Samuel nodded. "Thank you, all. Samael, go tell Leona that Samwell's been avenged and we'll be having guests. Saman, go to the market, make sure to bring back a feast." The two young men nodded and gave their affirmations before heading off. The old man glared at the two when they passed by, but said nothing to them. Samuel continued in a hushed tone. "Old Augustus is a bit crotchety," he warned.
Augustus wore fine clothes of a deep purple, not at all fitting for one who might own a stable in a town such as this, and walked with a beautifully crafted white-wood cane embossed with birds along its lengths. A white goatee showed off his status as a minor noble. Augustus' gaze passed over your party, eyes critical, before landing on Samuel. "That's another one dead, Samuel," Augustus drawled, anger flowing freely in his voice. "This failure won-"
"Oh, sod off, Augustus," Samuel cursed. "I gave you all your money back first thing after that s+$~ fit you went on. I told you that this wasn't about the money after what happened to Samwell."
"Everything is about money, Samuel, whether you like it or not." Augustus lifted his cane a few inches and brought it back down with a dull thud. He looked disappointed by the response the soft grass gave it, but it was a fleeting glance. "Rest assured restitution will be gathered due to you and your son's... incompetence." Just as Samuel opened his mouth, Augustus began to speak louder to cut him off. "Luckily, these fine folk were around to save you and your surviving sons. Who knows what would happen if they hadn't."
Augustus turned to your group again. "Does that not seem right? Does he not owe you a tremendous debt for not only his life, but for his son's lives as well?" Augustus asked, expecting a clear response. Samuel's hand is balled into a white-knuckle fist, he looks like he'll start swinging soon.
"No." River says softly, before visibly gathering her courage and stepping out from behind Edmund. "No. Helping him was the right thing to do. Saving lives is always the right thing to do. We don't need to be rewarded for doing the right thing. People who won't act, who wait and think about being paid before saving someone... they're the ones who owe a debt. To everyone they could have saved. And to their families. And to everyone that misses them. Heroes act, good people act. Only cowards and villains wait when others are in danger! Mister Samuel is a good man. He was fighting, trying to save your horses. You should be saying thank you! Not telling him off!"
Now River is the one doing the telling off, one hand planted firmly on her hip.
"He doesn't owe us anything." She says again, before turning to Edmund and Crow, looking suddenly unsure of herself. "Right?
”Very well said, my dear,” Edmund says, patting her arm. ”Does Samuel ‘owe’ us for saving his life? No more than you sir, would owe us for saving the lives of all the rest of your horses. Are you prepared to honour that debt?”
Dr. Castle's expression turns deadpan as the noble starts up his condescending tirade. "Seems to me the only ones who 'owe' anything here are the metal plated eating machines who tried -to some success- to devour your horses." He turns his full body around to look pointedly at the dead bulettes, then turns sharply back to the noble to accentuate his point, "Oh wait. They seem to have paid with their lives. Let's see, we paid in extracts and spells we'll have to replace tomorrow, the very real risk of injury and death, plus time lost to a much bigger mission that we are getting paid for, Samuel paid with a son, these stout young lads paid in a fair bit of blood and a near death experience..." Jebediah scratches his chin in mock contemplation. "Even the horses paid with a lost sibling and an unhealthy dose of sheer terror."
Jebediah slowly floats up to eye level with Augustus, eyes wide and unblinking. "You've paid with a condescending temper tantrum, an exhausting trip down the stairs and a pair of dirtied shoes. But please, do go on about everyone else's debts."
Well, there goes the chance of getting a mount as payment, Crow thought with bemusement. Not that he had especially been expecting such once the many opened his mouth - he doubted that sort would give a copper without a contract. Probably a follower of Abadar or the like.
Instead, the massive Warpriest added his voice to his allies. It wasn't how he would have done it, personally, but there that was part of the challenge of working as a unit, and Crow was happy to bend when needed. Showing a united front was always wise, especially against such a petty miser.
