Asta's eyes shift from icy blue to the bright crimson of polished rubies.
Asta hisses an Ulfen curse and shakes her head.
"Do any of you know anything of fixing religious idols?" she asks the others.
"I would say I told you so, but you just got tricked by a mite and you're probably feeling pretty low already, so I won't."
"You are too kind," Asta says, shooting Torod a cool glance. "Now. Are you good for anything other than backhanded criticism? Do you recall whether the fortress has a forge where we could fix this mess?"
"It is to be hoped that Oleg can supply some good glue," Asta says, sighing testily as she closes the bag and puts it away. "Or else a kiln to make a copy of this wretched thing."
Just to be safe, the young Witch casts a spell on the beg to check it for auras.
"We may be in luck," Asta says. "It does not seem to have been magical. Now, to a kiln! A kiln!"
"You are too kind," Asta says, shooting Torod a cool glance. "Now. Are you good for anything other than backhanded criticism? Do you recall whether the fortress has a forge where we could fix this mess?"
"Why yes, I am, but you keep telling me no." Torod chuckles at his joke, acting as it he doesn't see Asta's look. "Oleg and Svetlana may have something to help. Let's get going."
Torod greets the guard and keeps going until he gets to Svetlana. "I caught this on the way back. Thought maybe you could use it in a stew or something." He hands her some rabbits. He then goes to sit and wait.
The Ulfen Witch beckons Svetlana and the priest closer so she can whisper to them; no need for every Tom, Dick and Harry to find out.
"You recall there are Kobolds nearby," Asta says. "They want this thing as their price for a peace treaty, which would see this community not only with an industrious ally, but also access to a working silvermine. Well worth some expeditious restoration, no?"
Svetlana agrees
"Seems a small price to pay."
"Right then," Asta says, "let's fix this ugly thing."
As you are sitting around Oleg's you hear the men outside talking and a voice with a strange timber to it, then you hear the gates open.
As you go into the yard a gnome riding a pony comes prancing into the fort (Oleg's)....
"Greetings! I be Erky Timbers, a Fighter an a Cleric all in one!"
"I thought someone was here, a fire an pies...thanks I'll have one!"
A tall man with haunted and tired expression approaches the get to Oleg's Trading post. Dark circles under his eyes suggest he has not slept well in a long time. He is unshaven and has black hair. His travel clothes are surprisingly clean. He wears a wide brimmed hat and a cloak under which a lether armor can be seen. He uses a staff to help him walk. A black horse follows him.
Hi there, good man. I have been charged by the Swordlords of Restov to explore the region south of here. The name is ... Marten, Marten Gorlan. I understand I am not the first arrival here.
Why are you looking at me like that? This is Oleg's, right?
You see a large cat lounging at the feet of a dark skinned half elf who sits there and stares at you for a moment then returns to daydreaming or whatever it was he was doing.
Oh, hello friend, a nice... animal you have there.
Asta looks up from a beastly-looking little idol, and fixes the new arrival with an icy stare.
"Wonderful," she drawls. "Another one."
The pale-haired, pale-skinned girl starts to carefully wraps the idol in rags. "Do we owe you anything for the work, Svetlana?" she asks with at least a show of courtesy -- and then stops, frowning slightly.
"My good priest," she addresses the priest of Erastil. "Do you think it would offend the religious sensibilities of our... contacts if we gilded this ugly thing? It might make it a bit more sturdy, and I was thinking that such a 'clear sign of approval' for our intervention might be beneficial when we go to bring it home."
"Strawberry Deathstrike is a magnificent example of feline prowess. Call her 'nice' again and I will not be responsible for her actions." Strawberry's only reaction is to flick her tail.
"I am just passin through myself my cousin was exploring tha area near here an we ain't heard from none o them that was wit him, so you come cross a group o gnomes yah tell em I don't care how good a spot they found they need tah send word."
Oleg looks at the ridiculously ugly little statue....
"I bet fer enough money we could get it bronzed!"
Everyone laughs and has more rabbit stew, ( thanks to Torod)
"Gold looks fancier," Asta says with a flick of her fingers. "So. Can we do it, if so for how much, and would it be advisable - religiously speaking?"
"Great, warm welcomes all around..." Marten murmures to himself.
"So. What is that ugly statue for? Scarecrow againts mice and moles?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Diplomatic relations with a local community mining silver," Asta replies, her blue eyes briefly flashing crimson. Oddly enough, the smile curving her lips during the crimson flash looks sincere.
"So your big idea is to give gold to sliver miners? I don't know about you but that seems kind of insulting to me. I like it."
Hmm, interesting. Marten notices the strange eye color shifting and the smile.
Do I understand correctly that you two have the charter from the Sword lords as well? Or are you... locals? Either way, may I know your names, as we will probably see each other quite a lot in the neer future.
Diplomatic relations - that is not exactly my area of expertise. No matter, I would not gild the statue unless I was really sure it is a good idea in the eyes of the miners. Who are they anyway?
