“Well, for the elderwood moss, there’s gotta be an oldest tree in the vale. Damned if I know where it is, though.
“The mushrooms are even longer shots. Way north, toward the mountains, people say there used to live a bunch of dwarves. They’re not there anymore, but I’d bet their forges are. If you can find
ironbloom anywhere around here, that’d be your best bet."
"I have never been in the vale myself, so if you don't know where to look, maybe you could see Milon Rhoddam at the Consortium Lumber Camp. He knows the woods better that anyone else around these parts."
Nerek's ears perk at the mention of a dwarven settlement. He even stops scratching his beard. "Dwarven ruins? I would be very interested in seeing these. And, if there were forges, there is likely to be ironbloom in the area." The last is almost sounds as if it was added as an after thought.
Calar's faces brightens slightly as the herbalist mentions a possible cure. He begins to make a mental tally . . ironbloom mushrooms . . . all the while happy that the dwarf handles the heavy talking.
He still cannot help but blurt out, "Dwarven ruins? Maybe that is why you were brought here?" He quickly silences himself. "Milon, huh? Well, if he is at the Lumber Consortium I can lead us there, I have to pick up and drop off armor and shields there time to time.
"Yes. Yes! And there isn't a moment to lose. People have already started to die, and it is going to get worse beofre it gets better. You should make arrangements to be on the road at first light."
"Yes, yes, first light. I guess that would be best," Nerek sighs a little, remembering that human eyesight isn't quite as good as his own.
"I guess its possible I was drawn here for the ruins." Nerek can't quite hide his enthusiasm at the thought of the ruins.
"Let's see, lumber consortium first then? To find out where the oldest trees are likely to be, before we decide what ingredient to go after first? What's the best way to get there, Calar?"
Nerek scratches his beard absently once again.
"Just follow me. Both Vishantos and Laurent likely know the way too; I think Laurent even works for them, he may know the shortest way."
Calar pauses for a moment. "We will wait for first light then? Meet here at that time? Is that the plan?"
"Just follow me. Both Vishantos and Laurent likely know the way too; I think Laurent even works for them, he may know the shortest way."
Calar pauses for a moment. "We will wait for first light then? Meet here at that time? Is that the plan?"
"You might as well talk to these 'Consortium' people tonight, so that you don't waste time tomorrow," Geddoe grumbled. "I guess I can give you a hand in this matter. Who knows what kinds of tricks and dangers the dwarves left behind when they left; you'll need someone to get you past all that." 'Plus, who knows what kind of loot they left behind?'
Nerek decides its best to let the locals set the time table, but he bristles when Geddoe talks of taking dwarven artifacts from the ruins. "Any dwarven artifacts we find will need to be handed over to my people," he says gruffly, while scratching his beard.
Calar stares hard at Geddoe. "I am not sure I agree with the looting aspect of all this; but it couldn't hurt to get a move out now. I would just need 15 minutes to gather my belongings and warn the Steelshanks."
"You might as well talk to these 'Consortium' people tonight, so that you don't waste time tomorrow," Geddoe grumbled. "I guess I can give you a hand in this matter. Who knows what kinds of tricks and dangers the dwarves left behind when they left; you'll need someone to get you past all that." 'Plus, who knows what kind of loot they left behind?'
Calar shakes his head in acknowledgement of Geddoe's suggestion. "I see no reason to wait to speak to Milon. True, I would rather not venture through the woods at night, but a trip to the consortium should not be put off simply because it grows late. Anyone disagree?"
Nerek defers to the locals about whether or not to go to the camp tonight.
"At night, the woods can be... wild. You also would have nowhere to stay there. Let's meet here at the Jak before dawn on tomorrow and get there afore Rhoddam takes off for the day. Don't know him well so I can't say if it's true or not, but I hear his nephew's taken ill. A piece of luck for us maybe. Would be a shame if young Jack were to die. Has the voice of an angel, he does, not that his ma encouraged it... *Ahem* Tomorrow, then?"
"Sounds good to me. I'm staying at the Jak, in the common room, so just find me when you're ready."
"I am staying at the Jak'a'napes as well," Nerek adds, but quickly makes a mental note to ask if there are any rooms available.
His hand, absently scratching his beard, has moved up to near his ear.
Calar fidgets; he alternately looks at Reno and the dimming sky. Finally with a strong sigh and deflating of his shoulders, Calar says, "Fine. First light. I will be here to make sure you are up and ready to go." Calar says his goodbyes and makes his way back to his room.
"Hn." Geddoe turned from the group when Calar agreed to the plan, and headed back to the Jak'a'napes, where he proceeded to banter with the halfling innkeeper, get some blankets and a pillow, and settled down in the commonroom, where other travelers were beginning to sleep. Geddoe spread his blankets, and after tucking his pack and knives under his legs, went to sleep.
Nerek will inquire about a room at the inn, only sleeping in the common room as a last resort.
Nerek sleeps well in his private room and wakes early. He wanders down to the common room to see what is available for breakfast. He gives a big yawn, and scratches absently at his nose.
Vishantos sighs and pays for a private room, as well as dinner and breakfast. 'Outrageous how they can take advantage of this situation. I wonder how I could get in on that?' he thinks to himself as he hands over his money. 'In the morning I must prepare spells to suit the dangers of travel in this area. I won't be entertaining children in the woods.'
Nerek scratches his nose before asking, "Should we take any supplies with us?"
Calar nods and hefts his backpack. "We should probably buy some food, water, and the like. I have enough for a few days, but the woods are dangerous, and we don't yet know how long of a trek we have."
Calar will approach the bartender and slap 2gp of his hard earned coin on the bar. He will fill up a small sack with hard cheeses, bread, salted meats.
