Arimm has no questions for the prisoner, words are for others.
True to his word he stays close to Aleksara but in truth he is not here in mind, his thoughts race. He is caught in something of an existential quandary.
"I've never seen such a man, admittedly though I don't spend much more than a few nights at the fort a month.. you guys have a habit of doing this then, huh? I thought men had gotten bored and walked off recently." The man shakes his head, starts to laugh a little. "And why can't the Staglord enjoy a drink? You know those First World rumors, fey are weird and eccentric. So what he gets rowdy, it inspires the men."
By a look in his eyes, you can see that Alfentinius' effect seems to be wearing off.
"Enough. Let's finish this then."
Seeing the magic begin to wear off Alfentinius nods and turns to the bandit... Thank you... You have been very helpful. He then turns and walks away waiting to see which of his friends deals wit the bandit.
The man's head slumps in shame as he comes out of Alfentinius' spell and is aware of what has transpired. "Bloody f+#+ing magic... You'd better watch your backs, see how easy it was for him to just use me like that?" He directs the last part at the rest of the party.
"You 'aint learning are you man."
The blow is a crushing strike, laying the man out once more, his consciousnesses drifting.
"Jerik, what happens to this man?"
Alfentinius turns quickly at the, mans accusations... and puffs up ready to answer him as Arim knocks the man out. Obviusly angry at what the man had said he says to his friends what he wanted to say to the unconscious man.
I feel no pity for him. He preys upon people for profits. He cares for nothing but accumulation of power and wealth and cares not who gets hurt while he accumulates it.
The gnome lets out a deep breath and continues in a calmer but still affected manner, his pride obviously a little wounded.
Besides, I in no way hurt him or caused him harm. I doubt he would have ever been so gentle with me had he needed information from me.
"By his own admission, he is guilty of banditry, assault, and attempted murder in his actions alone against us this day."
"In the name of the Sword Lords of Brevoy, I sentence you to death for your crimes against these lands. No more shall you prey on those unable to defend themselves. No more shall you be a pox on these lands. No more."
The last comes out almost gutteral as Jerrik draws his blade free of the scabbard. With one clean swing of the steel, Jerrik ended the man's life. There was no joy here, only duty. A duty which meant all too often doing that which was difficult. Only time would tell if what he was doing was just.
He took a moment to clean his sword before sheathing the blade again. "It would seem the Staglord wants to meet us. Let's not keep him waiting. Gather what you can. Let's leave at first light."
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While the others question and prod the bandit, Wendell leans against the nearby cart and picks the blood from under his fingernails with the tip of his dagger. The bandit's death causes him no sadness. He catches Jerrik's eye and nods.
"Done the right way. I'm sure all c'n agree."
Wendell approaches the bandit and checks once more for anything of interest. "There's no room for his type anymore. Their bodies'll feed the land they preyed upon."
Standing, he scratches furiously under his red beard. "We can't avoid this Stag Lord no longer. He may grow tired of sendin' his own to die against us, but he ain't finished. If I were him I'd send the next raid to Oleg's, burn it all just to send a message. It's pas' time he earns the justice of Jerrik's blade... Chett and I are with you, Wild-Eyes. What about the rest of ya, are you ready for a real fight?"
As a final act for the evening, Wendell drags the bodies a couple hundred yards away from their campsite, not wanting them to attract any scavengers or worse.
Alfentinius looks down at the ground as if thinking for a moment... then looks up at Jerrik and gives him a nod.
I'm not sure how much help I'll be in a fight like that.... but... If that's what's called for... I'm in.
The gnome unconsciously runs his hand over the wand of magic missile at his side.
"Stop."
Aleksara stands and looks at the dead bandit, a look of determination, and...maybe a bit of satisfaction in her tone.
"It is time I talked to you all about my...me. Please...sit and listen. I promise I have not lied to you, but I have left certain things out of my past history that you need to know."
Turning to look at the group's small fire, the woman stares as if looking into the past. The flames, appear as a mystical censor of arcane fabrication whose light flutters across her Aleksara's sharp features.
"It started when I my father finally passed. The Lizard-Man tribe that had taken us in could never fix my father's leg. Their shaman managed to keep my father healthy enough for years...so he was able to teach me: Show me how to use his sword 'Mountain Cutter,' how to use fire to create and shape weapons, how magic was mine to command if I had the mind for it...all just as his father had taught him. But my father taught me one last secret. Our blood was tainted. Many generations ago, an ancestor had been enslaved by a viscous spirit creature of his homeland, and since then this taint had been present in most of his line. In most cases this appeared as a bad temper, or a streak for blood-lust...things easily conquered by simple will-power among his people in Tian Xia. But occasionally, he said the spirit-blood we are attached with can find a soul that it binds with almost completely. It is when this binding happens that the Oni's traits appear, and the person changes forever."
