Our intrepid foursome has set out in pursuit of the traveling medecine show of Ilona Lovelace, hoping to deal with her involvement in an outbreak of Mindfire disease before turning their attention to the matter of Hermy's father.
Hermy's father was sent to the salt mines twenty years ago on false charges of a murder committed by his elder son, Kirby Woodhome.
Brodda and Minto have vowed to see justice brought about, and the surviving Woodhomes reunited...
Your Heroes
- BRODDA
HP: 38/38
Initiative: +2
AC: 16 (+2 Dex, +1 armor, +1 proficiency, +2 Defense), 14/14 touch/flat-footed
Damage Conversion: (1)
BAB: +6/+1 (melee/grapple +7, ranged +8 or +9 within 30')
Atk:
¤ Battle Axe +7 (1d8+1, x3 crit)
¤ Dagger* +7 melee or +8 ranged (1d4+1, 19-20/x2 crit, 10' range increment)
¤ Shortbow* +8 (1d6, x3 crit, 60' range increment)
*Add +1 to ranged attacks and damage within 30'
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +6 (+2 race bonus on saving throws vs. poisons, spells, and spell-like effects)
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 16
Skills:
Bluff +11 (8 ranks +3 Cha)
Concentration +6 (5 ranks +1 Con)
Craft (pottery) +4 (3 ranks +1 Int)
Diplomacy +7 (0 ranks +3 Cha +4 synergy)
Disguise +4¹ (1 rank +3 Cha)
Gather Information +13 (8 ranks +3 Cha +2 Investigator)
Hide +5* (3 ranks +2 Dex)
Intimidate +5 (0 cross-class ranks +3 Cha +2 synergy)
Listen +7 (7 ranks +0 Wis)
Move Silently +5* (3 ranks +2 Dex)
Perform (sing) +14 (11 ranks +3 Cha)
Perform (wind instruments) +14 (11 ranks + 3 Cha)
Search +11 (8 ranks +1 Int +2 Investigator)
Sense Motive +8 (8 ranks +0 Wis)
Speak Language (Draconic)
Survival +0² (0 ranks +0 Wis)
* Modify for armor/encumbrance check penalty.
¹ Add +2 to this check when Brodda is observed and attempting to remain in character.
² Add +2 to this check to find or follow tracks (DC 10 or lower only).
Feats:
Armor Proficiency (light)
Investigator
Martial Weapon Proficiency (battle axe)
Simple Weapon Proficiency
Point Blank Shot
Shield Proficiency
Languages:
Common, Draconic, Dwarven
Special: Dwarven racial traits, Bardic Knowledge (+9), Bardic music 8/day, Spell use, Countersong (10 rounds), Fascinate (three targets within 90' for up to 8 rounds), Inspire Courage (+2 morale), Inspire Competence (+2 competence), Suggestion. - HERMY
HP: 52/52
Initiative: +8
AC: 21 (+1 size, +4 Dex, +2 armor, +1 proficiency, +3 defense), 18/14 touch/flat-footed
Damage Conversion: (1)
BAB: +8/+3 (melee +11, grapple +6, range/finesse +13, throw +14)
Atk:
¤ short sword* +13/8 (1d4+2, 19-20/x2 crit)
¤ dagger +13/+8 or 14/+9 ranged (1d2+2, 19-20/x2 crit, 10' range increment)
¤ +1 throwing stones +15/+10 (1d2+3, x2 crit, 10' range increment)
¤ rocks +10/+5 (1d2+2, x2 crit, 10' range increment)
¤ hand crossbow +13/+8 (1d3, 19-20/x2 crit, 30' range increment)
* Add +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls for +1 short sword.
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +13, Will +7(+8 vs. fear)
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 12
Skills (note if modified for armor or encumbrance or both):
Balance +5* (1 rank +4 Dex)
Bluff +16 (14 ranks +1 Cha +1)
Climb +12*¹ (7 ranks +2 Str +3 race)
Diplomacy +6 (3 ranks +1 Cha +2 synergy)
Disable Device +5 (3 ranks +2 Int)
Escape Artist +12* (8 ranks +4 Dex)
Gather Information +2 (1 rank +1 Cha)
Handle Animal +2 (1 cross-class rank +1 Cha)
Hide +21*¹ (12 ranks +4 Dex +4 size +1)
Intimidate +5 (2 ranks +1 Cha +2 synergy)
Jump +13² (6 ranks +2 Str +3 race +2 synergy)
Listen +15¹ (10 ranks +1 Wis +3 race +1)
Move Silently +20*¹ (12 ranks +4 Dex +3 race +1)
Open Lock +9 (5 ranks +4 Dex)
Profession (cook) +2 (1 rank +1 Wis)
Ride +7 (3.5 cross-class ranks +4 Dex)
Search +11 (9 ranks +2 Int)
Sense Motive +4 (3 ranks +1 Wis)
Sleight of Hand +10* (4 ranks +4 Dex +2 synergy)
Spot +14¹ (12 ranks +1 Wis +1)
Tumble +20* (13 ranks +4 Dex +2 synergy +1)
Use Magic Device +7 (6 ranks +1 Cha)
* Modify for armor/encumbrance check penalty.
¹ Skill Mastery: may take 10 on this skill check even when stress or distractions would normally prevent it
² Add +5 to Jump checks while wearing boots of striding and springing
Feats: Armor proficiency (light), Combat expertise, Improved feint, Improved initiative, Leadership, Simple weapon proficiency, Weapon finesse
Languages: Common and a smattering of Elf, Halfling, and Orc
Special: Sneak attack +6d6, trapfinding (may locate traps with DC >20, may disarm magical traps, may bypass a trap without disarming it -- add 10 to DC), evasion, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +3. - KYWYN
HP: 29/29 (within 1 mile of Hex)
Initiative: +3
AC: 17 (+3 Dex, +1 bracers, + 3 defense), +16/+11 touch/flat-footed
Damage Conversion: (1)
BAB: +6/+1 (melee/grapple +5, ranged/finesse +9 )
Atk:
¤ unarmed strike +10 (1d3-1, x2 crit)
¤ gauntlets +10 (1d3-1, x2 crit)
¤ silvered dagger +9 (1d4-2, 19-20/x2 crit, 10' range increment)
¤ light crossbow +9 (1d8, 19-20/x2 crit, 80' range increment)
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +11
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 16, Con 11, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 16
Skills:
Balance +11* (4 cross-class ranks +3 Dex +2 synergy +2 Agile)
Bluff +8 (5 ranks + 3 Cha)
Concentration +7 (7 ranks +0 Con)
Craft (drawing) +12 (12 ranks +0 Int)
Diplomacy +5 (0 cross-class ranks +3 Dex +2 synergy)
Disguise +3² (0 cross-class ranks +3 Cha)
Escape Artist +5* (0 cross-class ranks +3 Dex +2 Agile)
Intimidate +7 (2 cross-class ranks +3 Cha +2 synergy)
Jump +1* (0 cross-class ranks -1 Str +2 synergy)
Knowledge (arcana) +3 (3 ranks +0 Int)
Listen +2¹ (0 cross-class ranks +2 Wis)
Spellcraft +1 (1 rank +0 Int)
Spot +4¹ (2 cross-class ranks +2 Wis)
Tumble +8* (5 ranks +3 Dex)
* Modify for armor/encumbrance check penalty
¹ Add +2 modifier when within arm's reach of familiar.
² Add +2 bonus to act in character while under observation.
Feats: Agile, Deflect Arrows, Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron Will, Simple weapon proficiency, Spell Focus (Necromancy), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Unarmed strike)
Languages: Common
Special: Darkvision 60', spell-like abilities - MINTO
HP: 38/38
Initiative: +3
AC: 16 ( +1 size, +2 Dex, +3 defense), 11 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: (none)
BAB: +6/+1 (melee +7/+2, grapple +1, ranged +8/+3)
Atk:
¤ +1 longsword +8/+3 (1d6+1, 19-20 x2 crit)
Saves: Fort +4*, Ref +9*, Will +8* (+2 vs. fear)
* Add +1 for +1 cloak of resistance.
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 18
Skills (note if modified for armor or encumbrance or both):
Bluff +11 (7 ranks +4 Cha)
Climb +5* (1 rank +2 Dex +2 Race)
Decipher Script +6 (4 ranks +2 Int)
Diplomacy +15 (7 ranks +4 Cha +4 synergy)
Gather Information +9 (5 ranks +4 Cha)
Hide +8* (2 ranks +2 Dex +4 size)
Intimidate +7 (1 cross-class rank +4 Cha +2 synergy)
Jump +4* (2 ranks +0 Str +2 race)
Knowledge (arcana) +10 (8 ranks +2 Int)
Knowledge (myth and legends) +8 (6 ranks +2 Int)
Listen +8 (3 ranks +1 Wis +2 race +2 Alertness)
Move Silently +5* (1 rank +2 Dex +2 race)
Perform (sing) +18 (12 ranks +4 Cha +2 Entertainer)
Perform (stringed instruments) +18¹ (12 ranks +4 Cha +2 Entertainer)
Profession (brewer) +2 (1 ranks +1 Wis)
Profession (scribe) +3 (2 ranks +1 Wis)
Sense Motive +7 (6 ranks +1 Wis)
Speak Language (2 ranks)
Spellcraft +7 (3 ranks +2 Int +2 synergy)
Spot +7 (4 cross-class ranks +1 Wis +2 Alertness)
Tumble +4 (2 ranks +2 Dex)
* Modify for armor/encumbrance check penalty.
¹ Add a +2 bonus when using MW instrument (lute).
Feats: Alertness, Armor proficiency (light), Brew Potion, Craft Wand, Entertainer, Shield proficiency, Simple Weapon proficiency.
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Halfling, Goblin, Orc
Special: Bardic knowledge (+10), Bardic music 9/day, spell use. Countersong (10 rounds,) Fascinate (3 targets within 90' up to 9 rounds), Inspire courage (+2 morale), Inspire competence (+2 competence), Suggestion, Inspire greatness
****
Spell Use (spells in red have been cast)
Brodda (save DC 13 + spell level)
Level 0 (3/day): dancing lights, detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation
Level 1 (4/day): alarm, disguise self, silent image, unseen servant
Level 2 (4/day): cat's grace, cure moderate wounds, suggestion, tongues
Level 3 (2/day): dispel magic, displacement, gaseous form
Kywyn (save DC 13 + spell level +1 for necromantic)
Level 0 (7/day): daze, dancing lights, detect magic, detect poison, disrupt undead, ray of frost, read magic, resistance, touch of fatigue
Level 1 (8/day): chill touch, endure elements, protection from evil, shield, true strike
Level 2 (8/day): cat's grace, false life, ghoul touch, spectral hand
Level 3 (8/day): explosive runes, illusory script, vampiric touch
Level 4 (6/day): bestow curse, contagion
Level 5 (3/day): Bigby's interposing hand
Minto (save DC 14 + spell level)
Level 0 (3/day): dancing lights, detect magic, ghost sound, light, prestidigitation, resistance
Level 1 (4/day): charm person, cure light wounds, hypnotism, identify
Level 2 (4/day): cat's grace, cure moderate wounds, glitterdust, invisibility
Level 3 (3/day): cure serious wounds, good hope, haste
Special Items:
Brodda:
¤ potions, CLW, x2
¤ recorder (+5 competence bonus)
Hermy:
¤ +1 short sword
¤ +1 Throwing stones (7)
¤ +1 bolts (6)
¤ boots of striding and springing
Kywyn:
¤ bracers of defense +1/1
¤ hand of the mage
¤ Potion resist cold 10 x2
¤ Potion resist electricity 10 (x2)
¤ Potion nondetection
¤ Scroll identify
¤ Scroll ray of enfeeblement
¤ Scroll shield x2, 3rd level caster
¤ Wand expeditious retreat (36 charges)
¤ Wand invisibility (? charges)
¤ Wand summon monster I (9 charges)
Minto:
¤ +1 longsword
¤ +1 cloak of resistance
¤ dust of dryness
"We gots to saves the city."
Minto watches him and urges his dog to go a bit faster. "Do you think it even matters to him what we are saving the city from? All he cares about is making sure things are safe back home."
"I'm never going to run out of material with some one as brave as him to sing about."
Minto looks up at the sky and then down the road.
"Brodda? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"This road is heading south. Just like the village that Kerris is stationed in. Do you suppose... That this might be an attempt by the Mother to keep things in balance?"
"You needed to stop Lovelace. I needed to find Kerris. And now it look likes their paths might be crossing."
"That's a song in the making if ever I heard one."
"Kywyn, do you still want to be left out of the heroics? If you'd like I can just keep using the same name for you everytime you do soething notable so that you'll at least know the people are singing about you."
Back ahead of the group, Hermy waves for them to hurry.
"Comes on, we aint got all day! The sooner we stops that wagon, the sooner we cin...um... find someone else evil ta stops!"
A well-hidden half-smirk passes through his expression at Minto's question.
He replies soberly, "My name or not, it's up to you, Minto. Give it life, give it art if you want; I think I can appreciate that. I'm just along to help prevent something bad from showing up again too close to home. I won't give you much to sing about."
Overhearing some of Minto's conversation to Brodda, Kywyn notes the new name, "Who is Kerris?"
He turns his head aside to whisper to Brodda. "See what I mean about never running out of material. That's a history worthy of a song itself."
He turns back to Kywyn.
"We found out who did commit the crime. I don't think this will come as a shock, Kirby did it."
"We've got a confession given to a priest of the Mother, several respected character witnesses, but what we do need in order to get him his freedom is to find out why he was convicted when there was no evidence he did it."
"And plenty that he did not."
"Kerris is the key to that. She's the one who pressed the conviction forward and then left the guards right after."
"She always had a bad reputation from what we learned for being dirty."
"We need to find out how dirty."
The small black form of Hex climbs near Kywyn's shoulder via the strap of his pack.
[color=burlywood]"Problem?"[/color] the frog chirps.
"More plot here than I thought... I owe him, though," Kywyn replies, letting thoughts of honor and probity run through his mind fleetingly.
Part of him sneers sarcastically at himself.
"Need to see anyway," he glances at his familiar before the frog seeks the shade of Kywyn's pack.
"Yes his father. Hermy Sr."
"Hermy didn't even know his name until... well until after a visit to the Labyrith in the Mothers Temple."
"Apparentely, he spoke with his dead mother there."
"I might put it off just to his over emotional state at the time, but seeing how he talked to his, tralked to Alissa not long after I have to believe he really did talk to her."
"That and Brodda and I did some investigation into it. And everything seemed to be just like he said it would be."
"That's quite a story..." Kywyn looks to Hermy, who is moving ahead of them, "He deserves some good news."
"I'm hoping finding his father and getting Major raised my cheer up his spirits a little."
"It's been a very rough year for him."
Up ahead, Hermy stops to look at a rut in the road and then moves on.
.o0(Major wouldn't have no problems at all followin this wagon. Ifen I hadn'ts gottens him killed we'ds have alreadys saved the city.)
*He scans the area for any signs that a large wagon had gone by.*
.o0(This wagons suppose tas looks likes a Travellers wagon. I wonder ifen it is, an ifens its ones of the Travellers I knows tryin ta get revenges fer lettin Alissa dies. I wouldn'ts blames thems at all fer tryin ta kill off the whole city ta evens things out. But balance or nots, I cants lets them do that. The Mother already balanced things out.)
*Hermy glances back at his companians.*
,o0(I wonders why Kywynsinvolved in this. He aint really been much of a saves the city guy since he gots marrieds. He's been more ofa protects his wifes type guy. She's luckys ta haves a guy that will puts her ahead of the rest of the city. Does seems kinda strange he's helpin now. Is Nashae sicks with theplague these guys are spreadin?)
*Hermy hurries forward, putting more effort into his scouting.*
.o0(Wese better hurries then. The lomngers he's around me, the more chance he'll die. An he's gots a family ta takes cares of. Brodda an Minto toos will be safer ifen we cin hurry up an stops the bad guy.)
"Minto looks up at the sky and then down the road.
"Brodda? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"This road is heading south. Just like the village that Kerris is stationed in. Do you suppose... That this might be an attempt by the Mother to keep things in balance?"
"You needed to stop Lovelace. I needed to find Kerris. And now it look likes their paths might be crossing."
"That's a song in the making if ever I heard one."
Brodda arches an eyebrow as she sucks on her pipe stem and looks thoughtfully in the direction they are headed. Then she relaxes into her saddle and chuckles.
"The Motherr is full o'surrprrises as well as good sense. If she is willin’ t’help get us t’oourr goals withoout sendin’ us t’the ends of the earrth, Ah’ll not complain.”
She listens to Minto and Kywyn talk about music, then Kerris, as she attempts blowing smoke-shapes into the air.
” "Yes he does."
"I'm hoping finding his father and getting Major raised my cheer up his spirits a little."
"It's been a very rough year for him."
Brodda tenses a little at the continued thoughts of raising Major from death.
”Why not give him a puppy instead of rrraisin’ Majorr? Puppies arre, so Ah’ve hearrd, full of joy and happiness. It oought t’brring his spirrits up. Maybe he and his Da can rraise it togetherr.”
"Is it so easy?..." he ruminates.
Trying to keep pace behind Hermy, Kywyn squints slightly as he peers ahead down the road.
"Do you think we'll catch them before they get to far away from town?" Kywyn asks no one in particular.
He considers perhaps he should have packed for more than a day's journey just in case.
Kywyn coughs a bit at some errant smoke from Brodda's pipe.
"We shoulds finds them sometimes between lunch an dinner."
"Just have to keep up the pace then."
"Does our plan still hold?" he turns to Brodda and Minto, "I don't think she'll be expecting to see any of us now."
"What do you think we should do?" he asks Hermy as well.
"But, just getting a puppy won't work. It takes a long time to train a riding dog. And with Hermy's busy schedule he really doesn't have time for it."
"He could just buy one already trained. That's where he got Major in the first place. But... Well Major was more then just a dog to Hermy."
"He was also a friend."
"And a friend who saved his life more then once."
"Kywyn, youse shoots a fireball over the wagon t distracts them, an I'll sneaks up an cut the ropes that holds the horses to the wagon. That'll stop the wagon."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Ah doon't believe brringin' Majorr back is the rright thing teh do. Surre, we'll all feel betterr, but what does it do to us in the long rrrun if we just brring back frrom death the folk that we miss?"
She sighs.
"Otherr dogs might become his frriend and companion. I have faith that The Motherr will brring the rright one t'him."
She ends gently and resumes smoking her pipe, looking to Kywyn.
"It dooes seem that she may not be as rreasonable as Ah'd orriginally thoought. Ah still say stop herr, buy herr supply of the powederr."
She looks pensive.
"Afterr that, Ah'm not surre. At that ppoint we've kept ourr city safe, and only forr now."
"What I'm worried about is the possability that Major won't want to return. It's not the costt, money isn't that hard to come by. I'm worried about what it will do too Hermy. "
"Theres only so many hopes you can have dashed before you just give up on thinking anything good will ever come to you."
Hermy looks at the group. "Wells, wese gots a plans fer stopping her. Once shes stopped I cin always takes the powder stuff while you guys lectures her about the dangers of tryin ta kill everyone in the city."
"An then you cin tells her ta gives up the powders, an when she finds outs its gone, say it was an acts of god that dids it."
"That shoulds scare her inta nots doing it again."
"An if she don'ts looks scared, we looks likes she'lls tries it again,. Wese coulds always arrests hers and sends her ta the mines."
"Or kills her."
"Kill herr?"
She looks at Minto, worried, then back to Hermy.
"Herrmy, we can't kill herr. It woould be... well, wrrong. Unless she trries teh kill us firrst, then it woould be in self-defense."
She chews on her pipestem in thought.
"We can't steal herr powderr away frrom herr forr the same rreason. We'd be the ones brreakin' the law. We have teh legitimately buy it frrom herr and see that she neverr rreturrns t'the city."
"But we cans takes her powder. It aint stealin if its ta saves the city. Nots anymore then takin the mummy's stuff was stealin ta saves NaShae's mom."
"Ya wouldn'ts hesitates ta takes away a muggers sword would ya. Or takes tindertwigs from Nige."
"Ifen she's gunna use that powder ta hurts peoples it's our responsability ta stops her from doings that."
"I'm not so sure she would sell it all to us," he says, "Though I suppose at the right price, it's possible."
"She was spooked easily enough by a few lights last time. And she is afraid of the Hightower catching on to her, I think."
"If we can use her fear and greed, either directly or by channeling it in a certain direction, perhaps she'd be easier to deal with," Kywyn adds mildly.
"How dooes one effectively arrgue arround Herrmy's logic?"
She finds she's grateful for the distraction of Kywyn's comment.
"Trrue. If she doesn't sell forr anythin' less than a trrreasurre, what then? Ah'm still not willin' teh steal it frrom herr."
She looks thoughtful again, nodding to Kywyn.
"Therre's definitely soome magic that might be useful herre thoough. The powerr of suggestion prrooved useful on herr male companion yesterrday..."
"That might be the best solution."
Hermy snorts. "How is that any better then stealin the powder? I'ds rather be stolen from then do somethin I don'ts has no control overs cause someones taken over my mind.."
"Nots that takin the powder from her would be stealin."
"Cause it wouldn'ts be."
"Alrrright, we trry just buyin' it firrst. Ah want teh take soome back t'the clerrics in case they need it forr an antidote against the MindFirre."
"If she woon't sell herr entirre lot of it, we buy what we can, and scarre herr frrom sellin' it everr again."
"If'n she's too frrightened teh sell it, it will still be herr chooice teh sell orr not, eh?"
She looks at Kywyn.
"Lyin'? Ah've neverr been good at that, much less wantin' teh do it. It woould have teh be a good lie."
She takes a pull from her pipe, exhaling a thickly sweet smoke.
"But I'm going to have to disagree with you on something Brodda."
"We hav to get it all."
"There is no way we can scare her into never selling it again if she stiill has some."
"We can make her realise that it's not worth the risk to buy more afterwards, but if she won't sell it all to us, theres a reason for that."
"Yeah, cause she's evil!"
"Possabily."
"That's fine. We get it all then. Addin' teh Minto's lights and soounds, Ah can do images, move things withoout toouchin'em."
"Hermy should be able to spot her before she spots us. He's got eyes like a hawk."
"Yeah, an wagons tends ta stands out more then wizards, bards, an heroes."
Originally posted by Kywyn
"Nothing wrong with lying, as long as you're honest about it," replies Kywyn quietly to Brodda.
Brodda eyes Kywyn in her attempt to grasp this new idea.
"Honest... aboout lyin'..."
She cocks her head to the right, looking for an explanation.
He pauses, thinking maybe no explanation is possible for Brodda.
"If you believe something," Kywyn starts softly, "It's not a lie to you, even if it's not the whole story. If you don't believe something but say that you do, it's a lie, but you can be honest with yourself about it."
"Or you can even tell the person you're lying to that you're not telling the truth. A bad lie can be just as effective since it's obvious and easily overlooked," he expounds on his theory.
"The trouble comes when you believe one thing, say another, and don't know which one to think."
"Yeah, it aint lying ifen yer tellin the truth."
"Thing is, the truth aint always the same for everyone."
"Its true thats Ise a hero."
"But I aint a hero ta everyone."
"So not everyone who says Ise a hero is tellin the truth, but when other people do they is."
"Right Kywyn?"
After a few moments, her eyebrow begins to twitch and she shakes her head, holding her forehead in her palm.
She puts out her pipe and puts it away.
"Right."
He looks to Hermy.
"But you know you're a hero, so that's the truth that makes the difference, I guess."
"You know, I used to think you foolish for not seeing that death and heroism are twins, joined at the last heartbeat and final breath. But I think our views of the world have a common point somewhere, Hermy."
Kywyn beholds the uncertain halfling he met once in the market and reconciles the image with the knight and defender before him now.
"Over the time, I've come to an understanding without telling you. I think you do see the bond, but you go forward anyway."
"I wouldn'ts be a hero ifen it weren't fer him, but he'd still be death even if I weren't a hero."
Minto looks at hiis bread and butter and then nods. "You can't stop death. But you can do what you can to keep it at bay for as long as possible."
Hermy looks at Minto and shrugs. "Not fer as long as possible. Just fer as many peoples as you can. That's what a hero does."
"The regular guys the one that worries about how long. The hero worries abouts how many."
"I'd be careful with titles though..." Kywyn adds, "Lovelace calls herself a Doctor."
"Not that you're not what you say you are, just that all that you are isn't in the saying."
"And you get how one side's hero is often the other side's death."
"The titles all I gots left."
"Why doon't Ah do soome scooutin' ahead, if Herrmy dooesn't mind, of coourse."
Waiting for only a couple of seconds for a reply, she grips her reings firmly in her hands and, nudging a little with her heels, she urges the pony forward ahead of the group.
.oO(...trruth disguised as lies... lies that arren't rreally lies... killin' wrrongdooerrs, no matterr the level of theirr crrime... its too much.)
"You've got one end of an unfinished thread... that's all any of us have."
Kywyn grows quiet again as they ride.
"Hermy, you should take it easy for a bit, let Brodda do the scouting. You haven't slept in awhile. We can't have you straining your eyes this early. We'll need them later."
Hermy starts to object but the yawn cuts him off.
"Yeah good idea."
Once Hermy has rejoined him, Minto watches as Brodda rides ahead.
"It looks like you two may be giving Brodda a headache."
"She's a dwarf. I don't just think it's their night vision that they just see black and white in."
"I think we might want to keep her from straining her visuion for a while too."
"We aint threads. Wese more likes clothes."
"Ise just a pair of red pants now."
"Yer more likes a suit Kywyn."
"Yer the shirt, NaShaes the pants. An Kywyn Jr. is the belt thats connects you."
*Minto looks at Hermy.*
"What am I in your wardrobe then? Or don't I count?"
*Hermy thinks for a bit.*
"You counts. I guess yer kinda likes my helmet."
"All brights an shiney, an ya reminds people what Ise done."
*Minto smiles.*
"Good. I was afraid you might say I was your underwear."
"Nope. That's Kirby."
A low rise in the road shields the pursuers from the immediate sight of the prey.
"The wagon is just ahead on the rroad. Kywyn, why doon't yeh catch up with herr on the rroad. Keep up the prretense that yeh'rre lookin' teh make a purrchase. See if yeh can talk herr inteh stoppin."
"Minto, can yeh make Herrmy invisible? He can double-rride with Kywyn so he's not alone, possibly gooin' inteh dangerr."
"Minto and Ah will follow along carrefully behind, therre teh lend aid if soomethin' gooes wrrong."
"If she stops...eh..."
Brodda's strategic planning skills runs their course, leaving her with little idea of what to do should the wagon stop.
"Well, if she stops, buy up all herr powderr. And do trry rreasonin' with herr firrst. If she doesn't succomb teh rreason, then whateverr."
She looks at Hermy.
"Except killin' herr, unless she's attacked yeh firrst."
"Just gives me a second here..."
*Hermy stops and removes a boot and then a sock. He fills the sock full of rocks and then puts back on his boot.*
"This dirty sock oughta knocks her out ifen she don'ts sees reason."
*Minto looks at Kywyn.*
"I can only make him invisable for a few minutes. Once you get to the wagon, go behind it to give Hermy a chance to climb on the back."
"Once I gets close I cin keep them from seeing me."
*Hermy puts out a hand for Kywyn to pull him up.*
"She told me she'd be on the north road, so she wouldn't be expecting to see me. I can try telling her that I checked with the city gates to find her."
"Which is true."
Kywyn also advises, "Be careful of the powder. If she does know it's dangerous, she could use it as a weapon. Be ready to cover your nose and mouth if it shows up. If she doesn't know, it's probably best not to reveal that information until it would be advantageous."
"You keeps her busy while I gets insides the wagon. "
*Hermy looks at Brodda.*
"I won'ts takes it unless we has no other choice."
"I'lls just keeps her from usin it against us."
"Ok, Minto. Unvisable me."
*As Minto starts singing the words to his invisability spell, Hermy situates himself behind Kywyn.*
"Whens we rides up, trys ta stays ta the left. Ifen Mintos spell stops I'lls be duckin down mores on that sides so I don'ts gets seen."
*Once Minto has turned Hermy invisable, Hermy squeezes Kywynsarm.*
"Lets go. There aint no times ta spare."
*Once they are on their way Hermy glances back at the two bards.*
"I'lls gives you a few minutes to talks her into sellin or givens up the powder an then Ise takin it. Tries to finds out ifen she knows what it does."
"Thats' ways we'll knows wether ta arrests her or nots."
He tries to spot the driver as Kywyn guesses the noise of the new horse will probably reveal their arrival.
*Hermy looks at Brodda.*
"I won'ts takes it unless we has no other choice."
Brodda nods to Hermy.
.oO(That's what Ah'll have t'accept, and it will have to be good enough.)
She watches Kywyn ride towards the wagon with invisible Hermy behind him.
"Minto, Ah confess, Ah've no idea what t'do beyond this. A lot depends on Lovelace's actions, of coourrse."
She looks at her friend.
"Will yeh help meh? Ah mean, yeh'rre helpin' me noow, but... y'knoow. Will yeh?"
"I have no desire to see any bloodshed on this. Or any wrongs commited."
Minto smiles.
"And I suspect a lot of Kywyn and Hermy's talk was just that. Talk."
"Hermy's just venting out his frustrations. But he's as kind hearted a person as ever was born."
"Kywyn's got to have some skills at talking his way out of conflicts. He's with NaShae after all. And still alive."
"Keep ears and eyes open," Kywyn clicks to Hex.
[color=burlywood]"Guo."[/color] the shadow amphibian replies.
Two pinpoints of gold in the black of Kywyn's pack peer out unseen.
He does not notice the pursuers, and the bulk of the wagon blocks them from Lovelace's view.
"Up to you," he says quietly to Hermy, "Should we stop them first, or do you want to try to get aboard the wagon somehow?"
"Just pulls alongs side an I'll jumps over. Ifen I flateens myself on top they won'ts see me unless theys lookin really hard."
Their mare creeps closer to the wagon until the distance is workable for Hermy.
Brodda's brow furrows, trying to fathom all the possibilities and what actions she can take to deal with them.
"I can't see Hermy. That's a good sign."
"And it looks like Kywyns about ready to start talking."
.oO(Ah liked it betterrr when Ah was chasin' doown Merrrrrrcerrrr and beatin' him up. No plannin' involved. No lyin'. Just gettin' the goods on a bad man.)
She also takes out her recorder and readies it and her lips.
"We'll have a better chance of spotting them."
They are equally oblivious to Kywyn's presence, until his horse snorts in surprise at Hermy's jump.
Lovelace stands, turns, and looks back, jaw dropping in surprise to see Kywyn there.
What? You? But...
"You look surprised? South road, just like you said yesterday, right?"
"I'd still like to take a look at some products if you have the time. I'm not really decided on which ones yet but figured it would be worth the ride at least to check them out."
Originally posted by Minto Newberry , Bard Extroidinaire
"When we reach the wagon, we should split up and both go to the front from different sides. Just in case there was more then just the two people you saw before."
"We'll have a better chance of spotting them."
Brodda looks along the sides of the road they are travelling down.
"The shrrrrruberrrry and trrrees arren't consistent. It woouldn'a be a secrret that we'rre therre. But then, the animals arren't exactly quiet eitherr."
She looks down at Minto's dog and chuckles.
"Well, meh pony isn't, at any rrrate."
"Besides, we are bards aren't we. Whose ever heard of a quiet bard? "
Minto winks."If we get spotted, it'll be because Kywyn couldn't keep their attention. "
"Then it's up to us to do that. And I'm much better at that when I can be heard."
"Good pooint. Let's gooo!"
She nudges CrimeChaser and heads up the road and to the right of the wagon, a friendly smile on her face and her recorder tightly gripped in her hand.
She waves.
"Hi therre!"
Minto nods at Lovelace.
"Dr' Lovelace Oi presume."
"Moi 'friend' 'ere, mentioned yer the one to toilk too about getting a 'old of a few potions and powders."
"Doctorrr Lovelace, we'rre all interrested in yeh'rre magic warres. Yeh woouldn't mind putting on a small show forr us, woould'ja?"
Brodda smiles her friendliest smile.
Minto flashes a leer at Brodda.
"An Oi think Oi 'eard soimethin about love potions as well."
"In yeh'rre drreams, shorrrty."
She turns her attention to the doctor's male companion.
"Yeh knoow, loove, Ah didn't even get yeh'rre name yesterrday..."
She winks.
He breaks off his oogling to address the doctor. "So wot da ya say? nOr ya open fer buisness?"
"I'd be careful about doing business with these travelling musicians, Doctor. Can't trust them..."
"Small hands get into everything," he adds quietly.
He smiles again at Lovelace. "'An Oi 'ave no problems spendin it on a qualoty purchase."
"If yer not moindin, Oi'd loike ta buy soime of that powder o'yers. It could coime in 'andy fer a few things Oi got planned."
"Keep me ooutta yeh'rre dumb plans, Pennypackerr!"
She looks at Lovelace.
"Look, Doctorr, yeh doon't want teh be dealin' with eitherr of these 'gentlemen' until afterr yeh've doone business with me."
Funny how colors can affect the mind. In his light whitish garments, Kywyn feels less bound by the dark persona he normally upholds. Or perhaps he is playing a role now, and the chalky colored clothes are the costume.
"Pennypacker..." Kywyn seethes as he picks up on the fake name.
"Whoi don't ya just go count yer coppers, an if thars anything left after Oi finish up moi buisness, ya an Elmer cin foight over it."
"Yeh'll be the one pickin' what Ah'll be leavin' behind, lad. Ah get teh shop firrst. We women stick t'getherr!"
She smiles sweetly at Lovelace.
"Isn't that rrright, Doctorrr?"
"Brace yourself, Doctor, for an all-out bidding war."
"But this time, advantage Elmer," Kywyn says with a dead serious tone.
"Could you stop the wagon?"
"If ya consider 'avin nothin but good looks ta offer an advantage, then advantage me."
"An when ya take inta account the size of moi purse. It just puts me way a'ead."
"Will yeh fella's just stop. Yeh'rre hopeless and just embarrasin' yeh'rrselves. Beside, neitherr of yeh arre that good lookin'. Doctorr, shall we do soome business?"
Well, my wares are, of course, excellent, and allow me to assure you that I have plenty of merchandise to satisfy all of your needs.
Bruno, let the side down.
Bruno shrugs, and goes to the side of the wagon, unlatching the catches that hold up a foldaway display.
On the top of the wagon, Hermy has found the swaying of the wagon a bit unsettling. Now that it has stopped moving, he feels he can resume his search for an alternate entrance.
It is not.
He moves to the front of the wagon and spots a small window behind the drivers seat. Once Lovelace is out of the way, he crawls down and tries to get through it.
The wagon very much reminds him of the Traveller's 'rolling homes', with a bit of the air of a wizard's laboratory thrown in. There are bunches of herbs hanging upside down along one side, and rows of bottles and vials in secured racks.
Not finding any, he looks for a good spot to hide. Under the bed seems the most obvious place, and considering Lovelaces untrusthworthy nature, the first place she would suspect someone to hide.
.o0(She'ds expect me ta thinks that though.)
Hermy crawls under the bed, and positions himself in a spot where he can see the vials and bottles.
.o0(She'll has ta comes inta get mores ifen them guys really does tries to buys everything. I'lls be able ta see ifen she does sell everything.)
"Whoi sell the powder when Oi cin sell wot it reveals. Thars a lot more coin in that. And pearls are gettin 'arder ta coime boi these days."
"Besoides the proice the 'ightower adds on."
"Ya cin be a godsend ta moi buisness. "
"Not ta mention moi love life."
He looks at Brodda again and blows a kiss.
She opens a drawer, taking out several paper packets.
Five gold each.
Mintos hands go towards his money pouch.
"Doctor, is there any chance of you considering a business proposal? There are some wealthy merchants I know that would be willing to pay even more than this. Could you get more of the powder after Pennypacker leaves with his scraps?"
Besides, this is a travelling medecine show-- I won't be back this way for months, maybe a year or more.
That's how I can make my products so affordable, by making them myself.
"So there is basically a limitless supply."
That's one way of looking at it, I suppose. Of course, the ingredients... If those aren't available, it slows me down until I find a source.
She takes a small jar and holds it up.
Like this bruise ointment. The herbs are available only for a short time of the year, and have to be used within three hours of harvest.
"Have you been selling the special powder for very long, or is it a new product?"
He turns his head to Doctor Lovelace.
"How much are willing to sell to Pennypacker there, and how much to the rest of us?"
"Oi know a few people 'oo moight be able ta 'elp ya out there. Unloike Elmer an Tiger-Lilly 'ere, Oi 'ave connections."
Ah, well, I suppose I could sell you each three, maybe four, packets of magic-detector. I don't see where your contacts would do me much good, Pennypacker. I travel. All over. And besides, I'm pretty good at finding sources.
To Kywyn she adds, The magic-detector was one of the first items I ever started selling, actually. That and... various aids to romance.
She winks at Brodda. And counters to romance
He looks at Brodda again. "'aven't ya 'eard? We breed loike rabbits."
He returns his gaze to Lovelace.
"Oim sure we cin coime ta an arrangement."
"If ya cin provide me with enough o'yer powder, Oi cin 'ave one o'moi cousins get ya whatever the ingridents ya need."
"We Pennypackers or everywhere."
"What would happen if a love potion made a customer sick?"
The love potions? There's nothing harmful in them.
She shakes her head, and counts out some packets of magic-detecting powder.
Well, what are you wanting to buy, then?
Originally posted by Scheherazade
The magic-detector was one of the first items I ever started selling, actually. That and... various aids to romance.
She winks at Brodda. And counters to romance
Brodda smirks.
"Ah've no need ferr magical help teh warrd of that one's advances, be surre. He's so ugly, a frrog woouldn'a look twice at 'im."
She looks at Minto and sticks out her tongue, then turning her gaze again to Lovelace.
.oO(She makes it herrself, so therre's no hope of gettin' rrrid of herr supplierr. Even if we boought orr stole all of the supply she has noow, she coould just make morre. We've got teh stop herr perrmanently.)
"So yeh've neverr gotten any complaints of yeh'rre potions an' stuff havin' any bad side effects, eh? That's good teh knoow... Ah'll need soome o'that magic detectin' powderr too."
"Whoi wood ya even think sucha thing."
"Oim sure Doctor Lovelace 'ere wouldn't stay in the buisness if 'er powders ever 'urt anyone."
"She seeems to 'onorable toipe ta me."
