Gardo
Gardo's gaze is intent on the three dogs, knowing how dangerous trained beasts can be. When the cloaked figure starts speaking names, his eyes look up and widen as the woman's staff points at him, suddenly realizing he may have focused on the wrong thing. He beings to grab at his sword but slows down as his brain processes her words, the inflections bringing a note of recognition, not threats. Something begins nagging at his brain with her introduction.
With the second repetition of her name, it comes to him. "Hey! I've heard of your kind before!" He turns to speak to the others. "My old boss once got ill, probably poison knowing him, and he had.... umm.. Mariusz! What was the name of the guys that went and found... I got it, Franz and Doren, go and find this person he called The Bone Witch. Really old, gnarled, ancient, ugly guy. Had all kinds of bones sewed on his clothes, some still had bits of meat that was rotting on it. Guy had several big rats with him as well, I thought Doren was going to go crazy, he was a bit scared of rats. Anyway, the Bone Witch came and was able to heal the boss of whatever it was that made him ill. Kinda like a priest except they don't try to get people to worship whatever it is they worship."
He turns back to the cloaked person. "So, you one of those people, right? I had heard you witches liked to keep to yourself, didn't care much to mingle with folk. So, why are you out here meeting us like this and how did you know my name and what I had done?"
IC
Re: IC
Telemachus
The mage carefully considers the witch and her menagerie, and slowly begins to nod.
"Members of our Company come and go, and ours is a dangerous business to boot. Many hands make for fewer casualties. I am in favor of the addition."
The mage carefully considers the witch and her menagerie, and slowly begins to nod.
"Members of our Company come and go, and ours is a dangerous business to boot. Many hands make for fewer casualties. I am in favor of the addition."
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The_Wanderer
- Ranger Knight
- Posts: 1594
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:26 am
- Location: Chicago
Re: IC
Feargus
"In truth, I hope our visit in Alice is brief and uneventful; the last town we stopped in nearly ended in tragedy. Our path continues north after that, leading this procession into the wilderness to find the town of Kimrid. Are you aware of this place? Another hand on the road could be of help."
"In truth, I hope our visit in Alice is brief and uneventful; the last town we stopped in nearly ended in tragedy. Our path continues north after that, leading this procession into the wilderness to find the town of Kimrid. Are you aware of this place? Another hand on the road could be of help."
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thirdkingdom
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 7946
- Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:23 pm
Re: IC
Newton notices Ribar's reaction and moves his horse over to join the priest. "Is there a problem Ribar?" he asks.
Ribar blushes and shakes his head "No sir. There are some old prejudices from my homeland that I should have left behind, it won't happen again." he moves his horse forward and addresses the witch "My apologies madame Haaki. Your skills would be a fine addition to the group""
Ribar blushes and shakes his head "No sir. There are some old prejudices from my homeland that I should have left behind, it won't happen again." he moves his horse forward and addresses the witch "My apologies madame Haaki. Your skills would be a fine addition to the group""
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Atlictoatl
- Ranger
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2014 3:38 pm
Re: IC
Haaki, the Feather Witch
Haaki gives a genuine grin before sliding the large staff into a too-small-for-it sling bag kept under her feather cloak. She removes the bird skull on her head and puts it inside the bag as well. She whistles, bringing a riding horse forward out of the woods. The witch says something to the dogs, and the two to either side of her relax their posture and rest with their bellies on the ground and their tongues lolling. The larger dog gives the others a look of disdain and keeps its watchful but non-aggressive posture.
"That's kind of you, but I'm not proposing marriage. I was headed up that way anyway, and when I heard your tales, I thought to myself, 'Haaki, you should ride up with them and see what they're about', so here we are. You did good. Only the priest there seems to have gotten ruffled by the fancy stuff. No matter, I feel the same way when I visit a temple and they're wearing all their stuff for impressin' the locals."
She looks at Gardo. "I can't really speak for anyone else, but I like people fine. Animals more. People who act like animals less."
To Feargus, she responds, "Haven't heard of it."
