Old Pete smiles kindly at Darius.

"Don't ye worry, lad, I've seen plenty worse maps traded for gold just because they showed where some long lost treasure was supposedly buried, or the entrance to an old, forgotten gold mine, or some such thing. You just need the right story to go with your map. Some of the folk here in town used to be brigands in this area when the fort here was controlled by their leader, the Stag Lord, so some of them are likely to have a tale to tell about things that happened around here in his time or legends about things before that. The only thing I've seen that might be of any interest was the tracks of a giant stag beetle in the woods west of here. They are of no value in themselves but sometimes they become a real threat to logging communities and woodsmen because they are attracted by rotting wood. I've known of a bounty being offered elsewhere to get rid of them when they become a nuisance," he tells Darius.

When the poet passes their table he tosses a silver penny into the man's cap.

"Thank ye, young fella. That reminded me of many a walk with me ol' dad when I was just a youngster. I don't suppose ye know any tales of things that happened around here in the past, do ye?" he asks the poet.

"Giant stag beetles? Those don't sound fun, or sanitary," Darius mused. "I suppose it's a good start, but I'm hoping that when the expeditions return I can get some more useful information on here. A maps not worth a whole lot if it doesn't provide accurate information after all."

When the poet comes by, Darius also tosses a coin into his cap. "Yes, tales of this area would be interesting indeed," Darius added.

Pete's eyes follow the poet's gaze to the mugs of ale and he just grunts softly to himself before raising his arm to attract one of the serving lasses to order a mug of ale for the poet too.

"Sit a while with us and tell us what ye know, young fella," he advises the poet.

"I'll be back in  just a moment ...." the Poet grins, then continues his round of the other customers collecting what few coins that he can.  Returning to Pete and Darius's table, he takes a chair and then reaches appreciatively for the ale that was ordered for him.

"Busy in here tonight.  Gearing up for Harvestfest, I'll be bound."

Old Pete shifted his chair a bit to make room for the poet to take a seat at the table with him and Darius.

"This is my first year here, so I've not seen what passes for Harvestfest here yet. Something to look forward to though, right enough. So, what's your name, lad? I'm Pete and this here is Darius. Tell us a bit about yourself and how ye come to be here in Tusk Town."

Darius also shifts a bit to give the poet some room at the table. "This is my first season here as well, so I have no idea what to expect for Harvestfest here either. But yes, please, regale us with your story."

"It is new to all of us.  This is the first Harvestfest since Lord Henry won his charter.  But now that the harvest is gathered in, the first of the new seasons ales will be brewing, the pickling and smoking down for winter will be well underway, and soon it will be time to celebrate the fact that we are ready for winter."

Gaim offers before he takes a mouthful of his ale, then smacks his lips together loudly to show his appreciation of the drink.

"we've just come in to  town to pick up the last few supplies we need for the winter." he says nodding across to the table that Wyn sent the drinks to earlier.

"You're right about the ale brewing," Old Pete agrees emphatically. "I've got my usual Poachers' Pale Ale brewing away already and I'm experimenting with a dark ale that looks quite promising, too."

He looks at Darius's map thoughtfully before asking the Poet, "So where are you gents based then?"

Gaim points at a spot a few miles east of Hunters Rest, "We built that section of road , and the deal was that we could set up small holdings.  So  mainly got cabbages and eggs at the moment, oh and a few onions.  Otherwise we have to make do with what we can find.  There are some nice moon radishes up that way -  but we will be taking back some flour and dried fruits.  With the game we have smoking that should see us through the worst of the winter.  It will be easier next year, when we can get a few more crops into the ground."
This message was last updated by the GM at 18:06, Sat 12 Jan 2019.

Darius focuses on the section of the map Gaim points to, "So, are there any interesting features out that way? I'm trying to build as accurate a map as possible, and I'm always looking for help."

”Hills … and a road.” Gaim replies with a smile, ”A few passing elk, wild boar that tend to stay out of our way – and the occasional visit from a bear or a few mangy wolves. But other than that  not a lot,”  Gaim says with a shrug.  "Not a bad place to build a small holding, but not the best," he adds ruefully.

”So what do you guys do around here?” Gaim asks looking from Darius to Pete and then back again.

