Morgrym had been mulling over the cat-folk's proposition until the halfling's outburst. His face purpling with rage, Morgrym shouts at the diminutive man's back.
"You dare?! Never has Morgrym Hammergun been called coward! You dare too much, wee child! To say such about me was a mistake but to so Mock the Smith-Father!.
Morgrym takes a couple of threatening steps after the half-man before wincing as another stab of pain shoots from the wound under his arm. With the fury still plain on his face, the dwarf turns away and stalks off towards the stables. He can be heard ranting to himself in Dwarven the whole way.
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Aerynne's eyes flash bright with anger at Morgrym's stubbornness. She glares at the dwarf as she responds, slightly shaking with annoyance.
"First of all, dwarf, do not call me a child, and do not speak to me as one. I may not be as old as you, but I am in no way mentally deficient, and I do not appreciate being spoken down to."
"Second of all, while I may not fathom your connection with Torag and the earth, I do know what it is like to be tied to something... the forests, the trees, the skies above me, the hills and the valleys and the fields and the groves, they speak to me at all times, and always have. I am not comfortable spending time in the city away from the wild, either. But I do it if it is necessary. Sometimes life takes you out of your comfort zone, and you just have to go with it."
"Thirdly, I think Wallop summed this up well, but your 'principles' are going to do little but get innocent people hurt. I am not going to sit around while these bandits are running free. I am not going to plod slowly along and give the group a chance to get away and set up camp somewhere else. Whether or not you are coming along with us, I will not be held back by your stubbornness!"
The half-elf sighs in frustration as Morgrym explodes back at Wallop. "We are all too heated to continue this discussion in good faith. Let me know what the plans are. I'm going to get the horses saddled up." She then strides off into the stables, quickly passing by Morgrym without giving him a second glance. If he comes into the stables, she will not speak to him unless spoken to.
Gerran winces at the outbursts. Only just beginning our adventures here, and already we cannot agree...what does this mean for our small group, and our mission? "We will be ready to leave shortly, Aerynne, thank you."
He follows Morgrym to the stables and takes him aside, "Morgrym, I think I might have a compromise that we could make work, if need be. If you set off toward the bandit fort now, within the hour, you will have as much as a half-day lead on the rest of us. We would catch up with you sometime tomorrow, most likely, if you do go. You are injured, however, and I wouldn't recommend going alone. If you decide to go, is there anyone at this point that you would be willing to take along with you?"
As Aerynne enters the stables she finds Wallop gently brushing his pony and getting him ready for the trip. He turns and smiles warmly at her and there is none of the fury evident from just a moment earlier. He is back to his jovial self. Did it work? Is he coming along? The dwarf is a very proud man. Prideful people are easy to manipulate. Just take a little poke at their dignity and they usually step right in line. We had a paladin in our group once who was no less principled than this one. Long and often we would sit around the campfire chatting about the difference between being lawful and stupid and where to draw that line. His principles nearly got you, him, and myself killed this morning. It was a near thing. We are going to have to find a way to make this work somehow.
Marius sighs. "Am I under the effects of a Silence spell?" he asks after everyone has stalked off or fled. Cagnazzo warbles, sounding suspiciously like laughter.
After the temporary surprise of having a goblin at her table, Svetlana is the paramount of kindness towards Scraps. She serves the young goblin a pile of flapjacks, the batter for which was just made.
"Eat up, young hero," she says with a smile. "You will need all your strength for the days ahead. This is no easy place to live."
Svetlana goes back to slicing and salting venison, readying the meat to be stored for days ahead.
Oleg witnesses the commotion in the yard, and has little response. "S'pose that's what happens when you get too many opinionated people in one place," he whispers to Deekin, who has just finished chopping wood for the evening's fire.
"I fear we are beyond compromise. I bear no ill will towards you; you appear a fine warrior and a good man. But I refuse to bear any longer the insults of that halfling. I had hoped, perhaps, that by doing Brevoy's dirty work I might garner their favor but it seems that my effort has been misplaced. I wish you luck in dealing with these bandits, but I must remember my original purpose here."