"As to how I knew about you, well...," she holds her left arm up into the air, and a large horned owl swoops down out of the trees and onto the leather brace on her forearm. "Syoksya and me were keeping an eye on you." It's the owl from the tavern the night before.
You get the strong impression from the shift in her demeanor and the putting away of her paraphernalia that her introduction had been some sort of theatrical measuring of you, as a group.
Haaki gives a genuine grin before sliding the large staff into a too-small-for-it sling bag kept under her feather cloak. She removes the bird skull on her head and puts it inside the bag as well. She whistles, bringing a riding horse forward out of the woods. The witch says something to the dogs, and the two to either side of her relax their posture and rest with their bellies on the ground and their tongues lolling. The larger dog gives the others a look of disdain and keeps its watchful but non-aggressive posture.
"That's kind of you, but I'm not proposing marriage. I was headed up that way anyway, and when I heard your tales, I thought to myself, 'Haaki, you should ride up with them and see what they're about', so here we are. You did good. Only the priest there seems to have gotten ruffled by the fancy stuff. No matter, I feel the same way when I visit a temple and they're wearing all their stuff for impressin' the locals."
She looks at Gardo. "I can't really speak for anyone else, but I like people fine. Animals more. People who act like animals less."
To Feargus, she responds, "Haven't heard of it."
"As to how I knew about you, well...," she holds her left arm up into the air, and a large horned owl swoops down out of the trees and onto the leather brace on her forearm. "Syoksya and me were keeping an eye on you." It's the owl from the tavern the night before.
You get the strong impression from the shift in her demeanor and the putting away of her paraphernalia that her introduction had been some sort of theatrical measuring of you, as a group.
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thirdkingdom
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 7946
- Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:23 pm
Re: IC
Fourthmonth, Tenthday
2:00 pm
Hex 235.134
Alice
No one can dispute the wisdom of the witch's words, and soon they continue north again, the companionship once more numbering five individuals, doughty and true.
The road widens and the woods thin as they travel, with signs of civilization becoming more and more evident. Finally, the party emerges from the trees to behold an enormous clearing, as far as the eye can see, of mostly cultivated fields dotted with houses, copses of fruit trees, and herds of cow and sheep. Ahead of them, barely visible on the horizon, is a smudge that must be Alice, with plumes of smoke rising up into the sky by the hundredfold.
Alice is a frontier town similar to Junction, maybe twice as big, but sprawling. The dwellings on the perimeter are small and rude, some little more than tents, others mud-daubed huts. It is as if the population of Junction doubled overnight, with no places to put the new inhabitants, so they made do with what they could.
It is lucky there has been no rain recently, as the streets are hard-packed dirt. The main road is crowded with traffic, with buildings mostly of wood leaning in above the road. The adventurers have two potential courses of action:
*Seek out Pord's contact, one Kirra Lec whom they are supposed to escort north.
*There is also the company -- the Northern Mercantile Exchange -- that Feargus had received a letter of introduction to the previous night. The woman, one Cynza Dalin, gave him directions to an office located off the North Road, behind a Twill's Tavern, and ask for a "Matts".
Feargus's young squire, Mardan Cy, looks about, slack-jawed and wide-eyed, and the bustle and noise surrounding the party. He clutches his zither protectively.
2:00 pm
Hex 235.134
Alice
No one can dispute the wisdom of the witch's words, and soon they continue north again, the companionship once more numbering five individuals, doughty and true.
The road widens and the woods thin as they travel, with signs of civilization becoming more and more evident. Finally, the party emerges from the trees to behold an enormous clearing, as far as the eye can see, of mostly cultivated fields dotted with houses, copses of fruit trees, and herds of cow and sheep. Ahead of them, barely visible on the horizon, is a smudge that must be Alice, with plumes of smoke rising up into the sky by the hundredfold.
Alice is a frontier town similar to Junction, maybe twice as big, but sprawling. The dwellings on the perimeter are small and rude, some little more than tents, others mud-daubed huts. It is as if the population of Junction doubled overnight, with no places to put the new inhabitants, so they made do with what they could.