"He owed us nothing but his thanks," Crow rumbled out slowly. "He has added dinner. If anything, I suppose we owe them. Perhaps I shall cook?"
Augustus looks genuinely shaken by your statements, as if trying to wrap his mind around an alternate worldview he had not considered before. The blood drains from his face.
"Humble is a good look on you, Augustus," Samuel said. He looked much calmer now than he had, touched by your words.
"Tha-that's..." Augustus stuttered. His pale face turned red as he regained his bearings. "Don't get smart with me, boy," he said to Samuel before turning to River. "I'd rather be a coward and a villain than dead."
"And how dare you ask me if I'm prepared to honor my debts," Augustus spat, pointing his cane at Edmund. [/b]"I promised a reward, and Augustus pays back his debts. Even to a group of ungrateful peasants. You may speak like naive children and degenerates but I will not stoop to your level even as you slander me directly to my face. It will take me a few minutes to gather your reward, unless you want to entertain this farce any longer."[/b]
”He promised a reward? I must have missed that. The nerve of some folks, wagging canes in people’s faces. Very unbecoming of a nobleman,” Edmund says, giving his own cane a swish in the cranky man’s direction.
Crow nodded. "He was the gentleman who yelled 'You lot, help my stock! Get those beasts away from the horses! I'll make it worth your while!' Which doesn't hint as to what he might consider worth our while, but we didn't exactly do it for a reward." Crow paused. "Mostly."
"Sorry." River says, looking down at her bare feet. "It's my fault. I didn't mean to cause trouble."
Jebediah floats over to River and pats her on the shoulder, grinning and chuckling. "Don't be sorry, girl. I don't regret a thing. Pompous nobles need a good tongue lashing on occasion or they start to forget they're mortal like the rest of us." He glances after the retreating Augustus, then smiles. "Besides, we're the adventurous sort, aren't we? The House of Fate and Fire doesn't run from trouble; we run toward it. A little trouble once in awhile is what makes life interesting, wouldn't you say?"
"We don't need him, his reward, or his mockery of the brave who fought for him," Crow said with a shrug. "It is one thing to be unable to fight. Not everyone is cut out for it, in the same way I am not made for needle point. It is another to think of it as a virtue."
River seems rather surprised to receive such positive praise from Jebediah, but gives the goblin a shy smile anyway. He's the only member of the team she's never felt that she's 'connected' with, so perhaps there is something good coming of this fight...
"I appreciate you all sticking it to that crotchety old man, at least," Samuel admitted. He seemed much more relaxed now than when Augustus had been there. "Augustus has always been a sore point here in Pol. Been that mean for years now. Usually look past that when making a deal, but that doesn't mean he made being professional easy."
Suddenly, Samuel looked a bit uncomfortable. "... Honestly, I don't think I can interact with him again without breaking his nose. Not now, anyway," he admitted. "I'm going to go wait by the road. I'll take you guys back to my place from there. You guys should at least get something from Augustus from all this, so I'll wait. And you," he nodded to Crow. "Don't have to worry about cooking at all. We'll take care of everything." Patting the man on the back, Samuel headed towards the fence opposite of Augustus' house to hop the fence, likely so he wouldn't have a run in with the old man.
Augustus took a few minutes, and then a few minutes more. When he finally emerged from his home with a sack in his hands, he began yelling before he even left his porch. "Reginald!" The head of a Halfling, covered in a mop of black hair, popped out of the stables at the old man's scream. "Prepare the horses! All of them!"
"All of them, sir?"
"Don't make me repeat myself, Reginald!" At Augustus' behest, Reginald returned to the stable and threw open the doors. Inside the stable had been a duo of Halflings, Reginald and a blonde woman who followed after him, and they quickly got to work.
"Nice work, and thanks for trying to save Rapstallion," Reginald whispered as he ran past, gesturing vaguely towards the outside of the fence.