Originally posted by Brodda
"Ah've no need ferr magical help teh warrd of that one's advances, be surre. He's so ugly, a frrog woouldn'a look twice at 'im."
From Kywyn's pack, Hex peeks his head and bulbous, gold eyes out. Kywyn offhandedly nudges his frog back out of sight.
"I've never known C.M. Pennypacker to speak of honor," Kywyn crosses his arms.
"Even if there were side-effects, it's the customer's responsibility to beware, not the vendor, right, Doctor?"
I certainly wouldn't knowingly make anything dangerous. That would be stupid.
If I poisoned my clients, I'd be putting myself in danger.
She sets the packets of powder on the table.
I'm generally in each town for a few days to a week. If someone had a bad reaction, I'm sure I would have heard about it.
That's five gold per packet.
Minto counts out some coins.
"Doctorr, how dooes the powderr worrk? Hoow is it activated? Therre's soome magic worrds, arren't therre?"
Dropping the act, she looks at Lovelace seriously.
"What might happen if those worrds werre turrned arroound?"
She carefully says the word for them, but the accenting and intonation are rather complex.
"Yeh've got teh be kiddin'. Doctorrr, we've got kids back in toown who have gotten theirr hands on yeh'rre powderr. Doon'tcha think this is much too..."
Brodda shakes her head as she tries to find an appropriate word.
"...elaborrate? Can yeh be assurred anyone who purrchases this powderr can duplicate that worrd exactly?"
Brodda's eyes aren't accusing as much as they are pleading, hoping this con-woman might understand.
"I could barely manage it using that ridiculous accent."
Minto looks at Lovelace.
"We have sick people back in Garics."
"People whose only connection to each other is you and your powder."
Her eyes widen when Minto speaks of the illnesses.
What? Sick people? ...Is that what this is all about? I've been making that powder for years, and I know there is nothing poisonous in it!
He picks up his thought, "Then is there anything new you did this time around that you haven't before? A new ingredient or new product?"
Well... I made a new batch shortly before I got to Garic's, and I had to buy more chalk powder, for the base. It wasn't as nice as I liked, but it was all I could find.
She frowns. Why are you so sure I'm to blame?
She thinks about the chalk.
"The chalk was the only thing diffrrent in yeh'rre rrecipe? What farrmerr? Was therre anythin' unusual aboout the chalk, otherr than not bein' as fine as yeh like?"
"Dirrrty? Yeh used an impurre ingrredient in crreatin' a magical powderr?
Brodda's gaze turns to her companions before she squeezes her eyes closed, holds her breath, and her face turns red. Finally she lets out some air and starts breathing again, looking up at Lovelace with a toothy smile.
"Might Ah suggest yeh cease offerrrin' this batch of powderr? It seems this new batch will likely be havin' yeh lynched beforre yeh get farr."
She glances from Brodda to the others, and back to Brodda. Bruno yawns, and stands by watchfully.
Alright, you seem pretty sure about this, though I still can't imagine chalk making anyone sick.
With a sigh, she pulls out several more packets of powder, and a jar. Pulling the lid from the jar, she holds it up.
I'll dump it out and you'll see for yourselves it's gone.
.oO(Ah hoope this is indeed all of it.)
When Lovelace prepares to dump it, Brodda cries for her to stop, rushing forward to catch the jar, not stopping to think of the danger she might put herself in.
"Dearrr Motherrrr! Yeh can't just dump it herre! Ilona, its an airrborrne disease! Yeh'll starrt a wide outbrreak of MindFirre! Doctorr, that's got teh be rreturrned, carrefully and sealed, teh the Temple of the Motherr!"
Her eyes, wide, look pleadingly at Lovelace.
"Please! Brring it back t'the Temple. We've not talked t'the authorrities aboout this, and the clerrics at the Temple arre only interrested in stoppin' this disease frrom sprreadin'. Please!"
You take it! Or whatever, I don't care.
She shoves the jar at Brodda, throws the packets on the ground, and turns to close up the display table.
Come on, Bruno!
Bruno looks at the posse with alarm, and moves to assist Ilona.
.oO(He got in therre while it was movin'. He can get oout while its movin' too.)
Making sure the lid to the jar is secure, she sets it carefully on the ground beside her and gingerly picks up the packets tossed so carelessly to the ground, gathering it all up together.
"And this is all of it, rright? If this happens in anotherr city, Ah'm surre we'll hearr of it."
"You didn't use the chalk in anything else did you besides the magic detecting powder."
"I've heard that a lot of potions use the same ingridents for a lot of their powers. It's not to much what materials you use as what magic you put into them."
"Are your powders the same way?"
She watches with annoyance as they remove her supply. Bruno finishes securing the wagon and nods to her, and she jumps onto the driver's seat.
So long, and I hope we never meet again!
"So now what?" he asks without losing sight of the wagon.
Kywyn looks down as if recalling something.
"Hermy?" he looks to Minto.
"Wait up a minute there! Wait!"
"No hard feelings about the powder!! That threat has been stopped!"
"I do want to buy a love potion though! "
.o0(Shes nevers cames in ta gets the rest. Dids she refuse ta sells it to them?)
Hermy gets out of his hiding place and moves next to the window he came through and listens out of it.
.o0(That sounds likes Minto yelling.)
Hermy tries to make out what's being said.
.o0(The threats been stopped? How dids that happen? I didn'ts do nothing yet.)
Bruno hangs back a bit, readying a crossbow, and glaring at Minto.
"She said to buzz off."
"Fine! If you don't want to make any profit today!"
"We got all the poisoned powder! Thats why we came!"
"I was just gpoing to throw some buisness your way to thank you for your co-operation!"
"Look at me! Obviously I don't need a love potion! It's your loss then madam!"
Minto looks at Bruno.
"You really might want to be careful who you point that thing at."
"You have no idea who you are messing with here."
.o0(I guess they was able ta just talks sensse inta her. Who'd a thunk it? I guess I don'ts needs ta stays in here no more.)
Hermy moves towards the door at the back of the wagon and tries to open it a crack.
"You don't cause trouble, you won't get trouble. Just go on back to your buddies..."
"His buddy is right here."
"An if you don't wants troubles you'lls lowers that crossbow."
"You rotten little thief! You were in our wagon!
What were you doing in there, you little slimeball? Stealing? Or just sniffing through her underwear drawer?"
The crossbow angles around to bear on Hermy.
"I was gettin ready ta kills you ifen ya didn'ts do the right thing."
"Ise a good guy. I don'ts steal. An Ise got my own underwear ta sniff."
Hermy looks at Bruno with his hardest stare.
"So does I still needs to be ready, or is you gunna lowers that crossbow?"
.oO(Loove potion? What on earrth dooes he need that forr?) she ponders.
She secures her bags and turns around in time to see Hermy and Bruno, looking as if they are about to go at it.
"Oh no... "
He nods to Brodda and stands next to his mount. He feels for the handle of his black crossbow within his backpack but makes no move otherwise.
"It's all right Sir Hermy Woodhome."
"They gave up the powders that were causing the children to get sick."
"I think this man just wants to go on his way without any problems."
"Right?"
"Th'only trouble there'll be is if you folks don't back off and let me'n Ilona leave.
I'll fight if I have to, but we ain't killers, no matter what you say."
He looks back to Minto and Hermy, hoping they will return soon.
Hermy sheaths his sword and starts walking towards Brodda and Kywyn. "Come on Minto. Let's goes home."
Minto starts to follow. "Actually Hermy. We aren't going home yet. We're going to Arrowhead Springs."
"Why? Does we needs ta stops a plague there too?"
"No. We need to find your father."
Hrmy stops and looks at Minto.
"Is he there?"
"No, but the person who can get him free is."
"Then what's are we waitings for? Let's go!"
Hermy starts running down the path they were following and after a few dozen yards stops.
"Ummm, where is Arrowhead Springs?"
"How far away?" he also asks Minto.
"We might be able to get there sooner if we push ourselves. And the mounts."
Hermy nods. "Then lets push'em."
"I don't think that's the best plan Hermy. I know you are excited and all, but it's been twenty years. An extra half a day won't make a differance."
"Ifen I had lefts an extra half a day sooner for the farm, Major mights still be alives."
"Ifen I had stayed behinds for an extra half a day, Alissa mights not be dead."
"But the villagers might have been. And the guild members."
"Including me."
Hermy nods. "Yeah, yer right. It's that balance thing of thing of the Mothers again aint it."
"You know, once I die an goes ta meets her, Ise gunna has a few words with her about how unfair all this balance stuff is."
"But hopesfully that won'ts be fer awhile."
"Is gots a lots of time that needs ta be mades up with my father."
"An a lots of savin the city ta do still."
"But I guess that cin all wait fer a half a day."
Minto smiles. "Good choice. We are going to want to be as fresh as possible when we interogate Kerris."
He hears mention of Alissa and feels an old melancholy flow through his chest.
"But I already told Shae this might take a while, and it's for Hermy."
Kywyn rides along silently for a time before gathering the impetus to speak.
"Could one of you fill me in more on Kerris and what we will be doing? I'm afraid I'm a bit behind."
Minto looks at Brodda to see if she's going to answer, and she gives him a nod to tell him to go ahead.
"Kerris was the Captain of the Guard when Hermy Senior was convicted of killing a cleric of Agathalos."
"She pushed for the conviction despite all the evidence to the contrary."
"Rumour has it she was on the take. And she wasn't highly thought of by anyone. In fact, everyone we talked to about the case hoped she was dead. Well, everyone who didn't know she is the key to getting Hermy Sr. 's name cleared."
"Right after the case that sent Hermy away, she retired from the force and joined a mercanary company and vanished from sight."
"She's spent the last couple of years down in Arrowhead Springs according to the Mercanary guilds records."
"We need to find her, and then get her to tell us who pushed her for the conviction. And then tell it to the judge who presided over the case."
"Only he, or who ever replaced him can overturn the sentance."
Minto looks at Brodda again to see if he missed anything.
"Do we need to physically bring her back? How will the judge know we have proof?"
"It will all depend on what kind of information we can get out of her."
"If she tells us who was behind it, that might be enough."
"At least I hope so."
"A former guard captain whose spent the last twenty tears as a mercanary isn't going to be easy to subdue."
Kywyn tries to think of any tools or craft he might possess that could speed their journey but comes up with nothing.
"Hopefully it'll be possible to gather information when we get there... Minimize any conflict we'll encounter."
He tugs at his shirt's low neck to cool off a touch.
"Seems we're doing alright so far, right?"
"Mr. Pennypacker," Kywyn adds casually.
Hermy pulls some scrunched sandwiches out of his pocket and offers them to his companians. "We cin eats on the way. That'll saves a few hours ifen we don'ts stops fer a propers lunch."
Hermy starts walking down the road, after a few feet he stops, pours the rocks out of his sock, and then puts it back on.
"Don'ts wants ta gets a blister."
"If you get rid of the bread, the meats still ediable."
Minto tosses the soggy bread onto the ground and nibbles on a bit of beef as he spurs his dog to a quick walk.
Kywyn:"Kywyn glances to Brodda, "So if the powder was bad because of impure ingredients, does that solve your case? Is it safe to assume the farmer didn't intend to cause harm?"
Brodda shakes her head.
"Ah doon't think so. Meh case is solved and Ah'll make meh rrreporrt. Ah'm surre its likely soomeone will be sent t'the farrmerr t'investigate furrtherr."
Checking the security of her saddlebags to be sure none of the powder leaks or escapes, Brodda climbs into the saddle and heads off with the others.
She watches with a sad expression as Hermy heads off on foot. Once he removes the rocks from his socks, she speaks up.
"Herrrmy, coome rrride with meh."
.oO(Besides, if Ah say its teh be nice orr teh help him, he might not agrree teh rrride with meh. On the otherr hand, he'd do it if'n Ah needed the help. He is a herrro afterr all.)
"Indeed, the pony seems teh be a bit jitterry underr meh hand. Perrhaps with the hand of a herro on his rreins..."
She shrugs non-comittally and glances over to Minto.
"Here lets me shows you hows ta rides with out gettin a sore butt."
Hermy climbs up behind Brodda on the pony and starts giving out advise about the best way to do anything. Its only a few minutes before the first yawn appears.
Minto smiles at Brodda and nods.
Eventually, a question come to mind.
"Does anyone know if there's shelter between here and where we are going? Or will we be looking for a place to set up a camp?"
Kywyn takes out his waterskin and drinks from it. He drips a few drops onto gloved fingers and holds his hand near his satchel where Hex can poke out and have a bit of moisture.
"I didn't think we'd be heading south so soon."
"Maybe pressing on thriugh the night might actually leave us feeling fresher then sleeping on the cold rocks."
"Aye. Prrressin' on soounds like the betterrr option. Us dwarrrves arre good forr the long haul. Stamina and all that."
She winks at Minto.
Feeling somewhat relaxed at the moment, her gaze settles on Minto, listening to him as he sings. Soon, she hears a low, soft voice humming with the halfling bard. It's a little while before she realizes its herself, drowsy, eyes half-lidded.
Without jolting what she hopes is a sleeping hero behind her, she sits up a little and takes a drink from her waterskin.
"Let's get Hermy off that mule for a bit. We at least got a few hours rest last night."
"I don't think he's had any for days."
Minto dismounts and stands next to Crimechaser and holds out his arms to pull the sleeping hero off. Herymumbles a bit as he staggers a few steps and then curls up in a ball on the ground."Noo, eating yer fingers don'ts makes ya more heroic."
Minto places his cloak over Hermy and then takes a deep breath. "Lets give him an hour or so."
"This leg of ourr trrip is forr him afterrr all. He may as well be awake t'enjoy it."
She looks up at Kywyn, wondering about his thoughts.
.oO(Ah'm surre he wasn't prreparred, any morre than we werre, teh be continuin' this jourrney. He's got family back home. Ah wonderr how he'll take this delay.)
She dismounts (which gets better every time she does it) and helps to settle Hermy for his nap.
.oO(Ah'm surrprrised he's decided teh coome along rratherr than rreturrnin' hoome. Afterr all, the thrreat t'the city has been stopped.)
She glances at her saddle bags.
.oO(Orrr will be as soon as Ah get this stuff back t'the Temple.)
She takes her waterskin, pipe, and acoutrements from another bag and settles herself on the ground, her thoughts on Kywyn and his motivations.
.oO(Ah'm findin' him verry good company. He's quiet, speakin' oonly when soomethin' needs teh be said, and thooughtful aboout what he does say. He's well-mannerred, unlike moost humans Ah've met.)
She turns her gaze away when it appears he may look in her direction, however finds her gaze returning to him. She arches an eyebrow in critical judgement of herself.
.oO(And, moost surrprrisin' of all, Ah'm findin' he's not half-bad lookin'...)
She finally turns away, packing and lighting her pipe.
.oO(...ferrr a human.)
Sucking on the pipestem, she gets the thing lit and watches the pleasant-smelling pipeweed smoke rise up and dissipate.
"I'm no outdoorsman. I can't tell time by looking at the sky, but I do know how many songs I can play in an hour."
"We don't want to rest too long. Just enough to give Hermy a dose of energy in case we need it."
"He's the best fighter among us by a long shot. And we are out of the city. For some reason that almost always leads to trouble."
"I know hundreds of songs about it. Any requests?"
"Why doon'tcha play that soong yeh sang teh meh last night, hm? Y'know the one Ah mean." ;)
She lies down in the grass and looks up at the clouds, listening to Minto.
.oO(Yeh can'na get much betterrr than Minto. He's quite a catch, as meh motherr wooulda said.)
She turns over onto her belly and props her chin into her hand as she watches Minto through the grass, still feeling somewhat drowsy from his earlier lullabye.
.oO(Aye, quite a... catch... hmmm.)
"To not wake Hermy."
He finds a spot to sit a bit away from the others but still within speaking distance. Kywyn looks up to the darkening sky before turning back to his traveling companions.
"Hmmm, something in the key of G then."
Minto strumms a few chords softly and hums.
He takes out a small wrapped bundle, revealing a few pieces of lemon peel candy Dak gave him before leaving. Pushing himself to his feet, he walks over to Brodda to offer her some and then does the same to Minto.
Minto takes the offered candy from Kywyn, put puts it in a pouch. "I'll give it to Hermy when he wakes up."
She looks curiously at the candy then sniffs it.
She looks at Kywyn.
"What is it?"
"You don't really seem the candy type Kywyn."
"Was it suppose to be for your son?"
"Yeah."
He seems distant for a moment.
"I like it as well, though," he comments as if to bring himself back to the conversation.
Looking a bit unsure, she licks it again. Finally, she just takes the bit and tosses it into her mouth, upon which her cheeks seem to cave in, her green eyes open wide, and both her brows shoot up into her hairline.
Finally, she's able to relax a bit and she smiles at Kywyn.
"It's good." :D
His eyes dart all around looking for signs of danger.
"Why aren't we still moving?"
Minto stops playing, and starts to put his lute away.
"You fell asleep, and we didn't feel safe traveling without your eyes to catch any approaching danger."
Hermy stretches. "You coulda woke me up."
Minto nods. "We could have, but we needed a break from riding too. Some of us can't ride and eat candy at the same time."
Minto hands Hermy the candy Kywyn gave him.
A black frog sneaks up onto Kywyn's shoulder as he drinks from his waterskin, and the dark-haired man dribbles some water from the container onto his familiar.
She looks over to him to thank him for the treat and sees a shiney blackish lump on his shoulder.
"Kywyn..."
She pulls a dagger out from beneath her skirts and moves slowly toward the man.
Hermy's hand goes to his sword. "What's goin on?"
Kywyn rises to his knees and shuffles back a foot with his hands up.
"Didn't like the candy afterall?"
"Therre's a crrreaturre on yeh'rre shooulderr..."
She continues slowly advancing, not stopping to consider her puzzlement that the man is backing away from her despite her efforts to protect him.
"Oh."
He reaches for his shoulder and Hex hops onto Kywyn's hand.
"This is Hex. He's not really a frog... except when he is..."
Kywyn struggles with an explanation.
"Um... totem or... familiar? I think he could be called that."
"Not a frrrog... except when he is."
She sighs.
.oO(One of these days, his explanations arre gooin' teh give me a headache.)
The dagger disappears again beneath her skirts and she resumes her inching forward, this time out of curiosity.
"Ah doon't think Ah've everr seen such a black frrrog."
She reaches him and sits for a moment, studying it closely. Then she looks up at Kywyn.
"Yeh named it 'Hex'? Eh, hoow.... lovely.
"Don't ya get warts from being familiar with a frog? Or is that toads? Minto?"
The bard shrugs.
The black outline of the frog stares back at Brodda with golden orbs.
"No, no warts," Kywyn answers Hermy.
"Ah wonderr if frrogs blink."
"He looks quite at home up therre." she says, indicating the top of his head.
She takes a deep breath and gets up.
"Alrright, let's get back on the rrroad."
She makes sure her pipe is out and not smouldering before she puts it and her other things away. Then she climbs onto Crimechaser's back and offers a hand to Hermy.
"Does NaShae know you has him? I know Volos don'ts likes it when ya brings frogs an stuff inta the guild. An he used ta be a boy, or so he says."
"I'ds imagine a girl would really nots likes a frog gettin loose in the kitchen."
Hermy hands Minto back his cloak, and then gets on behind Brodda..
"We shoulds gets movings again."
Grabbing his belongings, Kywyn is ready to ride out again.
"If anyone needs to take another break, just say the word. Or just start snoring."
"We'll get the hint."
A town of modest size, it still manages to boast a small church, a smithy, three taverns, and an inn.
"I'd suggest getting a few rooms at the inn first to freshen up."
"And to stable the mounts."
Hermy shakes his head. "Why not freshens ups after wese talks to her? Didn't you say see was dirty?"
"I'ds hates ta hafta bathes twice in one day?"
"Cleanin' up a little soounds good. Let's get the animals stabled firrst, then we can get soome rrrooms."
Brodda leads the way.
"An stable a few mounts."
Hermy whispers something to Minto.
"And get some pie if you have any."
She names a price for the rooms, and holds out her hand.
"Pay in advance, no refunds, dinner and breakfast are included, pie is extra."
"We'll take the rooms, and the pie."
"Do you know if there is any where in town we could stable our animals, since you are full?"
Minto slips an extra gold to her.
Careful, though. He's jumpy with those mercs pestering everyone and refusing to leave town."
He starts for the door when they are given instructions to the barn.
"Whys there so many mercanary's botherin people?"
"This don'ts seems likes the kinda place they'd has much fun."
"We rodes her in the dark, and no one even tried to jumps us."
She gloomily swipes a tabletop with the rag she had tucked in her apron pocket.
"And mercenaries drink, and then they get rowdy..."
"Thank you for the suggestion We'll be back shortly."
"If it wouldn't be a problem, could you set aside a few pies for when we return?"
Minto heads out, Hermy follows.
Once outside, Hermy looks at his friends and shrugs. "Sounds likes someones needs ta finds something fer these mercanaries ta do."
"Lets get the animals to the barn, an then we cin thinks up a plan while we eats pie."
"Pies brain food."
The group follows the innkeepers directions and heads towards Jaspers.
"Anotherr job, eh?"
She suddenly chuckles.
"We coould send them afterr the farrmerr with the dirrrty chalk." :D
She looks over at Kywyn, trying to discover where the frog hides.
"Theres a large bunch or orcs an trolls an ogres an stuff sittin in the pass. Garics is gunna needs all the help they cin get ifen those guys deceide ta attack while Ise off savin my dad."
Minto smiles. "I wonder how many there are here? If its only a handful we might actually be able to hire them to do something."
"If that's the objective, it might be best to avoid kicking up extra dust until that is done."
He walks next to Brodda, guiding his horse. Kywyn's frog is nowhere to be seen.
"Doon't forrget, merrcenerries doon't fight because its the rrright thing -- they do it forr money. They can't be trrusted. What if we paid 'em teh go fight against the giants? Then what if the giants offerred teh pay them morre teh not fight. Orr worrse, t'attack ourr folks instead?"
Brodda shakes her head.
"Especially her."
Upon the group entering the lane leading up to the farm buildings, two dogs leap from hiding, barking furiously.
"Don'ts worries. These probably just guard dogs. Maj... Theys won'ts attacks unless we provotes them if theys trained right."
"Just walks slowly. An don'ts stares at them."
"But don'ts takes yer eyes off them either."
"If they aint trained right, then they aint much better then wolves."
Hermy keeps walking towards the farm house, while watching the dogs.
"Stay where y'are! Who are ye, and whaddaya want?" the man yells.
The dogs subside to growling, hackles up, but they do not attack.
"I am Minto Newberry , Bard Extroidinaire, personal minstrel to Sir Hermy Woodhome of Garic's City."
He points at Hermy, who smiles and waves.
"We were told we might be able to lodge our animals here while we are in town."
"We will of course make it worth your effort."
Hermy chimes in. "We'll even pays you ifen that's what you wants."
"A horse, a pony and a dog. Sounds like the start of a joke.
Yeah, a few silvers a day an' I'll put 'em up. How long you gonna be here? If'n you're just sorta movin' into the town ta stay, I ain't puttin' 'em up all winter. No sirree."
The woman steps further from the house, and calls, "I thought knights wore shiny armor. You don't look like no knight."
He frowns."But I aint gunna be in any more of them for awhile."
He smiles again.
"Ise the kinda knight who does stuff instead of just lookin likes I does stuff. Not that you can'ts do stuff while yer all clanky an stuff, but Ise a lot betters at savin the city when I cin do stuff quietly."
"That's why Ise a knight. Fer whats I does, not whats I looks likes."
Minto nods. "Sir Hermy is being modest. He's Garic's most famous hero. I'm surprised you haven't heard of him. Your not that far a ay from the city."
Hermy shrugs.
"Anyways, yup Ise a knight."
"But that aint why s here, wese here on personal buisness nots official stuff."
"Hopefully we on'ts be her for more then a day."
"We just neds to talks to someone."
Jasper whistles off his dogs, and walks up to the group, "Well, let's see your silver, and get these critters into the barn. They look like they've gone a while without brushing."
"He's pretty famous too. Or at least he was before he gots killded."
Minto hands Jasper two gold."Thank you for your kind offer of help. I'll be sure to mntion your assistance in one of my songs once we finish up our task."
Minto pulls the saddle off BIG. "We rode through the night to get here. Normally they look much more presentable."
"So do we."
Hermy watches as the farmers dogs back away. "What kinda dogs are those? They seem fairly well trained."
"M'dogs? They're shepherds, mostly use 'em to keep off wolves an' such from the sheep, but they're good fer guardin' the house too."
His wife smiles and nods. "If you'd care for a cup of tea, you're welcome in the kitchen."
"Of course he was better then normal as far as dogs go. People too fer that matter."
Minto nods at his wife. "I wouldn't mind cup of tea. Th offerings at the inn don't exactly seem homey if you know what I mean."
"Brodda? Kywyn? What do you say? Shall we accept our hosts hospitality?"
Good to hear someone talkin' nice 'bout their dog. Them blasted mercs... that one, with that puppy she's treatin' so bad..."
Jasper shakes his head, muttering, and leads the horse to the barn.
"Afters I talks to Caress Ise definetly gunna hafta d something about them Mercanaries. That just aint right."
Hermy follows after Jasper.
"Major dieds protectin a sheep."
"Well, actually he dieds protectin me, but I was trying ta saves a sheep."
"And a village full of farmers."
Hermy frowns.
"Any hows, he was good with sheep."
"Kywyn had a sheep once."
"Hes the gloomy lookin guy who was riding the horse."
"I don't know what he did with it though."
"Maybe he traded it in for his frog."
Jasper half-listens to the rest of Hermy's rambling, concentrating on stabling the mounts.
Hermy frowns.
"So she's mean ta dads an dogs then. I didn'ts thinks I coulds dislikes her more, but I guess I can."
"Can ya tells me anything else about her? All I knows is that shes a drunk, a liar, and she beats dogs."
"An sends peoples away for no reson."
Hermy tries to give Jasper a hand.
"Where can I finds her? My friends think we sould rest up a bit first, but ifen theres a puppy at risk I don't thinks thats the best plan."
"Well, she an' her cronies spend mosta their time in the taverns. They did get rid of the bandits, I'll give 'em that.
But she's nasty, an' gambles, an' when she loses she's nastier."
"Is dealt with nasier peoples then her."
"I doubts she cin hold a candle ta the bloodtroll."
"Or the witch."
"Or evens NaShae when she's mad."
He starts on a second tangle.
"How many cronies does she has?"
"And how many bandits was there that they supposedily dealt with? Are ya sure they didn't just joins up?"
"Mercanaries aint all that picky about who they let join."
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
"Brodda? Kywyn? What do you say? Shall we accept our hosts hospitality?"
Kywyn nods as he tries to help unsaddle his mount.
"Sure."
As Hermy talks, Kywyn steps away to gaze out at whatever view he can find. The quiet is nice, though he still feels more at home in a city.
He moves next to Brodda to check if she needs any help. Glancing over to Hermy while he keeps Jasper talking, Kywyn whispers to himself but also to Brodda.
"He's going to do the right thing... And it'll cost him."
Kywyn turns to Brodda with an impassive face.
"Wouldn't expect anything else though."
Moving closer to where Hermy and Minto are, Kywyn asks Jasper, "Would you know if there's a particular tavern where Kerris can usually be found?"
"Eh, I think she's usually over at the Flaming Potato, they put up with more nonsense than t'others. So, why'd ye give up sheep farming, then?"
"Oh, it was just the one sheep. Wasn't farming, more just acting as a caretaker until I could find the owner."
He thinks back to that time in Garic's when he had the stray animal following him, and it is not an unpleasant memory.
"I probably wouldn't last long on a farm," Kywyn comments with a tone of respect.
"City folks think, 'how hard could it be,' but I dare 'em to get out there behind a plow. They'd be cryin' fer their mamas in five minutes, tops."
The young man dusts off his light shirt with his gloved hands and looks to the others to see if they are ready to venture into the kitchen.
Originally posted by Kywyn
Kywyn whispers to himself but also to Brodda.
"He's going to do the right thing... And it'll cost him."
Kywyn turns to Brodda with an impassive face.
Brodda arches an eyebrow as she attempts to help with Crimechaser.
"Of courrrse he will. It's what he dooes, and that's what makes him a herrrro."
Her brow drops, however, and her forehead furrows a bit.
"Thoough one wonderrs when sense shoould kick in and say, 'Hey! This time its not worrrth it. See t'yeh'rre oown needs.'"
Realizing she's just getting in the way of the farmer, she backs off.
"Thoough this time, its forr him. Teh rrright a wrrrong and rreunite Herrrmy with his Da."
She tilts her head towards Kywyn and peers at him from the corner of her eye, watching as he nods thoughtfully and makes his way towards the halflings.
"Of course ifen shes likes most drunks, we won'ts finds her awakes until night, so we coulds get a few hours of sleeps ourselves."
“We have surprise as an asset, but we’ll only get to use it once.”
Given the opening, Kywyn starts for the house and kitchen, seeking a place to sit down.
"Have a seat, have a seat... Been on the road long? Here you go, have some peaches. Ah, there's the tea, let's just get it steeping, and that'll freshen you right up, a mite of somethin' in your belly'll do you a world of good!"
Bustling around the kitchen in a buzz of hospitality, Sofi soon has them settled with peaches and tea.
He takes a sip of his drink, and watches Brodda out of the corner of his eye as she "sweetens" her tea with a splash from her "water"skin.
"We had to leave sooner then expected from Garics and I didn't have time to pack the proper supplies."
"We had to stop a potential travesty, and we didn't have much time to do it."
Minto dabs an imaginary pit of peach off his chin. "That might not have been the best word to use, I'm afraid. I have a tendancy to use words that are easy to rhyme too when I'm describing things."
"It's one of the pitfalls of being a succesful songwriter."
"I tend to use alliteration an awful lot as well."
Minto smiles and sips at his tea before continuing.
"There was a charleton selling dangerous powders that needed to be stopped before she spread mind rot to other cities besides Garics."
"Don't worry, we put an end to the threat. But if a Dr Lovelace comes through town selling powders and potions, be careful."
"She's not to picky what she puts in them."
He sips again.
"That and they don't work."
Finishing his beverage, he watches to see when the rest of his group is ready to head out.
"Them traveling salesmen can be real cheats."
She nods her head towards a pan rack on the wall. "Y'see the real nice patch on my frypan, there."
"It's the problem with mercanaries as well."
"If all you are interested in is making a profit, you tend not to treat people like, well people."
Minto finishes his cup of tea and sets it down.
"That's why we are here. To deal with a problem created by one of the mercanaries who deceided that lining her pockets was more important then a family."
"Seems safe enough to get here now. Brigands not a problem since the mercenaries arrived?"
"Now, Sofi," Jasper breaks in as he enters the kitchen, followed by the chatty Hermy, "They did do what the council hired 'em to do. They got rid of the bandits. We just din't realize they planned on stayin'."
He grabs one of the peaches and begins eating it noisily, tossing a second to Hermy.
Sofi grimaces, and says, "Well, these folks have business with 'em, though I don't rightly understand what, but maybe they'll take 'em away.
They're pests, and bullies, and they don't pay fair prices for what they buy."
"Wese already been discussin plans fer what to do about them mercanaries.
"But, they can'ts stays here. Not ifen theys causin trouble."
Hermy bites into the peach.
"They aint needed here no more, an ifen theys ever a need fer them again, you'ds be better offs sendin fer the Silver Sword ta help ya out."
"That's what we does, except we don'ts hangs around causin trouble after the jobs done, cause wese got other places ta saves."
"You plan on getting rid of the whole group, Hermy?"
"Its a guild organized by Sir Darron Haldar to train heroes and adventurers."
"And before you make the comparision, no, we aren't mercanaries."
"While we do take the occasional odd job as bodyguard and such, the primary goal of the guild is to help the helpless, to uphold the freedoms of those who can't do it themselves, to protect the city and the surrounding area from the ravages of the forces of evil in what ever form the appear in, and when possible gain immortality in the hearts of the common man."
Hermy blurts out. "We eats a lot of pie too."
Minto nods. "Yes, we do that as well. But it's not what we are famous for."
"The Guild ws almost all that stood in the path of an undead horde that invaded Garics a few years ago. And afterwards we went and cleansed the source of that evil."
"And it was the Silver Sword who defeated the Warlord Kahn during his last invasion. Sir Hermy earned his knighthood battling Kahn personally."
"And currently, we are training the cities newest elite forces after their decimation t the passes of Hent Manvellon. And if you cn hndl bit of bosting, we were lo responsiblle for as many of the citiea army surving did."
"We held a large flanking force of ogres and demons at bay for days, giving the survivors a chance to escape."
Hermy nods at Kywyn. "Yup, I is."
"Ifen theys ruining this town fer the peoples who lives here, its my job ta do somethin abouts it."
"Except the peoples whose willin ta stands up against them."
"An whose ta say theys will comes back. I know ifen I was a bandit, an the mercanaries who drivens me out got drivens out by someones else, I'ds think twice abouts messin with whoever coulds beats up the guy who beats me up."
"If Kerris is their ringleader, and you get to her... cut off the head of the snake, do you think there would be some less extreme solution than making more enemies?"
"And fer gettin Caress ta explains why she framded my dad."
"I aint plannin on killin her either unless she makes me."
Hermy shrugs.
"Sometimes ya cin talks yer way inta gettin what ya wants, sometimes ya cin buy whats ya wants, an sometimes ya has ta fight fer it."
"An when what ya want is the right thing, ya does which ever one works best."
"An makin sure the people in this city, an the dogs, are frees from them mercanaries is the right thing."
Kywyn looks down at his cup.
"I don't mean to question your reasons."
"I want to believe in you, Hermy."
His volume reduces to a murmur, "I don't know why I can't let myself feel that way about the right thing."
"Ya cin question my reasons all ya wants."
"Cause ifen I can't comes up with the rights answer, then my reasons probably aint right."
Kywyn pushes back from the table and brings his cup to the counter for Sofi.
"We just do what we can."
Hermy finishes off the peach.
"Well, hopefully the good citizens of this toown knoow they can coount on theirr neighborrs, Garrric's, and the Silverr Sworrd shoould they have furrtherr trrouble, and not teh trrust in merrrcenarries."
She smiles, finishes her peach, setting the pit into the empty cup, and sets the cup on the counter.
"Ah say we spend the rrest of the day in toown, learrnin' as much of the horrde of merrcs as we can. Then we can develop a plan."
She stands near Minto, arms folded behind her back.
"We should get started then?"
"Thanks fer the peach, an thanks fer stablin ours animals."
"Don'ts worries, I'll gets them mercanaries outa here."
The two halflings smile and then after a few more pleasantries head back to the inn.
"I hopes theres still pie left."
Delicious smells waft from the inn, but the sound of a badly tuned violin comes from the tavern across the street, fighting for the attention of the bards.
"You guys go ahead, I need to do a bit of saving the city myself."
"Or at least the cities ears."
Minto wanders over to the inn and pokes in his head to see if he can spot the source of the noise.
Hermy sniffs the air coming from the inn, and then sighs and follows Minto.
"I suppose the pie cin wait fer a bit more."
The semi-camouflaged black frog chirps back, [i]"Small grows to big; big falls to small."[/i]
Kywyn acquires a thought of a time when most communities were this size or lesser, before the lands were all mapped, before the towers rose. And then before that when man roamed the expanses following the natural patterns of the animals and seasons. And then a half-flash of something black in the rain...
He glances down at Hex, wondering if the visions came from the occult companion. Life can only be viewed backward but must be lived forward, is that the point there?
Where Minto and Hermy start toward the music, the smell of food draws Kywyn's eye toward the inn, but he follows after Hermy and stops at the door of the tavern. He checks for a sign to find the name of the establishment.
While pausing in front of the door, Kywyn also looks to either side of the street for any other vendors or shops still open. A sudden urge strikes him to find some trinket or souvenir of this place for his son or his cherished love. Finding a bound book would be something pleasing as well, if they had such things for sale here. An odd desire, Kywyn admits to himself, but he decides to keep an eye open nonetheless.
He checks to see if Brodda is planning on following into the inn and opens the door for her.
She looks around and, having decided to leave the saving of ears to her capable friend Minto, she searches for a table for the party to sit and observe.
Pushing open the rough-hewn door, they find that the crowd inside is thin, and Brodda has no trouble finding a table.
The server looks relieved at the sight of the new patrons, immediately heading their way with a pitcher in one hand, and mugs in the other. The violinist strains to catch their eyes, nodding and smiling vigorously. This does nothing to improve his playing.
"I'll give you five if you just stop playing entirely."
Hermy looks around the room, looking for anyone beating a dog.
He glances around the room as he enters. Taking a seat near Brodda but off to the side slightly, Kywyn sits quietly. He keeps an eye on the door.
Hermy doesn't see any dog-beaters, but then, the crowd looks like townsfolk, at this point.
"You are tone deaf my dear boy, theres no kinder way to say it."
"Let me tune that... instrument... of yours for you, and then give you a few lessons."
"Any money we make from the crowd will be yours of course. But I can't let you continue to make a mockery of music."
"Thank yeh!"
She pours another for Kywyn and another for Hermy. Then she does her best to make it appear that she is simply sitting back and relaxing, when in reality, she is keeping an eye on the crowd.
"B-but, my grampa said I was the best fiddler the family'd seen in three generations... An' my family has always fiddled for all the local shindigs!"
"First off, this string here, tuned to low, and this on tuned to high. Listen... this is how they should sound next to each other.
Minto draws the bow across the strings, and shows the fiddler what he is doing.
"If they aren't right to begin with, everything else will be off as well."
Minto plays a few quick notes.
"Much better."
He hands the violin back, and then unstraps his lute.
"Your timing was off a bit too. I'm going to play an easy song here, a slow one. Try to play along. It's a good sound for improving rhythem."
"If your families been fiddiling for ever, then you probably know it."
"Little Brown Puppy."
Mino begin to play, tching the violinist as he starts.
Upon hearing the opening notes, Hermy sighs and makes his way to the back of the tavern, near the door and tries to focus on watching out of it for anyone approaching.
Over by the fireplace, with coaching, the town's fiddler accompanies Minto in what a charitable halfling might call a competent manner.
Hermy hears people approaching down the street.
Minto continues coaching the fiddler. "Not bad for an amueter but you've still got a long way to go before you're ready for a big city."
"Let's try another song. Test your improvisational skills. Try to add something to this song."
Minto begins to play his jig about Alissa dancing. He tries to keep an eye on Hermy as he does.
