At Tomid's angry glare and accusing tone, the leprechauns look and act like 5 year olds who were caught pulling the tail of the family cat AND caught lying about it.
"Aye, aye, ye have the full and form of it, I guess. 'Twas us havin' a bit o' sport wit da goblies, swipin' der "sacred stone" and rollin' it wily-nily 'cross the hillside. Didna mean ner harm wid it, honest! We'll let 'em be and dey won' come near da farm no more. Tis a shame, though - goblies always good fer a laugh, dey are!"
"So's now'n we be tellin' da true, I don' s'pose you'd still be willin' to part wit' somma dem spirits ye mentioned afore, wouldya?" the leader says, glancing up from his shuffling feet once or twice to see your reaction.
Meanwhile, the faerie dragon flies away from the leader and heads off in the direction of Zinny and Hugo...
Grizelda flat smile twists sideways at the childish mannerisms of the Leprechauns. She is reminded of her younger brothers and what rascals young boys could be. She'd watched over them for many years and if she'd learned anything in that time it was that mistakes and even mischief making was human... and even fey apparently. But making amends for your mistakes was how you build character and grow... perhaps for magical creatures as well.
"Well, the Gnome who owns the vineyard is very concerned for his ancient vines. I've read that many of the noble fey have a way with plants. Would you possibly be able to heal the damage done? The rock wall is easily repaired, but the grape vines are special. I'm certain Burrbarr Drenn would be thankful for the aid and I will keep my bargain and pitch in the bottle of wine promised to me for you and your fellows. Would that be agreeable to you?"
"Alas, miss, we have no skills with plants. Our magic and talents lie...elsewhere...But buildin' up da wall we can do! You can meet us der later wit' da wine. C'mon, lads, let's go!" They walk off into the woods towards the vineyard, singing dirty limericks and laughing...
************************************
On the way back to Drenn's place, you stumble upon an idyllic scene - a small stream running down the hillside in an open glade, lush with rich, green plants and moss and vibrant flowers all around. In the mist of the stream is a rainbow, resting on a small wooden chest with iron bands. The top is open and it is heaping full of gleaming gold pieces! (It is about 12 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 8 inches tall)
Grizelda gasps at the sight, "Oh my! I thought the myths about Leprechaun gold were exactly that! Why this looks like a fortune! Do you think they mean for us to have it?" Her fingers twitch reflexively as she turns her blinking gaze on the others looking both excited and fearful at the same time.
Jackpot.
"Very generous of them," Silas observes, eyeing the gold. Oh, he could fill the sanctuary with wheels of cheddar and colby jack and little heated circle of bris with that much gold! But he is trepidatious about anything belonging to fey due to old wives' tales. That is why when Abigail cautions not to touch it, he agrees. "Most wealth is an illusion. Or at least, the happiness is promises to bring is illusory. The only commodity that affords us true joy is good works and kindness. Let us hope Burrbarr has no deficit there, for we'll be needing to rely on his generosity to pay this ransom in wine."
"Whut?"
Yes Silas, it seems the fairies are holding a grudge.... I am not sure they'll help repair the wall after all, or play with the goblins somewhere else.
Zinny too looks wide-eyed at the gold. And she'd thought there'd been a lot of wealth from their first trip! She hesitates, though-- somethin' seems funny about the pile of gold just sitting here-- and when Abby explains it's not real she nods, agreeing.
"Yeh, it don't.... sparkle right."
At the revelation that it's poop Zinny bites her lip on an inappropriate giggle. "That's good as gold to Jerry, though...."
Note she is not offering to carry it back with them. Not even for Jerry.
He frowns after Doc Ginley elaborates. "Well that is just indecent." And other than that, he wants nothing to do with this "stool's gold" and keeps heading back towards the vineyard.
Grizelda leans close to the illusory treasure and sniffs deeply, frowning even more than usual. "Ugh! Indeed it is. Roguish pranksters, Leprechauns." She shakes her head, chuckling lightly. "We'll have to be on guard for such things, but I don't think they mean real harm, Doc."