"Quick and fast! I want to be out of the city by nightfall!" Augustus continued to yell. Once he was satisfied that the Halflings were doing as they were supposed to, Augustus finally locked eyes with your group. When he was around 30 feet away he threw the sack to the ground, some gold, silver, and platinum coins spilling out into the grass. "Your reward. Now, if you would kindly remove yourself from my property, that would be best for everyone."
"Thank you," Crow said, burying the point of his very long blade into the dirt and scooping up the coin. Considering for a moment, he added, "Of course, if you would like to travel a little lighter on merchandise and heavier on coin, we did come to buy some mounts. I realize we aren't on the friendliest terms, but business is business and we're happy to spend good coin for good mounts."
If not, they could try the other place - but this one was meant to have the best horses to sell. If they could get some it would be to everyone's benefit, and hopefully the chance to win back some money would help soothe the merchants pride a little. And if not, nothing was lost to Crow.
Augustus looked at you critically for a few moments, and you get the feeling that he's calculating something. "At the moment the only stock I have for sale are Taldor Jennets, and only four of them at that." He gestures with his cane towards the horses Reginald and the unnamed Halfling were currently soothing.
"Since I'm leaving anyway, I'll give you a deal on them. Purchase the lot at 1600 gold, and I'll throw in the saddles and a week's feed for each free of charge. What say you?"
Depending on the saddle, the extra cost is negligible, and the feed isn't worth moving in bulk.
Crow had no idea if that was anything like a good deal. Horseflesh had never been something he was good in, and frankly they looked fragile to him. He turned to look the others, to see if any of them had some idea. He wasn't sure if 400 gold a person was doable, either.
"Tch." Augustus crossed his arms and looked towards the horses. "Fine. Three hundred gold a piece. If you can't even muster that then get out of here."
"Do we even need horses?" River asks guilelessly. "I don't mind walking and Mr Augustus is clearly nervous about staying here. We should let him get on his way."
Dr. Castle scratches his chin, floating up just a bit to get another look at the horses. "Weeeeelllll...they did just survive a near death experience; I'd hate to throw the poor things into danger again so soon. Besides," he muses, drifting over to River and leaning in almost conspiratorially, "Imagine all the scenic views we'd not have time to enjoy..." And the gold that'd never find its way into the pockets of this insufferable ingrate...what I wouldn't give to know a formula to turn HIM into gold...
"Now then!" Jebediah claps his hands, rubbing them together, "What say someone call whatever passes for a local armorsmith and start peeling the plates off those beasties? I hear Bulette hide is a wonderfully durable material and I'll wager there are some perfectly good innards to study, despite the slashing and bashing they just took. I wonder if they have a local glassblower? Those eyes probably won't fit in a vial..." He then moves off to examine the bulette corpses up close, reaching into his haversack for his medical tools.
Crow looked at the others and mentally shrugged. Can't win them all, he thought to himself. "It appears that such a price just isn't within our current budget, I'm afraid. It would seem walking is the more economic option, given we aren't on a time-sensitive mission on this occasion." Personally, he'd much prefer to walk anyway, but if there were any survivors in the village or mines...
Augustus scoffs and shakes his head. "Very well. If you're going to have someone... dismantle those bulettes, make sure that they don't leave a mess for when, or if, I return." The elderly man turned towards the Halfling, looked like he was going to yell again, but began limping towards his home instead.
"I can take care of the bulettes," Tek claimed. "It'll take me a bit, on accounts of they're really big and there's three of them and one of them is coated in metal. Speaking of, I'm going to check that out."
From the way the plates were forged and cut you can tell it likely wasn't done by any Taldan forge. Too irregular and jagged. It was likely done by an Orc blacksmith.
Edmund examines the metal bullette. ”Orc work, this. Grafted the metal plates onto its hide. Poor thing probably didn’t enjoy that procedure.”
As folks start deciding a course of action, Edmund pulls his eyes from the metal-clad creature. ”Did somebody say something about food? Positively famished, myself. We cannot walk to a distant mountain without a good meal.”