Aleksara looks around the group. Her dark eyes are now wet with small tears.
"When my father died...my world fell apart. I had no more future...no past left. Nothing, except my father's sword and the things he taught me. It was then I left the village suddenly and without thought."
She waves her hand south vaguely.
"I wandered, aimlessly in the River Kingdoms, but I had a destination...a goal in mind! I soon found it. A bandit camp. It was easy, they were not hiding much, and their camp was large. Using what the lizard men and my father had taught me, I watched and I waited. The bandits were lazy and stupid. Using a bit of magic, I was able to take out one of their sentries in the dark, and using his clothes I wandered into the group as they were sleeping off a night of excess drinking. It was almost too easy. With 'Mountain Cutter' I was able to remove four bandit's head's before somebody noticed what was going on. "
Aleksara draws her sword slowly here, looking at the blade glowing in the firelight.
"I finally felt empowered! My mother's goddess...Callistria...her name was singing in my head. My blood was on fire! I had to do it again! I wanted revenge against every single bandit I could find. In my head each had wounded my father, each had forced us to live in the swamp in fear of our lives, each DESERVED to die a horrible death because of it. I knew I was not strong enough to take on all the bandits of the River Kingdoms. But if I was smart, I could kill a lot of them before they even knew who or what I was! Before they killed me."
Putting away her sword, Aleksara wipes away her tears.
"To make a long story short: I quickly earned a reputation among the bandits in, and evidently around, the River Kingdoms. They called me 'Cutter.' Appropriate isn't it? Well, the inevitable happened. One of the large bandit groups laid a trap for me, and hired a wizard to help catch me. It almost worked, but I got lucky and managed to get away and hide back with the Lizard tribe again. It was there that I snapped out of the fugue state my blood had brought upon me. The Shamans would not let me stay. They feared my blood-rage so I had to leave, but they gave me my missive from Brevoy. They had found it on a dead man in the swamp recently. I could see the goddess' hand in this. It was time to be just Aleksara again. 'Cutter' had to go away. So you see...I have trouble dealing with 'bandits,' do I not? I cannot control my anger, and I cannot find peace in their presence. Only their death. It is part of who I am. Can you accept me? The missive from the Aldori is not really mine to use. I joined your group, but will I be able to stay? You must decide. I will await your answers, and will leave tonight if you wish it."
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Wendell sniffles. He appears to be chewing something, worrying it with his teeth. He listens to Aleksara, but it is clear he does not understand the source of her pain.
"Yeah, whatever..." He spits something gray into the grass. "Fine with me. I'm no f@#%in' angel, neither. You've done right by me an' Chett thus far. An' I reckon we could use a friend with your... violent ways in the wars to come." The hunter has never been one to judge the rights and wrongs of others. Before their little foreign-appointed group started calling this land theirs by right, it was hard to find a man in the wilderness that didn't have some demons. Perhaps that had not changed.
"I ain't speakin' for the rest. Might be Jerrik'll have your f!*$in' head. But if it were up t'me I wouldn't trade y' for no big city snob tha's afraid to get their hands dirty."
Wendell finishes without realizing he had been mumbling and a line of spittle runs down his beard.
Nodding at Wendell's honesty she smiles at him and Chett.
"Thanks Wendell. As always your words convey your feelings perfectly. What of the rest of you? Technically I'm a murderer...a serial killer...to some people. Oh yeah! There's a price on my head too. A flyer has been circulating, with a pretty good description of me and my sword especially. There's one at the fort if you want to see it. You need to take that into account too I guess."
Alfentinius walks up to Aleksara and takes hold of one of her hands to draw her attention and looks her in the eyes.
It's not your fault. You did some things that weren't pretty, and you can blame it on the magic if you want... but everyone has things inside of them that drive and control at times. Besides everything in nature lives only because other things die. The Wolf hunts the deer, that eats the vine, that chokes the mighty oak, whose branches cast a shadow that kill the grasses which are fed by the decaying body of the wolf. Those bandits had taken everything from you including your identity and you were trying to take it back the only way you could think of. You were dying inside and you fought back in the only way that you could come up with to survive. Besides that's the past. You're not Cutter anymore.
