foresight. At times, I forget at which point in my memory I am."
A gentle rose color suffuses her pale features. "I am Durielle Omenstar, and I was just recently examining some possible futures of which you were already a well established comrade among our band of explorers. Please be welcome here to Oleg's trading post here in the Stolen Lands."
Vladimir laughs following Donovan's knight comment, "Well, I don't know about dashing, but I'll take the compliment. As to your question about the Charter, yes we are the group that was chartered. So, what caused your delay, friend? We left Restov two days ago." Vladimir says as the group returns to Oleg's gates.
Calling out to the combative half-orc at the gate, Vladimir says "Sugua! Everything is fine! He has a charter and is just running a bit behind. Sorry, you will have to wait until later for a fight."
Donovan chuckles at Vladimir. "Remember, the ford a day back, with the run going through the stand of elms?" he asks. "I, uh, took the wrong fork in the road."
He gives a strong smile to the other folk who approach. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances," he says. As each person is introduced, he gives a firm handshake, looks into the eyes of his new companion, and repeats the name introduced. He gives the impression of giving complete focus upon each person in turn.
At Durielle's introduction, he is momentarily puzzled, but seems to recover quickly. "My lady Durielle, I shall endeavor to become the good friend that you have clearly foreseen me as."
To Khargol he replies, "That is good news indeed. I hope that we can, together, forge a bright future for this wild place."
Holding his helm under his arm, he surveys the ramshackle fort. "So . . . how do we begin?"
"Not with the fort, Donovan. Quite a lot happened yesterday that you must be informed of if you are to join our party." he says, quickly giving Donovan a summary of the previous day's massacre of eight bandits coming to extort Oleg and Svetlana and the information they learned from Trent about the nearby cache of bear traps, the hive of kobolds and mites, and the intermediary bandit camp just over two days out.
"I'm of the mind that we should try to locate the kobolds or mites first, myself. They've proven unfriendly to other travelers in the region and I'm more concerned for teeth and claws that can walk around than those attached to a stake in the ground."
" HAHAHA! That just means he gets to live, doesnt look much in a fight either, muscles are there, but thats about it! " Sugua sheathes his chakram and grins as the man came in. " So you are Donovan and you know that stuffed-shirt? I assume your city-raised as well eh? Based on how lost you looked. "
The morning sees to be starting on a good note, Morgrym followed Durielle on a peaceable walk through the fort in the quiet piece that is the early hours when the world still wakes and now a new ally joins them to replace the one that seems to have vanished in the night.
Meeting Donovan's gaze Morgrym is happy to have another friendly face "Good mornin to ya lad, no shame in gettin lost, happens to the best of us, As Khargol says there is much work to be done, and we hadnt really settled on a place to start yet, though Thomas is interested in visiting an alchemist that lives to the east as far as we are told. we could start by securing allies in this harsh land i think, wouldnt be an awful use to the day."
"Yes, Thomas did say he wished to visit the apothecary first...no harm in it. I shouldn't think it would take long to see if he is in and, if he is, see what aid we may secure from him. There is wisdom in being as prepared as possible before heading into danger."
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It takes the party several hours to locate Bokken's despite Trent's notes. But eventually they come across an old cottage in the early afternoon that they can only assume must belong to the old hermit.
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After the several hours of searching Morgrym is happy to see the cottage they can only assume belongs to Bokken "Finally, perhaps we should have asked for better directions from Trent, ah well at least we found the place. Thomas, you were most eagar to to visit the man perhaps ye can introduce us all to him?"
Donovan adjusts his helmet and says idly, "What exactly do we know about this fellow? Seems to be a rather remote location, the kind of place where someone . . . well, doesn't want to be bothered by other people." He shrugs a bit, adjusting the weight distribution of his armor.
Sugua sighed, seemed nothing happened along the way but the cottage he had to admit was strange indeed. " Well, He's crazy, We know that. And if he can live out here by himself, he isnt exactly a pushover. " The Half orc smiled somewhat, looking to the rest as they seemed to be adjusting themselves to the area.
" Maybe if we can get on his good side we can get some DRINKS HAHA! "
At Sugua's laughter comes a light glowing blue vial out of the cottage window. It heads directly at Sugua but lands a few feet short, showering everyone's boots in a layer of frost.
The ground at the center of the vials impact is frozen solid in ice, whatever it was that was just thrown at you is probably best avoided.
It's a Vial of liquid ice.
After the haze of the blast clears you hear a bunch of swearing coming from the cottage,and the clinking of glass.
"Get out of here you damnededed babdits or I'll freeze the lot of ya!"
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Seeing no need to wait for introducing themselves, Khargol steps forward and raises his voice loud enough to be heard from within the structure.