Turning to the gnome. I will be sure to tell any gnomes I meet to send word home.
"Kobolds! Do you believe she wants to be best buddies with kobolds? That's what the gilded jigsaw doll is for." Torod doesn't seem to like the idea of having diplomatic relations with the kobolds. I know he hides it well, but he really doesn't.
Asta casts a cold-eyed glare at Torod, but answers Marten's questions politely enough: "I am Asta Blackheart. Yes, we act in accordance with the charter - and getting the Kobolds on board is entirely in keeping with it, I would say. Kobolds make fine and industrious miners, they are already set up, and they want to trade the produce of their mines for the good things our society has to offer. Establishing diplomatic relations with them, rather than being unnecessarily hostile, is really the most sensible course of action."
"As it is not exactly a worker rich enviroment around here, it might be smart to let them be our neighbors for know. Especially if they are willing to trade silver for such valuable stuff like the statue here."
"That does not mean we have to be friends with them. And if they misbehave, we can always kill them later. Doesn't work nearly that well the other way around. Once they are dead, they will not be swayed easily to mine the silver again. At least not without some serious magic."
Well, looks like I am not the only one without any expertise in diplomatic relations Marten smiles at Deathstrike's half-elf.
Elaina walks along the path, having declined the offer of a horse (the beasts were too skittish around her for her to have learned to ride one anyway.) As she reached the gate she pulled out the worn parchment that she'd been given. She was also certain that someone had used it to wipe their nose on before using it to write how to get to Oleg's.
She looked from the parchment to the fort, then back.
"Mighty nice for a dump." she mutters as she puts the parchment back in the pocket she had retrieved it from.
She takes a look to the south before walking through the gate.
"Hullo. I'm looking for some bandit hunters. Any idea where I might find them?"
A wide grin reveals the small fangs among her teeth as she looks around for a response.
This one interests Torod a great deal. "Why? Please say you're here to avenge the bandits." He draws his sword. The druid's feline companion remains lounging near him, but to those who know what to look for, she is very alert.
"Eh?"
Elaina's smile disappears, not quite sure if he was joking. The sword that appeared in his hand, though, put any doubts to rest.
"I have to admit, if this is your way of checking to see if someone has there wits about them, it's certainly effective."
Her hands come up and she takes a step back.
"Furthermore, why would I attack a fort, in board daylight, all by my lonesome, instead of just slitting your throats in your sleep in the woods if I was going to avenge any bandits."
A half smile shows her teeth, her eyes doing her best to look innocent.
Torod seems to think about what the newcomer says. "Makes sense." He puts his weapon away. "Talk to her." pointing to Asta. "She likes to make friends."
Marten inspects the newcomer with an unhealthy dose of suspicion...
Hello traveller. Before any friend-making takes place, tell us who you are and who sent you here.
He holds his staff as if ready for action, but is not overtly threatening.
Elaina lets out a long sigh of relief, relaxing her shoulders as she does so.
"I'm Elaina Tirel, and I've been tasked with joining the charter holders here at Oleg's and helping them clean up the area. Y'know, get rid of bandits, monsters, and other unsavory characters."
She looks around, her eyes stopping on the woman the elf had pointed out.
"She's the one I need to talk to? Well, no time like now."
"Indeed," Asta says, as she finishes wrapping the hideous-looking idol and stuffs it in her backpack.
The pale-skinned, pale-haired, blue-eyed Ulfen girl marches right up to Elaina and looks her up and down.
"Hmm," she says. "A tiefling? At least you're not another male with his brains in his sword-sheath. Very well; I suppose we shall be grateful for your help. And yours," she adds, looking at Marten.
"Very well, listen up; the name of the game right now is diplomacy. We are delivering the ugly piece of statuary to a Kobold mine. If all goes well, we'll be making firm allies of them, and getting the community here access to their silver trade. Stay alert, but don't get too twitchy. Keep your weapons sheathed unless they attack first. Everybody clear?"
Being fingered as a Tiefling doesn't even phase Elaina.
Being told that they were negotiating with kobolds nearly causes her eyes to roll out of her head.
"Whu-what?! Kobolds? You mean those short yappy things that like going on and on about how they're better than the rest of us because they're kin to dragons? Those kobolds?"
@Asta: No problems. Just be forewarned that Elaina is a bit on the impulsive side. You'll never know when someone might get pranked.
"The same," Asta says, shrugging. "Don't fret. They have silver and they want to trade it for things they don't have. We're bringing them something they desperately want returned to them. We'll be soothing their worries and offering them a chance to do something with their silver; they should be agreeable enough."
I foresee this biting us in the tookus later, but it's either go along with it or the noose. At least I might be able to do something good if it comes to that.
"Well, it looks like you're in charge, so is there anything you would like Your Grace?"
Allysen gives Asta a curtsy and a mischievous smile.