Doc Bandon nods, "Ah, sure thing."
As the man works on Bas and Saron, he chats idly with them.
As he's trimming Saraon's hair he says, "So, you all look like adventurous sorts. Guess if you're out in the wilds you're bound to be. You heard of the twins here in town? They're tryin' to get...what's it called? The lectricity? Whatever it is, they're fixin' to get it workin', using some kind old tech to do it. Figured you might've heard something."
"Can't say that I have, but then I tend not to hear about those kinds of things, being a tree-kneeler and all."
He strokes his chin.
"Though that sort of thing WOULD be interesting to others in our band...especially our boss."
Sprig stretches in the day's sun while it hurt his eyes, it sure felt good to bask in it. Putting his feet up and covering his eyes with his hat, the kobold soaks up the sun's light. Light snoring could be heard from the driver's seat.
Doc Bandon nods as he works a comb through a tangle in Saraon's hair, "Ah, yeah, a tree-kneeler. Yer one of the mercs workin' for that little lizard fella. Bud Crookedjaw, ain't it?"
He motions with his chin in Bas' direction, "So I'm guessin' your freshly shaven friend there is one of 'em too."
As the rest of the party hangs about the main drag, a few men begin yelling at each other. One of them, a burly, balding dwarf, shouts, "Dammit, that's my horse!"
The other one, a long-haired human retorts, "Hell are you talkin' about? The horse is mine!"
Saraon shrugs.
"More a friend than mercenary. I travel with his caravan, fight alongside him, and we share many goals. Any money he chooses to give me is a gift, though I care very little for it my self."
Woken by the braying of a pair of jackasses, Sprig grumbles as he rolls out of the wagon. Brushing off his sleepiness, the kobold approaches the arguing men. "Gentlemen, Gentlemen! Ah think it's much to early to be shoutin' in th' middle of the street. Tell yew hwat, how about Ah listen t' yer woes n' set things right? Ah may not be from 'round 'ere but Ah got a reputation as a fair'n honest man. Whattya say?"
”His ish known to be a good judge of character and a fair master...” Brindle offers, leaping out of the wagon and looking at the horse in question. And
Ralrae enjoyed the party, and slept peacefully - once he barricaded the door. A leisurely morning, a solid breakfast, and a stroll around town in the morning had all put him in a good mood. As he was walking back towards the wagon to see about putting a few odds and ends together, he was distracted by the ruckus going on about some horse. He was quite willing to pass on by and ignore the hubbub, until he heard Sprig's voice join in. Oh dear... whatever could he think there is to gain, jumping into something like this?
Regardless, Ralrae was not able to ignore the commotion any more, so he turns towards it to keep an eye on things. Not that he would ever tell the little kobold that he had a habit of getting into tight spots.... but that didn't make it less true!
The dwarf scowls, "Ain't gonna be easy, Jeeth here is as dishonest as they come."
The human, Jeeth, apparently, looks taken aback, "The hell do you mean dishonest? I ain't the one tryin' to steal a horse!"
Bandon nods, "You ain't one for money? Can't say I've heard that before. Most folks around here need whatever they can get."
Sprig blinks his sleepy eyes. "So... where is this horse of yours?" Sunlight caused the kobold to squint, giving him an unintentional look of suspicion.
They both point to a horse tied up outside of the general store. It’s a fairly unremarkable horse.
Bandon nods, "You ain't one for money? Can't say I've heard that before. Most folks around here need whatever they can get."
Saraon chuckles.
"Most folks around here haven't learned to listen to the Land and its spirits the way I have. Nothing wrong with that, our ways are not for everyone. But I think you'll agree it can be all too easy for money to blind you to what's really important, especially since if you're out in the wilds you aren't able to eat it."
"Hmm, nothin' too special about 'er. What's the big plan anyway? Yew takin' the horse to th' races?" Sprig looked over the animal, trying to figure out what it'd been bred for.
Jeeth snorts, ”Well I don’t want no stublegs takin’ my horse. I worked for the animal dammit, it’s mine!”
The dwarf looks taken aback, ”Stublegs? I should sock you where you stand for callin’ me that!” He begins to roll up his sleeves, ready to fight.
