Neither. Barking at the wrong bull on that account. Keep her close is my only advice. It's a mad bad world right now. Anyways, pour me one, he says laying down the silver shilling he'd been nursing all the way into town. I'll stow this lot and come back for it.
Felder takes the break in the conversation to add, "Several of us all arrived on the road with Knuckles here, Miss Naomi. I'd like to secure food and lodgings as well, if it's not too much trouble."
Naomi nods and arranges food, lodging, and drink for whoever requests it. Seems there hasn't been a lot of travel on the road in and out of Gulluvia, so she has plenty of rooms open.
”You fellows want to brave the perils of Abaddon again to return to Gulluvia? Why?” the priest asks Aiden and Barnabas in genuine bewilderment.
The two men shrug and the blonde one (Aiden) speaks. "There really is nothing to do around here, we're about run out of the money we got paid up front for the caravan job, and it looks like the Baroness at least is always hiring. A man's got to it, you know!"
Felder gratefully takes his meal and looks for a place to sit down and eat while he listens to the idle chatter of the dining room. He keeps his pack close, though he doesn't take out his book to peruse—likely having spilled food on his writings in the past, something that no wizard wants to repeat—and instead focuses on getting a full amount of decent food, since travel on the road is always cold rations in small amounts.
"So you do know about the tree and the thing attached to it! What was this 'bad business'? If it is beyond you, then is there someone else in the area with the skills?"
Ky is beginning to get a little worried that this 'thing' might not be able to be removed from the tree.
Lorna takes another draw from her pipe as the large tabby cat jumps up into her lap to get more attention.
"A few years back I began to see and feel changes in Abaddon Forest, a darkness creeping in that effected the fey creatures and flora. Certain brownies and pixies who had kept to their secret groves became belligerent toward others, attacking and harrassing them for no reason. When confronted about this by myself and the other protectors of the wood, they cursed us in their language and fled deeper into the forest to the south toward the Thunder Mountains, beyond our reach. I have been unable to reach the dryad Drosera now for about six months, and curing her and her tree seem to be beyond my skill. Perhaps the healers among the Eroan Syltris, or the Brucha elves as humans call them, might have an answer. Mora used to say that they had great skill in the natural healing arts. I would travel north to ask them myself, but I am charged with helping the forest and the people here and can't get away."
The two men shrug and the blonde one (Aiden) speaks. "There really is nothing to do around here, we're about run out of the money we got paid up front for the caravan job, and it looks like the Baroness at least is always hiring. A man's got to it, you know!"
Dolion continued to warm his hands at the fire as he replied, ”You’re welcome to travel with us to Gulluvia when we go … safety in numbers and all that. But you won’t be seeing any coin from us for the pleasure of your company.” He continued with a lopsided grin, ”Especially when your only references are food for goblins.”
Aiden and Barnabas exchange quick glances of panic before turning back to Dolion and Aiden speaks up for both of them.
"We are worth hiring, good sir! We both come with our own armor and weapons and you wouldn't even have to feed us! In fact, Barnabas here makes a mean squirrel stew that he would happily make for you during the entire journey to Gulluvia as an added bonus provided free of charge!"
Felder swallows his current bite and puts down his spoon.
"That's hardly a way to talk to fellows who just lost their traveling associates on the road," he says.
"Sorry to hear that things went so badly on the road," he says to Aiden and Barnabas. "Now, on the subject of employment, what kind of training do you have? Are you former soldiers? Any special skills we should know about?"
Barnabas, who has heretofore remained silent, speaks up here.
"Well, we're not soldiers per se, but we have certainly trained both with a sword, axe, and javelin. We learned our fighting on the mean streets of Gulluvia, Gents, and people there don't hold with highborn etiquette of combat, if you know what I mean."
He stands up after he says this and draws a dagger and handaxe from his belt with a flourish, throwing them up in the air and catching them with the opposite hand. As he does this, you can't be sure, but you think he may have knicked his left hand as he caught the dagger. This is confirmed when you see a small bead of blood begin to form between two of the fingers of his left hand. Barnabas, of course, refuses to acknowledge this, grinning proudly at you for pulling off the trick while his companion Aiden shakes his head in dismay.