"Oh, back in the day I was a bit of a hunter, you might say. Some might have called me a poacher, although I'd say that were naught but a difference of opinion on whether I were within me rights to be hunting where I did," Pete explained to Gaim and Darius. "Don't matter now anyway 'cause now I'm retired and that were a long way away from here. I still go out and explore the local countryside a bit but mostly I stay around here and help the Roths where I can. They let me use a shed out back for brewing ale, which has been a hobby of mine for more years than I can remember."

Darius listens to Pete's explanation before responding. "I was looking for a change of scenery and found myself here," he says with a smile. "I try to do what I can to help people get what they need, or connect them to people they can. I've also setup a little scribe service, writing letters and such for people who need to pass correspondence. And," he points to the map on the table, "I'm trying my hand as a mapmaker." He glances back down at the map for a moment, and then looks back at Gaim, "you said 'not a bad place for a holding'? I'm curious, what do you mean by that? Is there good farmland, easy access to the river, or something else?"

Gaim glances across at his travelling companions at the other table, before he answers.  "No, not really good land, but next year we should be able to grow Cabbage, Root Veg, Onions, Peas, Beans and even some Corn.  We already have chickens and a goat, but we could get some sheep and graze them in the hills, and there is a big radish path a few miles west.  It will keep us fed.  In a few years we will have plums and those tart little apples growing, and we can always get blackberries." He shrugs before he continues, "We will do OK for ourselves."

"But not like you city types," he grins, "We barely have any writing about, and wouldn't know how to make a map at all." he grins across at Pete, "Although I have seen a few in my time."  Then he grins and, speaking carefully, recites ...

I can show you where things are but I’m not a tour guide
I have a scale but I don’t weigh things
I contain roads but I’m not a city
I can be on paper or on skin but I’m not a shopping list
I can show you what’s north, south, west and east but I’m not a compass

Darius nods, "Well, I've definitely heard of worse places to make a home than that. Perhaps one of these new 'sirs' running about here will take a fancy to the area and make a proper city of it. If nothing else, being close to the road means that you can get supplies when you need them."

"Oh, I hope not.  It is good to be out in the hills, taking a bit of game, bringing in a handful of berries, some plums or .."  Gaim hesitates ".. or anything else you can find."

With that he drains his tankard, and looks across to the table with his friends on  "Well, I had better be getting back to my friends ..."

"Now you sound like a man after my own heart," Pete tells the poet when he talks about the type of life Pete used to enjoy so much. "I look forward to hearing what else you might find out there next time you are in town."

"Probably not until spring ...." the man says gazing deep into his empty tankard.

Darius notes Gain's look, "Hey, let me get you another drink for entertaining us."

"thank you sir." Gaim says sitting back down again, as a grin spreads across his face.

"Don't think I could live in a city all the time ..." he comments looking at the number of people in the bar.   The bar is no where near as busy as on a Friday or Saturday night when  Wyn compares a night of entertainment provided by the some  of the Town's best entertainers - as well as the occasional guest from afar!

Old Pete grins back at Gaim.

"I was just starting to look forward to a poem about what a lonesome thing an empty tankard is! Come to think of it, I remember hearing a song along those lines once. Now, how did it go? Can't remember it all but there was this one line as stuck with me.

"There's nothing so lonesome, so morbid or drear,
Than to stand in a bar, of a pub with no beer!

"Ha, that's not a fate I'd wish on any man!"

He slaps his thigh and laughs at the very idea.

When he calms down again he turns to Darius with a more serious suggestion.

"Have you met Gedd Roth yet? He's that halforc over by the bar, half-brother of Wyn and Berta Roth. He loves the outdoors as much as I do and I reckon he'd be just as interested in a decent map of the place as I am. I'll ask him to come over and have a look at what you've drawn up so far. Then there's Brother Florin over at the Temple of Abadar. I know he has quite a keen interest in the story of how Midmarch is developing, what Lord Henry's people have had to face within these lands and that sort of thing. I'll go and see if he is free to come over for a chat as well."

He gets up straight away and heads over to the bar to talk to Gedd Roth. After a couple of minutes he points to Darius, clearly pointing him out to the halforc, then heads out the door.

