"Bears are nice animals. I can go over and pet it while you pick the rosemary.
It might want to scratch against my bark."
"I can summon an invisible spirit to go pick those bushes," Gamble whispers. "I could move a few paces further back and while we all hide call it forth, but I'm not sure how likely the effort is to wake the bear."
Pepper frowns: "All spirits are invisible... just say you can summon a spirit.
And, PLEASE: whisper!"
”You’re not invisible,” Gamble whispers with a wink.
Pepper clunks her bark with her branch-hand: "That's just some old tree I was sent to live in... but, actually, I like it! Feels comfortable."
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Ears twitching, the bear snorts in its sleep.
"Oh, see! it's dreaming. Isn't it cute?"
Gamble hides himself behind a tree as best he can and then begins to tell a tale as quietly as he can while still evoking the occult power. He gestures animatedly as he speaks, "There once were four rabbits. Their mother warned them to stay away from the farmer's garden for the farmer's wife had turned their father into a pie. The first three rabbits took their mother's words to heart, but the youngest was bold and reckless. He saw four plump carrots in the garden and thought he was too clever and fast for the farmer to catch him."
The invisible servant manifests invisibly in the air next to one of the rosemary bushes.
"Should've sent Gracie in to share his dreams..."
Several things happen at the same time.
The bear snorts and shuffles, but remains, as far as you can tell, asleep as Deerslicer inches his way into the forest. Around the same time, Gamble's invisible spirit glides above the leaves carpeting the ground and pulls the first rosemary clump. The sound it makes is deafening as the whole bush rattles and a light rain of soil falls on the ground. The plant is damaged hanging limply in the air, its stems folded in straight angles. The bear's ears twitch and he grunts as dirt enters its nose. Deerslicer would be at the edge of the clearing by now.
The spirit continues to follow the instructions given by its master and pulls the other rosemary plant with ease and thankfully, more quietly.
The bear grumbles and readjusts its large girth and continues sleeping. The invisible spirit is floating above the bear, holding the three rosemary plants in good shape and one that is damaged. Some of the soil caught in the roots falls gently on the bear's hide.
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Sinan nods his head. "Yes, you're right. We can peruse the ledgers after we return to the taproom. Since Phinick lives in the stables near the inn, we can speak with him on the way."
He turns to Trin and Marny. "Thank you for your hospitality. I am only sad we could not slay the boar, as he would have made several good meals for you both."
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Simon is going to be relatively quiet. What had seemed like a perfectly simple solution - revenge-kill Trin and skip town - doesn't have the snap to it that it had last night.
Simon tries very hard to find a reason to revive that plan. He scours Trin's words for traces of falsehoods, any excuse to dismiss a growing feeling that he should do ... something helpful?
"Thank you for your hospitality," says Valor.
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"Oh, yes! Most definitely!", Marny says wistfully. "Would be a nice change of pace from potatoes and turnips. Hasn't been good game the last six months."
"Please wait here", Trin says as she stands up and heads outside. Less than a minute later, she comes back surprised carrying a white hen by the neck; it's head is grisly bashed in. "I was going to offer you some eggs and turnips that you could take home, but, uh, it looks like one of the chickens was struck dead by a rock near the henhouse", she frowns. "How odd", she finishes by looking at her brother, who scratches his head and looks just as perplexed as she is. Giving a faint shrug she hands the dead poultry to Kunsheng. "Please take it. It's not much, but allow us to thank you for your help."
The party, I imagine after thanking Trin and Marny, would head back to town.
The sun is lowering it girth into the horizon, and surprisingly, it looks as if people are filing in to the Feedmill. Tamli and Edra are at the stables, tending to the poor flea ridden horses. Edra perks up when she sees you arrive with the rosemary, but her delight turns into a frown as she takes a good look at you. "The 'ells happened to you?"
The day has taken its toll. Some of you have beestings, are slightly grimy, and with some leaves in your armor. The rest of you have a slight smell of sweaty hog and have blood stains on your clothes and armor. "A-Are you all right?", Tamli asks. Wrinkling her nose, Edra gladly takes the rosemary from your hands. "They look all right otherwise they wouldn't be standing, now, would they?" She eyes the rosemary you brought back. "This should do the trick. Might not be enough for most of them, but should prevent them from getting sick from all the bites. Alright, Miss Tamli, let's get cracking!" The horses neigh in discomfort. Tamli follows Edra reluctantly towards the back of the stables, eyeing you all with concern.
