Mad Marvin looks at the talking wolf seated at a desk.
Say wat now?
The wolf at the desk growls and glances into the chamber to the left of Marvin.
from there the voice said again Come Come dont be shy. Its not everyday people other than kobolds come a callin
Helgash has never heard of a 'Graypelt' whether thinking of local names or his knowledge of Nature.
Though Marvin has...the leader of a large pack of wolves in the area. Hes reputed to be stronger and faster and smarter, so much so that most in the area fear him.
Mad Marvin begins superstitiously patting himself for any forgotten sausages.
Me be Mad Marvin Dundlerock. We be look'n fer sun magic mush 'rooms fer da townsfolk be ill'n.
The wide eyed Dwarf takes a few tentative steps into the room, smiling like an idiot at the nice doggies.
Marvin edges along the wall looking into the other chanber past the wolf in the doorway and past some rubble to a wolf easily 4 feet at the shoulder with dark gray fur and dark brown eyes that stared at the dwarf as if looking at breakfast its lips snarled and it said Well...met...Mad Marvin Dundlerock. I have heard of you, though you normally dont meddle in the affairs of the townsfolk. I dont know of any magic mushrooms.
They aren’t magic. Cathoris says bluntly as he cautiously enters the room behind Mad Marvin. They’re Ironsoot Mushrooms. We need them for a cure.
Alex is mildly stunned at what he sees. However, he quickly remembers the fey and shrugs it off. A strange world indeed He does not lower his blade however.
As said, we seek these mushrooms. They would normally grow where iron shavings fall.
The wolves pull back into the Chamber Graypelt is in and the larger wolf keeps talking Oh you must mean these mushrooms right here. Theres about 20 of them growing in the corner by where the forge was before.
"Oh, well, how very helpful of you, Master Graypelt," Thal says, giving a polite bow, "You are, indeed, a kind and helpful soul through and through." And he speaks more clearly than the Dwarf, a voice in his head says.
Mad Marvin turns and smiles at group.
He be hear'n ov me! Be da shrooms ye be need'n.
The Dwarf then turns fully to Greypelt. The Dwarf bows.
We be most grateful if'n we ken be hav'n dem shrooms. Dese folks be fear'n fer da townsfolk. And Torag done mak'n me 'elp dem.
The Dwarf takes a few more tentative steps toward the mushrooms. His cheesy smile a thing of beauty.....
Talking wolf? Cathoris thinks. Werewolf? There are around this part of the woods.
But his knowledge on werewolves is clearly lacking.
Helgash looks at the scene with some suspicion, but keeps his opinions to himself, and Tark close to him - "Do you... Live here?" - the half-orc blurts out, almost without realizing it, kind of interrupting the conversation.
The wolf grinned evilly. hmmm so it seems we have a point of contention. I am in the possession of something you want...maybe need. and yet there is nothing offered to replace my property. am I missing something? ...Do I live here? well at the moment you can say that.
"Oh, of course, Master Graypelt, we would never seek to take from you without compensation," Thal says, doing his best to seem submissive without also seeming weak, "Is there some specific compensation you desire in exchange for the mushrooms you've so graciously made available for us?"
oh you are the eloquent one. I am not accustomed to 'making the offer', after all...what do I need?
"You speak well, Master Graypelt, though courtesy did dictate I give you the chance to begin the negotiations. As you easily can see that these mushrooms hold more value to us than the common ones you might find for a copper in any marketplace, what say an offer of a gold piece per mushroom?" Thal says, actually having no idea of how much a mushroom would cost, but hoping that his offer seems reasonable and generous enough.
”Gold? For a wolf?” - Helgash grunted slightly louder than he wanted, looking at Tark.
”I think he might be more interested in... Prey? Or if he joined us for a hunt? Or if we could be his pack?” - he shrugged at Thallin - ”No?”
Straug glowers from the back of the room, hand on one of this throwing axes. He growls under his breath to the group around him, trying to keep Greypelt from hearing him.
Have you bleeders lost your minds? You cant trust a talking wolf...there is evil afoot here we've all felt it. Why bargain with this beast when we can cleanse the place and take the mushrooms without being beholden to this creature. He'll turn on us first chance he gets.
Straug tries to sense what he can about the wolf and his motives.
Mad Marvin's blue eyes dart from Greypelt to the wolves to Thal to Halgash and finally to Straug at the mention of trust and such.
The Dwarf just stands there attempting to look trustworthy.
