"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'.""Fan, you idiot. There's a wolf roaming about and you ran off in the middle of the night?" Scarlet mutters to herself.
Posh laughs at Oleg's statement.
"I was like that not so long ago, Oleg. It's never good to judge someone so unfairly without having walked in their shoes." Posh smiles as he looks back to the group with a thought. "I am somewhat concerned though...I still don't believe his story entirely, but I've no reason to not trust him if Scarlet vouches for him."
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.
Posh raises a eyebrow at the man's visable shiver.
"What's wrong with the Narlmarches?" he asks as he thinks back to if he ever heard about these marches.
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...
Posh smiles at the mention of this and nods
"I couldn't agree more! I'm certainly no hunter of beasts and I'm very curious where Fan went. It seems odd he'd leave so early." he states with a smile as always to keep the group's spirits up as well as his own. "Besides, since we found him in trouble it's best we go save him again."
Posh. Nice guy. Honesty feels goods, doesn't it?
"Yeah, I'd rather find Fan than hunt the wolf down." Scarlet stands up. "He said he would be at the fair, so I wouldn't mind going there to see where he is."
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"...should we even try and compete with the hunters?"
"Some of these men surely are better trackers than us, though depending on what sort of wolf it is, they might find that it is more than they bargained for if they catch up to it. The 'dappled wolf' is clearly unusual somehow, though we cannot say how yet. I have some suspicions... but they are merely conjecture."
"We shouldn't see ourselves as in competition with the others; rather, whoever finds and deals with the wolf has done a service to the community. If we come across it we should deal with it. In my mind we should resume exploring, starting with this area."
"I am somewhat concerned though...I still don't believe his story entirely..."
Numalar's eyebrows go up. "Have you hunted some other type of game?"
"But as far as Fan goes, I can't say I ever found his story especially plausible. He said he wandered from a spot two miles west of Oleg's to somewhere along the road several miles east of it, without going past it. He may be a pawn in some scheme that he does not wish to speak about, or he may be up to something. I couldn't tell, but I wonder if he provoked the local kobolds somehow."
"He said he would be at the fair, so I wouldn't mind going there to see where he is."
"This is the Festival. I don't know if the festivities will resume, or if the remainder of them have been cancelled because of the attack. We could ask Mister Renault."
"Oh, if they threaten to cancel the festivities, that wolf is going down! I came here to see Esme again!...
as for the wolf being unusual, there's also the Worg you saw. And bandits. These are dangerous lands, and the beast was driven off when it last attacked. I say let those more capable handle the hunting...if we do run across it while exploring, I'll gladly do a paid service to the community, but much as you had someone else train your dog, and someone else provide barding for it, I think it's best to let those trained in the job go after the beast. I am no hunter."
"I can probably give them a run for their money at finding the beast, but I sense that the consensus is fair then maybe hunt?"
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"I can probably give them a run for their money at finding the beast, but I sense that the consensus is fair then maybe hunt?"
"Our charter requires us to chase after bandits. But not wolves. If we come across it we can kill it, and perhaps skin it; a dappled coat would make a fine pelt. But otherwise, we could leave this affair to the locals, and get about our task of exploration."
"Lets get this done then.. to the fair"
Zokon takes off in the direction of the fair then comes back and jumps on his horse and takes off
Spread under a smattering trees in a semi-tended corner of the farm nearly a mile from the main house nearly two dozen carts and covered wagons sit. Carts of fruit and spring vegetables, crafts folk peddling their wares,entertainers, from as far as Varisia, juggle sing and play amongst the small crowd gathered to see them. Amid the festivities you pick out a few of the Benzen kids, Esme's stage wagon, and Fan Auric in his mended pants.
"Fan! There you are!" Scarlet makes her way to the bard. "There's a wolf lurking about. Don't travel in the middle of the night alone before the wolf is taken care of!"
Scarlet seems worried and a bit frustrated.
"Although I guess you made it okay. Am I interrupting something?"
Fan brings the jig was playing to a close and earns a sprinkle of coin in his upturned hat for his troubles.