Pepper frowns, wondering how she can go groom her leaves and clean up.
Gamble concentrates as he directs the invisible servant. Sweat beads on his brow as the first plant spoils and startles the bear. Once the remaining herbs are collected he directs the porter to move south and away from the bear before slowly bringing it closer and carefully backing away.
Valor, after inspecting the farm environs, would conclude that oddly enough, the thrown rock came from the direction you all arrived from when the boar was chasing Marny.
"Managed to snag some honey from our trip to Ammora," Gamble says as they return to the inn. "Might make our meal tonight a little more sweet. Deerslicer paid for it a bit with his hide. Did you find anything helpful in Bort's ledgers?"
"Shall we give the rosemary... poor horses, hard for them to scratch what with no hands and all."
Edra and Tamli take the rosemary and are busy grinding it in order to create the ointment. The horses appear to be anxious as they work. Tamli looks up from time to time and goes "There, there. We'll get those buggers off you."
From outside the stables, you can hear the noise of people talking loudly at the Feedmill. The lamps have been turned on and there's a certain kind of warmth coming from the old inn. The voices from within are those of merriment. It doesn't take long for Delma to come running to the stables looking flustered.
"Edra? Have you seen Phinick? I need help in the kitchen. Trin isn't due back for another day, Amora isn't talking to me and Kolnral and myself are barely managing with all the people in the taproom!"
"Oh, he's not there, trust me", Edra says absentmindedly as she works the rosemary. "Went there to bring him breakfast and he wasn't there. Haven't seen him all day. Thought he was sulking in one of the inn's rooms after the fight. You know how he gets", she tells Delma.
"Well, he's not at the inn", Delma says a matter-of-factly before whirling to you pleadingly. "Any chance I could convince some of you to help out? I've got all tables full tonight. Your friends are already helping out. I need an entertainer, a servitor, and a second cook."
Pepper moves away from Deerslicer.
"I am not firewood."
"I would be remiss to not offer my services as an entertainer," Gamble says.
Sinan turns to the others. "I am willing to help out, but I am not much of a cook or entertainer. I might be a fair hand at serving, but my talents might be best used on the ledgers tonight."
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"I'd like to give the ledgers another look," offers Valor. "Now that I've gotten a bit of fresh air, maybe I'll get a fresh look at something I missed."
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As Simon and Sinan settle in to looking over the ledgers, Simon looks up and asks to see Sinan's holy symbol.
"You're a cleric of Sarenrae, right? What's the difference between Sarenrae and Iomedae?"
Delma lights up once you tell her you're willing. "Oh, that's perfect. Mister goblin, please head over to the kitchen right away, the rest of you, into the taproom, right away!"
Entering the kitchen, Deerslicer would be met with the lithe, bent figure of Cooky mumbling about finding a knife. "Master Deerslicer", he gives a curt nod. "If you please, get the oven started so we can get the stew ready. It'll be turnips... again."
As the rest of you enter the crowded taproom, the Redfern twins make their way over you, dodging chairs and people. They give you all a tight smile. "She roped you in, too, huh?", Ulf or Olf asks. Olf, at least you think is Olf, continues, "Cocky has been cooking like crazy, but the plates are all stacking up at the bar. Help us out, will you? We need to serve them and pick them up as well."
Ulf chimes in, "Just watch your step. It's a bit crowded in here and you wouldn't want to start a fight again, do you?" Olf elbows his twin, and Ulf grows quiet, probably remembering what happened the last time there was a fight here, his good cheer gone.
Delma, meanwhile has pushed Gamble all the way towards the small podium near the fireplace, shooing aside any farmers in the way. This was not in any way a small task considering the size of the Ulfen man and the short Isgerian woman. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "Flonk is all moody today and refuses to play. Keep them entertained, I'll bring you a meal after an hour. They like ballads from the Goblinblood wars, do you know any?"
Edra looks up at Pepper from grinding the rosemary. "Miss Tree Spirit", Edra starts, "care to help with the horses? They liked you last time." Tamli coos softly at a poor horse's ear. She scratches its ear. "My poor little ones have been through a lot. And even though the rosemary wasn't all we wanted, let's see if you can make it all we need."
Pepper smiles ad Erdra: "You may call me Pepper if you wish, my dear Edra."
With that, Pepper agrees to help, and tries to follow Edra's directions.
But she does not feel that comfortable.
