The old dwarf walked up and pressed a key into Thamkis' hand and said, "Go through the kitchen and down to the cellar, it's out home. There is plenty of space for you and the girl. I have sent someone to fetch the watch sergeant."

People began settling back into their seats, several clapped Brengalyn on the back and actually complimented her. Many of the revelers had taken to drinking and gambling now that the action was over. The Orc swung into a new ballad, something about pretty little elf maidens in the arms big strong orcs.

The trip to the dwarf apartment in the cellar was short. The door resembled that of a vault. Inside they were all surprised to see that the large central chamber had a large fireplace with a chimney that obviously connected to the one in the kitchen. Seven rooms led off of the main chamber.

The walls were decorated with suits of armor, weapons, tools, paintings of various battles, family members, and mines, and a collection of musical instruments. It was most impressive and gave the feel of several generations worth of accumulation.

Penny ignored what the others were saying, she was panicking "Oh gods no! There's blood!" she held back the bile in her throat as she helped the old crone with the elf maiden "How do we say her?"

Barg scooted off and returned with a ladle, a tinderbox and a clay jar much as the old halfling described.

"Barg has come back! Forgot what he was getting but remembered eventually!"

Thamkis directed Brengalyn to place the elf woman down where she could work on her and walked over leaning on her cane to take the clay jar and set it by the woman's head.

"You can hold on to the other things for now but I'll need them back. I shudder to think what other things you'd lift if I sent you to my wagon again."

Pulling the lid off the jar Thamkis reached in, pulling forth a writhing green-black leech and placing it close to the site of the arrow wound. Another, and a third followed as she closed the jar again

"That should draw the poisoned blood, in time for her to recover."

OOC: heal check failed in fact, so no bonus to her fortitude save against poison

Thamkis did her best, but she felt somehow her efforts fell a little short of the mark. Now, time was their burden, and their cure. The elf maiden slept, very soundly in fact. Serving girls came into the apartment as the group gathered around the elf settled in for the night.

Food, hot and fresh, was laid out on a long trestle table. Flagons of ale and steaming pots of tea arrived also. Bread, hot and coated with melted butter and cinnamon, was laid out next to plates of fire-roasted beef and venison. No mention was made of expense or debt. No one asked if they needed anything.

EVERYTHING was provided; cots, blankets, cards, dice, chairs, wash basins, soap; everything. The cabinets of books, instruments, and works of art were unlocked for them to peruse at their leisure.

After a time, servants came down to clean away dirty crockery and place cups of chilled fruits, steamy pies, and jugs of cool water on the table. No one spoke, but was always open to being spoken to.

Once everything had been laid out, and everyone had a moment to relax and eat, the old dwarf came down with his wife.

"My real name is Uric Isgood Grimcleaver, of clan Hakkar." He stepped down into the apartment as he spoke, even helping his wife as he did so. "This is Marta Hjelga Grimcleaver, my wife, originally of the Orno Clan. I was a warrior of some merit in my time. My wife was a priestess of our god of valor, Halgar Stonefist."

The entered the room. Shaky with their advanced years, but as regal as any royalty and approached the elf as she slept.

"Her color is much better." Said Hjelga. "But, I fear for the child she carries. I have sent a runner for the captain of the King's guard and another to the temple of Amolette, an Elf deity that celebrates health, fertility, and children. They should both be arriving sometime in the morning."

In reply to GM (msg # 36):

Brengalyn set herself by the bread and beef and venison after procuring a flagon of ale. Not a bad pay for hefting a pregnant woman, though the provision was like as not not intended for her

"And what of a return of fire? Are the goblins going to be dealt with for this attack? Is there an injured party who could use a strong sword arm?"

She flexed the arm which wasn't currently holding her flagon, then set to work piling a plate with meat and bread

"If you could point me to the person needing my services I'd be more than happy to oblige . . ."

Thamkis left her work once done to get some food down her neck, pouring several subsequent cups of tea. She touched Penny lightly on the arm

"Can I get you anything dear?"

Sitting near the patient the old halfling busied herself with filling up on food and tea. When the old dwarf and his wife came down she smiled and rose from her seat and addressed them in dwarven before switching to common.