Gedd was helping the barman when Old Pete came over for a chat and pointed out Darius seated at a table in the common room with a map laid out in front of him.

When Pete left the bar Gedd spoke a few words to the barman then walked over to Darius's table.

"Hello, gents. My name is Gedd. One of you is Darius? Pete told me you are working on a map of Midmarch and suggested I come over and have a look. Is that alright by you?" he asked.

Darius nods, "yes, I'm Darius. Gedd, it's a nice to meet you. Please, have a seat," he says as he motions to the newly emptied chair next to him. "Yes, I'm working on a map of Midmarch, and would love any insight you might have so I can make it as accurate as possible."

Gaim raises his newly filled tankard of ale towards Gedd as Darius welcomes the newcomer to the table.

Gedd smiles at the poet and says, "I enjoyed your poem earlier. Well done. I'm sure Wyn and Berta will agree you are welcome back whenever you are in town."

Then he turns his attention back to the map on the table.

"You have the two lakes south of here right but did you know there is an island in the middle of the southern lake? We sailed past it on the way here but Captain Yitis-Aldori wouldn't tell us anything about it. He seemed to consider it bad luck even to talk about it and sailed well clear of it.

"I just had a thought. When you have this map fleshed out a bit more it would be great to have a copy up on the wall of this common room. That would give folks a way to point out their travels and share their tales about what they've seen along the way, as well as planning their next journey. How much would you charge us for a map like that?" he asks Darius.

Berta winces and shakes her head almost imperceptibly as her brother asks 'how much' ... but doesn't interrupt, turning away to listen to some other conversation that won't make her grind her teeth.

"Hmm, an island you say," Darius asks with obvious interest. "That's good to know. Do you by chance have an idea of how large it is?"

With the question of cost, Darius sits back and ponders for a minute, "Hmm, I hadn't put too much thought into it. How about 15 gold pieces? with the added benefit that I will agree to update periodically free of charge."

Gaim acknowledges Gedd's comment, then sits back and sips his ale as he listens to the conversation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:47, Fri 25 Jan 2019.

"Fifteen gold? That seems fair," Gedd replies with a smile. No doubt you will be asked to produce more copies for other people too, at that price."

"I am not sure of the size of the island. We only saw it from a distance but I would be surprised if a man on foot could walk all the way around it in a day. The coastline looked quite rugged and the island quite heavily vegetated, so travel would be quite slow."

Darius nods, "Well, I just approximate for now then. At least I can make sure it's on the map, and maybe Lord Henry will ask one of the adventuring groups to check it out. Our new poet, Gaim here, was just telling us about where he and his have settled, just east of Hunters Rest, about here," he says as he points to the map.

Gaim nods happily then takes a mouthful of ale.

Just about now Old Pete returns with another young man in tow. He introduces the newcomer as Brother Florin, the acolyte at the local temple of Abadar in Tusk Town.

"May Abadar's blessings be upon you and upon this house," Brother Florin responds by way of greeting.

"Our friend Pete has told me of your map and the discussions you enjoying here. Would you be happy for me to join you and share what I might add to the discussion?"

His eyes wander across the map as he speaks but then he looks around at each of those assembled as he asks their permission to join them.

As Darius and the poet seem too engrossed in the map itself to respond to Brother Florin, Gedd takes it upon himself to welcome the young cleric.

"No objections at all, Brother. I know little of the lands around here, as we came up the river from the south and Tusk Town was already established by the time we arrived."

Brother Florin smiles and takes a seat at the table.

"I arrived after settlement of the town had begun, too, but I came from the northeast, from the city of Restov in one of the caravans of wagons that bring most of the new settlers to Midmarch. I was too late to witness any of the heroic battles fought by the adventurers that Lord Henry first recruited to help wrest these lands from the bandits who used to terrorise anyone who set foot here. I have been finding out as much as I can about the history of the founding of Midmarch and what was here before, but there are still many gaps in that story to be filled.

"Have you ever heard about the series of battles that Henry's adventurers fought against the Stag Lord's bandits here in Midmarch?