Sprig knows this is a work horse. It’s fairly strong, and good for riding.
Doc Bandon chuckles, ”Well, when I’ve tried travellin’ in the wilds, all the land really seems to convey is much it wants me dead.”
Being half the size and a quarter the weight of either of them, Sprig contents himself with watching the two fight.
Brindle has had enough. These stupid folk fighting when there is more than enough to go around.
”The dwarf calls the human dishonest. The human says the dwarf is trying to steal. Who did you buy the horse from and when?” asks Brindle to the pair of them, trying to see which way they will answer.
Doc Bandon chuckles, ”Well, when I’ve tried travellin’ in the wilds, all the land really seems to convey is much it wants me dead.”
Saraon shrugs.
"There's always safety in numbers, be it a pack of animals or a tribe of people. Like I said, no shame in that."
The dwarf, fist cocked back in preparation to wallop Jeeth, pauses. ”Murthy’s stables, edge of town. Now if you don’t mind, I’m gonna rough this bastard up.”
Jeeth extends his hands, ”Whoa, whoa, wait a minute Korred. No need for this to go that far. Bought the horse from Tia. She’s a rancher outside of town, she’ll vouch for me.”
Saraon hears a faint commotion down the main street. It seems there’s something going on.
Ralrae throws out a question of his own, bringing some attention to himself. He moves towards Sprig, making it clear he's not attempting to get behind either of the combative beings. "And does the horse bear any markings from either the stable or the ranch? Murthy and Tia both sent you each this way?"
"I wonder what that is," Saraon wonders aloud. Then he looks at the barber. "How much for the trim, goodman?"
Saraon and Bas pay for their trims, 5 sp for each.
Stepping out onto the street, they see a group down the ways, some of them instantly recognizable as Sprig, Ralrae, and Brindle.
Jeeth says, "They didn't send us here. I just walked outta the general store and saw Korred here about to ride away on my horse."
Korred shakes his head, "No markings on the horse. Tia would have it in her books though."
"Sprig! Brindle! Ralrae!" Saraon exclaims as they step out. "What's going on? Horse?"
Sprig shrugs his tiny shoulders. "Those two 'r fighting' over this 'ere horse. Ah figured we'd give 'em a hand." The kobold points out the the dwarf and human before gently patting the horse's leg. He yawns quietly, not really feeling awake enough to make any judgement.
”Shounds like you were both shold a hors...e. But only one of you bought it from the person who owned it.” Brindle says diplomatically, hoping such complex concepts are as easy to understand as they were to say, which actually was pretty hard when trying not to ruffle itchy-trigger-fingered feathers. Or something.
"Oh, that's easy to resolve! I can just ask the horse!" Saraon replies, a smile behind his mask clear in his eyes.
He scowled annoyed and a bit irritible. Whoever these two were they sort of ruined his good day. A fresh hair cut and a shave and then two men arguing over a horse. Must be some horse. He approached the horse and made comforting noises... at least he hoped they were comforting. He took a look over the horse trying to discern if it was worth the trouble they were causing.
Ralrae's eyes raise at Saraon's words. "It would never have occurred to me to ask the horse... that's a right fine idea. I wonder what it has to say?" He steps closer, eager to hear what the horse might have to say about whomever sold it.
"Yew can talk 't animals, Saraon? Heh, hope my horses haven't said nothin' bad about me." Sprig mind wanders to the animals he looked after. Four horses, two dogs and small snake were a lot to keep track of, the kobold hoped he hand't neglected them.
"I can't do it ALL the time, Sprig. It's a spell, so I can only understand their speech when I'm specifically listening for it. Where's the horse in question?"
The horse is where the party left it. Korred and Jeeth seem to have simmered down a bit with the further questioning they've gone through.
Bas isn't able to make a great impression on the horse, but he does notice that this would be a fairly strong work horse, despite not being especially remarkable.
Saraon waves his hands and chants a little bit. His ears begin to glow a bit, and though his mask hides it, his mouth does too. Then the glow fades and he approaches the horse and bows.
"Good morrow, noble and graceful one. Please, do not be alarmed. My name is Saraon. What may I call you?"
To the rest of the party, all they can hear is whinnes and snorts from the horse.