The approaching group begins crowding through the door, and it is immediately obvious that they are the infamous mercenaries that the townsfolk have been complaining of.
The gambler Brodda is watching suppresses a grin of anticipation, and Minto's student actually manages to follow along to the spritely jig.
All is well until the merc with the pony-sized dog stumbles, knocked off balance by the dog itself, and blunders into Hermy.
She recovers, mutters a distracted apology, and begins yanking on the dog's lead, shouting, "You stupid half-grown clumsy mongrel! I should put you on the roasting spit, you'd be more use to me that way!"
The puppy, for it is a puppy despite it's outrageous size, cowers and whimpers.
Kywyn mutters a short mantra as his hands sweep out from their resting places. His vision strains past the visible spectrum to seek hidden-colored auras.
[Cast detect magic, holding concentration for now to sweep room]
"That is clearrrly the dearr Kerrris that we've learrned so little aboout," she mutters.
.oO(And she's alrready, orr is it still, drrunk. Takin' herr doown will be easy. It's herr band that will be morre difficult.)
She grips her recorder tightly as anticipates what spells may be needed.
"Can you play some staccato notes when ever I say the name Hermy?"
"You do know what staccto is, right? Just pluck your strings instead of using your bow. I want loud, sharp E's. Make sure theres a noticable but short break between each one, OK?"
Minto begins playing "Hermy the Dragon Slayer", infusing a bit of magic into it to inspire courage in his friends.
At the door, Hermy moves forward and pets the puppy staring straight into Kerris eyes. "Ya shouldn'ts talks to a dog that ways. It's'll get ya bitten when ya aint expectings it."
When Hermy approaches Kerris, the tension in the room becomes palpable as all eyes turn to the scene, anticipating trouble.
Kerris sneers at Hermy, "Get away from my dog, ya little weasel. Or I'll bite you -- with the point of my sword!"
"Try it, an I'lls has the priests ask yer corpse fer the infermation I need insteads of lettin ya tell me whats I wants ta know an walks away."
"Ya really don'ts wants ta gives me any more reason then ya already has."
Up on the stage Minto makes a special effort to make the name Hermy Woodhome stand out in his song.
"Who the--! What the--!" she splutters.
Her compatriots laugh, encircling the pair.
"Hey, Kerris, I think he's threatening you," says a short but burly man.
"Yeah, he is," she replies, staring at Hermy with narrowed eyes. Minto's volume increases, and she darts a glance at the bard.
"You frameded my father."
"Prepare to..." Hermy glances at his friends, "And I wanna knows why?"
Minto strums a loud triplet of chords. DUM DUM DUM
"Hermy? Woodhome?"
She scratches the back of her head.
"Woodhome... Oh, right! I remember now. That was ... dang, a long time ago.
I didn't frame him, he confessed."
"Don'ts do that again."
He nods his head towards the table where Kywyn and Brodda are sitting.
"Gives the dog's leash to that guy there and then sits down."
"Youse gots some explainin ta do, an ifen you don'ts makes me lose my tempers Ise gots some job offerings to do."
"Ise can forgives a lots of things ifen the person that dids them don'ts seems likes theys gunna do thems again."
"But I can'ts forgives someone ifen they keeps actings likes theses gunna continues treatins people wrong."
He motions towards the table again.
"Are you going to sit at the table, or do you wants ta do yer talkin from the grounds."
"Alright, you wanna talk, fine, I can talk, don't get all excited..."
She passes the leash to Kywyn and sits, arranging her chair so that she has a potential escape route from the psychotic halfling.
Slowly she smiles and lifts the recorder to her lips. She plays, in muted volume, along with Minto, not putting any magic into it.
.oO(Ah'll just give a little backgrroound music forr noow. If'n she starrts teh get moorre edgy than she alrready is, Ah'll starrt poourrin' a little soomethin' extrra in it.)
"Cin we get some drinks please! Milk fer me, and... Kywyn? Brodda? Caress? Does ale sounds good?"
He yells towards the bartender again.
"An three ales!"
He turns to look at Kerris again.
"You was the guard captain twenty years ago right? When my dad was sent to the mines fer killing the clerk?"
"You was in charge of investigating it rights? That's what I was tolds by Father Cannedrum."
"I'd rather forget I ever had that job. Worst year and a half of my life. I never should have taken it.
I kinda remember the case you're talking about... You look just like the Hermy Woodhome I remember. So what?"
"That tends ta happens when someone gets sent away fer a crime they didn't commit when yer two youngs ta members anything."
Hermy taps his fingers on the table in time with Mintos song.
"You really shouldn't had never taken that job. From what Ise heard you was the worst gaurd captain ever."
"An they hung the last one abouts two years ago."
Hermy pauses for a second.
"How is it you managed to get that jobs anyhow? It certainly weren't fer yer deducting skills. You seems to be the only person who was in the city at the times who dids thinks my dads killed anyone."
"It was pretty obvious to everyone else that my brother killeded the clerk. Even one of the Mothers clerks tried to tell you my dad was innocent."
"How is it you missed what everyone else saw?"
Why should I care about what the evidence said?"
.oO(Who carres what the evidence says???)
She fights to keep the instrument to her lips rather than giving this "woman" a good talking to about justice.
.oO(Not that it woould do any good in herrr case. A poorrr excuse ferr a Captain of the Guarrrd!)
One look at Hermy's face and Brodda knows she doesn't need to say a word.
.oO(Ah doon't think Ah've everr seen his face so rred beforre...)
"Why shoulds you care? Why shoulds you care...."
Hermy leaps up on to his chair and leans across the table.
"Because you sents a man ta the mines fer the wrong reason! For twenty years! Twenty years!"
"An because of that his wifes died of a brokens heart! Dead! An that's all your faukt too!."
"An one of his sons becames a hired killer cause he learned how easy it is ta kill people an that he coulds get away with it! Every person he killeds since then is on yer hands! Ever person he tortured!"
"And because the other ones thinkings its not such a bad idea! So ifen I kills you now that's yer fault too!"
"Why shoulds I cares about wether it's the right things or not! You don'ts seems to puts much stock in doings the right thing! Why shoulds I!"
Up on stage, Minto motions for the fiddler to keep playing as he makes his way towards the table.
"Is there a problem here?"
Hermy doesn't take his eyes off Kerris.
"You'll has ta ask this piece of slimes here. She has exactlys six seconds ta try an talks her way outs of a beheadings."
"One... two..."
She takes Minto's place on the stage. The boy with the fiddle looks at her as she smiles around the mouthpiece of her instrument.
She slowly changes the music being played to a tune that's more calming, her eyes roving between her new charge and the table she just left.
"He's going to kill her."
Kerris scoots her chair back, consternation in her face, and protests, "He wasn't anyone important..."
The other mercenaries move up, ringing the scene.
"You'd better rethink that, mister," says a hard-eyed man. "That's my lieutenant you're threatening."
He turns his gaze back to Hermy and Kerris.
Hermy doesn't take his eyes off Kerris.
"Ifen she don't agree to go back with me to Garics to tell the judge she sent an innocent man ta the mines... well then she'll be doing something she don't agree too."
"Ands the six of you aren't going to be ables to stops me, Ise killed twice yer amounts in ogres at one time. An I didn'ts has a beef with them other then that they was evil."
"Ifen you thinks yer gunna stops me, then youse really gots a surprise coming."
Hermy points his finger at Kerris.
"Yer lieutenant here hads my father put in the mines because she was too lazy to ask if he dids it."
"Ifen that's the kinds of leader youse wants to follow that mights explain why youse been downs here, when all the real action has been up north."
"She's to lazy to gets you any decent work."
"No wonders the rest of yer guild laughed when I said I wanteds ta hire you guys."
Hermy continues staring at Kerris.
Kerris gets to her feet, with a sharp laugh. "I'm not going back there, anyway. Besides, no way is that spineless clerk still alive after this many years in the mines."
"It was the Mother that sent Sir Hermy out on this quest to clear his fathers name."
Still not taking his eyes off Kerris, Hermy addresses the mercanary leader. "Then you'll be wanting to talks to me abouts your next assignment."
"It's times you earn some real moneys and see about gettin yer image cleaned up."
"But wether you want ta go backs ta Garics or not, she is."
"Theres no discussions on that. No hagglin. No beggin. No pleadin."
"She is goings back ta clear my dads name."
"It's ups to you ifen yer comin with or nots."
Minto moves back a few feet and addresses the captain. "He's not bluffing. That's Sir Hermy Woodhome. If you haven't heard of him down here, then you are really overdue for returning to the city."
Hermy points at Kerris again. "Just soes you know, Ise got the Mothers Temple behinds me on this. If it comes to it, they has ways of making corpses talk."
"An I has no problems making youse a corpse."
"I killed my own brother ta see justice done, an I loved him."
"I don'ts gives three sammiches about you besides fer what you will tells the judge."
This is Hermy’s time, Kywyn figures, his chance to get at the heart of something that has shaped his life. How often does one get such an opportunity?
She stares at him in disbelief, "B-but..."
The dog, barking loudly, lunges forward and knocks over the chair Kerris just vacated. It falls against her leg, and the puppy nearly knocks the table over as well. Hermy's chair wobbles and crashes to the ground as the puppy tries to pounce on him, but the agile halfling easily evades the animal, landing on his feet.
"Shoot."
He stands and tries to get ahold of the leash again as the dog is at the table.
"On me."
Hermy pats the puppy on the neck, still keeping his eyes on Kerris.
"I wants this dog too."
Minto sighs. "I'll pay for that too.
"Here."
She hesitates, then continues in a calmer voice, "But I'll make you a deal.
I'll sell you my dog, and write a letter confirming I ignored evidence in the murder case, and you don't make me go back to the city to testify."
"You sell me the dog, writes the letter and comes backs ta Garics in case the letter aints goods enough fer the judge."
"Ifen the letter works then ya don'ts hafta testify, and you'll be somewheres where ya cin get a new assignment."
"Theres a lots of works fer mercanaries there now, a lot more then here thats fer sure."
Hermy finally breaks eye contact with her to look at the dog as he scratches it behind the ears.
"Thats the best deal yer gunna get."
Now if he can convince the band that there's real work for them elsewhere.
"Youi and the rest of your men are still up for it right?"
Minto smiles at the mercanary leader.
Hermy continues scratching the puppy's ears.
"Hey there..." Hermy glances at the dog. "Hey there girl. What's your name?"
He nods to the other mercs, and they take over a couple of the nearby tables.
"Her name is Fang," he tells Hermy.
Hermy scratches the dog more. "Fang? That's nots a good names for a girl. Or for a dog. Maybe fer an orc or a goblin or somethin likes that. It woulds be a good name for a dragon too, A loyts better then the name of the one I killed anyways. I can'ts even prounounce what that was."
He scratches the dogs neck. "Shes gunna needs a betters name."
Minto helps the waiter carry the ales to the men, and then sits down close to the leader.
"I apologize for that little inncident. Sir Hermy is a man of action, not words."
"I hope it won't effect any further buisness dealings?"
Hermy lets the dog lick his face and the dog barks in excitement.. "Hmmm, whats shoulds I call you? How abouts I names you after the SongLady. She had a real pretty voice too."
"Ashiner. Hows that sound?"
“I think I’m just going to check into one of our rooms,” he explains to Hermy and Minto.
With a slight glance at the surrounding mercenaries, Kywyn slips out toward the door. Outside, he pauses to observe the sky as if for some unknown omen of things to come. He stares ahead, feeling the breeze against his side. Strange where the wind can carry you in a day.
Hefting his pack up once, Kywyn approaches the inn find his room and seek some rest.
"I was surprised too. Up until I met Brodda the only dwarven songs I had heard were 'Gold' and 'The Return of Gold'"
"Though I had heard rumours of another song "The Gold Stikes Back'"
.oO(Althoough these parrticularr negotiations might go a bit smootherrr if we suggested that they move on.
She smiles and winks at Minto when she notices him watching her, and decides now is a great opportunity to catch the attention of the merc's leader.
She ups the tempo a bit to something a bit more joyful and weaves a bit of energy into the tune as her gaze swings playfully from Minto's eyes to that of the mercenary leader.
Across the street at the inn, the landlady is quite cheerful, and happy to show Kywyn to his room.
Sitting up close to the window of his room, the artist props his legs up on the sill and places his flat drawing tablet on his lap as his pencil tip moves. The gentle lines exorcise the thoughts of the day: Lovelace's wagon, the barn where the horses were kept, and the bar where the mercenaries were found.
The form of a black frog climbs up the chair Kywyn is sitting in and hops up to the window to gaze outside.
"What do you see?" Kywyn asks.
Hex chirps, "Wood and stone, some people walking."
Kywyn completes a small doodle of three characters, Elmer, Tiger-Lily, and Pennypacker, for his own records. His thoughts soon wander back on their natural course toward home, wondering how NaShae and Dakarai would sleep tonight.
"Under the same moon," he consoles himself.
Intertwining his fingers, he rests his chin on hands. Kywyn reminds himself of the moment. He has to stay here to make it back there. And this is a bit of an adventure after all, something to experience, something between and besides remembering the past and dreaming of the future, something important. No telling where the current will take you.
"You're the wave," ribbits Hex.
"Hm?"
"You're the wave."
Kywyn exchanges his pencil for an inkpen to trace over some of the better sketches.
Afterwards, he places his tools aside and walks around the room, stretching his arms and neck. He lifts his leg up on the windowsill to elongate his ligaments and get out some of the soreness from not being accustomed to riding. Kywyn moves to the floor to continue stretching and then sits cross-legged in the dark, seeing through it and yet not.
"I'm the wave."
Something didn't feel right, it went too easily.
He stands and doesn't bother lighting a lamp as he throws on his shirt and picks up his satchel. Hex leaps over to find a place in the bag.
"She was headed this direction... Wonder if she stays here as well?" Kywyn questions.
He exits the room and locks the door before walking down to see the cheerful landlady. If he can spot her, he would ask if Kerris or someone matching her description has a room in the inn.
"Would you know if a woman named Kerris stays here?"
He proceeds to give a brief description of the mercenary from what he remembers.
I think she's gone though, as she came and got her packs and rode her horse out the back way."
A quick gesture of her thumb indicates the direction, away from the main road, and sight of the Flaming Potato.
"Gone? Like just now?"
Kywyn steps to the door to scan the street.
He pulls open the door and walks quickly up to Hermy.
Kywyn leans down and whispers.
"Hermy... We have to go.. Now. Kerris grabbed her stuff and left the inn where she was staying when she left the tavern. I just confirmed it with the landlady."
Kywyn clenches his fists at his side for a moment, he knows the news isn't what the halfling needed.
"She couldn'ts have? We hads a deal."
Hermy gets up from the floor after giving the dog a final pet.
"Minto we needs ta go! It looks likes Caress is tryin ta runs away!"
"You grabs Brodda an me an Kywyn will grabs the mounts."
Hermy looks at the puppy, and then puts its collar and lease back on.
.o0(Ashiner aint Major, but maybe she'll still be ables ta tracks.)
"Come on Kywyn!"
Hermy and the dog head out the door towards the farm. Minto shrugs and waves to Brodda, while excusing himself from the table.
"It looks like your lietenant really doesn't want to go back to Garics."
"Must be something there she's afraid to face."
"I'll see too it that you are properly compensated for your time and effort if you and the rest of your men were willing to go up there and see what it is, while my companians and I track her down."
"Good luck. I'll probably head up there just to find out about another job, but I've no intention of prying into the private lives of my troops."
The various mercs make no move to stop Hermy or the others, but they also don't move their legs or chairs out of the way.
"Me, myself, I'd be curious as to what could frighten one of my friends into running away from their duty."
"But that might be why I'm not a captain."
"Anyways, I hope to see you up in Garics. We can really use all the help up there we can get."
Minto gets to the stage and grabs Brodda's hand.
"Come on. We've got to go."
He nods to the fiddler. "It's all yours again. Keep your instrument in tune and you'll do fine."
Minto pulls Brodda off the stage and out the door heading towards the farm.
Hermy reaches it several minutes before him, and heads straight into the barn and starts saddling BIG.
"Kywyn, starts saddlin the horse an I'll helps you with the pony."
"Minto cin tell the farmer that we appreciate his helps an explains why wese has ta go so quick."
Once the bards reach their companians, Hermy sends them to the farm house to apologize.
Minto knocks on the door and once it is opened, smiles.
"My apologizes fodisturbing you again so soon, but I wanted to let you know we have to go."
"I think the rest of the mercanaries will be leaving soon, but one of them deceided to try and run for the hills. We have to go after her."
"Well, s'pose it's like huntin' a wolf, can't let the trail get cold..."
"And this wolf has been a problem for years. We can't let her get away now that we've finally found tracks."
"Hopefully we'll be able to catch her before she gets to far, and before the mounts get too exhausted."
Jasper looks quizzically at Minto, then glances over to where the sun is lowering behind the treeline.
"And dwarves can."
Minto glances at the sun as well, and then at Hermy and Kywyn as they lead the animals out of the barn.
"She doesn't have too much of a head start, and I'd hate to let her have more, so I'd best be joiing my friends."
"Thank you for your assistance so far, and I hope to see you again very soon."
Minto offers out his hand for a quick handshake.
Next, he hurries to the barn. Throwing his pack and satchel with the saddle, Kywyn gets things ready as fast as he can.
Jasper smiles and returns the shake.
"Let's ride!"
Hermy looks at him, and then at Kywyn.
"Which way did she go?"
"And away from the main road. But that's just where the landlady saw her leaving, Kerris could have changed direction once out of sight."
"It's still probably the best ways ta start."
"Maybe Ashiner here cin sniff her out. I'se guessing she probably knows the smell of Caress boot pretty well."
"Lets go."
Hermy starts in the direction Kywyn pointed, looking for tracks, and dust in the distance as he talks to his puppy quietly.
"Well I knows you aint Major. An certainly aint as smart. An probably can'ts understands a words Ise saying, but see ifen ya cin smell the mean old lady Ok?"
Minto rides after him, strumming his lute, playing a competence increasing song.
Dogs are famous for their loyalty, however, and when her head dips down and she sniffs, then barks and pulls on the leash, it seems she has picked up the trail of her former mistress. No doubt she does not yet understand the 'former' part, and is eager to rejoin Kerris.
"She seems to have her reasons for running."
"Wese takes her back to Garics ta admits to the judge, thats she frameded my dad."
Minto riding along side Kywyn speaks up. "She has a lot to be afraid of going back."
"She made a lot of enemies there."
"And I suspect will make more by testifing."
"Someone pushed her into closing that case quickily."
Hermy shrugs. "Well I doubts that someones cin push as hard as I cin."
"Good girl Ashiner. Takes us to Caress."
Fortunately, Kerris has only about an hour's lead on them...
"Lets gets ready."
"Kywyn? Does ya gots any spells that won't kill her?"
"As much as I'd likes ta see you fireball her, we needs her alive."
"IAs soon as we spots her Ise going to go sneaky and hits her with my sock."
"Try nots to get noticed, but ifen you do, make sure you really gets noticed."
"Minto, you takes Ashina once we gets closer."
"I doubt she cin sneaks anywhere near as good as Major coulds. And he wasn'ts much better then you."
Minto nods, and rides up along side Hermy.
Hermy keeps his eyes and ears alert for any sign of his prey.
The lone human looks to Brodda and then Minto before turning back to the path ahead.
Humming, she keeps her dwarven eyes on the road and surroundings as the sun begins to set.
"An I guarantees youse Ise gots better ears then she does."
"An the dogs gots better noses."
"An Brodda better eyes."
"An Minto a better mouth, evens though that don't really effect anything."
"Umm, Kywyn, I'lls lets you has better ... hair?"
Minto holds the lease and watches as Hermy melds into the shadows.
His voice is just above a whisper. Kywyn dismounts and crouches down, trying to spot any movement.
The sound of her dog barking excitedly... well, that's another matter.
Kerris stands, turning towards the sound, then mutters a curse and backs into the shadows, attempting uselessly to hide.
His dirty sock full of rocks held at the ready.
Back with the others Minto sighs as the dog barks.
"Well Hermy said if we got noticed to really get noticed."
Minto ties Ashiners lease to BIGs saddle and then unslings his lute.
"Hey! Kerris! Any requests!"
Minto begins to play an inspiring song.
Hoping that Hermy would be able to cut off her retreat, Kywyn channels his focus into his hands. With a drop of red ink provided from a vial from his satchel, Kywyn mutters a phrase to fix the dim purple coursing along his fingers.
"Come down... and waste away with me..."
Kywyn starts after Kerris like a stalking cat.
---
[Cast ghoul touch]
.oO(That's eerrrrie.)
She shudders a little as a cold tingle makes its way up her back. She jumps off the pony and takes the large dog's leash, freeing Minto to do what he needs.
HP and Initiative
Hermy 52/52
Kywyn 29/29
Kerris ?/?
Minto 38/38
Brodda 38/38
Seeing the short blades appear in her hands, Kywyn readies himself for a hurled attack. He steps around the fire in a counter-clockwise direction and tries to get around to the rear and steer Kerris toward where Kywyn last saw Hermy.
And Minto continues his courage inspiring song while he very slowly walks forward.
.oO(Music orr Blade? Which will it be, missy?)
"You people... I'm not going back. I'm dead meat if I go back, so you may as well try to kill me here. With any luck I'll have your innards in the dirt, first!" Kerris stands her ground, unable to see anyone but Kywyn, but knowing the others must be near.
Minto eases into the circle of light.
HP and Initiative
Hermy 52/52
Kywyn 29/29
Kerris ?/?
Minto 38/38
Brodda 38/38
Minto continues his leisurely stroll, not breaking off the song yet.
She circles clockwise, the way Hermy went. Her mind still half on her recorder and half on her axe.
Kywyn is sliced once, and she grins wolfishly. "First blood, pretty-boy!"
Minto and Brodda move closer.
HP and Initiative
Hermy 52/52
Kywyn 22/29
Kerris ?/?
Minto 38/38
Brodda 38/38
""But wese gunna draws last blood."
Minto trusts that the effect of his song will linger long enough for him to help out in other ways. He sings out the words to his haste spell and rushes to put it on Hermy.
Taking her recorder in hand, and some wool from her spell pouch, she lifts the mouthpiece to her lips and begins to play a haunting and eerie piece as she weaves magic into the notes. She concentrates on the sound of soldiers marching.
[cast Ghost Sound, effecting five soldiers behind Kerris' position]
Kywyn draws on his dark forces, and barely manages to brush his fingers across the woman. She chokes, eyes rolling back in her head as her body arches, and falls.
HP and Initiative
Hermy 52/52
Kywyn 22/29
Kerris dying/?
Minto 38/38
Brodda 38/38
"Umm, good job?"
Hermy squats down to check on her condition.
"What dids you do to her?"
"Minto? Cin ya helps out a bit here? She don't look so good."
Minto nods and casts a cure minor song on her.
"Hopefully that will help. But I have no clue what it was Kywyn did to her."
Both halflings look up at Kywyn.
Kywyn stands motionless, face flushed, staring at his hand. After a moment he seems to will himself to speak, but says only, "It was a spell," flatly, before turning away.
"Well he is a wizard after all."
Hermy stands and starts heading towards the mounts. "Ise got some rope. Its about time I gets to use it. It's in Major's saddlba... umm, does anyone else gots any thing ta ties her up with in case she wakes up?"
"Help her..." he says to the others.
"Help me..." he whispers.
That wasn't him? That was something else. Wasn't it?
Kywyn breathes steadily and deeply to steady himself. He stares sternly into the new night, trying to deduce if he had lost control somewhere. Bringing a hand up to the side of his neck near his jaw where he was cut, Kywyn smears the blood away absently.
Glad to hear Minto's aiding song, Kywyn rolls back to a sitting position, arms resting on his knees.
Ashiner bounds up to lick him, but gets tangled up in her lease.
.o0(Her lease!)
Hermy removes the puppys lease and gives her a kiss on the top of the head. "Good girl."
Hermy hustles back to the unconcious guard captain and binds her hands behind her back with the lease.
"You guys goes gets yerself some rest. I don't thinks shes goings anywhere."
"Actually I knows she aint."
He eventually breaks his reticence.
"Should we drag her back to Arrowhead? Or are we going straight back to Garic's?"
"I aint lettin her go untils I gets my dad back."
She shifts uncomfortably on the ground, glaring at her captors.
"Do you want some help to sit up?"
She watches Kywyn thoughtfully from a distance, noting his demeanor, curious what the young man is thinking.
.oO(He's quite the enigma.)
Eventually she drifts off to sleep for a couple of hours until the deepest night, waking to take an unrequested watch, making use of her natural night vision.
When the sky begins to lighten, she returns to sleep until she too is roused by the smell and sounds of breakfast. She watches Kerris warily from where she sits.
He speaks quietly to Kerris, "If you are so worried about your safety, stick close to the one in the red pants. He won't let any harm come to you unless it's the right thing to do. He's a hero, I guess... he's not like you and me."
Kywyn backs off and sits next to Brodda to find something to eat.
"Rest alright?"
"Well enoough."
Her eyes drift to Kerris, though she continues speaking quietly with Kywyn, offering to share her breakfast with him.
"What did yeh do t'herr last night? What kind of magic was that?"
Kywyn opens up his private vault a crack as he shares in Brodda’s bread.
“I've heard of dark magicians who study and research to perform tricks like that, but it’s more of a reflex for me… So I see it as 'magic' only because it's not something understood or explainable, but it is something natural.”
"It shouldn't have gone so far though,” his eyes gaze downward.
Kywyn’s eyes scan up until they meet the comely dwarf’s face.
“Do you understand?”
He lifts his arm and points downward with an outstretched finger.
"As above, so below."
"Ah doon't knoow much aboout darrk magics, but Ah underrstand the darrk naturre that each of us possesses, soome morre than otherrs. That darrk seed that most of us trry teh keep burried and locked deep within."
She gives a half-cocked smile as she thinks about her own past.
"And that darrkness, prroperrly contrrolled, can be a soourrce of grreat strrength."
Then her gaze turns to Kerris again, and her smile falls.
"And if not prroperrly contrrolled, will undoubtedly be ourr downfall."
She is silent for a moment, her mind swirling around these thoughts until they get too dark for the dwarfess' comfort. She shrugs and smiles, taking her waterskin and swallows a mouthfull.
She offers the waterskin to Kywyn with a twinkle in her eye.
Kywyn looks at the waterskin, wondering if it contains water or alcohol. Nodding a thank you, he takes a quick sip.
“What would a bard who sings such cheery tunes know of dark seeds?” he asks quietly with a hint of faux teasing.
"Sorry forr that, lad. Yeh shoould knoow, Ah doon't usually carrry waterr unless Ah'm gooin' on a trrek in the deserrt. But Ah thoough offerrin' was the most polite thing Ah coould do."
Her face, though still smiling, loses some of its cheerfulness when he asks about her own knowledge of darkness.
She looks into the pale blue of the morning sky thoughtfully as she considers her reply. She contemplates deflecting his question with questions of her own. As he sits beside her, quietly patient, she knows he understands the complexities in opening up the things that were carefully buried deep.
She smiles slightly and looks at him.
"Rrrage," she states simply before taking a deep breath.
"Yeh've seen meh temperr, if yeh'll rrememberr ourr venturre into the deserrt. It comes frrom a seemingly endless well of rrage deep within meh. Ah worrked harrd forr many yearrs teh burry it, studying and focusing on the beautiful things in life."
She looks casually around the small group as she tells her story.
"But Ah burried it too deeply. Ah was weak and coouldn't defend mehself frrom one who had played me forr a fool."
Her thoughts drift briefly to the circlet in her hair, and she resists the urge to reach up and touch it.
"Ah coouldn'a believe it. Even afterr Ah knew what kind of dwarrf he was, Ah still gave him access teh meh sooul. Then one day he pushed meh too farr. The angerr that Ah'd spent so long forrgetting welled up, hot as lava."
She blushed slightly, remembering how out of control she'd been, what she'd done.
"Let's just say he neverr botherred meh again. And afterr worrd got arround, no one else everr darred trreat meh the same as he did. Ah discoverred that meh angerr, at the apprroprriate times, and in measurred doses, was the sourrce of meh strrength."
Her gaze and smile returns to Kywyn.
"Ah doon't knoow wherre it came frrom, but Ah can'na live withoout it. Ah just needed teh learrn how teh live in harrmony with it."
At the words, 'live in harmony', Brodda looks gratefully to the sky, her heart uttering a word of thanks to The Mother.
Hermy shares it with Ashiner.
Kerris snickers. "Have fun trying to keep that monster fed -- she eats five or six pounds of food a day."
"Makes meh wonderr why yeh kept it. Yeh doon't like it. It eats yeh oout of hoouse and home, figurratively speakin'."
"It's a dog. I treated a dog like a dog; what are you blithering about?"
"That crreaturre deserrves teh be trreated no less than yehrreself. Suppose we trreated y'the same as yeh've been trreatin' this dog that adorres yeh?"
She looks at Hermy.
[OoC: bbs]
"There are parts to things that are hard to accept. Sometimes perspective makes us think we can separate a thing from its shadow."
He turns to see Ashiner and watch the dog eat.
She takes a few deep breaths, looking calm once again when she looks at him.
"The darrkness can take us t'unpleasant places and lead us teh seein' parrts of ourrselves we neverr wanted to knoow existed."
She sighs and looks off into the distance.
"Can it be rreigned in and controlled in everryone?"
She thinks of Kerris.
"Perrhaps not in the weak, or those who have succumbed for too long."
She looks again at Kywyn in all seriousness.
"But that is not yooou. Yeh'rre strrongerr than it is. Yeh can only lose contrrrol if yeh give in. Therre is plenty of light in yeh'rre hearrt teh battle the darrkness."
Kywyn's eyes wander of into the field.
"Are we ready to head back?"
"Well, Ah can only trrruly speak aboout meh own experriences, and forr me, though the worrld be full of colorrs, dealing with meh oown darrkness has always been black and white."
She smiles and packs up the few things she'd taken out of her pack.
"Aye, rready. Let's be off."
"An don't tries no funny stuff. Yer goin back an that's final."
Hermy pats Ashiner on the head. "She's won'ts lets you makes a move withouts alertin me so escapins out of the question."
"Comes on. Let's go."
"Will she be sharing the horse?" Kywyn indicates Kerris.
In a dark corner of her mind flashes an image of Kerris trying to keep up with a galloping pony, but she shoves it aside almost before she realizes its there.
"I think the faster we get back," he walks over to Kerris, "The better."
The light-clad man looks around the camp for Kerris's mount.
Kywyn approaches the homely animal and directs Kerris to walk with him.
"I'm going to help you up, okay?"
She shrugs, hands still bound behind her back.
"It's nots much differance then saddlin' a dog."
"I'll help you up if you need the reach."
Hermy points at the saddle, and the other riding gear.
"Just grabs that, and that, and that."
"Put the saddle overs the horses back. I'll tightens the buckles an stuff. I cin reach those."
"Minto, youse goes through the packs. Makes sure theres nothin's in there she cin use ta escapes."
Minto nods and starts to rummage through Kerris gear.
Aside from that, she seems to be carrying her valuables on her person.
As Hermy and Kywyn approach nearer to the horse, it bares its teeth, whinnies, and rears up, driving its hooves forward at them, then kicking at Kywyn. They easily avoid the attacks, but the animal is obviously cut from the same block as its mistress.
"Having trouble with the buckles, Wormy?"
"Nots as much trouble as yer gunna have walking backs."
"Somehows I doubts them boots youse wearin is magical."
"Tells yer horse to calms down, or get blisters."
Hermy looks over at Minto.
"Anythings there she absolutely needs? Cause I don'ts thinks she wants ta be carrying much."
Minto shrugs. "Most of it's cheap stuff. Just like it's owner."
"There are some decent leather working tools though."
Hermy looks at Kerris.
"Are ya gunna talks to yer horse or not?"
"Cause I aint untieing yer hands."
"And yer coming with us."
"I guess yer just gunna hafta runs most of the ways."
"We want to get there as fast as we can don't we?"
"Yup"
"Then I really don't think making her run will help."
"We either need her on the horse. Or we are going to have to drag her behind the horse."
Hermy looks at Kerris, thinks, and then looks at Minto. "we'd probably betters not do that."
"She needs ta be ables to talks to the judge."
Minto nods. "Exactly."
"Why don't you and Kywyn try saddling the horse again. Don't worry."
"I have a cunning plan."
Hermy looks at him, and then shrugs. "Ifen youse says so. Comes on Kywyn."
As Hermy approaches the horse again, Minto moves about ten feet directly in front of the horse and unslings his lute. He looks at Brodda as he starts strumming.
"I'm sure you've heard that music calms the savage beast. It's time to test that theory."
"I think 'Old Gray Mare' would be appropriate here, don't you?"
"Let's see if I can keep it fascinated enough for Hermy and Kywyn to get it saddled up, eh?"
Minto begins to sing and play.
.oO(That woould have been soooo lovely.)
Knowing what Minto has in mind, she pulls out her recorder and plays along in harmony with Minto's voice, lending her aid to his efforts.
Kerris watches Minto with narrowed eyes.
Once the saddle is on, Hermy points at Kerris, while holding onto the reins.
"Get's ups there. An tries not ta fall off."
He then mounts his own horse so they can be off.
"Let's go."
She starts off for Garic's.
"Where will you take her?" Kywyn asks his three travelling companions.
"I want to stop in at home first, but I don't believe this is finished yet. What's the next step?"
"She needs teh give herr testimony. Ah think takin' herr teh Chandl woould be good. He'll knoow the legal prrocedurre forr this."
Her eyes brush the walls of the city, tired and looking forward to a good sleep in her own bed.
"We'lls takes her straight ta Brodda's liar guy an has him sets up the appointment within the judge."
He looks at Kerris and shakes his head.
"A letters woulds has been more convient. But everyone knows youse can'ts be trusted."
"Brodda? Takes us to yer liar, mister Candle."
The halfling follows after the dwarf.
"Youse goes homes Kywyn. Ya already helped out a bunch. An it woulds seem kinda silly ta takes one guys father away just so another guy cin see his."
"Says hello to Kywyn Jr. for me."
"Times ta gets down an start talkin. Maybe ifen yer lucky an honest enoughs what ya tell the lawyer will be enoughs an ya won'ts hafta stay here too longs."
"An yousewon'ts. Once this is over withs I don'ts wants ta see ya here again. Or in Arrowhead. You gots that?"
Hermy nods his head at Brodda. "Will you see ifen the liars around an cin help us out here?"
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
"Youse goes homes Kywyn. Ya already helped out a bunch. An it woulds seem kinda silly ta takes one guys father away just so another guy cin see his."
"Says hello to Kywyn Jr. for me."
"Alright, Hermy," Kywyn nods.
"But I do want to see how this turns out. Could you come get me when you're ready to go find your father? This horse will just be at my place until then, and we can see what your plan is."
Kywyn dismounts and leads the mount toward home.
"Hi, there."
Kywyn finds NaShae and embraces her while explaining what had taken so long. He also tells them that Hermy is close to reuniting with his father and they just had a little more work to do. But until the others are ready, the young man would spend the time here with those closest to him.
After a word with a clerk, two burly, cudgel-wielding guards escort Kerris upstairs. After a while, they come back down the stairs alone, one of them approaching Brodda.
"Mr. Chandl wants to talk to ya."
"Ah thoought he might. Take meh to'im, lad."
Though tired, she gives the fellow a wink and follows him to see Chandl.
"So good of you, thank you my dear.
What a shame after all that Capt. Kerris could not remember any details, but oh well. So, have you found anything else? And any results finding anything about the illnesses?"
"Minto? I was wonderin somethin?"
Minto plucks a few strings on his lute. "What?"
"It's about Ashiner."
"Ten why are you asking me? You know a lot more about dogs then I do."
"Unless you want to know what color of collar to get her."
"Nope. An it's nots really abouts dogs really. It's more abouts the Mother."
"OK?"
"Does youse think she lets me finds Ashiner as a balance fer Major?"
"I lose my dog an then finds another."
Minto stops playing and shrugs. "It could be. Why do you ask?"
"Well, ifen shes already balanced things out she probably wouldn'ts lets Major come backs from beings dead would she?"
"I don't know."
"And neither of us knows if The Mother sent Ashiner to you. It could just be coincidence."
"Maybe. But it just seems to be too coincidental ta be coincidence."
"Courseit does. It means nots on purpose."
"an I doesn't thinks the Mother meants to killsMajor. It just happeneds. So shes tried ta balance things out here."
"She's a god, they can be coincidental on purpuse."
"It aints likes when Alissa died. there was a reason fer that, she was the balance. There was evil what needed fightin somewheres else. So shes took Alissa ta do it."
"But theres evil ta fights here too, an I needs a dogs to do it."
"So she sents me Ashiner."
"Why not send Major back instead?"
Hermy sighs.
"Major was too smarts ta be a dog all his life. I don't thinks he enjoyed havin ta pretends ta be stupid. Ise bettin where he is at now he cin play chess with the old guys that he always complaineds about at the park."
"I'm bettin rights now his horsey thing is takins their pointy thing an he's laughin at them fer not movin theys thing with the ball on top instead."
"OOOO kay?"
Minto shuffles a bit and looks to make sure there are no sharp objects nearby Hermy could pick up and run with. Hermy doesn't notice Mintos unease.
"I don'tsthinks we shoulds try ta raise him. At least nots unless its really really important. Mores important then just makesin me happy."
"Lets lets him enjoy his game."
"I cin haves Kal or Dumbovens train Ashiner ta be a ridin dog. Or does it myself once I gets time."
"She'lls never be as smart as Major. Or as brave. Or as loyal."
"But maybe she'll bese almost as goods of a friend one days."
"An I doubts she'll evers be as sarcastic."
Minto stares blankly at Hermy.
Originally posted by Scheherazade
Dr. Chandl looks from his pile of papers, eyes tired, and waves to a chair.
"So good of you, thank you my dear.
What a shame after all that Capt. Kerris could not remember any details, but oh well. So, have you found anything else? And any results finding anything about the illnesses?"
Having ridden all day, Brodda politely declines a seat, opting instead to stand near the window.
She frowns at the lawyer.
"What d'yeh mean she coouldn't rrememberr any details? She offerred teh wrrite a letterr! What details had she planned t'include in a letterr that she can't rrememberrr in perrson?!"
She takes a cleansing breath and changes mental tracks.
"The illness, aye. We trracked it doown to a trraveling "Doctorr" Lovelace who was selling false magical potions and powderrs. It turrns oout that in one of the powderrs, one of the ingrredients was impurre, purrchased on the rroad just beforre coomin' into the city. She was convinced teh give up herr entirre stock of this powderr. Ah've got it all in meh saddle bags. Ah thoought the temple might have a prroperr disposal method forr it."