Leaving Tek to take care of the bulettes, a job he is all too eager to take on, the rest of the party leave the stables to find Samuel waiting just down the road. "Our place isn't too far from here."
"Honestly, I'm glad he's leaving town," Samuel said. "Augustus has done nothing but cause trouble since he got here, but that's not really it. Once his stables are cleared out, me and the boys should be able to convince Lady Liyah, she's the one in charge of governing Pol at the moment, to change up his house into a temporary barracks in case something else decides to come down from the mountain."
He continued with a scowl. "And maybe after all this we can get someone from the military sent over and look after the city proper. The money's nice, don't get me wrong, it's just... more dangerous than it has been." Samuel's scowl faded and his look became more distant, and it's easy to tell that he's thinking of his son again.
The residential district, if you could even call it that, was in slightly better shape than the outskirts of town. Most of the homes seemed to have been built with efficiency in mind with various decorations outside being any sign of personality. Some looked like they were being worked on still, and others showed signs that they haven't been lived in for some time.
Noting the poor state of some of the buildings, and listening to the man's words, Crow was pleased they had taken the time to eat and talk. "It sounds like there's some trouble in the mountains. We need to head into them for our job. Anything you can tell us to help us prepare?"
River skips along, humming to herself, but sobers up at Crow's question and turns her attention to Samuel.
Crow's words cause Samuel to pause, but he keeps moving quickly after. "I don't recommend it," he claimed with a heavy tone. "The Gouged Eye Tribe has mobilized. Usually they roam the mountain and its cave systems, only coming this way on occasion to hunt or, more rarely, trade. They're in the plains now, and they seem to have some sort of feud going on with Pol. That's why the bulettes have been attacking us. Or so the nobility says. To soften us up."
Samuel turns a corner and starts heading towards one of the larger homes. The red paint immediately distinguishes it from the other house in the neighborhood. At least twice as large as the houses beside it, a sign hanging from a post in the well-cared for lawn desgnated it as Sam & Sons' Mercenary HQ.
As you enter the home you're immediately greeted by a room designed to impress those searching for mercenaries. Trophies from past jobs hung on the walls in the form of weapons, stuffed animal heads, and other trinkets. Not particularly impressive compared to trophy rooms seen in Zimar, but you imagine it's enough to impress those who live in areas such as these.
In the middle of this room is a long, ornate table with more than enough seats for everyone. "This isn't exactly a dining room, but it's the only table that'll fit everyone. Please, take a seat, make yourselves comfortable."
Jebediah rolls his eyes surreptitiously as food is further discussed. Unmoved by the thought of eating, he passes the walk by thinking aloud a bit. "Orcs grafting metal onto bulettes... this begs the question of whether these were escapees...or if they were turned loose. Impressive enough that they managed to get a bulette to hold still long enough; if they've managed to start controlling these things in even the most nominal way, it'd make their tribe fearsome indeed."
Well, I suppose a bite wouldn't exactly hurt...just have to pay attention and not eat the entire table's worth. No hunger means no satiety, after all. Wouldn't do to have the goblin who doesn't need food absentmindedly eating them out of house and home...
Crow frowned beneath his helmet. "Sadly not possible. Our task is in the mountains, although technically unrelated to any of these issues."
"How could a bulette even be bound? There ability to burrow would make them extremely difficult to contain, yes?" he asked, looking to the doctor. He feared magic on an unpleasant scale could be the answer.
"Her name is Kadejah. She's the tribe's champion," Samuel explained as he took a seat at the head of the table. "A frightening woman. From what I understand she takes young bulettes and raises them. They're not too bad when they're young, they claim, just chew a lot. But she raises them to be used as a steed. I reckon that's why that one had metal plating covering it up."
"Got to talking with one of the wizards here in town. To get information on the creatures to do our job better. He said they were usually solitary creatures unless it's their mating season. First time that metal one came down, it had another, but we brought it down and, know what, just going to call it Metal, Metal fled with just one horse. That's the fight I, we, lost Sampson in. We thought if it'd come back then it would be alone. But it came back as you saw it, with company."
