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Bokken scratches his head. “I don’t know much about the specifics, really. This is just what I heard from a trader at Oleg’s. West of here is the Hooktongue Slough, a swampland through which passes the Sellen River. The Sellen carries most of the trade between the River Kingdoms and Brevoy. Recently some boggard tribes have been causing troubles for the traders. So the choice is either pack up and go home or try to make it overland. All those traders make good targets for the bandits,” he considers what he has said for a moment.
“But you don’t want to go into the Hooktongue Slough. that place makes the Narlmarches and the Kamelands look like a playpen.” he suddenly adds, worried.
Lorald looks the man over once more before speaking.
"It is good that Oleg's worries were not serious. If you have no need of our help then we will leave you in peace once our business is concluded. I would ask that you keep in contact with Oleg a little better so false alarms are not raised in the future."
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"Now whoa, whoa" says Bokken, twitching like a bird as he does so. "I didn't mean to give you the impression everything is hunky-dory. I have a personal supply, which I'm willing to open up to you guys, and ladies" he pistol-winks at Marlani, "but the fact is I have run out of bladeberries."
"The bushes around here are picked clean. I know a grove in the forest where they grow in spades. And if you could bring me some I'd give you a discount on any potions you wanted to buy."
"Where's that bladeberry grow, in which direction?" - Aran asks the hermit before he turns towards Lorald - "If it was anywhere in our direction (the unexplored area), I'd say we have a deal, eh?"
"We have not gone into the forest, so it's safe to say we would be exploring new territory."
He replies to Aran.
"The man does make a mean cordial... and picking berries sounds a lot nicer than rooting around in the ground, like we've been doing recently."
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Bokken chuckles. "Did I say forest? I meant hills, in the Kamelands. About 50 or so miles southwest of Oleg's. Just a word of warning the thorns on the bladeberry bushes are no laughing matter, you have to go slow if you want to avoid being but to ribbons. Also, last time I was there there were a few chew spiders around, but they were no big deal."
It's important to note that Bokken is entirely guileless, he possesses no ability to bluff whatsoever, if you told him to keep a secret he would tell it in his next breath. He does not possess the ability to keep his thoughts to himself.
"Spiders?"
If the berries are so important to his craft why does he live so far away from them? For a moment, Gareth considers asking Bokken if traders bring supplies to him but he decides against putting too many questions to the addled man.
Valkus takes a swat at some mosquitoes buzzing near his ear. "You said there were other things in the forest, too. Tatzlwyrms and boars and such. But what was that about your brother? Is he somebody we should watch out for?"
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Bokken spits on the ground. "My brother is a good for nothing bully. I haven't seen him since the day he beat my mother for the last time and stole my dead father's silver locket. I chased him out and he run south. I know he's out there somewhere, doing evil." He turns south and squints as if he expects to see the missing brother somewhere on the edge of the horizon.
"If you run across him in your travels feel free to cut him down, it's no better than he deserves. I'd dearly like to see that locket again though. It had a painting of my mother as a young woman in it."
"Sounds like a long road to go, so we should start immediately. Should we explore and map on our way to there?" - Aran asks no one in particular.
"Well it will not hurt to keep an eye out for them while we explore uncharted areas."
"Do you have any potions of healing properties to sell right now, Bokken?"
Gareth looks at the flask holding Bokken's curative potion and wonders what went into its manufacture. Quickly, the image of Bokken's dirty fingers in the cauldron flash before him and he abandons this line of thought. In order to distract himself he scans the area that the team are now riding through and considers the possibilities that the land presents.
Perception
Lorald looks things over, it seemed the kobolds were killed by something. Before peace was agreed to it appeared but this close to the outpost, it deserved attention.
Even though the kobolds are long dead, Gareth reacts by loading a bolt into his crossbow and holding it ready. From his mounted perch, he surveys the scene for signs that could indicate anything significant.
Perception
"Aran, you are the most skilled here at reading tracks and such. Can you tell anything from this?"
Standing from his place near the dying fire, Valkus stretches before patrolling the camp as he does every twenty or so minutes, more from boredom than vigilance.
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Valkus is making his round of the camp near midnight. The night is overcast, with no hint of a moon. Suddenly behind him there is a snarl and the scream of a horse. He turns to see that a pair of wolves have brought down one of your horses with brutal effectiveness and are now trying to drag it away.
Angry at himself that he did not properly react during the night encounter with the wolves, Aran offers to lead his comrades in search of those animals (in the morning, not during the night).
"I could try tracking them. For a while it should not be hard, with horse's carcass leaving a big bloody trail. Plus, after they've eaten they will probably be asleep, their stomach's full. You want me to track them, or to lead you towards south-west?"
"Well met, Natalya. Where are your companions? Is all well?"
Well met Gareth!
She beams and seems slightly flushed, or at least flushed for her pale complexion. She dismounts and approaches, leading her horse and raising a hand in greeting to everyone present.