"Have the victims rrecoverred alrright?"
After helping NaShae clean up around the apartment for a while, Kywyn thinks to check in with the others just to relay what things are going on. With a kiss, he grabs his satchel and exits the apartment. Down the stairs and out the door, Kywyn walks lightly into the street and onto the cemetery. He promptly vanishes from sight.
His thoughts come out more as concise notes.
”Confronted a Dr. Lovelace. She was unknowingly transmitting a mindfire disease with impure powder product.”
“Accompanied others to Arrowhead Springs where a mercenary band has been lingering. A former guard named Kerris was the objective. She is key in getting Hermy’s father cleared from the mines.”
“Will most likely be heading out again to see this through.”
Waiting a moment to see if any response comes, Kywyn readies to leave through the darkness again. He is grateful the Avowed have let him have his time to himself since returning from previous (and personal) missions. But he has no doubt when the need arises, the call would be made, and he would answer. He has to. Kywyn begins to see what he is becoming has its ties in this place. The sacrifice, the scope of which he perhaps did not comprehend at first, filters through in bits and pieces.
To realize a destiny. To decide where you are headed and realize you could not have been headed anywhere else. Actions are fate, and free will and fate become points of view.
The sorcerer’s enhanced eyes scan the stone walls and designs by candlelight. Many secrets here still. Secrets within and without. What was it the Labyrinth had told him? Find yourself within... bring your self without.
Kywyn steps back into the shadowy gate.
”You know how to reach me.”
'Dr. Lovelace'? Indeed! Yes, I'll be glad to have the powder sent over to the temple. The victims have recovered, but there are some families that will be terribly short of cash for quite some time."
Dr. Chandl smiles at Brodda. "You've done well, my dear. I had an interview with Father Camrun, and his testimony will be crucial, it seems, in regards to Mr. Woodhome.
He was a rather lowly acolyte when the first trial took place, but his word carries considerably more weight nowadays."
At the Avowed compound, Verinal is intrigued by Kywyn's report on Lovelace. She could be a useful tool. Bear that in mind if you encounter her again. Where do you expect to be going next?
Originally posted by Scheherazade
At the Avowed compound, Verinal is intrigued by Kywyn's report on Lovelace. She could be a useful tool. Bear that in mind if you encounter her again. Where do you expect to be going next?
"I will. She is a con woman, so it seems she won't be around this city again for a while. At least not with the same show," Kywyn answers.
"I'm not quite sure where the procedure leads next. Hermy will probably want to go straight to the mines if possible, but I will wait to see what they come up with. I'm not even sure where the mines they mentioned are."
Originally posted by Scheherazade
"Was she? That's interesting... Kerris seemed most sincere in her inability to recall names or details. Well, I warned her not to leave the city in case she's called to testify.
'Dr. Lovelace'? Indeed! Yes, I'll be glad to have the powder sent over to the temple. The victims have recovered, but there are some families that will be terribly short of cash for quite some time."
Dr. Chandl smiles at Brodda. "You've done well, my dear. I had an interview with Father Camrun, and his testimony will be crucial, it seems, in regards to Mr. Woodhome.
He was a rather lowly acolyte when the first trial took place, but his word carries considerably more weight nowadays."[/COLOR]
Brodda scoffs.
"Ah hoope yeh put a guarrd on herr too. A warrnin' isn't gooin' teh keep herr in toown. Especially if therre arre unsavorry charracterrs who might be interrested teh knoow she's in toown as Ah suspect."
She shakes her head, wondering if Marroc already knows about her return and has passed the word along to such persons. She almost smiles.
She does smile when she hears the victims have all recovered.
"That's good. Ah think Ah'll visit the halfling family soon and see hoow the boy is dooin'."
When she hears that the wrongful imprisoning of Hermy's father is looking promising, her smile spreads across her face into a grin.
"Well Ah'll be! Woould it be prrematurre teh starrt plannin' the rreunion parrty then? Oh, Herrmy rreally needs soome good news!"
She pulls out her recorder right there and dances a little happy jig as she plays.
He gestures resignedly.
"She gave her word to be available, and I can only hope it was trustworthy."
"Ah, yes," he chuckles, "You can start planning the reunion, but first you need to bring him back to the city."
"Yeh'll not see herr again. And if Ah'm wrrrong aboout that, Ah'll kiss a warrg."
Putting her recorder in its sling at her side, she turns to face Dr. Chandl.
"Is therre anythin' morre Ah can do forr yeh? If not, Ah shoould be on meh way, getting things prreparred."
Digging in a desk drawer, Dr. Chandl brings out a pouch, passing it to the dwarfess.
Brodda receives 25gp
"Ah woouldn't mind at all."
She receives the pouch and looks inside, blushing a little. She helps Chandl when she can because its the right thing to do. She loves bringing criminals to justice or just bringing peace of mind to someone in the city. She's always surprised to receive payment -- of course the money does pay the rent.
She smiles and bows deeply.
"Thank yeh. Ah'll take the powderr t'the temple strraightaway. Enjoy yeh'rre evenin'."
She closes his office door behind her and returns to the others, noticing Kywyn's absence just before turning a smile on Minto and Hermy. Especially Minto. With a twinkle. ;)
"Ah've got teh take the powderr t'the temple so it can be safely destrroyed. Afterr that, Doctorr Chandl indicated that with the help of Fatherr Camrrrun, it is a good bet that we'll get a legal rrelease forr yeh'rre Da, Herrmy!"
She bypasses mention of Kerris' lapse of memory.
"I think you'll want to be well rested when you finally get to see your father, don't you Hermy?"
Hermy shakes his head. "I'ds rather be well as soons as possible."
"I cin rest afterwards."
"Ah quite underrstand. But we'll need soome kind of wrrit beforre we can actually brring 'im back. And that may take a day orr two. Ah think. But we can make the plans."
She kisses Minto's cheek as she heads for the door.
"Ah've got a coouple of errrands teh rrun. Ah expect teh be spendin' a good porrtion of the evenin' at Marroc's t'night." :D
Flashing another grin, she leaves the lawyer's guild, leading CrimeChaser to the Temple of Ordemetrex.
"Come on. You heard the lady. It might be a few days."
"You aren't going to accomplish anything by hanging around here."
"Lets get back to the guild. You never did get your pie back at Arrowhead Springs. And it's been, what, weeks since you've seen a bed hasn't it been?"
Hermy shrugs. "Well I guess it wouldn'ts hurts."
"I wouldn't go that far. Theres no telling what kind of things the boys have done to your bed. Dirkko's develpoing an obbsesion with traps."
The two halflings and their dogs head to the guild.
"And where have you two been? I distinctly recall telling you that you needed rest Master Hermy. You were suppose to get your pie and then go to bed."
"I knows. An I stills does. Don't worries about that. I aint sleepin around somewheres else."
Minto puts down the pie and backs away until he knows wether Volos is going to let them have it. Volos starts to respond, but stops before the words get out of his mouth and a small smile crosses his face.
"Well I'm certainly glad of that."
"Not nessasarily for your sake either. You are a mess. And despertatly in need of a bath."
Minto nods. "I offered him a spell, but he didn't want to waste the seconds it took. He was in too much of a hurry to get back here."
"Really? And why such a hurry Master Hermy? Where have you been?"
"Freein my dad."
"Wese founds the guard captain who framed him an turned her inta the courts."
"Wese goin ta get him soon. Once we gets the paperswork."
"That certainly is good news." Volos takes the pie and starts to dish it out. "And worthy of celebrating."
Hermy smiles as his pie is handed to him. "It aint time ta celebrates yet. At least nots a big celebration. We still has ta go gets him."
"But it wouldn'ts hurts none ta practise celebratin."
"Indeed."
"Will it be just the two of you going? Or will you be taking your students with you?"
"Brodda an Kywyns will be going too. Theys went with us earlier an wants ta see it ta the end."
"Ah, I see."
"Why aren't you taking any of the guild members with you? They could use an adventure. It is what we are here for after all."
"Cause they'd deserve a splits of the treasure. An the onlty treasure wese going fer I aint sharing. Ya don'ts divides yer dad up after all."
Volos pours himself a cup of tea. "Yes, I can see how that would be a concern. However, you may find trouble on the way."
"Or more likely it will find you. You seem to attract it."
"Yeah, Ise startin ta notice that."
"Perhaps you could take a guild member with you in case that happens. Master Ran perhaps?"
"If nothing else he could use a break from his jobs. Poor man is working himself to death."
"I suspect even fighting off another dragon might be relaxing for him."
"Another dragon?"
"Yes. Master Ran accompanied Mistress Natala and Dame Mirrielle on a rescue mission into one of the lairs of the dragons up at the pass."
"Really? I didn'ts know that." Hermy looks at his bard. "Dids you know that?"
Minto shrugs. "I guess I heard something about it, but didn't think it was woth mentioning."
Hermy blinks. "Well ifen he's available, sure we cin brings him."
"It'll gives Kywyn someones ta talks too while I goes off scoutin ahead."
"That guy really likes ta talks."
Volos smiles. "I'll let Master Ran know."
"You take a bath and then get to bed."
"I'll be checking up on you, so no sneaking off this time."
Hermy nods and finishes his pie, before heading to the bathroom.
Brodda had talked about anger; her anger inside which with she desired harmony. Kywyn considers what the feeling is like, the rage and anger and wrath.
And then his body is in motion again. Smooth pushes with crossing steps become circular kicks and jumping leg attacks.
”Anger.”
He himself finds it hard to get angry sometimes, even when he knows he should. Or it’s just maybe hard to show it anyway. He got used to pushing it down somewhere. Kywyn wonders where does it go? Does it dissipate and its toxins flush from the body, or does it build up somewhere, accruing next to the dark seed that lies in one’s heart?
On the broken stone ground, Kywyn spirals down into a cross-legged seated position. He pushes up and into a spinning kick before landing in a squat stance. His motions calm down to a more fluid pace again, settling his aura to an even flow. Stepping into a deep backward step, his arms circle and pull down on an imaginary cloth. Kywyn steps behind and rotates around a vertical axis to pause in a low posture with one open hand and one rounded hook hand.
[color=burlywood]”Old feeling,”[/color] croaks the black frog lounging on Kywyn’s pack.
[color=burlywood]”We know it from before there were others.”[/color]
”There were always others,” Kywyn counters, ”It’s just a feeling, it comes with the rest.”
Kywyn’s hips sway to lead his limbs and return him to a standing position, arms crossed at different angles and hands open.
[color=burlywood]”Guo-guo. Remember what I say?”[/color]
”You say quite a lot for a frog. But some words stick. ‘From the earliest days, we were dancing in the shadows.’”
”Old memories…”
”Old memories scare me sometimes.” Kywyn mutters.
“Only fear can hold you back. Let go.”
“I don’t know how.”
Red anger is very much in the moment. It allows warriors to do things on the battlefield that would not be possible anywhere else. And it allows people to tap into something primal, some part that cares not of what comes next. There are flaws, Kywyn mulls, in the theory of living in the moment. Dangers lie in the extremes.
Minto takes care of the problem, and then ushers the gang out into the training room and gives them a few lessons in the art of witty ripartee. "It takes more then just a sharp sword to be a hero, a sharp tongue and mind can be just as cutting, if not more so."
"You'll be remembered far longer if theres something to remember you by. A catch phrase, a battle cry, anything other then grunting."
"I don't expect you to master the snappy comeback yet, or the witty retort, but I want you to work on talking while you spar."
"And no, Mick, saying Mick Smash doesn't count."
The horde splis into pairs and lays into each other, with weapons and words.
"Ya stink."
"Do not. Ya do."
"Says you."
"Oim a spring, yer glue bounces off me an sticks ta you."
"Poopy pants."
"Mick Smash!"
"Yer momma."
"No yer momma."
Minto sighs and shakes his head in disgust.
Ham makes a quick sandwich for him, and Hermy settles into a chair around the meeting table to eat it.
Volos brings him a glass of milk. "I spoke with Master Ran this morning, and he is agreeable to accompanying you on your journey."
"You should be able to find him at the Mystic Store if you want to give him the details of when you will be leaving."
"Rights now, I'll I knows is its'll be soon."
"I guess Ise coulds tells him ta be readys fer leavins anytime.'
"He might need a bit of time to get his affairs in order. He doesn't have the luxury of being able to just drop everything and go like you do."
"I believe he has several jobs to make ends meet between adventures."
"Really. Wow, a hero that works. Who'd a thunk it."
"Minto always tells me that a job aint heroic."
"Master Newberry has a few strange ideas on what is heroic I'm afraid."
Straight into the foyer, much to the alarm of a few acolytes.
"Brrring Clerrric Arrbin t'meh!" she calls over the din of objections to the pony being in the temple. "Meh pony's not leavin' until Ah have a chance t'speak t'him!"
The noise doesn't falter, however she sees one of the acolytes part from the group and head down a corridor.
"Good," she mutters to herself. "With what this pony is carryin', Ah'm not leavin' him ooutside teh get rrrobbed."
It isn't long before Arbin arrives, looking at Brodda and the pony with a mixture of fascination and horror.
"Mistress Brodda, why have you brought that... you're pony into the house of the Mother?" His expression, quite tense yet attempting to look friendly, is comical and Brodda grins.
She clears her throat and gets down to business. After all, there's a keg at Marroc's waiting for her to drain it.
"We trracked doown the cause of the Mindfirre."
She tells the cleric about Doctor Lovelace and her impure ingredients in one of the powders, and their adventure chasing her down to collect it.
"Doctorrr Chandl agrreed that y'woould knoow how teh dispose of the powderr so that it woouldn't hurrt anyone else."
The cleric's face changes to surprise, then respect.
"Indeed, he is correct. I shall have to thank him for your involvement."
He smiles then turns to the acolytes, giving clear instructions to remove the powder from the pony's packs, including precautions in how to transport them so they don't become ill.
The acolytes hop into action and soon all the powder has been carried away.
"Into that lab in the basement, Ah imagine." Brodda winks.
"Thank yeh. Ah'll be off then. Ah've got some catchin' up t'do."
The cleric thanks her and turns to follow the acolytes. Brodda smiles and leads CrimeChaser out of the temple, pleased to have that wrapped up.
"Yeh deserrve a good brrrushin' and a rrest, lad. Ah'll take yeh hoome."
She mounts the pony and rides him through town to the rear of the adventuring guild. Dismounting, she hands the reins to Tiv.
"Take good carre of'im, lad. He's worrked harrd. And give'im a trreat when he's rrested. He deserrves it." She unloads her things from the pony's back.
The boy smiles. "Yes Ma'am."
She strokes the pony in temporary farewell and turns to head away when a couple of the halfling boys come bounding out of the guild toward her. She isn't sure which ones as she can never tell them apart.
.oO(Ah doon't think they've everr held still long enoough forr meh t'get a good look at'em.)
"Good evenin' lads! What can Ah doo forr yeh?"
"Nothin'," says one.
"Herrmy's back," says another.
"Minto's back too," says a third.
"Their eatin' pie," offers the first.
"You wanna come eat pie too?" asks the third, a twinkle in his blue halfing eyes.
Brodda chuckles, wondering if the last one has been more observant than she's given any of them credit for being.
"Ah'd loove to, lads, but Ah've got soome things t'do. Let the gentlemen eat theirr pie. They've missed it."
"You'da missed it too if you've ever tasted Volos' pie," returned the second of the three.
Brodda smiles. "That Ah have, once, and Misterr Volos is indeed talented with frruit and pastrry. Perrhaps y'shoould ask him teh save me a piece forr laterr."
All three boys start bouncing at once, having been given an errand. "Oh! Yes!" And they bound into the building, each one trying to beat the others to deliver the message.
Tiv grins at her and she smiles, whistling as she heads for home.
An hour later, Brodda emerges from her room, clean and dressed in fresh clothes, smiling. She goes downstairs for a visit with Mrs. Weatherby if she isn't busy.
"Oh, Brodda dear, a letter was delivered for you by messenger," she hears Mrs. Weatherby's voice from her office, a bit of paper-shuffling, then light footsteps as the elder woman joins her, envelope in hand.
Brodda smiles and takes the sealed envelope. "Thank yeh, Missus Weatherrby. How have things been while Ah've been away?"
Brodda hands Mrs. Weatherby a small pouch with past and future rent.
"Oh, busy as usual. The house has been filling up over the last year. I'm so thankful everyone has been so willing to help with various tasks around the house..."
As Mrs. Weatherby talks about the house and shares anecdotes about her experiences with a few tenants, Brodda half listens as she looks at the address. Immediately her heart seems to stop and her hands shake. Feeling as if she can't breathe, she reads the dwarven runes:
To Brodda Johnstone, Weatherby Boarding House, Garic's City
She pales, seeing her hated surname in print.
.oO(It's a good thing this is in Dwarrrven. Ah'd hate t'have worrd gooin' arround toown of meh last name.)
The thoughts of her latrine-digging ancestors falls away as she opens the letter with trembling hands, her belly in knots.
.oO(Therre's only one rreason forr them t'send me a letterr...)
Mrs. Weatherby, now silent, looks at her tenant with concern.
"Brodda? What is it?"
Brodda pulls out the letter, unfolds it, and reads:
Dearest Brodda,
It's time. Loremaster Dargor has passed to the afterlife. We need you here now.
Word has reached us from the city that you have made somewhat of a name for yourself. Do not take too long making your farewells.
We will see you soon, Loremistress.
Kentar
Her stomach lurches at the news.
.oO(They can't need meh! Not yet! Not noow!)
Thoughts of the unfinished task of bringing home Hermy Senior flash through her mind.
.oO(Ah can't not finish this! Ah can't let Herrmy doown! He's been thrroough so much!)
Her eyes well up and a tears roll down her cheek as the flashes of thought turn to those whom she has met and will likely never see again.
"My goodness! Brodda? What is it, dear?" Mrs. Weatherby takes the dwarfess' trembling hands in her own, setting the letter on the table.
The physical touch brings Brodda's mind back to the now, and she quickly wipes away the tears. Sniffling, she forces a smile and tells the woman that its nothing, but that she has been called back home and will be leaving in the next few days.
"I see," replies Mrs. Weatherby uncertainly. "That's too bad you won't have much of a rest. You just arrived back home. When do you expect to be back from this next trip?"
Brodda stands, takes the letter, and heads for the stairs.
"Ah woon't be back this time, Missus Weatherrby."
Stoically, Brodda climbs the stairs to her room.
And cries.
Originally posted by Hermy the Hero
"Really. Wow, a hero that works. Who'd a thunk it."
"Minto always tells me that a job aint heroic."
"Master Newberry has a few strange ideas on what is heroic I'm afraid."
Almost as if on que, the minstrel storms out of the training room, muttering under his breath. "You're so ugly, when you were born the midwife didn't know which end to spank is neither witty, nor true... Come on, using ugly insults on me just won't work. I know, everyone knows, that I'm one good looking guy."
"Now if I had tried that line on Mick, well.." Noticing Volos and Hermy looking at him, Minto waves and scoots over to join in their conversation.
"Did you get a decent nights rest Hermy?"
Hermy nods. "Yup. An a decent breakfast. Ise all set ta go. Just waitin fer the word from that liar. An then wese outs of here just likes a halftuck an a bathhouse.""
Volos clears his throat.
"Afters we gives Rans time ta gets ready of course."
Minto smiles and nods. "Fair enough. I could use a bit more time to get ready myself."
"Theres a few ales at Nobody's waiting for me."
"And hopefully a dwarf as well."
Hermy nods. "Ok, just don'ts stays up all nights. Ifen Ran cin gets ready quicks enough, I stills wants ta gets outs of here as soon as possible."
"I'd better get started then. The boys are practising their... they are calling each other names and hitting each other with sticks."
"I don't think they'll require much supervision with that. They've got years of practise after all."
"You should try to get in a nap or two. You know where to find me if they court order appears."
"Yup. Nobody's, the Last Lich, the Blue Pumpkin, Mrs. Weatherbys, ummm... anywhere else?"
"I'll keep the drinking to just Nobodys."
"So either there or Weatherbys."
Hermy nods. "Ok, has fun."
Minto nods. "How could I not."
Minto casts a quick prestigitation to clean off his clothes and then strolls out of the guild house.
Hermy and Volos watch him go, and Hermy shrugs. "Maybes I shoulds go see that liar an see whats happening. I'll stops ta talks ta Ran an Kywyn on the ways back."
Volos nods and begins to take away Hermy's dishes. The hero, wipes his milk moustache off on his sleeve and then slips out the door.
.o0(Maybe ifen Ise tells Ran ta gets ready now, he'll be ables ta get readys earlier.)
Hermy approaches the door, pushes it open and looks for the elf.
"Hey! Hi. Where's Run?"
For Kywyn, the darkness of his closed eyes gives him a sense of stillness. Random thought fired in the dark, from the past, in the current, and on the future. Kywyn recalls young voices, and he tries to place them in his memory. After some searching, he remembers them as the voices of other kids talking to him when he was much younger.
”C’mon, tell us how you get you hands to be so cold?”
“Fine, keep you stupid secret. Let’s go.”
It was the sound of other children wanting to learn Kywyn’s ‘trick’ to control the chill in his hands. It would be good for sneaking up on people and touching them on the back or the neck and make them scream, they figured.
Kywyn opens his eyes to see Dak staring at him.
“Enough of that, right?” Kywyn says, seeing that boys need something more active.
Standing up, Kywyn scoops the pint-sized Dakarai up under one arm.
"And make it the good stuff. I'm expecting Brodda to be here soon. We've got a long journey ahead of us so we'll need to get a week or so of drinking done while we can."
Excuse me, what did you say, sir?
"He works here."
Run? Oh... are you looking for master Ran?
If so, I must inform you, sir, that you've been misinformed. Master Ran doesn't work here but is Ms Natala's student.
"He's a little to olds ta be a student."
Looks bit surprised.
Yes, I am sure, I do work here after all. Master Ran usually comes here during mornings for an hour or two, during which time Ms Natala teaches healing matters to him.
I can already do most of things needed here at the store, so she don't need to teach me those. Thus, she could teach me, but it's more useful to both of us that she teaches master Ran instead of me.
"Is she's planning on hiring him?"
Shifts from one foot to another, obviously weary from Hermy's inquisitive approach.
But I think you didn't come here to query about master Ran's studies. You need to find him?
"I don'ts has a lots a sppare time ta be wastin askin questions that don'ts needs ta be asked. Theres an adventures that needs ta be adventured. An I need Run fer that."
"So where is he?"
You can most probably find him from Last Lich on most afternoons and evenings.
"I'da thought Natala wouldn't teach drunks. She stopped being almost married ta Durin because he was drinkin. An being marrieds a lot funner then teaching students."
"I can'ts even imagine tryin ta teach mine ifen they was drunk."
He works there.
"They don'ts needs a healer there."
First of all, his main vocation is not healing. Secondly, he does need work to make his living, not everyone has coins dropping on his lap whenever there is a need.
"It seems ta pays a lots better then heroing."
"Excepts when ya kills a dragon. You'ds think Run woulds still haves some of that moneys left wouldn't ya?"
"I guess he spends it pretty fast. No wonders he needs a job."
Hermy shrugs.
"But Volos tolds me he's still interested in heroing."
"Thats why Ise looking fer him. Ta helps me with a quest."
Yes, yes... shouldn't you head to the inn if you are on an important quest?
Yes, yes... shouldn't you head to the inn if you are on an important quest?
"Or at least continuing ats. I cin go ta the inn afters that."
"I don'ts has time to waste goings to an inn right now."
.oO(Why does he want to talk to a liar? Isn't that an exercise in futility if nothing the liar says is true.)
Uhh... you better hurry up then, to catch this liar. Watch out for untruths.
Hermy backs out of the store and then starts jogging towards the lawyers office.
.o0(When I gets back, I'ds better talks ta Natala about that guy.It's probablys nots safe ta has someone as confused as him tryin ta heals people. There aint no telling whats he mights accidently do. She'd be pretty upset ifen one of her customers ended up gettin a foot reattached ta where a nose should go.)
Reaching the lawyers office, Hermy knocks on the door. "Hey, any words yet about my dad!"
"Who're you talkin' to, short stuff?"
"But its Dr. Candle I really needs ta talks too."
The guard leads Hermy over to the clerk.
"Yes," the clerk looks up. "How may I assist?"
"Dr. Candle or something like that. The one Brodda works fer."
Sure enough, the runner comes back and invites Hermy upstairs to the Doctor's office.
"Mr. Woodhome Jr.?" Dr. Chandl stands and offers his hand. "You'll be happy to hear I have a writ stating your father was convicted in a state of mistaken identity."
"Nows I cin go gets him!"
Hermy starts to dash off, but stops and walks back. "Umm, coulds I had the writ please?"
"Be careful with that, you wouldn't want it to fall into the wrong hands. Oh, and I sent the bill for the fee to your guild."
.o0(Better try ta avoid the boys fer now.)
"Umm, how much is the bill gunna be?"
"Yer invited of course."
Hermy shakes the mans hand and then slips out of the building.
.o0(Fifety gold! I hopes Volos doesnt minds payin fer that until I gets a chance ta earn some adventurin money. At this rate Ise gunna hasta hunt down every dragn within a million miles..)
Hermy starts for the Last Lich.
.o0(I'll leys Ran knows an sees how fast he cin gets ready, and then I'll tell Kywyn. I aint seen Kywyn Jr. in awhile anyways, an I mights needs a few opointers from him on how ta acts around dads. I cin gets Brodda and Minto in the morning. Theys gunna needs sometime ta sober up.)
Hermy reaches the Last Lich Inn and looks around for the elven monk.
"Master Hermy. Volos told me you are looking for a companion for a short journey and that I might fit the profile."
The monk bows and gestures towards a table.
"Would you care for a drink?"
"Sure ifen ya gots milk."
Hermy follows Ran to the bar. "How soon cin you be ready to go? I just got the written from the liar ta clear mys dad, so as soon as youse ready we can beses off."
"As long as as soon aint intil morning. Brodda an Mintos gunna needs ta sobers up first. An Kywyns gunna neds ta spends a last night within his family."
Ran asks one of the other staff members to bring Hermy a mug of cool milk from the cold-storage cellar. It arrives on an attractive tray with a small jar of honey and some spices to be stirred in to taste.
"Tomorrow? I'm not sure. Kannan will want me to find a replacement, like I usually do. I'll ask if I can send the stableboy round to the Silver Sword, Volos always has a few names of reliable men. I'll let Volos know if I do find someone willing to fill in for me, so unless you'll be staying here for the evening you can get an answer from him. It shouldn't be a problem though. Shall we meet at the guild? What time do you want to leave? And is there anything special I should remember to bring?"
"Rope. Ya cin never has too much rope."
Hermy takes a swallow of his milk. "An some blankets are somethings likes that. I don'ts thinks theres gunna be too many inns on the way ta where wese going, an I'll tell ya. Sleepin on the colds ground aint the nicest thing in the world."
Hermy takes another drink. "We'll be usin the guilds horses unless ya gots yer own. An Ise pretty sure I cin gets VGolos an Ham ta sets us up with soomes food, sose ya probably don'ts needs ta worry about that too much."
"Unless you gots to eats somethin special on accounts of being an elf an all."
Another swallow and the halfling continues.
"We'll mets at the guilds whenevers everyne cin makes it in the morning. I don'ts wants ta rush Kywyn too much. He's gots a son an stuff that he'll needs ta says goodbyes too."
"An I wants ta makes sure that Brodda an Minto has somes time ta finish up theirs buisness."
"I'd prefer nots ta hafts watch them makes kissy face ifen ya knows what I means."
"Sose whatever times you everyone shows up. That's when we'll leaves."
"Thoughs the sooner the better."
The halfling finishes off the glass.
Putting the empty glass down on the table, Hermy starts to get up. "I'ds betters goes tell Kywyn."
"I'll sees you in the morning then, right Run? At the guild? As soons as you can?"
Hermy gives the elf a wave and then heads out of the inn, making his way towards the halfling quarter.
Reaching the Toadfoot rescidence, Hermy climbs the steps to the apartment and knocks on the door.
"Hello? Kywyn? NaShae? Kywyn Jr? It's me. Hermy."
The wooden door opens and Kywyn stands with Dakarai under one arm.
"Hello, Hermy. Come in."
Being held like a sack of potatoes, Dakarai smiles a little timidly and waves to the halfling.
Kywyn asks, "Things worked out?"
He walks over to the dining table and places Dak on a chair.
Hermy smiles at Dak.
"Yup, things has gones well. I gots the letter from the liar a little bit ago, an tolds Run when Ise planning in leaving."
"Have you met Run? He's the elf who works at the Last Lich Inn? Volos thoughts it mights be a goods idea ta brings someone else with us in case we gets inta trouble, an he suggested Run."
"So I asked him ifen he cin be ready by morning."
"He says he can, cin you be?"
Hermy glances around the room, watching Dak out of the corner of his eye to see how the young boy acts around his father.
.o0(I doubts my dad will be ables ta carry me likes that, or lifts me onta a chair. An I expects he'lls be the one lookin ta me fer protection. But I thinks I cin smile likes that, hopefullys I won'ts be ables ta not do it.)
Hermy continues speaking. "I don'ts wants ta rush you or nothin likes that. Ifen you needs more then a nights ta says goodbyes an stuff, I understands. Ya cin nevers takes too much time sayin goodbye."
"Good," Kywyn replies as he pulls out a chair for Hermy before sitting down himself.
"Ran? Sounds familiar... Probably have seen him at the Last Lich."
"Thanks, Hermy. If you are ready to go, I'll get ready too,"Kywyn says evenly.
"Delaying a 'hello' isn't great either."
Dakarai sits, first looking at Hermy and then turning his attention elsewhere. The half-elf child crawls out of the chair and runs over to the window.
"Going out again, Papa?"
"Just for a little while, yeah," Kywyn answers.
"I can watch for you here with Mama," Dak gazes into the dark street below.
Instead of sitting Hermy goes over to the window and looks out with the boy. "You can see pretty fars from here can't you?"
"I'm sure youse'll be able to spots him from here when he comes back."
"I won'ts keeps him very long either, I promise. I knows whats its likes ta have yer dad be away. That's what yer dad will be doing. Helping me bring my dad backs home."
"He's been gone fer a long, long time. Longers then youse been alives. But he's finally gunna get ta comes home."
"An so wills yer dad. So don't thinks ya needs ta spend all the time he's gone lookin fer him. Ya gots ta remember ta takes a break ta play."
Hermy stares out the window, imaging himself watching his dad walk down the street. Finally he shakes the dream out of his head, and pats Dak on the head.
Walking away from the window he stops next to Kywyn.
"I thinks you'll wants ta bring stuff fer sleeping on the road. I don't knows how many inns they'll be on the ways ta where wese going, an I don'ts wants ta hafta goes out of our way ta finds them."
"The sooners we cin gets dads backs to their sons the better."
Observing Hermy by the window, Kywyn's eyes reveal a gleam of melancholy.
"It'll be good, Hermy."
Dakarai laughs a little at the way Hermy speaks but is soon listening intently. He takes a moment to look at the halfling's outfit up close.
The child's eyes grow a bit wider, and he turns to his father.
"Papa, can I get pants like Mr. Hermy's?!"
"Uh. We'll see, kid," the dark-haired man shunts the questions off.
Hermy looks around. "Is NaShae fines with you going?"
To Hermy's last query, Kywyn responds, "She is. She understands."
Catching Hermy's glance around, he adds, "She's resting right now."
Kywyn notes, "I'll get my things together, spend tonight here, and meet you in the morning. Where will that be?"
Hermy nods and stops looking around and answers Kywyns question. "At the guild. We'll be taking horses an dogs again to speed things up."
"I'll see about gettin food fer the road so ya don'ts needs ta worry about that. I'm sure Volos an Ham will be making breakfast for us all, but ifen I was you I'd eat here."
"Not that Hams a bad cook, but it mights be a whiles before you get the chance ta eats with yer family again. I'ds takes advantage of that ifen you can."
Hermy heads for door. "Thanks fer coming Kywyn."
"It's always good to has a wizard with you when ya leaves town."
"An evens better ta has friends."
Standing in the doorway, Hermy waves at Dak.
"I'll be seeing you soon Kywyn Jr."
"I'm sure my dad will be needing new clothes when he gets back, so as long as I'm at my tailors I'lls see ifen she cin makes you some pants as well."
With another wave, Hermy is out the door and starting down the stairs.
"I'm Dakarai," Dak appends quietly as he waves goodbye.
"I'll come to the guild after breakfast then," Kywyn supplies as he sees Hermy to the door.
"So," Kywyn turns to Dak, "Like funny pants, eh?"
The two play for a while longer until NaShae appears and they put the child to bed.
"Not sure hows longs we''s be gone, an theres no sense in takin so much food it starts ta stinks."
"There is such a thing as preserved food. It will keep for weeks. Many of the shops in the market sell it."
"Yeah, but youse don'ts makes it. An thats makes all the differance in the world ta me Volos. Havin some of yer cookin will makes sleepin on the ground seem mores likes home."
"I'll see what I can do Master Hermy, though I really think you should take some preserved rations with you."
"Ok, as long as theres sammiches for the first day or two."
"I will see to that myself."
"Thanks Volos. I'd better goes help Tiv out with the animals. I'll be taking the boys dogs, as well as Big Ivan."
"Dads gunna need something ta rides back."
"I'd likes ta takes Ashiner too, but she aint ready fer somethin likes this yet. Hopefully Tiv cin teach her a few tricks or somethin likes that. He's to big ta teach her hows ta gets ridden, but I suspects that'll be easier ta do ifen she already knows how ta sit, and heel an that kinda stuff."
Volos nods. "I suspect you are correct."
Hermy goes into the stable and helps the stablehand to groom and feed the animals that will be making the trip in the morning.
Afterwards Hermy spends sometime in the training room, and then heads to bed.
The applicant is a bit cocky, but when he realizes the guild is involved and that making a bad impression here won't do his prospects of finding regular employ any good he settles down quickly enough. Kannan has a few words with him, they have a drink and the arrangement is agreed on by all parties involved.
.oO(That's settled then. I'll leave Natala a note under the door of her store. I have plenty of cash left, so I can easily pay Mrs Weatherby in advance for the next couple of weeks of board.)
Ran finishes his shift with a sense of anticipation for the sudden, upcoming trip. After bidding the rest of the staff at the inn goodnight, he goes home to get some rest. A mere four hours of rêverie later, the monk gets up again and tiptoes down the stairs to the kitchen. Since even Mrs Weatherby isn't up yet, he leaves her a short note and enough coins to cover three weeks' worth of rent. Careful not to wake anyone, Ran leaves the boarding house. After a short walk through the mostly silent city with two stops to leave both Natala and Zoli Rassul a message, he arrives at the Silver Sword well before dawn. Shan lets him in nonetheless and the elf finds a place on the training floor to meditate while he waits for the others to arrive.
"I have to go again."
"I know."
A kiss is shared, and fading thoughts become a kind of poetry as the scene grows hazy.
Fragments on the line
Glimpses of a time
When I could tell you why
Now our day is done
With the fading sun
Still the sight remains
Try to save each other
Maybe let it go, maybe try again
As the shadows grow longer
We can find a way
If only I could stay
Long enough to remember
Shard of icy glass
Embedded by the past
Touch to taste the one
Strength to see it through
Hide beneath the veils
Black and drowning blue
Lines reveal the path
Lies that tell the truth
---
In the morning, Kywyn wakes wrapped around his love and tries to appreciate the moment before rising. He spends the morning gathering this gear and talking to Dakarai and NaShae. When he is finally ready to leave, he has left his heart with each of them. Feeling colder, Kywyn is composed for the trip.
Later in the morning, Kywyn finds himself walking through the warehouse district toward the Silver Sword Guild with his borrowed horse. Passing people on the street without noticing them too much, he strides to the front of the guild. He seems a bit lost in his thoughts but stands ready to meet the others.
.o0(Probably spents the nights with Brodda. I guess theys will shows up together.)
Hermy heads to the dining hall, and shoves down a hearty breakfast.
Ran senses Hermy wandering about the training floor while he sits motionless, meditating peacefully.
.oO(I'm sure he'll tell me when we'll be leaving. I'll just sit here, not in the way of anyone.)
Shoving the last biscuit into his mouth, Hermy sighs.
"Where is everyones? I thinks I seen Run in the training room. So he's here."
"But wheres everybody else? I know Mito likes ta be fashionably lates an all, an Kywyn likes ta be mysterious."
"Ya don't's suppose him an Kywyn coulds be ouside waitin eachs others out ta see who gets ta makes the more dramatic entery do you Volos?"
The steward continues cleaning off the table. "I'm sure they will show up in due time Master Hermy. Why don't you use this time to double check things. I had Tiv load up the saddle bags with food while you were dining."
"Goods idea. I'll gets Run ta help."
Scooting away from the table Hermy goes to the training room, and looks at the monk as he meditates. Hermy clears his throat. "Ya knows, sleepins a lot more comfortable in a bed."
Ran stands up fluidly when Hermy makes his suggestion about sleeping comfort.
"I wouldn't know about that, master Woodhome. We elves don't sleep."
He makes a bow towards the halfling and raises a hand apologetically.
"I know, you prefer to be called Hermy. I'll keep it in mind. I heard Volos suggesting Tiv could use a hand? I'll see to it."
Codo, or is it Podo, well one of the twins rushes into the training room.
"Hermy! That guy is here."
"The one who doesn't smile."
Hermy scratches his head and looks to Ran. "Why woulds the bartender from the Lost Lich be here? You dids get a guy ta fills in fer you didn't you?"
The messanger boy shakes his head. "Not that guy. The one who is going with you on your mission. He's got one of our horses."
"Oh! You means Kywyn."
"Good, Minto an Brodda can'ts be too far behinds him. Comes on Run! Let's get started."
Hermy heads out to meet Kywyn.
"Wese just waiting on Minto an Brodda now. Other then that, wese all set. Volos packed us some sammiches. Ise gots my rope tied ta my saddle, an Tiv shoulds have the mounts all saddled."
When Kywyn arrives, Ran bows towards the sorcerer as well. He detects strength in him, the strength that comes from character and a relentless drive, and realizes Kywyn has grown much since last they met.
.oO(I wonder... Does he learn from someone's teachings or is he both student and master? This trip may offer more opportunities than merely being a diversion.)