After an hour or so you find your way out of the woods - seems the leprechauns led you in pretty deep! Once you find your way to the vineyard, you are mildly surprised to see the wall is put back together - in better shape than the surrounding wall, in fact! As you walk through the fields, you see a few hands out working who wave cheerfully at you. Back at the manor, Burrbarr eagerly listens to your tales. He is surprised to hear about fey creatures in his neck of the woods, but does not doubt your word that his troubles should be over now. He happily pays you each 30 Gold and a bottle of wine as agreed, and offers another meal and night to rest before heading back to Daggermark. He will loan you horses again - you can just leave them at the stables and he will pick them up next time he is in town.
Having been woken by a shower of Whiskey, Hugo had spent much of the return walk in a dazed stupor. Much of the time he had to lean on Zinny for support, all the while going on about shining balls of light and angels coming to him in a dream.
"Is kinda weird dough, I dun tink Gorums da kinda God ta be sendin pretty ladies ta tell ya stuff. But den again I dun remember anytin she said." Hugo looked more than a little sad about that last bit, staring off into space as he contemplated whether he had missed his chance at greatness.
"Abi, Silas...ya tink she be comin back ta tells me wut she wuz gonna say? Figures stupid Hugo dun even know 'ow ta remember sumtin dat important!" He placed a clenched fist to his temple and lightly punched himself, as if the act alone would shake out the things he had forgotten.
After recieving their pay, Hugo wandered to the location the faerie men had specified for the wine, placing it under the shade of a tree branch so it wouldnt get hot in the sun. He wasnt much interested in wine, years of frequenting the tavern having fostered a deep love for the common mans ale. "Elves always be drinkin wine in da books, and dey is sorta Faeries too. Dem little men is gonna enjoy it more."
During the evening meal, Hugo was sociable enough, but whenever someone wasnt talking to him, he could be seen sitting with a furrowed brow in quiet contemplation. "Wuts it all mean?"
Since Doc doesn't tell her it's a bad idea, Zinny upends one of the bottles of whiskey on Hugo's face!
She supports the hulking young man on the trip back with the others, biting her lip as he talks in a dazed stupor. Two or three times she is on the verge of telling him she was the 'angel' he'd seen.... but it sounds ludicrous even to herself. Better to keep her trap shut. And Hugo's too dazed to notice her blushing and self-consciousness, right?
It was just the knock to his head, Zinny tells herself, several times, on the way back.
It's been a heck of a day. Her head hurts, and she didn't even hit it on a tree. Several times she thinks she hears laughter, and wonders if it's Hugo's 'angel' after all. Naw. Couldn't be. She just needs some rest.
She sits quietly through the meal as well, dreading the return to town. Oooh, Momma's gonna be fit to be tied. And there wasn't even a big fight this time. Maybe she shoulda stayed home.
At least she has that bottle of wine to placate Momma with.
Grizelda was quite pleased with herself, having achieved her goal without enduring too much discomfort. Mistress Walsh would be pleased with her, and Grizelda even had to admit that the Gnomish vintner was indeed a decent sort. Maybe it was a good thing that her mentor had a friend, even if he was a man.
Fiona's words echo in her head again, "You know it wouldn't kill you to make a friend..." She wondered if she had achieved this second implied objective as she looked around at her travelling companions, taking a mental inventory of their interactions. She felt more at ease around the women, obviously. Zinnia was a simple sort, but surprisingly insightful despite that. Abigail was the sort of woman who generally made her uncomfortable with her glaring beauty and the way men’s eyes tended to follow her around the room. But she did not play upon it the way Grizelda’s sisters tended to, preening and posing and simpering for their attention. If anything, it seemed to unsettle her when she noticed their leering. It was refreshing to be around other women who were interested in things beyond luring a man into a marital bond. She realized quite suddenly that she did like them, at least to some degree. The realization was so surprising, she laughed aloud, sounding much like a startled chicken in the middle of dinner.
