Chief Amzi is distracted for a moment by the blue bees swarming about Nutcracker, but then says, "Sorry. happy to meet you all. Yes, so our hunting grounds are about two days walk to the northwest, a day if you know the woods like Jebor. He lead our best hunters on a trip there, like he has done so every other week since we set our tents here to seek refuge from the Redfoot raids. Usually, they return within a week, but it has been two weeks now, and they have not returned! As long as Jebor leads them, I know they can't get lost, so I worry they were found by the Redfoot, or vicious predators driven into our territory by the carnage the Redfoot leave in their wake. Either way, we have few hunters, and even fewer warriors. I can give you a map to our hunting grounds, and if you will seek out sign of what happened to Jebor and the others, Hexia has agreed to part with items from her shop. If you also bring back enough food for two weeks, you will be welcome to stay in our tents until the hunters go out once more!"

Victor nods, "How many mouths are there to feed and how will we know Jebor when we find them?"

"What can you tell us about the redfoot? I've barely been here a few weeks and only just learning." asks Carmen. She waits for an answer, then also queries the aid from Hexia. "Let me make sure I heard correct...we can borrow some equipment from Hexia prior to our journey?" she asks. "That might make it much more likely for us to succeed. A wise choice."

If he were capable of facial expression, Nutcracker would have been grinning when the chief stared at his bees for a moment. He really felt like he had grown a lot in a very short amount of time. This place was full of potential to help him grow even more. Possibly just as fast.

At the mention of hungry mouths, he made a magical chant while touching the mistletoe recently attached to his bow and produced a full handful of golden-colored blackberries. "Food," he spoke in the chief's voice. It wasn't much, but these were potent berries that would help sustain almost a dozen people for an entire day.

OOC: Showing off by casting Goodberry to produce a full 10 of the magic berries in his hand.

Armand replies, "Our tribe has about 50 people, including the missing hunters."

About the Redfoot, he says, "You don't know of the Redfoot? Lucky you! They are a tribe who believe Rimewood belongs to goblins, and hobgoblins are the pinnacle of goblin perfection. If you are a hobgoblin, they offer you to join them. If you are a goblin, they force you to join them, and if you are neither... fight, or run and hide. We tried to fight, and that's why we have so few warriors. Thanks to Hexia, we can hide until new warriors are trained. Smith has also agreed to help, and I'm told he has allied with some goblin tribes who wish to fight back against the Redfoot, as well. So if you see any goblins out there, look for an emblem of a clawed red foot on their shields. If they don't have that, they may possibly be reasoned with. If they do? Fight, or run and hide..."

About the items, "You misunderstand. The magic items are a reward for finding out what happened to our hunters. Hexia's items are quite valuable, we can't risk you losing them out there when we may need to trade them for money to buy food from Smith."

To Nutcracker, "Thank you. This won't go far, but every little bit helps."

Nodding, Carmen was glad to hear the news of the redfoot tribe of goblins. "I'd heard rumours only, but it is good to hear there are goblins willing to negotiate and speak terms."

She heard the sad news about the aid from Hexia being withheld until they had completed their mission, but she understood the risks.

"They won't know what hit them. Wendel has quite a punchm and Victor is made of rocks." she says, emphasizing the talents of her team mates. "Chelsie and Nutcracker, well...I'm still working those ones out but they are skilled in their own rights." she added.

She makes ready her preparations, then departs with the others.

Victor frowns, "Good to know, hopefully your hunters haven't run afoul of the Red Foot."

Satisfied with the Chief's responses he raises his eyebrows questioningly to the others and gestures that they be on their way.

Cocking his head sideways in thought, Nutcracker repeated the gesture two more times and poured the plethora of 30 berries into the sack he had been carrying dangling from his backpack. After removing the waterskins and affixing them to his pack, he proffered the bag of rations and berries to the chief. "Food," he repeated again. Before the chief could make any protests he gestured to himself. "Nutcracker, a skilled hunter!" as if that were all of the explanation necessary.

His load now lightened a little, Nutcracker followed after the others to begin leading them to the hunting grounds.