Kywyn nods slightly and starts to help get things organized and the food distributed. Looking to Ran, Kywyn gives a small wave in greeting.
The loose, off-white garments the dark-haired man is wearing waver a little with the motion as Kywyn stands. He scans through the equipment around briefly.
"No swords for you either, eh?" Kywyn mentiones quietly to Ran.
"Swords? No, those are not for me."
Ran spreads his arms, the palms of his hands up and open, and smiles.
"With me, what you see is what you get. Although I do use a bow when the occasion calls for it."
He inclines his head towards his pack, a longbow prominently lying on top of it.
"Do you study the art of unarmed defense as well? What is your style?"
Kywyn shrugs.
"Unarmed forms, yes. Defense, offense, performance, exercise, I'm not sure if a single label fits. I don't belong to a school.. but the styles I've collected I put under the Downward Spiral technique," he explains calmly, though hints of his passion for the pusuit shows through.
"I'm not a dedicated fighter, but it's something I feel is important."
Interested to find someone with a common interest, Kywyn asks, "Where did you study?"
"I grew up in a Jade Lotus monastery. The monks there educated and trained me until they felt I was better off out in the world where I can make my own mistakes and have to learn from them. I didn't see their point then, but I've come a long way since. The monks put great emphasis on the development of both body and mind. They teach their students history and philosophy as well as the Way of the Elements. In fact, they teach that the Way is not merely a system of fighting styles and techniques but applies equally to all other aspects of life.
Since coming to Garic's City, I've been training with Zoli Rassul, a master of the Silent Moon style. It's different from the Jade Lotus Way in many respects, but there are enough similarities for me to be able to balance them both."
"I didn't realize there was such a place in the city. Maybe you can show me it sometime when we return. If it's not off limits for outsiders, I mean," Kywyn says to Ran.
"Oh, that's ok. It's not like we're an underground society or something, with a secret handshake and passwords and everything."
Ran chuckles.
"Sifu Rassul will want to see for herself if you have the right mindset and character to embrace, at least in part, the philosophy and way of life that comes with being a student of the Silent Moon if you want to become one, but I do not doubt you'll be welcome to at least find out for yourself what it's all about."
"Yes," Kywyn states mildly, "Silly notion that things like that would be within the city."
"For sure, it'd be nice to see at least."
"For sure. It'll be my pleasure to bring you along some time."
"Minto! Just hows muchs dids you drink last nights?"
"An wheres Brodda?"
Minto sighs and rubs his forehead. "She's not coming?"
Kywyn looks up when Minto arrives, watching to see if Minto is fit to travel
.
"Not coming?"
Minto wipes sweat from his face. "She's not coming."
"She has to go back to her clan. Immediately."
Hermy whispers to Codo, to go get Minto some water, and then moves to his minstrels side. "How come?"
"Ifen her clans in trouble we shoulds help her."
"Dads will understands that savin peoples is my job. Ise a hero. We cin wait on gettin my dad fer a few days."
Minto takes the glass Codo offers him and swallows it down quickily. "A hero isn't what her clan needs."
"Everyone needs a hero."
Minto shakes his head. "They need a bard."
Hermy nods. "Well ifen you wants to go helps her out Ise sure the three of us cin handle things. You an her cin meets my dad when you get back."
Minto shakes his head again. "I don't think you are understanding Hermy. Either that or I'm not explaing things very well."
"She's been called to be her clans Loremistress. She won't be coming back."
"Its a lifetime calling."
Minto hands the glass back to Codo (Podo?) and the boy runs to fetch more.
"It's the most prestigious thing that can happen to a bard." Minto forces a smile onto his face. "Second only to being a hero's minstrel."
"She should be happy there."
.o0(She should.)
"So lets not start things off on the wrong foot by making her feel bad about delaying your dads homecoming anylonger then nessasary."
"It looks likw we're ready to go. Just let me get my things and then lets get going."
Minto heads for the bunkroom to get his sword, and a few changes of clothes. He grabs a biscuit to munch on, a few minutes of privacy and then he rejoins the others.
"Aere we ready?"
Hearing the news about Brodda, Kywyn grows quiet for a time while he absorbs it all, but he nods to Minto when the call is given. Kywyn's gauntlets clink against the last of the gear he prepares.
When Minto appears to be ready to set out, Ran nods.
"We can leave."
Tiv leads the mounts out. A horse for Ran, Crimechaser for Brodda, and all three riding dogs for the halflings.
Tiv shrugs. "I had Crimechaser packed up with supplies. If you want, I can try to move some of it around to the other mounts."
Hermy shrugs back. "Naw, we cin just use him as a pack mule. My dad mights has lots of stuff he wants ta brings back anyhows. Ya cin collects a lot in twenty years."
"Run? Do ya knows enough about animals ta leads an extra one? Ifen you do, then woulds you mind beings in charge of Crimechaser?"
Minto frowns as he mounts his dog. "Maybe we could give him to Brodda to help her get home. She's helped you out on several occasions."
"And helped save the city once."
"Why don't we ask Volos if he thinks that's worth a mule?"
Hermy nods. "Codo? Will..."
"I'm Podo."
"Podo will you gets Volos an asks him ta comes out here?"
The guild steward arrives and listens to the request. "That seems like a reasonable request, Master Newberry. Let's just rearrange the supplies first..."
Volos and Tiv set to work rearranging the packs, though Volos leaves 'a little something for Mistress Brodda's lunch' on Crimechaser, and sends the pony off with Codo to the boarding house.
With matters organized, the group heads off up the northern road, following the directions Volos researched on how to find the walnut farm where Hermy Sr. is supposedly spending the remainder of his sentence.
Slightly behind him, growing paler with every bump in the road is the very hungover minstrel.
"Hangs on there Minto. Theres onlys a few more hours ta go, an then we cin stops fer the night. I don'ts wants ta risks getting lost by missin a turn in the dark."
Kywyn rides near the back of the group, following those who know their destination better. He watches the sky for signs of the weather to come and enjoys the outside breeze. For all the amenities he enjoys in the city, Kywyn has to admit the air outside the walls is fresher and more vibrant.
Kywyn continues to ride forward. He holds one hand out low to the side, liking the sense of movement
Ran rides the horse he was given without much style or grace, but has no problems keeping up with the group at the pace set by the halfling in the lead. He does wonder how he'll feel after a full day in the saddle though. Maybe riding is another skill he should look into at least becoming more familiar with. It's not as if he couldn't find someone to teach him at the Silver Sword.
Ran shifts a little bit in the saddle, trying to find a more comfortable position.
"Why do I have the feeling I'll regret this in the morning? I should have gone on foot, leading the horse. It's not like I couldn't keep up this pace. Still, I might as well bite through the sour apple now and keep it up. I might just get the hang of it."
The hot, somewhat muggy weather does not ease the halfling's discomfort, and he is pathetically grateful when the group stops for the night.
"Standard routine taking turns on watch?" he asks no one in particular.
"What is the standard routine? I vote we excuse the bard for tonight's watch duty, by the way."
.oO(Not that his excessive imbibing of alcohol should be rewarded, but I'd rather rest knowing there's someone with a clear head on guard. He can be in charge of breakfast in the morning.)
"Kywyn cin takes the first one since he'll needs ta sleeps so he cin memorize his spells in the morning. Wizards don'ts do sop well with out sleep fer some reason."
"An that leaves me with the last one."
"I'lls wakes everyone ups once the suns up."
Almost immune to Hermy's misconceptions by now, Kywyn merely nods.
He adds in a low voice, "If the weather gets too hot or too cold during the trip, I can help that by tailoring our auras. Just let me know."
When he hears Kywyn's suggestion, he nods appreciatively. "That might be very useful."
"Is Minto going to be alright or should I see if there's anything I can do? I brought my healer's bag, I can give him something to settle his stomach or relieve his head if he needs it."
The elf takes the bag out of his pack and looks for one or two specific powders.
"I'm making tea anyway as soon as we get a fire going. He won't like the taste of these powders one bit, but maybe that'll prove an incentive for moderation in future."
"And it has to taste better then the dust I've been swallowing all day."
With clear roads ahead, they make good time, reaching the town of Coltsfoot Meadows in the early afternoon of their third day traveling. A small town, it still boasts a well-considered inn.
"Not that I'm going to turn down one of those either."
Leaving Hermy to arrange for stabling the mounts, Minto goes inside and looks around the common room. He finds the keeper and smiles at him.
"We need four beds for the night. And four warm meals. Hearty ones. We've had a long trip, and the rations just don't cut it if you knopw what I mean."
Minto tilts his head towards the hearth.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Minto Newberry , Bard Extroidinaire from Garics City. Personal minstrel to Sir Hermy Woodhome. Perhaps you've heard of him?"
"And if not, would you allow me to tell you about him."
Minto unslings his lute.
Kywyn's tiny, glossy black frog climbs out of his satchel, and Kywyn helps the familiar onto his shoulder. Hex stretches up to taste the air.
Looking around the street, Kywyn sees a clean, busy little town. Many shop signs have pictures of coltsfoot, and there is more than one road leading from the town.
.oO(Looks like a nice enough inn. And while the beds are a secondary concern, I'm with Minto when it comes to eating rations. I don't mind an ascetic lifestyle, but there has to be a point to it. I fail to see that point in rations.)
equipment taken: extra set of clothes, backpack (with waterskin, trail rations, packet of tea, flint and steel, wedge of soap, 3 small candles, signaling whistle, small booklet, pen and ink), SSAG pin, healer's bag (= kit worth 10 uses for a +2 to Heal checks), 50 ft. of hemp rope, 3 torches, small iron pot, quarterstaff, MW longbow, 20 arrows)
Hex climbs back undercover to avoid attention.
"My coming along on this trip is at least as much for my own benefit as Hermy's - I'm sure he doesn't really require another companion, but the chance to take a break and think on how to restore the balance I feel I have lost in my life was most welcome.
While I value and welcome your presence, I don't know what it is that brings you with us. I am aware you and Hermy know each other; you were at his wedding."
The elf hesitates a moment, the memory of the wedding reminding him of Hermy's terrible loss, before continuing.
"Are he and you close friends? How did you meet?"
Ran lifts a hand in apology.
"I do not mean to pry. Forgive my rudeness if my question offends."
Minto looks around for the best spot to be seen and heard by everyone, and then moves to it while strumming a few chords on his lute. He smiles and plays a few melodys to warm himself up and then breaks into his Hermy repertoire.
As he plays, Hermy makes his way into the inn after making sure the mounts are housed for the nights. Minto finishes the singing "The Saga of Sir Hermy and the Giant Clan" and begins playing a familar sequences of chords he has dubbed "Hermy's Theme."
"And there he is now. Sir Hermy Woodhome. I'm sure he'll be more then glad to speak to anyone who wants to met him, but I suspect he might be hungry at the moment."
"It's not a short ride from Garics, and he has had only trail rations and water to whet his appitite."
"He and I are friends. Closeness is relative, I think, so I won't try to define that."
Kywyn glances over as Minto starts to sing.
"Hermy and I met in the city, in the market one afternoon. I find some income through creating artwork, and I offered to sketch his portrait."
Sinking back in his seat, Kywyn thinks back. In his bone-colored outfit, he somewhat blends in with the backdrop in a nondescript way.
"Looking back, we were both different people then. But I suppose you can always say that when looking elsewhere."
"But I am here... because I want to see this thread through just a little longer. Hermy's done a lot, and more than a little to help me," Kywyn continues quietly.
Every chair is filled, every corner has standing customers, and the landlord is in raptures. If any in the group had hoped for a quiet, restful evening, their hopes are dashed.
"Well, I guess a bit of milk wouldn't hurt... Thank you, I does loves pie... Going to find my dad. Hes been picking walnets fer the last twenty years.... I don'ts know. I suppose he has a ladder or something..."
Hermy has a hard time eating any of the offered food, the questions and praise comes from all sides.
Minto continues singing only taking a break to take up a few offers of free drinks.
Getting a simple plate of maslin bread and cooked meat for him and Ran, Kywyn orders a tea and checks with Ran if he wants the same.
"That would be fine, Kywyn."
The monk is a bit overwhelmed but also amused by the huge turnout for Minto's performance and the crowd's adoration for the subject of his songs, the great Hermy the hero.
"Isn't that something..."
He looks to Ran and speaks softly, "Fame is a strange thing. Having a bard for a friend helps, it seems."
"I was just thinking the same thing. Of course, if you ask Minto it's only to be expected. And Hermy surely deserves it. He's had more than his share of misery."
"But it is something at least," the raven-haired man adds.
.oO(This tea isn't half bad...)
"Would you like another cup?"
Ran motions for one of the serving girls to wade through the crowd for a refill.
"And if nothing else, Hermy truly believes in selflessly doing the right thing. That's what drives him and being succesful at it is what gives him happiness. I imagine that will immensely amplified now that he has a personal stake in this. He went through a lot of trouble and hardship for Alyssa and that only resulted in terrible disappointment and grief. This loved one at least he'll be able to help."
The mention of the halfling's wife's name causes a subtle shift in Kywyn's demeanor. He reflects on the intertwining of the paths of his own love NaShae, and son Dakarai, and Alissa... and the outcome.
Kywyn finishes his tea and sits silently.
.oO(I'm not sure Minto will be able to enjoy the 'real bed' he's been looking forward to all that much. If this crowd gets any say in the matter, he'll be singing and playing until the sun comes up...)
"I'm going to find one of our rooms, Ran," he informs the monk, "If I don't see you til morning, rest well."
Kywyn strides through the crowd around Hermy, not pushing, but with a neutral countenance that helps him slip through without much notice.
He taps Hermy on the shoulder.
"Don't work too late," he comments quietly on the effort it must be taking for the halfling to reply to all the well-wishing.
"It's late now, but they'll be so upset to hear you were in town and they missed you."
"They all know the songs about you."
Hermy looks around at Kywyn leaving, Minto singing, and Ran drinking his tea.
"Well umm..." He looks at the womans face. "It's fors the kids, right?"
He exhales. "I guess I'ds betters not dissapoint thems."
"Ya only gets ta be a kids once, buts theres plenty of times ta be dissapointeds."
The woman smiles. "Two hours after sunrise then. I'll tell the other parents to bring their children to the town square."
Hermy smiles. "Oks."
"I'lls brings Minto too. He cin sings them the songs theys likes."
She smiles back. "Thank you Sir Woodhome. You certainly live up to your reputation as a good man."
"I tries."
Hermy points towards Minto. "I'ds better goes tell Minto and my other friends. An then gets to bed."
"I don'ts wants the kids ta sees me yawning."
"It aint heroic."
Hermy makes his way towards Ran first, finding the path there far less crowded with well-wishers.
"Hey Run, it looks likes wese gunna be in towns a bit lomgers then I planned."
"Ya an Kywyns might just wants ta sleeps inin the mornin. Takes advantages of the bed while ya can."
"Ise gots ta go tell Minto wese puttin on a show fer the kids in the mornin."
"I'lls sees youse afters that."
Hermy weaves through the crowd to his bard and whispers over his singing.
"Minto, we should gets to bed. I promised the towns kids we'd talks to them in the mornin and sings a few songs."
Minto nods, and during a musical interlude whispers back. "You go ahead. This attention is doing more for me then a week worth of sleep could do. This is what a bard lives for."
Hermy shrugs and then waves to the crowd before making his way to the room to get some sleep.
.oO('Tis Hermy and Minto's moment anyway. I'm just along for the ride.)
Ran leans back against the wall, following the tales Minto weaves in his singing and occasionally exchanging a few words with some of the nearby-sitting locals, answering any questions they have freely but not initiating any conversation himself.
Come morning, the two halflings rouse themselves from bed and make their way to the town square where they spend several hours regaling the children with tales of heroics, displays of swordsmanship and acrobatics, eating hotcakes, and various games.
It dives into an alley to avoid a passing light. The darkness poses no impediment to the shade's progress. A feral hissing sound consorts with an exertion of force as the view leaps up a crate and hies itself through a window.
Kywyn awakens sitting in the chair of his inn room... Which is odd because he is fairly certain he went to sleep in the bed. He blinks away the blur in his eyes and sees through the dark again, inspecting the chamber visually.
Still quite early, Kywyn nonetheless feels he will not be able to get back to sleep and decides to get dressed and washed up. He lights no lamp, but his steps can be heard as he moves through the inn.
Opening his eyes, he recognizes Kywyn despite the near-dark circumstances. Ran gets up and stretches himself briefly.
"Want to go for a quick walk? Hermy'll be entertaining the local children this morning, so we'll have plenty of time. And I definitely need to walk off that ride from yesterday."
A grimace flits over Ran's face for a moment. The unfamiliar exercise has obviously taken its toll.
"Sure, a walk would be good," Kywyn says simply.
He smoothes out his light-colored outfit and takes a moment to tighten his boots. Hex chirps quietly from a resting place in Kywyn's black shoulder bag.
"Shall we go this way?"
The elf points towards what seems to be the shortest route out of the village proper.
"I usually work out a little early in the morning, and afterwards I attend sifu Rassul's training. Do you practice your skills regularly?"
"Though the mode and time of practice varies. Forms are important, but so are the more freestyle methods, and general mental and physical training, I think."
"And when you believe in it, it bleeds through and becomes a part of everything you do."
Following Ran's lead, Kywyn glances around the darkened street; he needs no light to see. Passing a few smaller wooden buildings on the outskirts, he sees an area of stacked whole logs and smaller piles of wooden planks and chopped firewood. On the opposite side of the building, a stream that passes by the last structure. The water runs under a waterwheel, causing it to rotate gently.
"I'm not familiar with your style, do you think you could summarize its core in a few words? An inadequate summary, of course, but it's something for a start."
Kywyn gazes further past the stream to see a hilled area in the distance stippled with tree stumps of different heights.
"There," Kywyn points, an idea flowing into his mind.
Ran looks where Kywyn points and nods. "Very well."
"A Jade Lotus monk follows the Way of the Elements. It teaches that the world is shaped by the universal element of Fire. Furthermore, those shapings are done according to one of three aspects of Fire: Stone for Resistance, Water for Transformation, Air for Action.
Understanding these aspects and how they are the building stones of our actions is the key to mastering the Way. That means that flexibility and adaptability are the core tenets of the style I use. Depending on what I'm facing, one aspect may get emphasized and another downplayed, or I might try to achieve a three-way balance.
Stone represents hard forms - blocks and punches, using mass and strength for direct confrontation. Air represents speed and motion, avoiding confrontation or achieving a better position for confrontation. Water represents transition - it both serves to pass from Stone to Air or Air to Stone in a fluid, controlled way and to change the way a confrontation is conducted and resolved. As such many followers of the way see it as more important than the two others, but I feel all three are equally important.
The Silent Moon style training I follow now doesn't conflict with that. It has however changed my personal style, my interpretation if you will, to become more understated. It's less flashy than it used to be, minimal movement for maximum effect. It's not easy, it requires a lot of control - more than I can currently summon sometimes - but once I do integrate the two completely, the merging of the two will have lead to a much more efficient whole."
"So it sounds like the philosophical system is integral to the martial art?"
Kywyn nears the first tree stump.
"For myself, I don't follow any school of thought too strictly. Everything is useful in the right place and time. But if I had to sum up what is closest to my ideals..."
He pauses.
"Motion is life; balance is peace."
He steps up on the cut trunk.
"Do you spar in different ways as well as part of training? Such as contests on uneven footing?"
Ran follows Kywyn somewhat bemusedly to the field of tree stumps, watching the sorcerer stepping up on one.
"We do spar; learning the techniques comes first, but is meaningless without learning how to use them. We don't usually add unusual circumstances though, except perhaps training for fighting without having the use of our eyes."
Kywyn steps one foot down off the stump.
"Would you like to try a few stances on top of the trunks? We can stretch out here and maybe make some guidelines. It's nice to have rules sometimes... a frame of reference."
Ran takes off his overshirt and reties his belt.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Maybe we can spar atop the stumps. Continuous motion, but we can reset after any tangible hit or if one of us falls off the raised footing."
He starts stretching out this legs, which he knows will be a vital part of his offense and defense.
Ran nods and stretches as well, limbering up and gingerly testing the footing on one of the tree stumps.
.oO(It won't be as easy as it looks merely staying upright and moving from one trunk to another, let alone with someone to try and push you off... This will be interesting.)
Kywyn turns his neck from side to side and then lightly jumps up to a stump some ten feet away from Ran.
"Whenever you're ready."
He does not assume a set stance yet and stands naturally in the moonlight before the dawn.
"He's a real monk... Don't stand toe-to-toe..." Kywyn strategizes.
Ran stands motionless, turning himself full profile towards Kywyn for better balance and easier defense, trying to seize up his opponent.
.oO(I can make the jump easily enough, but I'm sure that's what he's waiting for. Then again, he's not going to fall over all on his own and I don't feel like playing the waiting game right now...)
"Right..."
The elf makes a perfunctory bow, bends his knees and jumps forward, keeping his trajectory as flat as possible and holding his arms up with open hands to deflect any attacks, hoping to push Kywyn off the trunk he's standing on rather than going for a kick or punch.
With Ran flying towards him, Kywyn barely has enough time to bring his left forearm up. He braces it with his right palm and lifts his weight up in a hop. The impact of Ran's shove pushes Kywyn back, but the man goes with the momentum and lands on the next stump behind.
Kywyn jumps diagonally to a near stump adjacent to the one Ran is now on. In a flash of light cloth, Kywyn kicks out at the elf with his heel, aiming for a mid-height target.
Ran lands awkwardly, needing every bit of resistance Kywyn's raised arm offers just to be able to stay on the trunk, but he manages not to fall and to keep up a credible defense.
.oO(That wasn't very smart. I thought I'd lost most of my impetuousness...)
That's about all the thinking he has time for as Kywyn's foot shoots out towards his midriff. Ran's only option is to drop to one knee and block the kick with his upper right arm, pushing the sorcerer's leg upwards to try and unbalance him and gain the initiative again.
A forced breath slides out of Kywyn's throat as his leg is pushed skyward. Relying on his flexibility, Kywyn hopes for the best as he is over extended and falls forward into a split-legged position, one foot supported on either trunk.
From this unfavorable position, Kywyn grits his teeth and wavers an open hand toward the crouching elf. Without his feet beneath him or his waist free for torque, there is very little impetus behind his soft maneuver.
Ran can easily ward off the soft attack, but judges he's in no position to push the offensive and decides to jump back to the tree stump he's started on.
"Not bad. Not bad at all. You move very well."
The elf grins and cricks his neck. He lifts a hand and motions for Kywyn to make a move.
"Your turn..."
Kywyn exhales.
"You seem to have all the tools for this," he compliments.
Turning to the side, Kywyn plants both hands on the dirt and grass ground and rolls to his feet. He steps up atop another trunk to begin again.
Judging the distance between his stump, and the next one, and the one Ran has chosen, Kywyn taps his foot gently on the surface. He skips forward, right foot landing on the neighbouring stump for a second as his rear leg catches up. By the time that happens, his right foot is already hooking out to attack Ran up high. Kywyn gambles on Golden Dragon Swings Its Tail to force his rival from his perch.
Ran decides to meet his opponent head-on, catching Kywyn's right shin in the palms of his hands and pushing back, but he's unable to exert enough force completeky block the attack and has to retreat to the very edge of the tree trunk, only his toes still gripping the wood. Having sufficiently halted the sweeping kick he drops his right hand to the stump and brings his leg arcing round to try and sweep the sorcerer's supporting leg out from under him while trying not to fall to the ground, coming up behind Kywyn and closer to the center of the tree stump.
His kick denied, Kywyn recoils into a one legged-stance as he sees Ran's circular leg sweep coming and jumps up. The dark-haried man switches legs while in the air and lands on his right now.
Not comfortable with an all-or-nothing attack, Kywyn backpedals onto his starting stump. He stands in an upright pose, rotating his hips slightly to align his spine and counterbalance himself on his bent legs and heels.
Sensing it's not to his advantage to have to move towards his opponent Ran immediately follows Kywyn and tries to reduce the fighting space as much as possible, his front foot actually positioned behind the sorcerer's front leg and his hands blurring, trying to move Kywyn's arms out of position for a quick strike.
.oO(I think I might have the edge up close, but if he forces me off this trunk I'll be in trouble...)
Steady in his stance at first, Kywyn feels his personal space breached. He tries to back up again but is stopped by Ran's blocking foot. To stop himself from falling off the stump, Kywyn lowers and spins in place, putting his back against Ran's stomach and trying to crowd the monk's striking ability.
From this coiled position, Kywyn attempts to spring up strongly, pressing into the elf.
Being pushed upwards, Ran has to jump backwards to another tree stump. Unable to see where he's supposed to end up, the elf lands awkwardly and one of his feet slips off and touches the ground. He raises one hand to acknowledge the score for his opponent.
"Well done. I was running out of options there, having committed to my attack. Want to have another bout?"
Kywyn holds up a hands as if to block the praise.
"It was out of desparation."
"Something a frog taught me..." he adds.
Kywyn stretches out his arms and tests his elbow.
"Your attack would be more than enough. When I was forced into the splits the first time, I had no where to go. I figure that ties it. Best out of three?"
He moves to another stump for a different configuration of footings.
On the edge of the horizon, the first red glimmer of the sunrise starts to hint through.
.oO(A frog? Never mind...)
"Alright. We have some time still before we leave."
Ran arranges his shirt properly and jumps lightly onto a tree stump about 15 feet from Kywyn's. The monk assumes a defensive stance and tries to devise the best tactic to attack his opponent.
.oO(Charging in isn't going to work, taking it close is too much of a gamble - building it up carefully seems like the best course of action...)
Kywyn adjusts his steel-plated gloves and vaults over to the next stump in Ran?s direction. With downcast eyes, Kywyn circles his arms and brings them up in a fighting stance, forward hand open, rear hand in a fist.
Not looking his opponent in the eyes, Kywyn presents a colder demeanor, apathetic yet menacing, wondering if he has a chance of throwing Ran?s timing off through mind games. The lithe man?s eyes finally engage the target, and Kywyn takes a long stride forward to a pair of stumps bordering Ran?s. With a low stance spread over the two trunks, Kywyn winds his center away before twisting forward with a snaking punch.
He follows with a feint with his forward hand and roundhouse kick from the same side, seeing if he can open up Ran?s offense and get the monk?s impulses triggered. Kywyn knows not to exchange blows with his competitor but wants to get a volley going so he could attempt to direct the momentum.
In his defensive stance, Ran easily deflects the first attack. His following reaction to the feint nearly opens up his right side for the incoming kick but the monk neatly dodges it by ducking underneath the sorcerer's sweeping leg. He counters with a quick succession of left-hand chops to Kywyn's head, trying to push his opponent backwards without overcommitting again.
.oO(He's very focused, but every bit in control - he's not going to make a mistake, I'll have to win this one on skill alone...)
Kywyn flinches his head back away from the first edge hand, but the series of chops that follows forces Kywyn back onto a stump next to Ran's. Kywyn brushes his forearm across to block another chop as he nears the edge of his tree stump.
Ran continues pressing, but refuses to commit to an all-out offense. The monk prefers to keep up his defenses and wait for one of his attacks to snake through or for Kywyn to slip up. He interweaves blows with both fists and feet, trying to make the pattern of attacks unreadable for his opponent.
.oO(He might be trying to lure me into overextending, or he might have a problem with keeping up both a strong defense and an effective offense - either way, I should keep following this strategy.)
Kywyn parries the potent kicks with hooking arms and raised shins but prefers to bound away rather than deal with the hand attacks. He lands one stump back and ricochets to another stump to Ran's left with a low hiss.
"Varying his pattern..."
From this position, Kywyn jumps at Ran, aiming to land on the trunk in front of the elf but not before launching a leaping leg attack with an outstretched heel.
Ran has to throw up both arms and almost has to take a half-step back to block the leaping kick, but refuses to relinquish ground - ground he doesn't have anyway, since falling off the tree stump would mean defeat. He follows Kywyn's example and jumps sideways to the closest trunk on his right rather than back to keep as much pressure as possible on his opponent, aiming two hard and low kicks at the sorcerer's legs followed by a reckless jump in the air for a roundhouse kick at head height. The landing is precarious, but the elf stays upright and preserves his equilibrium.
.oO(I'm letting him tempt me into risking everything on a strong offense again - I should control myself and wait for a mistake to profit from.)
Kywyn twirls to keep sight of his swift target. The first of Ran's kicks catches him off guard, and Kywyn barely saves himself from being nailed by shifting back. He jump in place when the second kick enters his range, trying to scissor-trap Ran's foot with his armored shins.
Before Kywyn can make contact though, Ran is already in the air. Kywyn manages to raise both arms to receive the kick, but the sheer force blows Kywyn back in a fifteen foot arc. If he were not already in mid-air, the attack would surely have knocked Kywyn over.
Seeing the ground speed under him in slow motion, Kywyn turns to seek the nearest landing spot.
He sets down crouched on a particularly thin stump.
The first fiery rays of the sun catch Kywyn's attention.
"Nice landing..."
Ran is impressed with Kywyn's agile maneuver. Noticing the sun about to come up, he jumps from tree stump to tree stump to position himself between the sorcerer and the brightening light before launching his next attack. The monk feints a straightforward full body blow to push Kywyn off his precarious position, but ducks low at the last moment to try a low leg sweep hoping the rays of the sun behind him will catch his opponent's eyes and distract him long enough to provoke a fatal mistake.
From his lowered stance, Kywyn keeps himself atop the pole with both his hands and one foot. The other leg hooks aroung the stump to provide an anchor.
When Ran comes in for the punch, Kywyn squints through the waxing light of the morning sun and stays absolutely still for a moment. Kywyn starts to shift his weight forward, thinking to counter the seemingly high attack with a jabbing strike.
His stare widens slightly as he spots the blur of Ran's foot coming in low. Kywyn takes off with a Lunatic's Frog Leap as his resting spot explodes into splinters.
As Kywyn reaches the apex of his jump, the thought that there may not be a suitable landing spot enters his mind.
"Damn..."
The only place he had a chance of reaching is the stump on which Ran currently stands. Kywyn turns his hips and aims to set his foot down, wondering if they could both stand and continue on a single trunk.
Ran isn't prepared for Kywyn's evasive maneuver - at least not for him to end up so close. The only solution left for the monk is to plant his hands underneath him on the tree stump and let his spin carry him to a handstand so he can catch the sorcerer's landing on his feet and kick out to send him spinning away.
"What?" Kywyn wonders in disbelief.
The soles of his boots touch down with the bottoms of Ran's rising feet. For a split second, the two form a bizarre mirror image.
Kywyn feels himself forced back upward. With no where left to land, Kywyn lets himself come straight down next to Ran's stump. The human reaches out in a last ditch attempt to latch onto something. He feels the roughness of cloth slip between his fingers and lands firmly with bent knees.
Ran seems taller than normal to Kywyn, and it takes a second for him to recognize he did not manage to land on the trunk. He looks down to see his feet on the grass a foot away.
"Nice move."
Kywyn nods as the sun crests over the horizon, silhouetting the two in intense orange light.
Ran finishes his move by flipping back to his feet, nearly stumbling as he lands awkwardly.
"That was certainly new..."
He steps down and bows towards Kywyn, breathing just a bit faster than normal.
"Thank you. You have taught me much today. Your skill is impressive, particularly for one who has not had the benefit of many years of rigorous training."
Kywyn takes a minute to catch his breath, though he hides his fatigue well enough.
"Same here," Kywyn answers, "And your technique..."
He walks over to the splintered thin stump.
"Is more than a little frightening."
"We should head back," Kywyn picks up his satchel and throws the strap over his head.
Ran nods, taking in the rays of the now fast-rising sun.
"You're right. I'm sure Hermy will want to leave as soon as he's done entertaining the local children. Let's go."
He picks up his discarded overshirt and puts it on again, smoothing most of the wrinkles out of his attire, and walks back to the village center, next to Kywyn.
"There's something we could look at."
He continues back to find Hermy and Minto.
"I assume we'll be leaving soon."
Ran lengthens his stride.
"We should probably see to the horses. Minto will settle with the innkeeper."
Hermy, smiling, nods to Kywyn. "Yup, we cin go now. We mights hafta stops again here on the ways back so I cin shows my dad ta all the kids."
"I tolds them no matters what, ya always needs ta loves yer family. So Ise gunna shows them."
His voice lowers a bit. "Ifen anyone asks, tells them you don'ts know Kirby. Ok?"
Minto settles with the innkeeper and Hermy helps the stableboy saddle up the dogs. Once all that is taken care of, the halflings mount up.
"Allrights, lets gets moving. We'll probably needs ta rides a bit faster taday ta makes up fer the lost time."
"I hopes youse guts cin handle it."
"You seem ta be walkin a bit funny."
"We went for a walk, but we should be alright for riding."
"There's another road that might be more direct in leaving town if you want to try it," Kywyn informs the halflings, "To the north, but it looked older."
Kywyn mounts his borrowed mare and gets ready to head out.
"Leads the way to it. I'lls takes over from there."
.oO(I'll bet tomorrow will be even worse than today.)
"I'm all set. Lead the way."
Ran follows, his muscles already protesting against the repetition of yesterday's ride. He keeps an eye out, looking around occasionally, but isn't especially vigilant - the dogs' keen noses should notice anyone trying to get close and the monk is more preoccupied with finding a comfortable position in the saddle.
"This way certainly looks prettier then the otherway.More plants an stuff likes that."
He quiets down a bit. "More places ta hides too."
"I'm not jumping over that - not on a horse anyway. Let's see if we can't find a route around this obstacle."
He turns towards the end of the tree that has become uprooted and looks for a way to lead his horse past it.
Minto shakes his head. "Its dark enough that we won't be able to see anyone trying to ambush us. I know its not something you need to worry about Hermy."
"No one would look at you and think easy target. But you've got the rest of us to worry about."
"Any bandits out would take one look at me and say to themselves, 'Now theres a guy who looks like he has something'"
Hermy sighs and stops his mount. "Ifen Major were here he'd smells them befores they coulds even see us."
Minto nods. "True. But hes not here. Hes somewhere where he doesn't need to worry about ambushes."
"We aren't."
Hermy sighs again. "Yeah."
"Ok, lets sets up a camps fer the night."
"We cin moves that tree in the morning."
The lush forest floor yields plenty of fallen wood for their campfire, and springy ferns for bedding.
"Hermy, do you think maybe whoever put this here wants people to stop here for a reason?"
Kywyn walks back to his mount's side.
"Why aint you been doing thats before?"
Shrugging, the bard answers. "Didn't feel up to it. But performing for the children this morning... well it reminded me of one of the reasons I became a bard in the first place."
"Ok, Ise fine with that. I cin takes the shift rights before that. Run..." Hermy notices Ran examining the log. "Whats you looking at?"
He nods at Kywyn after seeing the chopped part of the tree. "It coulds be fer an ambush."
" Ifen ya cin gets people ta stops moving they makes better targets."
Kywyn looks to either side of the tree to see if it would be easy to bypass.
"Or it could even be that this is here as a warning for something ahead."
Hermy glances around into the foliage.
"It shpulds be pretty safe ta stays here, as long as we keeps a good watch."
"The dangerous parts is over. Wese already stopped moving an made ourselves targets. An wese awares there coulds be one."
"Ifen there is one, wese safer here where we cin takes cover behinds the logs ifen we has to."
"Safer then wanderin around in the dark anyways."
"Lets gets a good campfires going ta gives us lights just in case."
.oO(Always the same when it's foggy and I spent the night outside...)
When he judges his things are as dry as they're going to get, he steps away to find a clear place and stretches thoroughly, trying the alleviate the effects of a second day in the saddle. That done, he brews a pot of tea for breakfast.
"I assume we'll be leaving early, to make the most of the day? How much longer before we should arrive anyway?"
Hermy packs up the dogs for the days ride while Minto sings a little ditty over some dried meat and nuts. "Should make it taste like muffins. Blueberry to be specific." He says as he hands them out.
Hermy bites into his swallows and shrugs. "It tastes likes a blueberry muffin but it don't chew likes one."
Ran bows appeciatively, even if the taste of the food is of no great importance to him.
"We can eat in the saddle, Hermy. I understand you wish to make haste. Have some tea, I'll put the fire out and we'll be good to go."
Hermy mounts up on his dog, and then waits for the others to get follow suite. "Minto cin cast that spell agains fer lunch so we won'ts hafta stops fer that."
"Ok. Lets go." Hermy spurs Doggie Lan forward.
Shifting in his saddle, Kywyn follows along behind Hermy and Minto.
The dog does not respond. Hermy shrugs and steers his mount towards the pond.
"We shoulds probably lets the animals drinks a bit. They shoulds be ables ta tell ifen its drinkable."
"Ifen they drinks it, then its probablies safes fer us too."
Hermy slips off his dog before it reaches the water and watches it to see if it sniffs before drinking.
.o0(That dog sure aint no Major.)
Minto slides out of his saddle and readjusts his trousers. "All this riding isn't good for my wardrobe."
The heat is starting to get to Kywyn as well, but it would be worse if his light clothing was not reflecting some of the sunlight.
Minto very pointedly does not look at anyone.
"Nuthins like colds water ta gets yer head wet with."
Minto looks at him and then moves up to the water and dips a finger in."I prefer warm water and soap."
Ran taps his pack.
"I can't help you with the warm water though."
The monk shrugs, kneels at the water's edge and cups his hands.
.oO(Hermy's right - if the dogs don't mind, it should be good enough for me.)
The coolness of the water is soothing and takes the elf's thoughts off the stiffness in his legs and lower rump. He takes his waterskin and fills it up as well. Next to him, his horse harrumphs after drinking its fill and goes looking for some grass to nibble on.
As the last of the group approaches the pond, the surface boils up as two lumbering shapes lunge from their watery hiding place to attack the hapless adventurers.
Minto and Ran are shocked as they are each snatched by a giant claw, the barbs digging deeply into their unprotected flesh.
[color=silver]HP and Initiative:
Minto takes 16hp claw damage and 20hp constriction. Ran takes 13 claw and 16 constriction. Minto and Ran are both grappled.
- Hermy 52/52
- Ran 15/44
- Monster1 ?/?
- Kywyn 29/29
- Monster2 ?/?
- Minto 2/38
[opposed grapple checks to get out of the grapple (grapple mods +11/+6,), if the first one is succesful a move action towards Kywyn, tumbling to avoid an AoO (Tumble +15)]
Kywyn rebukes himself for being caught so unprepared. His pulse sounds in his ears, and he blinks away the shock of having these beasts appear out of the calm pool.
”As above, so below,” Kywyn holds his palm in formation as the insipid blue hue revisits them.
