Well that was quick, thinks Durgan, Humans are always in such a hurry. You'd have thought he'd want to take his time...
The next morning after his prayers, he heads to breakfast.
The Lady has just handed out some tokens of her appreciation for the actions of the night before which seemingly amounted to some papers taken from her father's study and a handful of long dark carpenter's nails, and an unstamped coin.
Scarlet snores the night away.
The next morning she checks her stuff, reads the summons and heads down to eat.
"Everybody sleep well? We need to figure out where we're going next. I had hoped to recruit my Company, but... that got messy."
Disturbed from her meditation, Alia does not turn to answer Igor:"I have no desire for food, or company, right now, but I appreciate the invitation. Please tell your Lady that I am indisposed and ask that she forgive my absense."
Disturbed from her meditation, Alia does not turn to answer Igor:"I have no desire for food, or company, right now, but I appreciate the invitation. Please tell your Lady that I am indisposed and ask that she forgive my absense."
Posh, leaning against the well yawns as he finds a blanket on him. He must've fallen asleep when Alia was telling him stories of the legends of her blade and family. He blinked and his stomach growled.
"Thank you Igor. I'll head in for breakfast." he got up, ready to make way to the dining hall, stopping to turn back to Alia "I'll get you something Alia. Would you prefer meat or leafy greens?"
Rather bluntly, Alia responds to the question: "I would prefer neither. There is water here, and that is all I wish for currently."
Rather bluntly, Alia responds to the question: "I would prefer neither. There is water here, and that is all I wish for currently."
Posh nodded, hoping once he got her blade she could open up a little bit afterwards or at least feel much better. He decided to have a little fun with Scarlet and the group by purposely creating a innuendo once he got into the hall.
"Morning Scarlet. Alia said she didn't want anything, but I'd still bring her something, I kept her company enough last night." he yawned and stretched as he found a table to sit near the lady of the place "It's strange, normally when I spend the night with a woman they get quite hungry."
Scarlet pauses. "Oy, she didn't come in?" Scarlet sighs. "You can't swing a sword when you're hungry."
She portions some of her food. "And I know she ain't in the mood." Maybe Scarlet is too much in a working mood,, or she finds the truth ridiculous.
Scarlet emerges and approaches Alia. "You're a stubborn goat. But if you're starving, you can't carry a sword. Your weapon will be thankful." She lowers a tray of some breakfast. Oatmeal and berries, mostly.
Serena eats heartily, filling her stomach without sating herself.
Serena eats heartily, though she does not satiate herself.
Serena eats heartily, though she does not satiate herself.
Posh looks over, amazed at how much food she was able to put away.
"Wow I have never seen anyone pack away so much food. Especially a half-elf." he smiles as an attempt to break the ice with her "We didn't get introduced yesterday. My name is Poshment Underhill. What about you?"
Zokon leaves his rooms and then makes his way to breakfast, he plonks himself near Serena if possible, She's honest and easy to talk to, no agendas that I know of, and she doesn't call me ranger.
Zokon digs into the food as well, not over eating, enough to enjoy though.
"Good fare, we shall probably have a day of riding if we can get our issues here sorted out," he says to Serena casually while eating.
"Return to your bright world then and take your rest. Return to the well at this time tomorrow and we shall see if I and my crew are worthy anglers."
After a very filling meal he sat with Alia, ready to begin descending down the well once more.
"Alia, I'll ask about shifting the debt, but I don't think he'll agree to it." he stated as he tied up his rope, ready to be lowered into the darkness once more.
"Serena Mistcastle," she offers a hand in greeting. "It is good to make your acquaintance, Poshment Underhill. You are the one who went into the well after the blade, are you not? You are very courageous, little one."
"Serena Mistcastle," she offers a hand in greeting. "It is good to make your acquaintance, Poshment Underhill. You are the one who went into the well after the blade, are you not? You are very courageous, little one."
"It was nothing. You never hear tales of great heroes climbing down wells for magic blades." Posh merely shrugged, downplaying it "Besides, Alia didn't seem too happy. It would've been better if I pulled out the blade or slayed a monster."
Posh gets up, ready to leave and head into the well once more.
"Oh, one other thing. You have a beautiful name to match your appearance. If you are interested, I can show you what surprises a little one can pack." he gives her a wink before leaving on his heroic mission of well spelunking.
Serena smiles at the compliment. "Thank you, but I am spoken for, I fear. Not that it wouldn't be a grand time, I'm sure." She returns the wink before gathering her things and heading outside.
*CRACK!* ... *CRACK! CRACK!*
It is the sound of stone on stone echoing up from the depths of the well....