It is lucky there has been no rain recently, as the streets are hard-packed dirt. The main road is crowded with traffic, with buildings mostly of wood leaning in above the road. The adventurers have two potential courses of action:
*Seek out Pord's contact, one Kirra Lec whom they are supposed to escort north.
*There is also the company -- the Northern Mercantile Exchange -- that Feargus had received a letter of introduction to the previous night. The woman, one Cynza Dalin, gave him directions to an office located off the North Road, behind a Twill's Tavern, and ask for a "Matts".
Feargus's young squire, Mardan Cy, looks about, slack-jawed and wide-eyed, and the bustle and noise surrounding the party. He clutches his zither protectively.
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Atlictoatl
- Ranger
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2014 3:38 pm
Re: IC
Haaki, the Feather Witch
Once the party set out again, Haaki pulled a mace along with a shortbow and arrows out of her sling-bag, and accoutred herself for travel along the road.
"Would anyone mind if I joined you talking to this Mercantile Exchange? I've been noticing more traffic on the road, and would like to know what they're about."
Once the party set out again, Haaki pulled a mace along with a shortbow and arrows out of her sling-bag, and accoutred herself for travel along the road.
"Would anyone mind if I joined you talking to this Mercantile Exchange? I've been noticing more traffic on the road, and would like to know what they're about."
Re: IC
Gardo
"How about I come with you, Telemachus? Newton, you head with Feargus and.... Haaki, was it?... to the exchange thing. Seems a decent way to get things done here."
"How about I come with you, Telemachus? Newton, you head with Feargus and.... Haaki, was it?... to the exchange thing. Seems a decent way to get things done here."
It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.
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The_Wanderer
- Ranger Knight
- Posts: 1594
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:26 am
- Location: Chicago
Re: IC
Feargus
Feargus rustles around in his bags until he finds the sealed letter of introduction. "Well come on then. Let's find these Merchants and see if they see any value in this here piece of paper. Maybe they will even see value in us opening up the road to Kimrid..."
Feargus rustles around in his bags until he finds the sealed letter of introduction. "Well come on then. Let's find these Merchants and see if they see any value in this here piece of paper. Maybe they will even see value in us opening up the road to Kimrid..."
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thirdkingdom
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 7946
- Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:23 pm
Re: IC
Fourthmonth, Tenthday
Alice
Kirra Lec
After asking around the adventurers track down Kirra Lec, sitting at a table in the Towering Oaks, one of the two inns in Alice. The table is covered with paperwork. Kirra herself is a youngish woman, medium height, slender of build, with training scars on both wrists and a missing left earlobe. She stands up, and the adventurer note a dagger on each hip.
"Finally", she says, "I was afraid Pord was going to have no luck finding folks to help us out. Sit, sit, and I'll tell you what I know." She examines the map the adventurers have and frowns. "Sadly, this is out of date, and that is part of our problem," she says, tracing the red borderline that runs some twelve miles north of Alice. "This was the border, at the beginning of last Cycle, and Alice was nothing but a sleepy farming community. There were a dozen, maybe two dozen, small towns and villages to the north of us, and the only thing that differentiated Alice was that the Baron chose to build his Keep here. About thirty years ago, though, towards the end of the last Nadir, the raids started. Goblins and orcs, mostly -- the trees are thick enough in these parts that they can walk about during the day without fear -- but coordinated. Savvy, even. Not like the typical Beastman raid. Villages and towns up and down the border were systematically attacked, raided, and burnt. Every year more and more villages fell, the survivors fleeing south, to Alice. Finally, at the end of the Nadir, a huge horde attacked Alice. Scores died, but the Baron held off repeated attacks. And then . . ." she trails off, "they just left. One morning the soldiers woke up, preparing for another attack, but the woods were silent. The Beastmen had gone."
"Over the years captured Beastmen had talked about their warchief, someone they called 'The Snake that Strikes'. What the Baron thinks happens, and what I think happened as well, is that their chief died, and they retreated, either fracturing back into their clans and tribes, or into one great moot to select a new leader. Regardless, the road to Kimrid -- our ultimate goal -- was lost. I've been as far as here," she says, pointing at hex 236.130, "without meeting resistance, and only the occasional sign of Beastmen. Our primary goal is to follow the road north, eliminate any threats in our path, and try and re-establish contact with Kimrid. If we can find out any information about this 'Snake the Strikes' so much the better."
