"I'm not a witch!"
Kereek nods sagely. "Oh, Kereek see. Treshiell IS witch. If Beldame want lessons, maybe Treshiell help?"
"Well, I guess if you're just going to stand around out there, you might as well come in." the old woman hollers.
"Thank you, ma'am," calls Agnar with a nod of thanks. He lifts the latch of the gate and opens it, making way for Jon and the rest of the group to enter the yard.
As you move toward the hut, the scarecrow's pumpkin head turns to follow your passage.
When you get close, the door opens, revealing an old woman with a strange greenish cast to her skin and her ears ending in points.
"You are most kind, than...k you," Jon responds as he notices the scarecrow's head move.
In a fit of caution, Jon gives the old woman a second look, a piercing gaze in search of the taint of evil.
As the pumpkin pivots with the passage of the group, Prazil barks out a surprised yelp, maintaining his position between Kereek and the scarecrow.
"Prazil am was right!"
He brandishes his weapon threateningly at the thing as the group passes by.
Kereek smiles broadly at the green woman and walks into the hut, pausing to politely wipe his feet. "Is you make scarecrow? Is neat!"
As the crone sticks her head out the window and addresses the party, Agnar looks sidelong at Treshiell with a grin and points a thumb at the old woman.
"Her, most likely."
"Yes, it would seems so", Treshiell replies and through the haze of her voice something hints that her curiosity has been stirred. The witch dismounts and enters the garden. She brushes her hands against the building as she walks past, stopping in the doorway to cast a glance at the scarecrow before entering. "Does it speak?", Treshiell asks.
As the others enter the yard, Orin brings up the rear. Seeing the scarecrow's head following them he thinks to himself "Interesting art, indeed."
You don't detect any evil.
The scarecrow doesn't react to Prazil's raised weapon as the group trudges past it into the hut, which is a simple, one-roomed affair; it’s only about 20 feet in diameter with a dirt floor and thatched roof. The rafters are hung with dried herbs and swamp-weeds, and a bubbling cauldron rests over a firepit in the center of the room.
"Of course I did," the woman snaps. "Got tried of people coming into my yard to gawk or try to burn me at the stake."
"I assume you're not planning to do any of that, are you?" she asks, eyes narrowed.
You think she is human, though likely with some fey blood in her ancestry.
"Of course I did," the woman snaps. "Got tried of people coming into my yard to gawk or try to burn me at the stake."
"I assume you're not planning to do any of that, are you?" she asks, eyes narrowed.
Treshiell tilts her head. "Why would we want that? Wood is better for warmth."
Kereek frowns and shakes his head. "Kereek only burns bad people who do bad things. You do bad things?" He gives her his best intimidating glare, while spoiling the image as he smells the cauldron's smell.
Prazil helpfully adds, "Kereek also burns grass, spiders, chiefses' hats and candleses!"
Kereek splutters. "Kereek only burn chiefses' hat one time! And chief say him cold! Kereek warm him up."
"Well, if only everyone was as enlightened as you, my dear," she responds caustically to Treshiell. "I've tried to explain that, but they generally don't seem inclined to listen."
"No, I don't do bad things but nonetheless, people think bad things are the Swamp Witch's fault, don't they?"
"Oooo! Is you Swamp Witch? Kereek need good name like Swamp Witch! Maybe Dragon Wizard? Or Scaly Menace! That what chief call Kereek after hat burning incident..."
"Him also call you Frilled Nimcompoop, but Prazil not think you was there then."
Kereek glares at Prazil and mentally adds the Chief to his list of enemies...
The burly cleric's head darts in the direction of the moving scarecrow, but he relaxes slightly when it makes no other motions. He moves into the hut with the rest and tries not to crowd anyone, standing off to one side and ducking to avoid any low-hanging herbs.
Agnar shakes his head at the two kobolds and then offers the woman his hand.
"I'm Agnar Hrolfson. Surely you've been graced with a better name than 'swamp witch'."