She tries this and that, but is obviously no good with mundane healing methods.
"I do not know much about your ways... maybe if you let me, I could help more?
I would... well, one second!"
Pepper slips away, and tries to walk around the courtyard, or go to the outskirts of the village, able to see well enough so long that it is not night-time yet.
She will try to gather some dandelions, and wild chives, and... whatever might help.
Before returning.
"Here, with all this, a bowl and a wooden spoon, I think I can do better.
She grinds it all up into a paste, adding some water, and tries to soothe the horses' irritation.
Sinan peruses the ledger in a quiet corner of the inn while conversing with Valor.
”Sarenrae and Iomedae are allied. They aren’t as close as Sarenrae and her lovers, Desna and Shelyn. Nor do they share an origin like Iomedae and Cayden do. But they side together more often than not.”
He pauses to gaze at Valor as if assessing him. ”Where Iomedae is the fury of righteous retribution and martial honor, Sarenrae is the fire of the sun itself. She is the healing redemption of the light that touches us all. And she is the honesty that we all must bear together.”
With that last, he looks Valor in the eyes. ”That, I suspect, is why my Lady has put me in your path, Brother Valor. That is why her voice has commanded me to help you. To guide you. To redeem you.”
Sinan lowers his tone so that only they two can hear. ”Tell me, Valor. Have you turned from Iomedae, has she turned from you, or have you never met?”
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Gamble retrieves his lute and takes his place. "Goblinblood War, no, though I've heard plenty of tales at the expense of goblins," he says. "It would probably be in poor taste given present company."
He begins to strum and pluck his lute, playing several tunes to set the mood. "Let me tell you the tale of Balgrid Bluetongue who slew a tarn linnorm in the frozen north a long time ago..."
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Deerslicer seems surprised that they're actually letting him near the food, but he shrugs and figures they must be desperate, so he might as well help out. He leads Gracie into the kitchen and says, "Okay, so ... you stand dere. Maybe you can help some ..." He frowns around at the turnips, then glances at the remaining quail and rabbit. He and Gracie have eaten, and there's enough to feed three other people ... but they would also add flavor to otherwise bland turnip stew. He sighs and nods, making a decision. "Yeah, Gracie, we gonna cook up some stew ..." He yanks out dogslicer and begins cleaning the game.
He twirls around the kitchen, slicing vegetables - mostly turnips - and throwing it into large pots, which cook along with the meat. He pulls various herbs and spices out of his bag, snaked away during the foraging of his many travels, and begins adding them to the stewpots.
Within a few minutes, a surprisingly pleasant - and meaty - aroma is drifting out of the kitchen.
By the time Edra is ready with the ointment, Pepper's own soothing balm has calmed the jittery horses down well enough that Tamli can apply the ointment without any trouble. As the smell of the ointment wafts in the air, Pepper can feel the horses heartbeating slowing back to normal. Perhaps thinking that mammals are curious creatures. So warm and soft to the touch. "Well done, Miss Pepper! Thank you.", Tamli says as she pats the horses. She kisses one in the snout as Edra stretches and yawns. She finds a bottle in the hay and takes a swig. "Ah, another job well-done. Those horses should be able to hit the road soon once again."
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Back at the Feedmill, Cooky takes a sip of the stew and smiles approvingly, his voice soft yet grave. "This tastes quite good, Master Deerslicer. Do not think I did not see you bring in that quail. Sharing what little one has is a noble act. I only wish more people could see what goblinfolk are really like: small unfortunate folk, but with big hearts." He serves the steaming stew on several bowls."Let's us feed the people of Plaguestone, then. For they too have so little to give."
As the smell of the delicious stew floats in the air, several locals begin to ask the Redfern twins for the special. From the kitchen, Deerslicer would hear, "It smells so good!"
As food and drink flow Gamble's song and music bring to life the distant Lands of the Linnorm Kings to the people of Etran's Folly. During the performance, Gamble would notice Ulf and Olf with their gazes tranfixed on him, hearing the tale with the same rapt attention they probably had when they first heard the story some time ago, the familiar music strumming their hearts.
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Pepper shuffles her roots, bashful, but mighty proud.
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Simon shuffles his feet rather nervously.
"I don't ... I mean ... I honor the teachings of Iomedae. I know that people respect her. Isn't that enough?"
Valor pulls out his copy of the Acts of Iomedae.
"What more could the gods want from us?"