Finally, as the show was finishing and the crowds were beginning to disperse, Almara took everyone aside. She handed them each a pouch of gold. "Your payment, as promised. Though I assure you, I will always be in your debt. I honestly don't know what we would have done without your help. I would have certainly left town either wanted or ruined..." She let out a long sigh of relief. "But fortunately you were here." She considered for a moment, "That reminds me! I don't suppose any of you are still looking for work? I have a friend who asked me if I knew of any good people for a job I think you might enjoy...."
Almara explained further, "My friend is mounting and expedition to explore the jungle on the isle of Jalmeray. He was asking me if I knew any smart people who would be able to handle themselves against the creatures in the jungle. Perhaps its not in your lane, but maybe it is something you would be interested in?"
Fain sat there surprised and didn't know what to do. Of course he couldn't go, just drop everything and go how would I get the razorback out of the flat? nah, he just couldn't. There's the verge he's been ignoring and the topiary wasn't going to shape itself ... his eyes darted about the room and waited for someone else to turn Mistress Denisen down first.
"When I first arrived here, I had some vague plans to head west to Nybor next, but nothing definite, so I'd be keen to go. Don't know much about jungle creatures myself, except to stand between them and whoever they're attacking, but I know Fain knows a lot about all sorts of animals. "
"Jungle eh?"] Luk Luk looks down at her choice of attire, "I think I will need a get a better outfit for that. And maybe some medicines for the inevitable jungle diseases."
Luk Luk looks to Vard, "My own travel plans involve wander without being lost. Being paid to wander sounds excellent. Though I a agree Fain is likely more learned on them then I."
Alenka perks up at the mention of jungle creatures. The endless possibilities of new alchemical splicing with completely different samples made the hairs on her arms stand up with excitement.
"I could put off my studies for now to probe the depths of a new frontier such as the jungle. No telling what treasures may be found as new creatures are studied."
She glanced over at Jenni and couldn't help but notice that she looked less than thrilled at the prospect of leaving the carnival so soon. Alenka pulled Almara aside from the others and whispered, "Could you offer Jenni a job as a hairdresser with the carnival? I can tell she doesn't want to go to the jungle but she needs to be given a good reason to let me go without her."
Jungle. One could hardly imagine a terrain more foreign to a son of arctic fields – even a desert of red sand would feel more like home for Thrym, for at least the scarcity of vegetation and enduring nature of life would be the same. But a jungle… from what little the shaman had heard of it, he imagined an overgrown forest humid enough that you might drown if you drew too deep a breath. Not to mention all sorts of strange and wonderful creatures that, no doubt, would be out to get them.
Still, what else had he to do? After his banishment, he had but wandered aimlessly, finding what fleeting purpose as he could when one came to meet him. But here, like the Varisian woman’s Harrowing had foreseen, he had found companionship that he had not realized he had been missing. He was in no hurry to return to solitude. Besides, ‘creatures of the jungle’ implied beasts worthy of a good hunt, and there was glory to be had in risking one’s life in the pursue of dangerous prey.
”I know nothing of jungles, but this seems to have the makings of a challenge,” Thrym rumbled, crossing his arms. ”A challenge I would welcome – a blade only grows full, lacking use. If you are interested,” his gaze roamed from face to face, ”I will lend you my strength.”
"Excellent! My friend will be pleased!" She replied enthusiastically, not catching Fain's hesitance. "His name is Ambrus Valsin. He works as a venture captain out of an academy in Magnimar. I will send a rider ahead that I am sending you to his offices. You can travel with my caravan some of the way, if you'd like, before we veer to the east."
When Alenka took Almara aside, she gave her a nod. "I can do that..." Re-approaching the group, she turned to Jenni. "As a side note, I hear you have some skill with scissors. My big top stylist is badly overworked. I don't suppose you would consider staying on an helping up with our hair and makeup for the shows?" Jenni's eyes immediately lit up, "Like I could works with the clowns! Could they teach me tricks!" However, then her face fell slightly, as she looked at Alenka. "But...what about Goggles..." She looked at her friend, as if asking for permission.
"He is a captain of Venture? As in a vessel named, oh wait. A Pathfinder?" Luk Luk's eyes light up in realization, "They have a variety of connections, if the chronicles published be a hint. Their libraries should be extensive. Alchemical knowledge for my trade and perhaps even firework recipes," Luk Luk was bouncing on her feet as her speech became giddy while her mind go off track.
Jenni's departure brought the mental detour to a halt. The elf's ears did droop as she seemed to not be happy about this either. "Sad I would be, but away from ones dreams you should never flee, oh Queen of the carnival," the smile was forced on but it was still a fun name.