"That's why the nobility thinks it's the Gouged Eye. Goes against what we know of these things. But... No, they probably know best." Suddenly, Samuel stood up. "I've forgotten my manners. Anyone want some drink while we talk and wait for dinner?"
"You can talk to us. We promise." River says gently, putting a hand on Samuel's shoulder. "Talking with friends can help with a lot of things and we're friends now. I'd like to know what you think about everything, please?"
She gives him the pleading look that seems to work well on just about everyone, except Jebediah.
"The official story is fine," Crow added to River's plea, "But we would appreciate the benefit of your experience."
”Indeed. Seeing a problem from all angles is always best.”
Samuel nodded at everyone's words and sat back down, putting his hands together on the table. "Right, my take. I feel as though, if they wanted to attack the town, they would have done it themselves." As he explained, his eyes turned to the ceiling as if in thought. "Ive met with the Gouged Eye a few times. Not recently, but back when I was a soldier and a couple times as a mercenary. If they have a problem with you, they're very vocal about it. And they don't like tricks."
"About 17 years ago, right before Saman was born, a caravan that I was guarding passed through their lands when we were confronted by them. They said they wanted tribute for the roads, but the merchants didn't want any of that. One of the bigger ones came forth, issued a challenge for it, a fight to the death. Maybe they were just trying to be intimidating, who knows at this point, but I was the oldest and most experienced at the time. I stepped up and told them that I would accept their challenge, but not to the death. My wife back home was expecting, and I wouldn't leave her raising a child without a father."
"They stared at me for a short time before accepting the terms. The fight didn't exactly go as planned for me, but they let us go peacefully. Later, a few of the warriors showed up a Pol's doorstep damanding Warroir Samuel. They brought gifts for my child and blessed him to grow into a powerful warrior. Scared the hell out of Gale, that's the name of my late wife, at first. They were loud, boisterous, and made a bit of a mess, but they didn't cause much trouble and it turned out to be a pretty memorable time."
Samuel scratched the back of his head. "Ah, I'm rambling. Just don't think they'd send monsters to do what they could themselves, is all. The nobles see them as savages, and the military are really wary of them, but this kind of tactic doesn't strike me as Gouged Eye Tribe. You know?"
Crow nodded. "So either something has changed - a new, more brutal and more sneaky leader - or something has happened that means they can no longer control the creatures they have raised." It fit with what he'd learned of them, too. This didn't seem to fit how the fought and what they did.
"Our task involves a mine, and the village with it, going silent. Do you think whatever happened there might have had an impact on the orc tribes as well?"
Jebediah successfully suppresses a snicker when Samuel caves to River's entreaty. Absorbing the story, he lifts a brow at the mention of the relatively courteous orcs. It's too convenient to be coincidence. Orcs don't change swiftly as a culture; they usually don't live long enough to be very progressive-minded. It'd have to be quite the event to suddenly cause a whole tribe to upend their customs like that. As for the bulettes? A leader among them could be changing their stance and trying some new tricks; it could also be that someone simply bungled his task of managing the beasts. It could also be some disgruntled tribesman protesting or--" He chuckles aloud, "could even be some mischievous goblin out for a good prank. I could think of a few who'd go for that kind of entertainment..."
"I don't know about any mines in the mountain. I mean, I know they exist, but I don't know much about them myself. But the current chieftain's son, I forgot his name, but I think he had planned for some changes to the tribe. It's a bit fuzzy for me, I think it's something I heard in passing."
From further inside the house, you can hear the sounds of someone rummaging through pots and pans. "Sounds like the boys are about ready to start. But, about the mines. What are you all thinking? That the orcs took offense to something and are making a move on the town because of it? Or is something else going on?"