"Not at all. I'm just trying to make enough back to thank you for helping me and to eventually go find Tamris. Here." He reaches down into his hat and from it hands Scarlet 10 silver coins. "A down payment for services rendered."
"An Auric is ever faithful." He says with an air of solemnity.
"I've heard a bit about the wolf problem. I'm hoping it will be all settled by the time I'm ready to head out."
Posh reminds silent and Numalar's remark and when observing Fan. He had no real reason, but something about Fan he just didn't trust, be he turns to the group with a smile.
"Where shall we all head to next? Maybe we should keep exploring this land and find more bandits? Not to mention the other quests we should be be helping out Oleg with." Posh suggests, reminding the group of their reason to be here.
"Oh! I can help!" Scarlet thinks deeply about her adventures.
"Now, then! Hey Fan, remember the time BB, you and me fought the Beast of Beriah Hill? It was supposed to be a simple message delivery. Three days across the countryside and kicking up our feet at the manor." She jogs in place energetically.
"But then, Fan heard something approach. Skittering amongst the bushes, it leapt ahead of the tree line, at least 15 feet tall!" Scarlet hops ahead.
"It spit webbing at me, thick as ropes! Held me fast! BB used his cunning to conjure an arc of flame, melting the webs. I raised my longsword and with one mighty slash, I spread a wound across its chest!" She swings a stick through the air.
"It screamed in pain and skittlered back into the night. We won!" She raises her arms in triumph.
"A memorable performance, Scarlet!", Alia smiles, then looks at Auric, "What you said does not really explain why'd you decide against travelling with us in my eyes...did you not enjoy our company?", glancing over towards Celyne with a smirk on her face..."Hurry or not, you've been jumped once in this area, and your kind doesn't see too well in dim light, do you? Very bold of you to press on during the night. But if there were...reasons...for you to do so, you would surely share them with your long-time-friend and colleague, so I'll not worry about wrapping my head around this any more after seeing you are safely here. I hope you are successful and find your friend."
Alia will then leave Fan with a mock curtsy and seek out Esme, giving him a chance to confide in Scarlet.
"A memorable performance, Scarlet!", Alia smiles, then looks at Auric, "What you said does not really explain why'd you decide against travelling with us in my eyes...did you not enjoy our company?", glancing over towards Celyne with a smirk on her face..."Hurry or not, you've been jumped once in this area, and your kind doesn't see too well in dim light, do you? Very bold of you to press on during the night. But if there were...reasons...for you to do so, you would surely share them with your long-time-friend and colleague, so I'll not worry about wrapping my head around this any more after seeing you are safely here. I hope you are successful and find your friend."
Alia will then leave Fan with a mock curtsy and seek out Esme, giving him a chance to confide in Scarlet.
Both men know that when Valorin was but ten years old he was savaged by a great wolf or worg in the Gronzi Forest, leaving him visibly scarred and with an abiding hatred of the beasts. He has since become an archer whose skills rival those of Zokon.
"Alia!" Esme shouts from the stage where she is busying herself with sawing a local milkmaid in half. "I'll be down in a drip!"
She redoubles her sawing much to her assistant's distress.
She completes her performance and accepts some coin from the small crowd gathered before her stage.
As the crowd departs one little human girl whom you don't know squeals "See, I told you hafwings were magic."
Her twice as old older brother nods dutifully and takes her for some lemon-flavored ice shavings.
Her hat full of coin's Esme changes out the sliding signs indicating the day's program and comes to sit down on the edge of the stage.
"How was your trip? Did you get caught in the rain?"
"You there, halfling." Says a rather thuggish looking man pointing at Poshment. "The lord wants a word with you."
Looking past him Posh can see a old, fancy, enclosed, six-seater carriage with a bit of heraldry carved in relief amid its darkly-stained exterior. Its blood-red curtains are drawn against the morning's pale light.
Scarlet earns 10 coppers and a silver piece for her tale.
"You're a natural!" Fan beams.
"I bet you're tough in a fight." One towheaded lad of about eleven says in wide-eyed admiration.