She turned back to Almara, "Lest Captain Valsin sought aid with haste I see no reason to depart your carnival's stellar company early. Um," the elf tilts her head in thought, "The roads are clearly marked yes? Or one among us is learned in the route or can garner a map?" She looks to Fain, Vard, Alenka, and finally Thrym. "Getting lost on the way would be," she sharply inhales before sighing out: "Embarrassing."
Fain was looking at the space three feet in front of him like there was an edict written there and he was having an argument with it. Well, I suppose I could leave for a short while - give some of this new money for some rent to keep the flat a few weeks. He shrunk a little each time his name was mentioned ... "Well, yes, I like reading on panthers and the larger variety of snak-" come on. you've never done taxidermy on a snake "I'm pretty good a' not gettin' lost but ... the customs of the larger world" a caravan to a real boat. the Varisians are mad humans, you love mad humans, and you can't say no to sea exploration "I could use some time to stretch my legs." come on! go! You wanna go, jus do it! "When would we be leaving?"
Alenka reached out and gave her friend a rare, and therefore awkward, hug. "Hairstyling and clowns? I could never stand in the way of you following what you love. You deserve to be happy instead of just following me and my aspirations. Besides, I don't think there is anywhere I could go where you wouldn't be able to find me should you so desire."
She stepped back and retrieved her tools, "But before we part ways, can I take some of your blood?"
"Maginimar is a big city" Almara reassured Luk Luk. "Stay on the main roads and you will see it sign posted everywhere. We will wraps up tonight's festivities, pack up in the morning and try to be on the road by early afternoon. Despite our show of good faith tonight, I still suspect many of my people are eager to leave this town and move onto the next. I doubt we will dally."
Jenni was far to familiar with Alenka to be freaked out by the suggestion of drawing blood. Instead she responded much like a teenager being asked to do a chore. "I guess...But only since you're going away and I'm going to miss you." She pouted, "Try to make it not hurt though!" she demanded.
As promised, the circus was packed up and were on the road by the afternoon. For several days they traveled down the road before stopping at a crossroads. "This is where we part ways." Almara said with a bittersweet smile. "Thank you again for everything you did. If you continue on this road south, you should hit Maginimar in a few days times. Be safe and hopefully our paths will cross again someday."
"Shopping a'fore we leave, yes? Hmm," the elf hums loudly as she rubs her chin, "maybe grab a miniature laboratory and cook up some things so we shant have to buy them? Or for fun! Lo! I believe Illsurian has a haberdasher! Mayhaps we could get a discount on nice hats through our heroics?"
Luk Luk headed to the market to do some shopping. In the process acquiring a few things she thought would be useful. The garment merchant was getting annoyed by Luk Luk's instance on finding light weight clothing until he finally got her to agree to "just take the red one" and that she go bother the haberdasher across the street. It went better for the haberdasher who was glad to finally be rid of the tricorn hat Luk Luk instantly decided to buy. Blue with yellow trim, she thought it was jaunty.
"It is a grand hat, yes?" Luk Luk stuck the hat on her head at an angle and awaited response to her choice. The rest of the things could wait for later or Magnimar.
Vard gazed up at Luk Luk's new chapeau. "That's an impressive hat. You'll fit right in on the boat to the island."
--
While travelling with the carnival, Vard spent time with the more physical performers talking about various routines and tricks. He also chatted with the Ulfen barker, asking about how the magical lionhead strength test was created.
--
Vard watched wistfully as the circus headed away down the road. For the past few years, he'd been travelling between circus and fair, carnival and fete. After the incident in Ilsurian, he'd felt that he was now embarking on the next chapter of his life, and the departing circus now felt like the close of the previous one.
One final look, then he turned south towards Magnimar.
"Shall we go, then?"
Fain packed his things and, after the purchase of a new bow, shocked his landlord by paying for three months rent in advance. Then he ran back to Umbra. He wanted to watch the animals get packed away and whenever Berthold wasn't about he helped the ear winged assistant with the young fellows duties. Fascinated by the Panotti he asked, in his guiless way, a multitude of questions - his voice getting faster as they got closer to the time they were to leave.
He begged a seat by the lead driver and sat there wide eyed and quiet. For the first time in a while the little curious voice in his head said nothing. It was just too busy watching the road go by and having fond memories of the trip from Shpaikler’s Medow (on the boarder between Lastwall and Nirmathas) now over two years ago.
---
Fain waved to the lead driver and made a quick goodbye to the Panotti. A calm washed over him. The road agreed with him. He traveled well. All of the anxiety built up before the excursion left in the doing of it. He moved from Vard to Luk Luk, from Thrym to Alenka and made easy conversation.
@Vard, <halfling"Thrym seems a serious bigun but he's not unwithholding. He talks about his way, his people, if you ask. I wonder what keeps him from home. You I get. You're a justicar of sorts. You like things on the up'n'up and wait for Kurgess to test you. He doesn't just have ancestors - he has ghosts.">
@Luk Luk, "So, what can ya' put in a firework? Could you write a message? or, I dunno, launch a pidgeon? Is it all bangs and lights? What's your favourite work, ah, effect? You know. Is it a serious business. I hear it used for entertainment but are there, sort of, battle fireworks?"