As he fills the sack Calar says, "I suggest we set out at a decent pace, not a run or anything, but a strong march. When we get to the Consortium, we can rest for a meal as we get directions. Sound reasonable?"
Nerek follows Calar's lead and purchases some additional food for the trip.
"Your plan appears sound, youngster," he says to Calar.
Now dressed in his black studded leather, Geddoe imitated Calar by buying enough rations for four days. "Aren't there any wagons that go out that way? Be easier and quicker than walking," Geddoe queried as he packed the rations in the main compartment of his pack. Standing up, he fastened one of his daggers on his hip, in plain view, then attempted to hide his other daggers on his body, one just under his armpit, the other in his boot.
"Well then I guess we stop by the stable on the way out. It'd be nice if we owned horses, but that is a bit outside of my price range."
Vishantos also purchases some extra food for the journey.
"I don't think horses or carts would help us much in these woods. The terrain is too rough and the trails get narrow. I'm not much of a woodsman or anything, but that's been my impression. I'm pretty sure the lumber is floated downriver as rafts, but boating upriver would be slow going. I think we are better off walking. A donkey to carry some of our gear might be useful, but I don't know how to care for such creatures."
Those of you who choose to the stables are greeted by a middle aged man, who looks as though he hasn't slept in days. As you wlk through the door, he snaps at you, "I haven't another horse for sale, they are needed here for work, not for running your sorry arses from the plague."
Geddoe blinks hard, then whispers as an aside to Calar, "Looks like we've found ourselves an a$$. Too bad we can't strap our packs to him to save ourselves the hassle."
Geddoe blinks hard, then whispers as an aside to Calar, "Looks like we've found ourselves an a$$. Too bad we can't strap our packs to him to save ourselves the hassle."
Calar laughs gently. Before clearing his throat, "We've wasted enough time, I say. Let's get to walking." If there are no objections, Calar will make his way northeast along the lumber road.
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"Boy," he responds, shaking, "you spend your nights holding your daugter as she hacks up blood, and your days selling every draft animal you can find to cowards running for their lives, and come back here and call me that again."
His hand has slipped down to the head of a hatchet hanging off his belt, and you remember an old saying about lumber men and axes.
"Boy," he responds, shaking, "you spend your nights holding your daugter as she hacks up blood, and your days selling every draft animal you can find to cowards running for their lives, and come back here and call me that again."
His hand has slipped down to the head of a hatchet hanging off his belt, and you remember an old saying about lumber men and axes.
Geddoe's eyes widen. "Er... exit, stage left."
Nerek falls in step behind Calar. "Are you alright," he says to Geddoe, "you look a little pale."
Geddoe gave a little glare out of the corner of his eye at Nerek, then turn towards the Hollow natives. "So what can you tell us about this Consortium?" he asked as they traveled down the long and lonesome road.
Taking the lead on the road to the consoritum, Laruent begins to explain, "The consortium's a tricky thing. They're here to make money, no doubt, and some folks have been hurt because o' their methods, but Falcon's Hollow'd be less than a speck on a map withou' 'em." Extending an arm and pointing toward the hill full of large homes, "Them that live in the Perch sometimes care little about what happens down here, but their money brings merchants and travellers here, and that means opportunity for those that'll take it."
Changing moods to something dark rather than contemplative, Laurent gives warning, "Now, these woods are usually quiet, but don' drop your guard. I've scars from wandering too close to nasty beasties, and don't reckon I want more. The consortium's full o' hard men, and you'd best not drop your guard there either, even if you be with Vishantos and myself."
Hearing Laurent's words, Nerek readies his crossbow, keeping both hands on it but occasionally alternating his hands to scratch his nose.
"What kind of creatures live in these woods," he asks.
Calar kept his ears open, hanging on Laurent's answer to the dwarf's question. He had rumors, but he himself hardly ever left the smithy, and Laurent was as good a tale-teller as Calar knew.
Nerek suggests we walk briskly (hustle) for a while, before slowing to a walk to finish it out. "No need to tire ourselves out, if there are dangerous things lurking in the woods."
"Aye, a good idea, Nerek. As for the beasties that live 'round these parts, we've got wolves, who do hound the axes something fierce. Huge bugs that'll suck all the blood out of you before you know what's happening up near the swamps. I hear about Old Shuffles and 'is rat livin' in these parts, and his stink's gettin' no better with age. Of course, the faeries are none too kind to those what invade their space. And one mist always be on the lookout for thieves and charlatans.", Laurent says whilst looking at Geddoe. "We'll be fine if we keep our wits and don't make a ruckus." Laurent glances at Nerek in his scalemail and Calar in his chain and lifts his finger in front of his mouth, "So, shhh." With a wink, Laurent begins a hustle in the direction of the consortium's camp.
"Great, this bloody place sounds better and better the longer I stay," Geddoe groused, keeping pace with the bard.
Calar picks up the pace constantly checking to make sure he still feels the familiar heft of his warhammer strung across his shoulder.
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You've set a pace that will have you to the main camp in seven hours.
Along the way you occasionally pass small bands of lumberjacks moving up and down the trail.
Luckily for you, after only a couple hours on the road, you manage to catch up with a large crew heading towards the main camp that had stopped for lunch. They are traveling with horses and wagons carrying their gear. The mood is sombre as you share the most recent news from Falcon's Hollow, much of which these men hadn't heard.
Joining with them, you cut the trip down by a few hours, arriving at the camp just after 2 in the afternoon.
The Lumber Consortium Camp cuts an ugly scar of stumps into a dense stand of proud darkwood trees. Five sturdy-looking log buildings— seemingly a bunkhouse, meal hall, office, barn, and smithy—stand with numerous wide carts and sleds amid the sawdust-covered clearing.
Your new friends from the trip are glad to help you, and show you to Milon Rhoddam.