For lack of anything much better to do come the morning, Vova ambles along with the little shopping trip, having invited himself into their company by the simple expedient of turning up when they set out - before long he's more or less sober and, aside from a brief venture into speculating over whether that particular frog over there is the one that makes you see 'the colours' if you lick it (said frog, looking alarmed promptly dives into a pool) manages to amble along with relatively little friction until they arrive at the hovel, which he promptly declares to be "Charmingly ad-hoc!" before - seemingly at the urging of Domitius, or at least lacking reason not to, wandering over to ring the bell with a measure of enthusiasm.

 Vic, meanwhile has been padding along at the rear and occasionally picking on things unfortunate enough to cross his path.

"Really, Dom?  You've already done this?  And didn't have a bad time of it? That's reassuring!"

She eyed the possible golem.  "I can't say I know my golems...but one made of straw, wood, and a carved up pumpkin seems less threatening than other sorts.   I bet Vic could take this thing apart, real easy," she smiled, obviously in jest, but also not really doubting it.

It is all quiet for a few moments after Vova rings the bell, then a window opens in the hut and an old woman's face pokes out.  Her white hair is long straggly and unkempt, and her skin has a bright greenish tinge.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" she shouts

 Vova, bright eyed by this point, despite the hour (it still, technically being morning) waves merrily at the head poking out of the window and yells back "SOMETHING TO DRINK WOULD BE NICE!", his voice and expression both cheerfully devoid of anything resembling the slightest hint of an idea why they're actually there, because - as we may recall - he was drunk on a boat and then wandered into the swamp with the others because 'that just seemed to be what people were doing'.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:48, Mon 29 Aug 2022.

It required a little willpower, but Alisa did manage not to laugh at Vova's response.   She put a fist to her lips and pretended to lightly cough.

And then looked, blinking, at both Domitius and Cass.   Realizing she was uncertain how to answer the question, and that things might go way sideways, if someone didn't offer a better reply than Vova's...
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Mon 29 Aug 2022.

Dom suppressed his own laugh at Vova's response but did not hide his smile.  "Madam Beldane, we wished to discuss matters of an arcane nature with you regarding your constructs and whether you would be interested in doing some work on behalf of Tusk.  Also your daughter Pipre sends her regards.  May we enter?" he asked politely.


OOC: I think that is her name....

The Old Beldame is about to shout again, but waits as Dom calls out his request.  Her eyes narrow slightly as she takes in the clothes that the group are wearing, and she decides that they might not be the normal peasantry who come calling at her gate for love potions and the like.

"I bet she didn't."  She shouts back, before relenting slightly and adding.  "You can come in, but don't come too close  ...  I reckon that one" and she points to Vova, "Smells bad ..."

 It's not an entirely unfounded accusation because there is something fundamentally and elementally seedy about Vova doMedvyed which manages to transcend species and cultures to such a degree that, were he to wander the dingy alleyways of a cryogenic ice moon, the many-legged inhabitants would - before registering his alien nature - remark to one another over mugs of ammonia slush that 'he's a wrong 'un' (while shielding said drinks - not unwisely - from being taken).

 On the other hand, those who were with him through the course of the morning happen to know that he's wearing a rather pleasant sandalwood -based cologne at the moment, almost as if he has no idea he'd be traipsing through a swamp all day.

 Sniffing an armpit, he looks briefly concerned and then brightens before calling back "Tolerably! I think I may have fallen in the river a time or two!" before throwing the gate open and holding it for everyone.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:22, Sun 04 Sept 2022.

PM

With a nod to Vova and a smile Domitius entered the garden "Well Pipre did say to say hello at least and did ask me to check if you needed anything.  May I introduce the Lord Mayor of Tusk Cass, my beloved wife the Priestess of Avacna Alisa and our compatriot Vova and his aaah... bird..." Domitius responded with a flourish.

As you climb the path towards the hut a lone crow, on a distant tree, caws loudly and the scarecrow turns its head to follow your progress up the path.

The old woman watches you closely, and the green tint of her skin and pointed ears become more apparent, and you can see no resemblance to Pipre what-so-ever.  Her eyes fix on Vic, and then swivel towards Vova for a moment – but it is the bird that she addresses.  ”Keep your damned pet under control, and stay away from my herbs, or I’ll burn those pretty feathers down to quills.”  Her voice is both harsh and shrill at the same time, and she clearly expects to be obeyed.

As Dom introduces you, you see her eyes flick to Cass and a thin smile crosses her lips – and you suspect the price of whatever you might want to purchase has just gone up.

”Now.  What do you want?” she asks in that querulous tone of voice that implies a small level of displeasure.

“In deference to the precision of your mental scrutiny, I will spare you flowery words.” Cass began in the sincerity of voice that was normally reserved for his most trusted companions. Here was one who obviously knew who he was, and also perhaps that he had a reputation as a spokesman of some sort, so the opportunity to be frank was almost as refreshing as it was alarming.