@ Thrym, "You talk to, um, Forefater a lot. Who's tha'? My people believe in Yondallas but they don't really speak to her. They jus' kinda know she'll give what she'll give. Sometimes it's cool winds and, well, sometimes it's floods. I say don't build you're farm by the low bend in the river, but they say Yondallas gives what Yondallas gives."
@ Alenka, "So apparently there's a breed of python that can unhook it's lower jaw. It's not long but it's thick in the midsection, a lot of muscle. But with it's jaw unhooked it can stretch it's oris 'nough to swallow a man."
---
"It is a grand hat, yes?" Luk Luk stuck the hat on her head at an angle and awaited response to her choice. The rest of the things could wait for later or Magnimar.
Fain took off and looked at his own beaten wide brimmed hat, the hat of his Father, and saw that it needed repairs again. His hair exposed showed there was still some to grow back even after the healers were at him. "I's nice! It works with your hair. An' one can't overestimate the importance of a good hat."
@Fain "Many things to change the color of the boom. Message's in firework explosions are possible but only for a true master. Uh, like the bird? Ha ha, funny story there Fain." Luk Luk has trouble holding in her laughter, "A teacher was worried of birds being harmed so I attached a dead chicken to one as a test. Ha ha ha, it took FOREVER to get the feathers off the roof."
@Fain "Though yes tis mostly boom and lights, but many colors. I like sky rockets best though I believe some armies have used signal rockets to as part of maneuvers. I think work was done on some for marking out dressed navy ships too. What of your taxidermy? Have you done aught other then land dwelling life? Or mayhaps could you do some of the larger insects or more magical creatures?"
Luk Luk tilts the hat down to obscure one of her crimson eyes, "Indeed friend Fain. Thine own hat seems most suited to you. Though it does look worn. Mayhaps the haberdasher can give you aught to repair it whilst we are here?"
@Fain "...What of your taxidermy? Have you done aught other then land dwelling life? Or mayhaps could you do some of the larger insects or more magical creatures?"
Luk Luk tilts the hat down to obscure one of her crimson eyes, "Indeed friend Fain. Thine own hat seems most suited to you. Though it does look worn. Mayhaps the haberdasher can give you aught to repair it whilst we are here?"
Fain goes a little lost in thought, "Wow, navy ships all dressed up in streamin' colours" and then the image of a sudden explosion of chicken feathers brings him out of it.
"The animals I make? The're part of learning more about 'em and showing 'em to other field naturalists. But me being not so large and havin' a job means I've only done small mammals and avids. Now magical creatures' where it's at! Imagine being a part of studyin' some of the truly malicious creatures and bringin' greater knowledge of them to those that need to fight 'em?! Imagine a whole hall of these creatures, all posed, aidin' in there greater understanding and study?! ..."Oh, this ol' thing. It was me Fater's. I took it along with his gardening tools when I left home. I'm afraid this hat and I are married now. Gotta jus' keep repairin' it til it dies. Then maybe stuff it and put it on a shelf, ey."
"You talk to, um, Forefather a lot. Who's tha'? My people believe in Yondallas but they don't really speak to her. They jus' kinda know she'll give what she'll give. Sometimes it's cool winds and, well, sometimes it's floods. I say don't build you're farm by the low bend in the river, but they say Yondallas gives what Yondallas gives."
”Forefathers,” Thrym corrected with a touch of feeling. ”Ancestors of my clan, all those worthy and willing to delay their eternal rest to linger close to the mortal realm, to watch over their descendants. And those who just can’t leave the mortal well enough alone, and want to keep on meddling while they should have the decency to rot in silence,” he went on, fixing his eyes on something behind Fain’s shoulders and giving the unseen apparition a wide grin, all the while running a whetstone along the blade of the new axe he had purchased from the local smith. And a good blade it was, particularly considering it was made by a mere Southerner.
”Oracle, shaman, shoulderman… pick a name you fancy. Either way, I was born to be a bridge between the living and the dead. It’s a different relationship than that of a god and a worshipper. For one thing, belief is not a factor – I can see them all around me, no matter my opinion on the matter. I can hear their words, when they chose to speak to me. At times, it’s all I can do to shut their words out of my mind. During times of stress, it becomes particularly difficult – thus their voices drown out all others during a battle, and I can only hear what is being said on the clan’s ancient dialect.”
”Other, its respect more than worship. The spirits were once alive, and each in their own way major figures in the clan’s history. Thus, for their actions in life, they are due certain veneration. It’s not a bribe with which the worshipper tries to secure a place for his soul in the god’s realm.”