Scarlet stands ready, hands on her hips. Hopefully Alia gets her sword back and they can move on. Those nightmares come and go. All end with something telling her to bring the Stag Lord's head.
*CRACK!* ... *CRACK! CRACK!*
Unless the sounds seem to come closer, or up the well, Alia will attempt to remain focused.
When Scarlet comes out and lectures her, Alia smiles softly, rubbing one hand across her belly:"There's no reason to worry just yet. Maybe it's the climate, or the food, but I gained a handful of pounds since I left Kyonin. A day without food won't be the end of me. I appreciate the notion, but I'm too nervous. I wouldn't hold it down. But I'll set it aside, and promise to partake of it IF this works out and my blade is returned."
A short pause, then Alia shifts her full attention on Scarlet: "I suppose you have no idea why your brother would have done such a thing? Hiring the company did not work out now, but if our paths cross again in the future...", Alia leaves it unspoken...if the blue beetle wanted her blade again, he would need to pry it out of her cold dead locked-gauntleted-hands...or die trying - and neither seemed a desirable outcome, all things considered.
*CRACK!* ... *CRACK! CRACK!*Unless the sounds seem to come closer, or up the well, Alia will attempt to remain focused. [dice=Will Save]1d20+4
When Scarlet comes out and lectures her, Alia smiles softly, rubbing one hand across her belly:"There's no reason to worry just yet. Maybe it's the climate, or the food, but I gained a handful of pounds since I left Kyonin. A day without food won't be the end of me. I appreciate the notion, but I'm too nervous. I wouldn't hold it down. But I'll set it aside, and promise to partake of it IF this works out and my blade is returned."
A short pause, then Alia shifts her full attention on Scarlet: "I suppose you have no idea why your brother would have done such a thing? Hiring the company did not work out now, but if our paths cross again in the future...", Alia leaves it unspoken...if the blue beetle wanted her blade again, he would need to pry it out of her cold dead locked-gauntleted-hands...or die trying - and neither seemed a desirable outcome, all things considered.
"Yeah I don't... know. My bro, he loves his blade. He always got mad at me when I chipped mine, or lost it in a dirt heap. It's a tool, I tell him."
She doesn't make eye contact with Alia. "I don't... know what happened to him. It was like he was throwing... somethin' cursed away."
Zokon will pull Posh up again when he is given the signal.. "You got it yet Posh?" he says down the well, not wanting to yell and annoy those down there.
This time Posh is lowered by bucket down into the well. And again as he passes into an implacable darkness and choking musty smell.
"Hello little friend." Again the ghostly voice and a sound like someone wearing wooden clogs walking on the deck of that strange benighted boat. "I have good news. We have retrieved your friend's blade, and no meager feat it was, I assure you."
The spongy hand reaches out, and presses a blade hilt into his hand.
Posh whistles a jaunty tune that he claims is a ancient dwarven mining song. As he feels the hilt he takes hold and gently holds it, careful not to make any sudden movements to make this odd character think he'd attempt to attack him.
"Alia will be pleased to have this back. I hope you do not mind if I bring the blade back first? I have lived the life of a conman so I am skeptical." if allowed he'll tug on the rope to head back up and hand Alia the blade to make certain it is her's and he'll return for a further discussion "About the payment. You see, the lady is an elf and she was quite adamant about her being the one to pay the debt as it was her blade. Is it possible for the debt to be transferred over and what was the payment you wished to receive for the retrieval?"
"That's just delightful! Thank you so much." Illthir grins and thanks the lady for her gifts. And for giving the skald a chance to sleep in a real bed; now that was a true treasure.
Seeing as they had to wait around for most of the day anyhow Illthir spends most of the day trying to gossip with the Lady of the house (taking care to not call her a child; she had head that reaction loud enough already!).
"Lady Vsevolod, if you don't mind, have you heard of anyone traveling down your well before? Forgive a commoner - we are not used to finding anyone living down there ..."
With a few trips outside to check that Alia hadn't expired of stubbornness of course. Oh and she should try and find Erevenwyg. It might help the fairy to have some sources of linguistical inspiration that wasn't foul mouthed dwarves. (Plus if she just learned "Angus" she'd have to learn common anyhow ...)
"This is my friend Erevenwyg! I don't remember if you were introduced properly or not. And please mind her language, she's trying to learn. But *uh* her usual teacher was kinda short and beardy ... Ah you'll understand."
---
When the fateful decent comes around Illthir is outside of course to watch the spectacle. As Posh descent again she encourage him with a "Good luck!" and tries to think of any stories where something good actually comes out of lowering a gnome down a well. Maybe I should sing the first? Hmm...
...
