The tall warrior approaches the old stump to find Tynn stooped over its flat top, wearing a troubled expression over a handful of runestones that lay scattered over the wood. "That can't be right..." he mutters as a weathered old hand gathers up the runes.
He starts to shake the runestones, to cast them again when he notices Logan approach. The old dwarf stops and adjusts his bifocals, making his eyes look comically huge to the Borderguard Lieutenant.
"I see that you are ready, Stonebit. Very good. Let us pass the time until the others get here. Do you enjoy riddles?"
Logan smiles at the dwarf's question "I do enjoy riddles, though I seldom have time for them. Do you know any worth telling?"
"Worth is in the eye of the beholder," the old dwarf mumbles.
Tynn harrumphs and then pauses, making sure Logan can hear him clearly.
"What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?"
Logan listens attentively and ponders the words. Quietly repeating the words with furrowed brow, he looks at the old dwarf and smiles "This is a good one..." he pauses. Roots that are unseen, is taller than a tree, it goes up, but doesn't get any bigger... The going up could be flight, but it also has unseen roots that would, in theory, bind it to earth... Unseen but not nonexistent, so maybe something small line thread or string... a few moments pass then his eyes light up "Is it a kite?"
Tynn lifts an eyebrow. "The kite does not grow yet can go up, up higher than trees, but the kite-flyer can see the spool of 'roots' in his hand, yes?"
"Two more guesses," he says gently. "Then it will be time for a new riddle, from either you or me."
Tolsbaer chuckles. Any Dwarf would know that answer by 2 years old.
"Not a kite, ok... Hmm..." Logan frowns. It's something that is taller than trees, does not grow, yet has roots... "It wouldn't be a castle or a building, those grow as they are built, plus the foundations are seen as they are built..." he mumbles to himself. It's taller than a tree but does not grow ,yet it has roots... Never mind the roots, let's just start with what's taller than a tree, but does not grow... He looks at the ground and sighs. I suppose some boulders can be larger than a small tree... But those are not rooted to anything... A hill or a mountain, maybe... He furrows his brow and looks up. "A mountain?"
"Ah!" Tynn clasps his hands once. "He's done it! The answer is indeed a mountain." He turns to quiet Tolsbaer. "It appears that you are ready as well, Stormcall. While we wait for the two Hamonrelders, shall I offer another riddle?"
"Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still."
Tolsbaer bristles. "Ugh. Horses...I never understood the fascination with a thousand pounds of unruly, smelly beast between my legs."
It couldn't be fingernails...even with toenails added it'd only be 20...
The old, smelly dwarf harrumphs, and then adds, "A human fascination for the most part, I find."
He is otherwise quiet for any guesses at the riddle's answer.
Logan shrugs "It beats walking, sometimes." Hmm... White horses on a red hill. I suppose figuring out one will figure out the other...
As the silence persists, Tynn anxiously runs a hand through his long greasy white hair. He leans an inquisitive gaze back toward the town, clearly wondering what could be keeping Bolgrith and Aladdin.
At length, he quietly offers, "Shall I offer a hint?"
Teeth? No dwarves have 24. Humans? Humans have 30 don't they?
"Human teeth, I believe." Tolsbaer says nonchalantly.
"I know this! Porkchops' Skull Trophies hanging in his trophy room!!" Aladdin blurted, pleased he knew the answer. Porkchop would reward him handsomely for spreading his glory.
"Ah," the ancient dwarf nods in satisfaction to Tolsbaer's correct answer. But his pleasure is cut short by surprise at Aladdin, who seems to appear from nowhere. "AH!"
Regaining his composure, he adjusts his seat on the old stump with a harrumph. "Thank you for joining us, Azlanti. How long shall we wait for our Faithful companion?" He looks up at the sun's position in the sky and frowns.
"One more riddle, to pass the time. Then I am afraid we must go on and Bolgrith will have to follow after. Our time is ever shorter..." he trails off cryptically.
