"Look here, dwarf."  Virius said, taking affront at being so casually dismissed.  "I wouldn't tell you how to construct a mountain fastness, nor refine ore."

"Do not presume to tell a wizard about his Art.  My patience has been sorely tested by your penchant for secrets and skullduggery.  If we are to trust one another, then we should trust one another."

Althiöf was more confused that ever by Tesh.  He was not making any sense at all.

"Skullduggery?  What are you talking about?  Secrets?  What are you talking about?  I just told you about the wagon, and this was the first opportunity I had to tell you in privacy, without the whole common room hearing everything."

"You are the one who tole me about your art, not the other way around.  You explained that right now, you only have the ability to examine constructs.  This is how you explained it."

"I have no idea what your problem is."

"You asked me to this room to show me something.  Something that presumably could not be produced in the main hall under the prying eyes of Ostler's customers. That is the secretive action.  You said you would show me somehitng, have me to examine it even, and after I put mind to purpose, I am told that I am not fit to the task."

"I was willing to play your game, Althiöf, but you play your hand too close to your chest.  This is a cooperative venture we undertake.  All I ask is that you cooperate."

"But it seems you dwarves are creatures driven by your passions, rather than reason.  My patience wears thin for this uncouth dwarven behavior.  If I am not watching one of you getting your heads bashed in, I am getting insulted by the other."

"Pff,"  Virius said, waving a dismissing hand.

Tesh was making no sense at all, just babbling like a brook.  He has shown he cannot be trusted at all.  There are now folk in the common room with whom he had never spoken, who the dwarf trusted more.

Althiöf opened the door, and as he left he said not facing the uncouth miscreant, "You are an honorless peasant.  Probably not even a magician."  And continued into the common room and sought out Father Calmert.

"Father, excuse me, do you have a moment?"

Father Calmert nods, and stands from the table. "I do." he says, as he sets his cup on the table.

"I was hoping to talk to you about a couple things, including about services tomorrow.  May we step outside for a moment?"

Father Calmert nods and follows the Dwarf outside. "Of course." he says.

Regardless of the dwarf's boorish parting words — meant to call both station and métier into question — a cutting rejoinder wouldn't do.

The young wizard closed his eyes and breathed deep for a moment, calming himself.  He was an envoy from the Wizardholme of Urnst, after all.  He wore their sigil upon his robes, and was here in an official capacity to represent his University.

"I thought you brothers upon first meeting."  Virius confided in Korkas.  "I beg pardon for that infelicity."

moved to other thread
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Sat 18 May 2019.

Korkas looked bewildered at the pair argueing back and forth. Korkas never overly trusted magic but doesn't mean he wasn't curious. He didn't seem to notice nor care Virius called him uncouth. Upon being addressed by Virus he looked up and nodded and shrugged his shoulder "I've been called worse.</b" He waited a moment before he continued speaking as he draws out his blades checking them over one by one "<b>His plan doesn't seem bad. A wagon might entice them to attack us. Maybe I could hide in one of the barrels and you let them take me. So we can find out where their lair is?" His blades are the only thing shown with any care upon him, well cleaned and sharpened.

"Hm,"  Virius said.  "They might only abscond with the barrels after the folk they stole from are quite dead."

"There is some strength in using subterfuge against these louts, but the surprise of your steel works best if not delayed overmuch ... I doubt I could fight them off without it."

Korkas looked to Virius as he thought a moment, the moment extended for far longer than it should have before he nodded "We should still try to hide our numbers some. Even if it is lieing down in the wagon hidden among the barrels."

Korkas began rubbing his ribs where he was hit a few times, the wounds were gone, even the bruising but he seemed to be thinking about the fight.

"Agreed."  The wizard replied.  "All the better to lure them in, if these goblins think us to be outnumbered."

"But we must be prepared to track them as well, for if these highwaymen are not by the road and looking to waylay some unwary traveler ... this charade will be for naught."

"Let us go find Hollen, and see what the ranger thinks about the plan."

Korkas nods to Virius and walks out of the room to seek out the junior ranger.

Father Calmert walks back inside and over to the bar, retaking his seat. He orders another round from Ostler who has just finished talking to his wife and eldest daughter. Ostler prepares another cup of ale for the Cleric and slides it over to him.

Althiöf walked back into the in, and then to the table on his left.  He sat with his back to the wall, facing all exits (U-13).  Whenever, she might be in the area, the dwarf would try to get Vesta's attention.

Vesta notices the dwarf and then looks to her Father. "Load me up another tray, looks like we have a few more that want drinks." she says. Oslter then pours a few cups of ale and puts them on the tray. Vesta takes the tray and starts walking around the room giving new cups of ale to the Inns patrons, and makes her way over to Althiöf, setting down the last one. "Father told Mother and me what happened, thank you." she says.

"What?  Ah, you're welcome, lass."

"In fact, I was so busy with that, I left with a flagon."  He produced it and handed it to Vesta.

"Tell me, do you have a tailor in town, where I could buy some extra sets of clothes?  I'm also looking for a potter."

Vesta takes the flagon and sets it on the tray. "I believe we have a tailor and a potter, but I can check with Father, he would know more than I. I dont get out that often and Mother mends my clothes." she says. "You could also check the notice board out front, I know some people advertise their craft on it." she adds.

"Thank ya, lass."

Korkas nodded to Virius "You speak with the Young Ranger. I owe an Orc a drink. I'll join you in a moment." Koras moves towards the bar looking to Ostler "Got anything special? I owe an orc a drink."

Virius nods.  "Watch out for his left."  He chided.  "You missed it last time."

The historian watched the dwarf go, marveling briefly at how quickly rage could blossom, wither and die in their hearts.  Only to be replaced by the forging of true bonds.  Truly, a passionate people.  It was as if conflict guided them, made them who they were.  Virius made a mental note to choose his words more carefully around his new dwarven brethren, lest he become the focus of an unwelcome outbursts.

Heading over toward Hollen, the wizard caught the young ranger up on the plan and asked him what he thought of it.

Hollen nodded, "A bit of guile never hurt anyone. It's a fairly subtle plan for a dwarf, though. Let me think on it a bit and see if it has flaws." To expand, he said, "I grew up in the Rakers, plenty of dwarf settlements about. Father is a Ranger Lord with a freehold back in the hills there, we get all sorts in and out constantly. I mean all sorts. While it's an enlightening way to grow up, sometimes certain folk can wear on you."

He regarded the sygil on the mage's robes. "So, Virius is it? Tell me about this symbol and what order you follow. Are they enchanters or summoners or something I've never heard of?" Hollen was genuinely curious but had no wish to pry. If Virius doesn't want to discuss it, they can talk about barrels and goblins.

---

OOC: Barrels and Goblins: I like it, think I may develop a game called that.

Ostler looks up from washing some of the cups when Korkas approaches. "I appreciate that fight not leading to weapons, and it having been taken outside. What did you say to the Half-Orc to make him so upset?" asks the Innkeeper. Ostler decides to reach under the bar and bring forth a green bottle, he pours a cup of this strange thick blackish green brew, and slides it over to the Dwarf. "If your gonna give him a drink, give him this." he says. "I got it off a merchant that said it was from the Pomarj." he adds.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 160):

Korkas nodded "No reason to make a mess. And he called me a runt, I returned the favor. They around here regularly?" Korkas asks as he lays down a gold piece on the bar.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Sun 19 May 2019.