" Well, today is a day isn't it?", Baron Hulmer chuckled. " I never thought I'd live to see the like....and as silver tongued as the scion of House Haywardson."

" We've few delights to offer......though the cider and porks not bad.  I daresay with those looks there'll be some lasses among the holders with a mind to enquiring if your skin is the only difference about you....perhaps that will count as delights?", he chuckled.

" Knowledge and memories....aye, both those we are long on I think."

" I see you borderer. And your friend there. And I don't know your face, so you've naught to fear here."

" Well, if guests it is to be then we should make a meal of it!"

" We'll entertain you and Greylocks men this evening on the green....well, brown...until then take your ease in Lacklaw and I'll do my best to grant you favour."

Bael smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "I am somewhat... estranged... from my family, they are not as noble as I once thought.  I bring only myself to my future wife.  Never found one who could tolerate me yet," he laughed, relieved to see that their welcome to Lacklaw seemed to be going very well indeed.

The Baron is amicable manners make Dann feel a bit relieved. His smile becomes a lot more genuine, and he starts to look at the place and the local people with a different eye. He has a short exchange of looks with Hugh, to check how he feels about the whole situation.

Hugh is slightly more nervous than Dann having been reaving much more recently but he soon relaxes somewhat.

In reply to GM (msg # 51):

The market looks like a great place to be in, if its deserted.

Free to roam the village and surrounds the companions found themselves in relaxed surrounds.

Some of their earlier fears about the town were found to be groundless and they were greeted by smiles and pleasantries as the walked. Though the observant among them noted a distinct aura of wariness among the older villagers especially in regards to Dann, Hugh and even Bael.

What wariness may have existed regarding Yamousou was more than replaced by curiousity once they were assured he was not actually some kind of diminutive Fomóraiġ. The children were especially wary of him but some of the older girls and young women began to make a game out of daring each other to touch his dark skin.

Bael was trailed at a not particulary discrete distance by a number of young strongly built women that he recognised from Baron Hulmers hall.

Finan and Kores found themselves in the deserted marketplace being regarded by a number of quite elderly men and women with dubious expressions.

Father Jeffries chose to remain in the Barons hall, the constant chill sea wind proving a little too cold for his bones.

Rabbie tried enquiring of the Baron as to where he was to guide the strangers but was waved off, " It can wait!".

He stood outside the hall watching the groups movements.

Bael smiled awkwardly at the women, scanning to see if Niave was among them.  He hadn't met many warrior women and the concept struck him as curious.

Seeing that Kores and Finan seemed to be off for the empty marketplace, he decided to head to the distillery.  There might be time for a drink or two before heading off into the wilderness...

Rabbie will keep a careful eye on Dann and Hugh, still wary of the borderers.

When he is satisfied that they aren't being menacing he will check over his equipment, making sure everything is in order for a trek into the wilds.

Looking around the village, Dann spots the distillery and asks Hugh: "Since we are not here to rieve, why not check if these people have something decent to drink?"

 Bael did not spot Niave among the group and he soon wandered off towards the distillery.

The distillery building was a solid-looking timber and stone structure and as Bael approached it he saw Hugh and Dann doing likewise from the opposite direction.

As the two Borderers approached Baels gaggle of admirers melted away and the three of them found themselves standing alone outside the heavy oak door.

Bael knocks at the door, secretly a little happy that he had lost the gaggle of female followers.

Dann looks at the women going away from Bael, shrugs and waits for the door to open.

In reply to Dann of Clan Valin (msg # 59):

Kores rasps a few jokes at Finans expense, about his facial expression when he's going down, the high pitched cries for help, and when Finan retaliates about talks about Kores's condition he sniggers a few crude insults....

"A graveyard would be more interesting...  Maybe we can find more buried demons from other realms..."

The relative peace and quiet was great, but even for Kores the cold is biting hard...

*Heads to Barons hall*

The door opened a crack and an old woman, a very old woman, peered out, " Yes? Come to steal a wee drop of Morries gold have we?  Or are you three here to steal my virtue?"

Looking past her they saw a number of piles of casks and clay flasks surrounding a well used press.

http://www.merciatouristboard....irst_cider_press.jpg
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:23, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

"If we could purchase a few flasks of your brews that would make us very happy," Bael said, confused as to whether the latter part of her comment was some sort of local humour.

"It's always nice to sample the local drop when travelling."

"It seems that you made an impression on the other girls in the village, virtue or not!" says Dann with a laugh, while approaching to have a look at the house.

" Yes, because that worked out so well last time."

He flicked his eyes towards the Barons hall as he followed Kores, " Your thinking to ask him to reveal his secrets early?"

The group of old folk watched them go, chuckling to themselves.

In reply to Finan McRoach (msg # 64):

"No, its this damned biting cold!!!"

She hustled the three men inside, " So. Yer here. I've whiskey from Stonehead Holding, me own scrumpy and cider and some of old Fleichans rot gut."

" What are you looking to trade?"

Warmed by the inner fires of Brigantia Finan crooked an eyebrow, " Is it cold?"

The two of them walked back towards the hall and were waved inside by two young boys barely into their beards, apparently the next shift of guardsmen.

As they entered they saw Baron Hulmer crawling around on the floor growling loudly at a small child that was giggling delightedly. As he saw them he got to his feet.

" Ah, how can I help ye?"

In reply to GM (msg # 67):

"....Baron....  I thought Father Jefferies was here.  He was trying to avoid this northern climate.  I would like to minimize my exposure to the elements too."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:44, Sun 08 Dec 2013.

" He is.", Hulmer pointed over towards the far end of the building where Kores could make out the old Priest reading from his holy book to a wide-eyed group of children.

The priests words reached Kores as he listened, " "But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. 'Come,' she said, 'I will show you the man you're looking for.' So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple -- dead."

In reply to GM (msg # 69):

A ???Grin appears on Kores's face as he walks up to Father Jefferies.  Cracks in his dried skin form and blood oozes down his chin....



"...Staking through the head.  Not something to do when you play children.  See me?  I played with fire...."



Assuming the kids respond in some way, Kores will ask the Preist whether he has learned anything whilst Kores was away....
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Sun 08 Dec 2013.

Rabbie is satisfied that he is fully supplied.

As he looks up he sees Bael, Dann and Hugh enter the Distillery and Finan and Kores head back into the hall.