How exactly would we provide proof of their demise? Eirnar asks, recalling the melting that happened with the birds.
Rubbing his eyes at the idea that time here was an illusion, and that nothing here was real, Kaldwell nodded at Eirnar's question. "And by 'rebirth' do you mean he shall return as he is now, memories and all? How long does such a rebirth take?" It would be nice to know he hadn't destroyed the bears.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about proof of death. I'll know. All Storykin make their way to me when they die. As to how long it takes, it depends on how long it takes me to rebuild their form. What they remember depends on the Storykin: some have such dreadfully short memories while others can recall nearly everything that's happened to them."
Yattle brightens. "Well that's a far more sensible way to handle such things than I've seen since I left home!"
"Besides, if the Nightpeddler has the materials that the Ticktock Man wants, then killing him for now would let us befriend two of the Token Bearers."
That sounded horrible, but also a quite apt fate for someone that enslaved children. And foolish enough to upset the creature that would weave them a fresh form. "We will see what we can do," Kaldwell tentatively agreed.
Sounds like we've got an agreement. Do you know where these people are and/or any of their abilities to defend themselves or harm others?
Marzalee sounds a little impatient. "I already told you, the Nightpeddler's domain is the Trackless Dearth. He wanders about with his caravan looking for people who wish to trade with him. And the one, brief time I saw him fight, he favored teeth and claws to weapons."
Its already night, Is there someplace safe to lay our heads down before we leave to remove your enemies in the morning?
Kaldwell nodded. "Some sleep before we travel would be wise."
"As long as you stay out of my workshop, I don't much care where you sleep."
The group finds a place to sleep for the night, setting up their usual rotation of not-Lokhir watch followed by Lokhir watch. Nothing disturbs you during this time.
The next morning, you all set out to the nearest edge of the desert. With Eirnar's phantom chariot, the journey only takes a little more than three hours. The wild woods of the Briar abruptly gives way to miles upon miles of desert as far as the eye can see in that direction. Lines of heat shimmer off of the sand, distorting your vision.
They said he wanders looking for people to trade with, I'd think my chariot would be a welcome sight for him!
"It sounds like we should expect him to find us."
"Normally, a merchant would seek out customers," Kaldwell agreed. "But I'm not sure if this world will work like that. It's a story, and the hero doesn't always find what he needs just when he needs it. Only sometimes. We'll have to see."
Kaldwell didn't gain any further incite into the possible location.
”I apologize for my silence. The stress of the situation was getting to me. But, if I may. Our target is a merchant, and merchants travel between settlements. And he will likely only go to settlements large enough to make the journey worth it. If we go to any such settlement we can ask about him to learn when he was last there and in which way he went. We can likely narrow down our search greatly by deductive reasoning and with a reliable map.”
The Midnight circus looks central, perhaps we should start there and see if they've seen anything?
”A wise plan, and one as good as any. I support it.”
On second thought, if he sticks to the desert , Perhaps the Prophet’s Garden is our best bet?
"It can't hurt," Kadlwell agreed easily. One place seemed as good a place to start as another. Of course, anywhere lacking giant insects seemed perfectly acceptable.
"And we can always ask them there if they know the best ways to find him. Merchants usually want to be found."
After reaching the edge of the Briar and seeing the vast, seemingly endless wastes of the Trackless Dearth, the group decides to turn around and head to the Prophet's Garden instead. The journey takes the rest of the day followed by the majority of the next day, but eventually you arrive. Despite how it may appear on the map Biyo drew, the Prophet's Garden is not directly adjacent to the desert. However, Yattle is able to fly up and confirm that they can see the desert less than 10 miles to the south.
Before you stands a great, walled area with a large set of double-doors leading in. They open with a loud creeeeeeakkkk to reveal a weathered patio overlooking over what must have once been an immaculate garden of flowers and fruit trees. Today, brambles and vines overgrow everything, with only the barest hints of desaturated blossoms weakly poking through. A winding path leads beyond the brush, deeper into the area. There are currently no signs of inhabitants.
With no obvious signs of the inhabitants - and the fact it seemed to be badly overgrown and unkept - made Kaldwell a little suspicious, although that was quite possibly simply this whole realm. He glanced around the area, checking to make sure there was nothing not obvious at first glance or magical.
Yattle sighed. "This will make it much harder to ask for directions."
For a moment they concentrated, and a long-tailed pterosaur built of congealed flames emerged into the air before them. "Fly high and fly bright. Let yourself be a beacon to find us. If you're found, that's a good thing and you should feel happy. Got it?"
”It is fortunate that this land stretches so far in every direction. With your familiar taking flight, it should not be difficult to see any movement regardless of the direction.”
Yattle sends off their familiar up into the air. While anyone looking up would certainly be able to see it, it's not nearly as noticeable as it would be if the sun had set as the tiny creature's flames are easily outshone by the sun.
Kaldwell pauses to listen. Not too far away he's able to hear the sound of a small argument between two creatures, though a small outcropping of trees blocks his vision of who is talking.
"Gimme! It mine!"
"Hmph, it most certainly is not. If it were yours, you would possess it. As it is not in your possession, it is not yours. QED."
"Pleeeeeaasssssseeee? Me hungry. Need stop rumblings in tumblings."
"That is no concern of mine. The world would be a better place if there were fewer vile creatures like yourself in it."
