Bokken's hut. When they approach they can hear him in conversation with another man.

A voice older then Bokkens cracking with age calls out. "Whoo hoo! I did to see him I say. That fiend of the forest, Tuskgutter, what stole my leg you know as well as I, Bokken."

"Just as like a trap of Breeg's took your leg and what would a boar want with a fifth leg? If it's as big as you claim mayhaps it used it to prop it's manhood while plowing a sow?" Replies Bokken.

"I've hunted these woods for thirty years and I'll be damned if that boar will shame me. I'll have his tusks for crutches and make headcheese from his skull before I'm through!"

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The inside of Bokken's hut is filled with herbs, vials, and jarred oddities. A small cot is covered in furs to one side and a large work bench takes up the majority of the right side. The two men sit at a table before the fireplace and boiling pot.

A short pot bellied old man creaks to stand and hold out his gnarled hand. "Name's Vekkel Benzen, young'un. As Bokken's not screaming like a wild cat you must be a friend."

His leathers are worn and well patched. He wears a skunk furred boots with a matching vest. A wooden peg just from the lower half of his right pant leg.

"I've seen Tuskgutter time and again in these forests. He's escaped my traps over and over. Even tried to bring him down with my own bare hands when I was a younger man. Why not so different from yourself." He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Truth have it. Don't think I'll ever get him now, but if'n someone brought me his head as a trophy I'd die a happy man at heart."

Bokken speaks up "A roost for an old rooster hours of banter for an old bantam."

"Huh...I think he means a man of my age should be able to settle in peace." The hunter translates. "Why if I knew Tuskgutter had been bested I would hand over my own bow!"

He points towards a bow leaning by the door. Even unstrung it looks like it would be impossible for him to draw.

ld man's weapon is a masterwork composite long bow +2

"Aye, took me a year of carving and sanding. Made from a branch off the creature known as the Scythe Tree from the far south Narlmarches." He runs knotted hands over the wood. "She's a fine bow. A little green, but they take time to season."

"If you're inclined to hunt the beast. I think I've tracked Tuskgutter's lair to about twenty miles south west of the Thorn River ford. Keep an eye out for bandits there. They're worse then the kobolds and mites in the southern hills." Vekkel has a laugh at the bandits expense. He must not realize they've been dealt with at the river.
"Well just yesterday I saw half a dozen of the lizards feasting on radishes here." He says pointing to the west side of the map. "As for those mites I came across several of their bodies two days ago up in the hills due south."

Bokken looks chipper at the mention of the skull, "A light so dark it casts shadows a voice of terror and sky follow it through a maze and it will lead to a treasure of death. The will-o'-wisp's will of wasps will sting the unwary."

The old hunter closes his eyes and spits, "Ack! The wisps about again. Devil of a creature luckily it spends its time around other unsavory creatures like those spider's the south. So long as it's happy in one spot we won't have to worry."

Vekkel and Bokken take a pot of strong tea and set out on two wooden stumps outside the hovel. "Little buggers had themselves stuffed to the exploding. One of the stranger things these old eyes have seen in the woods."

Bokken sips at the tea and pokes a few of the floating dregs. "Leaves are seeing Sootscales crying a war in miniature."

"Kobolds ain't trouble around here. Show 'em a stern hand and let 'em know you won't be bossed around. Those mites now...that's a different story. Why I remember one time I found two of 'em tearing apart the corpse of a dead brush tiger. After they got its ribs out they just started poking each other in the eye. Dirty little fey make Bokken here look sane." He slurps at the tea noisily. "I wouldn't bother Oleg with making any traps for Tuskgutter. Tried all he knew myself. Beast even tore itself out of a pit trap I spent a week digging. Had himself a headache with some holy man arguing with a mercenary about searching for some sacred temple this morning."



Inquiring about Kressel
"Ah yes yes kressel, like nestle, nest and yes she promised me a nest and an egg and then she gave me the bird.  I suspect she is working with my brother!"  THe mans voice gets more shrill the faster he talks....