”For that respect, and for the rituals I uphold, they gift me with power. Not that they do it for the goodness of their hearts. No, as in life, what they do in death is for the benefit and survival of the clan. As to how what all they do and would have me do connects with that… I do not know. For the dead, what matter the wait of a few millennia for a plan to come to fruition? In that, I suppose, they do resemble the gods I know.”
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Luk Luk smiled at Fain, "Though in theory you could put a LOT of sky rockets on the side to replace siege engines too," Luk Luk frowned as she grumbled, "but the Andoran military experts," the elf made air quotes while rolling her eyes, "Called it not cost effective." And she stuck her tongue out.
The elf showed greater enthusiasm for what the halfing thought of hunting down magic monsters, "Indeed Fain. Imagine a stuff basilisk," Luk Luk adds some extra emphasis with her hands, "Oh my, you could make it spring loaded after stuffing it. That would be a charming jest, to spook any guest."
"Interesting Thrym, shoulderman? I have nay heard that one. Witch doctor sounds somewhat professional and scholarly as an option. Lo, I am certain their wisdom must be useful," her face scrunches up in thought before she shrugs, "Well certainly better then what my Clan's elders would advise me to do. The keyword THEY would say I am sure is fire." The elf rubs her chin in thought, "Hmm, how hard is thine ancestral tongue to learn? It may help with communication in battle."
As they walked Fain broke out into a low hum. As they walked further, the hum got louder. As no one was making a noise he started singing in halfling. He didn't seem to recognize that he was doing it.
Once upon a time, when t'was very fine
a crazy owl in a crooked oak
Eh dee-diddle dum diddle eh
Who was often said to watch from the crotch
for the more he saw, oh, the less he spoke
Hi diddle hey dee diddle eh
The crazy old bird n'er uttered a word
for the less he spoke the more he heard
Oh why can not we each all of us be
like that crazy bird in that crooked tree?
Fie die dum diddle dum eh
Before leaving Illsurian, Goggles visited a few places to restock her supplies. Some places were as expected - the sheriff had allowed her to get some items from the Curiosity Shop with the agreement that the money would go to the town instead of criminals. Some places were not. Alenka stopped in at the butchers and finally convinced them to let her purchase one of their good quality cleavers since hers had a chip now in the blade after the fighting she had done.
She also spent some extra time studying and some of the more difficult concepts she had had trouble with earlier were now easily deciphered. She was fairly certain her healing solution could now be effective on others as well.
@ Alenka, "So apparently there's a breed of python that can unhook it's lower jaw. It's not long but it's thick in the midsection, a lot of muscle. But with it's jaw unhooked it can stretch it's oris 'nough to swallow a man."
Alenka had been quieter than usual as they walked along. Jenni had readily scampered off with some of the carnival folk to get herself settled so Alenka didn't have that familiar presence by her side. It disturbed her more than she expected it to. A small part of her feared that she would never be called Goggles again.
Fain's voice brought her back to the conversation at hand. "That is an impressive feat but I'm not sure what its appeal would be to those seeking to augment themselves. But a snake's fangs filled with venom would definitely draw interest. I expect the jungle will hold interesting specimens to bring back samples from."
Imagine a whole hall of these creatures, all posed, aidin' in there greater understanding and study?! ...
"That would be something. But if you truly want a better understanding of creatures, you need to study the insides because that will tell you how things work. The outside is just window dressing. Although the outside is what tells you what's interesting to begin with."
As Thrym communed with his ancestors, he saw their spirits standing before him in a line. As he focused, a few of them stepped forwards and altered their physical appearance. The first two morphed into a lion and cub. The lion strutted proudly past Thrym, as the cub scurried quickly behind trying to keep up. Behind them another form appeared. A four-legged beast, perpetually cast in shadow, but always stalking behind the lion and the cub. Finally, two more forms appeared. Though, their shapes were humanoid everything else about them was indistinct. Still, Thrym could sense the presence of corruption flowing through them. Finally Thrym felt a gust of wind and the entire scene blew away like leaves in the wind.
Early morning on the party's seventh day of travelling since leaving the carnival, they saw the walls and towers of Maginimar in the distance. Walking past farmland and through the city gates they found themselves inside the bustling city. Merchants and traders rushed to and fro, bumping past anyone who was blocking the entrance. A guard nearby approached, "You folk look lost. Where are you trying to get to?"
The elf grunted as an impatient trader shoved her out of the way, earning a glare and response from Luk Luk, "Vrantvrak sonear gethrisj jump stoda vi mekisr."
The insult lust something in translation. Luk Luk decided to play a more diplomatic angle with the guard. For she was aggressive but not stupid, "Salutations neighbor. We are seeking an academy of your fine city. We are supposed to met an Ambrus Valsin there. Prithee, might you provide us with guidance to our destination?"