She contributes her bottle of wine to the Leprechauns and remembers with some dismay that she had prepared a new spell that she’d never had the opportunity to cast… As they stand overlooking the spot the Leprechauns would come for the reward, she decides it’s now or never. ”Excuse me, Hugo. Would you perhaps be willing to play guinea pig for me?” Seeing the confusion on his face, she tries another approach. “What I mean is, may I make you bigger? Just for a minute?” She attempts a persuasive expression, but only manages to look vaguely constipated.
Zinny opens her eyes wide when she overhears Miz Blau asking Hugo that. She gives the Owl Lady a definite side-eye, while blushing again.
Look, Zinny was raised in a brothel. It's not her fault her mind goes to the most inappropriate possible interpretation of Grizelda's words.
Leprechaun reward drop off:
Looking at Grizzy with some confusion, Hugo shrugged "Uurh I guess ya can do dat, not like I isnt used ta bein bigger dan everyone else anyways." He scratched himself and shifted his weight with an awkward expression, his eyes finding his feet as they so often did when he was unsure of himself. Being so incredibly tall wasnt as glamerous as some would think, atleast not when confidence in ones looks wasnt there to accompany it. Having everyone look at you in that certain way every time they saw you, often made him feel alone and different, even amongst friends.
Looking back up, he couldnt help but catch Zinnys expression and the rich tomato color spreading across her cheeks.
"Wuts da matter Zinny?"
Returning from the evening meal:
Just barely managing to avoid taking a tumble to the floor, Hugo ducked away from the light. Superstition and a vague memory of the head trauma he had experienced the last time he dealt with magical lights, made him dance away from the thing as if it were a wasp. Looking at Zinny with wide eyes, he nervously answered the voice.
"Uhm, yes, dats me, Hugo. Is yus da Angel?"
Grizelda nods curtly up at the man who already stands nearly 3 feet taller than her, "Good show, young man! Weapon in hand now, yes, like so and... stand back now..." Grizelda reaches into her belt pouch and grasps a pinch of iron filings, spreads her arms out like wings, (Gregor imitating her movement) and pronounces "Humanis Maximus!" and sprinkles the powder with a flourish of her hand toward Hugo.
Hugo has the sensation of being lifted into the air somehow with his feet planted firmly on the ground. His size doubles, including everything he wears and holds along with him. Grizelda claps her hands with glee and grasps her journal, scribbling furiously as Gregor takes off from her shoulder chasing the field mice stirred up from their burrows due to the disturbing of the soil as Hugo's weight is increased 8 times over.
After the spell expires and Hugo is once again returned to his normal height, she thanks him, nodding and smiling her strange flat smile, "Thank you, Hugo. That's a very impressive effect, I expect that could prove quite useful in a pinch, eh?" She reaches out tentatively and pats the back of his massive hand, but spoils the gesture by jerking her hand back too quickly and bids the party goodnight before lumbering back to the bunkhouse congratulating herself on a job well done. Mistress Walsh would be surprised indeed when she reported that she had not only spoken to a man... she had touched one. Ha!
The sudden size induced vertigo caused Hugo to sway dangerously. Taking a few step forwards to keep his balance, he barely managed to clear the newly repaired wall, ending in a wide solid stance, one foot on either side.
Looking down at the now rather tiny women, his facial expression turned even more awkward than previously. At this size, every imperfection of his face would be impossible to miss, like a poorly chisseled statue. For the duration of the spell he simply stood there, head tilted towards the sky in an effort to hide himself "Yer like one o' dem big birdies stickin' dey 'eads in da ground."
"Uurrh, yar Grizzy...useful..."
On the treck back from the meeting with the feys, Doc finds himself to be last in file. He sees Zinny and Hugo walking huddled together and can hear Hugos voice, a quiet rumble that he cant quite make out. Not understanding that she is helping him walk after his head trauma, he smiles at the burgeoning relationship he thinks he is witnessing.
