Tauroak looked toward the ladies for signs that they might have something they wanted to trade or something they needed themselves, before proceeding.

Your day in The Root's merchant district proved quite fruitful for most. Nalisha guided you through the streets and to the shops that eventually had each of you who were seeking equipment finding "that thing" you were looking for.

Returning to the guest manor you settled in and were preparing to have your evening meal when a messenger arrived and knocked at the door seeking entrance. One of the attendants ushered the small elven woman to you and she informs you that Governor Hawkryn is requesting your audience tomorrow at noon to discuss plans. She completes her message and bows taking her leave.

The remainder of the evening passes without incident and you awaken on the morning and each begin making your way from your rooms to the great room to meet for breakfast.

---

Share your item with each other in OOC please. You were all together so this isn't something that needs a grand reveal here. For those who did not wish to have an item you may adjust your personal cash by 2000 gp.

Booth was up early.  He felt something was going to happen today and felt energized because of it.  Maybe it was the anticipation of a good fight.  Whatever the reason, he was ready to go.

Elodie yawned as she entered the room, holding a steaming mug in her hand. She sipped it, then took a seat next to Booth, nodding her head blearily.

"Mmgh, you're up already. Where do you get the energy?"

Tauroak slept like a hibernating bear the second he laid his head down to sleep, but he woke like a hyper-active rooster. He spent an hour on morning rituals before walking out to meet with the others. "Those who are early to rise get their energy from the moon, while those who do not receive it from the sun. Good morning to you both."

"Moon, Sun, I get mine from coffee." Zoccola seemed about as groggy and as late a starter as Elodie was, for once.  Normally the Goblin was up and about first thing in the morning, usually with her pierced nose already buried in a book.  But she'd been quite busy the day prior even after their shopping trip; she'd occupied her hours with further exploration around town, spent a long while to pick Nalisha's brain, and burned much further than mere midnight oil in arcane scribing.  The dining table was still littered with discarded notes and spare pages of seemingly failed formulas left about the place.

The Hound was, as ever, close at his master's side as he and Zoccola arrived that morning.  For once he didn't bear her on his back though as she made her way to clamber up into a seat and rest her cheek on the tabletop sleepily.  Instead, The Hound had a rather hefty leather belt bedecked with intricate brass carvings, studs, and a stylized emblem of an anvil set at its front clutched in his jaws.  It was akin to the kind of belt one might expect a champion gladiator to sport and its loose bands almost brushed the floor as The Hound toted it along right over to Booth.

"Here, Longshanks.  I got something the other day I think you'll get some mileage out of, so go ahead and hold onto it for the time being.  I want it back eventually, but it'll do you more good right now." Zoccola gestured absently while The Hound presented Booth with the sturdy (and only slightly drool-flecked) belt.

Zoccola lends Booth the "Belt of Dwarvenkind"

While you mingle the morning sun shines in through one of the great room windows. It's briefly eclipsed as a figure walks past the window heading towards the door to the guest manor. A few moments later one of the attendants arrives with a rather tall and lanky dwarf (By dwarf standards anyway). "The Governor is ready to see you now. Please come with me. He invites you for breakfast and conversation."

Jurassic had gone to sleep with thoughts of sneaking up on the giant and slaying him in his sleep. His new boots fit well served to cansel the noise of his armor. They were not boots of speed, but they had their use and he was glad for them. He had been to bed early and up early for spear drills. He fought imaginary enemies just to warm and loosen his muscles. When he returned to learn that they were being asked to attend the mayor, he went to his room to take off his armor and put on his best doublet and kilt. He left all his gear behind save his new boots and shield. Being bound to his spear he could summon the weapon at a moment's notice. He wore his shield on his back, it's eye closed for the moment. He nodded, "I am ready."

Booth looked at the hefty belt he took from the hound.  “Well, what have we here?  This looks like some grand prize from a fighting circuit.  How very appropriate.  Where did you find it?”  He asked the goblin.  In his early days, he had witnessed some back alley street fights.  Some even carried a prize, but this?  This would take such a concept up another level.

He tried it on and modeled it for the others. “What do you think?”

He was then ready to follow the lanky dwarf.

"Hmm. If you can grow a half-decent beard, you just might do that belt some justice. It's a relic to honor my people, so treat it well, and I'm sure it will do the same for you." Tauroak followed the governor's man.

"I needed some special resources and Nalisha helped with hooking me up with the right people.  I made some new friends last night and, among other things, won it in a drinking contest by losing." Zoccola offered a somewhat cryptic answer.  Exactly how that worked and why she had such a self-satisfied grin after the fact was left for Booth to wonder about on his own.  "It's enchanted, so give it an hour or so to sync up with your body and you'll feel like a new man."

Another cryptic remark, but the Goblin figured it would be more fun for Booth to discover the various magical effects the belt would yield him on his own.  Meanwhile, the attendant's arrival was met with a simple nod out of Zoccola as she shifted out of her seat.  The Hound was right there in and instant to serve as a landing spot for her to gingerly ease onto and rest side-saddle atop his back to be carried along as usual.  "Business over breakfast sounds like a great idea to me.  Let's get going."

Elodie finished off her cup and set it to the side, then headed over to follow the messenger.