...A guard nearby approached, "You folk look lost. Where are you trying to get to?"
Fain looked this guard up and down in a curious way ... and mostly up, "We have an appointment to meet someone at an academy ... or THE academy. We are expected. He's a venture captain."
It was the eve of them leaving the carnival behind to continue alone towards Maginimar, and Thrym sat alone in his tent, bare-chested before a small fire he had lit. Not so much for warmth as for its symbolic significance. Light in darkness, to give birth to shadows. Shadows that constantly shifted their shape as the flames flickered, dancing on the tent’s taunt canvas as if things alive.
”Life is fire, as fire is life,” the shaman murmured, eyes half-closed as he stared past the flames at the constantly moving shadows. He could feel the spirits close this night, partly because they too could feel the lure of the flames. And partly because of the Harrow deck that sat on the ground before Thrym’s crossed legs. The deck that had been blessed by the living shamans of his clan before his exile, carved from the heartwood of a tree struck down by lightning.
Thrym reached out a hand towards the deck, feeling a vibration in the air over the cards. A sign that some spirit was near, willing to grant the mortal a glimpse at what the future had in store for him. He had been letting the pressure build for a while now, waiting for the right moment to begin the Harrowing. It was a delicate art, divining the future. At the best of times, the words of the spirits as filtered through the cards or read from the movement of the stars, or from the cracks of a shoulder-bone of an elk left to rest in a fire until the juices inside broke out were misleading. And why wouldn’t they be, as the entity sharing its wisdom with the shaman was a creature unstuck in time, someone to whom yesterday and tomorrow were mere words, not binding rules.
A moment later, Thrym felt it. He had no reason for his sudden certainty, he simply knew now was the time to begin. He reached out to pick up the deck, managing not to flinch as an almost electric spark struck his fingers at contact. With practiced movements he shuffled the cards, then began laying them on the ground between him and the fire.
First card, the Bear. Strength and majesty, proud and untamed. As always, as he stared at the cards during a reading, he felt he could see more details than at other times. Now, this night, he saw a cub following the adult, straining to match its parent’s stride.
The second card, the Snakebite. Poison, assassination. A danger that lurked in the shadows, not one that approached with open hostility from the front. Thrym’s hand had set the card close enough to touch the Bear. In the card, he could see the shadow of a beast, nose low to the ground as if it was stalking the Bear… or perhaps the helpless cub.
Third card, the Sickness. Disease and corruption, dissolution of both the body and reason. Behind the body of the pox-ridden wretch at eh forefront of the card, Thrym’s attention was drawn to two indistinct shapes at the edge of the image. Humans… or human-shaped at least, but devoid of any detail. He could not decide if they were present as harbingers of doom, or if they were there to avert the corrupting influence. He felt like the former, more likely, but as it was with the visions all too often, it could be either of the two or something entirely else.
He was about to lay down the fourth card when his hand slipped, dropping two on the field at the same time. The Big Sky, herald of momentous change, almost covered by the Cyclone of the same suit, the sign of unstoppable force unleashed by intent rather than chance.
At that, the shaman felt the attention of the spirit who had gifted him the vision vanish, leaving its mortal instrument of prophecy wondering. The Bear and its cub… did the card mean one of his small group of brave souls, or someone they would meet? The Snakebite and the Sickness… those could be anyone at all, most likely people he had yet to cross paths with, but they seemed to present a danger to the noble soul the Bear signified. And it all ended in change or upheaval, or perhaps both…
Not much to go with, but that wasn’t anything new to Thrym – the ways and words of the spirits were mysterious, and the limited instrument of a mortal’s mind ever muddled the message, even when the spirit tried to be as clear as it could. But if something, it was verification that their little trip to the jungle would be wrought with danger.
The Ulfen warrior’s teeth gleamed in the flickering light as he grinned in expectations. For danger and opposition was what would make the trip to the spirit-forsaken forest worthwhile.
"Adventurers, huh?" The guard said with a chuckle. "I think I know who you're looking for. Follow the main road up west 'til you see signs for the Capital District. Follow 'em up north. Eventually you'll see a statue of the first Lord Mayer. Few streets up from that is Pine Street. Take a left on that and you'll see your academy a few blocks down....Welcome to Maginimar and safe travels."
b]"Yes I suppose we are. You have our thanks good guardsman. Hopefully your, um, guarding is safe as well. We shall make haste to the academy,"[/b] and with that Luk Luk will start following the directions. Once out of ear shot of the guards she will cough, "Ugh, hate formal speech. But rarely does antagonizing the watch will benefit you, right?"
The question is simply asked to whomever in the group wishes to respond. Luk Luk kept her eyes peeled for the signs as instructed. Luk Luk keeps one hand on her coin purse on basic principle. "Mind that your purse does not get cut. Such things oft happen in cities."
