Zokon figures that Svetlana does not like the presence of a woman of interesting morals at her place.
He will do a patrol of the premises to restore his knowledge, he will then hang around and socialise with the rest of the group
Fan gladly recounts any number of adventures though he longs to give you proper musical accompaniment (which eventually Posh's magic can provide). As for the Company he parted ways with them in Tymon in the River Kingdoms about a year ago BB was still with them then. They just gotten some big job a little further south, though he admits ale has rendered most of the details of their last night together a bit fuzzy.
"A year ago, huh?" Scarlet scratches her head as they walk. "Just as I exiled myself. Nonetheless, it's good to see you back Fan. I hope your year has gone well."
Naleksa seems to be getting on swimmingly with the guards.
Scarlet takes a look at Svetlana, sees her glaring at Naleksa, looks at the pleased guards, and laughs. "She'll calm down when she gets older, Svetlana. I was pretty antsy in my youth, although I was more prone to fighting than...uh...entertaining."
Celyne will greet all when the party returns to Oleg's. She'll stay with Svetlana and ask her for a meal for herself and Luna... "We got little sleep last night and I'm tired... ready to turn in early if that's okay. Something to eat first would be much appreciated if you've anything available... even cold cuts or bread and cheese would be fine... for me at least.. and raw meat for Luna... you don't need to really prepare anything."
After eating, she'll let Luna patrol freely on the grounds, with instructions not to eat anyone (lol)... then she'll relax and doze in the common room... and perhaps a bit later actually go to bed.
Posh looks over this man and takes in what he's saying with great interest.
"Pitax huh? Quite far from here." he states simply "Have you ever been to the River Rats Tavern? I've not seen Apollonia nor her sister Belina in some time. How're they doing?" he asks with a hopeful smile.
"Oh they're both fine, though Lord British hits upon them relentlessly." Then after a moment's pause, he asks in a conspiratorial voice. "Your friend Celyne, is she with anyone?"
Numalar is at first bemused by Fan's story. But at the description of the kobold attack, he frowns. Those kobolds clearly wanted this man dead; it had to be more than just a robbery, since his coin purse is already gone.
"Can you tell us anything else about these kobolds? You say they just popped out of the grass? It looked like they meant you harm personally. I hope you didn't do anything to stir them up."
"Certainly not!" He sounds offended by the idea. "I was minding my own business, hiking, when they fell upon me."
Then looking meaningfully at Celyne he amends "--By the dozens! I of course acquitted myself as valiantly as any man bearing the name Auric, as I come from a line of expert duelists, don't you know. With sword and spell I fought them to a standstill and then some." He says waving his hand about like a fencer.
"Why if it weren't for the crows we could probably find a high mound of their corpses out there taller than the grasses. But once their numbers grew past count I was forced to see the wisdom in withdrawing. Still I shaved their numbers down to the point that I doubt you will see them attacking this trading post anytime soon." Puffing out his chest he smiles broadly.
"Mister Auric, if you don't mind," Numalar beckons the bard to join him on the battlements.
"That stone over there... that was the one you were waiting near for your friend Tamris? So you wandered off to look for him, and somehow ended up several miles off course and ended up where we found you? How did you get so far? Did you have a horse at the time?"
"Perhaps some of us should ride out there now. Your friend might have arrived after you did, and is now waiting."
Again, Numalar pays close attention to Fan's answers.
"Tamris is a bit of a hermit and a good one too. While I am a fair woodsman I would never be able to find him in his home in the Narlmarches so I thought I might stop in an see a mutual friend--well I suppose he's not really a friend--more an acquaintance the old wizard in the hills who goes by the name Bokkin to see if he had had any word. Tamris you see is never late, and it made me quite worried. I was just on my way there when the kobolds attacked and they chased me for quite a ways."
"If we could head back down now? I am quiet hungry from my long jog." He says looking at Celyne eating at the picnic table below.
"A year ago, huh?" Scarlet scratches her head as they walk. "Just as I exiled myself. Nonetheless, it's good to see you back Fan. I hope your year has gone well."
"You as well! I can't thank you and your friends enough." He says. "The year? Yes, yes, very well indeed!"
Fan looks deep into Celyne's half-elven eyes.