Gerran looks puzzled. "...and what is your original purpose, if not to deal with the bandits as it states in the charter? Surely, the bandits will prevent you from doing whatever it is you're hoping to do? If not now, then later?"
"As I've stated before, I am here as an emissary of the High King of the Five Kings Mountain, the jewel of Dwarven civilization. Our nation is great and strong, but most of it is below ground and we have little in the ways of farmland or forests. This requires us to trade for many of our resources.
I was part of a group sent to Brevoy to discuss the possibility of a trade relationship. I was not well received by the local court. They thought my offer a joke and turned me away. One of the nobles told me that I might be received with better favor if I helped deal with a bandit problem to show my sincerity, but I'm coming to feel that was a mistake."
"Not at all, Morgrym." Marius says to the Dwarf. "But your investment, if you choose to stay with us and civilize this wilderness, can be bigger and better than dealing with the Swordlords. It may take some time, but I hardly imagine patience to be a problem for your people. I see it like this. We are opening up a whole new wilderness to exploration and eventually exploitation. There are deep forests, excellent farmlands, and who knows what mineral and botanical wealth to be had here. If your people might consider investing in the Stolen Lands, they may reap the benefits, while the settlers I hope to attract can only profit themselves by the influence of a culture as upright and law-abiding as yours." Marius speaks with passion. "But the key is patience and investment. All you have to offer right now is of your own no doubt rich veins of such virtues, but later, if allowed to grow, may bring much prosperity to both our lands." he says. Cagnazzo cocks his head and chatters in agreement.
"Perhaps you are right Marius. When I left I had only thought to buy The Mountain a new ally. I had not considered the idea of making one. It is true that no immediate danger is pose by this lack of resources and the stout folk are well known for their patience.
However, I cannot forgive the halfling. A brave warrior he may be, but I have never heard such insults against the Dwarf-Father. Even now he continues to besmirch Him and me within the stable. I have never borne such talk and I will not start now."
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Aerynne smiles weakly at Wallop as she enters the stables and begins preparing the group's horses for travel. She listens to him in silence, practiced hands easily working with the worn leather, buckles, and bridles even as her mind is elsewhere.
"I've got no idea if he'll be coming. At this moment, I don't care. He can be as stubborn as he likes, but I've never let other people hold me back, and I will not have a stick-in-the-mud dwarf change that." She heaves a heavy sigh. "I don't know what I think about 'manipulating' him, though. He seemed pretty mad about what you said. If he winds up coming with us now, there's going to be some bad air between the three of us... four of us if you include Scraps, because I doubt he trusts her at all. And that isn't going to make for fun riding."
Giving the first horse a friendly pat on its neck, Aerynne moves to the next stall. "It seems like his biggest problem is that he's never set a foot outside of dwarven lands in his life. It's cultural ignorance on his part and ours alike, really. But the bottom line is that we're not in the Five Kings Mountains, and he'll have to adapt to that."
"I'm sure he's a decent enough person, y'know? He just pisses me the hell off." Aerynne laughs, feeling herself relax now that she could joke again with the jovial halfling.
When all the horses are saddled up (one for everyone, including Morgrym and Scraps), Aerynne leaves the stables and looks around for Gerran or Marius. "The horses are all ready to go when we are." She seems rather impatient to leave.
Wallop stops adjusting the saddle on his pony briefly to listen to Areynne. Mad? Yeah I kinda figured he'd be mad. I took a bit of a risk there I suppose. The truth is, it wasn't ALL manipulation. Morgrym and Marius have been taking pokes at me since we met yesterday ... well me, you, and Scraps. Then his hard head nearly gets more than one of us killed. Well I suppose my temper got the best of me a bit. Wallop pauses and fiddles with the straps on his saddle absentmindedly.
