Turning to his new companions, Quince says, "I'm sure Mistress Laurel has things well in hand. Shall we take these kids home, then?"
Girther nods his agreement to Quinces’ statement. “Drint, Fjyndel, there is nothing more we can do for the prophet,” says Girther. “Kimi”, Girther says gently while addressing the girl, “Something strange is going on around here. It is past time that you were home. My companions and I will escort you and your friends to your homes, if you find that agreeable.”
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Kimi, the tomboyish leader of this bunch of teens, replies to Girther that, "We can take care of ourselves."
Pointing to her companions, she introduces them, "The freckly one is Hollin. The tallest is Mikra. His father's the town butcher. You need meat, no? The shy-looking one is Jurin. But don't let that deceive you. His father's the richest man in town. That right, eh, Jurin. And last but not the least our resident genius, master Savram. He's going to grow up to be a powerful wizard like his father. And of course, my father's an adventurer like you. So you see we can take care of ourselves."
The teens puff up their chests as they are introduced by Kimi.
Savram comments in a scholarly tone of voice, "If we are not infected and the old man is, then whatever this infectious agent, its vector is not air born. Perhaps, the vector is wound inflicted or ingested."
Jurin answers Kimi, "Yes, Papa is that."
Hollin says, "I think they're right. We should be getting home."
All the while, Mikra remains silent.
Fjyndel only slowly turns himself away from the herbs, roots and powders inside Laurels shop. Surely he will come back someday to try to learn something from Laurel, or to exchange knowledge if possible.
He thanks the woman kindly, congratulating her to her possession.
He then follows the others outside to meet up with the children, just in time to hear Savrams comment, to which the gnome replies: "Well, he wasn't wounded in the leastest way, but we won't know for sure what caused it, when we stand around here.
Do you know the preacher? Have you seen him around in the last days?"
Drint curses. "Zon-Kuthon, this is a strange day."
"Where do you live, Hollin?" Quince focuses on the one child who doesn't seem to be puffing himself up. "We'll be happy to accompany you there. After all, should a fire-breathing dragon happen to come around the corner, it's best to have friends along, eh?" Quince gives him a knowing wink.
Girther waits for the kids reply before acting. If they engage Quince in conversation and Quince seems to be making friends with them Girther just watches. If they blow Quince off Girther smirks at Quince’s statement and then says, as if disgusted, “It is getting late. If these kids do not want our help and there is nothing more we can do for the prophet I suggest we continue with our quest. ” Girther emphasis the last word and watches the reactions of the kids.
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"Where do you live, Hollin?" Quince focuses on the one child who doesn't seem to be puffing himself up. "We'll be happy to accompany you there. After all, should a fire-breathing dragon happen to come around the corner, it's best to have friends along, eh?" Quince gives him a knowing wink.
Hollin unused to the attention, smiles and says, "I live with just down the street with my sister. No need to be worried about me."
Kimi, on the other hand, asks with eyes glowing with curiosity, "You have seen a fire-breathing dragon? Wow! That's neat."
Girther smirks at Quince’s statement and then says, as if disgusted, “It is getting late. If these kids do not want our help and there is nothing more we can do for the prophet I suggest we continue with our quest. ” Girther emphasis the last word and watches the reactions of the kids.
Spot check: (1d20=15)
"Have I seen a fire-breathing dragon, you say?" Quince looks a little disconcerted for a moment, then brightens up. "Never been to Korvosa, have you? The air is filled with fire-breathing dragons there. Not big ones, mind you, but quantity over quality is an effective strategy, some would say."
Quince clears his throat. "Right. Well, if our services aren't needed, we do have that other thing to attend to." He nods at Girther, trying to look like he knows what he's talking about.
Drint looks confused. "What other--oh. Yessss. I, ah, remember now."
Trying to cover up his error, he adds, "So...we'll jusssst have to hope we don't meet any fire-breathing dragonssss, won't we?"
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Drint, Fjyndel, Girther and Quince have taken a few steps away from the teens, when they hear a commotion coming from their direction.
A mean-looking half-orc with a metal nose prosthetic steps out of the shadows. The hilt of a big sword juts behind his right shoulder. The half-orc grabs Hollin by his neck. "Boy, where is your sister?! There are customers waiting for her!" Kimi tries to intervene and strikes at the half-orc with her crude club but the half-orc deftly parries the blow and returns a counterpunch that knocks the wind out of her. "This is not your business, girl! Maybe it will be in a few years, if you fill out in the proper places! Not that I'm complaining if you want a job now." The half-orc leers at Kimi which obviously repulses her. The other children seems to be frozen with fear.
No one seems willing to intervene.
"What issss thissss?", Drint asks, concerned yet not interested in getting in an argument with the strange half-orc. But his anger at the apparent cruelty spurs him to add, "It is an act of cowardice to beat a child."
Quince ignores the tiny voice in the back of his head telling him not to get involved.