"The first battle was up in the north here," he points to the site labelled Oleg's on the map. "That was called Oleg's Trading Post back then, although it has grown into a village now. A band of bandits came for their regular pay-off so they wouldn't destroy the trading post but Henry's folk defeated them and took some prisoners, although I think some of the bandits did escape at the end of that fight.

"The second and third battles were a number of weeks after that. I think they both happened about the same time as Lord Henry divided his forces into two groups to explore the lands southwest and southeast from Oleg's.

"One group went southwest to the forests of the Narlemarches, where they discovered a bandit camp and defeated the bandits there. That is over here at the site now known as Hunters Rest. I think of that as the second battle just because it was closer than the third site and therefore likely to have been reached first.

"The third battle was over to the east at a wooden ring-fort known as the Orcy Ring." He points to the site labelled Ringbridge on the map. "It was home to a band of bandits lead by a wizardess and her halforc sons. Our head priest at the temple of Abadar here in Tusk Town, Father Andalon, has told me all about that battle. He and his friends had discovered the ring-fort a few weeks earlier and thought it was deserted apart from a halforc who tried to ambush them when they started exploring the tunnels beneath the ring-fort. They discovered just enough during that first visit that they were able to locate a hidden entrance into those tunnels from outside the ring-fort when they returned a few weeks later and found the fort full of bandits this time. Needless to say, Henry's men and women defeated the bandits and claimed the ring-fort in Lord Henry's name.

"The fourth and final battle was right here where Tusk Town now stands. Fort Tusk was known as Fort Stag back then. It was the primary stronghold of the bandit leader called the Stag Lord, who was overall leader of all the bandits that Henry's forces had fought so far. Well, here there was no easy way in so Henry's adventurers scaled the walls of the fort at night and defeated the Stag Lord and his bandits right there inside the fort. The Stag Lord fought to the death, so when he was finally slain that really was the end of the bandits here in Midmarch and opened the door for all the rest of us who have come here to start a new life in Midmarch."

Darius looked up from the map and smiled as Brother Florin joined him. When the young acolyte began speaking, he quickly pulled out some parchment and ink and began writing as quickly as he could to capture everything he said. "This is great. In addition to making a comprehensive map of the area, I'm hoping to collect the history of Midmarch to this point, and chronicle it as it continues to grow. What more can you tell me about these specific areas, perhaps so that I can better annotate the map I have begun?"

Gaim finishes his ale, says his goodbyes and heads off to his friends table.

OOC:  You might want to look at this page  http://rp.baileymail.net/doku....ch:midmarchgazetteer

Brother Florin smiles at Darius's enthusiasm, obviously delighted to have found a kindred spirit in this frontier town.

"Well, let me see. Lord Henry has built himself a villa up there at Henryhall as the last stop before leaving Midmarch on the road to Restov, or the first stop on the way in. He has also established a fort at that spot labelled Outpost, with a garrison of guards to patrol the roads across the middle of Midmarch.

"Down here, on the Shrike River about halfway between Tusk Town and Ringbridge, there is a restricted area called Sootscale. It is the home territory of the Sootscale tribe of kobolds. Lord Henry has agreed some sort of treaty with them, so the area is basically off limits except that river travel between Tusk Town and Ringbridge is permitted - just make sure you stay on the boat and obey the warning signs along both banks of the river. Oh, some folk would definitely be tempted to go in uninvited as the kobolds have a silver mine there, but Marik Metals have secured the rights to that trade and Marik himself is Henry's appointed agent for all dealings with Sootscale. So anyone wanting to even talk to the kobolds needs to talk to Marik first.

"Then there is another restricted area up in the northern part of the Narlemarch forests. It is the homeland of a community of fey creatures of various sorts. Again, Lord Henry has some sort of treaty with them, so it is a case of keep out or you'll have more trouble than you looked for on both sides of the border.

"Up there in the Northern Narlemarch Reserve, as well as the Fey lands you have got Hunters Rest and an ancient shrine to Erastil called Elkwall. That sounds like a fascinating sight. I heard someone describe Elkwall as a 300-foot long cliff carved to look like an enormous elk! Much as it pains me to promote anything about any other religion but Abadar's, it certainly sounds like that would be one place any worshipper of Erastil would want to see before they die!"

He leans back with a happy smile on his face as he studies the map laid out in front of him, then waves a barmaid over to the table.

