In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 133):

"We'll be fine," Brennan murmurs, looking at the corpse-like creatures intently before following Bryce inside. "For certain values of we and fine."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 134):

Brennan swears that as Titus was swallowed by the darkness all that remained was a cheshire cat smile.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 135):

The Cave

The cave reveals itself to be a tunnel, one which opens up a few feet in so that you can stand comfortably.  For several paces you walk easily, then you round a small bend and the light of the sun is quickly swallowed.  Your shuffling footsteps echo in your ears.  "Keep up then," Bryce intones over the scraping of sand.

Though blind, you are able to navigate safely enough by extending hands and following the gentle contours of the tunnel and your progress is marked by the occasional root or crack in the rock.  It is not long until you round another bend and your eyes begin to adjust to a soft flickering glow.

"Oh, and I wouldn't draw weapons if I were you," Bryce warns with a hint of mirth.  "It would be rude."

The tunnel slopes down slightly, narrows, then opens into a chamber in which you find yourself.

The chamber is roughly oblong and around the size of the keep of the hairy siblings.  The ceiling is dotted with stalactites and so makes movement around the edges of the room where the ceiling is lower very difficult.  This ceiling domes upward, getting to at least two man's heights at its peak.

The walls are a mix of shadow, but here and there are candles and weak lanterns throwing reflections off of a small collection of books, tools, jars and small metal objects hanging off of forked sticks leaning against the walls.

In the center of the room is a wide circle of fitted rocks encompassing a bed of glowing coals.  Atop this are several small pots and pans.  Though they bubble, they do not smell like much.

The pervading smell in the room, trumping the earth and roots of the tunnel, is one of rot, sweat and unwashed human, likely caused by the two figures crouched on the far side of the cook pit.  They sit hunched over the fire pit, their hands working at something unseen beneath feathery black robes that are pulled up over their faces and fall down across bandy knees that poke out.  You can see the glitter of eyes turning up to greet you and here and there in the flickering light make out the tip of a pointed nose or a warty chin, but otherwise cannot see much detail about the figures.

The walls are in shadow, but there appear to be other tunnels leading out.

The great serpent you followed has vanished... somewhere though the tingle at the back of your spine tells you it isn't far.

To all this, Bryce bows slightly just inside the chamber.

"Mothers, I have returned.  I thank you for permitting me enter.  It has been too long."

A rasping sound comes from one of the figures and Bryce steps quickly to one side, gesturing back at Titus and Brennan with a sweep of his hand.

"And I have not come empty handed.  My gift to you, good Mothers: travelers from the west and people of some interest I believe.  They wish to speak with you."

OOC:  If there is anything you want to prep/make ready before you enter the chamber, go ahead, but Bryce has suggested you do not draw visible weapons.

Base Camp

Some time after lunch, there is a rustling in the bushes that nearly gives Deev a heart attack.

You freeze and wait...

After a breath or two, a thin dirty goat pops out of the brush.  It looks almost as surprised to see you as you it.  It pauses, chewing on something, and stares at you.

Though the rustling in the bush causes Enrei to catch his breath, the appearance of the goat causes a gasp from the islander eho looks at Deev, "I know this, is good for milk, yes?" he asks quietly, but does not wait for a response before lifting himself from his seat into a low crouch and taking a careful step toward the animal before leaping bodily at it, arms outstetched to grab it.

((5,10,1,7,2,3,1,3,4,8 2x3 to grapple the goat with +1 martial initiative))

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 137):

Titus makes sure his weapons are free... but not drawn

My weapons are bared at all times....

He steps out of the shadow and takes a bit of an affront at the mention of himself and Brennan as 'gifts'

That's disconcerting...

Though he takes it in stride.  He somberly bows towards the ladies and speaks in reverential tones and is on his best behavior.

My ladies, my name is Titus, my friend here is named Brennan.  We have traveled long and far and would speak with you regarding changes we have observed in the world of late.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 138):

Brennan nods slightly.

"The knowledge we seek involves a particular stone and the writing upon it. We come ready to trade for it -- or for information concerning it -- via a variety of currencies."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 139):

Base Camp

Enrei sails through the air like a muscular bullet, tackling, capturing and rolling with the goat.

Though it will likely be a subject ultimately left for scholars to wonder without any further empirical evidence, the goat appears to be the most surprised a member of the Bovidae family has ever been.

So surprised, in fact, that it takes no further action immediately.

The Witch's Cave

The two figures shift about the dull embers and one of them replies.  The words are in the King's tongue, but the sound is as much like cloth tearing as it is like a human voice:

"Many stones and more we have seen,
as up and down the cliffs we have been.
Describe for your mothers this rock,
only then on trade can we talk."

In reply to GM (msg # 140):

Brennan describes the rock as Bryce described it to him.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 141):

Witch's Cave

The two figures shuffle and cluck to themselves.

One reaches out a long bony limb and stirs the coals with an equally bony finger.  You can see in the dancing shadows that mixed in with the coals are fragments of bone.

The hand retracts into the figure's cloak, then re-emerges with a round flat stone which, though the cave is dark, seems to always be in the light.  You can just make out that there are carvings on its surface before the hand snatches it away again.

"A stone have your mothers,
like it there are no others.
Do you come offering a gift,
or will you insult us with your thrift?"

In reply to GM (msg # 142):

Titus sits next to the women near the fire showing no fear he tries to get a glimpse of what they are working with their hands.

Mothers, we have brought several things that could be gifts, however, we didn't know what would best suit your tastes.  I can offer songs and tales of this world, the dream, and other realms yet to be imagined.  Both of us have strong arms and strong backs willing to work.  We have some silver though it does not seem to be of much use to you... if these do not suit we may be able to offer something else.