"Hail, alchemist! Is anyone home?"
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As the ice strikes the ground near Sugua he feels a cooling sensation, the breeze refreshes the half-orc after his long walk.
" Bandits?! We ain't Bandits.. Though we just killed some fer Oleg! HAHAH! Nice Toss Old man! "
Before speaking, Vladimir thinks to himself, Hopefully this doesn't lead to more than a bit of ice being lobbed our direction...
Calling out to the hut, Vladimir says, "Greetings, Bokken. Trent told us of your existance back at Oleg's Trading Post. If at all possible, we would like to ask you about the region, and perhaps even purchase some of your wares if that is something you would be willing to discuss."
Khargol makes a sound of surprise when the vial comes flying out of the hut toward them, landing near Sugua and sending a painfully cold chill through the air.
"Would bandits come to your door and announce themselves, alchemist?! We are no thieves! We are come on charter from Restov to solve the bandit problem and sought your aid and counsel in completing our mission!"
Angor starts the day getting back to basics. After yesterday's failures he was ready to start fresh and ready. He wakes early and, clad only in a pair pants, he practices in any open space he can find. First is some warm up exercises, basic cardio to get the blood moving. Then he picks up his axe and begins to move through forms he was taught at a young age. Then he shadow fits, aptly making his shadow Sugua, who has proven to be the most martially adept person here so far. He then moves to the tribal dances the War Chanters use to inspire those around them into a frenzy. For now it is just the physical moves, no chant, no magic. The magic comes after but it is the weaker ones. Magic to fascinate children and simple folk. The more powerful stuff needs to be saved for actual emergencies.
When Durielle comes asking for help with breakfast, he is happy to oblige. And as a sign of peace, he offers some of the bear meat to Oleg and Svetlana seeing as no one has laid claim to it. The rest of it is turned into jerky for field rations. The dried meat should last them a while.
He doesn't have the time to say anything to new comer when he arrives but some of the others seem to know him so he says nothing. It is the same when they reach Bokken's. He readies his weapon but does nothing overtly aggressive. He wasn't really interested in alchemy but potions could be useful.
" HAHAHA! He sounds old and senile, so wouldn't it make sense for him to just attack the nearest thing. And he was pretty darn close to hitting me.. If I were one of those sheep from the Trading Post he might have been able to drop me. Too bad I ain't. To be fair the bandits did so to Oleg from before.. " Sugua shrugs.
Tomas steps out and calls to the man in the hut.
"Greetings Bokken the Alchemist. I am Tomas von Achiel of Silverhall. We are not bandits, but wish to speak with you. I am unarmed and wear no armour, but am a wizard. We have been sent from Restov and are staying with Oleg and Svetlana at the Trading Post. May I come forward and speak with you?"
Durielle is just as surprised as anyone when the ice bomb hits the ground.
"I...I didn't foresee that at all," she says softly, slightly embarrassed.
Sugua laughs louder and slaps Durielle heavily on the back, it isnt softened at all for her . " But you see things all the time right!? Isnt it interesting not knowing when something happens!? That's what life is out here, you life day by day never knowing if the next moment is your Last! FUN isnt it?! "
Sugua crosses his arms " Heh, there will even be times where I don't strike my opponent down! There may even be time I lose, though It's rare... its all in the experience! "
The strike is only softened due to the half-orc having to reach up to where Durielle sits on Whisper. It still knocked the wind out of her however.
She glares at the slayer, but the hit loosened something up, and she coughs violently. She turns to one side and expectorates a bloody fluid into the grass.
Bokken replies to Tomas, "Not babdits eh!? I don't believe you! You're unarmed and not armored as a trap, clearly you're the strongest of the bunch. You want me to let you inside so you can over power old Bokken, we'll I won't let you."
"If you actually need something of me you say it from there while I look for more things to throw at you."
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Morgrym sees Durielle cough up the blood and addresses Sugua in a polite tone on her beghalf "Sugua its true your a strong one physically but as you can see Durielle clearly is not, she can contribute in many ways but if you exacerbate her condition she may be of no help to anyone, use whatever words you like with her but please be more gental with yer hands"
Morgrym hoping to diffuse the situation speaks up and addresses Bokken "We be needin nothing specific from ya kind sir, we come in look of allies or at least a professional in the area who will accept coin for his services should we need them. We hear tell your an alchemist and from the vial you threw that seems certain. as was told we are here to retake this region from the various miladies that hold it and ever bit of help is appreciated. in the name of peace i offer to come to you both unarmed and unarmored to show we mean no harm. will you at least let one of us in to talk with you?"
Donovan says sotto voce, "Perhaps we should ask if he'd prefer if we just stay out here and talk to him for a while from a distance."