He's not surprised to see those two finally finding each other. Truth be told, most people in Daggermark seem to think they would end up together, a natural pairing really. Zinny's mother would no doubt have a fit, but maybe she could be talked into accepting the relationship. Not by Doc of course but Silas has a way with words. Mr Ginley takes it into his heart that he wants to help those two. He also makes a mental note to start preparing moon tea mixtures for Zinny, contraception is important afer all, a child too early in a relationship can be disastrous.
Arriving at the mansion, Doc asks Silas aside for a conversation.
Have you noticed our lovebirds? I cant say I am surprised by this. I think they make a rather charming couple, like they belong together. Strange that thos two would be born so close together, will of the gods i imagine. I dont know if you know Zinny's mother, she's the matron at the brothel, but she is a rather... strict woman. She'll give Zinny a hard time over this, i am sure of it. Maybe you could talk to her, smooth it over. Help them, so to speak, for love.
It's not until the evening dinner that Doc actually see Hugo's face for the first time since its abrupt meeting with a tree.
Good gods Hugo! What happened to your head? you have a bump the size of an egg on your forehead. Why did you not tell me anuything? Are you... how are you feeling boy? Do you know... where you are? I'll have to take a closer look at this after dinner
After supper, Doc takes a look at Hugo's head. He realises Hugo got himself a good concussion and recomands only light activity for the next few day, to avoid the sun and heat, and to take frequent breaks.
As for his bottle of wine, Ginley decides to keep it, prefering to buy a bottle of brandy for the feys. After all, they requested spirits. He also leaves it in the shade
Tomid was goin for gold and if his friends had not called him off he surely would have caused a stink.
He will keep his bottle of wine like a trophy at the bar, adding it to the Lizard Man javelin, and maybe, someday some event will transpire that will encourage him to open it to celebrate.
He is contemplative on his ride back to town and talks some about crossroads and destiny. He has found his way to follow the dawn flower - He will take a level of bard.
Looking at Doc with some surprise, Hugo gave him a smile and shook his head. "Bah, dun worry Doc, is nuttin'. It dun even bleed or anytin'...and uurhh, I is at da wine place, dont ya knows?" He shot Doc a puzzled look at the strange question. However it soon turned to a grimace, when curiosity compelled him to poke around and feel the bruise, eliciting an embarrased "uurrrh, maybe ya look at it den...just a little."
Zinny fortunately is not privy to Doc's ruminations, or the intensity of her blush would count as a 10-foot radius effect, save vs acute embarrassment.
|
Abby leaves a few gold at the place where they leave the token to the fey, sure they'll appreciate something glittery to go with their wine, but keeps the bottle for herself. Honestly, they tried to get them to shovel excrement into their pockets and try to spend it at the market! And after they'd agreed to work together...
Perhaps that was the nature of fey.
It was easy for her to notice the quickly budding friendship that had the potential for more in Zinny and Hugo. Gone were the days that Hugo stared slack-jawed at her politely from behind a tankard. While she had little interest in the giant, she honestly did feel a bit of a twinge of nostalgia at the thought of the good old days-- before she'd taken on four children and buried another.
But it was fleeting, and her thoughts moved on quickly. They'd deal with their relationship on their own terms; she had other things to pursue, and honestly, her God wasn't the God of Getting Lucky.
On the return to Daggermark, she spends time speaking to Grizelda, ferreting out information on tomes and religious manuals to check out from the library when she gets a chance-- and even attempting to weasel her way into a discount on return fees "just in case." When she returns to Daggermark, Abigail plans to take her religion much more seriously-- up until now, it was to keep the memory of her parents closer. Now that she'd seen and spoken to fey, fought lizardfolk in the swamp and spent nights hiding in vinyard groves, she felt like it was important to pay homage to the gods who kept her safe-- and to learn their enemies, to keep her safer.
Hugo will be glad to Craft more armor. I intend to write up a longer "Return to Daggermark" post wherein Hugo realizes hed rather stick around and travel with people he knows, since they to seem to slowly be getting the urge for adventure.