<"Many thanks for the room and food. Halgar's stern gaze is not lost in these lands, and his hospitality is appreciated.">

"I fear for her child as well. Birthing is difficult, and long for the elfkind, and this poison will not make it easier, let alone the carrying."

She looked back at Brengalyn when she spoke

"I'd warrant this elf is an 'injured party' though likely not the kind you'd be able to get much money from. Though perhaps she has a rich parent, or the child's father will patronize your sword . . . "

She sneered contemptuously

Barg was unaware of any brewing conflict, as after delivering the clay pot he set about eating pies and meats and breads and all manner of things. He guzzled water but avoided ale (awful stuff, like weak thudrud!)

Finally, he collapsed in a heap within ten minutes, sated and happy and smiling so wide his cheeks hurt

Penny smiled weakly at the elderly woman "No thank you, I'm able to see in front of me just not at a distance" she had helped the healer woman, doing what she could during the time they'd been down there. "I'm not very used to blood, apologies for my reactions earlier." the young, usually cheerful girl was quite shaken, this experience had certainly sobered her up.

She took a deep breath, "Mayhaps I can reach to my family for some funding to help the elf maiden? I don't know if it will be of use but it is worth a try." she made an attempt to graze on a slice of meat pie.
"You are very kind to help this stranger Uric and Halgar. Desna bless you."

Marta stepped over towards Penney, a smile on her old face. She brought her hands up in the sign of her God and uttered a blessing under her breath.

"That is kind of you." She told Penny. "But it isn't necessary. We know who she is. We don't know her so much as we know her husband. She is Eucloria, locally known as Goldie for her skin's peculiar coloring. Her husband is Captain Arno Trand. He leads a free company in the employ of the King just south of Kardican."

Uric stepped over to the table to place some roast venison and tomatoes onto a small plate. He seemed particularly dour.

"In the morning someone should go down south and inform her husband of her predicament." Uric said. "I imagine this is just a prelude to whatever troubles are to come. Could a chance for you to make the money you seek, sellsword."

In reply to GM (msg # 42):

"May be just the chance, mercenary to mercenary we might just understand each other. I'll leave with the dawn . . . but for now I think I'll enjoy some comforts before I set back on the road."

Brengalyn sat down on a cot, lazily half-sitting up to sip from a flagon of ale while the others worked or did what they did

"I'd travel with you, if that won't annoy you too much."

Thamkis didn't much like the prospect of going with Brengalyn, but following after for no reason at all when the two could go together seemed foolish

"Once she's settled and safe it would do well to see this father to be and tell him myself what occurred."

Barg did not weigh in at all and simply rolled over and stood to go get more food and drink

Penny nodded, the color coming back to the gnome "I will come too! If you'll have me! Mister goblin, you should come to! If goblins hurt her we may need an expert."

A sharp bark of laughter escaped the old dwarf. He seemed to be genuinely amused, his belly shook with the efforts of his mirth. His hand fell to his hip as if to ensure his balance did not betray him.

"My dear, that was the funniest thing I have heard in ages." He snorted and chuckled, then regained some of his composure. "To think of a Goblin as an expert on anything other than eating, stealing, or treasure; especially his own kind, now that is indeed an amusing thought. No pun intended master Goblin, but you know yourself well enough to know the merit of my words. Experts at surviving, even more so than a cockroach. Now, that is what they are masters of."

He tossed a bag from a small pocket within his tunic. It hit the table with the tinkle of coins. He nodded at it as he turned to walk towards the door to one of the side chambers.

"Some silver for the road, take the Old Trade Road south out of Kardican until you come to small village with a lumber mill, Yunnif, and then head off into the hills to the southeast for about a day to get to the Little Snake." He neared the door and stopped without looking back. "You'll find him there in an encampment. Have a care they make war on bandits and monsters."

He opened the door and stepped through leaving it open for his wife to follow in her own time.

Brengalyn slept contentedly, waking early to arrange things with her horse. Trying her best to creep out and saddle her mount, she dressed in her armour in the stables, strapped her weapons to her belt and slung herself into the saddle with practiced grace. She'd considered snatching the coin purse, but thought better of it when she shifted it and it jangled for a moment.