Kaldwell raised his hand and gestured in the direction of the noise, so the others would be more likely to notice. "Shall we call out to warn them we're here?"
Eirnar agrees, Well, it probably could hurt to get closer, but I don't think ignoring it is going to make it get any better, lets!
Delroy crouches low and moves forward quietly to see if he can get a look.
Delroy moves up into the small outcropping of trees. On the other side, he can see where the path continues deeper into the garden into a forest of pillars. Just on the other side of the trees though is a ragged lawn with a stagnant, gray pond to one side. A pear tree, bizarrely colorful in full bloom and heavy with fruit, leans near the wall. Underneath the tree he can see a goblin and a unicorn arguing. They do not seem to have noticed him.
"Why you say vile kree-tchur? Me a uni-korn like you. See!" With that the goblin pulls a crudly made unicorn mask complete with horn down on its face. "Give fellow uni-korn pear?"
The unicorn, who seems to have the pear in question stuck safely out of reach of the goblin on the end of its horn, snorts disdainfully. "You really think a piece of garbage like that is going to fool me? Absurd!"
The goblin starts to "gallop" around the unicorn calling. "Me a uni-korn! Me a uni-korn! Give uni-korn pear!"
Yattle stops concentrating and their fiery flier returns to their mind. "Do we know anything about a pear that's supposed to be here?"
"Could the goblin just have one of the pears from the tree?"
Delroy stands up and addresses the pair.
"Hello my friends!" the one-eyed half orc calls.
"Why are you arguing about a single pear when there's an entire tree full right there?"
Well, that was a blunt approach, but Kaldwell joined the others and headed out to find out why a Goblin and a Unicorn would be arguing over a pear tree. And why a Goblin was pretending to be a unicorn.
The goblin didn't even deign to look away from the magnificently speared pear. "No want other pears. Want that pear! Uni-korn pear! For uni-korn like me!"
The unicorn snorts. "As if. You don't honestly expect me to fall for that abomination of a mask, do you? It doesn't even do anything to disguise your retched smell. Why don't you do as these nice people suggest and just go get a different one, if you can. Maybe you'll fall in the attempt and break your vile neck."
"Is that pear stuck on your horn?"
"Can you get it off?"
They'll never make it to Delroy's age, let alone Kaldwell's, squabbling over stupid crap. Well, perhaps resolving this story may lead to us getting what we came for...
Eirnar plays the idiot card.
Eirnar suggests, first to the Unicorn," We should always remember our intellects and try to treat others with kindness. Wouldn't you rather indulge the 'unicorn' and move forward with your life, rather than continue to squabble? Hands may well come in handy for getting you more pears!"
He then turns to the 'unicorn' ," You're indeed a unique 'unicorn', with abilities other unicorns, such as this fine one, do not possess. Perhaps between his height, and your unique abilities, the two of you could get more pears and not fight over them?"
Eirnar activates his Idiot card and sees the goblin's attention shift to pay slightly more attention to the group.
"Hmph, and what use would I have for hands exactly. I have no desire for more of these bitter little things. I simply wish to rid the world of yet another evil creature." Though he does not yet seem convinced, the unicorn is at least listening to what Eirnar has to say.
"No need work together for more. Just want that pear. Is the best pear! Is why me picked it!" The goblin maintains his singular focus on the pear on the tip of the unicorn's horn.
Kaldwell considered the problem, and decided to suggest the classic solution. "Why not split the pear in half? That way you," he nodded to the Unicorn, "Would have some quiet, and this fellow," he nodded to the Goblin, "Would have half of what he wishes. And each of your would have a fair share."
"Why do we care about the pears? Do one of you know a story I don't? Is this a mortal thing?"
The goblin cocks his head to one side. "But me need whole pear. Not half. How your plan make tummy full?"
"Hmph, I doubt you'll ever convince this little wretch to ever be more than he is, but I suppose I at least should try to be better. At the very least, I can give it a shot." The unicorn jerks his head, sending the pear flying. The goblin runs after it and begins eating it in a very messy, not-at-all-remotely polite manner. The unicorn snorts. "See, can't even be bothered to say 'Thank You' like a civilized person. Still, I suppose I can't blame you all for trying. It's not your fault he's an ungrateful little scoundrel. You may as well take this for your trouble. Better you all than that wretched thing." The unicorn nudges over an old molted horn before moving off slightly, still shooting the goblin dirty looks. "Last time I try something like that."
Eirnar thanks the Unicorn and examines the item.
"Don't expect more from a such a being than their nature allows them to give." Delroy says back to the Unicorn.
"We come this way looking for a fellow named the Nightpeddlar. You wouldn't happen to know anyone by that name would you?"
"Telling us anything that you know would be a great boon to us. The tales of the magnificence of your kindred has proven to be true, now we but hope that the same will be said of your benevolence."
The goblin, being the only one currently in the immediate area, looks up. He puffs up his chest. "Yes, uni-korns like me very maggy-fent and full of benny-violence. But me uni-korns only know other uni-korn. Me can be Nighty-peddle if it make you happy. Nighty-peddle the uni-korn."
Yattle gives a sidelong glance at their companions, "Would you trade with this?"
"If they had what we needed, certainly, but one presumes this is not the Night Peddler we seek."
Delroy, never one to skip a snack, walks over a picks himself a pear.