In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 158):

Then educate me mothers.

He says with slight acidity to his voice.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 159):

"I..."  Deev frowns and stammers, cycling through several methods of explaining the ideas of goats, meat, cooking and meals to Enrei.

Ultimately he shakes his head and lets his arms drop to his sides.

"Look, if you don't know where food comes from... I'm not going to be the one to break it to you."

In reply to Deev (msg # 160):

The Cave

The figures stir, rising slightly.  You make out the glint of eye, tooth and sharp steel in the shifting light.

The voice that follows is no less inhuman, but more threatening:

"He asks a boon, we name a price,
the Mothers shall not answer thrice.
Begone you fool, do this task,
or else for mercy you'll next ask."

Bryce, you note, is already half out into the passageway.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:22, Fri 25 Mar 2016.

In reply to GM (msg # 161):

The anger leaves Titus relatively quickly...  He heaves a heavy sigh and nods to the witches.

It will be done 'ere you next see us.  Mothers.

with that he bows and follows Bryce out the caves.

In reply to Deev (msg # 160):

"I know where food comes from!" Enrei replies indignantly.  "There is no milk, what food does it make?" he asks, possibiy undermining his original claim.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 163):


Brennan lags behind slightly, then hurries down the passage toward the others.

"Come on. Let's get this over and done with. I want to get the stone and be on our way."

He turns to Titus with a sigh and a long-suffering grin.

"En route, we're going to have a discussion about the art of tactful negotiation."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 164):

I offered nicely. 

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 165):

Bryce leads you quickly down the tunnel and you are zoon thrust into painful sunlight.

As your vision readjusts you are caught off guard by the silent monstrosities guarding the entrance and you nearly piss your respective breeches.  They threaten and mouth unheard cries, but do not attack.

In reply to GM (msg # 166):

"I..."  Deev searches Enrei's face, then continues with a note of caution in his voice that anyone but Enrei would be able to pick up on.

"Are you... is it wrong if we kill the goat?"

Enrei puts his hands on his hips and looks at Deev like a misbehaving child, "Why do you want to kill goat?  We just caught it!"

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 168):

Titus rapidly regains his composure and stares down the guardians.  Making sarcastic faces at them as he walks away.

Bryce... What the fuck?

is all he says for a while.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 169):

"We knew we'd have to grant them some boon," Brennan shrugs. "These sorts of people can be touchy. Do we know where the village is?"

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 170):

Fucked if I know.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 171):

Deev stammers for a moment, then wanders off.

"No, you're right..."

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 171):

The Cave Entrance


Bryce sneers.

"You asked to consort with witches lad, how did you imagine it would go?  Frankly, I expected them to tear you limb from limb the moment you set foot in their cave."  Bryce shrugs.  "But seeing as they didn't, I expect it's about time you paid me my due."

He points back the way you came, along the thin ledge.

"We'll follow this back to the pass between the peaks.  Go east, that's down to where your horses and the idiot are waiting.  West is a slope down to a long plateau.  There you'll find the village you seek."

He crosses his arms.  "That last bit o' knowledge I give you for free."

In reply to GM (msg # 173):

Fair enough.  You want to tag along with us see if you can find some mercenary work?  Once we get out of the hinterlands I'm sure this stone of Brennan's will lead us someplace very interesting.

He smiles his most winning smile.

You'll be paid out like one of the crew, and I'll even pass you a few drinks once we get to a decent tavern.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 174):

"You've earned your freedom," Brennan nods. "And some coin besides, which we can pay out once we've completed our time with the witches and are on our way elsewhere. If you'd like to try your hand at earning more, I'd certainly be willing to work out a contract with you. If you're rather return to your lord instead, that's your call. But there's much we can still teach each other."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 175):

Bryce raises one brow.

"I dislike waiting and dislike shifted deals even more.  If you intend to wander down into the valley that's your business.  I can wait with your horses as collateral.  If you die, I get the horses."

In reply to GM (msg # 176):

"Shifting the deal?" Brennan repeats, his voice flat with a hint of anger behind it. "I know precisely what we agreed upon, every word. It is my blessing and my curse, to be unable to forget."

His tone changes as though speaking through a veil, as someone distracted while watching something off in the distance. Brennan closes his eyes for a moment and smiles slightly.

"I can see it plain as day. Recall that you were a prisoner when first we spoke. During our first conversation together at Frontgate, you said that the witches are in position of a queer stone, veined and dark, similar to that which I was seeking. I said that I was willing to offer you your life and a bit of knowledge in trade for the route there. I stipulated that if everything goes smoothly, there'd be coin in it for you as well."

He motions back toward the cave, and then down at his belt where the chalice now hangs.

"Everything has NOT go smoothly, has it? But for all that, we came through it well enough, and you fought at our backs faithfully when blood was on the line. I am grateful for your loyalty. I would like to pay you for that, in coin and knowledge, and offer you a position to remain with us if you'd like with terms to be negotiated. You would be fairly compensated, as are the rest of my men. If you'd prefer for this to be where our roads part, we can settle up once we return to the horses. Never fear about that. I have never reneged on a contract, Bryce. And I do not intend to start with you."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Tue 29 Mar 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 177):

Bryce seems taken aback by Brennan's diatribe.

"Well... that's good then.  If it's all the same to you, there's no profit for me in that village down there.  If that's where you head next, I will wait with the horses and the idiot."

In reply to GM (msg # 178):

Titus who appeared a bit shaken after the witches and their strange guardian squares his shoulders and bares his face into the chill sun smiling.

Bryce...

Titus says with measured care in his voice

What do you know about this town that we don't?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 179):

Bryce frowns.

"Possibly nothing.  I saw it many years ago when last I visited the Mothers, but I've never been into the valley.  They told me the locals wouldn't take kindly to my skills so to speak.  It's people are a mixed descent: Nor and propper King's men.  Beyond that, you know what I do."

In reply to GM (msg # 180):

Titus smiles a skeweed manic grin.

Then don't let them know your skills.  Its not hard....

Not a word out of you Brennan.

Come on... it'll be fun.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 181):

Brennan smiles at Bryce, gives him a reassuring nod, and heads back toward the horses along with the others.

Provided they arrive without incident and that the others are still there, he'll explain the bare bones of what happened -- glossing over the implications of destroying the circle.

"We can't get the stone we need unless we do them a favor in the village below," he concludes. "Let's get this over with. As soon as we're done, we'll meet with the witches a second time. Once I have the stone, this portion of the journey will be over and we can talk about the next phase of the journey. And that means new contracts for everyone."

He turns to Bryce.

"Speaking of which, how much would it cost to tempt you into accompanying us until at least we have finished meeting with the witches? I'm loathe to lose your assistance at all, but particularly not until after this leg of the journey is well and truly over."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Sun 03 Apr 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 182):

Base Camp

The travel down from the witch's cave is not without its dangers, but nothing more than lose rocks and tough climbs that you had on the way up.

OOC:  Not sure what Enrei did with his goat... Deev is done suggesting things.

Along the way, Brennan attempts to ply Bryce.

"Well, the way I see it, the first thing is to pay me for gettin' ya here in the first place."

He scratches his scruffy beard.

"Once that's seen to... I could be tempted to linger with you a while, but I won't help you breaking the circle.  Could be you give me one of the horses as mine and I stick with you as long as I can.  Sharing in the profits you see."