You are right though, he isn't a bad guy; just as stubborn as all hell and that can be costly. If it comes down to it I'd still risk my life to save his in a fight. Perhaps in time he'd do the same for me. Wallop grabs the reigns of his pony and heads out of the stables and as he passes through the doorway, avoiding eye contact with Morgrym, he mounts up and heads outside the gate and stops to wait patiently for the others.
"Swords and arrows nearly killed us, little runt. Those were no fault of mine, it wasn't my hand that moved them. And I would guard your tongue against such further implications unless you are inclined to learn the difference."
Turning back to Marius and Gerran, Morgrym speaks in a calmer tone.
"I suppose I shall accompany you further. I will even ride one of your dreadful horses. But if someone does not silence that halfling, Torag help me, I'll have his tongue."
Morgrym's tone makes it evident that the threat is an idle one, but his growing frustration with the Wallop's continued accusations is clear.
Wallop smiles inwardly at the dwarf's comments while outwardly showing no sign that he heard the comment or even cared that it was spoken. I think Torag must have used his head for an anvil at some point. It's hard enough to forge a mighty weapon me thinks.
Scraps gathers up her new cartridges and heads for the door when Svetlana tells her the party is ready to depart. She proceeds cautiously, unsure of what to expect in the yard. Stepping into the open doorway, her eyes scan desperately for her mule before coming to rest on the lone riderless horse. With equal parts desperation and terror, she squeeks out,
"Missee, ye be fergittin me ass. I cannae ride one o they giant beasties. They hatred for usn be might powerful what with they hard feets and flashin teef. They hoofs trap spirits o gobbins they kilt jes as they teef rip the souls out from our bones. All the souls o the gobbins they kilt be waitin in those feet tae take me down tae Hell when they get ta chargin and a stampin.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a scrap of paper, possibly an old food wrapper, with some kind of brown smear on the back. Holding it out as if her life depends on it, Scraps cries,
"I gots a reseet right here for me ass what I boughts from me cousin Scrabblesnot. I pay 8 gold coins fer me ass and makes certain I even gots the whole thing, no bites taken or nuthin. He kin carries me to do tha fightin and not slows us down atall."
The poor goblin is obviously getting worked up into quite a state, made worse when one of the horses stamps, impatient to get out on the road. In the blink of an eye Scraps has her rifle off her back and the hammer cocked, the muzzle aimed unerringly at the giant beast before her.
Her head whips from side to side, desperately seeking some escape when her eyes meet Aerynne's. Slowly lowering the gun in shame, she places it on the ground before her and backs away, her empty hands held out from her sides.
"I nots be shootin no horsee but missee, ye can'ts be meanin ta kill me. I kin ride me ass since I gots no woof or gobbin dog, but ifn ye put me on the back of one of those giant beasties by meeself, I be deaders and my soul goin tae Hell faster than a rat down a drainpipe.
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From one problem to the next... Desna help me, can't I just have a straight and even road to travel?
"If you're happy to ride your... donkey? I'm assuming? That's fine, Scraps. Alternatively, you could ride with me if you liked. You're small enough to sit in front of me, and it wouldn't be much of a bother," Aerynne offers gently. The goblin's scattered speech mannerisms were somewhat hard to follow. "The horses won't hurt you, I promise. Bramble and I have been together for many years now, ever since she was a little filly, and she'll be nice to you for my sake, I'm sure. What do you think, Scraps?"
Gerran confirms Bokken's location once more with Oleg and speaks softly with him and Svetlana. "We will likely return after a few days, after we have dealt with these bandits. I don't know anything about this Stag Lord, but we may need to stay out there for a while to chase him down. Regardless, thank you both for your hospitality. Be well, and if you are able, see if you - or Deekin, for that matter - might be able to get those catapults in working order."
He walks to the horses, mounts his, then rides over to wait with Wallop. Hearing Scraps' outburst, he looks back at the scene and shakes his head, then turns and speaks quietly to Wallop.
"It seems we may all be traveling together for some time. Please, do try not to anger Morgrym more than absolutely necessary - he is proud, but he is also a capable ally, and I'd not turn his assistance away without good reason."