"Celyne, you are a rare treasure. To have such beauty that can tame as fierce a feline as you friend there--surely you are blessed by Shelyn."
After eating, though obviously exhausted, Fan entertains the outpost with a mixture of song and lute music, with one romantic ballad directed at Celyne.
Numalar goes over to Sir Kesten, and addresses him quietly at a time when Fan Auric and the others are amusing each other. "Sir Kesten, perhaps you can help me. This man has a remarkable story to tell that I, frankly, don't quite buy. He says he was waiting at that stone yonder for a time and then went wandering. Did you or your men see anything out there? Did this man go by the post here? If his story is true he would have had to pass close by."
"It's possible. There are not many usable landmarks out in those rolling fields and its been overcast much of the day, so even the sun is suspect."
"We don't do much in the way of scouting. We just don't have the qualified manpower. Besides, I though that was your job." Kesten leans back and sighs, looking back as Paun and Pease vie for Naleksa's attention. "How was your trip to Restov? Is the Lord Mayor or the Magister sending any more aid?"
After the other conversations have died down, Numalar takes Kesten aside again, and asks, "By the way, how are Chick and Wilbur doing? Any problems?"
Kesten's frown deepens. "Well, they nearly burned down the outpost after accidentally lighting the middens on fire. Does that answer your question?"
"Rreeow!"
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Oh they're both fine, though Lord British hits upon them relentlessly." Then after a moment's pause, he asks in a conspiratorial voice. "Your friend Celyne, is she with anyone?"
Posh smiles and then looks to Luna and turns back to Fan to whisper.
"Well she has Luna. Fierce animal really. I've seen hear tear a man apart and that's only someone who attacked us. Lord knows what she'd do if it was someone who got her really mad."
Zokon just happens to be wandering past Kesten not really going anywhere, just moving to keep himself occupied
"Of course, would you prefer a discrete location or is here fine?"
"Wilbur and Chick, the bard, even that crazy sewer cat--why do this to yourself? Why do you bring these people here?"
"Wilbur and Chick, the bard, even that crazy sewer cat--why do this to yourself? Why do you bring these people here?"
Scarlet scratches her chin. "It would be easy to not help, I guess. But.. why not? If I can use my strength to save someone and encourage them to keep living, then..." Scarlet ponders. "Life is worth it."
"Those two ratfolk will hang for what they did. I wanted them to flee, to drop their anger and hatred and apply it to something positive. I couldn't save 'em. I wish I could have stopped them before they started their crazy plot. Before they took lives in the name of revenge. Failures like those keep me goin', Kesten. I don't mind takin' the hits if it means I can save someone's life."
Scarlet looks up for a bit, contemplating if she should add anything else.
"Pass the soup."
...even that crazy sewer cat--why do this to yourself..."
"Simple in some cases, Wilbur and Chick well I promised them they'd live if they surrendered and they kinda helped us take down their bandit group, the cat well I have no idea talk to Alia and the bard. We saved his life and this is a natural junction point to anywhere else"
Zokon inclines his head slightly "In each case we have saved lives or made lives better, isn't that what we should be doing?"
When Fan looks deeply into her eyes and compliments her, Celyne blushes slightly and smiles at him warmly. "You do have charms to melt the hardest of hearts, Fan. You are too kind."
|
"Simple in some cases, Wilbur and Chick well I promised them they'd live if they surrendered and they kinda helped us take down their bandit group, the cat well I have no idea talk to Alia and the bard. We saved his life and this is a natural junction point to anywhere else"
Zokon inclines his head slightly "In each case we have saved lives or made lives better, isn't that what we should be doing?"
"Zokon is right, Sir Kesten; we did have an obligation to give Chick and Wilbur a chance, and we are grateful that you are watching over them. As to the others, Naleksa will travel with us, and the Bard we are escorting to the festival at the Renault farm. The cat will no doubt travel with Alia. I don't know why she kept it but that is her business."
"We have a big job to do and we won't turn down help if those that offer it are competent."
Pre-dawn the next day.
Someone is hammering outside... LOUDLY.
Those who drag themselves out of their beds and head down and out into the chilly morning air finds Oleg nailing a new poster to the side of the stable.