Rather than muddle the situation further by shouting more, he moves over near Durielle and offers her a kerchief. He looks up to address her, saying quietly, "I gather this is a recurring problem for you. I doubt that I have the skills to ease your condition, but if the day should ever arrive when I can do so, I shall try to help."
Tomas waits to see how Bokken reacts to the dwarf before he speaks further.
Sugua arched a brow and thought on it, " Well that's conflictin' The way I saw it she didn't like us all acting like she was a dainty flower. She's an Elf I know they have their pride and I don't know how long she's had it. She said she didnt want to e a burden so treating her too differently wouldn't e fair. So I thought not to disrespect that and treat her like I would anyone else I enjoy being around. Sorry if it was TOO Hard. It's hard bein' gentle. " Sugua breathed out , his face contorting as if to hide something as he turns his back to them
" Damn, Doesn't seem like this old man is backin' down. This might take a while.. "
At Morgyrm's word the house goes quiet, before an assault of vials comes out the windows, landing all over the yard, setting things on fire, freezing others, wilting more.
After a few seconds an old man peeks his head up from the window.
"All you babdits dead yet!?"
Seeing that despite his efforts, the party remains almost wholly unharmed he unleashes another tirade of curses before the front door to the cottage opens.
"Alright you damned babdits you got me, come and put and end to old Bokken, and be quick about it."
With that, he turns around and heads back inside.
" Never saw an Old man with such vigor.. if We'd been anywhere near that tirade it could have been bad. " Sugua watches the door silently for one last trap.
"I suggest just a few of us enter the cottage, just in case. I do not want to threaten the old man into doing something foolish, and would not wish to risk all of us in such a volatile situation. I shall go. Who else?"
"I will go with you, Tomas." Vladimir says, dismounting his horse.
Before the flurry, Durielle shakes her head even as she wipes her mouth with the scarf Khargol provided her.
"There is a difference between being a burden and becoming one because the ones working with you hurt you. There is no need for you to strike anyone not our enemy in order for them to be part of this band. If you can restrain yourself from reacting to everything not combat with violence, we all may just survive this charter exploration despite your heart-felt belief in how fleeting everyone's lives (aside from yourself) will be in this wilderness."
Following the latest flurry of alchemical bombs and spells, Durielle simply nods her head with satisfaction.
"Now that I did foresee!"
She dismounts Whisper gently and speaks up in response to Tomas, "I will also accompany you." Pausing, she turns to Sugua. "Perhaps it may be wiser if you guard the surrounds, Sugua Bran't. The man seems to be a little touchy, and your charm may be lost on him."
Sugua shrugs but eventually his often cheerful face sours, " Girl, If you think that was violence you must not realize how different life truly is. When I strike they go down.. Every time. And don't patronize me. Flowery words won't hide your meaning... You go in there and 'talk' but never suggest something as if I was a child. I've lived this life for a while, I've seen and experienced more than you have in your long years with my short ones. " A heavy sense of Dread and seriousness exudes from him as he speaks, very unlike his previous instances.
" I wasn't the one interested in coming here in the first place...but don't worry I'll show you 'RESTRAINT' " He sweeps his blade on his shoulder, which cuts a swath in the ground along the way.
Shaking her head once again, Durielle simply says, "Once again, your response is simply to further prove to yourself you remain the most deadly and capable of anyone here rather than realize that different moments require different skills. Perhaps one day I will find the means to communicate with you properly, but it would seem that aside from further fuel your ire for all you deem weaker than yourself, I fail."
Sugua snorts and shakes his head, " Whatever you think ... " He shrugs letting her speak, it wasnt the first time this has happened to him, it wouldn't be the last. Words were not his forte, but being what he was often caused this phenomenon. It was standard practice.
Tomas watches the exchange between the oracle and the half Orc without comment. Once they had finished he will approach the cabin.
"Bokken, we are going to come in. Please do not attack! We mean you no harm".
Vladmir grins, hearing and seeing Durielle's handling of Sugua's typical, gruff demeanor, thinking to himself, Well done, milady, well done indeed.
Walking along side of Tomas and Durielle, Vladimir approaches the hut, remaining silent as to not agitate Bokken with multiple voices.
Khargol elects to remain outdoors for now, not wanting to spook Bokken.
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As bomb after bomb comes flying out of the window, Angor steps back out of range and raises his axe to cover his face should any send fragments his way. "I will keep watch," he says, eyes wide at the destructive power. Somehow he thought if things went south in there the whole house might explode. He did not want to be there if it did. So Angor circles the house, giving it a wide perimeter.
"I'll wait out here as well," Donovan says to Tomas and Vladimir. As Angor starts to circle the perimeter, Donovan stays with the horses to make sure that they don't wander too far. Seeing that Durielle already has a scarf he pockets his kerchief again.