Meanwhile, Luna takes note of a carriage containing a multitude of caged decorative birds....
Zokons face lights up when he's recognises the face of his much admired cousin
"Valorin.. " he says at barely a whisper taking a step forward... "Valorin " he yells with a bit more gusto Increasing his pace and now running at his cousin..
He embraces Valorin with friendly vigor "Good to see you cousin!"
"I had nagging feeling I didn't need to worry about the wolvs and well here you are.."
Zokon seems to be floating in the clouds..
Celyne calls Luna to her, trying to distract her from the feathered playthings... "Those aren't toys for your enjoyment, my girl... " however Luna is focused and licking her lips, butt wiggling in a crouch, as if ready to pounce...
Celyne is finally glad that Luna is a small tiger, and straddles her, sitting on her back and holding her with her legs... She grabs the scruff of Luna's neck and holds her tight... "NO! Bad kitty!"
When she finally has Luna's full attention, she slips off the tigress' back. With a fistful of mane, she drags the reluctant cat away from the bird wagon...
"AHA! Well met cousin!" Valorin slams into Zokon embracing the man in terrific hug. "I'd only just arrived to see how you were doing, when what does everyone one tell me, but Zokon's gone to back to Restov! HA!"
He releases Zokon and ruffles his hair.
"This is Greyling and Soot my current accomplices." He introduces his friends who both pause for a moment to consider how to greet you, before Valorin breaks the pause with a nod and the men settle on smiles and very firm handshakes.
Amid the gathering are a number of other men all their apparently to purchase archery supplies.
"So? How goes it with you?"
When she finally has Luna's full attention, she slips off the tigress' back. With a fistful of mane, she drags the reluctant cat away from the bird wagon...
Celyne drags Luna to the mutton-seller and buys a haunch, nibbling a bit herself, but feeding most of it to the cat, keeping 'her highness' content with chunks of meat which Celyne is sure she'd prefer raw. She wanders a bit more among the carts and wagons, stopping and perusing the wares at the perfume seller and the glass-blowers...
Celyne purchases a very small vial (5 uses) of perfume, and gives the seller a little smile as she hands over 5gp. "Your wares are amazing and this smells wonderful... thank you." She tucks it away safely, but doesn't use any yet.
I wish Andriel were here, he'd like this, I'm sure of it. As she walks away, Luna at her side, she gets a wistfully sad look on her face.
"Well I was able to get a spot on an expedition to the stolen lands to make it civilised and by some luck I've even managed to land myself with a trustworthy and capable bunch. I'm even ok as an archer now, not at your standards yet i'd say but soon"
Zokon pauses to let that information sink in.
"We're setup at Oleg's so if you ever need anything send a message or show up there and i'll be there eventually. I'd introduce you to my companions but they've dispersed into the faire grounds "
Scarlet seems like a kid at a candy store, hopping between various attractions.
Next up is the shooting range.
Scarlet's aim is way off, however.
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Numalar wanders around the fairgrounds, taking in the atmosphere of the place, paying attention to the stalls and entertainers but more interested in the attendants of the festival - the farmers, trappers, and other folk who are here to enjoy it.
He casually strikes up conversations with various people around the fair, which will begin as casual small talk but will turn towards local issues - who comes from where, what people know about the surrounding area, and so forth.
Numalar starts up a conversion with local hunter Hendson Noshbin who's waiting for his friend Rolf Deers to finish stocking up at the fletcher's before they head off after the 'dapple'. Hendson is tall, rail thin and about twenty with messy blondish hair and a nearly-detectable, sparse, uneven beard. His friend looks much the same but with straighter auburn hair.
"Yeah, knowin' old Gallows it was probably a fat squirrel what jumped 'im. Still 250 crowns...." The young man's eyes glaze a bit at the thought of it.
Meanwhile at the the picnic table set up next to the meat skewer cart a bunch of local middle-aged folk congregate to gossip.
"There some queer happenings in the 'Marches. First the bandits then the kobolds now this wolf business." One man says.
