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Umikh is very happy for Baldrick, and wishes him very well on that adventure. They probably talk shop for a bit, tips on setting up shop and all that. Making sure Baldy has the tools he needs and all that.
So Turq! How's things? And who's your friend? He formally introduces himself to Quominor.
Just met the man. names Quo-mee-nohr, I t'ink the stout human looks to the newcomer while signaling the serving girl for a drink, Tell us 'bout yerself, eh?
Netzer! Turq pulls the burly dwarf into a bit of a bear hug, You old dog! How are you all doin'? Ya seem ta have lost a few, eh? Good ta see dat Mikh-ey and Baldy are still here, ya stalwart few.
Turq laughs, That sounds familiar...
"HEY EVERYBODY - TURQ'S HERE!! You're the tallest dwarf I know and yet I didn't notice you" Baldrick grins broadly at his friend.
"How are things in Good Mead? And, say, when you've a moment, I wouldn't mind a quiet word about an idea I had."
From below the table Netzer had sat at, comes a low growl that evolves into an annoyed feline yawn. White paws with sharp talons stretch out from below then standing and walking into the hearth light, Khat looks at the greeting men as though greatly perturbed to be awake.
From the opposite side of the room, ”I see you’ve waked the cat. She’s a sound sleeper, musta been a couple of dwarves to the task.” raising his cup, Khitt toasts toward Nezter and Turq. ”Yep, a couple of dwarves. I see em now” The goblin smiles from behind his table barely able to be seen while sitting the chair. He then toasts a greeting to Turq’s new companion. ”Well met friend. Don’t mind the cat, she won’t hurt you. “
Hah! How's Good Mead? Cold, frigid... Bees are a-buzzin' though! You have ta try the new batch! the stout human heads out the door to his dogsled, returning with a cask of the Good Mead.
After pouring everyone a horn, he nods toward the table near the fireplace.
--
Just met the man. names Quo-mee-nohr, I t'ink
Quominar smiles slightly at the mispronunciation. The name's Quominar. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. He scans the rest of the group before sitting down at the table with a friendly smile on his face.
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Baldrick, with perhaps a few too many mugs of ale and mead in his belly, attempts to look down his shirt, but his beard bunches under his chin, obscuring his vision.
Struggling to pull or lift his shirt: "Hey Umikh! Is there hair on my chest too?! Rahaha!"
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Ye got too much hair te see yer hair! Bwahahaha!
He stares into his horn of meade. Good meade, Turq! It'll grow HAIR on your chest! He drains it while laughing at his own silly joke.
The eladrin slips in to where the rest of the group is, and will stay as close to the shadows as he can. He challenging his winter aspect.
You carry on into the evening, reuniting with Turq, getting to know Quominor, and generally relaxing after your latest excursion.
At breakfast the next morning, Baldrick’s bags are packed tightly and neatly. While most of you are breakfasting, he announces: "I planned to wait until we were all together, but... well, we’ll be here all day if we wait on Rodney to wake up, eh!? Anyway, I want to go while the weather’s calm. Friends, these last few weeks... well, I have a lot to think about. I’ve spoken with Turq, and I think I’m going to head over to Good Mead for a bit -- fire up that forge, like Umikh and I talked about." Looking down at his warhammer ruefully: "Do some good for people with a different sort of hammer for a bit. *ahem* Well! Good luck, come to visit, and let’s travel again together soon."
After toasting you all (with ale, preferably), saying goodbye again, he heads for the door, only to collide with someone just on the other side of the threshold. Too excited to be put off by the rudeness, Baldrick bids the stranger a merry "Watch where you’re going!" before continuing on his way.
The culprit, an adolescent dwarf with short blond beard, bursts into the tavern looking about frantically: "Friends of Stokely? Yes? Master Silverstream requests your assistance at the Cairn -- quickly, please!"
Turq fishes out a key and tosses it to Baldrick and says with a grin, Ya can take the sled, just make sure ya feed the dogs, eh? I got a girl comes by and checks on the bees, so don't ya worry 'bout them... and don't ya mind the buzz!
--
Oi, beardlin', o'er here! Do ya know what the meaning is o' this is? Turq sys as he shoulders his pack, clearly ready to go.
Quominar nods politely at Baldrick as he makes his exit, then follows Turq, sticking to the 'familiar' face in this group. He leans down to whisper in Turq's ear, Who's Stokely?
Turq replies to Quominar, Stokely is the thane o' the Dale Dwarves, and me adopted father. This is likely clan business and if'n ya help, the clan'll owe ya. A fine favor ta have in yer pocket.
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Oi, beardlin', o'er here! Do ya know what the meaning is o' this is? Turq sys as he shoulders his pack, clearly ready to go.
The younger dwarf's hand reaches up self-consciously to pull at his short blond beard. Shaking his head: "Dunno, sir. Master Stokely says 'run' and I run. But things are hopping in the Cairn -- we should go!"
