Alwin stands quietly off to the side of the group where he awaits the response of the lumbermen.
(The Catfolk’s obvious disdain for the current spectacle bleeds through his polite words and will undoubtedly leave poor first impression.)
Tore shifts from foot to foot in impatience while he waits for the lumberman to speak up. I wonder if I might obtain enough darkwood here for a staff. I will have to keep my eyes out for someone whom would trade me.
The lumberman's mouth falls open and then he yells "The cat speaks! Go on and get outta here kitty and take your friends with you before we feed you to the dogs! You've got no business here!" as he waves some of the other lumbermen over.
Felos' tail bristles at the man's tone. "You really think you'll feed me to your dogs, you brainless oaf? Didn't you and your pals wear them out in the bunkhouse last night?"
hey hey this fellow is with me and I am here to bargain for some dark wood from the source instead of dealing with slick city merchants and to talk with the fellow in charge to find a few things for the lady working in town on the cure for the muck that is goin around. Maybe you Al don't have any friends or family who are getting the muck but I do and along with a few coin to be made I want to help!
Alwin cautiously steps back a couple feet as he carefully observes the encounter. “Lets head out gents, this isn’t worth the trouble.” He states in a firm but hopeful tone. “We can spend our gold somewhere else. It’s obvious that Mr. Rhoddam isn’t interested in our business.”
Tore shifts calmly slipping his quarterstaff into easy reach of both hands. I think this may turn ugly if we aren't careful. Knowing my skills, I'll just shut up and be ready.
"Aye." Torgald said. "And to think, that we should be so rudely turned away by his associates. I see little reason to conduct business with any who are so incapable of being civil."
John cringes slightly at the rocky start to their discussions with the lumbermen, but relaxes a bit when elf and dwarf begin smoothing things over. Not wanting to risk disturbing their progress, he remains quiet and waits to see if they can right the proverbial ship.
Several more of the lumber men come over and the crowd around the group gets larger. The original lumber man's eyes narrow into a squint catching Felos' insult. He growls "I was just going to toss you outta here, since you don't belong, but now we'll skin you for your fur. Your friends can run outta here but you are ours!" You see about seven lumbermen around you, you can easily count ten more heading your way.
Torgald stood by Felos, his book in hand. The book opened and the pages moved on their own accord, until they settled on the appropriate grudge. Once selected, the book closed again, with an ethereal chain shirt forming on the dwarf.
Felos is moderately concerned as the number of lumbermen increases beyond what one sleep spell can handle.
"Fine! Have it your way. We can have ourselves a big fight here and hurt each other, and the plague will continue to tear through Falcon's Hollow. Your families, girlfriends, boyfriends, favourite hookers, whatever, will keep getting sick and start dying off, all because you couldn't be bothered to direct us to Mr. Rhoddam so we can get directions to find the ingredients to its cure! Of course, the plague will no doubt make its way here too, eventually, but I'm sure you'll be very comfortable in your catfur rug as you slowly hack up your lungs and die horribly!"
Taking Torgald’s lead, Alwin makes a small gesture with his left hand while saying something softly in elven. Shortly after his gesture, a transparent disc-like shield appears in front of him.
John quietly takes a few steps away from the catman, positioning himself off to the side of the lumberjacks. He considers just wandering away from the other outsiders that he just met a few hours ago, but ultimately decides that he'd like to find the antidote components with them, so he stays.
Fearing that a fight may be immanent, and disastrous for them, he calls the sleep spell to mind and prepares to cast it if any attacks.
As Torgald begins to cast a spell, someone shouts out "They are casting spells! Get em!"
Round 1
Party Up
”Run!” Felos shouts, turning for the clear space and heading 100 feet in the clear.
Hearing Felos call for retreat, Alwin quickly makes for the opening while insuring his companions are right behind him.
Tore follows the cat but at a much more moderate speed. He appears to hurry but not be rushed.
Torgald spat on the ground, muttering a vile insult in Dwarven directed at the men, and then turned to follow. He didn’t like retreating, but understood the necessity.
Alphonso thought this was exactly how he thought this was going to go and starts running like mad as fast as possible with the others
oh, for f#ck sake... I should just stay here and let the lumbermen chase the rest of them off... of course, they've been fairly friendly--to me--and these surly laborers are unlikely to be so welcoming, especially now that their blood is boiling... dammit...
John turns tail and takes off running with his new acquaintances.
The lumbermen follow them to the trail but no further and let the wizards go. They hurl insults at them and tell them not to come back. After a minute or two they have all faded back into the camp.
After the light pursuit Alwin takes a moment to catch his breath and then turns back to the group. ”Well, That didn’t quite turn out pleasant.” After a few more deep breaths he continues. “Now what?”
"We go around those idiots." Torgald said. "And if we find a cure, I wonder if we can ensure that they don't get it? Or at the very least that they are charged extra for it." He said, with a frown on his face. "The one who instigated it, certainly. Wait a moment, while I write down a description of him. I want to make sure that he can be picked out in the future." Torgald opened his book, picked out a page, and started the process of recording the grudge.
Felos growls angrily under his breath. ”Ignorant oaf! But we still need directions. Lots of people will die in town if we have to spend extra days or weeks randomly wandering around the forest looking for these things. If we could find one lumberman by himself, I could try to charm him into being our friend for an hour or so, which could help us get a message in to Rhoddam. Of course, we could just stand out here and yell for him really loudly, who we are, and what we’re trying to do. If he won’t come out for that, he probably wasn’t going to help us anyway.”