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"Well..." says Felder, "... you're certainly not averse to a little danger. Even if you are a danger to yourself." He chuckles. "But I'm not sure how long our business will take..."
”Who were your last employers? I am not unfamiliar with both the streets of Gulluvia and her merchants; if I know the latter to have been shrewd, perhaps I will consider hiring you on.”
The two men briefly confer with one another quietly. Although you don't catch every word, they are trying to pin down the name of the merchant who was leading the caravan. Once they have made up their minds, they turn back to the others.
"The head merchant's name was Damian Kasser. We're not sure who his subordinates were. Kasser worked for House Ulme, one of the main trading houses in the town of Gulluvia."
"Ah, I know of him," says Felder, "As I'm sure many of us did. If House Ulme is suffering losses in raids, that's a significant blow to local trade—they manage many of the important routes. Shows that goblins are becoming even more of a threat."
Emmett is unimpressed to say the least by these two rubes posing as warriors. He just snorts, shakes his head and ignores them as he ploughs through his extra large portion of stew and his second tankard of ale.
Dolion shrugged at the wizards rebuke and listened to the two young men,”Kasser? I think my pa worked for him from time to time. He takes a seat beside Knuckles and suggested, ”Maybe we hire these two and recover their master’s goods. Might be a bit of a reward to be had.” He asks the unemployed guards, ”What was the cargo you were protecting?”
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House Ulme's man. At least it won't hurt father's business, though he won't be thrilled at the news goblins are destroying guarded caravans, even those of his professional rivals. Dead merchants are bad business for all.
"Kasser was a good merchant; he must have seen something of value in you both" Or just a bargain. "We're not headed out immediately, but if we do make for Gulluvia, I'll find you beforehand." He nods to both men before standing and making his way to the bar, and Naomi. He motions the woman over and leans in for a private word.
"We were expecting a friend of ours, a farmgirl named Bernadette. Has she been in recently?" he asks quietly.
”Cheer up lads. It looks like you’ve found employment,” the thief added raising his mug in the air in salute before bringing the cold beer to his lips.
Knuckles shoots Dolion a filthy look then gets back to chomping down on some gravy soaked bread.
Dolion returns Knuckle’s glare with a lopsided grin and an exaggerated shrug before returning to his drink.
Naomi brings everyone who hasn't yet received it their food and drink. At Osseus' question about Bernadette, she shakes her head. "Sorry, no one by that name has come through Velders in the recent past." She then returns to her duties in the kitchen and behind the bar.
The two young men by the fire cover over to Osseus and thank him for the offer of work but darken when they hear him mention the missing farmgirl.
Aiden speaks up in a hushed tone: "Just an hour or so out of town we passed a body of a women lying face-down at the side of the trail. We were still running for our life from the gobbos at the time, and didn't want any more trouble, so we left it along. Could that be the lady you're looking for? She had long dark-brown hair, and was dressed for travel."
Get your s$*~ together then, says Emmett with all the menace he could muster as he rose from the table, heedless of the mostly consumed meal.
You're taking us there right f+~!ing now. I'll bet gold against copper you two stopped long enough to check for a coin purse or valuables on her body... which means you know where she lies. And you better pray her wounds don't seem to match what a couple of rookie highwaymen would inflict.
He nods to Dolion.
If they try to leave before I come back down?, he says flatly, Kill them.
With that he stomped back up to his room to grab arms and armour.
"Then that is where I shall go. You have my thanks! Please keep trying to free my friend...I will be back as soon as possible!"
Ky leaves the witch's hut and makes his way into the town proper. He heads straight to the Shady Dragon and enters just as Emmett threatens two gentlemen standing by the fireplace. He quietly moves over to where the rest of the group has gathered.
"What is happening?", he whispers to the others.
Felder clears his throat and says, "Ah... just wait here for him to come back. He's agitated because Bernadette is a friend. If you do manage to lead us to her, I'll make it worth your while."
He turns to Kymil and says, "These two fellows mentioned that they saw a body on the road in, that might have been Bernadette. This got Knuckles a bit... agitated. We're going to go check."