"There was a wolf attack just west of here. Renault's putting up the coin."
Sleepy, Alia walks out to see who is hammering...and inspects the poster.
"Aye, obviously evil. Tell-tale goatee and all. I hope farmers in the area are smarter than to try and risk their live for the reward...there's a whole PACK of wolves thats hunting long pi...I mean humanoids."
Stretching, she will then walk over to the well and wash up, before searching breakfast for herself and Vega.
Celyne rolls over and goes back to sleep until she's had her eight hours, not wanting to risk yet another day without spells.
Luna gets up and wanders over to inspect the noise, but has no comprehension of anything on the poster... She sniffs Alia and nuzzles her hand while she stands reading it... then after the greeting, wanders off to find something to eat.
Scarlet tumbles out of her bed, remembers to wear something and watches Oleg nail the poster.
"Damn. Wolves. So that wasn't a random attack at night." Scarlet scratches the back of her neck that they almost tore out. "I'll definitely keep my eyes open for 'em."
Scarlet gives Scarlet a sideways glance.
"Yeah, the last thing we need is some foolhardy farmer getting torn up." She smiles. "Glad you're looking for the little guy, Alia."
Numalar thinks back to their encounter with the wolves and the Worg.
Was that worg 'dappled?' Or any of the wolves that got away?
"The runner just brought this a few minutes ago. Guess there's supposed to be a big meeting at the Renault place mid-morn. Every hunter in the valley is likely to be there."
Svetlana staggers out in her nightgown and coat. "Hun?" She inquires then yawns. Oleg explains the situation to her.
"Oh? I'll go boil up some water for the coffee."
Scarlet looks hard at the picture of the wolf. She tries to remember details about the wolf attack. Suddenly her mind is filled with the image
of a wolf in a suit and top hat, dancing to some kind of primal beat. She breaks out into laughter.
"Oh, bad timing! Bad timing! I'm gonna help make food or somethin'. Svetlana, anything I can do? Hopefully not fragile?"
"Can you collect the eggs from the hen house?"
Scarlet looks hard at the picture of the wolf. She tries to remember details about the wolf attack. Suddenly her mind is filled with the image
of a wolf in a suit and top hat, dancing to some kind of primal beat. She breaks out into laughter.
"Yeah, it must've been a rush. Usually the kid who charcoals these things does a fair job though--especially considering the cost of parchment."
"Eggs. Got it."
"Did I not mention fragility? If I can handle gems, I can handle eggs, I guess." Scarlet heads off to the henhouse.
Scarlet manages to not anger the chickens inside, but she's all butterfingers and drops a few eggs. She sighs. "I still haven't gotten the hang of eggs, after all these years..."
"That's okay Scarlet. Oleg likes them scramble anyway."
Alia, looking at the handful of eggs Scarlet dropped AFTER leaving the henhouse, turns towards Svetlana:"It seems Vega likes them scrambled, too. Sorry about that."
Posh shrugs, having no idea of the situation as he looks over the wolf picture and back to the group.
"Are we really that skilled at hunting?" he asks as he continues to look at this wolf and for a moment even feels a little intimidated by the image. "Shall we continue searching and mapping these lands to the west and maybe find it?"
Celyne finally gets her 8 hours and renews her spellcasting ability for the day. She comes downstairs for breakfast and finds the coffee just made and the eggs just being gathered. asking around as to what the noise earlier was, she hears about the poster and goes to look at it...
She admires the picture and comments that the artist might have placed the ears a little too far apart and the mane too long... but can't recall anything special about dappled wolves... Calling Luna to her side, she heads back to offer Svetlana a hand with breakfast.
Zokon looking very tired stumbles almost trips out of the bunkhouse
Zokon was distracted a noticed nothing of Alias's slip
"I think we should goto the meeting so that we can see some of the locals and have them see us, it might make our jobs easier if they know what we are up to as we can try and get information out of them"
By the time everyone is up and about it become clear that Fan left in the middle of night--"To get a jump on the day" or so Tokin the third watch guard explains.
Hustling for part of the way gets you to what you can only assume is the "Renault place" a mansion-sized farm the equal of many small thorps with outlaying sheds, a huge barn and trio of small cottages for the help--some of whom are already tending to the fields. All-in-all it is very impressive, even to those in the party who have served in the court of Brevoy.