@Vard, <halfling"Thrym seems a serious bigun but he's not unwithholding. He talks about his way, his people, if you ask. I wonder what keeps him from home. You I get. You're a justicar of sorts. You like things on the up'n'up and wait for Kurgess to test you. He doesn't just have ancestors - he has ghosts.">
<halfling>"You may be right there. For one so close to his clan, he doesn't seem to have had a purpose in travelling so far from them - we may find out in time, I suppose, or it may be a secret that he keeps.>
--
The hustle of the city was a little overwhelming to Vard, and he gazed around at the building, wondering whether it would be easier to get through by climbing up and going over the rooftops.
"Yeah, it's good to be polite," he answered distractedly, still looking up. "And the guards're doing their job, helping things running, catching criminals, like cutpurses." He lowered his gaze and quickly checked his own pouch.
"Anyone been here before? I think there's a big arena somewhere. I might try to check it out if we come back here after the job."
"Anyone been here before? I think there's a big arena somewhere. I might try to check it out if we come back here after the job."
”Not me,” Thrym grunted, eying the unfamiliar architecture with vague interest as they walked down the street, following the guard’s directions. This Maginimar seemed to be a grand city… much too large for Thrym’s tastes, not that he hadn’t had enough exposure to sprawling metropolises since his exile not to feel overawed or intimidated by the masses of people all around.
The prospect of an arena did sound promising – a hallowed field of battle, bathed in the blood of contestants as they struggled against one another for supremacy? A sight worth seeing, certainly. Perhaps taking part, if the nature of the matches allowed for it. But the halfling was right – they were on a quest, and such a visit should be saved for times of leisure.
"Anyone been here before? I think there's a big arena somewhere. I might try to check it out if we come back here after the job."
"Me neither. When I moved from Shpaikler's I followed the river t'the lake. Never seen the coast before." Fain was walking erratically from one side of the street to the other trying to stay from underfoot the horses. "Oh, I don' like it when they use animals in arenas. I' doesn' seem fair, but a human on human bout sounds like a thing to watch. The whatsis ... the drama of i'."
b]"My memory a'fore Almas may be flawed,"[/b] Luk Luk conceded as she sought out the signs to follow, "yet I am certain. What I know of this city I am certain. I have never been here before," Luk Luk smiled down at Vard before looking back up to follow the guard's instructions.
If the directions failed they could always just ask for directions again.
The guard's directions were precise. After a forty-five minute walk, the party came upon a large stone building with ornate columns. As they entered inside, their footsteps echoed on the marble floors. An old woman, her hair in a tight bun, sat at a desk. She looked up from her papers with a frown. "Yes? May I help you? ... Oh. You are here to see Captain Valsin?" She let out a beleaguered sigh. "Very well. Follow me." Sparing no other pleasantries, she lead everyone through a hallway decorated with countless sculptures, vases and busts, before knocking on a slightly ajar door. She pushed the door open, revealing a small room with maps and papers sprawled across a round table. Two men looked up from the table, a middle aged man with a beard and a buzzcut and a young Garundi man with short black hair and golden spectacles. "You're adventure's are here..." The old woman's said apathetically, before walking away without so much as a goodbye.
The bearded man stood immediately, "Ah, Falroun, these are the people I was telling you about. They come highly recommended by a trusted associate of the society." He extended a firm handshake to each of the party members. "Ambrus Valsin. Pleased to meet you. Forgive the state of my...er office...I'm squatting here while I am away from the headquarters." Once introductions to the party were complete, he turned to the other man in the room, "May I introduce you to Count Falroun Matsanda of Alkenstar.”
"It is a true pleasure to meet you." Falroun responded with a formal, but pleasant tone.
"It is a true pleasure to meet you." Falroun responded with a formal, but pleasant tone.
Thrym studied the Count with some interest. A young pup, to hold such a position of power. But that’s what you got for choosing a leader through an accident of birth. Proof that the Ulfen way was better - either the clansmen chose a leader by vote, or a challenger proved his skill and cunning by defeating the chief in combat, ensuring the leader was either popular or had proven himself capable. With these Southeners, whether the child of a ruler was fit to power was a blind cast of the dice, and fate was not known of playing favorites.
Still, there were exceptions to the rule, and it whether a great leader or a burden to his nation, it was really no business of Thrym’s. An exchange of names, on the other hand, required answering.
”Thrym, son of Thyr. Shaman of the Ulfen,” Thrym said, nodding regally at their hosts.
"I'd be Phainopepla Grassbottom, originally from Nirmathas but lately of Illusrian where I'm a master of, um, lawns and a half-ways decent tracker." Fain couldn't help sounding a bit foolish which, hopefully, was disarming. He fidgeted like he wanted to serch the room and his eyes couldn't remain still. what is that there? Papers? Is it cartography, a bill of laid, or something with an official seal? Golden eye-glasses? Expensive. Falroun? A benifactor? THE society? Interesting. His little voice was getting geared up.
