"Umm..."
"I think I can get something started. A little help, here? Whoops, tied that to my wrist. Bad."
Celyne helps build the travois...
"We already build travois for those bandits we transported back to Oleg's. Come on, we KNOW how this is done. Just make it larger! Giant-pig-large!"
"But it doesn't scale uniformly! Something twice as long weighs eight times as much! You gotta compensate for that. Maybe these ropes won't handle the tension!"
" As for where to go first...is the Gallow's Farm on the way to Renaults?"
Zokon tries to help with the navigation and logistics of packing up and how far to move and the logistics of it all
"So...Gallows first, to pick up a Wagon?", Alia asks confused.
"Perhaps there is a farmer around who can rent us a wagon?"
Numalar tries to recall if they passed any farms close by on their way to find Tamris.
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"So...Gallows first, to pick up a Wagon?", Alia asks confused.
"Actually, I hadn't thought of that specifically - I was just thinking we may need a wagon to move this beast, and the locals probably have those. But it would give us a plausible reason to visit farmer Gallows if we wanted to be subtle about it. I don't mind this idea."
"I can stay if you're not going to be too long."
... Posh inquires looking at the beast, making sure to draw his rapier and stab it to make sure it's dead...
"Sure. If we don't pass the farm on the way, lets head back to the fair. I know we are waiting to talk with the Gallows, but do you have an idea what you're going to tell Renault? Or do we hope the death of Tuskgutter will buy us enough sympathy to get a pass on the in-depth explanations...", Alia states while feeding and petting Vega
"I spoke with his 'lordship' before the events of the festival and he's highly suspecious of us, thinking we've come here to stir up trouble or something." Posh states as he shrugs his shoulders. "I just hope if we stay out of his way he may ignore us, but I doubt it."
"I spoke with his 'lordship' before the events of the festival and he's highly suspecious of us, thinking we've come here to stir up trouble or something." Posh states as he shrugs his shoulders. "I just hope if we stay out of his way he may ignore us, but I doubt it."
"Pfft." Scarlet rolls her eyes. "Authority, always jumping to the wrong conclusions. If he's smart, he'll listen to reason."
"I spoke with his 'lordship' before the events of the festival and he's highly suspecious of us, thinking we've come here to stir up trouble or something." Posh states as he shrugs his shoulders. "I just hope if we stay out of his way he may ignore us, but I doubt it.""Pfft." Scarlet rolls her eyes. "Authority, always jumping to the wrong conclusions. If he's smart, he'll listen to reason."
Posh gives a chuckle and then strightens his pack and tightens his lips.
"I am afraid that would be asking far too much, my lady." in a poor attempt as a jest of Renault.
Zokon shakes his head an but into the conversation.
"Well after the tale of how we bested this group of assassin/traders is spread then we should have more value in his eyes"
"Thats what I meant, Zokon. He will want to know what these guys were after. Unless you mean to let Renault know of the Dappled Wolves and their vast value, we will need some story to explain what happened."
Zokon leads leads the way to a small nearby farmhouse (about 2.5 miles distant) that he believes belongs to farmer Jon Gallows. Fan remains behind to watch over the camp.
Gallows, a broad, balding human of middling years, with a thick mustache is sitting on his porch cleaning his shears when you arrive. A brown-haired girl of about ten sits on a big rocking chair behind him dangling her legs.
When asked about the wolf he responds in a way that seems to suggest he has told the story before--recently and probably more than once.
"It was near dark, ya see? I was jus' done tendin' me field when I spots this huge beast lumberin' toward me daughter Betty dere." He jerks a thumb at his, who scowls in return.
"I'd seen it snarlin' and slobberin' as it come, ready to scoop her up in its jowls and devour her in one bite! I ain't about to let it though and I come at it fast wit me pitchfork 'ere!" Jon picks up his pitchfork, and waves it madly at the party with some drama.
"Then it done bit me on me backside right 'ere." He twists around and points to his overhaul's most recent patch. "I weren't afraid though it hurt something fierce I tell ye. I stabbed it once, twice, three times wit me haystacker." He says again brandishing the pitchfork with wild flourish. "And it run off howling like the wild devil-beast it was." He pounds the butt of the pitchfork into the ground like a proud spear-man might do to his spear after a successful campaign and beams like a ruddy, middle-aged sun.