He pauses until the three are listening.
"A box without hinges, key, or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid."
At the mention of golden treasure hidden in an unopenable box, Tolsbaer grows quiet and contemplative.
The noble dwarf recalls from his studies of ancient dwarves a smith with legendary spellsteel who forged an unbreakable, impenetrable, and highly complex puzzle box of twelve sides. Ozomund's Ball, it was called according to legend.
Logan quietly thinks to himself A chest without any means of repeated opening is either not meant to be opened or only meant to be opened once...
Logan supposes that molten iron could be cast into a square shape around gold treasure. Once it is cooled and hardened, it would take a crushing blow from a steel hammer to shatter the iron shell.
Tolsbaer raises one finger and offers, "Perhaps you speak of Ozomund's Ball?"
Logan quietly thinks to himself. I feel like I'm over thinking this...
The wizened dwarf raises his eyebrows at Tolsbaer's guess. "The legendary artifact... interesting answer, no hinges or key... but if the legends are true, it contained something decidedly more precious than gold. Try again. The answer is not as esoteric. And here I worried that this riddle was going to be over-easy." He offers a good-natured smile.
Logan wonders if he is focusing on the wrong part of the riddle. The "box" might be a metaphor for a container of any shape (without hinges, key, or lid). The "gold treasure" might also be a metaphor, for something yellow in color, and implies that the "box" protects the "treasure" in some way.
Logan frowns at the dwarf's comment. Over-easy? His eyes widen as a grin crosses his face. "It's an egg." He says with a slight tone of humored frustration.
"Ha! It is." Tynn nods to the young warrior.
Slowly, achingly, he pushes himself off the stump and shakes his knees in anticipation of continuing the journey. "Well, I wonder what could be stalling Bolgrith? We cannot make any progress without the staff he carries..."
He gives a look to Logan, unsure if he should be worried or if the Irori priest was known to be especially ponderous for a dwarf.
At the sound of his name, the priestly dwarf speaks up, walking around the corner of a nearby building. "Sorry, sorry!" He calls "I didn't mean to allow the time to get away from me like that." Pulling up to where the party waits he continues. "You see, well, somebody was wrong at the pub! And well, I couldn't just leave them be like that! I had to set them straight on the facts!"
The normally good-natured dwarf huffs in consternation his cheeks rosy with exertion. "Anyway, as you were saying master Hiloxiet?"
Tynn gives Bolgrith a sympathetic look and nods understandingly. "I admire your tenacity for truth, Bolgrith the Faithful. The mind is a tricky thing, and persuading it from lazy thinking is even trickier."
He stamps his feet to warm up his legs and says a bit louder for everyone else to hear, "Well, if we are all ready, let us not waste another moment. This road will take us most of the way to the Oldkeep, after which we will have to use an overgrown footpath for the rest of the way. This road circuits through a dozen small towns, but the nearest one to Saltstack is on the other side of that mountain." He gestures up at the single mount. A carpet of evergreen trees wrap around its base, thinning out to grey rock face capped with white snow and mist. The mountaintop nearly blends in with the overcast clouds above the island.
"And our footpath diverges in that wooded slope. While in the open as we stand now, I expect little trouble. But keep your ears and eyes sharp once the road enters the trees."
With his stooped halting pace, the smelly old dwarf starts on the southerly road. The packed earth makes a narrow brown ribbon over the grassy fields leading to the green forest.
A few hours later, the group stops for a midday break for water and food. Tynn lowers himself onto a low stone. "My feet," he winces self-consciously, seeing his younger traveling companions seem no worse for wear. Before long, the travelers are back on the road. The forest draws nearer, but it is looking doubtful that they will enter it today -not at the pace they go.
The sun is beginning to set when the two men and three dwarves catch sight of three travelers on the road, exiting the wood. All three strangers are short and stout, presumably dwarves, and while they are still too far to discern too many features, they might pass the adventurers in about twenty minutes. Tynn appears unconcerned with them.