"HEY!" he shouts at the half-orc. "Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?"
Girther, still repulsed by the display he witnessed at the Sitting Duck, pulls out his dwarven waraxe and yells at the orc, “Leave now or your life will be at risk!”
Drint mentally shakes his head. So much for not drawing attention to oneself... he thinks. He sighs, and draws his spear.
"Though my companion may be a little...undiplomatic, he hassss a point. If you do not ekssssplain very quickly, you shall have a sharp akssss through your neck." He adds, nervously, "Probably."
"Really?", Drint asks, sounding almost amused. "Why would I get hurt? Besidessss the fact that I am half the ssssize of you. If the mosssst you can do is frighten a child, then I see little reasssson to be frightened."
"Well, at least he realized that we're not the ones 'his size' I was referring to," Quince says with a wry smile.
Fjyndel is rather surprised by the turn of action going on.
"Now isn't that a nice picture of this town?" he replies to Quince.
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Notwithstanding, the spells hurled by Quince and Fyjndel at the half-orc, he manages to grab Kimi, who was standing near him, and use her as a shield. "Well, little ones. If you must fight me, you would have to cut through this soft, tender flesh. Ha, ha, ha." The half-orc then flashes the party a mocking smile, as he drags Kimi towards the shadows.
Drint sighs. "Please, sir, I was not an attacker, but can you simply explain what you are doing? Perhaps Kimi works for you? Or perhaps...", he says with an angry look, "She is a slave."
Quince raises his hands non-threateningly. "Let's everyone take a moment to think before things get out of hand."
He addresses the half-orc: "Sir, we were asked to escort these children home. We don't want any trouble, but we have our duty to fulfill."
"You aren't trying to escape here, are you?" says Fjyndel then focusing on the ground beneath the feet of the half-orc.
"I know we should not trust you in the leastest way, but see it as good will that I let you be free." Fjyndel replies, dismissing the spell.
"Now let her go and we all go our own ways, Okay?"
"Now that went well... I think now would be a perfect time to leave this place, don't you?
Everything allright with you?" the gnome asks in the direction of Kimi.
"You think that went well? I think it was more like a catastrophe narrowly averted. But yes, we should perhaps be moving on."
Quince turns to the children. "Right. To home and a nice, warm fire, eh? Who's closest? We'll make our way together."
"Not to alarm you all, be he sure is around. But who was that anyway? And what happened to his nose? What about his business with you sister? ... No, forget I asked. That's not my business."
Girther takes rear guard as the group moves through the dangerous streets of Falcon’s Hollow. Having watched his new comrades in action, he hides a small smile of satisfaction. The kobold in particular has surprised Girther with courage he displayed.
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"Not to alarm you all, be he sure is around. But who was that anyway? And what happened to his nose? What about his business with you sister? ... No, forget I asked. That's not my business."
"He's Kabran. He runs the place where my sister works," says Hollin. "She tells me she serves food there. But I know." Hollin adds bitterly.
"Know...what?", Drint asks. He likes to know what he fights for.
"Let go of that, boy!", Drint says sharply, "You're bleeding!"
He attempts to take the blade from his hand.
Girther assists Drint as he tries to calm the boy. “Why does your sister work for him?” he asks.
"And would you care to explain how cutting yourself helps you in any way? It does not.
Now let me have a look at that hand." Fjyndel is not really angry at the boy, but he isn't calm as well.
He tries to give first aid to the wound of the boy, to make it stop bleeding.
"Boy...", Drint says, "It issss the half-orc that is acting shamefully, not you. In this sort of city, I say that it issss honorable that you and your family have not turned to thievery. Feel proud of your family, and feel proud for yoursssself." He says this with a bit of regret. "I-I was not strong enough. I think I am now."
Girther stops and surveys the surroundings. His mind is filled with the troubles he has discovered today. The prophet’s collapse, his dire warning of evil growing under their feet, the lumber consortium, and the plight of the poor of Falcon’s Hallow all weigh heavy on his mind. “Friends, let’s get these children home. Then maybe we can plan our next course of action”, he says finally. He gives the kids a smile and pats Hollin reassuringly on the shoulder.
"So, Hollin, or Kimi, or any of you - what can you tell us of Falcon's Hollow?" Quince seems eager to change the subject. "Surely it has some redeeming qualities. Any sights to recommend, places to see, people to meet, that sort of thing?"
Now, why didn't I think of asking the children about the town? Fjyndel thinks, following them around, keeping his ears keen.
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To everyone’s surprise, it is the shy Jurin who answers Quince’s question, “This is our home.”
Kimi and the others can only nod at Jurin’s words.
Thereafter, the party escorted the children to their respective homes. Jurin, who was the last one to be escorted home, offers, “If you need a place to stay, you can stay in one of our spare rooms. My father is usually not around. Only the servants.”
“Thank you Jurin. I will gladly accept your offer,” says Girther with a smile.