Elenzar shrugs, "Corpses weigh more than skins, smell worse too."
The drivers are carrying the wolves bodies back to iron carts, at least the western ones, they don't know yet about the large wolf in the east.
Taliesin will help carry his large Wolf Prize to one of the cart
The four in the east carry the wolf back to Nathaniel, the carts and the drivers. Brand takes out a skinning knife and whistles as the four drop down the wolf.
"That's the biggest wolf I've ever seen in my life." He says, as he moves in closer. He inspects the wolf frome very angle.
"Hey, the thing even has a tattoo on its muzzle, look at that." He says as he points out an axe and a broken bone mark on the left side of the wolf's snout.
Brand, his cousin and his friend begin the grisly work of cutting off the skin from the wolf. It takes a long time and precise work, but after half an hour they produce a pelt of the wolf's skin, thinner at some points and still some meat on it. After a good cleaning the pelt would be good for wearing or tanned for leather or worked into a coat.
Taliesin will use the prestidigitation: clean cantrip to clean all the pelt
Very nice work, its a wonderful prize
*Whistle*.....that sure will make a good rug"
With their cargo loaded up on the carts, the group moves close to the city, they can see its outskirts in the distance when they make camp.
A thin fog rolls in overnight and the sounds of howls and growls of wolves in the distance can be heard. The ones to stand guard talk to each other and speculate what is going on.
"I'd wager that wolf was a giant's pet or something." says Brand
"At least it wasn't a normal one, that's for sure." a friend replied.
"Those wolves keep making sound out there, hopefully I'll be able to sleep."
"Might be a power struggle, we killed their leader I'd wager." Brand's cousin Garret says.
"Aye that they did, that they did."
The next day you guys pack up camp and the fog hasn't lifted yet, through a quick reconaissance, there are no wolf tracks to be found.
The moving the last miles back to the city takes a bit longer until the fog lifts late in the morning. Halfway in the afternoon you arrive at the gates of Heartham.
Thank you Brand as well as the other teamsters, this was yet again an other successful journey.
turning toward the rest of the party: who is going to inform Lord Midway that we are back and ready to go on his next mission tomorrow?
Taliesin actions for the rest of the afternoon is to drop the pelt in order to be made into a Coat (and given as a present to Arvinth) and then head to the magic shop in order to do some research about the odd mark that was present on it.
Elenzar suggests, "You know we really stink and are again covered in gore and blood. I suggest we make sure that we report to Lord Midway and see if we can get a free bath and fresh clothes for our trouble. I am tapped out of cash and reek of putrid goblin, that can't be healthy."
If you need Elenzar i have a few silver that i can give you
"Elenzar, if this keeps up we'll be getting used to being covered in gore and blood alot more often."
As the group of greenbrookers approaches they can see a messenger being sent away, heading out to the Lord's manor. An officer of the guards approaches the group, clad in a clean tunic and saluting as he stands in front of you.
"You are kindly invited to attend my lord's dinner in the evening he has some.. news.. that might be of import to you. He offers his bathing room and fresh new clothes for all of you at his mansion. Brand, your men and you are also kindly invited to partake in washing and dinner if you'd like."
Brand only raises an eyebrow and shakes his head. "Thank our lord for the invitation, but my wife has seen me just once the past week. I'll clean up and have supper with my family for now." To which the other drivers also nod, only Garret seems to find it a waste of the invitation but he solemnly agrees with the others.
Elenzar smiles, "Apparently its a lot of gore." He turns to the messenger, "We will be honored please think him for his kindness."
"Mylord will be pleased to hear that, though you may thank him yourself tonight." The man clicks his shoes together and salutes and goes off back to the walls.
At the stables Forfax finds the same middle-aged man as before and he is ready for some smalltalk, though when he sees your clothes, he backs off a bit and asks.
"Well lad, where've you been that you come back splattered like that?"
Taliesin heads out along the trade shops to see if anyone could make a good coat of the wolf pelt. Some people stare at the size of the pelt and apologetically say no, asking if he doesn't want it to be made a rug in his home.
Though at last he finds a shop called The Green Oak a shop in outdoors gear, where he finds a weathered man sharpening handaxes, picks and machetes at the counter, using a whetstone to do so. The shop is filled with animal trophies, camping gear, grappling hooks and other outdoor supplies. The man looks up at you from the counter, where he rests his feet.
"Can I help you find something? You look like you went unprepared into the wilds."
As the late afternoon approaches many of you find their way to Lord Midways mansion, being informed that the bathhouse at the back of the mansion is being made ready for them.
Steam rises from a small chimney at the back of the bathhouse, a fine white smokeplume. A few servants await you at the outside of the building and ask you all to strip down and leave your clothes and equipemnt in their care as they will wash and clean them for you. Inside the bathhouse it is very warm, though not scorching hot. Several large tubs stand ready for all of you filled with hot water, a scent of lavender permeating through the room.