I wasn't hired to be charming. I'll stay back and see how this develops. Maybe if I see a better way I will intercede then. Tore thinks
that went awful. I can try to bring in something as a distraction that won't actually harm them and might get us in to see someone but no promises Al says
”I really was kind of serious about stand here and scream his name and why we’re here as loud as we can. If we keep it up, maybe they’ll send him out just to shut us up.”
Alwin raises a hand slightly above his shoulder. "I, for one, Would like to vote against the yelling thing. That if its ok with everyone."
I will not demean myself to yelling. I would rather wait and catch a single one alone and "convince" them in whatever method necessary to aid us.Galyna states firmly
”Id rather just go find the ruins of me people. If we can get the mushrooms, then that is at least something concrete we have. And by the time we return, this incident will nay be so fresh in the minds of these cretins.”
”Presumably, they will be easy enough to find, probably along the valley wall since Torag dwarves aren’t going to build their monastery in elf country, and as for the oldest tree, oldest usually means tallest, so I should be able to scamper up a few trees out there to get a bead on any unusually tall ones. That leaves the witch, and I’m quite happy to leave her to last anyway.”
Felos has scent, if that’s applicable.
Alwin point up the trail a bit where it looks like someone's resting on a wagon. "Looks like we have company."
I'll trust your word on that. I can't see a thing that might help us.Tore says glancing up the trail rapidly then looking around to make sure no straggler lumbermen are nearby that we may grab.
"Aye? Can't see anythin.' He friendly?"
"Can't say if he is friend or foe. We are looking for guidance so why not ask." Alwin states as the group continues down the path.
well I simply don't see what all this fuss is about looking all over but I guess why not check it out? After how this day is going...
And Alphonso follows along
John slows when he hears of the figure they’re approaching. ”Perhaps we should appoint a spokesperson this time?” he asks. ”To avoid talking in different directions like we did last time?”
maybe even stop the dwarf from picking another fight…
”I can try again, and if this guy gets all hostile, I do have a spell that should placate him. Just wasn’t going to work on an entire lumber camp.”
The group walks back the 200 feet to the lumber camp and as the approach the wagon the man holds up a hand as you begin to speak. He says "Don't even start. You have to be some of the stupidest "people" on the earth. You don't listen when told to get and then insult men who could eat you for breakfast and be ready for seconds. The only reason I am out here is that some of the lads said you were looking for me for some reason and were trying to cure the taint. My nephew has it so I'll answer your questions but be quick and I wouldn't show your faces around here again." You notice that the whole time he speaks he never looks at Felos or Tore or acknowledges them in any way.
"Stupidest people?!" Torgald blustered. "Are ye FOOKIN' serious? We're helpin' cure this taint, workin' for a bloody pittance, and we came to ask for some local directions. Come in, ask to see ye, and the very same people we're here to help threaten to kill us! What's stupider? Nay havin' the silver tongue of an elven harlot, or tryin' to kill the people workin' to save ye?!" The short tempered dwarf threw his hands in the air in angered exasperation. "Ye lot talk to him and ask the questions. More and more I'm failin' to see why we should put our magical and medical talents to use savin' this town."
Imbecile. I could make 2 of him with little effort. But caution sometimes is the better part of Valor. Better let those others deal with him. I'll just wait my turn to return the ignorance.
the stone man thinks folding his arms across his chest in irritation.
Felos plants himself directly in front of this man (and incidentally between him and the unravelling dwarf. "Technically, they started the insults and rude behaviour, but that's neither here nor there. I assume this means that you're Mr. Rhoddam. We are looking for Uzmilla the witch, the oldest tree in the valley, and an old dwarven monastery, as we believe ingredients to stop the plague can be found at these places. We really do want to help the folks of Falcon's Hollow, which I guess includes your nephew, so if you know these places and can suggest the fastest route to hit all three, that would be a big help."
Alwin stands patiently as Felos tries to gather information about the cure.
hey I just want to not get beat by axe handles and hope to help with the cure. We treated people all day in town to try and help out and then came out here doing the same. Please help us help this town? Alphonso says with a shrug not bluffing for once.
Rhoddam looks at Alphonso and says "Ask your questions and I'll tell you if I can. Be quick about it though. Hang out here too long and the rest of the camp will spot you and you've got them in a foul enough mood already that I don't think they'll let you go this time." He then looks at Torgald and says "Yes, you're the stupidest people out here. You walk into a camp you don't belong in acting like you are owed answers or an invitation to tea! You mistake the Lumber Consortium for something that cares! Everyone knows better than that. As I said, I am only helping for my nephew's sake. Ask your questions or git!" He again totally ignores Felos' and Tore's presence.
Felos’ jaw drops as the human actually continues to ignore him. He works his jaw up and down wordlessly a few times before just standing aside, shaking his head in disbelief.
”Alphonso, since Mr. Rhoddam is clearly a compassionate and evolved human, high above the vulgar scum of the Lumber Consortium, would you be so kind as to put forward our questions for his benevolent and enlightened consideration?”
The catfolk, ready to chew someone’s face off, instead taps Tore gently on the shoulder and gestures that they should leave the higher beings to their conversation.
”I apologize if I was rude when we first met. I thought you were being racist in the inn, but after seeing THAT, clearly I was just over-reacting to the things you said.”
well, like my friend here said We are looking for Uzmilla the witch, the oldest tree in the valley, and an old dwarven monastery, as we were told that the ingredients to stop the plague can be found at these places. Do you know where any of this can be found?