Valsin cleared his throat, "But I'm sure you all want to hear more about the job. The expedition will take you to the island of Jalmeray We’ve received reports that the ruins of a previously unknown temple have been found in a part of the Segang Jungle known as the Urapangi Lowlands. From its location, I think this temple could be one of those abandoned by the legendary Maharaja Khiben-Sald when he left Jalmeray over four thousand years ago. A temple untouched since Khiben-Sald’s time would be a major find...Of course, getting to Jalmeray on such short
notice poses some difficulties.”
“I believe that’s where I come in,” the count interjected. “I’m arranging a hunting expedition to Jalmeray for myself and my new father-in-law, Baron Bomande Rudyahm. Bomande was quite the sportsman in his day. However, some years ago he was wounded during a tiger hunt in the Segang Jungle. He’s been grumbling about getting revenge on the beast for so long that I thought taking him on a trip back to Segang might earn me some credit with the old man.”
Ambrus Valsin continued, “Falroun has graciously offered to provide transport to and from Jalmeray and to outfit us with everything we need for our journey into the jungle. In exchange, you’re going to help his father-in-law, the baron, with this tiger hunt and make sure he gets the better of the beast this time around, as it were. You’ll have time to discuss the details of the hunt during your voyage to Jalmeray.”
Vard gave a polite bow, thinking on the names to see if any rang a bell. "Vard Pendengas, paladin of Kurgess at your service. Pleasure to meet you too.
So, a rematch with a tiger? I guess if that tiger's still around we can help track it down. Is the Baron still hale and hearty enough for a hunt? I'm all for going up against a challenge that bested you before, but I would want it to be a fair fight. Wouldn't be good to have him injured again after all. Same goes if the tiger's too old to fight now - no real honour or satisfaction in defeating a much weaker opponent, after all."
"So, tiger first and ruins second? Admittedly the ruins hold much more interest for me than hunting an animal. But if we can't do one without the other then tiger hunters we shall be."
For the first time since arriving in Magnimar, Alenka wondered if she had made the right decision to forego her studies to pursue this trip.
The elder human woman reminded Luk Luk of her early days at Almas. Probably because the foundling elf had been the cause of a lot of staff adopting the exact same behavior.
The elf accepts the hand shake before turning to the Count, "Luk Luk Eaglefin, novice of the arcane and graduate in fireworks from Almas University," the elf beamed a grin as she half bowed at her introduction. She was at least civil enough to take of her tricorn hat while doing so. She plopped it back on her head, "Alkenstar sounds familiar but I can't place it. Though Vard makes a good point about the Baron's health." She looks over to Vard with a frown, "Though I am less worried about giving the tiger a fair fight. I've no objection to tiger then temple, so long as we don't run into the temple a'fore the tiger."
"And can tigers live that long? I know naught," she look to Fain asking the ranger, "Do they?"
Thrym stared at Valsin impassively as the Valsin briefly explained the nature of the ruins to be found on the island they were heading to. The names meant nothing to Thrym – one people’s leftovers were much the same as another’s to him, particularly since no actually useful information had been offered to help prepare. The hunting part of the mission, on the other hand, he did understand.
So, a rematch with a tiger? I guess if that tiger's still around we can help track it down. Is the Baron still hale and hearty enough for a hunt? I'm all for going up against a challenge that bested you before, but I would want it to be a fair fight. Wouldn't be good to have him injured again after all. Same goes if the tiger's too old to fight now - no real honour or satisfaction in defeating a much weaker opponent, after all."
”Indeed. If the man merely wants the beast dead, we can bring him its head. But if he wants to wash away the mistake of his youth with the blood of a fallen foe, the battle needs to be done properly. One hunter, against one prey. Not a whole hunting party holding the beast down with ropes and nets while an elder wobbles over to stick a spear into its heart, facing no danger in the process. That would be a travesty that only brings shame to those taking part in it,” Thrym grunted, being somewhat less diplomatic about it than the short paladin had been.
"And can tigers live that long? I know naught," she look to Fain asking the ranger, "Do they?"
One things certain. They can be a sour lot. An the older they get the more spiteful. They like whas theirs! Especially their homeland. If this tiger is alive it won't have moved far unless food go' scarce.
Another thing, I wouldn't be wearin any fancy scents. Anythin that has musk in it. I herd some talk from a bigun in Lastwall said a team a his was traveling through a plain. The tiger there picked them off one by one - startin with the rich folk even before the donkeys. Tigers love a slow movin horsey. Should of been eatin them first. Thas when they figured it out. Sure enough it was the cologne the big merchants were wearin'.
I never tracked a tiger before. I suppose it's more like tag. You know, track them before they track you."