@ Zinny - Over the next couple of weeks, your suspicions grow that something strange is happening to, or around, you. People report seeing dancing balls of light, hearing ghostly sounds, things moving on their own...no one is ever hurt by it, and some even report hearing laughter! You continue to think parts of your food disappears when you're not looking. One night, when you're in your room after a particulary hard day/night of working and your mother's 'oversight,' you are feeling really down. This is when Gossamer, the faerie dragon, finally reveals herself to you. Seems that she found Hugo irresistably funny, and was drawn to your open heart and kindness. Suddenly it all makes sense - especially why embarrasing but hilarious things have been happening to Hugo lately.
Gossamer remains invisible around everyone else, but now she rides on your shoulder most of the time. (You provide her a whole new perspective after riding on the leprechaun's shoulder =) She is also speaking telepathically to you, often causing you to giggle or laugh at an inappropriate comment she makes but no one else hears and then she laughs at you when you get in trouble or earn strange glares from whoever you just laughed at...
Once they had left the pot of crap behind, the priest is silent within his own thoughts: did I just miss a fortune there? Gold certainly has its value, but fey are rare, mysterious, and magical. Could there defecation be likewise as valuable and rare? Have some kind of unique rejuvenatory properties, cosmetic or medicinal, or culinary application as a rare spice that, once dried, could render your average meal superb? Anything that could be exploited by any common huckster...or a priest using a "natural element" to better the lives of his townsfolk...
Hugo derails that train of thought to inquire about spiritual matters. Brother Silas slips into focus rapidly, adopting a warm smile. "The only maiden Gorum might send would be a psychopomp, a gift to his faithful as they depart this mortal coil. But you are still very much alive and with us, Hugo, so perhaps this was something different altogether."
Pursing his lips in thought, he muses aloud to the blacksmith. "The manner in which the gods choose to communicate with us is rife with mystery. Erastil and his divine heralds, I have heard, rarely speak a word to the faithful; it is often their presence alone, once acknowledged, that inspires action and gives answer to burning questions. But in my own life, Hugo, I have found that my patron speaks to me not in dream or illusion, nor in birdsong, in the motion of the trees or in immaculate appearances."
He stops to take a rich breath of fresh air, exposing an inspiring happiness, or at least a priestly contentment. "No, I hear Erastil's voice in my own observations, actions, and thoughts. If it occurs to me that I should give counsel to a quiet newcomer in the Happy Cow Tavern, then I knew such a thought is given to me by Erastil," he tells Hugo, leaving out the part about how he is more often directed to counsel comely young lasses. "If I should contemplate the digging of a well on church grounds, and realize that it could be done more efficiently by encouraging the town council to contribute public funds, then I consider this epiphany one born from the mouth of Erastil," he adds, also leaving out the part about how the alternative would have him putting the church's gold, which is ultimately his own gold, solely on the project, and maybe having to dig the damn thing himself in the dead heat of summer before the ground began to freeze in autumn. "The gods are alive both outside of us and within us, Hugo. So I have no doubt that what you saw was exactly what the gods wished you to see. And I also have no doubt that, if you should see her face again and remember its beauty, you will then know her message."
And the priest leaves it at that with a smile, wondering which was the fuller: him or the pot he left behind?
On the way home, Silas walks beside Doc Ginley. Amongst this crowd, the two men are at least somewhat closer in age, which had by comparison long since offered up the question as to why Silas had no family of his own. While a handful could guess at the truth, he preferred to lay such concerns at the feet of his god. When the time is right, Erastil will guide me to marital bliss. In the meantime, I am well and truly wed to my ministry. A ministry that rarely nagged him, was for the most part entirely faithful, and even though it didn't make him sandwiches, at least provided for him the ability to make his own. And when it saddled him with children, it did so with the understand that he could always return them to their rightful owners at the end of the day and leave the nighttime for his own activities.
"Oh yes, doctor," Silas nods in agreement. "They've a lot in common with one another. Zinnia's mother has never been one to spare the rod, and for that matter, neither has Hugo's father. Both good children, and yet..."