"To bad Old Breeg isn't around; he'd get that wolf."
The mood suddenly sours.
"He almost got me leg last autumn. The man's a right bastard! I hope he's dead in a ditch somewhere!"
After a moment of silence a man who has perhaps had too much to drink at mid-morning speaks up bitterly. "It's the work of our good neighbors no doubt." He emphasizes his point by hammering his empty tankard down.
All present at the table take and throw a pinch of salt over their shoulders.
"I hear tell it's all a plot by by them Houses in Brevoy to confiscate our lands."
"Brevoy? I heard it was that hornets' nest in Mivon that was buzzin' these days."
"Meh! Mivon. Brevoy. They's all cut with the same rapier."
Everyone at the table laughs grimly.
Hendson, still talking about what he'd do with his share of the 250 gp reward stops when his friend arrives with their supply of arrows and their off.
"You be careful now Mr. Numalar. We'll show that squirrel!" He and Rolf laugh and head off westward.
Scarlet seems like a kid at a candy store, hopping between various attractions.
Next up is the shooting range.
Scarlet's aim is way off, however.
"Student of yours Zokon?" Valorin says with a smile. He slaps Zokon on the back collects his purchases makes to leave.
After they have collected their mounts they trot past.
"Once I've killed the wolf and return perhaps you'll let me show you the proper way to use that bow. You can of course watch too Zokon."
He smiles and he and his men prod their horses into a gallop and they thunder out of the fair heading west.
Zokon takes the ribbing in stride, smiling the whole time
"Safe Journey, with you on the hunt I can concentrate on getting some work done"
He turns away slightly forlornly to see what his companions are up to.
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1d4
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(Hendson Noshbin) "Yeah, knowin' old Gallows it was probably a fat squirrel what jumped 'im. Still 250 crowns...." The young man's eyes glaze a bit at the thought of it.
Numalar chuckles as if he knows 'old Gallows.' "Hah! A squirrel, eh? That would be something, but I doubt we could convince them to give us 250 crowns for a squirrel fur. Heh heh. But... are there any other animals hereabouts that are 'dappled?' "
"To bad Old Breeg isn't around; he'd get that wolf."
The mood suddenly sours.
"He almost got me leg last autumn. The man's a right bastard! I hope he's dead in a ditch somewhere!"
Numalar acts confused. "Who is this Breeg? I've never met him. Is he a wolf-hunter? And what did he want with your leg, might I ask?"
After a moment of silence a man who has perhaps had too much to drink at mid-morning speaks up bitterly. "It's the work of our good neighbors no doubt." He emphasizes his point by hammering his empty tankard down.
All present at the table take and throw a pinch of salt over their shoulders.
Numalar frowns. "Excuse me but... by good neighbours I take it you're not talking about Mister Breeg anymore, are you?"
"You there, halfling." Says a rather thuggish looking man pointing at Poshment. "The lord wants a word with you."
Looking past him Posh can see a old, fancy, enclosed, six-seater carriage with a bit of heraldry carved in relief amid its darkly-stained exterior. Its blood-red curtains are drawn against the morning's pale light.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Pausing for a moment Posh looks around in confusion before pointing at himself in confusion.
"What does this lord of House Medvyed want with me?" Posh asks defensively, but soon realises it's best not to make a scene and goes with the man.Once at the carriage Posh will speak up.
"I don't believe I've ever been to Medvyed, so how do you know my name?" he asks before getting a good look at who invited him here.
Scarlet shows up with a bunch of random trinkets, a turkey leg in one hand and a mug of ale in the other.
"Oh, I haven't felt this good since-" she burps. "Ah, much better."
As Esme recognizes her, Alia smiles. When the little girl squeals about halflings, Alia will repeat the coin trick, making it hover in the air and float over above the kids(just outside their reach:"And not just halflings, little one. Ice shavings are on me", before letting the coin fall.