You may not be the intended recipient of that charter, but whover that was... he is dead now. By picking up the charter and dedicating yourself to it the way you have, you have brought honor to that mans memory, the swordlords of Restov, and forged a new identity for yourself. You are the Lady Aleksara Darkeye, Mistress of Coin, sword, and magic, and I am proud to consider you a friend.
Trying to hold back her tears, Aleksara takes Alfentinious's hand and squezzes it with gratitude.
"Thank you Al. Yes, Cutter is gone...for now. That person COULD come back however. You need to be aware that it is possible. The bandits...bring back the feelings more than I like to admit too. Ask Arim? He got a mild taste of Cutter today I'm extremely embarrassed to say."
"I have been no witness to your crimes, so I can only speak to your actions in my presence. You have acted with honor, and that is all that matters to me. Most of us have killed our fair share of bandits. Vengeance is not joy, and as long as their is no joy in it, I find no fault with your...our...actions, since being charged with duty by the Swordlords. You are among friends my lady. You have nothing to fear from us."
"We all carry our own guilt, for our own reasons. This a chance at redemption. Not just for us, but for these lands as well. These lands have been poisoned, and it's time to heal them. Together we will cleanse these lands and do what we can to repair the damage."
Nodding slowly, Aleksara seems lost in thought as Jerrik finishes his elegant speech.
"Cleanse these lands...repair the damage..."
Standing tall suddenly, Aleksara seems to have a revelation.
"Their afraid of us! The Stag! His people! They are afraid of what we are DOING, not of US specifically. They want things to remain as they are! Wild and uncivilized! Confronting the Stag Lord directly, now, that's just what they want! Maybe soon we could confront the bandit's so-called leader and his forces...but there is still only a handful of us. One wrong move...and his army of bandits will simply squash us flat!"
Aleksara moves to Jerrik and grabs his hand eagerly.
"I know you feel anger toward him! You know I empathize with that view of revenge and destruction! But we can't yet. Look at what we have accomplished in mere WEEKS. We can't let him get the upper hand now! Not now! We need to focus on what we are doing! These attacks are the Stag Lord's meager attempts to get rid of us, but really they are to get our attention and make us forget our purpose! Civilization has come to these lands! We need to make sure it retains it's foothold before we challenge the Stag! THAT is what he fears! Please!"
Turning back to the others Aleksara pleads.
"Listen! THINK. This man knows NOTHING of us. He sends only 4 men to stop us? Sure they are his 'elite' but that means nothing if he doesn't expect them to succeed! The more men he sends after us, the more men he potentially loses and the weaker his position gets! Don't get me wrong. If he targets Oleg's little fort, we will be in trouble. But with us, it at least stands a chance! Any major attack that fails weakens him further! We must stand against him, but I feel its premature to seek him out directly until we solidify our defenses HERE."
Regaining her composure, Aleksara reties her braided hair.
"If you doubt me...let's ask the gods? Erastil supposedly has a lost temple or holy place nearby! He's a god of Community and Law! Let's find this place, kill or remove that bear-thing guarding it, then we have Erastil's priest ask the god directly! If we get nothing, we go after the Stag...no arguments from me. If the god speaks to us...then we have a direction. What say you all?"
Arim stands towards the end of Aleksara's confession and moves to stand by her side. He listens in silence as the others say their pieces.
"I'm not a man of speeches and poetics but I know what I see in this world. It seems to me that we all brought out own demons to these plains. And we all still carry them with us. Cutter is as much a part of you as Jerik here's morals, or Wendall's tiger over there. I welcome Aleksara and Cutter together, we'll need all the bloodlust we can carry before the end, mark my words."
"...and while we're on the subject. I consider you all to be my comrades now. I will give my life for any of you, I don't care for your past sins. Mind you, cross me in the present and I will cut your thread. Just so we all know where we stand like"
When Aleksara makes her announcement about the temple Arim is less forthcoming, he had never been happy to put his fate in the hands of the gods. He had nominally sworn himself to Sarenrae as a youth, a joke at his own expense, but had never been one for devotion. But the lass made a good point, and he could see the effect her words had on the others.
"Aye lass. To the temple then."
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Wendell shakes his head. The situation is all too familiar to him.