He sobers a moment, and then looks like he might laugh, but keeps it to himself. "Each is so sheltered, and I haven't known either of them to show any particular interest in love until now. And even now, I'm not sure they know it for what it is. You know what that can lead to. I'm not sure if Madame Holbern is ready to be a grandmother. But you are right, perhaps I should pay her a visit. Though I would normally never inhabit such a place, I am more than happy to do so in their best interests. For love."
More to come...
Doc's arrival at his home was not what he expected. The store usually open in those hours had a "closed until further notice" sign pinned to the front door. This was highly unusual. The sign would normally read "Back in an hour" if the Ginley's were out for an errand. Unlocking the door and locking it back after coming in, Doc first called after his wife.
This led to his eldest son excitedly running to the stairs while the woman he recongnises as his wife's good friend Zerinya, a varisian seamstress, was struggling to catch up to him.
Daddy, you're back! He exclaimed joyously.
Meanwhile a concerned Doc simply went up the stairs to Zerinya to ask her whats going on. When his son demands to be picked up, he simply brushes his head affectionately, a gesture not wholly appreciated by his son.
What is going on? Where's Charity?
She's downstairs in the lab, she didnt want them near the children. She says it could be contagious.
Who? Contagious? Okay. Can you stay a little longer. I'll talk to her.
Heading down the stairs, he is greeted by the smell of occupatancy. Whoever is here, they have not partaken in a bath in at least a week. He hears some coughing and some soft spoken voice before reaching the bottom of the stairs. His wife has them all lied down on some thin cots on the ground. Their youngest child who couldnt be older then 6 is drenched in sweat and coughing.
Honey, whats going on?. Who are they, where are they from?
At first she has nothing to say, they remain quiet about where they come from and what affected them. Doc started medical treatment right away but the fight is harder without having any details. To fight the fever, he sends his wife to fetch ice at the market
Days pass and the condition of their son improves but little, its all the chemist can do to keep death at bay. Meanwhile Charity keeps talking to the parents, getting to know them and building bonds of trust until they open up to her.
Charity does her best to explain the situation to her husband. They come from a mining town called Duvik's pass not too far from here. Their entire village being affected by an epidemic after the discovery of a new silver vein wich led to a small boom in their town. She tells him how odd the plague seems, how fast it spread and how it affects not only the people but their livestock and crops too. She tells him how Duvik's pass needs Heroes right now.
Doc Ginley has no choice, he must recruit the help of the "Happy cow bunch"...
Getting to the tavern, Doc goes to the only one he knows can gather their group together the fastest. He goes straight to the bar to Tomid.
Hi Tomid. How have you been? Do you know what the others have been up to
Its ovious to the barkeeper that the alchemist is a little anxious, he lays the whole story down to the hafling and follows it up by this.
We have to go to Duvik's pass. They need our help. We have to find the source or i'll never be able to come up with a cure
A couple of weeks later, after Silas has taken the time to lock away his earnings for a rainy day and after a particularly embarassing Sunday sermon that compelled him to be pickier regarding his diet, the priest finds himself seated on a high stool in the Dancing Whip, his legs coiled around the legs like a working girl around a bedpost. A petite blond advances, but he deflects with affected shyness; the glint in her eyes, the same one a fisherman has in that space of six seconds when the coy plays coy, suggests she's not ready to cut the line just yet.
"Top of the morning, Verella," he says when she makes herself present, polishing a crisp green apple on his tailored shirt. For a man with a supposed distaste for this din of iniquity, he has certainly dressed for the occasion. A john surreptitiously creaks down the stairwell. Silas makes eye contact with him and, with barely veiled consternation, takes a bite from the apple. A plump woman with a gap in her teeth follows behind him, equally dressed for the morning (which is to say, mostly undressed).
Verella scolds the woman for her appearance and sends her away, which has the effect of clearing the room for a more intimate conversation with Zinny's mother. Which she may at first take to be about Silas' intimate matters, but he shakes his head. "I'm here about your daughter."
Detecting the expression on her face, Silas throws up both of his hands to ward off an incoming slap. "No, no, you misunderstand. It isn't about my interest, it's about hers. She's taken quite a shine to a local boy."