"We don't know. The village was scry'd on, but didn't seem overly damaged, as an orc attack likely would leave it. The scrying was limited though." Crow personally suspected something else had impacted both the mines and the orcs, but he wouldn't put coin on that bet until he knew more. Right now it was simply a suspicion.
River sits at the table quietly, kicking one foot idly and listening to those more knowledgeable than her discussing the situation. It's all well outside her experience so she keeps quiet. It is usually the best policy she's found.
Discussion with Samuel continues to be amiable, and his knowledge of the local area is impressive. You learn that he's been a warrior for most of his life, but rarely left the Whitemarch Prefecture that he called home.
Within time, a veritable feast emerges from the door behind Samuel. Saman and Samael come out carrying trays of food including a plethora of poultry, bacon, a bevy of breads, and an abundance of vegetables, some roasted, some glazed.
Samuel looked back towards the kitchen and caught Saman. "No Leona?"
Saman looked to the group before leaning in to whisper to his father. "No, she's still in her room. I already brought her food."
The father paused for a moment before nodding. "Please, eat. As much or as little as you like."
Saman and Samael took seats where they were free, but Samael spoke first, seemingly fixated on the markings on Crow's chest. "That's the symbol for the House of Fight and Flames down in Zimar, right? Dad's been running Samuel's and Sons for a few years now, but he keeps telling us that we can't hold a candle to those big mercenary guilds. You guy's proved that right today. Are... are you guys hiring?"
"Samael," Samuel started.
"It's just a question! I want to know what it's like in a big city!"
"Fate and Fire," Jebediah corrects the lad reflexively. "The House of Fate and Fire. And I'd say we're more adventurers than mercenaries. We do all sorts of things; mercenaries mainly just fight battles in my experience." He looks over the feast with disinterest but chooses courteous appearances and picks up a slice of bacon, tossing it into his cavernous, goblin-sized maw. "And yes, from the looks of things, they'd be a bit out of your league as of now. As for the city?" He shrugs, picking up a roll, "Well, one way or another you'll end up missing home sooner or later."
"Mercenaries do a few other things too - most of the time it's guard work more than straight up fights. Escort, scouting and such." Crow, being a ex-merc, had some idea of what he'd done.
Looking at Samuel, he added, "The House has stringent rules for rest and relaxation, and stringent hiring requirements. If someone is able to join they receive extensive training until they're of the required standard for a task before being sent out on a job. But it's true, we're not a mercenary company. Members can chose the jobs and tasks they accept, and it tends to be small scale missions." Black eyes flickered to Samael. "It's not what you're used to, here."
If the boy was going to go out and see the world, the House was probably the safest place for him. If he could pass muster. Given he'd stood up the bullette attack Crow suspected there was a future for him.
River picks at the food for a few minutes and then slips out of the room, planning to wander outside for a while. As she tries to find the front door though she catches a pleasant scent and finds herself carried along by her nose to another door which stands slightly open. Judging by the scent this is not a man's room so she knocks gently.
"Hello, is that Leona?" She asks, "My name is River. Would you like to be friends?"
"Adventurer..." Samael repeated in between bites.
"I'd consider it more dangerous than mercenary work," Samuel said. "At least with mercenary work you have an idea of what you're getting into. Adventuring, it's mostly guesswork. Though I suppose that's why the pay's higher, too. Gotta be, if your job involves figuring out why people are disappearing from a mine and magic can't figure it out. I wouldn't take that job, no sir."
"It sounds like they have rules in place to take care of their own, though," Saman said, not looking directly at his father but still watching him in the corner of his vision.
"More interesting, too."
Samuel scowled. "I respect the life, I really do, but Pol's home, and at least we work in the Prefecture. You go joining some crazy guild, no offense, and even though it's down river we probably wouldn't see you for a whole year. Get you traveling all over the place. "
"Yeah?" That last part seemed to make the going man's eyes light up. "You all get to travel a lot? How far have you guys gone?"
She does not seem to register your presence at all, instead focusing all of her attention on what she's working on. You can also notice the swell in her stomach that she seemed adept at working over.