"Few years back, when Chett was young 'n wild, there was this hundred-year winter. We were fightin' jus' to survive. So cold the tips o' my toes turnt black. Some nights I was sure we weren't makin' it to dawn... We'd track a stag for weeks, but when we finally caught up it was already dead and gone, just bones 'n red snow.... You see, there was this pack of wolves... Seemed like they're always ahead of us, like they was everywhere. See 'em at night in the trees, prowlin' at the edge of the firelight. Thought about goin' after them, kill the competition, y'know? Decided not to risk a confrontation. Play it safe."
Chett paces behind the Dwarf, tense, as if he's reliving the winter from Wendell's story. When he gets close, Wendell pats him on the hindquarter. "Wasn't long before all the stags were gone. The smart an' the strong ones got out. The wolves got the rest... Then they're comin' for us, right? We're gettin weaker an' weaker, they're gettin' stronger an' stronger. All the wolf packs that normally fought for territory grouped up under this one alpha. Never seen a wolf like him in my life. I ain't s&##tin' ya, he was big as a bear."
The tiger seems to cower at the memory of the wolf. He lays in the grass at Wendell's feet.
"By this time we're starvin' to death. I'm startin' to worry that Chett'll give in to the hunger and attack me... The wolves are gettin' hungry too. They keep gettin' closer, so we take one, to eat, y'know? Well the pack didn't like that much. Next thing I know they're swarmin' like angry bees. That's when I see this alpha. I'd seen 'em before in the shadows, but never up close an' in the light. Almost s+&~ myself. I knew there was only one way out. We had to confront the alpha. So I puff up my chest'n I scream right at 'em. Then that alpha growls, and I swear the other wolves just back away like meltin' snow. Before I could notch an arrow he had Chett on the ground, but Erastil was with me that day. I got a lucky shot, dropped him as he lunged for Chett's throat. This alpha flounders, right? Howlin' as it dies. And the other wolves just seem to disappear. Back to their packs 'n their territory, I guess." A wave of nostalgia washes over Wendell, and he pets the friend he nearly lost that day. He sits silent for a time, lost in memory.
"I dunno. S~*#, maybe it doesn't apply. I just don't wanna ignore the problem while they're growin' stronger. The bandit alpha, that Stag Lord, he ain't gonna forget that we killed his own. He has to react or he looks weak. It's the way of the pack. I'd just as soon show him who the real alpha is. Unless you're scared, or whatever."
By this time Wendell is getting ready for bed, curling up with Chett as if the end of the story has become an afterthought. "But if we want to go lookin' for some bear and a hidden temple, that's fine. I'm just a guide, I ain't a soldier and they ain't wolves."
Knowing it wasn't an insult, Aleksara reassures Wendell.
"I'm not afraid. I'm cautious. If Cutter has taught me anything, it is that bandits are stupid and lazy for the most part...but their leaders ARE alphas. They think and they plan. Yes, he has to deal with us eventually if we continue to do as our charters stipulate. But that does not mean he gets stronger...it means he gets weaker! As we gather more allies, as we lead more people to settle out here, we take away from his power base! Bandits are a dime a dozen, but most are just remnents of people...dregs. They come to places like this to hide from the law and civilization. If we keep bringing civilization...his bandits will start to fear our laws. They will doubt his power! I'm just afraid, if anything, that attacking him directly now...would be playing into his hands. That's all."
Alfentinius listens to the back and forth his head bouncing back and forth like he's watching too kids throw a ball back and forth. Finally he takes a deep breath and speaks up his thoughts....
Looking at Wendell...
I don't feel like we're getting weaker out here. Every encounter we've had with any of the Staglord's men has left the bandits a little weaker. Maybe rushing in would surprise him... but I doubt it.
If anything I think we are the wolves from your story. Every encounter we have we learn more about ourselves, each other, and how to work better together. I know I can work magic better than when I left home and I think it's going to keep getting better. Just being around each other we learn things from one another.
In the end though I'm not a strategist, and I'll do whatever the rest of you decide on.
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Wendell smiles under his beard..
He had not considered that they could be the wolves. Their pack had grown stronger, and many times now they had weakened the Stag Lord's pack.
"Hear that, Chett? We're the wolves. Well, you're a tiger, but... Ah, f%~# it. You get what I'm tryin' t' say."
Wendell pulls up a blanket, ready for sleep to take him. "To be honest, I don't give a hoot where we're goin, just so long as we're out here under the stars."
Jerrik stood quietly for several minutes before beginning.