Wallop smiles at Gerran and pauses to choose his words wisely before leaning closer to the catman and quietly says indeed, I need to find a way to work with him. Stubborn, condescending, and racist tendencies notwithstanding he WILL be a powerful ally. It is water under the bridge as far as I am concerned but I'll not offer the olive branch to him just yet as I'm sure he wouldn't take it. Wallop stops for a moment and smiles ... or perhaps he would take it but then proceed to beat me with it. He shifts in the saddle before continuing perhaps in time his attitudes will soften and a friendship will bloom. I do get agitated when people talk down to me though and that's going to need to stop fairly soon.
With a quick sigh of relief, Scraps runs for her donkey. Throwing a blanket and her empty saddlebags over the back of the beast, she is back out within seconds. Hopping onto the back of the saddle-less beast, she is all boundless enthusiasm, her tears and terror of a moment ago completely forgotten.
"I be ready now missee, jes you see. My ass can get me there quick quick!"
Turning toward the gate, she claps her heels to the side of the donkey as it trots out onto the open road. Within minutes of everyone catching up, the 2'8" goblin has curled up on its back, her light snores accompanying the clop clop of its hooves as it follows the horses.
With all of you relatively ready, and at least temporary solutions to your current issues, you set out for Old Bokken's hut.
The ride across the plains is relatively uneventful, until you see a man on horseback approaching from several hundred feet away, heading the opposite direction.
Gerran announces to the rest of the group, "He's a trapper, most likely. He has some pelts and he's armed."
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Aerynne shields her eyes from the sun with one hand, trying to get a look at the incoming rider but not having much luck at it. It all looked like a bunch of brown blobs to her...
"Let's ask him what the conditions are up ahead. A trapper probably knows the area well, he might be able to give us a shorter route to Bokken's place."
As the unknown rider approaches closer, Aerynne waves to him and calls out with a friendly tone of voice. "Ho, rider! Might we speak with you a moment?"
The horse comes towards you and slows down. The rider looks infuriated.
After a moment of keeping a straight face, he starts to chuckle and burst out laughing. Apparently this guy thinks he has a sense of humor.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, that's just a little joke I like to play every once in a while. Name's Dakken Vitriol, hunter and trapper extraordinaire. How might I be of service to you, lovely lady?"
He unabashedly shoots Aerynne a toothy grin. His teeth are surprisingly white.
Marius smiles and directs his horse closer, though he does not get closer than Gerran. "Well met Dakken." he says in a welcoming manner. "We are explorers, and we'd appreciate any information you might have about the surrounding wilderness."
"Explorers, eh?"
He gives the group a good look-over.
"Looks like you have quite a motley crew here. I personally tend to keep to these plains up north of the Kamelands. It's much safer. Down south you not only have bandits, but there's a crazy tribe of kobolds and an equally nuts tribe of mites living down there. I'd steer clear of 'em if I were you, unless you're looking for a fight, of course."
Scraps, who seems able to both sleep and eat enough for two men twice her size, briefly opens one eye when Gerran spots the rider. She is just sitting up as the conversation begins, obviously uninterested until kobolds are mentioned.
"Hows they be crazy mister? Mites always be off but kobolds usually knows what for."
Gerran attempts to discern the trapper's intentions.
"Well, let's just say that we could handle ourselves in a fight if one were to happen." Gerran grins at the man, to show he wasn't intending the comment as a threat. "So, whereabouts are you headed with your furs?"
"HELL IN A HANDBASKET! A TALKIN' GOBLIN! Well that's a new one. Lets see here, little missy... If I recall correctly, the two tribes have been attacking each other and all passers-by pretty ruthlessly lately. Other than that, I suppose I have no real reason to call them crazy. I just tend to assume most things out here are nuts, because... well... they tend to be."
Gerran, you sense no hostility from this man. He seems to be very good-natured and forthcoming.
