While looking down at the map, he nods, happy with the choice of direction. When the subject changes to that of potions and a potion maker, Markov looks up from the map. "Hm, I don't think I met Bokken either, or I don't remember him well. He's that.... Crazy hermit I heard about?"
Mahdrig lets out a shrill, short laugh, almost a bark.
"Haha Hahahaha! So if you weren't raised in the shadow of pitched roofs with offal pooling in the streets you're a crazy hermit, then?! Perhaps some of us prefer to live as civilized beings, in harmony with nature, not bound to chaotic, corrupt urbanity."
Mahdrig seems amused and not at all offended, and lowers her voice.
"Yes, Bokken is owl-pellet-crazy. He's a solid brewer, though. I know him... casually. We can trust him."
Oleg "Bokken is the potion maker, lives in a hut just over there. I don't think he has been here the same time as you, but he was in for one of Svetlana's pecan pies just a day or so ago..I remember you went through his place in that initial sweep you did."
Markov just stares at Mahdrig for a bit before sighing and shrugs. "Hey, it was Alexander and his group that came through here first with their... oh. Oh! Well, damn. I think we may have an issue. Lemme check something." He gets up and heads to the bunk house to check something.
Mahdrig lets out a shrill, short laugh, almost a bark.
"Haha Hahahaha! So if you weren't raised in the shadow of pitched roofs with offal pooling in the streets you're a crazy hermit, then?! Perhaps some of us prefer to live as civilized beings, in harmony with nature, not bound to chaotic, corrupt urbanity."
Mahdrig seems amused and not at all offended, and lowers her voice.
"Yes, Bokken is owl-pellet-crazy. He's a solid brewer, though. I know him... casually. We can trust him."
"Well, in its defense, chaotic, corrupt urbanity has feather pillows and some damn fine wines," Nedyr smiles, "But good that you can vouch for him."
Oleg : "So anything special potion wise that Jhod and Bokken can brew up for you?"
"You can never have enough potions of healing of some sort in my opinion," Nedyr says "Beyond that, no idea. Glibness? I could use that to get out of trouble next time I get caught"
Oleg..."I believe you already have the gift of gab."
Mahdrig pats Nedyr on the shoulder. "Rest and poultices can heal wounds as well as a magic potion, my dear. I do know a thing or two to keep you alive."
Mahdrig rummages through the barrels in the store.
"Besides healing potions, we'll need to guard against the unknown. Antitoxins, restorative potions, and even an invisibility or fly potables- these can really help us in the wilds."
Mahdrig busies herself with her spell component pouch.
"We can't kill everything we face, savvy? So let's be better prepared for surviving overall, not just the teeth of a wolf or the sword of a brigand. Oleg, if the boys are taking requests, a vial of lesser restoration and a second, haste. Please ask the others first though, maybe a few healing potions are best."
Jhod: "I was speaking of a one time potion that was more powerful than anything Bokken can usually make, and beyond what Oleg stocks in his fort."
Jhod nods at the suggestion of lesser restoration, "Aye I can see about providing that." Jhod shakes his head about haste "I am afraid that magic is not my sort.....".
Oleg..."I believe you already have the gift of gab."
"Thank you," Nedyr says with a smile, taking it as a compliment.
Jhod: "I was speaking of a one time potion that was more powerful than anything Bokken can usually make, and beyond what Oleg stocks in his fort."
"ooo, a potion of youth, I.. no, I doubt he could make those or else he'd be rich."
Markov returns, looking a calm as before and sits back down on the chair. Listening to the ideas about potions, he nods. "I have heard of that Haste thing. Um, competent mage are able to cast that, right?" He lets the question hang in the air a bit before continuing. "Well, haven't seen a mage around here, and the only one I know of has left already." He shrugs.
But the restoration, now that would be useful, he nods. "The lesser restoration would be useful. Maybe something that can either delay, or remove poison? Or more potent cures? Those might be best." As he puts forth his suggestions of potions, he looks back at the map.
Jhod "So one potion of lesser restoration and one to cure poison?"