"We continue as is then. The more we work to bring civilization to these lands, the more we disrupt the Stag Lord's hold out here. We keep to our course for now. Keep us between him and Oleg's, keep looking for this abandoned temple of Erastil's, and keep whittling down the opposition."
"So we know where we are getting our supplies. Where is he getting his? If he has half as many men under his command as has been said, he'll need to feed them and arm them. Are there other homesteads out here that he's raiding? That can't last forever. Sooner or later, he'll have to move on Oleg's. Even now, Oleg's is pretty defensible against bandits. He'll need to move in force, and we should be able to see that army coming."
"After we find this temple, we return to Oleg's and spend some time checking the defenses again."
"Thank you Jerrik. Thank you all for being willing to listen! Let's get some rest, but keep an alert person on watch at all times from now on."
At this point, Aleksara wanders over and pets Chett behind the ear for a moment, then moves to the fire to settle in. She sleeps cradling her precious
sword as one would a lover, gently, with only a single hand firmly upon the hilt.
Dawn breaks with the prairie's young spring vegitation peacefully reaching out to embrace the new day's light. It seems that the endless fields have already forgotten the skirmish that took place just hours before. The cycle continues on slowly yet endlessly all around you. There is a sober quiet to the morning air, light dew, moderate clouds, and temperatures indicating a slight shift to the cooler side of average. The bodies of the bandits remain laid out where they were left, no wildlife found them enticing over the night.
The burn marks on the cart are almost humorous. It is easier to inspect it's condition in the natural light and everything seems to be in as good of shape before. While the rope within the cart that soaked up oil has been ruined, the reigns seem to be unharmed.
Alfentinius looks at the bodies...
I agree with Wendell... let them return to nature.
Leaving the bandits to return to the Earth naturally and packing up the small amount of useful items they had with they, the exploration mission continues. In the the late morning, after traveling halfway into the last uncharted section of land surveyable from present camp, Alfentinius, Arim, and William notice a rustling ahead in a grove of shrubbery.
Alfentinius looks up... did you guys see that?
At Al's prompting Aleksara quickly shifts off of her horse, draws Mountain-Cutter, and pulls out some coins into her free hand: 1 copper, 1 silver, and 1 gold!
"Where?"
"Eh? See what? I didn't see anything."
Truth be told Jerrik had been daydreaming. He was reminiscing of his childhood, trying hard to remember what his mother looked like. It had been so long since he had seen her. He longed to remember her face, any detail that he could hang on to really. Marie's face kept popping into his mind. His half-sister was all the reference he could recall.
As Aleksara was spurred into action, he tightened his grip on the reigns, ready to drive Jasper ahead if needed.
That bush... it's rustling.. like something is hiding in there....
Alfentinius points at the bush in question...
Arim looks over to Aleksara and slips off his horse, motioning for the two of them to move forward together and heading forward himself, sword drawn.
Arim and Aleksara cautiously approach the bush that has now become eerily silent. As they get within reach there is still no sign of the rustling until an odd shaggy man pokes his head of lightly graying hair out of a bush.
"Hey, pst, hey guy." the man says with a vacant stare at Arim, looking up while crouching on all fours. "Be careful where you walk here, these ants are so so so so so so....mmm hmmmm..." he trails off as he continues crawling in and out of the bushes picking what you can assume to be the ants he mentioned off the ground. He pats at Aleksara's foot when he see's she's stepping on an ant hill, wanting her to move it.
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Ashamed to be caught daydreaming, Wendell slows his horse and drops down, then slings the reins around the cart so it cannot escape. The hunter stares at the old man for a few moments, confused. "Is he tryin' to eat the ants?" he mumbles to himself. "Can't blame 'im for that. Some bugs're sweet 'n salty. Others not so much. But all by his lonesome?"
Clearly misjudging the man, he whirls around once and looks again into the bushes, expecting an ambush while their guard is down. "Ever the pessimist, jus' like Chett's always sayin'."
Watching his step as to not disturb the ants, Wendell moves closer. There have doubtless been times where he, after eating some strange fungus or old fermented milk, has laid on the ground and watched tiny ant colonies in amazement that something so small could be so busy and beautiful.
Stepping back with a start, Aleksara looks to Al for support.
"Wha...? Ummm...hello? Hey Al? I think you better check this one out."
Alfentinius jumps off the wagon and walks up in response to Aleksara's summons. He looks at the man and misjudges where he is about to reach. The gnome is clearly mortified as he realizes he has just stepped on his hand. Clearly flustered the gnome starts shooting out statement without giving the man a chance to answer..