His left foot slides out before he angles forward to try to land his palm against the thing engaged with Ran.
Knowing he cannot afford to be caught close by such huge monsters, Kywyn rebounds with a rolling tumble backwards to find the space to work with.
---
[Cast vampiric touch (5d6), touch attack (+10), tumble back 3 squares (Tumble +8)]
"Kywyn! Fireballs them! Fireballs them!"
Spitting out blood, Minto sucks in his breath and tries to wiggle out of the claws grasp.
Ran breaks free from his captor, bouncing and rolling to safety.
Hermy's opponent swings its free claw at him, missing.
Kywyn, hand glowing blue, strikes the other freakish crustacean and feels the chitin crackling as he sucks life from it. He tumbles away successfully, but the creature, as though drawn after him by a cord, follows with long legs that seem capable of even faster movement. Its claw reaches towards the sorceror, then closes around him, crushingly.
HP and Initiative:
Minto is chewed for 4hp, and is at -2 hp (Someone give that bard some armor!) Kywyn is grabbed for 12 and constricted for 12.
- Hermy 52/52
- Ran 15/44
- Monster1 injured/?
- Kywyn 22/29 +2 nonlethal
- Monster2 injured/?
- Minto -2/38
Edit for Kywyn's hp adjustment for vampiric touch!
---
[Could I get a HP total to see how much damage was absorbed by temp HP from the vamp touch? Thanks.]
"Lets him go! No one eats my minstrel!"
He yells out at the dogs. "Big Ivan! Cog the Dog! Doggie Land! Sic 'em!"
Trying to use Improved feint to get a sneak attack on the thing. Bluff is at 16, modified by the things intelligence.
The chuul has turned its attention to the dogs, dropping Minto on the shore by the pond, so Hermy's blade flashes out twice, striking with unerring effectiveness.
HP and Initiative:
Correction to Minto's damage from last round.
- Hermy 52/52
- Ran 15/44
- Monster1 badly injured/?
- Kywyn 22/29 +2 nonlethal
- Monster2 injured/?
- Minto -1/38
.oO(Minto... I hope he isn't dead yet. If he can hold on until we can get him to safety, I might be able to see him through...)
The monk tumbles back towards the creature that nearly crushed him and grabs the claw that's holding Kywyn, trying to pry it apart.
Aid Another to assist Kywyn with a grapple check to break free (grapple mod +11 thanks to Impr. Grapple feat -> +2 to Kywyn's first grapple check, if he makes one before Ran's next turn)
It swings its other claw around, plucking the monk like a ripe berry, and begins to squeeze. With a burst of energy, Ran breaks free, falling back to the ground.
The other tentacled crustacean, beset from in front by three snapping dogs, flails out with its claws, snatching two of them up. The claws tighten, and both dogs let out their final howls.
HP and Initiative:
Kywyn is chewed for 8hp, Ran is clawed for 8hp, and two of the dogs are killed. Minto loses a hp.
- Hermy 52/52
- Ran 7/44
- Monster1 badly injured/?
- Kywyn 15/29 +3 nonlethal
- Monster2 injured/?
- Minto -2/38
Ran almost buckles as the claw smashes into him.
.oO(Bad idea... I should keep a clear head, not rush in blindly. Kywyn's right, maybe I can use my inner energy to stun that beast.)
The monk focuses the fire coursing through his veins, first delivers a tremendous open-fisted blow and follows it up with his right knee slammed twice against the creature's armoured body.
flurry of blows +10/+10/+5 (1d10+1 *2), stunning fist on first attack (Fort save DC 17)
Running out of options, Kywyn extends himself fully, every muscle stretched to its limit. A feral hiss issues forth as Kywyn tries to release his energies wildly.
---
[Attempt Vampiric touch spell-like ability, touch attack, Concentration +7]
Kywyn makes a supreme effort, nearly failing in the attempt, and feels the telltale surge of stolen energy. He has reason to be grateful for that as the mandibles continue to bear down on him, and he feels his body become rigid, victim of the poisonous tentacles.
HP and Initiative:
Kywyn is chewed for 8hp, Ran hits with a regular attack, and Kywyn fails the Fort. save vs. paralysis.
- Hermy 52/52
- Ran 7/44
- Monster1 badly injured/?
- Kywyn 25/29 +4 nonlethal (13 hp 'real' damage, 9 VT points left)
- Monster2 injured/?
- Minto -2/38
Knowing they're running out of time to help Minto, if the bard can even still be helped, and that Kywyn is in trouble as well Ran doubles his efforts with strength born from desperation. Again he gathers his mystical ki energy and slams his palm against the monster's tough shell, willing it to debilitate the creature for just an instant.
flurry of blows +10/+10/+5 (1d10+1 *2), stunning fist on first attack (Fort save DC 17, 2nd attempt of 9 for the day)
HP and Initiative:
Kywyn is dropped to the ground. Hermy, Minto, and their chuul are 2 rounds behind.
- Hermy 52/52
- Ran 7/44
- Monster1 badly injured/?
- Kywyn 25/29 +4 nonlethal (13 hp 'real' damage, 9 VT points left)
- Monster2 badly injured/?
- Minto -2/38
.oO(That's more like it... Now to finish this while I have the upper hand!)
Ran keeps battering the crustacean as hard as he can, hoping to bring it down as quickly as possible so he can tend to Minto and Kywyn. Normally he'd try not to kill the creature but right now, with half his comrades lying dying or helpless, the elf isn't holding back anything.
[color=dimgray]flurry of blows +10/+10/+5 (1d10+1 *2), stunning fist on first attack (Fort save DC 17, 3rd attempt of 9 for the day)[/color]
"Get up!"
If only he could.
"Natala aint here ta saves ya frum me killin ya fer you killin my dogs!"
Ran continues his attacks, striking twice, and powerfully. The monster shakes off its paralysis, and chooses flight over fight.
HP and Initiative:
Minto lost another hp. Hermy dropped his monster. Ran scared his away.
- Hermy 52/52
- Ran 7/44
- Monster1 down/?
- Kywyn 25/29 +4 nonlethal (13 hp 'real' damage, 9 VT points left)
- Monster2 badly injured/?
- Minto -3/38
"Kywyn! I thinks hes stills alive! Use some magic ta helps him!"
Hermy keeps his eyes on the area the other chull retreated too.
"Hermy, get Minto away from the water, if you can - gently! I'll get my bag and see what I can do for him. I don't really know much about dogs, but I'll take a look at them as well if there's a chance to save them still."
"You strange little man..." the amphibian chirps in a tongue only Kywyn comprehends.
"Please hurries. He don'ts looks to good."
"And thats somethins he really don'ts likes doing."
Hermy stands over his bard until Ran starts tending and then moves to check on the two downed dogs. "They looks even worse!"
Hermy starts to drag them back towards Ran as well, diverting his eyes from the task to look out for a return of the chull. Once away from the water his attention is split on Minto and Kywyn. "Hows about Kywyn? Its hard ta tells with him wether hese hurts or not. Ya can'ts just checks ta see ifen hes smilin."
"Kywyn will be fine, although I think he's reacting badly to whatever foul fluids that creature injected into his system. His vital signs seem good though. Minto will be alright if I can stop the bleeding and he can settle down so his body can devote all its energy to healing without burning him up."
Ran works feverishly to help Minto, while trying to think of something for Hermy to do, to distract him somewhat.
"Hermy, can you try to get a fire going? I might need boiling water soon."
Heal check +8, first use of his healing kit
"Gah," he coughs.
After nodding to Ran, Kywyn looks over to Minto.
"Is he going to be alright?"
Kywyn is glad Ran is here to tend to the minstrel.
"I don't have any craft to help him," he tells Hermy soberly, "And I should point out in case of future incidents, I don't do fireballs."
Kywyn turns away stoically, angry at himself for being taken by surprise, and angry at the things that attacked them. It was a scary reminder how things can end quickly and for no apparent reason.
He tries to clean himself up as best he can for the moment, pulling away the weeds and wiping away the mud.
"Hex!"
The frog jumps into Kywyn's palm.
"You can talk to others that share your form, right? See if any of them here know where those monsters live. Don't get too close to the water, just see if you can find anything out. I want to know."
[color=burlywood]"Guo-guo,"[/color] the familiar replies.
Hex hops to a hiding spot halfway between Kywyn and the water's edge. The mystic animal croaks out to see if he can speak with any other amphibians residing in the pond and glean what they might know.
Kywyn moves to kneel by Minto.
"I can cast my aura to make him more comfortable," he says softly now, "At least he won't catch a cold."
The man waits until Ran is done so as not to get in the monk's way. Kywyn then draws his hands over the downed bard, tracing out a new path for his temperature to regulate along.
---
[color=dimgray][Cast endure elements][/color]
Hermy gathers up some small sticks and builds a small pyre out of them and then looks at Kywyn, shakes his head, and addresses Ran. "Cin I borrow yer fire startin stuff?"
Kywyn sends Hex to scout, and the small familiar finds another of its ilk to question. The newt warns him of the monster's lair on the southeast edge of the pond.
He says quietly, "The monster's lair is on the southeast edge of the pond."
Not sure what to do with that information, Kywyn waits for Hermy's reply.
"Ifen one of you guys don'ts minds walkin, woulds you minds ifen we puts the saddles on ones of the horses. Bringin the bodies back aint really a good idea, buts I'ds likes ta gives my students somethins ta buries."
"Thems was their dogs."
As he digs he keeps an eye on Minto and another on Kywyn. "Anyone knows what them things were. Minto will wants ta makes a songs about that, but I don'ts thinks he hads time ta see what was tryin ta kills him."
Ran shakes his head in frustration.
"Minto is doing better though. He should be right as rain in a couple of days. But it'd be best not to move him just yet, or only very carefully if we have to. I'm not too keen on it, but maybe we should make sure that that crustacean that got away won't bother us again if we stay here for the night at least."
The elf looks at the others, obviously not so sure about going after the amphibic threat in the water.
"You can find some tinder and firestones in my pack, Hermy. Help yourself."
"We needs ta kills it, whatever it was."
"Can'ts risk it attackin anyone else who stops fer a drink."
Not one for bloodlust or monster slaying, Kywyn still agrees with Hermy this time. Kywyn wants to see that thing put away.
"I can extended a Hex Tongue, a tentacle, that might slow it from moving toward us. And I can drain it from a distance. It looked hurt... but should we go after it right away?"
"Ifen you cin keepsa it away so it can'ts snips anything else within its claws, Run an I cin shoots it with bows an stuff."
Ran shudders briefly, thinking about wading into the pool where the surviving creature might be lying in waiting.
"Where is that lair, Kywyn? Did you see it fleeing somewhere?"
"Distance is key. Those claws are too strong, and once in it's mouth," Kywyn trails off with a slight shudder at the memory.
"If it's underwater, can you think of a way to lure it out?"
"We wouldn't last long in its environment," Kywyn shares Ran's sentiment.
"I don'ts thinks its gunna try ta ambush us again anytime soon, so wese will has ta go afters it. Even if that means goin in the water."
"Maybe it mights be willings ta attack a guy who cin only lay there an cry about getting lefts fer dead."
He looks at Minto again. "I don't think Minto woulds minds me borrowings his clothes. Hes gunna hafta put on a spare set anyways. Thems ones is too bloody fer him."
"He says he don'ts looks good in red."
Kywyn whispers to Hex to try calling out again from his position.
"I can draw symbols that light up... If I send that into the water, do you think that would get its attention?"
"Uh... What if there is more than one down there?"
Ran follows the proceedings with interest, trying to rack his brain for a good strategy.
"More than one... Now there's a scary thought..."
"Do you think just the bloody clothes in the water would do instead?"
"Lets see what the newt says, and then we cin try Kywyns light."
"Ifen that don'ts work then I'll dress up as Minto."
"An ifen that donts get it ta come out.... We goes in."
"Do you mean use yourself for bait?" Kywyn asks Hermy with slightly raised eyebrows.
"Do you think just the bloody clothes in the water would do instead?"
"I doubts it. It probably needs ta see movements."
"I didn't really sees a nose on that thing."
"Thens again, I didn't really sees eyes either."
"Just claes an a mouth eating my minstrel."
He decides not to argue the thought with Hermy yet as there are still options available to them.
"Should move Minto to a safe position then? In case there are more in the lair, and we have to retreat to regroup."
As he speaks, Kywyn begins the first of his preparations. Taking out a piece of chalk, he draws a crossed rune on his forearm while uttering a mantra.
"I can also adjust your living fields to boost your aim and agility if you think it would help," Kywyn tells the two, "But that should wait until we are completely ready to lure it out."
---
[color=dimgray][Cast false life][/color]
"Thats woulds helps us avoid gettin grabbed too."
"Does ya has any other spells that makes me harders ta grabs? Ifen we has ta goes in afters it, its shoulds be me that does it first."
"Ise the one that broughts you guys here afters all."
"Not much else, Hermy. I know a minor sign to ward off evil spirits that might work against that thing."
Kywyn thinks.
"I can also alter written letters so that they explode when read... sort of a special kind of 'fireball'. But someone would have to read them, and I don't believe we're in any state to take that kind of approach."
Kywyn mentally digs further into his resources, "And I have a wand that can make someone invisible, though I don't know how much power is left in that one."
"I don't think going down is a good idea though. It can probably swim better, and we'd have to worry about air."
"I think if we were fully rested and that thing was fully rested, we'd still be able to bring it down if we aren't caught off-guard."
"I fights a lots better when I can'ts be seen. Nots that everybody don't, well except fer Gamis, but Ise especially goods at it. Ifen you mades me unvisable I cin probably handles them myselves."
Hermy looks at the pool of water again.
"Our best chance is now while its already hurt. Lets see what the newt has to say, and then try to lure it out someshow."
"Ifen that don'ts work, then we rest ups an go afters it."
"Mintos might has a few spells that cin help."
Kywyn goes over their tactics in his head again.
"Get Minto to safety... Adjust Ran and Hermy's auras for dexterity, make Hermy invisible, get ready with protections, cast the light runes into the water... if we can get it to show, cast the Hex Tongue to stop its advance, and use the other tendril to afflict the creature with whatever I can... Have route of escape in case we need to get away."
---
[size=1][Plan of attack when everything else is ready: cast cat's grace x3, invisibility on Hermy, shield, dancing lights into water; if chuul shows itself, interposing hand and move back to keep distance, spectral hand, bestow curse (-6 to Con), vampiric touch][/size]
Here. What?
"Run, will you help me get Minto over to them bushes over there an then help me get his pants off?"
Once the bard is a safe distance aways, and Hermy in his clothes, the halfling hero returns to Kywyns side. "Any word from the newt yet?"
Kywyn listens to the shadowy frog.
"It's confused about the monster's hideout... Says it's at the edge of the pond and on the land next to it. Maybe a tunnel or ditch?"
Kywyn prods Hex to ask one more thing.
[color=burlywood]"Do you know where big thing is right now?"[/color]
"Anything else we should try? The newt probably doesn't understand much of what we're asking... or doesn't have the words to communicate what it knows."
"Nots fighting it. At least nots unless I has too. Just seeing if its lair is on land or on water."
"I is a master of steath after all. And the Jackals scout trainer."
"It says the thing is hurt and in a 'water hole' right at this moment. Must be an underwater hollow or something."
"Newts don't always know what theys talking about."
"The only way to know for sure is to go look."
"And if by somes miracle hes catches me... I'll scream real loud."
With that, Hermy stalks off in the direction the frog said the newt told him the lair was.
He is reminded of the way dogs will turn in circles before lying down, to trample a little nest.
After a few minutes of careful observation, Hermy creeps closer, to see if he can find a trail or hidden entrance leading from the nest area.
There is something in the trees.
Hermy inches towards the tree, his crossbow out ready to fire when the beast leaps from the trees at him .o0(I'll just shoots once an thens retreat.)
Though he doesn't ignore his surroundings, Hermy focuses a little more on the tree hoping to find a spot where he can see it more clearly.
The lower branches of the trees, to a height of some six feet above ground, have been festooned with silver. Hermy has occasionally seen merchants using strings of silver or gold discs for large purchases, and these must have come from such strings. The monsters have clipped off the ends of the branches, and used the stubs to hold the discs.
Nestled in the crooks between branches are other bits of treasure: two smallish statues, metal bars, and skulls. The surface of a flat rock displays coins and beads.
From the appearance of the ground, the monsters must be in the habit of coming here to gloat over their hoard.
"I don't want to leave Minto alone until we've made sure the creature is holed up in its lair and can't get past us, but I'm not sure it's a good idea to let Hermy go out alone. He should have one of us nearby in case something happens."
The Hero scoots forward and looks at the statues, and then at the display on the flat rock. .o0(It'll be backs here fer sure. We cin ambush it heres. An I know just whats to use ta lures it out of hiding.)
Hermy grabs on of the statues and plants it on the flat rock. And then grabs the other statue and some of the coins and beads and heads back towatds his companians.
"What's it look like over there, Hermy? And what are those things you have with you?"
When the halfling returns, Kywyn listens silently while Hermy reports back.
"Theres another ones just likes it back in the treasure hoard I founds. Alongs with a bunch of others stuff."
"The squireelcrabs seems ta likes ta go there ta looks at their loots."
"Ans probably gunna be kinda made I took this an messed up the little display theys had." "Ise bettings we cin use thi." he shakes the statue. "to lures it out of the water."
Ran looks at the statue, trying to determine if the style or subject is familiar.
"You really think these items will lure it out? We've hurt it some, though I don't know how much. I'm not sure it'll come after these material possessions if it's not feeling confident it can take them back from us. On the other hand, it can't hurt to try."
The elf shrugs.
"Let's set it up then."
Hermy scratches his head. "What are we gunna do with Minto while weses all over there? I cin probably finds a safe spot ta hides him in while wese all gone, but ifen we all die I don't thinks he'll last too long by himself."
Ran whistles softly as he takes in the details of the statue.
"Minto isn't doing too badly right now, if we're careful we can actually move him without jeopardizing his recovery. And maybe you can leave your dog to guard him?"
Hermy looks around the area and then nods his head. "Theres a good spots over there."
He points to a spot a few hundred feet away. "Ifen I were trying ta hides here, I'ds hide there."
"Lets moves him an then gets ta that treasure stash."
"The squirelcrab will be goings back there. It looked likes thatsa where he sleeps. And admired his stuff."
"Theres some trees there we cin hides in until he shows up."
Thinking, he questions further, "How much does it weigh? If it's not too heavy, I can make it float above the water or wherever else we want it to go."
"I wouldn't be able to carry you for sure," he says to Hermy.
Kywyn reaches into his pack to find the small, mummified hand that would facilitate his trick. He puts the chain attached to the hand over his head and focuses his attention onto the statue.
"Too... heavy..."
"We'd have to break part of it off maybe... though I don't want to see a work of craftsmanship like this destroyed."
"There was a lot of coins back there too. Theys might even be betters ta use as lures. Theys has holes in them so we coulds strings them together ta makes them noiseier."
"Lets get Minto inta hiding and then go get them coins."
Hermy moves to his minstrel and waits for Ran to help him move the bard to safety.
"We'll leave the horses here as well. They can look after themselves, I'll just take off their tack and packs."
The elf makes sure the animals can take care of themselves for a short while and the unconscious halfling is as comfortable as possible before joining Kywyn and Hermy again, picking up his bow and nocking an arrow to the string.
"I'm ready."
Hermy loads a bolt into his crossbow, and then starts moving towards the treasury. "It's this way. Tries ta be as quiet as ya can, we don'ts wants ta surprise it before wese ready."
.oO(Let's just get this over with. We need to rest, maybe eat something, make sure Minto is alright.)
Before following though, he holds up one hand briefly to ask for a moment's pause. The monk focuses, increasing the healing energies flowing through his body manifold for a few seconds and restoring some of his vigor.
Feeling better, he indicates he's ready and follows the halfling.
Wholeness of Body for 12 points (6 left for the day); Move Silently +11
With the chained mummified hand over his neck, he follows behind Hermy.
---
[color=dimgray][Cast shield][/color]
Once reaching the treasury, he points Ran towards the trees and Kywyn towards the coind jammed onto the end of the trees branches.
Hermy hunkers down watching the pond, looking for bubbles, waves, or anything else that might indicate the creature is close.
"Are we just going for it?," Kywyn whispers to Hermy, "Or pulling back to prepare more?"
"Sose I wants you as far backs as you cin be an still use yer spells an stuff."
"I wants Ran backs in the trees where he has somethin ta hides under."
"Ise gunna be next ta you until you makes me unvisable an thens Ise gunna be underneath that thing cuttin off its legs."
Hermy scans the pond again. "The sooner wese cin lure that thing out, the sooner we cin get back ta Minto, an to my dad, an too Kywyn Jr."
Kywyn realizes he will have to pull discs from the trees and find a suitable cord if he wants to have a strung collection.
He moves over to it, jumps up to grab hold of the branch it is on, and then tries top pull it off.
"Ran, watch the water fer a minutes will you. This coulds takes awhile."
The monster peeks up from the pond, immediately ducking below again.
"Its outs there lurking."
"We needs ta draws it in."
Not taking his eyes off the water, Hermy tilts his head towards the dropped coin.
"Kywyn, floats that out over the water and then slowly draws it back towards us. Lets see which it values mores. It's moneys or it's life."
"Do you want to disappear first?"
---
[If Hermy wants, will use wand on him first, then will move coin over water and back onto land]
"Fer some reason, I can'ts stay unvisable once I attack. An I'ds prefer ta runs up there unvisable and stabs it with the sword ifen my bolt don'ts kill it first."
"I shoulds be ables ta catch it unawares with my first shot, but there aint gunna be much time fer reloadings after that."
"I should be able to use it even while trying to keep the thing back."
[color=silver]---
[OoC: Gone for tonight][/color]
"Lure it outs with the coin. Me an Run will shoot it and then you make mu unvisable."
"I'll runs up an cuts it to pieces while Ran shoots it an you holds it back with that spell you mentioned so it don'ts eats you an Run."
"I wouldn'ts minds that dexter spell puts on me first though."
Hermy kkeps looking for the creature to break the surface again.
While Hermy continues looking for signs of the pond monster, Kywyn takes out a piece of chalk with his free hand and makes the preparations. He repeats something about being untouchable as he draws a small symbol on Hermy's back.
---
[Cast cat's grace. When others are ready, moves the coin out over the water.]
He evaluates their options.
"Could keep trying this coin, or another coin... Or could give the lighted symbols a try. Might look like the shine of more gold from under the surface. If the lure doesn't work, maybe sending the lights into the water could spook it out."
"Or I could use another wand to summon a badger to makes some movements at the water's edge. Might not be great for the badger, though. Then again, it isn't a normal animal..."
Ran looks doubtful, but doesn't lessen his vigilance.
"Maybe we should leave it be and return here on our way back? It'll be healed by then, but we would be able to surprise it. I don't think we'll be able to do that now. Of course, we won't be able to travel quickly until Minto has recovered."
"If the lights don't work, then maybe coming back wouldn't be a bad idea..."
Looking out at the pond and the thing's hoarded collection, Kywyn can't help but consider just leaving it be.
"I almost feel sorry for it. Do you think it's sentient?"
Ran looks decidely unhappy with the whole situation.
"I let my emotions get the better of me earlier, when those creatures almost killed Minto, but killing it would be much like murder. I wouldn't be surprised if the other one was this one's mate. I can see Hermy's point about not wanting to leave such a dangerous creature free to roam around but truth be told, I doubt it's going to leave this pool. And it's not like there aren't plenty of other dangers in the wild. Maybe we should just leave signs to warn others and leave this creature be.
Whatever we decide to do, we can't go after it into the water; it has all the advantage there. If we can't get it to come out, we're pretty much stuck. And I don't think any of us is willing to stay here any longer than necessary."
"If they are intelligent, I wonder if they care for one another. Both choices seem pretty cruel then: putting it down or letting it linger alone."
"I can mark a periemeter with glowing runes... as many as needed."
Kywyn looks to Hermy, wondering how the halfling will take the apparent loss of killer instinct among them.
"If it's not coming out, we could take some coins and things. Minto will probably want to buy new clothes to replace the ruined ones..."
Ran looks in Hermy's direction, waving for the halfling to join them.
"Let's confer and decide what our options are."
"Those weren't just dropped theres on accident. They was put there by them things so theys coulds gloat over them."
"These squirell-crabs are killers. Likes my brother."
"They don'ts just kill fer food likes animals. Theys kills fer fun. They was toyings with you an Minto. Theys coulds has cuts youse guys in half ifen they was just trying ta kills you. Thems claws was sharp enoughs ta do that."
Hermy nods his head towards the water. "Ifen we leaves that thing in there, then pretty soons they'll be more skulls in them trees."
Ran makes a half-hearted gesture in the direction of where Minto lies.
"It wouldn't be wise to stay here longer than absolutely necessary. We need to rest, and we need safer surroundings to do so. Kywyn can leave signs for other travellers to warn them in the meantime."
The elf tries to reason with Hermy, to get him to let go of his fixation with killing the creature.
Hermy shakes his head. "I don'ts thinks it will be comings out nows fer awhile. Not while wese still here at least."
Hermy finally lowers his bow. "We cin try again in the mornin."
"Minto aint gunna be in no shapes to go anywheres fer awhile."
"You saids it yerself. We shouldn'ts moves him."
"Sose wese stuck here fer awhile anyhow."
"Lets takes the treasure, it shouldn'ts gets ta keeps stuff it gots by killings people, and goes back to Minto an sets up a camp."
"Once Mintos on his feet, we'll tries again. He mights be able ta draws its out with a song."
"Ifen he can't... Kywyn aint gunna be able ta mark this place in a ways that that things cants covers up. The moments wese gone it'll scratchs out Kywyns sign, or bury it, or maybe evens just figures outs a way ta use it as a lure likes we was trying ta does with the coin. And then when someones comes by, it'll sneaks up on her an kills her. Wese expieranced heroes an stuff. The next person by probably won'ts be. Most likelies they'll be merchants, or just someones wife or family."
"We can'ts lets thats thing stay."
Kywyn looks to Hermy.
"If that doesn't work, then we can go."
"I'll yell while you do that Maybe some sounds will makes it more tempting."
Once Kywyn's lights go floating out, Hermy hollers out. "Heys! Comes an gets me! Ise takings all yer treasure!"
---
[Cast dancing lights from as far back as spell and surroundings allow]
The creature vanishes back under the water.
"This times everybody hides first."
"Lets gets back to Minto an sets up camp fer the night. We cin try again tomorrow."
"Lets takes its stuff first."
After gathering all the treasure he can carry, Hermy starts back towards the place they left his bard, glancing back at the pond.
"Hows does you check ta see what kinds it is? Do you wizards has some kinda spell, or does you just naturally knows?"
"I like images more than formulas, so I can see the unusual auras if I take the time to adjust my eyes."
Kywyn sweeps his hand in front of him and mutters a word or two as his vision shifts. He reveals what he learns to the others.
"Let's get going then if we have everything we need."
---
[Cast detect magic]
The only magical item in the area (not already carried by a party member,) the vial shines with the comforting light of healing magic, faint but steady.
The group gathers 1100 sp worth of 5sp-trade-discs, 2 statuettes, a healing potion, 4 5lb bars of gold, and coins and gems totalling 890gp
"This is a lot of money. I wonders ifen its all cames from one guy or ufen it cames from a bunch. I didn'ts counts the skulls back there, but I bets its was a lot."
"But in the morning, nobody will have to worry about them squirell crabs again."
Ran gathers some firewood and busies himself with brewing some tea, choosing to ignore Hermy's remarks about the creature.
"Kywyn, do you want me to check your injuries too? If nothing else, I can disinfect them. And I should have some purifying powders in my bag - you can drink them with some tea to help draw out the last of the poison."
"Alright, thanks."
He sits down on a covenient rock.
"I think I'll feel worse in an hour or so.."
Ran fetches his healer's bag and starts mixing up powders while the water in the pot over the fire slowly comes to a boil. Once he's the water for some disinfecting paste, the elf looks at the scrapes and bruises Kywyn suffered, applying compresses where needed.
"There's little serious damage done, as long as nothing gets infected. No deep cuts, no broken bones... You'll have some impressive bruises in the morning and will probably feel sore all over, but nothing time won't heal. I can refresh the bandages in the morning and, if he's up to it, Minto might have some of his magical healing to spare. That should see you right as rain again."
"A reminder not get caught off guard again," Kywyn notes as he rotates his shoulder.
Before clearing up his healer's bag, Ran asks Hermy if the halfling needs injuries looked at as well.
"When everyone's taken care of, I'll see if I can cook up something edible. I'm no chef and I don't have Minto's magical abilities to improve flavour, but just getting some nourishment is more important right now than what it tastes like."
Hermy gets some rations out of the saddle bags and hands them to Ran. "Ifen you can make something edible out of these, I'd says thats magics enough."
"Someones really shoulds comes up with somethin ta keeps sammiches from going bad, or a goods ways ta keeps pies in place fer travelin. I bets a lots more people would travel ifen there was something decents ta eats on the road."
Ran looks at the rations a bit dubiously, shrugs and gets to it.
.oO(I can cook up some kind of brothy stew with this... And some of the herbs I carry for medicinal purposes taste reasonably well too. It's a bit supercilious a use of my healing resources, but I won't have to do this every day.)
After rinsing the pot, the elf boils up the jerky and hardtack, seasoned with the few tasty herbs he could find. He presents it to the others in the pot, so they can share.
"I'll boil what's left down further so Minto can swallow some too."
"Same watch order as before?" he asks the others.
Ran stretches briefly, checking on the simmering contents of the pot over the fire to see if the broth is thin enough for Minto to swallow.
"Same watch order as before sounds fine to me. It's the most efficient anyway, and it doesn't include the bard."
"I'd think further down the path would be good."
Kywyn leaves it unsaid that it also saves them time if they decide not to come back right away.
Hermy readjusts Mintos collar, and grabs the bards hat. "I thinks we passed a good campsite rights before we saws that pond. Shoulds we tries there?"
Ran catches Kywyn's eye and nods briefly, understanding flashing between them for a moment.
"Minto'll be fine, if we can keep the jostling to a minimum. And maybe we should keep tomorrow's distance down as well."
"Theres coulds be mores ahead. Dangers funny that way, its always just around the next corner. An I'ds rathers not put Minto in any more danger until hes awake enoughs ta sees it."
Ran smiles mildly.
"I'm not sure we'll be all that much safer back there than where we are now, that's all. Doesn't really seem worth the effort. Going an extra mile might be a bit harder on Minto, but at least it'll make a difference. And it's one less mile to cover tomorrow."
"We knows theres no giants, or trolls, or goblin armies or what ever the thing was that killed Alissa back the ways we came."
"We don'ts knows that abouts forward. We coulds go look, an sets up camps there, but ifen there is anythings up there wese gunna be havin ta fights it too. I'ds rather gets some rest fer tomorrow when we has ta fights the squireel crab."
"I is not leavings it here ta kill anyone else."
Ran puts out the fire and, after Kywyn finished stashing their stuff on the horses, checks the makeshift stretcher made from Minto's cloak the bard is still lying on.
"This'll do, if we carry him between us and walk rather than ride."
"I can'ts really helps carry Minto anyhows, at least nots withouts him slidin out of his cloak. Ise just nots as tall as the two of you."
Hermy stalks ahead, eyes and ears alert for danger, and a suitable camping spot.
"I think it was on tune too."
"Hopefully, he'll be better in the morning."
"I'll be careful when I wakes up fer mine too, an whens I wakes both of youse ups."
"Run, cin you checks on Minto befores we wakes him in the mornin ta see ifen hes healthy enoughs ta wakes. Ifen he is, he shoulds be ables ta heals himself even more, an Kywyn a bit too. The healthier we is when we goes back the etter."
crunch, c-crunch, c-crunch, rattle
What ever it is, it is quite big, and trying to move silently. In comparison to a distracted ox in an untidy quarry, perhaps it would be considered quiet.
HP and Initiative:
Hermy has Surprise.
- Hermy 52/52
- Squirrel Crab badly injured/?
"Wakes up! The squirel crab musta thoughts we was innocent travelers!"
He buries two bolts into the monster, which staggers, trips on a treestump, and falls. It lays there and twitches feebly for a moment before lying quite still.
Ran needs a second or two to come out of his trance and take stock of his surroundings. Following the sound of Hermy's yell, he sees the crab-like creature has decided to try and sneak up on them. He grabs his bow, knocks an arrow and prepares to shoot. However, it seems this is no longer necessary.
"Is it dead?"
Hermy plunges his sword into the chuell.
"I guess youse guys was rigts about setting up camps here insteads of going backs. It shoulds saves us some time afterall."
He looks around through the half-light until he finds Ran and Hermy. Still shaking the sleep form his mind, Kywyn runs his fingers through his unkempt hair. He regards the hulking form of the chuul with a neutral expression.
"I guess youse guys was rigts about setting up camps here insteads of going backs. It shoulds saves us some time afterall."
"Remember that next time you question our better judgement."
Ran winks to indicate that comment was meant as a joke.
"Let's go back to the camp and get a little bit more rest. Minto won't be awake for a while yet, there's not much we can do in the meantime."
"He might be. Is there any reason to wake him up already? It's not just his wounds, we want him rested enough to heal himself. And Kywyn needs a full night's rest to restore his magical potential as well."
He speaks in a low voice, pitched not to wake the sleepers.
Hermy stands and stretches. "Da ya thinks we shoulds do something with that dead squirel crab? Or shoulds we just leaves it there as a warning ta everyobe ta be on guard?"
But suddenly it is not a dream, and Kywyn realizes his eyes are open. He hears Ran and Hermy talking and listens in our their conversation silently. Rolling over, he closes his eyes once again.
"If that creature is anything like regular crabs, it'll start stinking to high heaven in under a day. But I think the corpse will get picked clean by scavengers soon enough, even with those scales. Quite frankly, it's too big to bury, would take even longer to burn and might pollute the water in the pool if we weigh it down and drop in there. I'd leave it be. It'll sort itself out.
You can wake up Minto when it's time for breakfast, if you want to. I have a feeling that if we wait for him to get up, it'll be noon before we get a peep out of him."
The elf smiles gently.
"He'll be just fine, Hermy. Don't worry. I bet that this time tomorrow, he'll have finished his new ballad about Sir Hermy and the squirrel-crab."
Hermy gets up, and starts boiling some water. "Yer rights about him sleepings til noons though. Maybe the smell of cookin will get him out of bed."
"Youse knows that old saying don'ts you. 'Better to be fed then dead.' Well halflings invented it. At least Minto says we did."
Minto moans and pushes himself up to a sitting position. "Just a wild guess, going by how bad I feel, but we were attacked weren't we?"
Hermy scurries to his minstrels side. "Yup we was. But its all right, We killeded the squireel crabs what tried ta eat you."
Minto rubs his head. "Tried to eat me? I guess I'm glad I don't remeber that. You'll fill me in on the details so I can compose the song though right?"
Hermy nods, his face turning grim. "There something you should know ffirst though."
Minto catching his expresion, sighs. "What? Is it Kywyn? He didn'ts make it?"
Hermy shakes his head. "Kywyns all right. He just got squeezed an nibbled on a bit. He nevers passed out though."
"Thats a relief. What is it then?" Minto glances around the campground. "Its the dogs. I only see one of them, and two of the saddles are packed away."
"Cog the Dog, an Doggie Land didn'ts makes it."
"Oh dear. I'll be sure to praise them in the song."
"Thats not everything though." Hermy puts a hand on his minstrels shoulder. "Minto. The clothes you was wearing... Theys ruined."
"Noooo!"
"Nope." Hermy looks over at Kywyn and shrugs. "Minto just founds out about his clothes."
Hermy turns back to his bard. "We changed yer clothes. I wore yer bloody ones ta try ta lure the other squirel crab out,."
"It didn't work."
Minto wipes his eyes. "That was my favorite shirt."
"Maybes youse coulds writes a songs about it too." Hermy takes Mintos hand. "But thats cin wait until after breakfast. Ya needs ta regains yer health."
Minto sniffles. "I have spells that can do that."
"Where is the shirt? Maybe I can cast a prestigi..."
Hermy stops him. "No Minto. Its gone. It was ripped an stained to bad ta saves."
Minto exhales. "It was a good shirt."
"Yes it was. A very good shirt. But we needs you to puts that behinds you an see what ya cin do fer those that survived."
"The rest of my clothes were damaged too?"
"No, I means you an Kywyn an Run."
"Oh, right. I'll get right on that."
Minto begins to humm and then to sing. His injuries begin to fade. He moves next to Kywyn and repeats the process. "Second verse, same as the first."
Finally he makes his way to Ran.
(cure serious on himself, cure moderate on Kywyn and Ran.)
"Thanks, Minto," he says quietly as the bard restores some verve into the pale man's system.
HP:
Minto regains 25 hp, Ran 18, and Kywyn is fully healed.
- Ran 37/44
- Kywyn 29/29
- Minto 31/38
"Minto, don't you think yer taking this a little hard? It was a good shirt an all, but it aint like you can'ts makes another one just like it."
"Would you rather I dwell on almost being eaten alive then?"
"Well. um... not really."
"Then let me grieve in my own way then please."
"Ok, sorry Minto. Takes as longsa as you needs."
"Thank you Hermy." Minto straightens the feather on his hat. "All right. Lets get moving then. We can eat breakfast on the road. I'll spice it up for us."
"I feel your pain," he says evenly to Minto.
"Never good losing something you've put thought into creating."
In front of the cabin to the side of the road, the guard hails them.
"Afternoon! Where might ye be heading? And where from?"
She strolls over, keeping a bit of distance, with her crossbow ready but pointing at the ground. Her expression is cautious, but not unfriendly.
"Greetings from Garics City."
"We've come on official buisness for the Lords of the city. Allow me to introduce myself."
"Minto Newberry at your serviice officer."
Minto gives her a small bow.
"I carry a writ from the courts for who ever isin charge of employment here."
"I got my orders from someone who got his orders from someone else. Bound to have a mistranslation there somewhere. sorry about that."
The friendly smile returns t the bards face. "We need to speak to the council then."
"Oh, and could you recomend some lodgings for our group for a few days?"
"Perferably something that has facilities for someone of mine, and my companian there, Minto indicates Hermy. "stature."
"I don't imagine you've a large halfling population here, but I know my people are a major buyer of walnets, so a few places might have properly sized accomidations, right?"