It seems as if she actually has a decent shot at that! The half-elf sighs in relief as whatever-dwelled-bellow had actually returned the blade. Then she shines up in a smile. "I must say; I'd expected it to be harder to get something out of dark bargains. Maybe your charm works down there too eh?"
"I do not treat with usurers little one, nor do I feel time as I once did. There will be time enough I think for a reckoning."
Posh can hear oars gently working the water. By the time he is tugged up out of the strange dark miasma all trace of the angler's little boat are gone except the echo of those oars.
Posh sighs and nods as it seems he failed in convincing the creature to move the debt and he couldn't think of something that could convince her otherwise. He could lie to her, but he felt he couldn't do that.
Once he was out he handed the blade back to her.
"I spoke with the, err, fun-guy down there. He was not interested in shifting the debt, but he never requested anything either." he told her sadly as he glanced back at the well and back to her "Would you be willing to accept my services as a protector of your family blade? That way you wouldn't owe me anything as it would be my job to retrieve it."
Alia reaches for the blade hungrily, grasping it, making sure it was...it.
Focused on the Estoc, she needs to force herself to pay attention to Posh as he talks, but does find time to answer:"Posh, your past colours your view. Shifting things around as you suggest would not erase the debt I already owe. To you, rather than the deep one, it would seem. He will make his request, in time, so do not do me the disservice of not allowing me to repay what I owe."
Alia was stubborn, but even the experienced Con-Man had to admit that debts usually didn't go away that easily. Shifting words might make it seem so, but when it came to pay up, there would be a reckoning.
"At least you have your blade again." Scarlet watches Alia inspect and check her blade. Just buy a new one, yeesh
"That's just delightful! Thank you so much." Illthir grins and thanks the lady for her gifts. And for giving the skald a chance to sleep in a real bed; now that was a true treasure.
Seeing as they had to wait around for most of the day anyhow Illthir spends most of the day trying to gossip with the Lady of the house (taking care to not call her a child; she had head that reaction loud enough already!).
"And here I was hoping that a traveling player such as yourself would have something to tell a cloistered lady something of the great wide world outside." Luljeta teases. Given the young woman's pallor Illthir does not doubt that she ever gets much sun.
"Lady Vsevolod, if you don't mind, have you heard of anyone traveling down your well before? Forgive a commoner - we are not used to finding anyone living down there ..."
A flash of memory strikes Illthir causing her to shiver.
"'Living?'" replies the Lady, growing a shade paler. "Well, sometimes there are bats, but other than that nothing living."
With a few trips outside to check that Alia hadn't expired of stubbornness of course. Oh and she should try and find Erevenwyg. It might help the fairy to have some sources of linguistical inspiration that wasn't foul mouthed dwarves. (Plus if she just learned "Angus" she'd have to learn common anyhow ...)
"This is my friend Erevenwyg! I don't remember if you were introduced properly or not. And please mind her language, she's trying to learn. But *uh* her usual teacher was kinda short and beardy ... Ah you'll understand."
Erevenwyg bows demurely.
"He was bloody stone-humper, your Ladyship." she says smiling at her mastery of the common local tongue.
"Um...?"
Alia reaches for the blade hungrily, grasping it, making sure it was...it.
Alia reaches for the blade hungrily, grasping it, making sure it was...it.
Focused on the Estoc, she needs to force herself to pay attention to Posh as he talks, but does find time to answer:"Posh, your past colours your view. Shifting things around as you suggest would not erase the debt I already owe. To you, rather than the deep one, it would seem. He will make his request, in time, so do not do me the disservice of not allowing me to repay what I owe."
Alia was stubborn, but even the experienced Con-Man had to admit that debts usually didn't go away that easily. Shifting words might make it seem so, but when it came to pay up, there would be a reckoning.
"I shall keep your debt in mind, but I cannot think of a way for you to repay me." he smiled as he thought of the uses of such a debt "Don't worry, I won't hold it over you or abuse it. I care too much to mess with you like that. Not to mention I'm sure Scarlet would break me in half if I did." he joked at the last part as it was the truth. Despite he was a obvious hedonist, he wouldn't abuse debt or power over someone for his own gain.
"I have it again, indeed.", Alia answers Scarlet with a sigh of relief.
To Posh, she nodded:"We do not know what will be asked of you, yet. The debt will, of course, depend on the price you have to pay. For now, I am glad you return unbleached."
Looking at Scarlet again, she grabs a small hand full of berries and eats them, before adressing the whole group:"So, what are we hanging around here for? We have a crime boss to take care off..."
Within seconds, the red strands re-appear in her silvery hair.