Oh, I am so sorry. Are you okay? What are you doing out here? Is your hand okay? Who are you?
The man stops at Alfentinius' mistake, sitting back on his legs and looking out to stare through the little Gnome. "" Holding up his shaking right hand, the pinky finger is missing.
After a good start, the man breaks into a crazy laugh. He stands and makes sure the little pouch he was placing the ants is secured correctly. "Ho Oh! I couldn't resist, no that's a token from my bastard of a brother. Evil man, cut that offa me the last time he hit my mother, Desna rest her soul. But he took off right after to live in a hollow tree down south rather than face the guards, so I guess it all worked out well enough. I flirted with the idea of hunting him down, but.. no...." He then clears his throat as he realizes he was rambling. "Bokken, Herbalist and Alchemist. If you have ever found yourself with a potion from Oleg's then you are familiar with my work. Now what do you need? I was busy, er, farming.."
At the man's introduction, Aleksara visibly calms and puts away her weapons of war.
"Yes! Oleg has mentioned you. Do you live around here sir? We could use some advice on what's around here.
We've been searching and mapping of course, but its a lot o ground to cover!"
Arim sits cross legged opposite the man and begins picking ants himself, offering them to the hermit whenever he gets a decent enough handfull.
Bokken takes the ants from Arim calmly and with a knowing nod, as if the act is the only rational thing happening right now for the man.
He gives everyone one large yet nervous bow, "Wonderful, my reputation precedes me.. Oleg is a good man. We agree on one thing alright, 'Leave me alone.' If you're friends of his though.."
Bokken scratches himself on the ear while in thought. "It is big, and wild, I like that. Not much around here though, I like that too. Pretty bare for 10 or 12 miles. The Narlmarches and Kamelands have always been more popular it seems, that's why I'm out here on the windy prairie where nothing will bother me. Brew my potions in peace. Heh, yes." He looks smilingly down at the ant sack, likely musing over his plans for the insects.
Aleksara will look around at her friends, then shrug and go retrieve her horse that she left to graze and wander when she dismounted.
Once back at the group, she realizes there are one or two other questions she would like to ask the strange man.
"We will leave you be as soon as we can, but we could really use your help. Do you live around here sir? If you do, could we find out where exactly so we know to avoid it? Also...have you heard of the local bandit lord 'The Stag King" at all? Know anything about him or his people? We are his natural enemies it seems and we have very little knowledge about him."
Arim continues his collecting, hoping his quiet assistance will help to keep the man at ease with the other's questions.
Alfentinius looks up at the sky and then around. Having found his composure the gnome addresses Bokken.
We've been very rude. You introduced yourself to us and instead of introducing ourselves to you, we have been plying you with question after question.
The little gnome Gives a bow. and starts introducing the companions indicating the proper person with a hand wave. I believe you have already made some acquaintance with the Lady Aleksara Darkeye, and General Arim Jubar is the one aiding you in gathering ingredients for your life maintaining elixirs. The two keeping to themselves are Marshall Wendell Redgrass along with his travelling companion Sir Chett. Lord Jerrik Hagen is the imposing gentleman with both a heart and hairs of Gold. And I am Alfentinius Lentinels Ferington, at your service, as is my friend William the Goat, and we are honored to make your acquaintance.
Obviously looking a little proud Alfentinius smiles a touch and leans back on his heals. Then his eyes light up as a thought occurs to him.
Why don't we stop for lunch? Mr. Bokken... would you kindly join us for a meal? Of course you will, to say no would be rude. We will provide of course.
Without waiting for an answer Alfentinius runs back to the wagon and starts pulling out supplies for a meal.
To Aleksara's first question Bokken shows a dirty grin with two missing teeth, "Oh I think 'around here' us close enough for that purpose. Don't know any lords or Kings but the banditry has seemed to have gotten worse these past few years. Easy enough to avoid those idiots though."
Bokken seems oblivious to any of the social shortcomings, he nods to everyone as you are introduced. At the offer of lunch the man looks confused at the Gnome. "No thank you, I..." When Alfent returns and starts setting things up for a meal Bokken continues. "Do what you will, I had some mushrooms a bit ago and things to do today." He then continues to scavenge for ants.
"Please sir, won't you join us? Oleg says you're the best potion maker he knows. I'd like to hear more about you and what potions you can make. Can you craft healing draughts? You wouldn't happen to know about any temples of Erastil in the area would you?"