Once inside the hut, Orin lets the others take the lead in talking to the old woman as he tries to nonchalantly lean against the door in case that creature from outside should try to enter it would have to go through him first.
"I was born Elga Verniex, but most simply call me the Old Beldame," she replies.
The cauldron smells faintly of vegetables, though your sniffing at it draws a sharp look from the Old Beldame.
"So you do magic?", Treshiell asks. "Tell me, Elga, what kind of magic do you do?"
Treshiell looks to the walls, ceiling and floor. "I like your house. Did you build it?"
Kereek stops sniffing, while smiling broadly at the old witch woman.
"Fey magic, my dear," the woman replies, "such that any who cross me don't try to do it again!"
She looks around at Treshiell's comments and then gives what seems to be a genuine smile to the young witch. "Aye, that I did, though I gave myself some help."
"So what brings you to the Old Beldame's door? I see few visitors who want to simply chat."
"Ooo, you have fey magics? Kereek has dragon magics! What does your magics do? Kereek mostly set things on fire!"
Given that Jon detects nothing evil about this woman and that she is a magic user, Jon defers the bulk of the conversation to Hartsland's Magister; trusting Treshiell to best judge whether the woman is a threat or boon.
"So what brings you to the Old Beldame's door? I see few visitors who want to simply chat."
"We were simply out to understand our own back yard when we passed by your own." Jon responds. "Truth be told, anything you can tell us about the surrounding lands and the people and beasts that inhabit it would be of great interest to us."
"Fey magic, my dear," the woman replies, "such that any who cross me don't try to do it again!"
"Fey, you say?" The hint of a smile forms on Treshiell's face. "There are more of you around. Do you know of them? Do you know Tyg-Titter-Tut or Perlivash?"
Kereek, seemingly too excited to hold it in, blurts out, "Him is Baron JonJon, ruler of Hartsland! We am his council. Kereek am for spying and keeping eye on enemies! Is you enemy of Hartsland, Beldame?" His eyes narrow suspiciously and he watches her closely to see what she does.
"Oh, there are plenty of fey in these parts. Can't shake a stick without hitting one, though I can't say I've ever heard of those two."
"I've never even heard of Hartsland, so I don't think I'm an enemy. If it leaves me alone, I'll be happy to do the same."
"Oh, I know plenty about the area. I know about the mad hermit to the west, for instance. You'll want to avoid him if you're smart. Follow the Tuskwater southwest and you'll get to Candlemere, where if you're unlucky, you'll see the Candlemere Lights. They may look pretty, but they're horrid creatures that'll lure you to your doom and feast on your fear. Nothing left of the tower there, just a spot for reckless fools to be turned into a meal. West of that is lizardfolk land. They can be dangerous, but if you're careful when you approach, you can sometimes deal with them."
"Ah! But this is Hartsland! You is Hartsland citizen now! Welcome!" Kereek jumps up and bows deeply, and comically, as he bends over too far and tumbles across the room. Jumping up, he frowns and glowers at anyone who dares to laugh.
"Lost of fey around here. Anyone we would know of?" Treshiell asks and slides into a seat next to the cauldron. She listens intently to the witch, her gaze never wavering. The only movement Treshiell makes is a slight twitch when Old Beldame talks about the Candlemere lights, although any trace of her reaction vanishes as quickly as it came.
The witch looks confused at Kereek's words. "Huh, I didn't realize I'd been conquered," she finally replies acidly.
"Does that mean your you'll be protecting me from bandits and whatnot?" she asks Jon.
"I'm not so close to them that I know their names, young lass. They mostly leave me alone and I do the same to them."
"Kereek no conquer Beldame! Kereek lover, not fighter. Besides, Hartsland is good place! Good kingdom! Jon Jon is good Good Baron! Beldame will be happy happy with Hartsland! Yes yes!" Kereek nods repeatedly, punctuating each word with an excited punch in the air.