“We have heard of your ability with constructs, which is of course borne out by the activity of your scarecrow. We have interest in learning more and perhaps asking if you would be interested in crafting constructs for payment.” Cass was afraid that he sounded a bit too much like a merchant at the last, but facts were facts, and a merchant was indeed at least a part of himself. He thought Pipre’s mother would at least be pleased to get directly to the bottom line.

 Said 'Pet' hops up onto the fencepost to glare imposingly at those around him before fixing the scarecrow with a singularly hostile look and standing in a way that can't help but draw attention to the inch-and-a-half polished steel spurs he's wearing...

 ...Vova meanwhile, steps forwards and starts to open his mouth, only to be silenced by a harsh 'Squonk!' from Vic, one which is followed a moment later by another when he starts to open his mouth again. The third effort sees a quieter 'squonk' noise and a thin sliver of wood being slowly shaved off the top of the fence-post as Vic holds and maintains eye-contact with Vova, then - after the latter gentleman starts to pout, flirts his tail-feathers and affixes  the old woman with an imperious, but mannerly look.

 She after all, has correctly divined the power structure here.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:19, Sat 17 Sept 2022.

Alisa remained quiet throughout the exchange, observing and listening.

Their host was quite a bit like the wicked witches who proliferated the fables she grew up on.  And, for all that Alisa, was a sober and mature kind of person, there was still a somewhat impish side to her, that hadn't forgotten a child's perspective of things.

Being a new mother had only brought it a little more to the fore, in fact.   And she wished she might have uttered her own squonk, in solidarity with their peacockian peer.

But naturally, she couldn't, and instead paid attention to discern more about their host, as well as the ways Cass and Domitius were dealing with her.

"My own query is similar to Lord Mordanes, I was wondering if you could enchant stone statues to act as guardians. That could be useful should there be an attack upon Tusk or somewhere." Dom having met the old dame before seemed to take her irascible nature in stride.

The Old Beldame listened to Cass, with a strange look on her face, but became more animated when Dom spoke.  "I always had a hankering to make one of those Catty Statuey things.  If'n you brings me a big statue, I'll have a go at making it into a guardian thing for you.  It doesn't really matter what it is, but it has to be big, and made from a massive block of nice stone. It should look like a woman with two curvy swords, but I think that so long as it looks about the right shape, and has swords, I can make it work.  It'll cost, mind!  I'll want some big diamonds along with the statue.  You know, those really big ones that are worth about a thousand of those gold pieces that you use!"

Dom eyed the Old Beldame and slowly nodded "I believe we can manage that, though I'm thinking we may need a second down the track, armed with spear and shield.  Did you have a preference for the stone? Something like granite would be most suitable and I can get my stonesinger involved to make sure they are of the highest quality.  Swords at rest I think would be a suitable pose." he pauses and strokes his beard "Did you want it to look like anyone in particular?"

The Old Beldame cackles with pleasure, then replies "Granite works just fine, but it needs to be a really good statue." she pauses for a moment, then adds "It doesn't have to look like anyone."

When Dom mentioned the second statue, it struck that he might be envisioning a statue of Acavna, or a warrior in her likeness, as maybe a guardian at the main temple.   She couldn't help smile at the thought.

He can be so thoughtful, as well as possessing such vision.   And as far as the work, she knew by now that Hargrym could make just about anything...

Nodding Dom looked thoughtful "Have no fear they shall be of the finest quality, I shall consult with the stonesingers for the most suitable material." then with a smile "I do believe Lord Mordane had a query about instruction in the manufacture of these wonders."

Cass nodded at Dom’s word. The Lord had a strong grasp of any situation that was laid before him, and for this Cass was grateful. “Would you be willing to teach this art to others? It would be a great benefit to the lands if we could station a number of these guardians at various defensive posts.”

The old beldame cackles at Cass's request.  "What?  And have hordes of young wannabees around all the time, disturbing me and stopping me doing my own work?  Why do you think you had to walk so far through the mud to get here?  Why do you think my daughter tied up this area so it couldn't be developed?

I like the quiet and the mud, and I don't much like people!"  She finishes vehemently with a glance towards her scarecrow.

Off in the distance, a lone crow, sitting atop an old tree, caws loudly - and various small birds fly up and away from the garden.

So, the persnickety dame was in fact Pipre's mother...Must've been an interesting childhood, Alisa reflected.

Are we done here?

“It seems that we have little left to do here, as you have already stated your terms.” Cass said politely. “We will need to acquire the gems that you prefer for payment, as well as the materials needed to produce one of your wonders. After that time, perhaps you will find the payment agreeable enough to you to desire to produce more, or think of other ways that we can purchase your wonders.”