"Oh! No! I would never take my father in law out into the jungle if I didn't think he could handle it physically!" Falroun reassured them. "The baron is perhaps not as young as he once was, but he's still in excellent health...and if you called him a wobbling elder to his face..." Falroun chuckled, "Well, lets just say I wouldn't want to be standing in front of you when it happened."
"As for the tiger. He's certainly convinced the thing is still alive. He said it was young at the time and that a tiger can live up to twenty years. His last expedition was maybe a decade ago. As for a fair fight, well, I know he doesn't talk about it much, but I am pretty sure he had a team last time too...You can ask him more when you meet him, though. For now, I must excuse myself. There are still some final arrangements I must make before our voyage. Once again, it's a pleasure to meet you all! I look forward to our journey together." With a nod, the he exited the room.
As the count's steps receded down the hall, Ambrus Valsin's smile faded from his face. "Ordinarily the Society would handle the costs of an expedition and we would send out our own agents. However, our resources are stretched thin thanks to our campaign in the Worldwound. Until such a time that those ventures pay off, we have to rely on people like Count Matsanda. I appreciate your help, both with the temple and the count. Please try to play nice with the nobles and help the baron bag his tiger. Now unless you have any questions about this temple, please go get your affairs in order. Your ship sails tomorrow morning."
”...But if he wants to wash away the mistake of his youth with the blood of a fallen foe, the battle needs to be done properly. One hunter, against one prey. Not a whole hunting party holding the beast down with ropes and nets while an elder wobbles over to stick a spear into its heart, facing no danger in the process. That would be a travesty that only brings shame to those taking part in it,” Thrym grunted, being somewhat less diplomatic about it than the short paladin had been.
Fain looked up at his team mate and spoke out of the side of his mouth, "Not so fas' Thrym ... we're gettin a free ride to see a tiger outta this."
"Intersting idea Thrym. Never really understood fair fights myself. My tribe felt winning is winning, how matters not. Lest you make it really flashy and loud," she nodded in approval at the last part. As for the Count's assessment of his father in law, "Sensational! Glad to hear he is not infirm with intent to slay a tiger."
"I cannot fault you logic Mr Valsin, nor would I ever decry throwing resources at fighting the Worldwound. Though you need not fear me sewing discord into a noble ear," with a flourish the sorceress put her hat back on with a grin, "I am an Andorian, not a Galtan. I am fully capable of being civil with all layers of society. So long as the elder does not expect blatant lies to stroke his ego. Lo I suspect the lack of funds means we may have to further equip ourselves whilst in Magnimar?"
Vard paused briefly as he parsed Luk Luk's formal speech. "Speaking of equipment, I guess my only question is if your reports mention any specific dangers in this temple. Or if there're common threats in Khiman-Sald's other temples. Good to know if there's anything we should prepare for while we can buy stuff."
Fain looked up at his team mate and spoke out of the side of his mouth, "Not so fas' Thrym ... we're gettin a free ride to see a tiger outta this."
"There is no honor in avoiding the truth," Thrym grunted in what he chose to believe was a whisper. "Not that I would walk away even if the hunt for the tiger was a travesty of the real thing - we already accepted this quest, did we not?"
"Intersting idea Thrym. Never really understood fair fights myself. My tribe felt winning is winning, how matters not. Lest you make it really flashy and loud," she nodded in approval at the last part.
"Point," the shaman said, nodding his head. "There is the hunt for reputation and fame, and there's getting the job done. Not that the latter can't end up with the warrior earning his share of the honor anyway. The games clan youngsters play, sneaking into the holds of enemy clans to steal trophies and slip away without being seen, and the bloody raids against your foes with axes in hand are, after all, two different things, and require different approaches. But both have their purposes."
Falroun chuckled, "Well, lets just say I wouldn't want to be standing in front of you when it happened."
Thrym nodded his head, satisfied with the youngster's words. If an elder wanted to pick up a spear and go out for one last hunt, against a foe that had once bested him of all things... there was honor in that such a venture, and in assisting it.
Luk Luk looked at Vard then nodded, "That is very good point." The elf laughed at Thrym's comparison of clan activities, "I fear my own clan was far, far, far less civilized in behavior then those you are accustomed to friend Thrym," the elf was struggling to keep herself from laughing too loudly.
"There is no honor in avoiding the truth," Thrym grunted in what he chose to believe was a whisper. "Not that I would walk away even if the hunt for the tiger was a travesty of the real thing - we already accepted this quest, did we not?"
Fain stood there feeling a bit childish. He felt his old teacher Solahide standing over him in that moment. Solahide was demanding he stop day dreaming and focus on how to grow best carrots. The little voice responded to his imagined admonishment and not Thrym’s. but it’s a king hunter, top of the food chain and it’s old. It owns that jungle. We gotta go take a look