Yes i would like to know if you could make something out of this wolf pel. It would be a present to my Mentor. although he might want to give it as a present as well he says with a smile
I wouldn't say unprepared i was, along with my friends, escorting Brand and his salvage team for the past 5 days in order to get metal and wood for the city.
But indeed surprised by the size of that wold, clearly
The man at the counter looks you sharply in the eye.
"Ah so you were the ones that got sent out by Midway. Nice job then, though it wouldn't have hurt to have some good eyes with you." He leans in to have a closer look as he examines the pelt.
"You know you've got yourself a direwolf pelt there, don't ya? Direwolves are fearsome creatures, not taken lightly. Not taken lightly at all. I trust it put up a good fight."
"It and some of his howling friends."
It most certainly did, but in the end we prevailed.. he reply with a smile
So could you do something grand with it?
Elenzar enjoys the bath.
"That I certainly can.", the man at the counter replied to Taliesin. "Depending on how much time I have to make something I can make something practical or something 'grand' as you put it. What sort of thing are you looking for anyway, a cloak, a vest or something different?"
As most of you seem to enjoy the relaxing bath and waters, some serving girls step inside the bathhouse, bowing respectfully as they enter. You can all notice they have packages of fresh clean clothes with them for each of you.
"Greetings good sirs, here are some fresh clothes for you to wear at dinner. Are you still in need of anything? A backscrub or more scented oil perhaps?"
They don't seem to have other goals to be here.
Nathaniel nods politely at the girl near him.
"I could use a humble backrub, the fighting makes the muscles a bit strained to reach there myself."
He will afterward when the bathe is done thank her politely.
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David will smile as the wolf is skinned, all the while wondering what could have happened. During the night, David will toss and turn, having a restless night sleep. The giant wolf haunts his dreams. He doesn't feel completely rested, and hopes his spell casting isn't influenced.
Upon the return trip to town, David finds the fog kind of ironic. A dismal and dreary return, after a less than pleasant encounter with wildlife. Upon seeing the welcome tower walks and guards with them, David audibly sighs, a sigh of happiness.
I never would have thought town would be such a welcome sight. I knew nature was deadly, but I never would have thought as deadly as it was.
Upon hearing the invitation, David ponders for a brief moment, and hears his friends' responses. He looks to the courier, smiles, I would be delighted to attend the dinner and truly appreciate the offer of a warm bath. My achy bones I think would love it as well
With that, David will nod to his friends, and heads off towards Arvinth's. Upon entering he tells Arvinth all about his past day, having to heal His friend from possible death, and the giant wolf pelt. He tells him about the rough nights sleep, and asks if he can take a nap until it is time for dinner.
David, falls asleep, and quickly at that. He sleeps better than before, for a good 2-3 hours. He wakes refreshed, and ready. He heads over to Lord Midway's mansion and graciously and humbly accepts the hit bath. He feels very vulnerable when undressing for the bath itself. He attempts to "shield" himself from the others. Even though they have seen battle together, doesn't mean he is comfortable with the more embarrassing parts of life.
When the servants enter to aid in the bath, David covers himself and doesn't say much. He remains shy, and enjoys the warmth of the bath.
At the end of the bath he dries off and gets dressed as quickly as possible and thanks the various servants for their help. And says how wonderful the bath was and he feels refreshed.
You have a much time as you need i am in no hurry. And i have no idea about what this could be made into, So i'll leave that choice in your capable hands if you don't mind
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After getting the offer of a bath and dinner Forfax thinks back to the warnings his parents had given him about hiding his golden skin and thinks the bath might be exposing a bit to much. "Thank you for the offer. I will join the Lord for dinner, but Scout should get to the stables so I will just clean up with a bucket and a rag in my room at the inn."
At the stables Forfax talks to the stable master for a minute. "This is what it looks like to take down a wolf that is only a head smaller then Scout here. Blood will splatter a little when his mighty hooves come crashing down on the beast's head crushing it's skull to dust."
"You will not be disappointed then my friend." The shopkeep of 'The Green Oak' says to Taliesin, "Come by anyday when you want to pick it up."
At the stables the stablemaster looks on clearly impressed with the story.
"I hope you weren't alone lad, such a beast would have torn the throat of your fine steed given a chance."
He feeds the horses that are still stabled there, brushing them off when he has the time. Forfax can see that are just two horses left now, one sold perhaps.
"As a matter of fact I did, a stranger came by, cloaked and hooded in brown linen and wanted a horse. I couldn't see the face, but I suspect it was either a young man or a woman underneath the cloak. Told me he or she was heading west. I wished the stranger luck cause most of the road west is dangerous now."