Zokon gives Fan his Longsword
"Quite heroic of you to defend your girl. So you actually managed to stab that wolf with your pitch fork? Repeatedly? Nimble little beasts, they are, so it's quite some feat to get them like that! Good job...", waiting for an affirmation that he DID hit the wolf, Alia would then turn towards the girl:"And how did your daughter take it? You seem very relaxed now, with your heroic dad protecting you...how did it feel when that beast came close? Anything you remember about it?"
"It was just playin' up was all. Trying to make friends. It was a perty dog--the biggest darned one I ever saw--all speckly. But it twas friendly enough. It did try tugging on my dress a few times though, I guess." Beatrice chimes in.
"'Tryin' to make friends' huh? More like it was tryin' to make supper." Her dad shoots back.
Zokon gives Fan his Longsword
"I shall endeavor to be worthy of it." He says solemnly with his chin raised a bit.
Scarlet seems impressed by Father Gallows' bravery. "You take good care of your kid. I know she's in safe hands with you about. Whether or not it seemed friendly, you have to defend your family first, right?"
"So it was a dog, not a pig..." Scarlet muses. "Because we saw a huge pig-the size of a wagon- charge at us and it was bloodthirsty! A dappled wolf ran by and helped us kill the beast. After we were victorious, the wolf looked on, nuzzled my armor for a bit, and then returned to the deep woods. Maybe that wolf was trying to protect us..."
Scarlet deliberately leaves out Grogan and company, and pumps up Rain's heroics.
"Speaking of pig, we're looking for a good butcher around here to help us carve the carcass. We can't eat it all of it on our own, you know."
"Maybe...." The farmer says, torn between Scarlet's compelling tale (no doubt embellished by wild axe chopping and simulated Judo holds) and his own magnified experience with Rain.
"It was just playin' up was all. Trying to make friends. It was a perty dog--the biggest darned one I ever saw--all speckly. But it twas friendly enough. It did try tugging on my dress a few times though, I guess." Beatrice chimes in.
"'Tryin' to make friends' huh? More like it was tryin' to make supper." Her dad shoots back.
"Speckly? Interesting, most wolves aren't like that..." Posh looks over to Alia and then Fan for a moment to see if either of them picked up on that and his possible suspicions "We ran into one not long ago. Strange to run into another one so soon..."
Alia whispers to Mister Gallows:"It's better if she believes it was harmless...she's too young for the harsh reality of how closely she escaped death...", then approaches his daughter:"Oh, the wolfie meant to play with you? Where have you been when it came? I mean, did it come right here to the farm, or where you out playing someplace? And where did it want to go with you?"
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Numalar listens closely to Farmer Gallows.
"You say you were wounded. Do you need healing?"
"It did try tugging on my dress a few times though, I guess." Beatrice chimes in.
"We ran into one not long ago. Strange to run into another one so soon..."
Numalar nods, agreeing. "Of course, the one we encountered was trained. It belonged to someone, and sought us out at the fair to try and bring us to help its master. He had fallen in a pit. Fortunately we found him in time."
"And where did it want to go with you?"
Numalar looks at Alia and nods. "Yes, what do you think it wanted?"
I wonder if she will draw a connection herself? Numalar thinks.
"Speaking of pig, we're looking for a good butcher around here to help us carve the carcass. We can't eat it all of it on our own, you know."
"Yes," Numalar nods. "Do you happen to have a cart or wagon of some sort? Perhaps we can hire you as a wagoneer for the day? I've never seen a pig so large. We thought we would bring it to the fair and throw a barbecue."
"Speckly? Interesting, most wolves aren't like that..." Posh looks over to Alia and then Fan for a moment to see if either of them picked up on that and his possible suspicions "We ran into one not long ago. Strange to run into another one so soon..."
"Uh, well there's all sorts of weird stuff round these parts, being close to the woods and all. I heard that one of the Bezken kids wrassled a black kobold the other day." Gallows says.
Alia whispers to Mister Gallows:"It's better if she believes it was harmless...she's too young for the harsh reality of how closely she escaped death...", then approaches his daughter:"Oh, the wolfie meant to play with you? Where have you been when it came? I mean, did it come right here to the farm, or where you out playing someplace? And where did it want to go with you?"
"Just up the path near the squash." Beatrice says pointing back the way you came. "I was looking fer bugs. I guess it wanted to play."
Numalar listens closely to Farmer Gallows.
"You say you were wounded. Do you need healing?"
"It did try tugging on my dress a few times though, I guess." Beatrice chimes in.