To that end... I place myself at your service.  What would you ask of me mothers.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:04, Thu 24 Mar 2016.

"I got it!" Enrei shouts triumphantly, though a bit surprised himself.  "A rope.  Get a rope," he demands of Deev as he holds the goat in his impromptu bearhug.

((1,1,10,6,7,7,7,8,8,10: 2x10 or 3x7 if the goat tries getting away))

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 143):

Witch's Cave

The two figures shuffle and cluck when Titus squats beside them.  Something about the shadows seems to obfuscate the details of their visages no matter how close you sit.  However, Titus can make out sunken features, sharp teeth and leathery skin.

This close, he also notes that each wears a tiara or metal circlet of some kind.  The material looks to be dull and tarnished steel.  However, on the front of each is a small glowing fragment of bone.

One figure responds in a rusty voice while the other nods in approval.

"Of song or silver we have no need,
from such wants we have been freed.
It may please your Mothers, you to use,
If to services bound, you would choose."

The second chimes in.

"The stone is precious, this is true,
We dance the Dreams, we wise Mothers few.
The cost is dear, but can be paid,
If some villagers can be swayed."

The two touch long leathery fingers together above their cookstove, and in the air the shimmering image of a town splashes into view.  You can see that this town is large, with fortified walls of logs and appears to be down in the valley you passed on your way to the cave.

"Down in the valley you see below,
lies a town, it's people slow.
They do not see the true flow of dreams,
yet they impede, like beavers on streams.

Around their village is a wall of wood,
but this concerns us no more than it should.
Rather, the barrier of precious dust,
This you must break, this magical crust."

The image shows silhouettes of people moving around the town.  A few of them, you can just make out, are spreading something powdery on the ground in a circle around the town.

In reply to GM (msg # 145):

Deev hustles to get a rope and the creature is quickly bound.

"Now what?"  Deev asks nervously.

"Is it... I mean is it JUST a goat?"

Enrei looks at Deev quizzically after hus question.  He is about to respond to him as he would Titus but stops himself with a grin, "No," he says, quite pleased with himself, "It is our goat." He crosses his arms over his chest and takes the moment to bask in the new acquisition.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 147):

Titus nods

Mothers... if I may a moment with my colleague?

He waits for their acquiesence, assuming it is given he pulls Brennan for a quick aside.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 148):

The Cave

The figures do not respond nor do they make any motion to stop Titus to whispering with Brennan.

Bryce, standing nearby, is clearly interested in what is being said, but you can avoid him if you wish.


Base Camp

The goat kicks and bleats but is unable to escape.

Deev accepts Enrei's decision wordlessly.

After observing the goat proudly for a little while Enrei leans toward Deev, "How...where do you get the milk?"

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 150):

You and I both know a request like this is never innocuous.  It may be physically easy but I have no idea what it could cause downstream... and we have no idea what their intentions are, and even if they told us I doubt we could understand until too late.

We can do this... or we can offer them something else...

Titus looks at Brennan imploringly, confused, trapped, unsure.

I feel like we are lose-lose on this.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 151):

"I know what's at stake. The dust protects the village from demonic attacks," Brennan says grimly. "If we disturb it, the village will fall prey to the whims of whatever they were keeping at bay."

He makes no effort to exclude Bryce from the conversation. The man had been faithful to this point and his nascent mercenary company needs men.

"But without the stone, I will have a harder time with the next phase of our journey. And the village will fall either way, should we fail on the road ahead. I suggest we do the deed, and hope we can make up for it in the future."

He grins slightly.

"Besides, that village may have need of skilled mercenaries in the near future..."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Thu 24 Mar 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 152):

...but there will still be people dying in that village as a result of our actions...  There would be new orphans, and we...

Titus is clearly grappling with some inner conflict.

Would be no better than the wandering haunt.

he perks up.

There is something else we can offer... though I am loathe to do it.

Titus fishes the chain around his neck to show Albert's finger.

They may be interested in this. 

He looks down at it and back up at Brennan thoughtfully

I may be an asshole, but I'm not 100% a dick. 
This message was last edited by the player at 13:32, Fri 25 Mar 2016.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 153):

Deev steps forward and give the goat a closer inspection, carefully dodging it's flailing limbs.

The creature bleats in frustration.

After a moment Deev looks up.

"It's not... it's a boy goat."

In reply to Deev (msg # 154):

Brennan looks at Titus for a long moment, the wheels turning inside his head.

"We may well need to do some unpleasant things before our time together comes to an end. Did you think that none of those we've fought to-date sired children prior to our engagement? Shall we make a point of inquiring in the future, to ensure they have a surviving spouse before we kill them?"

He shakes his head.

"That was unworthy of me. I apologize. Understand that this isn't about being an asshole or a dick. It's this... journey we're on. It's bigger than you and me. It's bigger than our wants, needs, and desires. If you want to offer that up as alternative payment, I won't stop you. But we may sorely require its power someday. And without adequate protection that village will burn regardless our actions."

Brennan gets a far-away look in his eyes.

"Ask them and see. Perhaps you can save some lives today, and grant them a respite, however brief. It may behoove us to determine what makes the village worth destroying, as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:46, Fri 25 Mar 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 155):

Titus' defenses come back online and he is back to being invulnerable and cocksure.

Damn you and your logic that I can't argue with.

He sneers with a half smile.  He puts the bone charm away and sits back down unperturbed by the witches.

Mothers, may we ask what town this is and why you would request us to break its protective circle?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 156):

The Cave

The two hunched figures chuckle together.  It is a thoroughly unpleasant sound.

"A trade this man wants to make,
yet free knowledge he asks to take.
His head is small, he sees one Dream,
We find him greedier than he did seem."

"Well if boy goat has no milk, what is it good for?" Enrei inquires as he looks at the distressed animal.