OOC: Changing ooc and speech colors to be more unified with the rest.
Using up two remaining spells for two more Goodberry castings of 10 each. Unloaded the 10 rations in the sack with the chief; enough to feed 40 for a day.

"This will help immensely. Thank you, Nutcracker! Farewell, friends, and may the spirits of the Rimewood be with you." said the chief.
This message was last updated by the player at 19:20, Mon 05 Apr 2021.

Just before sunset, A powerfully built Dwarf walks up to the gates of Fierce Hearts Village.  This who were there when they first met might remember Brohm.  Across his broad shoulders is slung a largish deer, and a sack of herbs and mushrooms.  He signals the guard with a wave as he approaches.

The guard says, "Welcome, friend! My, looks like you've caught quite the meal! You should talk to the Chief before you head back to Smith's Gambit."

"A feast needs food.". He replied to the guards first statement, his derp voice like a friendly landslide.  "Where is the Chief?". He asks, as he steps through the gate.  That having been his intent before the guard spoke.  Once the guard gives him the information, he walks directly to the Chief.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Tue 20 Apr 2021.

The guard smiles, "If you don't see him around the training area, he's probably talking to Hexia."

Brohm heads to the training area, the spoils of his hunting resting easy on his broad shoulders.

As Brohm approached the training area he saw two young boys sparring, rather seriously I might add, and a few older soldiers standing around the grounds watching them. Look as he might, however, there was no sign of the Chief.

Brohm walks up to one of the older soldiers who are not busy.  "Do you know where the chief is?". He rumbles in a neutral voice.

"He's probably at the lady wizard's tent. He's there quite frequently." The soldier answers without hesitation when asked.

"Thank you.". Brohm rumbles, as he heads toward Hexias' tent.

As Brohm heads towards Hexia's tent you spot the Chief leaving her tent with a look of disappointment on his face.

"Evening". Brohm rumbles to the Chief.  "I've brought food for the feast.". As any true Dwarf, Brohm does not pry into the personal affairs of others.  If they felt like broaching it, they would.

"Ah yes." The chief shakes himself from his earlier distraction and turns to the dwarf, "And it is much appreciated." He smiles as he walks Brohm over to the large wooden table at the near center of the village. There sitting on the table looked like mostly roots, but no meat in sight. "As you see, you couldn't have come at a better time. We've been missing one of our hunting parties, but some from Smith's Gambit should already be on their trail. Hopefully that means they'll be back soon."

"If they do not return in a few days, I will go looking for them.". Brohm rumbles, refering to the search party, as well as the missing hunters.  It was still odd to him, these Goblins.  In the mountains of his ancestral home, Goblinoids and Dwarves had a long and bitter war between them.  A war that would only end when one side was annihilated.  The Dwarves were too strong, too smart, and too good in their craft for the Goblinoids to win.  The Goblinoids beef too quick for the Dwarves to win.  So it dragged on, the Dwarves keeping their borders mostly secure, and the Goblinoids loosing thousands in raids that gained them little to nothing.  Here though, were Goblins that acted with civility.  Perhaps even a second chance. A chance to change a history do blood-soaked that the ocean was a puddle beside it.  "Let them eat well tonight, and keep whatever is left.  I will return in a day or two, with further supplies.".  He thinks for a long moment, before speaking again.  "I passed two groups of Orcs on the last leg of my journey in.  There may be more."

Izayah came in to view of the village, slowly walking with a group of beings following behind him. His pace quickened a bit when the village came in to view. A smile lit up his face and he glanced back at his companions, "C'mon! We're almost there!"

Finishing up the journey, completing the mission, seeing Hexia again, all good things.

Walking along right behind Izayah, Malkus feels a renewed vigor as the scenery begins to look familiar. Before too long, the Fierce Hearts' village comes into view on the path ahead. Even though it had only been a handful of days, he is eager to be back, as he has plans to set in motion back at Smith's Gambit.

He travels with the rest to Hexia's shop to report back what they found.

As the group had finally reached the village, they could finally relax a bit and break formation. It was a short trip in truth, but it had felt like months with so many things happening along the way. Now they could collect their reward before heading back to the Gambit where Wightvane was looking forward to a little downtime, and a chance to earn some coin through Albans little crafting scheme.