"Oh Erevenwyg just means that he was a 'dwarf'." She nodded approvingly at the fairy. It was *something* at least; better then that strange sylvan babble. (Well probably not from a linguistic point of view but she preferred "I understand it" to correct grammar anyhow.) Illthir decided to offer a quick tip before swapping topic. "Though Erevenwyg it might be good to describe people not only by what they hump. Sometimes is can be hard to tell them apart that way!"
"But I have some intriguing stories if you want to hear Lady Vsevolod!" Illthir grinned and mentally started to pick between tales to tell. Something with the right amount of thrill and glory - certainly nothing about kobolds and their neighbors beneath the ground. "Let's see. Once upon a time when I was up in Brevoy ..."
---
"Well Alia we were just waiting around for someone what needed a bit help to get their sword up!" Illthir made her best Igor-eye-waggle imitation at the elf. She had tried her best to keep this one inside the entire day, but now that Alia had her blade back she paradoxically felt she could crack the joke without getting stabbed. "And good job at that Posh! *Cough*"
The half-elf took half a step back just in case. "But it's a good question really; how far do we really think we'll get today if we need to make camp and all? Maybe it's better to leave early tomorrow. And enjoy another night in a soft bed. It was heavenly - you should try it!"
Seeing the colour and motivation return to Alia and hearing Illthirs return joke "Well if Lady Vsevolod will put us up for another night we should leave tomorrow and begin our journey back to find a solution." he says looking hopefully at the Lady
Durgan has watched these exchanges with fascination. He doesn't feel the need to inject himself into others' business, but at mention of staying another night becomes somewhat concerned.
"It would not do for us to overstay our welcome. Igor, is there any task I might be able to help with? I have a knack for most tasks from architect to woodcutter but I am most skilled as an accountant. "
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"It would not do for us to overstay our welcome. Igor, is there any task I might be able to help with? I have a knack for most tasks from architect to woodcutter but I am most skilled as an accountant. "
"Thertainly, thir." he says coolly (and damply). "Thir could athitht me in adjuthting the lightning rod on the beacon tower. It lookth to have come loothe from itth mounting latht night."
Igor climbs the bell tower (using the stairs of course).
"Er, lightning rod?"
Durgan looks at the weather outside. If it looks fairly clear, he will accompany Igor right away. If it looks at all stormy, he will cast Resist Energy (Electricity) on himself first.
He ascends the bell tower.
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"Ah, I thee you are familiar with our dramatically appropriate weather here in the highlandth. Very good, thir. It remindth me of the old country. I make do with a bit of copper wire that I trail down through the inthide of my thhirt and pant leg. It connectth directly to the metal plate in my head. Thee?" Igor moves to show Durgan the wire's pathway. "It'th like they thay, thir, 'the old wayth are betht.'"
While the day is drab grey there is no rain or lightning. The work goes quickly this Igor being more stand-offish than the 'night Igor.'
The day passes without incident .
Numalar spends most of it in the castle's small but crammed library.
Zokon goes with what appears to be the general consensus "That path on the map, straight back to the fort, seems to be the best, we'll have to be cautious but, when do we not need to?"
And so they go.
Castle Vsevolod sits on what is functionally the edge of Mivon's sphere of influence so there nothing, but trackless forests and hills beyond.
There is a ferry across the Little Sellen River in the tiny village that abuts the castle that allow hunters and woodsmen access to the forest on the other side. The laconic ferryman speaks in bursts of one syllable whenever possible and makes the sign of Pharasma whenever anyone mentions the castle or the name Vsevolod. He waves off any offered payment as if the coins were cursed.
The first day out is uneventful, peaceful even. The sky clears near dusk and the stars come out. Away from the cities and towns they shine particularly bright.
The next day remains clear and bright warm and the hills roll eastward as far as the eye can see. To the northeast the eaves of the Narlmarches loom. The old forest's edge is like a dark green wall.
A second night passes. The next day promises to bring you to your first real travel challenge--the Southern Shrike River averaging about 300 feet wide and reaching known depths of fifty-feet.
The party is only on the road for a hour when Durgan and Scarlet notice a suspicious shadow cross from overhead.
Manticores eat any meat, even carrion, though they prefer human flesh and rarely pass up an opportunity for such a delicacy. They are smart and social enough to bargain with or bully evil humanoids into alliances or offering tribute, and more powerful creatures may hire or bribe them to guard or patrol a place or area. They like lairs in high places, such as hilltops and caves in cliffs.
Finally out of the castle, Scarlet is glad to be out on the road. Alia continues to watch over her blade, Durgan and Serena are bit stuffy but they are trustworthy. Zokon still hates the term "ranger".
What is that? Scarlet raises her hand and points at the... thing overhead.
"Manticore!" Scarlet reaches for her blades. "We're probably on the dinner menu. Too bad I taste terrible."