The open road, and no fools to slow her down. She'd make good time, clear a goblin nest, and these fools would likely still be eating breakfast by the time she'd reached her destination.

"Tall woman leaving early?"

Barg was relieving himself in one of the horse stalls, coming around the corner and smiling as he straightened his small amount of clothing and snapped his poncho closed.

"I will wake the others! Good plan, attack elven camp early, surprise them with your mercenary contract attack."

Like the risen dead, Thamkis sat up at Barg waking her and Penny, creaking bones and groans as she shambled upstairs. She was dressed in the same clothes she'd born previously, and went about loading the wagon

"Had a bet going with Graham. He owes me two coppers. I look forward to seeing how he goes about repaying . . . "

She gave Brengalyn "the eye" and produced a small crab apple for each of her mules.

She woke up mumbling about her splitting head. Getting out of bed she ran her fingers through her mess of blond hair and grabbing her gear, stumbled outside. Tripping up the stairs, dam pixies tied her shoelaces again, she cursed to herself.

"I thought we'd all had agreed to take a later starting time?"
She asked dunking her head into an open water barrel and lightly smacking her face.

"Alright, alright I'm up!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Tue 23 June 2020.

A stable boy was sitting atop a thick post, steaming cup of tea in one hand and a crust of fresh black bread in the other, and staring with a combination amusement and bewilderment on his young face.

The sight of Brengalyn getting prepared in her armor and weapons set the boy's mind spinning with tales of battle and glory, but Barg relieving himself as he spoke with noisome arrogance made the boy wince. At the sight of Thamkis arriving, and seemingly talking about a bet with a mule, set a smile on the boy's face again until she gave the other two what his uncle called the stink eye. Fear drove him to take a sip of tea and a bite of bread. Penny's antics almost made the boy laugh aloud.

The scent of the apples drew the mules attention away from the boy's fresh bread. Something not lost on the old hag as she soon spotted the youngster perched upon the post with his breakfast. Once he realized the old one had her eye on him he dropped his smile and immediately began tearing into his bread with young white teeth.

"Don't mind young Errol, it's time for breakfast for us." Hazrad the stable keeper said. He was walking in from the street carrying a cup of tea as well. "We groom early, before breakfast, make sure we don't have to forgo breakfast early risers need a fresh mount."

"I appreciate the work you've done on our account then."

Thamkis produced a three silvers, two for the master and one for the boy. They were worn, a little grimy, but silver underneath all the same, stamped with bees. She smiled her wrinkled smile and cast Errol a knowing wink

She inspected her mules and whispered to her haversack, still shaking about on its own with a soft groaning.

"You've taken good care of them. I shall make sure to double back, bring a small blessing for your family."

She worked to pack her leeches away again and set right the mess Barg had made, whistling for the goblin to climb aboard soon after.

"Ready to go Penny? I imagine our mercenary friend was intending to be off before we could slow her down . . . "
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Wed 24 June 2020.

"Well I'm sure 'Graham' and I've never been formally introduced, but very well grandmother, have your laugh at my expense."

Brengalyn had been too embarassed by being caught at her escape by Barg to make a run for it, and had waited for the others, an honestly mercifully brief amount of time. Perhaps they were travel-worthy after all . . . and conversation was a rare treat.

She considered Velvet, her horse and then looked to Thamkis

"Perhaps I might stow Velvet's barding in your wagon? If you're coming along, I'll need to slow my pace. And I can't imagine being in barding for longer would be too nice for Velvet."

"Is good day to travel, sun is hiding and light is low, perfect raiding weather still. Like a second Oxpiss after the first!"

Barg settled himself in the wagon and pulled out his toad, holding it cupped in his hands so it could see out of the wagon

"Thank you, Miss, I will see to your mules." He said as put the coins away. "I have some lenient oil to rub into their shoulders. It will help with chaffing in the rain."

He turned and walked off briskly to retrieve the oil. The boy, smiling broadly, worked at devouring his breakfast. He seemed oddly content on his morning perch.

(OOC: Going to post the next thread, no one is required to post further here unless you guys have a little RP to work out.)