Numalar looks at Alia and nods. "Yes, what do you think it wanted?"
"Maybe to play hide and seek?" Beatrice says not very sure herself.
"Speaking of pig, we're looking for a good butcher around here to help us carve the carcass. We can't eat it all of it on our own, you know.""Yes," Numalar nods. "Do you happen to have a cart or wagon of some sort? Perhaps we can hire you as a wagoneer for the day? I've never seen a pig so large. We thought we would bring it to the fair and throw a barbecue."
"Well I got a cart I could rent ya. And I automatically comes with it ya see. How about we call it 35 cp fer the day. We can swing back here and all head out to the fair. Where's the carcass at?"
"And your daddy was right there, with you? Or did you have some time to pet the wolfie. You know, a friendly one helped us back there, to bring down a HUUUUUGE pig. A real hero wolfie, snapping at the pigs short legs and making it fall, to protect us. Was all speckled too, maybe it was the same one°!, Alia smiles at Beatrice.
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"Well I got a cart I could rent ya. And I automatically comes with it ya see. How about we call it 35 cp fer the day. We can swing back here and all head out to the fair. Where's the carcass at?"
"Done! It's back this way a bit. Not too far."
Numalar hands Farmer Gallows 4 silver pieces. "Keep the change," he says to the farmer. He saddles back up, preparing to lead the cart. He turns back to Farmer Gallows.
"I'm sure you've told a lot of people that story about the wolf. Was it your idea to go to Renault about it? Or was that someone else's idea? Or did Renault come around himself?"
Zokon follows the conversation but they seem to have handled the situation well, he will accompany them and help to load up the carcass.
"Well I got a cart I could rent ya. And I automatically comes with it ya see. How about we call it 35 cp fer the day. We can swing back here and all head out to the fair. Where's the carcass at?""Done! It's back this way a bit. Not too far."
Numalar hands Farmer Gallows 4 silver pieces. "Keep the change," he says to the farmer. He saddles back up, preparing to lead the cart. He turns back to Farmer Gallows.
"I'm sure you've told a lot of people that story about the wolf. Was it your idea to go to Renault about it? Or was that someone else's idea? Or did Renault come around himself?"
"Well I told Fusti and he told that dullard Rolf and Rolf told his old man who naturally told Anne and she told all the farmers' wives and they rose a big stink and then what with the fair and all Renault held some big meeting and- and- Bob's yer uncle. And I've told that story a hundred times today or I'm a gnome... Er, no offense." Says Gallows.
"Pa! you knows you only told that story six times fer when all the different hunters came about looking fer clues." Beatrice shouts from across the farmyard where she's talking with Alia.
Scarlet nods. "Sometimes these stories get out of hand. Don't worry about it."
Turning to her friends. "We should probably get the wagon ready. This town's gonna feast tonight."
In a reverie "Mmmmmm bacon..
Zokon notices the others have left to start work he smiles at farmer Gallows and goes with them.
Scarlet looks about at the fair and decides to do storytelling with the kids. Mercenary tales make for great adventuring stories if you romanticize it enough.
Otherwise, she learns some farming tips and advice. It's always been her dream to retire and grow plants in a farm somewhere.
Clearly, she has much to learn.
The morning of day 1, Alia spends mostly accompanying Fan, performing a bit with him, talking with him, apologizing again for how she treated him. She's clearly trying to build bridges here, but possibly seeming reluctant due to the slow pace she does so, used to social interaction with other elves.
In the afternoon of day 1, she heads over to Esme's Stage and joins her again, in chatter, storytelling, performance, and dinner. Having already spend time with her before, and not having any awkward moments in their mutual past, things go a lot smoother with her.
On the 2nd day's morning, Alia would attempt to take part in some mock battling. She will neither be a good winner, nor a good loser, though...blaming any failings on not being able to use her own weapon, and being confident that any victory takes place because her training had been as long as the life span of some of those participating. All in all, not behaviour-patterns that will gain her many fans.
Feeling spurned at the mock battles, Alia will, during the 2nd days afternoon, instead unpack her smithing supplies, and rework some blunted blades too brittle for the whetstone, heating them, resmithing them, re-sharpening them. With the basic form already given, it is a lot less work and does not require heating the metal as much, and the knifes, scythes and other weaponry and implements she hands out are as good as new, while the act of seeing an elven lady smithing may be an interesting thing to watch for several of the fair-goers.