We've two fine inns, but I never thought to wonder if they have furniture your size in any of the rooms. I'm not allowed to suggest one over the other, bein' as I'm a civic employee, but you can ask to see the stables an' the rooms before you decide which to stay in. It's pretty quiet in town right now, so neither inn is full up."
She glances over the travellers, and adds, "The council already met this month, I'm afraid. I sure hope you're not here to conscript soldiers. We need all our able-bodied, to protect against bandits."
Minto steps in front of him. "Forgive his manners please. Its been a tasking trip to get here."
"But he is correct about not being here to conscript soliders. "
"We are here on different buisness. I'm sure the council will fill you on once we are done explaining it to them."
Minto motions for his companians to continue on. "Thank you for your assistance officer. Perhaps later once you are off duty you'd allow us the honor of buying you a drink."
"We should be at one of the inns if you feel so inclined."
With a wave Minto follows after Hermy, Hermy looks at him. "Why'ds ya invites her fer a drink? Shes ones of the ones holdins my dad as a slave."
"We don't know that for sure yet Hermy. He might be more a highly valued employee here."
"Ifen theys won'ts lets him go homes to his family, hes a slaves as far as Ise concerned. An that aints right."
"No it wouldn't be. But it is the law Hermy."
"Thens the law aint right."
Minto shrugs. "A lot of them aren't. At least we get to set this one right."
Hermy nods. "An the sooner the better."
Minto shakes his head. "Not nessasarily."
"We need to clean ourselves up and make ourselves seem a bit more presentable if we are going to be speaking before the council."
'This won't be like going before the Lords of the City. They know who you are and what you've accomplished for them. If the council here had heard of Sir Hermy Woodhome, your dad would have been sent home awhile ago."
"We need to make sure they know we are legit."
"And thats going to mean we need to bath and put on fresh clothes before going to see them. Or at least as fresh as my spell can make them."
"And we are going to need to be diplomatic."
"I cin be diplomatic." Hermy puts his hand on his sword.
Minto sighs. "Just let me do the talking please. You can do the stabbing if it gets to that."
Hermy nods as they approach the first inn.
Following the two halflings toward the first inn, Kywyn takes a deep breath and gets ready to help stable the animals when they decide where to stop.
.oO(Good thing Minto realizes Hermy's reputation might not be as strong an argument here as it might have been back home. Besides, I'd want a bath regardless. And I brought my spare set of clothes.)
He slides the piece away as Hex pokes his head out of Kywyn's satchel.
"What do you think?" he asks Ran while Hermy and Minto lead on.
After the promised half-mile, they enter the bustling town. Side roads have branched off along the route, each carefully marked as to the estate to which it leads.
The two inns are easily found: the Foaming Flagon, and the Lazy Ox.
Once near the inns, Kywyn dismounts to work the cramps out of his legs and starts walking his horse forward. Meanwhile, he examines the two buildings from what he can see of their exteriors.
"What do you think?"
"This village looks extremely orderly - everything is organized efficiently and kept with the utmost care, that guard was very aware of her duties as a civil servant, knew she had to act in a proper manner. Then there's this Council, which is apparently in charge and obviously runs a very tight ship.
That could be to our advantage, if Hermy and Minto did their homework and prepared a strong case to present. I hope and assume they did, but if they missed something there may be a lot of trouble ahead. And I don't think Hermy would take that very well. In any case, Minto is right: he should be the one speaking for us, we should restrict ourselves to backing him and proving our good intentions to the Council by showing a respectful attitude."
Ran is reassured by the way he thinks the case will be dealt with on the one hand but can't shake the feeling that if the Council will be unresponsive to their claims, it will be exceedingly difficult to persuade them otherwise.
Minto hands the reins of Big Ivan to Hermy. "Will you see about stabling the animals, Hermy?" He hands the hero a few coins. "Tip the stable hands. We want to seem as wealthy and civilized as possible."
"Try not to talk to much either. At least for now. Try to be mysterious. If you have to, just ask yourself what Kywyn would do, and then go with that."
Hermy nods and leads the animals towards the stables. He enters and looks around for someone to assist him.
Once Hermy is out of sight, Minto turns to his other companians. "I hate to say it, but we might want to try to keep Hermy out of this as much as possible."
"Hes too emotionally invoved in this too think straight... Um,as straight as usual. I dont want him blurting out anything to the council that might ruin our chances of getting his father freed without hassle."
"Keep your eyes, and ears open for anything we can use to keep him distracted."
Minto sighs and then enters the inn, heading straight for the bar. ""Excuse me, I'm in need of a few rooms for myself and three companians. "
"Baths as well of course."
Ran gives Kywyn a meaningful look.
"But maybe we can persuade him it would make the Council look favourably upon our request if we offered to help them out with the bandit problem that guard mentioned. Unless they'd rather not have us interfere in their business, that is..."
The innkeeper lets her eyes scan the men, appraisingly yet inoffensively.
"As long as they are your best rooms."
"I'd prefer to keep my bodyguard close to me."
"Four baths will be required. Do you have bath salts or will we need to provide our own?"
That includes three meals and a bath, and a caudle in the evening."
"We will be needing them until our buisness is finished."
How long that is, is up to the council."
Minto digs into his purse and pays for three nights lodging.
"If we need the rooms for longer I will let you know."
Minto puts his purse away, and smiles.
"Now that rooms are arranged for, who would I need to speak too about seeing the council?"
"And could you also recomend something for dinner? I'd prefer your finest wine with that. My bodyguard will need fresh milk, I can't afford to have him imbibing while on duty.. My other companians can order for themselves."
"If possible could it be ready after our baths?"
"Oh, and I'll be needing a scribe to take care of some notes. Are there any competant ones in town?"
Hermy comes in from the stables, Minto nods at him.
"Would you take my bags to our room Lemmy?"
Hermy looks at him, and then shrugs. "Sure thing boss."
The council? They've already met this month, but you could try to get on their agenda for next month. Is there a washout in the road somewhere?
The soup will be ready in a half hour, and so will the first batch of bread. We'll have roast beef, pepper chicken, turnip bake and vegetables on the boards for dinner, at dinnertime.
There are a couple of clerks in town, yes. Jerry Capetti has an office behind the general store, and there are acolytes at the Mother's temple who clerk."
Minto hands Hermy a few coins. "Go start your bath as soon as things are settled. I should be safe here for the time being."
Hermy shrugs again. "Oks, which rooms is ours?"
"Are... Are ours. Remember, this isn't some back water town, you need to speak up to their level Lemmy."
Minto looks at the innkeeper. "Do you have someone who can show my body guard to our rooms? And the bath house?"
Minto slips a few more coins into the innkeepers hands.
"And perhaps someone that can get me in contact with a few members of the council if they are not assembling."
"I'm afraid my buisness can not wait for a month."
Watching Minto make his presentation, Kywyn starts glancing around the inn. The description of food makes him realize how hungry he actually is.
Hearing that the council seems to meet only once a month, Kywyn starts thinking they may need some bigger excuse to speak with them. For now, though, he stands behind Minto to catch the conversation before heading up to a room.
The innkeeper turns and calls through the door to the kitchen. "Mimi! C'mere and show this fella upstairs!"
A cheerful young woman hurries from the kitchen, drying her hands on the towel tucked in the waistband of her apron.
"Yes, mama!"
Seeing Hermy carrying packs, she takes one from him, nods as her mother tells her which rooms they're taking, and leads Hermy upstairs.
Turning back to Minto, their landlady explains, "The council is made up of the heads of the six most powerful families in the valley. I suppose you could send messengers to all of 'em..."
He turns to his elven companian. "Once you are cleaned up, could you look into finding a decent one for me Ran?"
"One that can write in halfling would be appreciated if theres one available."
"I have other buisness to attend to then just whaty brought us here afterall."
He turns to Kywyn next. "And Kywyn, when you are rested up, could you see about finding out who the guard we encountered was? And convey my appreciation of her professionalism to her superiors?"
"While you are at it, see what you can find out about the escaped convict we heard about earlier."
"I doubt he would be here, this doesn't seem like the tyoe of place where a criminal would find a haven, but since there appears to be bandits in the area you ever know."
Minto gives both of his companians a wink and returns his attention to the inn keeper.
"I 'm curious as to the entertainment available here. Are there any good bards that frequent your establishment?"
"I fancy myself a performer in my spare time and am always eager to learn more."
You can't count Gerald."
She grimaces.
"He thinks he's a poet. Please... whatever you do, don't get him started..."
"Its one of the drawbacks to my position."
Minto smiles. "It won't due not to have some entertainment though."
"I suppose if the wine is good enough I won't be able to resist showing off my own meager talents."
"I've learned a few songs in Garics that I doubt have made it this far yet. They seem to be more of a regional thing."
"The Sir Hermy Woodhome songs haven't reached here yet have they? He's some kind of mythical hero back in Garics. They tend to be more for the common folk, but I find them highly entertaing."
I thought it was awfully funny, since we have a Hermy Woodhome right here in Walnut Valley. Ours isn't a knight, of course, he's just a scribe, but Mr. Mooney values him nearly over gold.
If you know any songs about the knight of that name, they'd surely go over real well. We're awfully fond of our Hermy. Quiet fellow, and kind as the day is long. I never could understand how a sweet little fellow like him could be a convict."
"Once you are cleaned up, could you look into finding a decent one for me Ran?"
"One that can write in halfling would be appreciated if theres one available."
"I have other buisness to attend to then just whaty brought us here afterall."
"Very well, master Newberry. Perhaps you can spare me a moment to discuss these matters in private later - not too much later?"
Ran gives the halfling a meaningful look.
.oO(What, pray Ordemet, is he playing at? Lemmy? Escaped convict? Other business to attend? A halfling scribe for matters not everyone should be able to read about? Why is he making everything so complicated? More importantly, why this web of lies and deception? This will not reflect well on us if the Council becomes suspicious, let alone if they see through this little charade. And they seem more than competent enough to do so.)
The elf takes his questions and doubts upstairs to put his belongings in his room, washes up quickly but thoroughly in the bath house and asks directions for master Capetti's office and the temple of Ordemet to inquire about a scribe's services.
Since there's still a bit of time before dinner will be served, Ran takes a seat outside and orders a flagon of fruit juice to whet his appetite.
"Sir Hermy Woodhome? Why, the last merchant that went through here was from Garic's City, and he talked about that man like he was real! Said he'd done something for a cousin of his, but you know how people will talk.
I thought it was awfully funny, since we have a Hermy Woodhome right here in Walnut Valley. Ours isn't a knight, of course, he's just a scribe, but Mr. Mooney values him nearly over gold.
If you know any songs about the knight of that name, they'd surely go over real well. We're awfully fond of our Hermy. Quiet fellow, and kind as the day is long. I never could understand how a sweet little fellow like him could be a convict."
Minto shrugs. "I know a few of the songs."
"And Sir Hermy is very real. When I referred to him as mythic I meant that he is one of those special people that will be remembered through the ages."
Minto pauses to pretend to think. "Hmmm, I wonder if your Hermy is relaed to Sir Hermy."
"Woodhome isn't that uncommon of a name. but I don't think Hermy is used much. It might be interesting to find out? And if he is a scribe, thats even better. I am looking for one after all."
"Does your Hermy come here? If not where can I find this Mr. Mooney?"
Again Minto pauses dramaticily. "And what is that about him being a convict? I wouldn't think you'd keep criminals around here. Sending them to the mines tends to be a better solution."
After hearing the response, Minto tips the innkeeper a gold, and then heads upstairs. "I'd best be getting my bath if I'm to perform this evening."
"You never know who you will meet. And I'd hate to make a bad impression."
Once upstairs he knocks on the door of Rans room.
"Sorry to bother you, but there is a slight change of plan."
"When you go looking for the scribe, mention that you heard Mr. Mooney had a halfling scribe in his employ."
"That would be Hermy's father. And from what I can gather, he won't be happy to lose him. So don't mention that our Hermy is here to him If he is anything like our Hermy he can't keep a secret to save his life."
"Sorry to bother you, but there is a slight change of plan."
"I noticed," Ran says dryly.
"Perhaps next time you won't mind filling us in on beforehand regarding such changes? I realize I'm merely here in a supporting capacity, and I assume the same goes for master Liew, but frankly your deceptions leave a bad taste in my mouth. Not to mention that I really don't see the need for them, unless I was misinformed when I was told Hermy's father's case was succesfully set to rights.
Still, the cards are played and I will go along. I'll ask specifically for the halfling scribe."
As an afterthought, he adds: "Assuming they have only one halfling scribe. Or even just one scribe that knows the language."
"And I had a hunch they wouldn't want to just let Hermy Sr. go."
"I doubt his contract was bought cheaply. The foreman at the mines seemed to indicate that his scribing abilities were top notch. And I'm sure you know how much a good scribe is worth."
"We need an audience with the authorities to get their backing if Mr. Mooney refuses to let his servant go. And we are more likely to get it if we appear to have some authority from Garics."
"And we do. Sir Hermy is in charge of certain areas of Garics security after all. "
"Minto shrugs. "If there is more then one, then I'll have to interview them won't I to find the right one."
"The one with the last name of Woodhome."
"And we are more likely to get it if we appear to have some authority from Garics."
"And we do. Sir Hermy is in charge of certain areas of Garics security after all. "
"Except you've already chosen to act as if 'Sir Hermy' is not with us - I'm not sure which impression you'll make when revealing Hermy's real identity, or even if the Council will believe you.
Anyway, like I said, you made a call and I'll back it up. There's no point arguing now, so I'll trust your judgement in this. I'll make the necessary inquiries after dinner."
Ran finishes his flagon of juice and fishes the necessary coins out of his fancy purse.
"Speaking of which, I think it's almost ready. I think we'll enjoy this, after all those rations - even if you did manage to improve their taste markedly, Minto."
"I need my bath first. And to make sure Hermy doesn't head off to storm the castle to free his father, and then I'll join you."
"Its been requested I perform a few songs about the great hero."
"I guess they've even heard of him this far out."
Minto tilts his head and shrugs his shoulders and then makes his way to his room, where Hermy is waiting.
"Dinner, then try to talk to that guard, I guess."
Minto takes off his hat and conbs out his hair. "Legally yes. But they might not see it that way. I'd like to find out first wether they will or not."
"If we go in anouncing we are taking him away, and they don't want to comply, they might just take off and hide him somewhere."
"An Ise woulds finds him."
"Eventually. But it would take longer then just the waiting we are doing now."
"But don't worry. You might get to see him tonight."
"I'm going to be performing tonight. And he might show up."
"Lets get cleaned up and fed so we'll be ready if that happens allright?"
Hermy nods. "Oks."
The two halflings head to the bath house and after getting cleaned up and a prestigitation done on Hermys clothes, and an entire wardrobe change for Minto they head into the inns common room.
"So, which will it be? Roast, chicken, or vegetables?"
Minto looks at him, "Beef for me please."
"Will more people be coming in?"
During harvest, in the fall, people are tired and they just stay out at the estates, where they eat an' sleep until its done. Then they all pour into town for the big Harvest Festival. Then when winter sets in, people stay home a lot because they don't want to slog through the snow."
Mimi takes Ran and Kywyn's orders, then heads for the kitchen to get their meals.
"Chicken, please," he answers their server.
Afterwards, he turns to Minto and Hermy.
"What can we get done tonight?" he asks quietly.
Minto shakes his head. "Let's see what we can accomplish from the inn tonight."
"We are all in need of a good nights rest."
"I'll try and get a few people here talking."
Once the meal is finished, Minto wipes the grease of his hands on a napkin and then sends Hermy to fetch his lute. "And wipe off your hands first!"
When Hermy returns, Minto starts tuning up the lute while eyeing the crowd for any signs of Hermy Sr.
Once it is in playable condition, Mito strums a few chords and then stands up on his chair.
"I understand you have a fellow in town by the name of Hermy Woodhome."
"We have one back where I come from too. A short fellow. Likes to wear red pants."
Hermy looks up at Minto and shakes his head. Minto continues speaking in a stage voice. "From what I've heard your Hermy is a shy, quiet fellow. Probably would be embaressed to hear that some other Hermy Woodhome is gathering so much attention."
"Well, there is a good reason for it. Shall I sing you a song about why?"
"An then tells him I want my father back. Now."
He strums the opening chords of the song and then starts singing.
THE TALE OF HERMY THE GIANT SLAYER
Now listen close to the tale I tell,
About a fearsome beast and how it fell.
For a giant had come to set up a lair,
And to give the farmers quite the scare.
It terrorized the country, it ravaged the land,
There were none nearby brave enough to withstand.
The farmers were scared and rightfully so.
So they sent to Garics to get a hero.
Upon hearing the call, Hermy volunteered.
For there was nothing on earth, Hermy feared.
He gathered his companions for this quest,
and among those champions he was the best.
Gamis, Kal, Cassiys and Mister Proudfeet,
Set forth to help bring this giant defeat.
For they knew that they must save the farm,
And keep more poor farmers from coming to harm.
Miles and miles, they traveled that day,
Seeking the giant for Hermy to slay.
When the giant saw them he was full of fear,
Knowing that Hermy soon would appear.
He sent vampire birds, a swarm thousands thick,
Hermy worried not, he dispatched them quick.
Hermy strood up to the beast, proud and defiant,
And threatened with death the four hundred foot giant.
The giant growled, and gnashed his teeth,
But he knew that soon, he would know defeat.
Hermy felled it quick, his weapon thrown,
He dropped the giant with his lucky stone.
The giant crashed to the ground, loud as thunder,
His companions stared in awe and wonder.
The farmers rejoiced and started a feast.
To thank Hermy for slaying the beast.
There was plentiful food,
And the pie was real good,
The farmers sang, and laughed some let out a cheer.
And they named a cow after Mister Hilldeer.
Minto takes a short bow afterwards.
Once he has finished, he again bows and then takes a sip of wine to sooth his throat.
He strums a few of the chords to the next song and then stops. "Do any of you know where your Hermy Woodhome is? I'm curious to see if they are related."
"The Hermy Woodhome from Garics city doesn't have much in the way of family there, and I think he might be interested to know if he had some up here."
"He might even be inclined to pay a visit."
"Its been a rough few years for him recently, and I'm sure he could use some good news."
Minto starts the slow strumming that starts of the next song.
"A Mother lost to the plague
Or so it was said.
Abandoned to fate young
A father missing and long thought dead.
T'was a death that brought him here.
A note from his dead brother.
He had passed away his note said,
And had returned to the Mother.
Arnor was the first,
Dead to the headsmans axe.
Killed for a crime he didn't commit,
Fortunetly he came back.
Weehawk, the noble hin,
found dead in an alley.
Aria Amberhawk, though she denies it,
Was next up on the talley.
And after Her, Kirby again.
He just would not stay dead.
Cog tried to help out that score,
By cutting off Kirby's head.
Next up was Daron Haldar,
Killed by mysterious circumstance.
But the Mother in her wisdom.
Gave him a second chance.
Tawnos, oh brave Tawnos,
Took his life in fear.
And Zanderat, blessed Zanderat.
We moarn the loss of your beer.
Esgir, that crazy gnome,
Slain by the Begger King.
And the first Da'Vane,
Huzzah! to him I sing.
Treble the archer, did not survive
His lovers death for long.
And he'ld be very upset to find out
He's found immortality in song.
Ivan Granitehammer, met a firey end.
And Arnor as well again.
Slain by a dragon,
We will miss those two dear friends.
Seamus, the blackguard,
Felled by NaShae's power slap.
And Trebellar the druid,
Who took the long dirt nap.
Lavan met his end,
Kirby buried him alive.
And Kirbys last reserection,
Cog did not survive.
Conrad Drake, the Demmonite folol
Met a fitting end.
You won't survive long
Claiming Kirby Woodhome a friend.
Corparal Crandle, lost in the sewers
To a dangerous beast.
One that also claimed Natala
But we got her back at least.
And for the last time,
Kirby was vanquished from this land.
He met his final end,
At his brother Hermy's hand.
Anaya, the elf druid
Eaten by a cat.
She's since gotten better
How'd she manage that?
Ashina, the songlady, wil be missed
Her death a great pity.
Felled by a dragon
While defending her city.
And then, poor Alissa.
Hermy's much missed wife.
She was needed elsewhere,
So the Mother took her life.
And most recently, Major.
Hermy's noble mount and steed.
Slain by a tribe of giants
While performing a noble deed.
Many friends have died,
And a few enemies.
Part of the tragic tale
Of the great Sir Hermy."
Hermy moves closer to Kywyn and whispers. "I sures hopes he knows whats hes doing? I thinks it wqoulds be a lots easier ta march up ta that Moony guy and shows him the paper from the liar."
"An then tells him I want my father back. Now."
"It won't hurt to see where he can go with it," Kywyn replies softly, "Now that we've gotten into it."
In a short-sleeved, woven pallid shirt, Kywyn is extra careful not to spill anything on himself.
"People are strung a certain way, and sometimes you have to pull the right chords to move them the way you want. If Minto can get to see the council, it'll be more information if nothing else."
As Minto plays, Kywyn looks about the crowd casually to see if the guard they met earlier is present, or anyone that looks suspicious.
"Do you think you would like to meet your father first? If we could get away and make it so just the two of you could talk? He's not waiting at the window for anyone anymore, but the sky is full of stars, and I bet he's never stopped wishing on those."
=Kywyn
"Do you think you would like to meet your father first? If we could get away and make it so just the two of you could talk? He's not waiting at the window for anyone anymore, but the sky is full of stars, and I bet he's never stopped wishing on those."
"Id's likes that a lots."
"Ise gots a lots of things ta tells him. But we still don'ts knows where he is. Hes here somewheres, working for some Moony guy, but we don'ts know where that is at."
"Ifen he's anythings likes me, he won'ts be far from the window. Theys makes good escape routes. An unlocked door woulds be better, but I suppose ifen there was one of them he'd have comes home a long time ago."
"An he'ds definetly be wishing."
.oO(Let's hope that Minto doesn't add even more convoluted lies and deceptions to the tales he's been spreading so far. Nothing I can do about it now anyway.)
Kywyn doesn't see the road guard, but there are quite a few people in the room, and more seated at the small tables just outside.
Ran, searching for Master Capetti's office, finds it at the east end of Main street. The sign on the door, however, says 'Closed.'
"An he'ds definetly be wishing."
"If we can find a way..." he leaves the thought unfinished to Hermy.
After dinner if spent, Kywyn leaves the common room for some fresh air. Outside, with Minto's voice carrying dimly through the door, the dark-haired man leans against the wall and looks up to the darkened sky. He turns his head to both sides of the street to see if anyone else is about.
Kywyn's also wonders what the Lazy Ox is like and glances in that direction.
The doors and shutters are open to the warm night air, and laughter spills out into the street. Rhythmic clapping punctuates the dancing he can see through the wooden frames, a group 'called' dance of some sort.
Ran, searching for Master Capetti's office, finds it at the east end of Main street. The sign on the door, however, says 'Closed.'
.oO(Not exactly business hours. I should have known better.)
Ran needs a minute to consider how best to continue, keeping Minto's 'change of plans' in mind.
.oO(I could try the temple, that'll be open at all hours of the day and night. But I already know master Woodhome is indentured to a man named Mooney, so there's no point going there. I'm only trying to see this Capetti fellow hoping he'll refer me to Mooney. That'll make it plausible for me to approach him and ask if we can hire a halfling scribe's services.
I might as well go back to the inn and see if I can find either Capetti or Mooney there.)
The elf walks back to the Foaming Flagon and, noticing the Lazy Ox seems to be drawing quite a crowd as well, decides he'll have to pay the other inn a visit later too. He joins the crowd listening to Minto's performance and, when the bard takes a break, asks one of the locals if master Capetti would be around as well.
She glances up and down the elven monk, and smiles.
"Buy you a drink?"
"Only if you'll accept one in return," he says with a bemused but rather pleased smile.
"What would you recommend?"
The elf makes a courteous bow towards the woman and takes a seat next to her.
"My name is Ran. Pleased to meet you, miss ... ?"
"I'm Beth," she says, green eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "There's a white wine here that's more than passable, or the chrysanthemum tea is good -- they don't let it get stale."
Ran is much taken in by Beth's green eyes.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself?"
"Well, it's been a while since we had a new minstrel in town. Your friend is awfully good, though some of his songs are pretty... fantastic, in the 'unbelievable' sense."
Ran grins.
"You'd be surprised what happens to some people. They seemingly attract bizarre circumstances.
So if not with critiques of the artistry of minstrels passing by, how do you like to spend your time?"
She chuckles and shakes her head.
"I organize caravans for the growers here in the valley. All those walnuts have to get to the markets, after all. And not just the walnuts themselves, but the other things made from walnut trees -- wood, dyes, things like that.
What about you?"
Ran points towards the silver pin he wears on his overshirt.
"I'm part of a adventurers' organization, called the Silver Sword Adventurers' Guild. That sounds a lot like a bunch of mercenaries, I know, but it's a bit more civilized than that. The guild imposes strict standards on its members. Besides that, I work in a bar - officially as a bouncer, in practice I'm part of the serving staff.
I grew up in a monastery; not the priestly kind, the Jade Lotus monks follow a philosophy rather than religious beliefs. They put great stock in an ascetic lifestyle and self-improvement, both of mind and body. I try to live by those standards still, and even to make further progress as a student of the Way. My being a Silver Sword is mostly due to the opportunities that supposedly offers me to to test myself and learn from the challenges those missions set me.
The elf smiles warmly.
"This tea is quite lovely. It suits the company."
Adventurers? Like, monster hunters?"
She sips her tea, smiling at his compliments.
"I didn't think elves went in for monasticism."
Ran turns a bit pensive.
"Elves usually tend not to find themselves to be suited to monasticism, no. But the contemplative aspect isn't all that alien to us - certainly not to me - and the monks offer an excellent education. That's why my parents wished me to go there. I never had cause to regret their decision, even if it took me a while to adjust to the discipline."
"It's... hard, sometimes, to understand a parent's decisions..."
She drinks, looks back up, and smiles.
"Do monks dance? Your bard friend is quite the singer, but it's not dancing music. Across the street, at the Lazy Ox, there's usually dancing."
Ran grins.
"Dancing isn't compulsory for monks, but there's nothing against it either. It's not something I'm wont to do, but I'm sure you'll be able to teach me a move or two. Lead the way."
"The food over here isn't nearly so good as at the Flagon, so they make up for it by having a dance floor.
Oh, the Reisian Reel, that's an easy one, come on, before it starts..."
She pulls Ran into the line, coaching him through the steps.
"It's not quite the kind of training I'm used to, but it's certainly as good an exercise and a lot more fun."
He laughs as they twirl through the crowd.
Hermy starts to get up and head for the door. Minto catches sight of him.
"Good idea Lemmy. I could use another drink. See if you can get me a few more potatoes too. "
Hermy looks at him and sighs and then goes to get his bard more to eat and drink.
"How would you like to hear a song about Sir Hermy's wife?"
"From what I've heard, she was a wonderful dancer. Some bard back in Gareics wrote this song about her."
"There she is,
The lovliest girl in the world
Hermy was smitten,
The first time she twiredl.
With her fingers ringing,
And her skirts a swinging
Shes the reason that
Bards keep singing.
Watch her move,
And watch her prance.
Give her money
If you like the Dance.
Look at the way
Her dress spins round
Give her some coin
Or it’ll go down.
And look at the smooth
Graceful dancers legs
Just like her sisters
Except Alissa shaves
But don’t look too hard
If you value your life
This lovely girl’s
Became Sir Hermy’s wife.
He plays faster and faster as the song progresses, the music spinning out into the air as his fingers dance across the strings.
Finally he brings it all to an abrupt halt, and sings the last verse quietly and without accompaniment.
She was taken to soon
Lost to ill fated chance.
At the Mothers side now
She will forever dance."
Minto lets the silence hang for a time. Then he speaks again.
"It hasn't been a good year for him."
After Minto mentions that it has been a rough year for him, Hermy can't hold it in any longer and the tears begin to fall. He get's up and starts heading for the room. Minto looks at him and nods. A frown across his face. "You'll have to excuse my bodyguard. He knew Sir Hermy's wife rather well, and her loss was a major shock for him."
"He still hasn't recovered."
Minto watches as Hermy heads up the stairs and then strums a few more chords. [color=royalblue]"I really should go make sure he is all right, but I don't want to leave you wanting more."
"I can play one more song. I know a few more Sir Hermy songs, would you like to hear one of those?"[/color]
Across the street, Ran and his new friend continue to dance. He notices in passing that her ear appears to have been injured long ago.
Upstairs, Hermy shuts the door to the room and wipes away the tears. .o0(I needs ta finds my dad. Tonights.)
Making his way to a window, Hermy opens it up and then after making sure his equipment is secure starts to climb down.
He heads back towards the road they came in on. .o0(Maybe that guards will still be there an cin points me in the right direction. She seemed almost helpful.)
The hero sneaks towards his goal.
---
[size=1][OoC: Not sure if I would spot Hermy on the street?][/size]
"Ise goin ta finds my dad tonight. Ise gunna try ta finds that guard we talked to earlier sose Ise cin asks her which road leads to Mr. Mooney."
"Dids ya happens ta finds which road leds ta the guard place? Ifen she's nots still on guard I mights half ta checks there."
"It's probably down the road marked gua.... "
Hermy stops and shakes his head. "Ise been spendin too much time around Minto."
"The streets is marked aint they? All I needs ta do is finds the one marked Mooney." Hermy shakes his head again. "Its certainly woulds be easier. An quicker."
Hermy motions to Kywyn. "Comes on an helps me finds the rights street please."
"My reading aint that great in the dark. Especially when the signs are so highs up."
Hermy begins moving again, but in a manner that won't cause Kywyn to lose sight of him. He stops at each sign post to try and see if it is the roght one.
The man slowly turns toward Hermy, "I haven't seen the guard again."
Kywyn pulls on a loose offwhite shirt to shrug off the night's chill and slings his satchel strap over his head.
"I'll come with you. I can see the signs alright."
Kywyn follows behind Hermy, scanning for any unexpected company.
"If it would help, I can make you invisible to reach your father."
The elegant house is about half a mile from the turnoff.
"Can ya do iy fer yerself too? I mights wants someones ta stands guard while I sees my father."
"Its hard ta be alert when yer hugging."
When they reach the road, Hermy looks at the house in the distance. "Its a bits far ta goes unvisable yet."
"We'll does that once we gets closer."
.o0(That house definetly don'ts looks likes what I'ds expect slaves ta be kepts in, theres probably a pit in the back or somethin likes that.)
"But we shoulds still try ta mots be seen."
"When ya loose sights of me, don'ts worry. I'll still be close."
"Lets go then."
Hermy steps off the road and starts heading along the side of it, using the walnut trees as cover.
The deep silence of the night is broken by shimmering tones from a harpsichord. The silence falls again, and the chords are repeated, more slowly this time.
Kywyn stands still now while listening, slightly mesmerized by the music in the darkness.
Then focusing on the sounds of the music he creeps towards the window closest to where the music is coming from and peeps in through it.
.o0(Theys mights be a bard in there. I needs ta makes sure of what wese dealin with here. Ifen theres a bard Ise gunna hafta be more careful. They cin be dangerious.)
An older man, in his sixties, relaxes in an overstuffed chair, feet propped on a hassock while a woman of his age practices on the harpsichord. A younger couple indulgently observes their children working a jigsaw puzzle on the floor.
Hermy pops back down and slinks back to where Kywyn is at. Whispering, Hermy tells him what's going on. "Theres a family in there. Grandparents, an kids an everythings."
"They probablies don'ts knows what kinda house theys in. We mights wants ta rescue them too before they gets enslaved too."
"But we needs ta finds out where my dads is first."
"This woulds be a goods time ta makes us unvisable. That way you cin peep through windows too."
"Don'ts worries about not being able ta see each other an stuff. I'll be ables ta finds you by listenin ta ya crunchin everything there is ta steps on."
"Hermy, I think those people probably live here... Maybe your dad is like part of their family even."
"I'll stay here then? Do we need a signal if things go wrong?"
Kywyn holds the baton in both hands in front of him. He concentrates and triggers the intuitive energies that will produce the desired effect.
With a wave of the item, he untaps the formula held within to bend the light around them.
---
[Cast invisbility from wand on both of us.]
"They mights be the Mooneys."
"I guess we'll deals with them when we finds outs whats really goings on."
Hermy heads back towards the house. "The signal will be, um... how does 'help me!" sound?"
"Its gunna be the easiest ta nots mistakes fer something else."
When he reaches the house Hermystarts to look through all the windows he can reach.
The halfling seems preoccupied with the sky, staring, perhaps, at the brightly shining 'Eye of the Swan.'
Hermy moves around to stand under the balcony. .o0(He evens stares at the sky likes I does! It's him! It's him!)
Hermy clears his throat. "Dad. Is thats you? It's yer son here ta rescue you."
Hermy heads back towards the house. "The signal will be, um... how does 'help me!" sound?"
"Its gunna be the easiest ta nots mistakes fer something else."
"Remember, the cover won't last forever... several minutes... You should see what you can see then come back or get to an exit at least."
When Hermy is gone, Kywyn moves to the window to look in from the corner.
He sings one more, and then another, and then one last song.
And then another last song.
.o0(Hermy should be fine. He just needs some time to cry. Best to get it out now, tomorrow when he mets his dad, he'll be too happy.)
"K-Kirby?"
Softer, he says, "...No, Kirby wouldn't..."
"No, I have no son," he finishes in a clear but shaky voice.
Hermy wipes away a tear. "No, nots Kirby."
"Me."
"Hermy."
"Hermy Jr. Yer other son."
"Ise comes ta takes you home."
Hermy looks for away to climb up to his father.
"Ise comes ta frees you dad."
He turns to leave the balcony, "Or haunted. Invisible voices from people long dead..."
Hermy scrambles to the side of the house and starts up it, grabbing hold of what ever he can.
"Ise unvisable! But it's really me!"
"Ise comes from Garics ta gets you! Please! Comes backs! Please!"
"Ya aint hallucinatin! An I aints longs dead!"
"I thoughts you were! 'Thats whys its takin me so longs ta finds you!"
"Dads! Please! Don'ts go away again!"
"No... My baby died with his mother, from plague, years ago while I was still at the salt mines.
I've no home anymore. No home, no family."
"Kirby killded her an tooks me away."
"Buts Ise alive dad! Ise alive. Just likes you are."
"Kirby tolds me you was dead too. But you aints."
"You aints dad."
"Youse alive."
"An here."
"An sose is I, dad. Ise here too."
Hermy continues tryi9ng to get up. "The unvisable won'ts last much longers. An then you'lls be ables to see me."
"Please dad."
"Wait fer just a few minutes ta sees me... an then ifen youse don'ts approves, then youse cin goes away."
"But at least waits till youse sees me dad."
"Please."
Hermy Sr. pauses, rubbing his eyes with one hand.
"No, Kirby would never kill his mother. He... he was just a little immature, that's all. My boy wouldn't really hurt anyone.
Not my boy..."
"He would an did."
"He told me so afters I killed him."
"He wasn't immature. He was evil dad. Very evil. He killed mom."
"Yer wife. An he trieds ta kill my wife too."
"Ise sorry. But it's true. I wish it weren't. Thens we coulds all go backs an be a big happy family."
"But its just you an me nows. We'll just has ta settle fer a small happy family."
"If you'll stays with me dad."
"Please says you will. Ok?"
"You... you look like a Woodhome.
But what you've said about Kirby. That's just unbelievable."
He slowly moves closer. "I didn't believes that about Kirby either at first."
"It wasn'ts until I actually saws the results of his evil with my own eyes thats I did. An its stills hards to believes sometimes."
Hermy shakes his head. "But he's gone now. An you aint gone no more."
"Yer here. An alives."
"An...." The tears start flowing again. "I didn'ts thinks I'ds ever sees you."
"I thouhts I'ds be alones fer ever dad, after Kirby died. An Alissa died."
"But... but... here you is."
Hermy wipes his face on his sleeve. "Will youse comes backs home with me?"
"Ise gots a writ from the judges that clears yer names so that you don'ts has ta be a slaves anymore."
"An Ise gots a place fer ya ta stays. I lives in an adventuring guild, an Ise sure VGolos wouldn'tsa minds you stayins too. He lets my students stay there an theys, theys aint my dad."
"Please comes home with me."
Well, that wouldn't do anything about the debt I owe Mr. Mooney."
Hermy Sr. stares hard at Hermy, as though searching his face for clues in the darkness.
"Thats what this says." Hermy takes the writ out of his pocket and holds it out for his dad to see.
"Mistaken identity? Heh, right."
He frowns over at Hermy.
"Mr. Mooney bought my contract. I may have been innocent of the crime, but that doesn't put his gold back in his pocket.
And besides, he paid to have my sight restored. I owe him for that, as well."
"An families mores importants then stupid gold."
"Ifen he wants gold, I cin gets him gold. Buts I can'ts gets me another dad."
Hermy sniffles, and wipes his face again with his damp sleeve. "How much does we owes him?"
He looks at his dads face. "An what happened to yer eyes?"
He mutters, "I wish my old friend Jeff were here..."
Hermy Sr. sighs, and in a normal tone continues, "I'm not sure. Two or three hundred gold. I haven't paid much attention, since there was no reason to leave, with no family to go home to.
We? It's my debt."
He blinks in confusion, unsure how to address the stranger claiming to be his son.
"Ah, I got sick while we were on a caravan to the capital and back. The priest's fees were rather high."
Hermy moves closer and spreads out his arms. "Youse gots a family ta goes home to now. Me."
"An once you gets back we cin finds yer friend Jeff. Father Cannedrum wills probably knows where he is at. He's been helping me finds you. An he'll helps find that Jeff guy too."
" He's a good priest. An wouldn'ts charge you fees fer doin the right thing."
Hermy smiles. "An a few hundred golds aint that much. We killeds some squirrel crabs on the ways here an they was probably that much treasure they had."
"I don'ts think Kywyns will mind ifen we use it ta buys yer freedom. That's why he cames with me after all. Ta helps get you back, nots to get treasure."
"An Minto won'ts minds either. Hes got plenty of shirts back hme."
"An Ran doesn't really need another pair of shoes. Just cause hes an elf don't mean he has ta acts likes one of the elves in yer book that ya lefts me."
"Ise learneds that in the last couple of years. Nots everythings likes in the stories."
"Exceptin fer a sons love fer his dad."
"It don'ts gets more truthful then thats."
...Squirrel crabs?"
Reaching out with one hand, he finds a chair and sits down.
"Shoes?"
"This is all very confusing."
"Its only seems confussing cause ya don'ts knows much abouts me yet."