"Shall we make camp soon, and leave the forest for tomorrow?" he asks without masking the hope of getting off his feet for the day.
Tolsbaer strips off his shirt at their midday break and washes it in clean water. He dons a fresh one and affixes the wet one to his pack to dry as he walks.
As the strangers materialize at the horizon, Tolsbaer squints for a better chance to make out any detail.
"I will yield to the needs of your feet, elder, if that is agreeable to our companions. If I can help ease your aches, do not hesitate to ask. I would welcome more information concerning what we will face at this keep of yours."
Logan shrugs at the suggestion of making camp. "I have no qualms with resting for the night, it may prove useful to avoid a greater chance of injury or ambush." he looks at the approaching figures
Looking back to Tynn, "Do you happen to know of any of the more common creatures in these woods?"
Both Logan and Tolsbaer that two of the three bear light leather armor under traveling cloaks. Those two appear to be male, and the third has no beard and long blonde braids trailing down her sides. The unarmored dwarf trails behind, and her pack appears much bigger and heavier than her two dwarf companions. The foremost dwarf has a heavy crossbow on a sling. He holds the weapon as he walks but he does not appear to be on alert. The other armored dwarf keeps pace with a walking stick.
A chance glint of metal from the top of the walking stick has the Stormcall suspect it to be a spear. The swinging cloaks do not fully obscure the short swords sheathed at their sides. The dwarf armed with a crossbow seems to have noticed Tolsbaer and his companions, and briefly turns to say something to the lady among them. Pace unchanged, they continue closer, watchful but not aggressive.
Tynn sighs gratefully as he sits on the ground just off the road, relieving his shoulders of his small pack. He kicks off his threadbare shoes, and flexes his toes. "Well since you offered," he says to Tolsbaer, "a foot massage would be nice." With an eager smile he wiggles his crusty, stinky old toes at the young dwarf.
"A specific question! Very good, Stonebit. Yes, in fact, I have a fair familiarity with the creatures of the forest. Not as familiar as a woodsman perhaps, but well enough."
"Let's see, there is the usual forest critters: squirrels, rabbits, birds, maybe a hardy tree frog. But I think you are asking over the more dangerous creatures? Of those there are wild boars, wolves, and bears. Predatory mammals aside, some of the flora can be rather aggressive -but they are rarely near the road. There is a myth that the trees here can walk and move like us, but I have not seen one or evidence of one. Another rumor says that the forest is infested with brigands. but I do not think that necessarily is true. I only encountered highwaymen once in my frequent travels of that road, and they did not bother me much after discovering my destitution." He grins good-naturedly again.
He lifts a look to Tolsbaer, his bifocals enlarging his eyes. "What do you not remember from my lecture on the boat ride? I am not sure what kind of information about the Oldkeep you would like."
Tolsbaer blinks. Either I mistrust this dwarf wrongly, or he is more cunning than he seems.
"From what you've said of this place, it seems to me that Royal excavators, archaeologists, mages,...grave robbers, and...others would want to delve into the secrets of such a wonder. You say you have been there and that it is safe enough, but I can't help wondering why the company you've chosen seems more a mercenary company than a party of scholars."
Tolsbaer shrugs at the others as if to say, Sorry, but...you know...
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Logan tilts his head slightly with a shrug as he looks at the group A valid question, I suppose...
The old dwarf frowns, glancing at Logan, Bolgrith, and Aladdin with a slightly confused expression. "I think you are mistaken, Master Stormcall. Did we not discuss this as we left Thunderstone? I met these three by happenstance, and they have their own reasons to visit the Oldkeep. What is more, they carry an artifact that I need to continue my research. The fates have their own sense of humor -this is not some grand design of mine!"