Sitting next to Esme, Alia remembers all the things that happened:"Oh, our trip was rather eventful...rain was the least of our worries...first, on our way..." "...but in the end, we made it in time. I wanted to make sure we're here in time so I could see you perform again. That sawing looked like hard work. How about a bite to eat? If you tell me what kind of food is delicious around here, I'll go grab us something if your schedule allows-"
Numalar chuckles as if he knows 'old Gallows.' "Hah! A squirrel, eh? That would be something, but I doubt we could convince them to give us 250 crowns for a squirrel fur. Heh heh. But... are there any other animals hereabouts that are 'dappled?' "
Numalar acts confused. "Who is this Breeg? I've never met him. Is he a wolf-hunter? And what did he want with your leg, might I ask?"
Numalar does remember Breeg's name.
The conversation ends abruptly as all the folks around the table go stone faced. They stare at Numalar for a long moment and then as one stand and move off in separate directions.
"Breeg's a local trapper. Except he traps on other people's land and doesn't always mark his traps. If Tuskgutter hadn't taken Benzen's leg I would have guessed Breeg Orlivanch would've done it by accident." Hendson says before leaving with Rolf.
"We don't really talk about the woods."
Pausing for a moment Posh looks around in confusion before pointing at himself in confusion.
"What does this lord of House Medvyed want with me?" Posh asks defensively, but soon realises it's best not to make a scene and goes with the man.Once at the carriage Posh will speak up.
The lout opens the carriage door and with the aid of your excellent vision you can sole occupant to be none other than Samuel Renault. He looks toward the seat opposite you and gestures for you to enter and be seated.
"You and your friends, who are you?" Renault asks by way of a command.
As Esme recognizes her, Alia smiles. When the little girl squeals about halflings, Alia will repeat the coin trick, making it hover in the air and float over above the kids(just outside their reach:"And not just halflings, little one. Ice shavings are on me", before letting the coin fall.
"Is you a gnome like Mr. Numina?" The girl asks through teeth that aren't all in yet.
Sitting next to Esme, Alia remembers all the things that happened:"Oh, our trip was rather eventful...rain was the least of our worries...first, on our way..." "...but in the end, we made it in time. I wanted to make sure we're here in time so I could see you perform again. That sawing looked like hard work. How about a bite to eat? If you tell me what kind of food is delicious around here, I'll go grab us something if your schedule allows-"
"Sure I've got some time." She pipes.
Laughing at the little girls question, Alia will kneel down, and trace her ears with her finger tips:"Nay, I'm an Elf...the ears give it away- and we get to grow even taller than you humans. Unlike the Halflings or Gnomes like Mr. Numina!"
** spoiler omitted **Pausing for a moment Posh looks around in confusion before pointing at himself in confusion.
"What does this lord of House Medvyed want with me?" Posh asks defensively, but soon realises it's best not to make a scene and goes with the man.Once at the carriage Posh will speak up.
"Let me answer your question with another question. If you simply wanted to know who we are, why did you not ask at the meeting or even sit down with us and talk over a mug of mead?" he states in a laid back manner. "We are simply explorers here to find treasures, kill bandits and protect the innocent like any good group of heroes."
Posh smirks, laughing the question off. "Why would you be so concerned over a small group of individuals?"
Zokon will goto a vendor with ale and then continue wandering and taking in the sights
** spoiler omitted **
Posh takes a moment here to re-think his strategy here.
"Then your eyes and ears need a good cleaning because the most we have done so far is clean these lands to claim to be yours of bandits. Where were your men when these bandits arrived and started causing trouble?" Posh puts to him then before folding his arms. "What made you want to approach me anyway? Someone at the camp suggested I might be interested in giving up information for nothing?"
"And what? You expect me to believe you just wander the lands in search of wrongs to right and orphans and widows to save? Who do you work for?!" He shouts.
** spoiler omitted **
"Hey, Naleksa." Scarlet walks up to the woman, finishing off her turkey leg. "You enjoying your time here? I mean, traveling the world an' all."
"I don't know if you have a home, or you just don't like yours. But what keeps you here? Adventure? Excitement? Power? ... or just Posh?" Scarlet starts laughing, then burps and coughs.