I'm alone, having left the antlers at an old temple we found in the forest. I'll not speak ill of those not present, but certain members of the group were compromising others safety, and for me that was the last straw. I'll not ride with those who think only of themselves at others' cost.
She looks very serious and not a little angry at the recalled memory. Though her frown fades quickly as she looks at all of you in turn.
So I thought to seek you out as we'd left on good terms after the kobold party, and I wanted to see if you'd be amenable to my riding with you for a time. If it suits your group and all
She smiles genuinely but does seem a little nervous about how you'll respond now she's actually here and asking in person.
Lorald draws his crossbow, looking around. His first thoughts to something being wrong.
As Natalya speaks he listens carefully before responding.
"I have no objections to you joining us. You have shown yourself to be a decent sort as far as I have seen."
Not that he would stop watching. Everyone including himself had to keep trying to be the best person they could, it was a never ending effort.
"Welcome to..."Gareth pauses, realizing that the group never established a name for themselves "..our group."
Idiot! "Our group"? If your old tutors could see you know they would fill your ears with lessons on presenting yourself until blood poured out of them!
Valkus looks positively jubilant that Natalya has shown up. What with his horse being dragged off by wolves the night before, he was going to have to ride with somebody, and he didn't think Marlani had enough room for him as well as all the alcohol. He steps forward, arms wide open in welcome. "We welcome you with open arms!" Suddenly he halts, his grin contorting into a suspicious frown as he gives her an exaggerated once-over. "Hold one moment." He crosses his arms, stroking his chin as he gives consideration to an important issue. "Aren't we a bit too... noble for your taste?"
Thank you Lorald, your words mean much
she visibly relaxes a little, and when Gareth adds his voice a weight seems to come off her shoulders.
As Valkus raises his question, she smiles
A fair question Valkus, if you had asked me a month ago whether I would gladly ride with a group of nobles I would have told you where to sheath your sword. However... she adds quickly I have a childhood filled with resentment for noble houses, which carries through to my life here now. Before I even met any of you I was pre-disposed to disliking the idea of you.
The smile vanishes and she looks deadly serious
What I've found in actually living life on the frontier, where you have to depend on others to have your back, is that my own blind prejudice against a class of people matters not a jot when held in comparison to the acts of the people themselves. In essence I wronged you by not getting to know you first.
Looking shamed, she adds
I apologise, I still have my own issues about entitlement to work through, but you of all the men and women of action I have seen out here in the wild, hold yourselves with honour and a code. You were, without knowing it, able to make me look twice at reality versus the picture I held in my head.
Again she looks tense now, eyes wide open but concerned how you're taking her words and whether it might affect your decision
I'm not saying I don't still have things to work through, years of assumptions take time to be conquered after all, and also it helps that none of you are from house Surtova, otherwise I would not be here in the first place. The fact stands that if anyone is going to show me the truth of things, it's...your group she flicks a nervous smile at Gareth
Lorald cradles his crossbow and does not show any reaction to her words before he speaks in turn.
"Truth be told I care little for what is said, actions do not lie. While everything else can, if you deserve something you will have it from me. Be that respect and loyalty or a bolt from my crossbow. That is all I can offer and all I expect in turn."
He touches something below his armor on his chest seemingly without knowing it.
"I do not change my point of view based on anything else. Yet I admit I do show more acceptance towards my family. If you can forgive that small exception I will keep in mind my debt for it."
He cracks a slight half smile before resuming his normal expression.
As usual, Aran is a little distraught when Natalya shows up. He murmurs a brief greeting, and sets about his work.
Later on, in the evening after he had a chance to better observe the newcomer's delicate features by the firelight, Aran understands that she is more than a typical human. Blunt as he is, he approaches Natalya and addresses her: "You look strange. Might you have some fairy blood in you maybe?"
She looks up at Aran, unperturbed by his directness, in fact she seems happy he is talking to her at all given his usual reticent demeanour.
I may have to travel with you a little longer than this before i discuss my full lineage, but you can be assured that I do not include fey among my ancestors
Natalya gestures at her sheathed greatsword
Originally I wanted that in cold iron, but I fear i may have to find a few more gold pieces to rub together before I can realise that particular desire
She glances around at the others, friendly like, and ventures
This is the first time, during this charter, that I've travelled with so many people, I'm used to being on my own a lot more. How do you find it?
She seems genuinely interested.
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Heading to the southeast you come across the ruins of a bandit camp. Just south of a ford on the Thorn river you find the remains of the camp.
You find the bodies of two bandits, hands tied behind their backs, they have clearly been executed by a single sword thrust to the heart. There are several more dead bandits around who appear to have been slain in battle. There is also what appears to be the body of a woman who is nothing more than a withered husk now, seemingly struck by lightning.
There are basic camping supplies and even a small wagon left here, but everything has been left untended for nearly a week.