Bringing his cousin an drink that Zokon thinks he likes from a very good vendor
"Hey cousin it all worked out in the end. We're all still here, how about I do you a favour in future?
"Hey. You'll fire another arrow another day. But you've only got one cousin. Well, OK maybe you have more. But you get my point."
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"So that was it then, eh?" Renault says leaning up against a big fireplace topped with a huge stuffed fish. "Impressive."
"Well, Mister Renault, I'm not known for it but I'll try to be brief."
"A group of people, including Grogan whom you know, had captured Tamris and were trying to pry information from him. So Grogan was doubly eager to kill the wolf, as not only would it earn him your bounty but it would also keep others from finding out what they were up to."
"Once we found where Tamris was being held, Grogan's friends attacked us, but we overcame and captured them. We released Tamris, and since Tamris did not wish to lay charges or avenge himself on Grogan's band, we released them as well with a warning."
"We spoke to Farmer Gallows and his daughter. Beatrice said the wolf was 'tugging at her dress' and seemed 'playful' - not hostile at all, which tells me that Rain was probably trying to get her to come and help Tamris, just as he did with Mister Auric at the fair."
"Farmer Gallows chased Rain off with his hayfork, and apparently Rain bit him on the... posterior. But considering Rain helped us face down Tuskgutter, I doubt that Rain was afraid of him. If Rain really wanted to kill Farmer Gallows, Gallows would probably be dead."
"For what it's worth, I think Tamris and Rain are headed south, so I doubt you will see either of them again."
"I'd be happy to answer any questions if you have them."
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Things for Numalar to do at the Fair:
#1: Track down Larimus Finch and Fusti Isben about Tuskgutter. If they want the head they probably need to take it now before the barbecue.
#2: Find a cook for Tuskgutter. I'll ask around to find out who people would want to be in charge the cooking (i.e. the most popular cook), and then see if I can get that person to do it - I'll offer to pay for whatever they are drinking if they are game, and if they need any spices or herbs that are available at the fair I will buy ingredients for them.
#3: Speak to Esme. As a bard she no doubt has heard a lot of stories. I want to know if the name Nyrissa is familiar to her, and I'll mention that she was imprisoned or banished for "loving above her station." I'll drop the idea that I may commission a song about her if she can get details - I actually would want to do that eventually.
#4: Mingle! Most of Numalar's time will be spent "ingratiating." The locals seem put off by Numalar's aristocratic air, so he is going to try to seem friendly and approachable. Numalar will generally be happy to buy drinks for those who are drinking with him. Say about 20 gp on booze... that will probably buy a lot of beer. Numalar will stay away from the hard stuff until late evenings, after the children are all gone home.
He'll participate in one of Esme's productions...
He will tell stories from his Valdralee repertoire around the campfire. If there are children present he will ask their names before the story starts. "What a coincidence! The hero of this story is named Sasha too!"
He will also try to swap gossip and rumors, particularly with those who are drinking.
I am assuming one of my four time periods is occupied dealing with Renault and the other errands but if I have four time periods I will do more storytelling (just take 10 for a 19).
"Well, Mister Renault, I'm not known for it but I'll try to be brief."
"...We spoke to Farmer Gallows and his daughter. Beatrice said the wolf was 'tugging at her dress' and seemed 'playful' - not hostile at all, which tells me that Rain was probably trying to get her to come and help Tamris, just as he did with Mister Auric at the fair."
"Farmer Gallows chased Rain off with his hayfork, and apparently Rain bit him on the... posterior. But considering Rain helped us face down Tuskgutter, I doubt that Rain was afraid of him. If Rain really wanted to kill Farmer Gallows, Gallows would probably be dead...."
Gallows rubs his posterior in sympathetic reaction.
"So that was it then, eh?" Renault says leaning up against a big fireplace topped with a huge stuffed fish. "Impressive. Never did cotton to Grogan or his friends."
Fusti Isben a short, wide, blonde Iobarian man with a fez and a slightly distracted look takes possession of the head to get to work on the head-cheese.
Larimus Finch the tiny, wizened, retired hunter with four teeth left flashes his gums and presents the party with his old bow and arrows.
"So which one of you brought that monster down?"
The younger men (Hal, Henson and Rolf being the foremost) crowd about the party and ask a number of fannish questions. "How did you...?, Were you scared? Did you...?"
Mr. Renault presents the group with the reward for the wolf for getting to the bottom of things and seems noticeably less sour. This is not to say that he seems friendly--just less sour and happy about the way things turned out.