"If you are so interested about what seems out of place here, what about you, Tolsbaer? You did not travel with these three from Ytramond, nor are you an assistant to my research. Do you think yourself a mercenary, Tolsbaer Stormcall? Pah! You ought to have guessed by now that I am too poor to pay you!" Tynn laughs bitterly. He adds in a patronizing tone, "Let us make this an exercise of the mind, shall we? Master Stormcall, why are you here?" A hundred cracks show over his weathered face as he smiles widely at the younger dwarf.
Tynn seems to be the type with little patience for dumb questions, and his patience appears to be wearing thin.
Clearly a mistake. Too many novels...I am no one out here.
"Apologies. I am here at the request of my Uncle to show the support of my people in these endeavors. You'll hear no more suspicion from me."
Tolsbaer lapses into a chagrined silence.
Tynn's annoyance vanishes with Tolsbaer's apology. He shrugs and is quiet for a moment. Seated, he stretches forward to massage his own feet.
"I can help light the fire once wood is gathered," he offers.
The three dwarves traveling from the forest draw near as Tynn's companions set up camp beside the road. The foremost dwarf thoroughly scans the open land, pointedly ignoring the five who are off the road. The second dwarf uses a spear as a walking stick, and watches the five with great suspicion. Their trailing companion is a she-dwarf with long golden braids and strong jawline, stooped under a great and heavy pack. She does not pay the campers any special attention, but it would be absurd to think that she has not noticed them at this point.
Bolgrith watches the three as they approach, nodding politely to any who make eye contact.
He moves about the camp doing what he can to help set up.
Bolgrith cannot keep up with Logan’s long strides, and resigns himself to gathering firewood. The Borderguard ranges around their camping spot and finds that the field has a bounty natural sustenance, for those with the eye to find it. He brings back a veritable feast of tubers, bitter herb leaves, two handfuls of tiny red berries that are hard but quite tart. On top of it all, he unslings a coney dangling from his belt. Bolgrith returns to drop off his third armload of firewood -the pile looks like enough to last the whole night.
As the group shares in preparing the food and setting up the firewood, the three strange dwarves pass the nearby road. Two male dwarves lead, one with a heavy crossbow and another using his spear as a walking stick. A lady dwarf trails behind, stooped under an enormously heavy and bulging load. The spear-wielder smiles pleasantly, the load-bearer forces a grin despite her labored efforts, and the dwarf with a crossbow gives them a once over before scanning the area beyond. He ignores them for the most part.
Logan might have expected one of the male dwarves to do the heavy lifting, but perhaps these three have their own reasons. Given the forest dangers listed by Tynn, it does not seem too unusual for common travelers to have such weapons out and ready to use. Crossbows and spears are fairly easy to come by, unlike other armaments preferred by military professionals, such as falchions, waraxes, and longbows.
Whatever the she-dwarf carries is quite valuable. It is obvious by the paranoia of her two armed companions.
Tynn snaps his fingers at the wood just as the group approaches. A trail of steam dies out as some of the wood proves to be a little wet. He snaps again with a grunt and the kindling ignites into small crackling flames.
He lifts smile to the dwarves and pushes his long greasy hair out of his face.
“Ho there! What news of the wood?” he calls out.
"Keep yer 'ho there'," sneers the crossbower tersely, a little too loud to be under his breath.
"Bad news," grunts the lady dwarf, "Our party was double this size when we left Granite Falls."
The spear-walker nods sadly in agreement.
"Bandits ain't hungry for just gold innymore..." she adds, clearly not wanting to dwell on the subject.
The three do not slow down to make small talk and continue on their way down the road.
"You can set things on fire as well? I can too! Like this!" he turns around and shuffles his butt toward the now small crackling flames.
"Double the size? What happened? Did you run into Pork Chop's wrath? Anything I can assist with"
"I am sorry for you troubles, auntie. Are there badits on the road to Granite Falls? Have the king's been informed? Please, tell us what happened."