Rodalas' ears perk up when he hears that dwarves might owe him something. He asks I suspect there would also be a discussion of financial institution for our efforts
You shortly arrive under the Cairn and are brought to Stokely’s office. There’s tension in the air, and dwarves are running briskly about on errands of importance -- the calm atmosphere from your last visit has evaporated. Stokely himself looks tired as he hands off a written note with quiet instructions to another runner. Spotting you in the doorway, he gestures you forward: "Good, ye’re here. Wit yer discovery o’ that nest of duergar, I’ve had to up patrols, and we’re pushin’ down to sum o’ them deep holes fer the first time in a while. Plus, there’s... Well, never mind all that -- point is, I could use yer help."
Moving to one wall of the room, Stokely gestures at the intricately carved map of the Icewind Dale in bas relief: "I’ve got two squads o' trainees out on exercises -- they were due back days ago and we’ve heard nothin’. Could be nothin’ but with the beardless runnin’ about, I don’t want ta take any chances. They should be down hereabouts." He taps a section of the map that is due south from Easthaven, just into the mountains of the Spine of the World.
"I won’t let you go unrewarded, o' course." He looks over each of you: "Ye're all lookin' pretty shabby these days -- maybe you could use some good dwarven armour, eh?"
Right, we'll head out as soon as we are able. Boyos, have anyt'ing ya need? Turq is all business, arranging with the kitchens for provisions, estimating a five-day trip at least.
"Ye're all lookin' pretty shabby these days -- maybe you could use some good dwarven armour, eh?"
Some nicer armor would be much appreciated, thank you sir.
Quominar then turns to the rest of the group.
I'm ready to leave whenever you fellows are. I have a feeling the sooner we hit the road the better chance we have of perhaps finding these trainees, and certainly a higher chance of finding them in one piece.
Umikh looks at the map, scrunches his nose and looks thoughtfully to the side but then shakes his head. He makes sure the others have noted its location well so they don't get lost, and looks ready to take off.
int
He nods as he takes the information in.
Stokely nods, gratefully: "Good. I’m sendin’ Dorrolin," he gestures to the young dwarf who found you in Caer Konig, "who will arrange fer ye tae spend the night at the Wet Trout, and fer someone tae ferry* ye across the Redrun. Yes? Good, now get outta here, I got work tae do. And thankee."
Dorrolin will help you gather supplies of food and water for the journey, as you require (I think everyone is already outfitted with cold weather gear, crampons, etc.).
Stokely has assumed that you will travel first to Easthaven, and then proceed due south from there, but let me know if you plan to go a different way. Since it's still mid-morning, there's enough time for you to make it to Easthaven by late evening if you head out right away.
With the young dwarf's help, you quickly pack for your journey and head back out onto the road. Only a few hours behind, you find yourselves following the tracks left by Baldrick's dog sled until you reach the crossroads. The dim sky above does nothing to dampen the squeak-skrunch of your footsteps in the snow. Luckily, these roads see some travel through the winter, so your trek to Easthaven is quick, if uneventful.
Still, it's a long hike that takes you into the late evening, so you are tired and grateful for a warm place to rest and eat when you arrive at the Wet Trout. Dorrolin makes arrangements with the owner for your meals and for the night, and you are quickly served with plates of freshly fried fish cakes, fish-head stew, and ale (or mead, if that is your preference).
Dorrolin is an eager lad, who eats like his entire body is an empty shell to be filled. He doesn't say much, but is attentive to whatever you are talking about, and nods vigorously in appreciation if / when one of you describes your adventures.
Turq sings an old Dwarvish marching song as you all march. He is amiable and talkative, telling you all about the politics in Good Mead, the bees' personalities, and troubles of the area.
Eh, Dorry, are ya training ta be a warrior?
Mmmmmm, fish cakes. Umikh is clearly enjoying the hot meal and good ale.
[ooc]this is where a ranger with favored terrain would be solid. Sorry. Lol[/ooc
”I should be able to get us without too much trouble. A bit of caution probably isn’t a bad idea either. Doin what we can to not let the Duergar get catch us off guard would be best.
You call it an early night at the inn, turning in after a few hours; tired from the rush of the past day and in anticipation of the march ahead of you. In the morning, Dorrolin hustles you to quickly finish breakfast, and leads you around to the southeast corner of the town, and from there to the nearby Redrun, that short river connecting Lac Dinneshere to the Redwaters. An elderly Reghed woman waits for you near the shore: "Took youse long enough," she grumbles to the young dwarf. Her ill-humour doesn't exactly dissipate, but her glare becomes slightly less disapproving as coins exchange hands.
"Hmph... well, let's go then." Turning her back to you, she heads out onto the ice. Those of you with more acute hearing just pick out the next words: "an' be sure ta walk where I walk"
Dorrolin hurriedly says his goodbyes before running back to town, and from there, you assume, back to Kelvin's Cairn.
The Redrun is wide, but slow-moving, and (assuming you follow the Reghed woman's instructions) is thickly frozen. You are able to quickly and safely cross the river. The human woman disappears quickly into the lightly falling snow as the first of you reaches the opposite shore.