"Kereek no conquer Beldame! Kereek lover, not fighter. Besides, Hartsland is good place! Good kingdom! Jon Jon is good Good Baron! Beldame will be happy happy with Hartsland! Yes yes!" Kereek nods repeatedly, punctuating each word with an excited punch in the air.
"I didn't know that", Treshiell says and shifts her attention to the excited kobold. "Is that why you're trying to find a mate for Jon? Kereek, are you a romantic?"
Smiling broadly at Treshiell, "Kereek is very attractive kobold! Kereek like happy endings. Jon Jon need happy ending! Nice human female, make many eggs, make happy Hartsland, happy people!"
"No Beldame, we have not conquered you. But we do have an eye toward taming the lands around us, which may include extending our boarders so that we can better protect the populace from banditary and the like."
Smiling broadly at Treshiell, "Kereek is very attractive kobold! Kereek like happy endings. Jon Jon need happy ending! Nice human female, make many eggs, make happy Hartsland, happy people!"
Jon laughs at Kereek's words, as they remind him of why he has grown to found of his kolbold friends over the past years.
"Kolbolds say the darnest things..."
"Tell me, have you had trouble with bandits in the last year?" Jon continues.
As he leans against the door jamb, Orin's head snaps up at Kereek and Treshiell's exchange "Why you little... Relax man, he had no way to know how you feel. Hell, even SHE doesn't know how you feel." Orin clears his throat as he brings his thoughts back to the matter at hand "Thank you, Ma'am. Your advice will go a long way towards making sure we're prepared for any trouble that we might face in those areas." He shakes his head "Was that as lame as it sounded?"
"Bandits usually steer clear of me, unless they want something they're willing to pay for. Maybe you missed it, but that scarecrow ... well, it scares more than crows."
Treshiell's attention drifts back to old Beldame. "What does it do? Is it of fey make?"
"What do Beldame make? Can us big heroes buy good stuff, too?"
"It's of my make, but I think I'll not be sharing its secrets with people I just met. Trust me, though, it's more than capable of taking care of itself," she says, with a cackling sort of laugh.
"What do you want, little kobold? I make creatures that move on their own, weapons to pierce the strongest hide and armor to stop the worst hurts, and any other sort of little trinket you might wish."
"Ooo. You is good friend! We be friends, right?" Kereek puts on his best friend face, which resembles a great lizardy dog, complete with lolling tongue.
The Old Beldame gives you a long, piercing look.
"I suppose we can be friends, as long as you don't try to cross me."
Prazil watches the exchange with some interest, though much of it moves too quickly for him to keep pace with. However, when Orin lurches to attention, Prazil takes note and observes the rugged ranger very closely for several minutes. His gaze shifts from Orin, to Treshiell, to Jon, back to Treshiell, back to Jon, then back to Orin again. He then nods sagely, tapping one grey-scaled finger against his lips in thought.
Ahhhh. Prazil see now! Orin am jealous and stuck in dramatic love-triangle! Hmmm... how can Prazil help Orin win heart of his secret love? Prazil must think on this. Jon likes radishes, maybe their love can grow from mutual love of radish soup!
Prazil chuckles quietly to himself, offering Orin a knowing nod followed by a less than subtle wink complimented by a thumbs up.
Orin notices Prazil out of the corner of his eye. Looking over he sees the little kobold give him an overly theatrical wink and a thumbs up sign. Puzzled Orin thinks to himself "What has gotten into his mind this time?"
"We're raising a fledgling nation, Beldame. Best to make friends with all the neighbors we can. There's enough enemies around as it is."
"So if Kereek and Beldame friends, then Beldame make magic things for Kereek? If Kereek give Beldame gold and time? Yes yes?" Kereek smiles happily. "Kereek very good friend! Kereek find mate for Jon Jon and Jon Jon is Kereek friend! Beldame want mate, make many eggs?"
"Yes, I suppose if you pay me for my time and materials, I would be willing to enchant some items for you. But I certainly don't need a mate. I'm happy out here by myself," she replies.