"Well, this is a jolly nice way to spend the evening, isn't it? I think I might just indulge in a small beer while I am here."

Gedd slides back into his seat before the others had even realised he was gone, so engrossed was everyone else in Brother Florin's geography lesson.

He chuckles quietly to himself before whispering something to Darius, Pete and Brother Florin.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:14, Thu 07 Feb 2019.

Darius nods to the young acolyte, "Yes, please join us for a beer. You are more than welcome, and have been extremely helpful already."

When Gedd returns, Darius raises an eyebrow and then laughs at what the half-orc whispers to the group. "Understood, and rest assured we'll hold a memorial for you if it comes to that," he adds with a wink.

Berta grinds her teeth some more.  Not even much point tossing Darius out as Gedd will just drag him back in again.  She could probably throw Gedd out ... but it'd not be a sure thing which of them would end up on the wrong side of the door, and there'd be a lot of collateral damage that'd just come out of her and our brothers' own pockets, never mind the damage to the Dragon's reputation.

Eyes narrowing, the warrior-woman casts her gaze around the room once more, looking for trouble elsewhere.

Brother Florin looks a little startled by Gedd's whisper and when the young acolyte glances at Berta's angry face he pales slightly and hastily looks away.

"Oh, er, thankyou Darius. Where was I? Oh, yes, Father Andalon mentioned that they met a hermit called Bokken out in the wilderness east of Oleg's. He lives in a hut there and brews a number of useful potions that he will sell to visitors.

"Over on the western side of the Narlemarch is a fishing village called Drowned Trees. I understand that it was a pirate base before Lord Henry sent his men there to clear it out. Now it is just a fishing village in the swamp, with little to recommend it to visitors unless you consider eel a particularly delicious delicacy.

"A little closer to home, you all know the lake we call the Tuskwater south of Tusk Town? Well over there on the eastern side is a boggy hollow called the Mudbowl. Apparently it is full of all sorts of exotic mushrooms, toadstools and other fungi, but it has a guardian, of sorts. A great tentacled monster called a tendriculos, which preys upon any creature lured into the bog in search of those exotic mushrooms. One of those mushrooms is called the Black Rattlecap. It is supposed to have some sort of useful properties but I am not clear about what they might be. One person who does prize it is a strange old woman called the Old Beldame, who lives across the lake on the western shore of the Tuskwater. Apparently she doesn't welcome visitors but she will trade potions for Black Rattlecap Mushrooms, one for one. She may not be a particularly friendly personality but it certainly sounds like she would be well able to look after herself. Father Andalon also mentioned that the Tusk Town Council would be very upset if anyone from here ever set out to harm the Beldame."

He taps the side of his nose with one finger as though hinting that last bit of information should be taken as a word to the wise.

Wyn makes his way across to Darius's table, a slight frown furrowing his brow as he looks from his sister to his brother and then back again.

"Everything alright here?" the half-elf asks Darius,  flashing his teeth in  the smile that service staff reserve for  making  everyday enquiries of their customers.

"You want to commission a jeweller to make a nose ring, right?" Gedd responds to Wyn with a grin.

"What?" Wyn looks at his brother in that 'what the hell are you talking about way' that is reserved for siblings.

"No," he says a moment later, and drops his voice slightly "I want a jeweller to make a  ....  No.  If you spoiled the surprise for Winnie, I'd have to hurt you!"

As Wyn replies in the negative, Berta weighs up the trajectory between her younger sibling and the tankard on a nearby table ... then remembers she's supposed to be stamping out any sign of trouble, not being the cause of it.

She sighs.  It's like being back in the guards ... no, never that, for she loves the pair of them fiercely, unlike ... 'the Captain', as Gedd called him.

Frown and irritation vanished upon the instant, the warrior-woman smiles indulgently at her brothers, neither hearing Wyn's whispered words, nor caring overmuch - whatever trouble he's getting them into, she'll gladly be there to help get them out of it.

As for poor Brother Florin ... she'll have to ask him about those Black Rattlecaps - maybe they've some equivalent she's more familiar with, matter not the young man gets terribly tongue-tied around her - though that does amuse her !

The face that turns back to the crowded in is by far less belligerent.