Markov nods. "Sounds good to me." He turns to the others. "Lets also sort out our gear. We should think about other supplies than just a couple potions."
He stands up and begins to go over things that are needed, but then he recalls the adamantine dagger that was found. Wait... Were those extremely expensive? Nearly two new suits of fullplate expensive? That dagger could purchase a whole lot of supplies.
Markov thinks then roughly puts his hand over his face. Grimacing from the poorly thought decision, he walks over to Nedyr with a slightly red palm print on his face. "Nedyr! I just remembered something, and I hope you can help, can you happen to recall how much that dagger we found truly costs?" He sighs as he wonders how much that dagger truly costs.
"Oo.. let's see, not my strongest suit, but..." He looks it over.
"Well the dagger itself might prove useful in combat, if we keep it. What other supplies do you think we should gather, Markov?"
"To the right person, I might be able to sell it for a thousand, but at least 500 I dare to say," Nedyr smiles.
"I can see about selling it if you want, the man I trade with in Restov is trustworthy."
Orrik lifts one eyebrow at the mention of a competent mage being able to cast Haste. "I once saw the magic formule for that spell. I do not have it scribed in my spellbook, and I fear that the complexity of that formula is beyond my current abilities. With continued experience and study, one day I hope to be competent enough to cast that spell."
Once the group is ready to move on, he says, "As for what to do next, I say that we look at the place with the hot springs and the giant frogs that our mischievous but friendly fey told us about. We may wish to check in with them again to see if they have learned anything further. We should also bring them a gift. I am told that most fey like bread, honey, milk, and alcoholic beverages... Oleg, could you brew us up some small portions of a honey ale or some such we might gift them with?"
Orrik is willing to pay for the brews.
Oleg: "Now if it is scrolls you need to order, I can get them shipped in, you just let me know and provide the funds and you will have that scroll in two weeks, give or take....Or I can sell the dagger and use those funds."
Oleg shrugs "Brewing is a bit beyond me, though Svetlana might have something in the kitchen among the pots and pans."
Svetlana walks past and smiles.....
Sense motive DC 14
Markov stares at Orrik, like a dog that has just been caught doing something bad. "Er... Sorry. Just because I have a keen nose, it doesn't mean there is much behind it sometimes." He cringes slightly with a shrug.
When Orrik suggests new course of exploration, Markov can't help but to nod. "Well, figuring out with what is up with that place would be a good idea. Since springs tend to be sources of water." He grins. Sounds like a good idea to me. He thinks. But when it is suggested to meet the fairies again, Markov begins to frown and growl. "That may be all well and good. But I know for one I don't want to meet them again if I can help it. They sabotaged my saddle, passing it off as a 'prank'. Not to mention other little tricks they did to us." He then decides to fume while going over the map. Damned fairies. Screwing with my saddle. Though admittedly, I guess when they knocked me out, was a bit on my part though... Damn it.
"Hot springs and giant frogs? Alright, I'm game," He nods to the wizard's suggestion.
At the mention of booze, the half elf chuckles, "If we can't find booze, some sort of ribbons or other bright things might be enough should we run into the fey folk again."
Oleg likes the talk about giant frogs and hot springs and all that.
He looks at the map...."So you guys are going to round out this top area and then hit the river and go up to the origin of the hot springs?"
Svetlana produces some hair ribbons of assorted colors....
Nedyr, as usual, is chipper and talkative once he wakes up fully, "Glorious day, I must say."
"Indeed," Orrik says. "And if we find some corn on the way, we should note the location so that Svetlana might make use of it in her still...."
"In the mean time," he says, "If we might bring some bread with honey, that might be a small token of friendship for the merry fey pranksters. I do think it worth getting over any grudge we have for their past behavior, as having friendly eyes in the forest could be quite valuable."
Orrik finds Nicholas and gives the lad another silver piece. "Thank you for taking good care of my horse," he says.
To the horse, he says, "Come, Triaxus." He will load up the horse and get ready to head back out into the Stolen Lands.