Dolion’s ears turn red at the news of the body. He nodded in agreement at the tongue lashing given to the men by Knuckles. He manages to contain his anger and holds his tongue. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword as he watches the mercenaries closely.
Fielder rummages through his things and fuels his lantern in expectation of going out into the dark.
Yes from Ky
You quickly gather your few belongings and take your last swigs of beer and swallow one more bite of food before heading out the door, following the road that heads west through town. A few locals look at your strangely as you head toward the Gulluvian Gate, wondering what someone could possibly be doing heading into the forest at this time of day.
You catch one of the Canton guardsmen about to close the western gate, and after making sure you know what you are doing, he lets you pass. The land beyond has been cleared of all trees and planted with barley, wheat, and various vegetables, while the western road takes you to the edge of the forest.
The light has now faded almostly completely from the sky, with only the barest shimmer of blue over the forest; above you, the sky is already black, and the first stars have begun to shine.
As you pass into the Abaddon Wood, you can see amist rising from the ground that envelops everything in a haze that even seems to dampen the sound around you. Not a nightbird can be heard overhead, and the air is thick with moisture. Nevertheless, the path ahead is clear, at least by the light of Felder's lantern. Without it, you'd be stumbling over every other tree root that pokes out of the ground.
Aiden informs you that they saw the body about an hour northwest of here. The two young men look around nervously as they walk, their hands never straying far from their weapons.
"You did say you'd pay us to show you the way to the body at this time of night, right?" Barnabas inquires of you.
Following the mercenaries lead Dolion keeps his hand close to his sword, ”Aye, as my friend said, you’ll get paid.” He pauses for a second and added,”but only after we find this body you spoke of. Now let’s stop yammering like washer women and stay alert.”
"Whoever it is, we shouldn't just leave them on the road," says Felder. "I hope that it isn't Bernadette. But either way this body should be returned to town and properly interred."
"I will compensate you for your time if your information turns out to be accurate. Not that I want to encourage killing people and dumping their bodies outside of town; in this case I simply have a a vested interest in determining the identity of the decedent."
The magician hefts his burning lantern to illuminate the way... at least for a short distance, just enough to see the road.
Wis:
Int:
Dolion kept an eye on the mercenaries as they made their way. Out of the corner of his vision he noticed something on the side of the road and went to examine it. At first he thought, a rock of some sort?
Upon closer examination he announced, ”look at this strange animal turd.”
Wis at -2 is success
Int
Its just a piece of s*#*... don't make too much of it. It's like when people start seeing the faces of saints in a piece of toast.
He whirls on the two wannabe's.
You guys had better hurry up and lead us to her body.
Ky looks at the spoor on the side of the road.
After an hour or so of travel, you notice something unusual by the side of the trail. You first think it's a rock, but on closer inspection, it seems to be some sort of spoor.
A closer inspection reveals much more.
It's the spoor of a caelyx, a creature related to a wolf (although slightly smaller in size) that has the ability to camouflage itself like a cameleon. They are known to be afraid of loud noises, but are fierce hunters when found in a pack.
"Perhaps it was the caelyx which killed the young woman...we should hurry before there is nothing left of her body!
Did you two chuckle heads ever mention how she died? You know, while you were checking for her coins and jewellery?, Emmett growls harshly.
The two young men shake their heads and Aiden speaks for both of them.
"No, she was lying face down in the mud and there was a pool of blood beneath her. We did not see her face, nor did we go near her, thank you very much. We could tell from the color of her skin of her arms and legs that she'd been dead for at leat a day."
Barnabas chimes in as well and glares at Knuckles, saying "Are you telling me that you're so rich that you wouldn't take money off a corpse? I mean, it's not like she'd need it any more. But no, as Aiden mentioned earlier, we had both just survived an attack by gobbos and were not taking chances. We stayed among the trees off the trail and moved past her. The ony reason we were still in sight of the trail to notice her, is that we didn't want to lose our way in this godsforsaken forest!"
They both stomp off down the path ahead of Knuckles, muttering under their breath.