Concern grows over Cathoris’s face as Straug responds. He turns to him and glares. Not now, Straug! he thinks, practically willing the thought through his eyes. The mushrooms are what we need, not more fighting at the risk of our lives, not when it’s not necessary.
ahem. Alex clears his throat. finally settling back into his normal demeanor.
this... wild card, as it were. Could prove very useful when I make my play.. very useful indeed. But, they must know this is a partnership.. and that if anyone will kowtow to the other, it is them that will do so.
Good sir graypelt. What is meant to be said with all of this is, that neither of our packs would benefit from a fight. I'm sure you realize this, which is why you haven't attacked us already. Likewise, we do not desire a confrontation if one can be avoided. Though I beseech you, do not doubt our ability to give one should we need to... He lets the final sentence hang for a moment, a promise, moreso than a threat.
Now that we understand the situation, I will make you an offer. A mutually beneficial one. Help us, and we, and our town, can help you. Mutual protection, and shared hunting grounds. We might can even work in a small offering of food to you and your pack every so often. If either of our groups are threatened, without provocation, we could call upon each other. There would be stipulations, no attacking or hunting us or those with us including the towns and camps. And no hunting their animals without express, uninfluenced permission. I believe this would benefit everyone going forward.
He finishes his proposal, looking to the side and towards the ground before slowly looking up and locking stares with greypelt.
That said, if you ever threaten my pack we won't hesitate to do what is necessary.
After a long stare, he smiles. Which I'm sure you understand well.
As Alex turns on the full viciousness of his intimidation, Thal finds himself taking an involuntary step back.This guy is intense! he thinks to himself, at which point another voice in his head says, Useful.
Mad Marvin turns to wink at Thal.
Be nutt'n ta worry over. Da voices helps.
Cathoris winces at Alex’s words. He remembers the proposal he made back in the fey court. This guy really wants to take over Falcon’s Hollow. Not good, but probably not worse than the way things are now, he begrudgingly admits to himself.
His eyes stay focused on the wolf, gaging his response.
Straug stays quiet. He is extremely uncomfortable that the group is 'negotiating' with evil. He is watching Mad Marvin intently as well. As he is relatively new to being a devout he isnt sure what approach to take here, and also recognizing the irony in that he is looking to a madman for guidance.
I guess if Torag is ok with this madness for now then Angradd might be as well...but this doesnt feel right at all.
Graypelt stared at Alex as he spoke and made veiled threats. The Larger wolf glanced looked intently at the group standing in the other room...sniffed the air detecting Kronk in the hall...squinted his eyes and thought for a second then said Bahh what do I need mushrooms for. 1 of you can come in and collect them no more.
Mad Marvin enters the mushroom chamber, gathers as many as he can stuff into his pockets, shirt, pants and helmet; bows smiling to Greypelt, and shuffles out of both rooms and into the hall.
Be hop'n ye be happy! Done almost had me nuts chewed off by sum dogs!
He doesn't seem to be actually addressing those present....
Marvin enters the room and looks around. finds the Mushrooms growing in a corner across from a set of stairs going down saying
otherwise besides gnawed bones and a pile of furs, and the three wolves and Graypelt there is little else.
Thal moves near to Alex and simply whispers, "Bravo!"
Helgash is honestly curious about Graypelt and the two wolves - the half-orc approaches the door to better observe them, while keeping an eye on Tark's reactions.
"Why don't you join us?" - he offers, looking back at Straug - "Will you live here alone? Without a pack? Would you not prefer to roam the territory?"
That was my offer, at the end of it. Well, more or less. He says at Helgash's words.
As Marvin collects The Ironsoot mushrooms, Helgash asks about living here.
Graypelt growls and in a low voice. says I have a pack. I roam when I want. where I want. Get your mushrooms and go. I care not for you to tarry in my territory.
"Of course you do, Master Graypelt," Thal says, hoping to smooth over the situation a bit, "as well you should. And should you roam into our territory, know that we view you as a friend so long as you mean no harm to us and ours," and he gives a bit of a bow as he begins backing up towards the door as if to suggest to the group that they might have worn out their welcome.
Cathoris, surprised at Marvin’s boldness, he hurries over to him. He looks over the mushrooms to see if they have enough yet for the hamlet.
Thank you, Marvin. I may have misjudged you.
At Thal’s closing, he eagerly leaves the wolves’ presence, though keeping an eye behind them as they go. This may have worked out for us now, but I have a feeling this wolf doesn’t like losing. We’ll have to watch our backs. I’ll talk to the others a little further out.