"Lead the way!" She declared, then leaned over to give Zoccola's hound a loving scratch behind the ears.

Jurassic just nodded, indicating that Booth had a good item.

You are guided back to the building in which you first met the governor. Attendants are moving back and forth and seem quite busy preparing the breakfast. There are others that seem to be occupied by more administrative tasks. It looks very much like a typical day n the house of an  official.

You are lead into a large room with a large circular table on one side and a long rectangular one set against a wall. The first table is cleared off with enough chairs for all of you. The second table is filled with all manor of breakfast items ranging from sweet to savory, baking to prepared meats. It's all there.

"Please help yourselves, we can discuss once you have plates, " the governor says. [Language unknown: "Erun be inectr."] he offers in a typical dwarven welcome.

Tauroak translated the governor's invitation to "eat up, friends" for those who were not familiar.

He filled his own plates, first with fatty meats, then with natural sweets, and only bit of baking. Speaking on an empty stomach was never a good idea when it was business, so he set to the task of eating first, letting everyone fill their plates before he bothered to start any conversations.

For herself, Elodie took only a little savory tart with onions and peppers-a little kick to help her start off the day. With it, she took a little hot water, then squeezed a lemon into it. After swirling it around to mix it up, she took a seat.

"I had heard tales all my life of dwarven hospitality, and I must say you have surely exceeded all accounts." Elodie said warmly.

After a nod of thanks to cover any formality, Booth did his part.  For a human lacking the enormous size or giant muscles, he ate his fair share plus some.  He wasn’t picky either, taking some of everything to sample all the cuisine he could manage in one sitting.

True to her earlier claims, Zoccola seemed a lot more interested in fueling herself with a caffeine jump first and foremost.  She certainly did welcome the hospitality with a preference for savory foods on her plate, but the number one priority she had was filling up a steaming mug of coffee to nurse.

"Indeed, your city's a very promising and welcoming sort of community, Governor.  Miss Relcaran was kind enough to show us around and help with introductions the other day, so we got a rather nice sampling of what you've built here.  You should be proud." Even being low on sleep didn't get in the way of the Goblin playing diplomat by reflex.  "I'm sure we're all eager to hear what you have in mind for how we can help around here."

Gov. Hawkryn smiled at the compliment, "Sometimes one can forget the splendor of their home until another comes to gaze upon it. Yes indeed. It has been generations in the making."

He takes a few bites of his breakfast. "So you have managed to prepare yourselves I hear. I thought it time to discuss the worms and come up with a time frame."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:16, Sat 19 Feb 2022.

"We've certainly made headway, but there's a lot more I'd rather do before tackling something this big.  Though I'm not certain exactly how much time we really have on our side." Zoccola started in with a shake of her head.  "I'd like to scout out the area the Worms have nested into, as well as construct a few enchantments that could help us out.  At least one or two items that could allow for flight so that we can keep our vulnerable members off the ground."

The Goblin took a moment to sip at her coffee and mull on the matter.  Enchantments took time and resources... the latter, she had somewhat available to her.  What she really needed was a workshop where she could safely manage everything.  The process of imbuing objects with magic in a safe and stable manner was too delicate to move them until it was complete.  "The trouble is whether or not these two Purple Worms are a breeding pair, or even just rivals contending with each other over a good nesting spot.  If there's a clutch of eggs to be laid, then delaying too long may give them a chance to hatch, and that's a whole other mess of trouble years down the line."

"What do you want to discuss?  You are going to help us, we want to help you.  I would like to see the area as well.  See what we can learn."  Booth added.

"Indeed! Let's discuss. The time frame is rather urgent I regret to inform you. First there's this," Gov. Hawkryn reached beside him and produced a piece of parchment.



"This is the area affected. It's a bit past mid-point travelling from this direction. It's a Halverstop. A place to meet or rest on the journey between clans."

He points to several rooms around the outside of the map, "These triangular rooms are accommodations."

He takes a few moment to list off the uses of the various rooms.

Far Left - Great room
Middle - Dining hall
Large room far right - warehouse/ market
top room with table - meeting hall

"As for the worms no need to fear they are a mated pair, that just doesn't happen. We also have reports that one has been gravely wounded in a recent encounter between them. I fear this must be resolved quickly before the great passage itself is destroyed by these warring worms vying for territory."

---

Entrance to this map is through the semi-circular part on the western side. that doesn't make sense..entrance is on the eastern side into the warehouse/ market....each square is 20'

also the main passageway is above this map and you descend down a ramp to enter the map.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Sun 20 Feb 2022.

“They are fighting?  Well, that takes some of the challenge out of it.  Makes things easier if we can get them to take each other out.”  Booth commented as he glanced over the map.  Although he had no idea if that would work.  They would have to scout things out and see.

In reply to Booth Braedon (msg # 163):

Elodie clapped her hands in excitement.

"Oh! Then we can't hesitate! If they're already wounded, we should move in soon! Maybe one will be dead, or the other driven off somewhere else to be troublesome...or perhaps one will be stronger than ever! This is the perfect time, when they're divided and weakened!"

Tauroak voiced a question while he looked over the map, "Which parts of this map have they already penetrated? Or gotten close to?"