"Once ya gets ta knows me again, you'lls finds out that all this confusing stuff is just normal."
"Ise a hero dad."
"A real one."
"Likes the ones in your book. In facts thats why I becames a hero. Because I reads them stories an thoughts thems the kinda guy my parents woulds wants me to be."
"An I is now."
"Theres songs abouts me an everything. I evens got knighted by the Lords of the City fer savin it a few times."
Hermy puts his hand on his father knee.
"Buts I'ds gives it all ups just ta has you back."
"I cin pays fer yer freedom. That aint no problem. Even if theys wants more then I has, I cin always go slays another dragon or somethin likes that."
"But I wants you to comes home with me dad."
"I needs you too comes home with me."
"Well, yes, of course.
Son..."
A tear trickles free, and he leans forward to pull Hermy into an embrace.
"You don't need to be a hero, Hermy. Just a good man."
Finally, the ability to speak comes back to him. He hugs his father tightly.
"I loves you dad. An I missed you."
"An I don'ts ever wants to lose you again."
"But..." He starts to cry again. "... but I can'ts stops being a hero. It's whats I is. An its what people expects me to be. An what they needs me to be."
"I has to go backs to Garics. Ifen I don'ts then lots of peoples lives will be ruineds. Some peoples wills even dies."
"I don'ts wants ta ever lose you again, but I needs you ta comes home with me so that don'ts happen."
"I'll does anything yer bosses says, or gives them anythings they wants ifen they'll lets you comes home with me."
He bites down on his toungue, and swallows. "As longs as it aint somethin thats will makes me nots be good."
"Kywyn thoughts them people inside mights be inside mights be the peoples who lives here. The Mooneys. An that you mights be part of their family now."
"Will theys be willings to talks to me tonight?"
"I don't know who, exactly, you saw, but the Mooneys do live here. It's their home, after all.
It's rather late tonight, I'm sure they wouldn't welcome the intrusion. Tomorrow, after breakfast, would be better. And I'd like the time to think about all this, as well."
He stands, and pulls a chair over for Hermy.
"Who is Kywyn? and the others you mentioned?"
Going over to his fireplace, he takes two mugs from the mantelpiece and sets them on a small table. He then goes to a small cupboard and takes out a decorative tin box.
"You do drink tea, I hope?"
Across the street, Ran and his new friend continue to dance. He notices in passing that her ear appears to have been injured long ago.
Ran gently traces Beth's ear with his index finger, softly but trying not to be too forward, while continuing to dance.
"You're life has not been without peril, it appears. Does organizing caravans extend to protecting them as well?"
He looks at her with an honest smile, slightly hesitant but not apologetic.
"I'm being curious. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"Yes, everyone in a caravan has to be able to help defend against bandits, but..."
Her voice lowers, and she doesn't meet Ran's eyes. "My mother thought I'd have an easier time of things if I looked less like my father. I don't remember it, I was too little, but she had my ears... trimmed."
Looking closer, Ran can see the signs of her elven heritage.
"I'm afraid I come from a rather backwater village."
Ran looks a bit embarrassed because he brought up the subject.
"I hope that wasn't too much of a burden when you were growing up. You certainly seem intelligent and capable, and you're definitely an attractive woman. People should be able to see that, and not care about your ancestry..."
.oO(Me and my big mouth... I didn't mean to make her feel awkward...)
"It's over. Let's not talk about it."
Grabbing his hand, she pulls Ran back to the dance floor.
"Come on, let's dance and enjoy the moment!"
"I'm glad I made this trip. It's just what I needed."
The monk beams at the young woman in his arms as he spins her across the floor, moving nimbly between like-minded couples dancing to their hearts' content.
"What brought you to Walnut Valley, anyway?"
"Hermy? We shouldn't linger too long..." he tries to whisper and make his voice carry at the same time.
Returning Hermy's hugs, his father pats him on the back and assures him, "We'll figure it out. Don't worry."
"I don't know who, exactly, you saw, but the Mooneys do live here. It's their home, after all.
It's rather late tonight, I'm sure they wouldn't welcome the intrusion. Tomorrow, after breakfast, would be better. And I'd like the time to think about all this, as well."
He stands, and pulls a chair over for Hermy.
"Who is Kywyn? and the others you mentioned?"
Going over to his fireplace, he takes two mugs from the mantelpiece and sets them on a small table. He then goes to a small cupboard and takes out a decorative tin box.
"You do drink tea, I hope?"
Hermy shrugs. "I don'ts usually drinks tea. Ise more of a milk guy."
"Buts I'ds loves ta has a cup with you."
"When we gets back ta Garics you an Volos cin has tea together too. Ya hardly ever sees him withouts a cup."
Hermy pauses. "Volos is the steward at the Silver Sword. That's the guild Ise in. He also makes the pie. Its the best pie I evers ate. An almost as good as the pie I didn'ts eat. Now that was some pie. We was in this ruined castle tryin ta stops the undead army from invadin the city again, an this ghost gaves me this ghost pie fer helpin him out. There weren't nuthin there but it sure tasted good."
Hermy sits down next to the table. "I thinks Minto has a song about it."
"He's my minstrel. Minto Newberry, halfling bard extroidinare. He's from Brannons Run, but he aint got the accent fer some reason. Me an hims has done a lots of adventurin, an hes wrotes a lots of songs about me. Most of 'ems pretty good, an almost accurate."
"An theys very popular too. Whens we gots here, it turns out theys heard them here too."
"Hes probably still at the inn singing them. He has a hard time saying no ta the oppertunity ta sings about me."
Hermy hops up to help his father fix the tea. "Kywyn an Run came with me too."
"Runs an elf an a member of the Silver Sword likes me. An Kywyns my friend an a wizard. An theys both guys who don'ts needs weapons ta fights. They just punch an kicks stuff until it don'ts needs ta be punched an kicked no more."
"Runs back at the inn, but Kywyns outside somewhere. He helped me finds this house."
"Maybe I shoulds gives him the signal that everything is all right."
"I hope you're not letting your pride get out of control. And ghost pies sound dangerous; who knows what sort of effect that could have..."
Hermy hears a soft voice calling from outside.
Hermy moves towards the balcony and looks out. "Someones out there. Was you expectin any one else tonights? Cause ifen ot, its probably Kywyn."
"Are you ready to go? Or have you found something?"
Hermy waves at the sorceror. "Ise found my dad."
"Wese having tea."
Hermy turns back to look at his dad. "I think you'lls likes ywyn. Hes a dad too."
"Hes gots a son named Kywyn Jr. whose almost as big as I is."
"Hes a half elf. Kywyns a human guy, an Nashae his wife is an elf princess."
A frown crosses Hermy's face. "I didn't mention that yet dids I?"
Hermy Sr. sits down, heavily, a stunned expression on his face.
Hermy sighs. "Hes gots a few songs about Alissa. She was the best dancer you'ds ever finds. An the prettiest girl."
"I helpsed her sister, Area, one of my best friends, rescue Alissa from a bands of Travellars that she rans away with cause her dad... well, he wasn'ts a dad."
"An I gots sick from a curse an Alissa nurseded me backs ta health, an we fells in love, an,,, eventually we gots married."
"I... I..." tears start pouring from his eyes. "I hads ta go defends the city the next day."
"An when I... I..." Hermy stops to swallow a lump in his throat. "Whens I gots back, she was gone."
"She dieds trying ta rescue Kywyn Jr."
"I trieds ta has her broughts backs to life, but the Mother hads another jobs fer her ta do. Shes been reconstituted as someone else an I'll nevers sees her again."
His tears continue flowing, but once they slow down, a small smile appears on his face. "TThat's how I founds out you was still alive."
"Mom told me when I was in the labinrinse in the temple."
"I'm sorry. I... I always thought I'd have all the rest of my life to spend with your mother. We never imagine that those dreams will be cut short.
All we can do is enjoy the moments we have, and treasure the memories afterwards."
The smile grows bigger. "Moms tolds me she still loves you by the way. Shes waitin fer you with the Mother."
"Hello," he greets quietly.
"This is my dad."
"Your son has come a long way to find you."
Kywyn brushes a few green and brown leaves from his shirt out toward the balcony.
"I hope we won't get you in any trouble by visiting this way."
He looks to Hermy Jr., "What are we working with now?"
Then to Hermy Sr., "What is it you wish to do?"
"They paids to gets him fixed after he gots sick, and..." Hermy looks around the room. "An they gots him out of the salt mines."
"We'll goes talks to them in the mornings ta finds out what they wants."
"Good evening, sir. Ah, I doubt anyone would notice a quiet little gathering in here, but I'd certainly appreciate it if no-one did any shouting or jumping about," he says with a twinkle in his eye.
Hermy Jr. notes that the apartment, while not luxurious, is comfortable and well-kept.
"I worked in the offices at the salt mines, being a trained scribe, but it was still convict labor... I was grateful when Mr. Mooney bought my contract."
He smiles wryly.
"Being an indentured servant is a step up the social ladder from being a convicted murderer. And, by then, I'd been sent word that my wife and children were dead."
"What brought you to Walnut Valley, anyway?"
.oO(Right. I guess this is where Minto's lies become really annoying... I'd better not get into specifics.)
"I wasn't enjoying my life anymore. I'm used to discipline and don't shirk responsability, but there were too many demands on my time, too many commitments I'd made. Another Silver Sword - the halfling - has business with the Council and mentioned he wouldn't mind a bit of company travelling here. It's a sort of a vacation for me, some time off from my regular schedule.
And there's walnuts to be found here."
The elf winks.
"And good company."
Hermy Sr. rises and shakes Kywyn's hand.
"Being an indentured servant is a step up the social ladder from being a convicted murderer. And, by then, I'd been sent word that my wife and children were dead."
Looking around, Hermy shrugs. "This definetly aint what I was expectin."
"I was expecin ya ta be in a hole or a dungean or somethin likes that. Nots havins yer own room an stuff."
"I don'ts evens has that back at the guild."
"These Moonies aint bad guys is they?"
"Change can be good. But you didn't really come here looking for walnuts, I'm sure!"
------------------
"Mr. Mooney is a businessman, through and through. He wouldn't, I think, intentionally do something 'bad,' but he also wouldn't go out of his way to correct a wrong."
Hermy Sr. shrugs, and sips his tea. He checks the cup he's poured for Kywyn, and serves it to him.
Hermy speaks, and his father nods. "Mr. Mooney considers me a valuable asset, and he knows I'm trustworthy, even though I'm not here of my free will."
"An I is one ta williingly corrects a wrong."
"Evens though the court says youse free, an thats shoulds be enough, I'lls pays off what evers you still owes him."
"It's still very hard to grasp that you're alive."
"An whens I jumps I knows Ise alive."
Hermy holds out his hand. "Here go aheads an pinch me."
"So, you make a living as a hero... What do you do, Kywyn?"
“But I find income for everyday things through working as an artisan, with drawings, and every so often as an adventurer when the circumstances are right.”
Kywyn sips his tea and swallows it slowly.
“I fought the idea at first, but seeing people like Hermy fighting for what they believe in, can’t help but get involved sometimes.”
Beth grins at Ran, nodding her understanding.
"Change can be good. But you didn't really come here looking for walnuts, I'm sure!"
"As a follower of the Jade Lotus way I was taught not the finding is important, but the searching. I've found something quite opposite to be equally true however: one shouldn't dismiss what is found, merely because one wasn't looking for it," Ran replies while looking the young woman in the eyes.
The elf smiles and mock-bows.
"Such is the wisdom of Ran of the Jade Lotus."
Despite the humourous tone, it's clear Ran is quite serious. He just doesn't want to give the wrong impression.
-------------
"It's good to know that you don't dismiss serendipity," Beth replies, grinning.
"Will you be returning to Garic's City with your halfling friend, or will you be searching elsewhere after this?"
Ran grins and inclines his head as he makes a vague gesture that seems to encompass their surroundings.
"But my companion won't be leaving just yet. There'll be time to discover what's to be found outside the city."
Beth nods her head towards the door, grinning at Ran.
"Drawing? Very nice!" Hermy Sr. smiles broadly. "As a scribe, I've often been in the position of having to make illustrations, so you won't find me disrespectful of the work of an artist!"
Kywyn nods with mutual respect.
"I think between words and pictures, you have the tools to create anything."
From Kywyn's bag, Hex sidles out and hops to Kywyn's shoulder and chirps twice.
[color=burlywood]"More words, more pictures... Another one?"[/color] the amphibian asks of the second halfling.
"This is my friend," Kywyn explains softly to Hermy Sr., "He's reminding me of a time and place where we had to find wisdom in each other's faces and deeper signs in our surroundings. He finds it hard to grasp the power in symbols."
"And why we let ourselves be bound by imaginary things."
"Oh... like a wizard's cat?"
"I has two cats though. An.." Hermy's voice drops off. "I used ta has a lot of dogs."
Stifling a yawn, he offers his guests a second cup of tea.
"You'lls really likes it, we all sleeps in the same room, an.." He notices the yawn.
"Buts I cin tells youse about that tomorrow afters wese talks to the Mooneys."
"It looks likes youse coulds use some sleep."
"Does ya wants me ta comes back here in the morning? Minto cin makes me unvisable afgain sose I cin get up here withouts being seen, or shoulds I justs knocks on the front door?"
Hermy Sr. turns to Kywyn, shaking his hand. "Thank you very much for helping my son. He says you have a son of your own, so I know you must understand how grateful I am."
"I understand it's hard enough to connect with people, so I'm glad to see you here now."
Kywyn starts toward the window and glances at Hermy to see if he's ready to go.
Hermy starts climbing down and waits, smiling, for Kywyn at the bottom. "That was My dad, Kywyn."
"My dad."
"It really was."
Kywyn starts walking.
"Let's get back to the inn. Better to rest tonight if you can."
"He's gunna be kinda upset."
"I thinks he was enjoyin' pretendin ta be important."
Hermy skips back towards the inn, and as he approaches, can hear Minto still performing. Hermy looks at Kywyn and shrugs. "He probably don'ts even knows I left."
Hermy pushes open the door, steps inside and waves at the bard. "Heya Minto."
"Lemmy. I didm't see you leave."
Hermy grins and shakes his head. "My name aint Lemmy."
"It's Hermy Woodhome Jr."
"An I just met my dad."
"Good. I really hated pretending to be someone I'm not."
Hermy nods. "Me too."
"An he's safe. The Mooneys has been taking goods care of him."
"He wasn'ts in a pit or nuthin likes that. He hads his own room an everything."
Minto nods. "It makes sense. This doesn't seem the type of town to tolerat that."
"That will teach me to trust information from a captured bandit won't it?"
Hermy looks at him and shakes his head. "I thought..."
Minto cuts him off. "People of Walnet Valley.! I don't know if you are aware of it, but Sir Hermy was unaware that his father was alive! For twenty long years he thought he was an orphan! But now... well now he has a family again."
"That calls for a round of drinks don't you think?"
"Who was in a pit?"
"Woodhome, the scribe."
"No, he said his bodyguard was in a pit."
"A bandit was in a pit, that's how they captured him!"
"No, the bandit was in a pit, and Lemmy fell in with him!"
"Woodhome has a bodyguard?"
"No, Mooney is going to hire a bodyguard, because of the bandits!"
After a few seconds of playing, Minto feels confident he has their attention and speaks up over the music. "Perhaps I should explain things for you all. It seems there is a bit of misinformation spreading around."
"Sir Hermy and I, and our companians came here to find Sir Hermys father."
"We learned from several sources, including the Mother herself that he was alive."
"Which came as quite a shock to Sir Hermy. He was always told his father had died of the plague when he was young. I'm sure you can imagine his surprise to find out that he had been sentanced to the mines for a crime he didn't commit."
Minto pauses to let his words sink in and then continues. "After a brief, but heroic investigation, we discovered that his contract had been sold, and after a terrible confrintation with one of the fiends responsible for framing Hermy the Elder we were able to prove his innocense to the courts and have the sentance over turned."
"Unfortanetly, I was under the impression that his contract had been sold to an unscruptilous organization hidden among your miidst. Thats what I get for tnot doubting the word of the bandit who had set him up in the first place."
"I spend to much time around trustworthy and noble folk for my own good I'd wager. I fall to easily to lies and schemes."
Minto looks apologetic and blushes.
"Upon arriving at your fair town, I thought it might be best not to alert the folk I thought holding Hermy the Elder until Sir Hermy had a chance to explain things to your council."
"He wanted to clear up the rumour of the shady organization before he reveiled himself. If such a thing existed I'm sure you can imagine they would try to take advantage of holdiing a famous heroes fathjer hostage."
"Foretanetly, and naturally the organization does not exist."
"It was just the over active imagination of a bard. And for that slight to your honor, I deeply apologize."
"Been listenin' to too many of yer own stories, I reckon! Next you'll be believin' he really did kill giants and dragons!"
On a half-sheet of paper, Kywyn makes a few random notes on what they had seen today. His face remains expressionless except for temporary variations while recalling certain events.
As the time wears on, Kywyn thinks he is about ready to head off to bed.
"Besides Sir Hermy of course."
"Hermy, why don't you pass your helmet around for everyone to see. I doubt many people have had the chance to touch real red dragon skin."
Hermy shrugs and hands his helmet to the closest person. Minto smiles.
"They don't just hand those out at the market you know. You have to earn those yourself."
"Hermy, do you have your lucky black rock with you? The one you used against the giant? It's not as convincing as your helmet is as evidence, but its a chance for these kind people to touch even more of history."
Hermy shrugs again, and hands out his rock. "Bese careful with that. It's a family heirloom."
Minto nods again. "I know you may have some doubts even after all the evidence before you. I'm afraid thats your loss."
"Having a hero to believe in is one of the greatest things in life. I really wish there was a way Sir Hermy could prove it to all the unbelievers."
"But no matter, those of us whgo know the truth will sleep easier tonight, knowing that if trouble rears it's head, Sir 'Hermy is here to stop it."
"And you're an elf, you've plenty of time to search and learn. I've learned that moonlight makes for a very charming stroll..."
Ran swallows, realizing that his innuendo might be reprocicated in kind - not a situation the monk is used to finding himself in.
"Will you show me around the walnut groves?"
He offers Beth his arm and lets the young woman lead them outside.
She smiles flirtatiously, taking Ran's offered arm, and guiding him outside and up the street.
"There's a lovely pond, and the moonlight will be shining on it beautifully at this time of night," Beth says, as she takes Ran up a lane that leads through the groves.
"Welp, 't'ain't any kinda leather I never saw. Looks like it mighta come from a big lizard..."
The sound of voices rises in a babble of excitement, as they conclude it really is a dragon skin helmet.
"But he's also very much a normal man too. A normal mn who has had a very exhausting day."
"I think it might be time for us to retire for the night. I'm sure I'll be able to find time tomorrow to continue to regale you with tales of his exploits, but falas I must bid you goodnight for now."
Minto motions to Hermy to retrieve his items and headfs up for the room. Once out of sight of the crowd, he starts complaining. "They didn't believe the songs were true. What kind of back water town is this not to know that you are really..."
Hermy grins and cuts him off. "Ise going to talks to the Moonies in the morning to get my dad free."
Minto stops and smiles. "That is good to hear. Lets get some rest then. I'll want to be in top form when I finally get to meet him."
"Me too. Exceptin Ise already met him."
The two halflings retire for the night.
"Sleep, beloved..." the voice is the memory of a song.
Kywyn opens his eyes in the darkness with a twitch, entangled in his bedsheets. He barely recalls coming upstairs from the common room last night. Turning over to his side, he half-expects Shae to be there, rounded shoulders and seductive silhouette... The most exquisite creature in all of Reise and beyond to him.
Kywyn reaches up to his right eye. There is a burning and tingling sensation as if the mystic tattoo over his eye, which normally appears only on command, is being etched upon his skin anew. He rubs at his eyelid and the sense abates.
The smell of the room is unfamiliar and a tad stale.
Laying flat and unsure, Kywyn notices the vibration in his body as if he has just fallen a distance to the ground. In his flesh, bones, and blood, there is a pulsation. Taking a deep breath, the room blurs and refocuses, and the quivering, real or not, ceases.
Morning. Time to get up and see what Hermy and Minto could do about the situation. Yet Kywyn cannot shake the nonsensical portent he is left with: one of drowning.
"We've got time before you are suppose to go meet him."
"But what ifen he aint eaten yet?"
"Then we come back here and eat again. Since when have you turned down an extra meal?"
"Well, um..."
"That settles it."
"Innkeeper? Two plates of ham and eggs please."
Minto leads Hermy to a table to wait for the food to arrive.
"Kywyn and Ran should be down soon. If not we can go without them."
Spotting Hermy, Kywyn walks past the counter to place an order for the breakfast of the day before going to sit down.
"Morning. Eager to go, I bet."
"But Minto thinks breakfast is an important part of negotiating. So he's insistin I has at least two plates of it."
Looking around, Hermy shakes his head. "Wheres Run? I didn't see him last night when Minto was singing neither."
"Not sure either."
Hermy frowns. "Nots leaves the valley or stuff likes that. Just ta go gets my dad."
"Good morning. I checked on our animals, they're being well cared for."
He signals the server, who brings him a cup of tea, setting breakfast in front of Kywyn.
"Um, Hermy? Didn't you say you were expected two hours before noon? That's still aways away."
"I don'ts want ta be late."
"Letting Ran have some breakfast won't effect that."
Hermy sighs. "Ok, but no seconds."
"Me an Kywyn founds there house last night, an... an I found my dad!"
Hermy grins.
"Wese goin ta talks to them about paying them back fer healin my dad when he gots the plague."
"I see..."
He finishes eating and hefts his pack up, ready to move out.
"Dad said sumethin abouts a couple hundred gold fer fixin him."
"We really don'ts even has ta pay anythings at all to them ifen we don't want too."
Hermy sighs. "But theys has treated him good, an gots him out of the mines. So they deserves some thanks."
"An recomposition."
His complaining intensifies as Minto informs him that he needs a bath as well. But Minto cuts off his complaints. "From what you told me about your father, he keeps a ordered and clean room. You don't want him to think you are a slob do you? He might not want to come home wth you if he thinks its to a pigsty."
Why make him worry about that before he has too? He'll find out soon enough."
"My dad will wants ta comes home with me no matter what."
"He loves me."
"So is it so much to take a bath for someone you love?"
"Well, um, I don't want to be late."
"You won't be."
Hermy heads to the bath house, and Minto does a cleaning spell on his clothes. Once dry and dressed, Hermy leads the group to the MooneyManor, and knocks on the door.
Good morning, may I help you?
Her eyes scan the group without staring.
"Hermy Woodhome."
"That's me too."
"I does has an appointments with him."
You may wait in the parlor, then, while I let Mr. Mooney's secretary know that you're here.
She escorts the group across the small entryway to the parlor.
"Even if he does know, you are still going to have to explain things."
"But what ifen he says no? Or, or he asks ta thinks about it fer awhile, or..."
"Then we'll deal with it then. Don't wear yourself out before you even start talking."
"Ok, but what..."
"Stop and take a few deep breaths and think about what you are going to do when you get home."
"Ok." Hermy inhales deeply.
.o0(Pie with Volos. Show dads the guild an my medals. Introduce the students. Wait, that cin wait. Takes him ta visit his friends. Tell him about Ki...)
"Whats takin them so longs?"
"Mr. Woodhome asked me to tell you he'll come for you when it's time for your appointment, sir."
She darts a curious glance at Hermy.
"Whens will that be? I thinks I mights be a little early."
Minto takes a cup of tea and puts it to his mouth to cover his sigh.
She finishes serving the tea, curtsies, and leaves the room.
"Fifteen minutes... Not too long," he comments in an attempt to ease Hermy's pacing.
"There's no need to worry, Hermy. The hard part is behind you. Stay calm and show you're confident you're here for a just cause. That's sure to make the right impression on master Mooney."
.oO(Hopefully I'm right about that hard part...)
"I will makes a good impression."
"Ise gotta."
Hermy stops squirming. "Shoulds I be forceful good, or polite good?"
Two soft taps on the door precede its opening, and the maid curtsies after stepping in.
"Mr. Woodhome? Mr. Mooney is ready for you."
The hero moves to follow the maid.
"Maybe you should try to relax," Kywyn advises Hermy, "You have a plan, and we'll figure anything else out as it comes."
Kywyn stands when the maid knocks.
The beefy, somewhat florid man behind the desk, rises halfway and nods to Hermy.
Good morning. Have a seat.
He gestures to a halfling-sized chair.
You look like you could be related to my scribe. Same name, too. Funny coincidence, that.
Well. What can I do for you, today?
He keeps repeating that to himself as he enters the office.
Hermy takes the offered seat and another deep breath. "It aint a coincidence."
"He's my dad."
"An Ise here to takes him home."
Hermy takes the writ out of his pocket and then stands and hands it to Mr. Mooney. "The sentance that gots him sent ta the mines gots canceled causin he didn'ts do anything wrong."
Hermy takes a step back. "I hears youse been very nice to him, an probably savded his life."
"Is there any ways I cin repays you?"
Is that so?
He studies the paper, his face turning a somewhat deeper shade of red.
Twenty years is a long time for a 'mistake' like that.
And while I'm happy for your father, the fact of the matter is that I paid good money for the contract, and more besides when he fell ill and needed an expensive ritual to save his eyesight.
He shoots a hard look at Hermy.
And have you considered he has a very good position here? Seems to me he said he's got no family, and no home to go back to.
"If he needs any support, you know him best."
"But now the truths out, an I wants him ta comes back home with me ta the Silver Sword Guild where he belongs."
"With his family."
"Me."
Hermy flashes a brief smile.
"It does looks likes hese gots a good position here, but hes gots a more important one back in Garics."
"Being my dad."
"Youse gots family don'ts ya? You know how much a family needs more then just one person then. Theys works a lot better when theres a parent an a kid, then just when theres a dad alone. Or a kid alone."
He smiles again.
"I knows he'll be hard ta replace an all. An expensive too."
"An Ise very grateful fer what you've done fer him."
"An I'ds likes to recomposite you fer that. It's only fair an right, just likes you letting him go is."
"That's also why I think he could use some help."
"Hermy is a lot of things. But a skilled negotiator he is not."
"Naturally I'm the best choice for that, but ..."
Minto pauses.
"But, I don't know if having two halflings in the room at the same time is the best idea."
"We don't want to put Mooney on the defensive."
"And some people are intimidated by a gang of halflings."
Yes, well...
He swivels on his chair, picking up an abacus from the bookshelf behind him. He sets it on his desk, consults a ledger, and begins flicking the beads.
After a couple of seconds he looks up at Hermy and says, Well, between his contract and the healing spell, your father still owes me 234 gold.
"I has that much. Let me sends my mimsrel to go fetch it."
Hermy waits for permission to leave and then follows the maid back to the waiting room. "Minto. Kywyn."
"Will youse guys go backs an gets that money we gots from the squirell crabs? I needs 234 golds worth of it."
Minto looks at Hermy and then at Kywyn and shrugs. "Kywyn? Are you ready?"
Hermy smiles at them and then has the maid show him back to Mooneys office.
"Theys going to get it now."
"Does my dads has a lot of stuff he'll be wanting ta takes home with him? Or does everything he has belongs to you?"
"It woulds cetainly be an easier travel back the less he has, but I wants my home to feel like his home."
"Because it is."
I wouldn't take a man's clothes from his back, Mr. Mooney harrumphs.
Anything your father has, I'd consider his. He's either been using it long enough, anyway, or he bought it with his own earnings.
He looks over at Hermy Sr.
You've picked up a few coins here and there, haven't you?
Yes, Mr. Mooney. There are always people needing a bit of official-looking scribing done.
He smiles warmly at Hermy, and nods hello.
He smiles at Mr. Mooney as well.
"Ifen yer ever in Garics an wants ta visit my dad, just asks anyone where Sir Hermy Woodhome lives an they'll points you in the right direction."
"Ise sure Dad wouldn'ts minds seeing you agains. Right dad?"
"He could probably even scribe stuff fer ya if ya needed anything while you was there."
Mr. Mooney nods, Just the sort of attitude I like in an employee. You'll be hard to replace.
He glowers sourly at Hermy again, then sighs in frustration.
Mr. Mooney will need another full-time scribe, Hermy. His business is fairly complicated, and there's more work to be done than can be taken care of by casual labor, hired for piecework, Hermy Sr. explains.
"And that Mooney is honest enough not to try and undervalue it."
Minto sighs and then he and Kywyn return to the manor.
Once inside they take the treasure to Hermy in the office. Minto hands Hermy the bag, "Here's part of it. It should be enough I think."
Hermy opens it up and starts pulling out the silver disks.
"These aint gold, but theres enoughs of them ta be gold."
"Maybe once we gets home we cin finds a scribe who wouldn'ts mind orking here."
"Ise sure theres a lots of people who wouldn'ts minds movin ta a nice place likes this."
"Mr. Mooney, do you do any business in Garic's City? Or ever consider opening a smaller office there?"
"I don't know if it's feasible, but if you did, maybe Mr. Woodhome could work for you there as a paid employee," Kywyn offers.
He glances to Hermy Jr. and Sr., not sure if the halflings would rather cut all ties with this place.
Those trade discs would have been fine, but there's not 234 gold worth.
Indeed, the silver equates to 110 gold. Minto steps up and sets one of the five-pound bars of gold on the desk.
This would cover it, I'm sure.
Mr. Mooney examines it and nods. Yes, and I'll owe you some change.
He digs through a desk drawer and produces 16 gold in change.
"Does you need help packing dad?"
Mr. Woodhome looks slightly stunned, as though he's having trouble believing what has happened.
"Perhaps master Newberry can be of assistance with the packing? I'm sure he knows a few tricks for such a task.
In the meantime, I assume we'll need to look into providing master Woodhome - senior, that is - with a mount. Master Woodhome, are you capable of riding? And if so, which kind of mount would be to your liking?
Kywyn and I can take care of that. Why don't you show you son around and say your goodbyes? I've noticed you've made quite a few friends while you were here."
.oO(It'd be best if we take care of the practical arrangements. The poor halfling probably doesn't know where his head is right now. Let him get accustomed to the idea of being a free man while he sees his friends in the village once more.)
"Ifen yer a bear rider we mights be out of luck though."
Minto looks at the two Woodhomes. "Perhaps, I sh..."
"Ifen we can'ts finds anything ya cin ride Mintos dog an he cin rides behind Kywyn or something likes that."
"What? Why can't.."
"An when youse packed we'll go ta the innan sees yer friends, an Minto cin sings some of the songs he wrotes about me."
"Finally a plan I can support."
"Lets get packing."
Besides, it would be horribly rude to take Minto's riding dog.
Mr. Woodhome leads Hermy and Minto upstairs after promising Mr. Mooney that he'll certainly stop in to say goodbye before leaving.
"Are ya gunna want ta takes that desk too? We coulds get a wagon fer it..."
"Pants on the bottom and the top. They will preovide a protective layer for your more..."
"How abouts books? Has you written anymore ya wants me ta read? Wese gots ta takes those..."
"Keep a spare set of socks handy. Nothing makes a long trip more bareable then clean socks..."
"Wese gots beds at the guild, but the blankets aint as nice as these, maybe we..."
"It's certainly optional, but I prefer packing the darks on top of the lighter clothes. In case some dirt gets..."
"Well," Ran answers Kywyn, "I met a young lady who organizes caravans. If anyone around here would know where to buy a pony, she would."
"We can meet up with the others back at the inn?"
Minto nudges Hermy and whispers. "Are you sure Volos is going to be fine with that?"
Hermy shrugs. "Why wouldn'ts he be? I'm pretty sure Volos woulds likes more furniture ta dust. It's kinda relaxing. An Volos needs to relax more."
Minto shakes his head and starts to respond. He stops and shakes his head more.
Hermy moves to help his dad with more things. "I bets youse has lots of friends here don't you? We cin comes back an visit anytimes you want too."
Hermy Sr. packs quietly for a bit, then turns to Hermy.
I appreciate that you have a place for me to stay while I get settled, but once I have work, I'll want a small apartment of my own, in the Halfling Quarter.
"Kywyn mights be ables ta helps with that. He lives there."
Hermy looks at the floor.
.o0(Why don'ts he wants to live with me?)
Minto pipes in. "I'm sure you won't have a problem finding one. You are still very well thought of there."
"Your cousin, Liam Oakwood, still has his feather shop there too."
"Perhaps you could make some kind of deal with him."
"Room and board for assisting him maybe?"
No, really, I snore, and then there's always at least one stray feather that gets in my throat and I wake up coughing. I stayed with him a couple of times, and I won't forget that!
He buckles his last pack shut, and adds, Besides, I just really want my own place. I'm tired of walking out of my bedroom and having people around who aren't family.
Who aren't... Lavinia.
Yes, Hermy, that's right. Your mother's name was Lavinia.
"I bet she was real pretty weren't she? I cin only member a few things about her."
"Her readin to me in bed, an bakesin pie."
"But mainly just her being sick."
"She dids have the plague."
.o0(But it aints what killed her.)
His smile fades slightly, then re-emerges. "Hey! Maybe we cin finds where you guys used to live."
Hermy starts to pick up his fathers packs.
"Youse coulds lives there."
Hermy follows his son down the stairs.
Near the front door, a crowd of Mooneys and servants are assembled, anxiously waiting to bid the scribe farewell. The cook presses a basket of cookies and pies into his arms -- "You'll need decent food for the trip."
Somehow, he manages to juggle the basket while shaking the outstretched hands.
.o0(I hope this shirt doesn't stain. Two in one trip would be... well I don't want to think about it.)
Though his arms are full the younger Hermy smiles and offers his thanks. "Thanks fer lookins out fer my dad fer all these years."
"An fer the pies."
"Boths is greatly appreciated."
With many similar comments, handshaking and hugging, Hermy Sr. is bid farewell by the Mooney household. While Mr. Mooney is preoccupied by someone's question, Hermy Jr. sees Mrs. Mooney pass a pouch to his father.
"Once I gets hiome, I cin sends it to you, sose you don'ts miss him as much. Maybe ya cin gets yer dad to read them too you."
THe child seems willing to accept the compromise, and the group heads out towards the Foaming Flagon.
Minto stacks the food on top of Hermys load and unlocks the door. Hermy steps in and starts to set things down.
"Don'ts worries about yer snorin. We lives in a room with five noisey boys an a giant guy. An alls of them snore too."
"An when Area lived in the guild you coulds hear her snorin from down the street."
"Wese use ta snorin."
Once all the belongings are settled. Minto unslings his lute and starts tuning it. "Would you like me to start spreading the word so your friends will know where to come to bid you good bye?"
Hermy Sr. smiles a thank-you at Minto, and then looks inside the pouch Mrs. Mooney gave him.
It looks like I can stand you to a cup of tea, Hermy.
"On the happier side of things, it will also be your good friend and neighbor Hermy Woodhomes last appearance here as well. After twenty long years, he is finally going home."
"If you know anyone who would like to wish him well, please inform them."
Minto starts singing.
Hermy and his father take a seat nearby. "Ifen its nots a problem. I'ds rather has milk then tea."
"Considering master Woodhome's luggage, shouldn't we get an extra pack animal too? Or would a donkey be able to carry both him and his possessions?"
He follows Ran's lead toward their destination.
"A burro? Sure, I know where you can get one."
She gives the two directions, and bids Ran farewell, watching them for several minutes as they walk away.
.oO(I'll see about coming back here soon...)
"Hermy seems to be in a hurry to get back home, so I assume we'll be leaving today?"
Kywyn looks around for a person to help them after arriving at the right place.
"Hello there, what cin I do for ya?"
His tone is friendly but guarded as he continues, "Haven't seen you around here before."
"We'll be travelling a good distance."
"I think you'd be more comfortable riding a horse any distance. Or were you wanting it for just a pack animal?"
"Beth sends us. According to her, you'd be sure to help us out well."
He leads Kywyn and Ran to a corral with some burros, and picks out a small, sleepy-looking animal.
"This'un's a quiet ride."
"He writes on fer just about everything I does."
Hermy blushes. "He's nots allowed to sing all of them though."
"An not just the one abouts the time I ates a bad stew. He don'ts sing his most popular one very often either."
"Area threatened ta... what was it she threatened?... makes him sing higher pitched ifen he didn'ts stops singing it? Somethins likes that."
"A quiet one would be nice."
He turns to Ran for his assessment.
Ran nods towards the man, although he gives Kywyn a questioning look to make sure the sorcerer approves as well.
.oO(It looks like a sleepyhead to me, but I'd rather we have to wake the animal up every now and then than see it run off with Hermy's dad on it. Halflings are supposed to be lucky, but this one has been an exception for a long time already. His luck may have changed for the better now, we'd best not take any chances.)
----------------------------
Hermy Sr. chuckles at the description of Minto's songs, agreeing that discretion is wise in such situations.
Surely he must sing about something besides you, and your exploits?
"They's don'ts draw crowds as much. An Minto likes crowds."
"Speakins of crowds. Shouldn'ts all yer friends be shopwin up soon?"
Yes, actually, there are a couple now.
Hermy Sr. waves discreetly to some people who are heading towards the table. He spends the next hour or so saying goodbye to various townsfolk, and refusing most of the drinks he is offered.
He glances at Minto and shakes his head. "Don'ts worry abouts Minto. He'll play all day an nights ifen we lets him. He's use ta ridin miserably."
Hermy Sr. chuckles, then says, What about supplies? Did you need to restock before we head out?
He leads Hermy outside, chatting with him about the journey ahead.
Hermy has his dad lead him around town showing off the sites.
"Alright then, you'll be wanting saddle and bridle?" The horse-seller readies the burro, quoting 20 gold total for animal and gear.
"Yes, we'll want kit as well."
Ran collects 10 golds from his purse and another 10 from the strong pouch tied to his belt he usually keeps his money in. He bows to the man before turning back towards the inn, leading the animal by its reins.
"You've been most helpful. Thank you."
The horse-seller smiles and waves before going back to his chores.
[i]Although the adventure is officially 'over,' this thread will stay open so that players may finish any scenes they wish to...
Eventually he speaks, "Must be a lot for Hermy Sr. to take in... being ripped away from the life he thought he had."
After the animal is settled, Kywyn sits at a table to wait with Ran.
"We should keep in touch when we get back to the city. It's good to find another to exchange ideas with in martial arts. That last handstand kick you came up with in the tree stump field, do you think you will pursue it further? It must have its uses in situations."
"Reminded me of a mule kicking upward almost... A Coltsfoot Kick from Coltsfoot Meadows," Kywyn muses sedately.
He lets his mind wander until the others arrive, and they are ready to go home.