Mad Marvin smiles weakly at Cathoris' comment.
Don't be tank'n meself. Torag made me do it.
The dwarf then nods in gratitude.
Now wat ta do wit dem 'shrooms?
As Marvin collects The Ironsoot mushrooms, Helgash asks about living here.
Graypelt growls and in a low voice. says I have a pack. I roam when I want. where I want. Get your mushrooms and go. I care not for you to tarry in my territory.
"Fair enough I guess" - Helgash nodded.
Now wat ta do wit dem 'shrooms?
"Do we have all that is needed?" - the half-orc inquires, looking around at the others.
Um. Thank you. Cathoris says awkwardly with a slight bow to the wolf. As he heads out of the chamber with the others, he says, I think this will be enough for Laurel. Let’s get out of here.
Once they are further away, ideally out of earshot with of the wolf, he says to Straug, I know that was difficult for you, but it saved us some time, and at no cost to us. I’ll come back with you to explore after we disperse the cure. I promise! I know how important family is. He looks at the dwarf in his eyes. Cathoris’s own eyes showing sincerity and worry.
Thal, who hadn't really paid enough attention to know why that would have been so hard for Straug, does his best to also look sympathetic as he trusts Cathoris' intuition on this.
However, Thal's "sincere face" comes off as a bit too enthusiastic...and possibly confused-looking.
withdrawing from the wolfs lair the group backs up to the entrance of the monastery and seeing the sun has completely fallen and darkness has claimed the forest they realize they need to decide where to set a camp up.. here in the monastery? or put some distance between them and it in the dark?
I'd suggest somewhere defensible lads, I dont think this monastery is done with us yet. In fact I think that wolf means to have a go at us when we least expect it.
Straug looks uncomfortable for a second as he thinks through how to say the next bit.
I can tell from your reactions in there and by some of your faces, he looks at Thallin purposefully, that you dont understand why I took the stance I did.
His gaze steels as he prepares to say some hard things.
THAT was an evil creature. Werewolf or worg or someone under an enchantment or spell I dont know but I know it was evil. With the next phrase he looks purposefully in everyone's face one at a time. And each of you know it too whether you wanted to admit it to yourself in the moment or not. That was evil and we not only let it live some of you attempted to treat with it, or to even get it to join us. Who here would sleep another night with that wolf in our midst?
Wolves JUST LIKE THAT are the bane of Falcon's Hollow. They plague the livestock of our farmers and families. Every year we lose good people to predators of the wood like that from the lumber camps and village outskirts. Those wolves would pull down and tear apart any child from our town exploring the woods or who was just caught alone without a seconds thought and sleep well that night with a full belly. Those are just the wild wolves I'm speaking of, how much more of a threat is an intelligent force for evil like that creature back there. Lady Syntara herself would probably like to be rid of that creature from her wood, not that we are here to further the aim of the fey but to protect our town.
We may be on a mission to get these ingredients but I see us as more than that. We are protectors of our little Hollow, and I mean to be one in every sense of the word that I can. I did nothing back there, though every bit of good in me cried out to rid the world of that evil and I'll be making penance with Angradd because of it, out of respect for our battles fought together and camraderie, but I'm telling the lot of you now I'll not stand by again and let something like that live, whether or not youll be fighting beside me.
There I've said my piece lads and I'm sorry for the harshness of my words. I know youre good men and mean well but I think we missed the mark today. Ask yourself this as we bed down tonight. The next time a wolf pack takes one of our lumbermen, or a villager, or a girl working the tavern, or a member of our family, will you be able to wonder whether or not it was that talking abomination and whether you could have stopped it? I know I wont.
With those words Straug nods his head and steps back waiting for someone to lead the way to camp.
Mad Marvin is found just inside the main hall of the monastery, leading outside.
The dwarf is removing many mushrooms from various holdings; transferring them into a sack.
If anyone joins the Mad dwarf outside in the main hall of the monastery; he will be heard arguing with...no one clearly seen....
Helgash takes one long look at Tark, patting his brother on the flank.
He listens to Straug's words, but says nothing.
As Straug delivers his speech and mentions "a girl working the tavern" as a potential victim, Thal blushes in shame and looks away.
"You have a weakness," says the voice in his head.
Straug joins Mad Marvin in the main hall.
Good a place as any I suppose. I can take first watch lads.
Still feeling a little sheepish after his speech earlier Straug sits uncomfortably chewing on some jerky. Looking up he sees Tark and Helgash getting settled in. Sighing as he remembers some of his words he wishes he was more eloquent and thoughtful.