"I guess I've never met one of the Catfolk either, now that I think of it. You all are just full of surprises. And yes, I can see you all are well prepared. Especially your little goblin girl."
Dakken points at Scrap's rifle.
"Those things are rare, and the people who know how to use them are even rarer. There was one guy who used to own a rifle around here, but no-one's seen or heard from him in several months. Breeg Orlivanch was his name. Nasty old guy. Some are saying he joined up with the bandits. I wouldn't put it past him. Did you know that he trapped an old glade about 50 miles west of here so heavily that it's practically impassible? Meanest sonofab*%~! in the Greenbelt if you ask me.
As for my furs, I'm headed to good-ol' Oleg's! He'll give me some pretty coin, and I'll give him my high quality wares. A first class transaction like that in a third class boondock place like this is hard to come by. Before Oleg came along, I was forced to go into town or to barter with that crazy coot Bokken for supplies. Geezer has no idea how much mink is worth, so he'd always unintentionally try to rob me blind. Give him gold, though, and he'll know what it's worth."
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Aerynne laughs weakly at Dakken's rather pathetic jokes, although the smile that creeps along the corners of her lips is honest, at least. She was familiar with the type of individuals that enjoyed a lonely life along the frontier, and they were generally all good, down-to-earth sorts. The lack of frequent socialisation often led to a gusto with which trappers and the like approached relationships, and it was somehow refreshing.
"You've got to be nuts to hang out here, I agree with you there," the half-elf nods sagely, then shoots Dakken a teasing grin. "That certainly must not include you, of course, of course!"
"We've just come from Oleg's ourselves. He and Svetlana were having a bit of trouble with bandits, so they might be a bit jumpy, but I'm sure he'll be glad to see a friendly face."
"We're on our way to see Bokken, actually. Is there anything you can tell us about him? Are we even headed in the right direction?"
"Aw, that's terrible about Oleg and Svetlana! I hope they're okay. It's always good to have not insane people around here, and I'd hate to lose 'em. And Bokken? He's a crazy old coot, but he's mostly harmless. He'll try to get rid of you if you don't make it clear that you're looking to buy something, so state your intentions and he'll get right to it. And you're headed straight to him. Just follow your current bearing and it'll take you straight there."
Gerran asks off-handedly, so as not to alarm Dakken.
"One other thing, friend - we had a small run-in with the bandits not long ago, and one of them mentioned something about a 'Stag Lord'. Heard anything about that?"
Scraps takes Dakken's news of marauding kobolds and mites with equanimity, neither surprised nor concerned. Life is hard amongst the monster races and you pretty much bully your neighbors until a bigger bully comes along to take care of you.
Deciding that she kind of likes Dakken, she is still losing interest in the conversation rapidly. Not wanting to interupt the others, she holds her tongue, waiting for them to finish before asking a quick question.
"Stag Lord? I know of the Swordlords and the Tiger Lords, but I've never heard of a Stag Lord. And a bandit told you? Beats me. I don't tend to talk to those types a whole lot. When I do run into them, both parties usually stab first and ask questions later."
He pulls up the brim of his canvas hat, revealing that the top of his left ear is missing.
"Bandit did that. Bastard took me by surprise. I then... caught him off-guard, so to speak. Fool didn't know what hit him."
"Glad to hear it - we've no love for them, and will likely be dealing with them in the future."
"Anyway, thanks for the information - you've been quite helpful. Have a safe journey to Oleg's, and I hope to run into you again."
"Thanks, stranger. You as well. Little one? You look like you have something else to say..." he says with a smile to Scraps.
"Where exactly be the kobolds and the mites - in case we wants to avoid them. Can you draws thems ona map, maybe with Oleg's and Bokken's on it too? I knows it a lot, but me's got some monies?"
"Hah, I wish I were able to, little one. I'm no cartographer, and I don't keep any maps myself. As for the Kamelands? I've never actually been down there myself. The way is swampy and treacherous, no place for a trapper."