Silas stands and walks and tosses the apple up and down, taking another bite. He peers out of the corner of his eye into siderooms, hallways, out of doors and through windows to make sure Zinnia isn't lurking and listening.
"It's to be expected, really. What they both experienced that day in Cromm's Hold...and at so young an age? It is something each bore witness to and they just don't have anyone else to share it with. No one else they think could possibly understand. By now, of course, you know I'm talking about the smith's boy, Hugo. Soft head, but huge heart. To be honest with you, Madame Holbern, I'm not even sure they know what they're feeling. Have you noticed any of this, or am I just imagining things? Maybe she's taken a bit more to daydreaming of late? You know how girls get."
"Bein' a 'ero aint sumting ya do alone...ya need odder peoples ta do da tings ya cant, like 'ealin' like Abi and Doc, sneaksin' like Tomid, talkin' real good likes like Silas, and bein' all clever likes like dat Grizzy, and...and..." he struggled for a moment to place Zinny before finally nodding to himself with a smile "...And havin' yer back like Zinny."
The horizon was turning a pinkish red now, his shadow easily stretching itself more than 20 feet behind him, back into the town he had been lamenting his inability to leave for the last 8 hours.
"Ya dun need ta go lookin' fer no 'ealer, or sneakster or talkster or tinkster or, uhm, back-'aver. Ya already found em, rite 'ere.".
More relieved than he would have ever though he would be at his decision, he picked up his satchel, turned around, and walked back into town.
He had just reached the smithy when Tomid came darting out from the shadows of a house across the street, asking where he had been, but not waiting for a reply before setting off towards the Cow, telling Hugo to follow.
"Ya finally decides ta go lookin' fer adventure, and den adventure comes lookin' fer you!"
Setting off at a jog, he followed his halfling friend.
Craft DC 16
[dice=Craft(Armor): "Breast"plate]1d20 + 7 + 2[/dice] = 336 Silver of progress
[dice=Craft(Armor): "Breast"plate]1d20 + 7 + 2[/dice] = 368 Silver of progress
[dice=Craft(Armor): "Breast"plate]1d20 + 7 + 2[/dice] = 288 Silver of progress
[dice=Craft(Armor): "Breast"plate]1d20 + 7 + 2[/dice] = 416 Silver of Progress
Progress: 1408 Silver
Life goes back to normal, except that it does not, really. There's all sorts of strange things going on around the brothel. Delia breaks out in uncontrollable freckles. Suzette somehow dyes her hair bright blue. The dishes keep winding up in different drawers, to everyone's consternation.
When Gossamer reveals herself, Zinny is filled with an almost child-like happiness. She's heard stories, like every child, of dragons-- both the legendary monsters that rain fiery death down on villages, and their noble cousins the gold and silver dragons who mean humanity well. And now she's MET one!
(Zinny probably does not realize the distinction between faerie dragons and true dragons.)
The next weeks seem to fly by for Zinny-- her chores are made much faster by the faerie dragon's presence-- her tricks and and jokes make the hours seem to race. Zinny's initial nervousness that her mother will be angry eases as days go by and the dragon's pranks are not suspected for what they are.
Gossamer musses her mother's hair and hides her cosmetics-- which puts Verella into a foul mood-- but suspicion never settles on Gossamer, or Zinny for that matter. The other girls of the brothel are likelier suspects for theft of rouge, after all, than plain Zinny.
Zinny chats with Gossamer while doing dishes or repairing the fence: telling the dragon eagerly about the first Adventure, about going out into the swamp with the others, finding the poor people at Cromm's all dead and past helpin'-- but going out into the swamp.
"...an' I scared off this lightnin' lizard all by myself... but then we found th' lizardpeople-- well there was two lizard people, the blue ones an' the others, an' th' one group wasn't bad but the others were real mean and killers, but we caught up to 'em and we fought 'em an' Hugo was hittin' em real hard and so was Eve but then Eve got hit but miz Abby healed her, just like a priest in th' stories an' all-- I could see all this cuz I was up on a big ol' rock--"
Let's hope Gossamer is a very patient faerie dragon.