Alice
Kirra Lec
After asking around the adventurers track down Kirra Lec, sitting at a table in the Towering Oaks, one of the two inns in Alice. The table is covered with paperwork. Kirra herself is a youngish woman, medium height, slender of build, with training scars on both wrists and a missing left earlobe. She stands up, and the adventurer note a dagger on each hip.
"Finally", she says, "I was afraid Pord was going to have no luck finding folks to help us out. Sit, sit, and I'll tell you what I know." She examines the map the adventurers have and frowns. "Sadly, this is out of date, and that is part of our problem," she says, tracing the red borderline that runs some twelve miles north of Alice. "This was the border, at the beginning of last Cycle, and Alice was nothing but a sleepy farming community. There were a dozen, maybe two dozen, small towns and villages to the north of us, and the only thing that differentiated Alice was that the Baron chose to build his Keep here. About thirty years ago, though, towards the end of the last Nadir, the raids started. Goblins and orcs, mostly -- the trees are thick enough in these parts that they can walk about during the day without fear -- but coordinated. Savvy, even. Not like the typical Beastman raid. Villages and towns up and down the border were systematically attacked, raided, and burnt. Every year more and more villages fell, the survivors fleeing south, to Alice. Finally, at the end of the Nadir, a huge horde attacked Alice. Scores died, but the Baron held off repeated attacks. And then . . ." she trails off, "they just left. One morning the soldiers woke up, preparing for another attack, but the woods were silent. The Beastmen had gone."
"Over the years captured Beastmen had talked about their warchief, someone they called 'The Snake that Strikes'. What the Baron thinks happens, and what I think happened as well, is that their chief died, and they retreated, either fracturing back into their clans and tribes, or into one great moot to select a new leader. Regardless, the road to Kimrid -- our ultimate goal -- was lost. I've been as far as here," she says, pointing at hex 236.130, "without meeting resistance, and only the occasional sign of Beastmen. Our primary goal is to follow the road north, eliminate any threats in our path, and try and re-establish contact with Kimrid. If we can find out any information about this 'Snake the Strikes' so much the better."
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thirdkingdom
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 7946
- Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:23 pm
Re: IC
Fourthmonth, Tenthday
Alice
The Offices of the Northern Mercantile Exchange
The second party soon find the offices of the NME, as the directions were given. Matts proves to be a jolly looking older man, who takes the letter of introduction and reads it quickly. "Sounds good," he says, "I don't know how much Cynza told you, but ever since the Beastmen forces retreated we've been eager to expand north, find new sources of income we can sell south, in Rhea's Ford and other places. We're interested mostly in more portable raw goods, less timber and ore. Rare wood if you can find it is always good, for fine furniture, but our primary interest are things like pelts and furs, animals parts for use in alchemy, and, of course, more exotic finds. Starflower blossoms, Floatwood, Blindmoss, that sort of thing. We've got a couple of other parties that work for us, and our arrangement is thus: goods you bring back and we're interested in we'll buy, but at wholesale, not retail. You'll make less money, but if we want it you'll have cash in hand that day, and won't need to worry with trying to find a buyer. If you want to just sell us information -- let's say you find a river that's teaming with beaver, or a stand of old-growth walnut -- we'll pay you 10% of the estimated value for that information, and then it becomes our problem to get it and bring it back here. How does this sound?"
Alice
The Offices of the Northern Mercantile Exchange
The second party soon find the offices of the NME, as the directions were given. Matts proves to be a jolly looking older man, who takes the letter of introduction and reads it quickly. "Sounds good," he says, "I don't know how much Cynza told you, but ever since the Beastmen forces retreated we've been eager to expand north, find new sources of income we can sell south, in Rhea's Ford and other places. We're interested mostly in more portable raw goods, less timber and ore. Rare wood if you can find it is always good, for fine furniture, but our primary interest are things like pelts and furs, animals parts for use in alchemy, and, of course, more exotic finds. Starflower blossoms, Floatwood, Blindmoss, that sort of thing. We've got a couple of other parties that work for us, and our arrangement is thus: goods you bring back and we're interested in we'll buy, but at wholesale, not retail. You'll make less money, but if we want it you'll have cash in hand that day, and won't need to worry with trying to find a buyer. If you want to just sell us information -- let's say you find a river that's teaming with beaver, or a stand of old-growth walnut -- we'll pay you 10% of the estimated value for that information, and then it becomes our problem to get it and bring it back here. How does this sound?"