[Donovan] moves over near Durielle and offers her a kerchief. He looks up to address her, saying quietly,"I gather this is a recurring problem for you. I doubt that I have the skills to ease your condition, but if the day should ever arrive when I can do so, I shall try to help."
Sighing as Sugua remains sullen with her responses, she addresses Donovan as he replaces his kerchief.
"Thank you for your kindness, Sir Donovan," the oracle says just as quietly. "Yes, you deduce correctly that my condition is one which I bear continually, and for which nothing beyond divine intervention can provide surcease. Perhaps one day it will fade, or I will become strong enough of constitution to hide its ill effects upon me. Only time will tell." A wry smile appears on her pale face, and the light of mystery once again peeks through her watery eyes.
Raising her voice slightly, she says to Donovan, "Thank you for minding Whisper and the other horses. She is a sucker for attention and likes to be scratched here just so."
Taking Donovan's hand gently, Durielle places his hand on the mare's flank near her saddle straps and encourages his hand into a scratching motion before letting go.
Those who enter Bokken's cottage find him sitting in a chair in the center of the home surrounded by crates full of vials, herbs, and meats along with a large amount of what atleast appears completely pointless junk.
Bokken himself is maybe quite alarmingly, fully nude, this fact doesn't seem to have bothered him and he is working on a piece of jerky in his toothless mouth futilely.
"Alright babdits what do you need? Come to take old Bokken's clothes I bet! Well it's too late! Hah! Old Oleg told me about you babdits coming and taking the clothes right off his back, so I beat you to the punch and burned them all! "
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Durielle's usually pale face rapidly turns red, and she averts her eyes from looking directly at the man. She has in fact seen the naked male humanoid form before, but having been raised as a mere peasant woman in a fairly conservative village, Durielle is certainly not expecting such behavior.
"P-please, M-master Bokken, we're not here t-to t-take anything from you. We c-came to discuss your s-services such as they m-may be..."
Vladimir does his best to hold in a laugh at the sight of the old, naked man futilely gumming a piece of jerky. Quickly regaining his composure, the swordsman adds to Durielle's opening statement.
"As we said from the outside, master alchemist, we are not bandits. Far from it actually, as we have been chartered by Restov to eliminate the bandit activity in the region." he says as he slowly reaches for his copy of the charter document to offer Bokken a look.
"We are only here to seek whatever information you might have to aid us in this task, perhaps purchase some of your wares if we can agree on a price, and just maybe see if there is anything we can do to help each other."
Bokken eyes Vladimir as he reaches for the charter but when he pulls it out, he snatches it from him and begins to look it over.
He issues a series of hmmms and ahhhs, seemingly taking a great interest in the charter, despite him holding it upside down.
Apparently finished he announces, "I can't read."
"But. This piece if paper is awfully fancy looking, so you must not be babdits after all. Sides, you have a woman with you and women can't be babdits."
"Ic you're here to kill those foul babdits then take those behind you." He says indicating to a crate of glowing red flasks behind Tomas. "Take the ones on the second shelf, I poisoned the ones on the first with arsenic."
"Atleast, I think it was the first shelf. Might have been the second. Who knows?"
"As for you buying things from old Bokken I ain't got much use for gold, but ya can get me herbs or bugs, or furs and they're all worth something to me."
"Thats all I got of those potions for now by the way, but I can make more if you think you'll need em, will just take me some time. And you'll be paying for them then."
Bokken reaches into a pot next to his chair and pulls out a small red Vial before chucking it into his fireplace, where it explodes into flames.
The flames shoot out of the fireplace and I to the cottage, but while some of the wood catches on fire momentarily, it merely blackens the wood and then snuffs out.
"You need anything else you let me know. "
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Retrieving his charter from the aged alchemist, Vladimir smiles, "Excellent, Master Bokken. Thank you for your aid. Is there anything in particular that you would like us to try and find for you during our travels?"
Morgrym having elected to wait outside patiently waits for his companions to talk with the man, hopefully garnering an ally or at least a partner, despite the mans apparent lack of sanity the alchemist did seem to know how to make potions. Hearing a single explosion Morgrym tenses but after hearing no alarm from within of note decides to wait If the old man attacked surly he could not get all three of them, must be nothing worth worrying about, at least i hope. I dont wish to startle the old man further but ill only wait out here so long
Donovan breaks into a pleased grin as he scritches Whisper's withers just so, and he takes the reins of the horse and guides the various unattended mounts into a small group as best he can. There's a bit of fumbling as he seems to be unused to dealing with animals, but since nothing is threatening the horses they are not especially difficult.