"Be sure it felt strange, not many people in Heartham walk along completely cloaked. Most here know each other by name and few people travel the roads as of late, except our lord's scouts and patrols. But he or she paid good money for the horse, even a bit more than that. The fella gave me a small sack of gold, wrapped within this cloak right here."
The man pats a bundle of light brown and golden coloured cloth atop an empty waterbarrel.
"Thing is he or she didn't want to keep it, though I saw nothin' on the shoulders."
[b] sure how long should i wait at the minimum and how much do i owe you? [b] he replied
Elenzar looks to Forfax a little incredulously but playfully, "Seriously the Lord of the town offers his personal bath and clothes you take it. Sides you don't smell that good normally so your usual method of a buck of horse slobber is not likely the way to go. Your among friends. Get a decent bath. Sides you might see your mystery lady again. You reek of bile and disemboweled goblin. Who knows what disease might hide in a Goblin Jacksie."
The man at the counter looks back at Taliesin with a twinkle in his eyes. "Give me a week and I'll make you something beautiful, give me longer and I might make more than one thing. About the price, well we could haggle about that when I'm done, but find me another two pelts or better yet, some live direwolf pups and we'll forget about the price."
I'll give you at much time as you need. i am currently working on special scouting assignments for the next week. And i don't haggle at all in fact he says before heading out the door
I al staying with my friends from Greenbroock at the inn is you need to send words
The man at the stables shrugs and says to Forfax. "If I knew that I wouldn't probably be taking care of horses here. Though I am wondering what I will do with such a cloak, no-one here will pay much for it I suppose and I don't have a regal look myself."
When Taliesin returns to the bathing house and Forfax eventually returns from his trip at the stables to Lord Midway's mansion he finds the others bathed and refreshed, ready for dinner.
Lord Midway welcomes them to his hall and lays his hands over the table set with a multitude of different meats and fruits.
"Be welcome in my house, friends of Greenbrook. Feast yourselves on anything on the table, you have earned as much." The man seems to be a mix of cheer and troubledness to the attentive eye, but he's not saying anything.
"Please tell me all of the events from these past days while we dine, it should serve as a great tale no doubt. Afterwards we have some other matters that need attention."
He says as he rips off a leg of a pheasant.
The dinner table is set with enough plates that some of the drivers could also have joined dinner, but seeing most of them didn't means more food for the rest of you.
There is a whole stuffed boar with onions, carrots and mashed potatoes, barley stew with leaks, fennel and strips of bacon in it, two roast pheasants, salted fish, green beans and pickled cabbage, and a whole plate with apples, berries, grapes, peaches and pears. There is also a plate of day-old bread both rye and barley and a bowl filled with bacon strips and gravy.
Arvinth welcomes you back into his home, but he doesn't know what the mark means, Taliesin will find David sleeping off a bit of his tiredness at Arvinth's.
He does seem to be working around the clock with his glass ball now, scrying away for anything that might be of importance to the city, sometimes he sighs, and other times he's lost in a trance, more intrigued by what he sees than paying attention to what's happening around him.
Taliesin will stay for a while and then will grab david in order to take a bath (as offered) before the diner
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At the diner
Overall we had a successful outing, although we encountered a roaming band of wolves, lead by a warg near one of the battlefield. says taliesin while helping himself on the food
Pleased to be degrimed and scrubbed. Elenzar does his best to cut a dashing figure with his limited gear. Those who have known him note not only that he has shed some of his pudginess but seems pleased with himself for it. You can see him at times pinching the underneath of his arms or belly as he dresses.
Elenzar does his best to recount the tale of the trips to the battle field, what was recovered, and the huge wolf that was encountered. "Well we found a good deal of materials for the forge, we were able to recover some of our own gear though a majority of the iron we found was of Goblin make. It was our second trip that proved the most dangerous. We were set upon by a huge wolf."
Nathaniel was listening to his friend talking about the dire wolf.
"Meanwhile, the drivers and myself got his little brothers pay us a visit. But the slay of the day goes to them", pointing at his friends.
"Money's not the biggest issue here now lad, it would be provisions rather or a way of securing your retreat. Alas no one can offer me this in these times, so a hundred gold coins will do. Though looking at you I don't think you could spare a hundred gold coins, than make me a promise if you could help me with something important, you will."
The stableman extends his hand to you Forfax. "Graham Mackes. Do we have a deal my lad?"
@the Dinner
"A direwolf you say? I know we have some big wolves here, but a direwolf would be a rare occurence. A nobleman such as myself would need a retinue of hunters and guards to go after such a beast. This seems like a great feat, worthy of boasts."
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Upon receiving the cloak Forfax tries it on to see if it fits. As soon as the fabric touches his shoulders he feels a bit more at ease but he has no idea why. Still feeling perplexed, Forfax turns saying "I should go and get cleaned up before dinner, thank you again, it really is a beautiful cloak."