The main house is a huge, rambling two-story, cabin with several smoking chimneys, porches and a couple of balconies overlooking nearby gardens.
The locals toiling in the fields look up as you pass along the horse path under the clear morning sky.
On the front porch a middle-aged man who looks more like a stable-hand than a doorman shouts: "C'mon in. They already started!"
He calls to a couple of young hands to tend to your horses and Sir Didymus.
"You might want to leave yer cougar too." He adds.
Almost before the matter is settled he bustles you all into to a large common room which looks more like a hunters' lodge given the number of furs, bows, hatchets, spears, and knives in possession of its inhabitants and the number of trophies upon the walls. Over a dozen earthy looking men stand about murmuring among themselves.
A man at the center of the throng with dark grey hair and the look of an eagle about him surveys the room. He looks at you as you enter (perhaps taking a double take) and then shouts over the collective noise: "Is that the last of them, then?"
"I think so sir." Says the doorman.
"Good. Now everyone simmer down."
The chatter trails off.
"Now as you know there's been reports of a big charcoal and grey dappled wolf on the prowl. Just yesterday the beast attacked Jon Gallow's girl. Luckily it was driven off before it could do much harm, but who knows when it might strike again. Good people I want this animal found and caught or killed to prevent further harm to our community or the visitors who are here for the festival. To this end I'm putting up 250 gold crowns of my coin as bounty. May Erastil guide us."
He answers a few questions and with that he concludes. At once the conversations commence again as the hunters file slowly toward the door.
Zokon approaches the man
"Master Renault where were these sightings please so that we may have a better idea of the wolfs roamings?"
Celyne sighs... mutters "She's a tiger, not a cougar, and she is my companion, but if it would make you more comfortable, she can stay outside here... "
She instructs Luna to sit on the porch, which the tiger does obediently, and Celyne says firmly, with the correct hand signal, "Guard!"
She turns to the man and says sweetly, "See now we will all be safe."
"Fan, you idiot. There's a wolf roaming about and you ran off in the middle of the night?" Scarlet mutters to herself.
"Do you know if the wolf strikes by itself? Or does it travel in a pack?" Scarlet asks. "It may be an alpha, or a rejected alpha."
"Fan, you idiot. There's a wolf roaming about and you ran off in the middle of the night?" Scarlet mutters to herself.
"Do you know if the wolf strikes by itself? Or does it travel in a pack?" Scarlet asks. "It may be an alpha, or a rejected alpha."
"To get a jump on the day...I wonder what he meant by that." Posh wonders outloud, but shrugs as he accompanies the group to try and find out more about this wolf and the danger it presents.
"Fan, you idiot. There's a wolf roaming about and you ran off in the middle of the night?" Scarlet mutters to herself.
"Word only just arrived. Besides, he couldn't rightly pay for room and board." Oleg says. "What sort of life is that anyway? Flittin' about playing music. And did you see how tight his pants were? Bah. Now if he could make nails or heal sore thumbs--that would be worth somethin'."
Zokon approaches the man
"Master Renault where were these sightings please so that we may have a better idea of the wolfs roamings?"
Renault nods to one of his servants, a tall man in overalls, who points to a framed map of the immediate area hanging on the trophy wall under an elk's head. While Renault observes the servant explains.
"So we's here and that's the Gallows' place, but thar's been a o' lot o' lone wolf sightings the last few days out as far as the wood." He shivers noticeably at the mention of the Narlmarches.
Arriving at the Renault Farm, Alia finds herself ushered into a meeting of hunters. After the business concludes and the hunters file out, she will first take a look around for Fan Auric, then for Esme(intending to ask her how she fared, if she can be found).
After the inmediate business is concluded, she will meet up with her companions again: "So, anybody found Fan or his friend? And about this wolf...should we even try and compete with the hunters? Or let them try and deal with it. Certainly, they must have folks capable of dealing with those wilderness beasts around here-"
Some of those hunters seemed pretty skilled. Even if we try, others will find the animal first, and we'd have wasted time trying to chase it down for the reward. It's quite a bit of money, but our chances would be slim at best...