"Information gathering is an essential skill," Crow agreed. He'd been doing it himself earlier afterall. "But it's the same as researching an employer." There were plenty of people who'd love to hire you for a lower rate knowing the job had a bunch of risks they'd never mention. A smart merc would make sure the job they were going to do was the one they were hired for.
"We also get a week off between jobs, mandatory, so visiting wouldn't be impossible," he added.
Considering for a moment, Crow continued, "And yes. I've travelled a lot. I was born in the River Kingdoms, and I've travelled around a fair amount. Never left this continent, but I've been to Galt, Cheliax, a few other places. Got chased by some undead in Ustalav. Chased a mechanical...thing...across a small desert. Some of that was when I was a mercenary."
"Can't learn everything about alchemy from a single lab; gotta get out there and identify some herbs, observe some venoms at work, learn how many drops of an explosive chemical is one too many and how quickly each kind of predator panics when they catch fire. Oh and uh...I guess it helps the whole "healing" business to actually BE where the ill or wounded are..."
Jebediah bites off a hunk of bread. Hmm. Good baking. Been awhile.
”I myself had not planned on a life of adventure at my advanced years or any other. I come from ever further away than Crow, from outside Korvosa. Things in life took a sad turn for me when I lost my son. It was the search for answers that led me to this guild and eventually to your fine supper table.”
"Hello," River says softly, slipping into the room since the young woman hasn't told her to go away. "You should probably eat something. Tak told me a long time ago that bad things happen to people who don't eat enough. He said its called 'the Hanger' and turns people into monsters. You have a baby, it's probably not a good idea to risk the Hanger."
Samael and Saman listened to everyone speak, food forgotten in favor of words. Samael turned to his father. "Can we at least go meet them?" He asked with barely contained excitement. "That's no trouble at least, right? Just to see and maybe figure out what to do to make this place better. Pol, I mean. Home."
Samuel eyed his son before turning to Edmund. "First, I'm sorry for your loss. I wish I could say that I don't understand, only empathize, but times have been rough lately. I hope you're able to find your son or some news of him. Secondly," He turned back to Samael. "We've got nothing to offer a big fancy guild like that. We're backwater mercenaries at best."
"Not really, father," Saman spoke up. "We also have a near monopoly on Pol and the plains, minus the monestary. If they wanted to help develop Pol, get a new base of operations, and interact with the merchants and nobles passing through, it's not a bad deal. It's a little different from what they're usually into, I assume, and the nobles aren't as powerful as the ones in Zimar, but it's worth a go. Especially since your plans to retire... may have been put on hold for a while."
"Yeah, then you can stay here, and we'll just come back or work closer to home than I had originally hoped. Do you all think that might work out?" Samael asked. Samuel looked pensive, as though he was now considering it.
You could also ask directly, as you still have the 2/day Sending Tablet that hasn't been used yet.
Leona paused at River's words, the needles in her hands stopping their constant clicking. As if half asleep, she set down her work and slowly grabbed a loaf of bread and started nibbling on it. She still did not speak, but it was a start.
"If you wish, we can ask after dinner. We have a Sending Stone we can use to talk to our superiors. I suspect that one of the Masters would be very interested in the situation here and more than willing to arrange some kind of deal, but that's purely from my own experience. I can't guarantee anything but the chance to talk." Crow glanced around, mildly curious as to where River was. There was a lack of screaming and cracking, so he assumed it wasn't a big issue. But it was curious as to where she had gone.
Jebediah taps his chin with pursed lips, a nub of cheese in his other hand. "Why not? The worst they can do is say no, hm?" He pauses a moment, then his face widens into a grin that threatens to split his head from his jaw. "Besides, Teladora would probably enjoy spurring this little town onward and I would so dearly cherish the idea of that soggy cane-wagging loaf--not you, Edmund--put in his place again by yet another person half his size." He cackles madly for a moment then turns to face Crow directly, nodding emphatically. "Do it."