“Porkchop? Porkchop?!” the one with the crossbow asks, becoming increasingly irate. He shakes the point of his weapon in Aladdin’s direction. “Is that your idea of a joke?!”
Tolsbaer’s gentle words seem to check the dwarf’s rising anger before things get out of hand. He lowers his crossbow but still holds an angry scowl at the human mage.
“Of course the kings know!” snaps the she-dwarf, who also spares an angry look at the storm-born. “They’ve known for years! Every year they march some soldiers into the wood, drag out a few bandit bodies, and call matter settled. But there are much more than a few highwaymen, and all of them too elusive for the king’s soldiers.”
“Every year they manage to be bolder and slipperier. But this is the first time I’ve heard, nay, seen them attack without demanding tribute. In the confusion, I saw them try to grab one our companions. When I took hold of their pack to keep him from being taken, they cut his straps and dragged him away. They did not care about our trade goods. They only wanted… bodies…” the load-bearing lady dwarf looks squeamish, as does the dwarf with the spear. The dwarf at the fore still glares the sorcerer.
“Do not take that road,” he adds flatly. “Or if you do, make sure you aren’t the slowest one…”
With that, the three traveling dwarves continue down the road.
Tolsbaer blinks at their backs as they leave, utterly unsure what to say.
Logan eyes go wide, "Taking people? If they are bandits, I suppose they could be slavers, but the way he reacted to the name 'Pork Chop' has me concerned" he looks to Tynn, "Do you know of any cannibalistic groups that are in the area?"
When Logan turns to the eldest of their group, the old dwarf is already bent over a flat stone in the ground, casting runes again and again while muttering to himself.
"Hm? Oh, no, no cannibals..." Tynn answers absent-mindedly. "At least, not to my knowledge. Such abominable acts are detestable even among the common criminals here. This news is quite disturbing."
He shakes the runic bones and stones in his hand, and they rattle as he casts them onto the flat rock. He tries to explain himself. "I am poking around to search out our best course of action." The old, smelly dwarf pauses and looks up. "Apologies, I am used to working alone. What would you lot like to do? Right now, the options I can conjure are, go back to Saltstack and inform the authorities, and wait for their intervention. Or, brave the road, and hope our passing goes unnoticed. Thirdly, we could stay off the road and travel into the forest. Through the wood we could better hide from dangers, but the going will be slower. I have a general idea of how to get to the Oldkeep without the road and footpath, and I trust my runecasting will reveal the finer details as we go. What say you?"
Logan frowns as he weighs his options "I lean toward either braving the footpath or going through the woods." he looks to the others, waiting for their thoughts.
"I am content to follow the group's consensus."
Bolgrith looks at his companions before settling his gaze back on Tynn. "Our party is not large, and our business of some urgency." He looks up at the sky through the boughs and branches above. "I would think we should stay our course, though there is prudence in making our passing less noticeable." He looks at the others again.
"I've no objections for taking our path into the wood." Though a statement, the lilt of his voice rises ever so slightly. Almost putting the phrase in the clothing of a question.
The old dwarf smirks. "Well if no one has a strong opinion either way..." He takes one of his small flat stones, and points at the rune inscribed on one face. "This is the rune for Tree. If it faces up, we avoid the road and make our way through the wood." Tynn flips the stone high over his head.
The runecaster catches the stone and closes his hand around it. He holds his fist up for all to see, and slowly opens his fingers.
"There we have it." He says with finality. "Rest well, and prepare yourself for a rougher path tomorrow. Perhaps the forest floor will be gentler on my feet than this hard-packed road," he adds with an unconvincing smile.
"May I trust you four to keep watch? I do not think I could stay up for a full watch shift. But I do have a spell that can help us, whenever we are ready to turn in for the night. It will wake me up if anyone or anything passes an invisible boundary I can form around our camp."
Logan nods. "Seems fair enough. I can take the first watch."
Once everyone has settled, Logan places himself toward the edge of the fire, his hand resting on the hilt of his falchion.