"Okay, those statues look far too... accurate for me to be comfortable." He gestures to the stone piglet
Markov nods as everything is put in order and packs it upon the horses. And then heads on out with everyone. "Well, lets head on out and go to that temple."
Later on when Jhod calls for a halt due to noticing something, Markov gently nudges Snow to trot along side his horse. Not noticing out of the ordinary himself, he was about to shrug and continue, but he sees a stone snake. "Huh...? Did fairies do this?" He then hears Jhod's thoughts on the matter. "A Cockatrice? What's that? That name doesn't sound right to me for some reason."
He scans the surroundings since he is beginning to not feel too secure in this area. "Ya know... We might... Want to be careful. Everyone, keep your eyes peeled for any movement." He says out loud to everyone.
Mahdrig slips the potion of lesser restoration into her pack, assuming she'll need to administer it at some point.
"If we are to explore the wildlands, Orrick, this is a good plan. Securing landmarks will strengthen our reputation. Just be sure you are noble about it, not savage," Mahdrig casts a sideways glance at Markov, "Not everything in these woods is prey, my friends."
Mahdrig takes the ribbon from Svetlana and adds small pine cones, river rocks, and bits of shiny river glass. She sprinkles the makeshift offerings with some dried herbs, and chants a quiet prayer over them before carefully placing them in her pack.
Mahdrig is quiet but agreeable, following along as they depart Oleg's.
Heeding Markov and Johod's warning, Mahdrig brings Char to a quiet cater, and brings fire to her fingertips in anticipation of danger.
"Cockatrice, if we are lucky. We are best to leave this foul pest its territory and move on. Calcification is a terrible way to go."
When Jhod says the word "Cockatrice"...
Orrik dismounts next to Jhod. "We all need to be very careful. If you see what looks like a nearly skeletally thin bird with bat wings, close your eyes, avert your vision! If you meet its eyes, you will start to calcify, and eventually turn to stone. The same will happen if it bites you. Foul creatures."
"Deee lightful," The swashbuckler says nervously, glancing about, "I just hope if I get petrified, my statue is in a dignified pose. I've embarrassed the family enough as it is."
Markov growls as he pats his mount on the neck. "Well..." He looks around to see if there is anything moving out there in the area. "Lets get out of here before we find out what ever a... Cockatrice looks like."
He turns his mount and flicks the reigns to get Snow moving. "Right, unless it attacks us, lets get out of here."
Riding atop her coal-black horse, Char, Mahdrig squints her eyes into the brush, searching.
"It's quiet," she says to her companions. "...too quiet."
"Well, frogs aren't stone around here. I still hear them," Nedyr says with relief. "It's getting dark, should we set up camp or keep going a bit longer?"[/B]
"Nedyr makes a good point. Dear Markov, how far is the temple from here? I'd prefer shelter overnight, what with those capricious fey flitting about. A bit of hustle might provide the best shelter, and the forest's blessing."
Growling under his breath the whole while they traveled away from that cockatrice's hunting grounds, Markov still is keeping his eyes open before turning to Mahdrig. "Hrg. Um... Lets see." He pulls out the map and tries to get a feeling of their location. He mumbles under his breath, tracing a finger from where they started, to possibly where they ended up. "Hm... We left Oleg's here... Traveling through here to get to here... So we must be..."
He points to a location on the map that is close to the temple Temple from Oleg's. "Here I guess?... Hrm. What do you guys think?" As he presents the map to them.
But noticing that it is in fact getting darker, shelter is foremost concern to himself right now. "But we should find shelter. Even if we are close to the Cursed Bear's Cave, it wouldn't be wise to travel in the dark." Looking around, Markov tries to see a suitable spot for a camp. "While I can make myself see in such conditions, and I think Orrik can as well, the horses do not. So unless we want to take our time and walk through the night by foot, we should find a place to bunk down for the night."
While were here, Orrik looks around for any sign of Perlivash and Tyg-Titter-Tut. Unlike some of the others, he'd actually rather hoped to run into the two small fey creatures....
Consider whichever of the following are appropriate:
If he does't make contact with them, when we set up for the night he'll leave out some of the food we brought from Oleg's just for this purpose.