I didnt mean you, pup. Its clear youve chosen a different path... He says quietly and tosses him a hunk of jerky, not sure if he'll even take it.
Standing up and cracking his neck and back he takes position for watch listening intently for anything that would want to harm him and his friends.
Alex rolls his eyes as Straug gives his sermon.
Yes, they certainly are the cause of this sickness that is killing countless people while we tarry about. One can protect something without having to kill every possible living, or unliving, threat to it. Often times it would be better to strike a deal with those intelligent enough to do so. It saves blood, lives, and you may find it creates allies in the strangest of places... That said, he has been warned. If he so much as sniffs Hallow, I will be throwing their pelts out as a rug in my home. Of that, have no doubt.
Yes he's been warned Alex, for all the good warnings do against evil, roll your eyes if you like. One thing is sure, if the need arises to hunt him and his pack down youll find my blades at your side ready for the bloody work ahead. Lets leave it at that.
We’ll have an idea about his intentions on honoring such a deal tonight. I, for one, except him to attack us, especially if we stay here at the monastery. Not that anywhere else would be safer. Is that what we’re doing?
Cathoris looks around the hall to see if there are any torches to light and to determine what entries need to be protected.
I’ll help keep first watch with you, Straug, once we’re set up.
The group heads outside and through the courtyard looking around at the huge amounts of bats in the vicinity of the ruins. Literally hundreds of them can be seen flying around in the night sky.
They go out the front doors and past the 2 moss covered dwarven statues. The move down the trail a hundred paces and then angle into the trees for a short distance until they find a likely place to camp.
It takes a short time to clear the area of branches and rocks and then set the campfire and eat their evening meal. The aches and pains of the day settle in and thoughts go to the unusually quiet Kronk, whose just been sitting looking at the woods.
You wonder where Falkwyn got off to, and then look at Helgash and Marvin glad to have made new friends.
They are quite surprised to end the night watch and begin to settle into the next morning that they werent attacked by Graypelt's pack in the night. though they did hear wolves howl throughout the night.
Alexander AC:18 FF:14/T:14)CMD: HP:20/20 Saves-FO:+2 RE:+5 WL:+6
1st Aristocrat/1st Rogue (Phantom Thief) M Half-Elf Defenses: +2 Enchantments Immune Magical Sleep
limited abilities: none HeroPoints:2
Cathoris AC:17 (FF:14/T:13) CMD: 16 HP:13/13 Saves-FO:3 RE:2 WL:5
1st Adept / 1st Magus (Staff Magus) M Human Defenses: None
Spells Adept 0:3/3 1st:1/1 Magus 1st: 2/2 HeroPoints:2
Helgash AC: 17 (FF:14 T:13) [19/16/13 with Shield] CMD:15 HP: 16/16 Saves-FO:5 RE:5 WL:8 1st Expert/1st Inquisitor {Sacred Huntmaster} M Half-Orc Defenses: N/A HeroPoints:2
--Tark AC:17 (FF:15 T:12) CMD: 14 (18 vs. trip) HP: 17/17 Saves-FO:5 RE:5 WL:1 Animal Companion {Bodyguard} 2HD Wolf Defenses: Scent (Ex) Detect opponents within 15+ feet by sense of smell.
Mad Marvin Dundlerock AC: 20 (FF:18/T:12) CMD: 14 HP:31/31 Saves-FO:3 RE:2 WL:4 1st Commoner / 2nd Oracle (Hermit)) M Dwarf Defenses: Hardy abilities: Channel (Su):3/3
Spells 1st:5/5 Hero Points: 1
Straug AC:17(FF:16/T:11)CMD:15 HP:21/21 Saves-FO:+7 RE:+1 WL:+4
1 Warrior/1 Warpriest/ M Dwarf Defenses: +2 vs poison/spells, DR 1/- vs creatures and damage of fire type
limited abilities: Blessing: Fire Strike 3/3 HeroPoints:1
Thallin AC:19(FF:15/T:14)CMD:15 HP:12/12 Saves-FO:+2 RE:+3 WL:+2
1st Commoner/1st Occultist M Human Defenses: N/A; limited abilities: Focus Powers 4/4, 1st Level Spells 2/2; HeroPoints:2
Kronk AC:15(FF:13/T:12)CMD:17 HP:15/15 Saves-FO:+3 RE:+4 WL:+1
1st Commoner/1st Brawler M Human Defenses: N/A
limited abilities: N/A HeroPoints:2