Oblivious to Silas's visit to her mother, Zinny goes about her work with a certain spring in her step. There are many factors possibly responsible for this-- perhaps the memory of Hugo's concussed compliment, perhaps the friendship of Gossamer, and perhaps just a growing sense of self-confidence.
When Gossamer tells her one afternoon that the others are gathering at the tavern, Zinny hurries to finish the last of the chores on the list. Then she ducks into her room to grab the pack of her things.
"Momma I got to go get some more nails from the blacksmith's I'll be back later," Zinny calls in one breathless not-at-all-convincing lie. Before her mother can answer, she hurries out the door, heading towards the Happy Cow.
Zinny bursts in to the Happy Cow with a touch of excitement on her face, as opposed to the way she's half-slunk into the tavern before. She waves at those already present and comes over to take a seat, bouncing a little on her toes.
She opens her mouth to tell everyone all about Gossamer-- then hesitates. Maybe Gossamer doesn't want her to tell. And maybe... well maybe it's nice to have Gossamer just be her secret, too...
"H'lo," Zinny says instead. "How's folk?"
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"Never better," says Abby from behind the bar as she wipes it down with a look of consternation on her face. "This stain just won't come out... Trant, can you take over?"
The youth takes the rag and begins scrubbing. "You've got better upper arm... oh," she begins and then ends as the boy takes it up with no problem at all.
She looks sheepish at Zinny. "So, what can I do you for?"
Grizelda enjoys chatting with Abby on the way back, always happy to demonstrate her knowledge and expertise. She takes full advantage of the barmaid's interest in study and makes a mental note to bring her books on Cayden Cailean when she can find them.
She still keeps to herself, reading and studying and keeping up with her duties at the Library. But she makes time to head to the Happy Cow at least every other day with a tome on The Lucky Drunk or The Dawnflower, for Abby or Tomid respectively until she's exhausted the Library's supply. Fiona Walsh approves of her getting involved, even if she is likely coming on too strong with the tutorial role...
Grizelda is obviously anxious about the prospect of such a long journey to Duvik's Pass. "Doc, if there is some contagion, how would we protect ourselves from becoming ill as well?"
Hi Tomid. How have you been? Do you know what the others have been up to?
The halfing stands behind the bar cleaning a glass and holding it up to the window to look at it, then wiping at it some more. At Doc's question Tomid give him that look, like he'd ask if Tomid knew his mother or if fire was hot. Doin just fine meself. And 'course I know what the other's been up to. he says with a little professional pride. Talk is mostly 'bout Hugo and Zinny. Seems everyone knows there an item, 'cept them. He wipes the spotless glass one more time before placing it on the rack. Get you somethin?
... We have to go to Duvik's pass. They need our help. We have to find the source or i'll never be able to come up with a cure.
Tomid gulps, trying to take it all in. He then pours himself a drink and slams it down, looks closely into Doc's eyes to make sure this is not some kind of joke, then pores himself another. By the Dawnflower herself that sounds bad. 'Couse I'll go with you. You stay here and I'll round up the group fast as they'll round. He pours doc a shot, places it in front of him, vaults the bar with less thought about his tricky dismounts and is out the door. A new blade bounces at his side; a scimitar.
As a favor for your group, Jerry the farmer has arranged a special deal with his long-time friend Boris from the Watermen's Guild. You each may rent one of their horses, with saddle, bit & bridle, and saddlebags for only 20gp per mount (half up front). Considering a good horse plus gear normally runs about 90-200 gp, Jerry advises you this is a bargain; especially since you can pay half after your return. (And Jerry trusts you will return the horses in a reasonable amount of time...otherwise he will owe Boris big time!)
Rations are 5 sp per day. With a three day ride, it would be smart to have at least a week's worth, perhaps more. There is a small hamlet or two along the way where you can stop for a night if you wish, or you can sleep under the stars. The nights are certainly warm enough that you don't need a tent or blankets to stay warm.