”Two-walker Saraon. How does two-walker speak like a four-walker? I am Pounds-the-Dust, herd name Twenty Hooves.”
Saraon smiles kindly behind his mask.
"I have a stronger connection to the land, and those who walk upon it, than most two-walkers. It allows me to, when I listen, speak to all creatures great and small."
He fishes some dried berries from his rations and offers them to Pounds-the-Dust. While the horse munches he continues.
"I have a few questions, Pounds-the-Dust. You are a working four-walker, are you not?"
Sprig idly watches the two converse wondering if what Saraon was saying actually got through to the horse. He's never been one for making up tall tales, so I guess they're actually communicating. Sure looks funny though.
"Pull earth-cutter. Carry two-walkers." Pounds-the-Dust chews contentedly on the berries.
"Pull earth-cutter. Carry two-walkers." Pounds-the-Dust chews contentedly on the berries.
"I see...Right now, two of those two-walkers over there..." he says, indicating the arguing townsfolk, "...are arguing over which of them you carry, and whose earth-cutter you pull. And I thought the easiest solution would be to just ask you, and tell them what you told me. Do you recognize either of those two-walkers?"
The horse blinks for a moment, thinking, "Hm. Not much need to know who it was before. Tall one, I am almost sure."
"How much did you pay for the horse? well for the both of you?"
He asked looming a little. A little on purpose.
The horse blinks for a moment, thinking, "Hm. Not much need to know who it was before. Tall one, I am almost sure."
Saraon rubs the back of his neck. It wasn't too much of a surprise that an animal's memory wasn't the best, but it was still frustrating.
"How long have you worked for them?"
Jeeth thinks for a minute, "I've had the horse for a while, so I don't remember off the top of my head. 20 gold, or somethin' around there."
Korred puts his fist in his hand, "25, I'd know it clear as day."
The horse ponders for a moment, leaning down to munch on a dry shoot on the ground. "Ever since I began to work for the two-walkers."
"Which was how many moons?" Saraon asks kindly.
"More than four. More than can run together in a herd."
He reached into his boot for his stash and pulled out his coin purse. With a slight frown he started to count out gold pulling out 50 coins for each man.
"There problem solved. Now its my horse and you both have more coin than this one cost you."
He began watching Saroan still talke to the horse.
"Well, Ah guess that's that, then. Yer th' proud owner of a new hoarse." Sprig said, relieved. He'd been considering the same action himself. "Saraon, can yew introduce 'im to his new owner? Ah'm sure Bas'll be takin' care of him for a long 'hwile."
The kobold squints at the human and half-elf, his poor eyes not enjoying the sun's glare. "Say, yew two look like new men! Think that cut did th' two of' yew real good. How about we getcha some new clothes t' go with it? Then we can roll right into Kildain n' charm th' pants of anyone."
Brindle watches, unsure if the two humanoids will acquiesce to the human's offer.
Saraon blinks in surprise at what just happened.
"Um...apparently that's no longer important, Pounds-the-Dust. My friend here, Bas, has just bought you, so...he's your two-walker now, I guess?"
He turns to Bas.
"Bas, this is Pounds-the-Dust of the Twenty Hooves herd."
Jeeth furrows his eyebrows, ”Wh...hold up! I ain’t gonna sell my horse! He does damn fine work for me!”
Korred shrugs, ”If he ain’t gonna take the money, I’ll take it for the both of us and let Jeeth take it up with you for the horse.”
Ralrae gives both men a small, grim smile. It might be best if you found another horse to do "damn fine work" for you.... And you won't be getting any more than what this fine fellow just paid out to you."
Sprig smiles his usual smile, with plenty of reptilian teeth. "Well sirs, Ah happen t' know a fine trader in horses that can set yew up with just th' perfect horse fer th' each of yew. If yew'd jes' follow me..."
The little lizard heads towards the stable where they'd rented horses just a day or two ago.
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Brindle eyes the two men carefully, unsure that her friends are assessing the situation correctly. She knew, instinctively, that ownership was more than could be exchanfed for round discs that did nothing. Carefully, she double-gripped her gunstockclub and let her mouthflaps retract, baring teeth.