"Well, thank you for your assistance, but my acquaintances here are really in quite a hurry and are no doubt exceedingly anxious to be about their way. In all matter of fact, they have hardly a second to lose in a grave and pertinent mission. Do not let their seemingly unending patter with every passer-by convince you otherwise. We travel with the greatest sense of urgency and really must off."
So saying, Morgrym urges his horse to begin once more in the direction the group was travelling. It would seem to the careful observer that he is still a little grumpy about having to ride a horse...
Unusually quiet, Wallop smirks at the dwarf's comments and then at the nudges his pony into action once the dwarf starts moving.
Gerran nods to Dakken and nudges his horse onward as well.
"Alright then, I guess I'll see you folks around. Take care!
Dakken spurs his steed as well, traveling back in the direction you came from.
After a short while, you all reach your destination: a small thatch hut with multicolored smoke bellowing from the chimney. You surmise that this can only be Bokken's house.
The ride here has taken about four hours, and the sun is dipping toward the West from its zenith. There are only a few more hours of daylight left.
Knowing that she won't get the best of welcomes, Scraps occupies herself by her pony while the others talk to the alchemist.
Gerran dismounts and makes his way to the door. He knocks and calls out, "Bokken! We're in need of your aid, and have gold to spend!"
A short, bearded old man with wild gray hair appears at the doorway of the hut. His eccentric appearance is even more accentuated by his seemingly lazy eye, almost looking like he's seeing in two directions at once.
"WEEEEEEEEEELLLLLL WHAT'LL IT BE, fellows?" he screeches out in a birdlike tone. I have potions to make, and potions to sell, and potions to throw at some travelers as well! What is it that you'd like to see?"
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"A potion of cheerfulness for the dwarf, please..." Aerynne mutters dryly to Wallop before she dismounts and approaches the shrilly shouting hermit. Everything about him practically screamed crazy, but that was no reason to judge the man. Everyone was mad around here, after all. They wouldn't be here if they weren't.
"Ah... yes, Bokken. We'd like some healing potions, if you have any. Do you have anything else special brewed up that we might be interested in?"
Everything about him practically screamed crazy, but that was no reason to judge the man. Everyone was mad around here, after all.
"Well booglety boo, have I got a list for you!"
Bokken produces a piece of parchment and hops from his house to hand it Aerynne. It reads as follows:
25 GOLD EACH
-Detect Magic
-Guidance
-Light
-Read Magic
-Stabilize
-Touch of Fatigue50 GOLD EACH
-Bless
-Cause Fear
-Comprehend Languages
-Cure Light Wounds
-Detect Chaos
-Detect Evil
-Detect Good
-Detect Law
-Detect B*+$*$~%
-Endure Elements
-Protection from Chaos
-Protection from Good
-Protection from Law
-Protection from B+$@~~*+
-SleepEXTRA SPECIAL 300 GOLD EACH
-Aid
-Bear's Endurance
-Bull's Strength
-Cat's Grace
-Cure Moderate Wounds
-Delay Poison
-Invisibility
-Mirror Image
-Resist Energy (Acid, Cold, Electricity, Fire, Sonic, B##~!*~$)
-See Invisibility
"In stock right now, I have one potion of the Wounds-Cure-Moderate and two Wounds-Cure-Light, should you wish to return from a fight. Also two potions to Endure the Elements for... for..."
Bokken looks confused for a moment.
"Gozreh's tail! What rhymes with 'Elements'?!"
Wallop chuckles at Aerynne's comment and mutters quietly to her "Thats some mighty powerful magics you're asking for m'lady. Mighty powerful indeed."
Then he turns to Bokken and says "I believe 'sell-a-mint' sort of rhymes with 'element'. Do you have any mints for the dwarf? I'm buyin."
After a moment of peering over Bokken's product list he pipes up and says "I'd be interested in at least one of your cure light wounds potions, if not more. If we buy in bulk would you offer any kind of discounts? I'm sure we'd be back for much more of your business soon to boot.