Re: IC
Gardothirdkingdom wrote:"Over the years captured Beastmen had talked about their warchief, someone they called 'The Snake that Strikes'. What the Baron thinks happens, and what I think happened as well, is that their chief died, and they retreated, either fracturing back into their clans and tribes, or into one great moot to select a new leader. Regardless, the road to Kimrid -- our ultimate goal -- was lost. I've been as far as here," she says, pointing at hex 236.130, "without meeting resistance, and only the occasional sign of Beastmen. Our primary goal is to follow the road north, eliminate any threats in our path, and try and re-establish contact with Kimrid. If we can find out any information about this 'Snake the Strikes' so much the better."
Gardo nods his head. "Straight forward plan. Capture any Beastmen. Get info about snake leader. Eliminate the Beastmen. Move north. Repeat. So, you are going with us, anybody else that is travelling with us? Also, anyone around here offering a bounty on Beastmen? Might as well make some coin along the way."
It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.
Re: IC
Telemachus silently assents to Gardo's description of the plan.VonAlric wrote:Gardo
Gardo nods his head. "Straight forward plan. Capture any Beastmen. Get info about snake leader. Eliminate the Beastmen. Move north. Repeat. So, you are going with us, anybody else that is travelling with us? Also, anyone around here offering a bounty on Beastmen? Might as well make some coin along the way."
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The_Wanderer
- Ranger Knight
- Posts: 1594
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:26 am
- Location: Chicago
Re: IC
Feargus looks at the other members of the group and shrugs. "We appreciate this opportunity. We've had chances to butcher some of the strange beasts out there a couple times now and having an outlet for any special finds is useful. Likewise, I can guarantee we will be traveling about these lands and I'm sure we'd be happy to share any information we find that seems like it could be turned into coin. Let me ask though, do you have offices in any other cities?"thirdkingdom wrote:Fourthmonth, Tenthday
Alice
The Offices of the Northern Mercantile Exchange
The second party soon find the offices of the NME, as the directions were given. Matts proves to be a jolly looking older man, who takes the letter of introduction and reads it quickly. "Sounds good," he says, "I don't know how much Cynza told you, but ever since the Beastmen forces retreated we've been eager to expand north, find new sources of income we can sell south, in Rhea's Ford and other places. We're interested mostly in more portable raw goods, less timber and ore. Rare wood if you can find it is always good, for fine furniture, but our primary interest are things like pelts and furs, animals parts for use in alchemy, and, of course, more exotic finds. Starflower blossoms, Floatwood, Blindmoss, that sort of thing. We've got a couple of other parties that work for us, and our arrangement is thus: goods you bring back and we're interested in we'll buy, but at wholesale, not retail. You'll make less money, but if we want it you'll have cash in hand that day, and won't need to worry with trying to find a buyer. If you want to just sell us information -- let's say you find a river that's teaming with beaver, or a stand of old-growth walnut -- we'll pay you 10% of the estimated value for that information, and then it becomes our problem to get it and bring it back here. How does this sound?"
After the meeting, he asks Telemachus, "Have you had opportunity to contact Madam Fleur lately thru the mirror? Maybe it's worth asking about these guys and also if she has any news to share."
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thirdkingdom
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 7946
- Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:23 pm
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thirdkingdom
- Rider of Rohan
- Posts: 7946
- Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:23 pm
Re: IC
Kirra Lec
"Very well, I will meet you in the morning, ready to go. I've got some pack mules and hard tack, and will be bringing my own bodyguards."
"Very well, I will meet you in the morning, ready to go. I've got some pack mules and hard tack, and will be bringing my own bodyguards."