(055) Wildwood/The Ivory Wold

[doctorx]

Concerning your desire to acquire the greater arms of more ancient times to do battle, I cannot assist--although there may be someone in wildwood who might share such lore..."

"Of whom do you speak, my Lady?"

[ehiker133]

Desmond's ears perk up at this point in the discussion...

[coffee]

"Concerning your desire to acquire the greater arms of more ancient times to do battle, I cannot assist--although there may be someone in wildwood who might share such lore..."

Dieter's ears perk right up at this. He sits up straighter and immediately glances around to see if any of the assembled elves look like the person to whom the lady refers.

[sully]

Gallaine of Wildwood replies thusly:

"Your honesty is appreciated, Master Dorgan--curious that a Dwarf should reveal to Elves what an Elf will not! Alas, I have no lore of the Guore--the deep dwarfs are a matter unto the Dwarf people--and how they may fit into the present machinations eludes us.

Master Ulric, you are wise to harbour concerns for the Sisters Of Mercy; their peril may be great indeed. Any further intelligence you can gain of Ket would be greatly useful to all concerned. Of the Goblin army, we meanwhile have further tidings to share. The Elves have keener eyes than Men, it seems, for my scouts report that these Giants are not Giants at all, but rather great iron-clad automatons that have no need of rest or sustenance. The nature o these creatures was unknown to us, but this gholem laboratory that Master Dorgan reports may be to blame..."

Dorgan pales in horror.

"This is terrible news! The gholem we fought was powered by a Marrowstone, literally the heart of a mountain. If'n the Guore have stolen that many Marrowstones ta power these gholems, then things're even worse than I thought. Have ya any way ta contact the Dwarfs 'round here? They ain't gonna stand for that sort a' treachery from the Guore."

[mushgnome]

Taurnorn/Highbough waits for the perfect lull in the conversation, and then continues his train of thought, as though the 15 minutes since he last spoke was a mere pause to take a breath.

"My brethren and sistren of the Ivory Wold, can you not see the danger in Ket is a threat to us all? If Ket is no longer home to Josiane the Saint, Dieter Ogre Slayer, and Lucky Olaf, then nothing stands between the goblin army and your front door! I am sorry, forgive my rudeness... I am old... long have I wandered in the wilderness, my ears are more used to the rude goblin speech than my own kin... A dusting of ineloquence has settled upon my tongue."

Highbough draws attention to the crudeness of his speech, but it is a bluff: he unleashes the full power of his 14 charisma, and his oratory is well-calculated. His "Highbough 2.0" persona appeals to two archetypes deeply embedded in the Elf psyche: the "old hermit in the wilderness" (a sort of Odin/Gandalf/Obi-Wan mentor figure) and the concept of "righteous goblin slaughter" (a prideful Elfish notion that, in times of goblin horde, the humans/dwarves/hobbits can't get the job done without assistance from the mighty and powerful Elves).

"If you cannot save Ket, then at least save Ulric Firestarter, save The Gustave, save Double Desmond! Save Dorgan the Rock, if not for the respect his people showed us in times of old, then at least for his help in the present against these 'Guore' who are an enigma even unto the Highbough! Give them council, healing, food, weapons, steeds, and safe escort to your borders! Taurnorn the Grey Elf will kill these goblin-scum, as long as strength remains in my sword-arm I swear it... but look at how you found me: penniless, too weak to stand, riddled with worms, clothed in rags, shattered by what I have seen, what I have... I...."

He white-knuckles the table, and suddenly looks very weak and unstable.

"Wen? Wen, are you there??"

[mgtremaine]

Wen would answer from where he is sitting.

"I am here. I'm listening, though my mind was made up when the Goblins killed Rufus, call me rash but that is the way of it." He would pause and then stand up and switch to Serayenon.

"Gallaine I understand that foremost in your mind is the protection of the IvoryWold. The fate of Ket might be the fault of the shortsightedness of man, but you know how often they failed to see the long road. For us there is only the Long Road. Your responsibility is for safety the Elves, but if you and I were in opposite positions and you came here seeking shelter and aid think then what you would ask. I knew bringing the company here was a risk, not because the Watchtower would reject them, no it is risk that you and the Elves will have to make a choice that your are loath to make."


Wen would then switch to Old Elvish
"But think of this, here before you is a strong company, some would say the strongest that has has wandered the Wildwold in many years. All they really require is some material aid and some direction. They are the perfect tool to stop the goblins and free Ket the cost to the Elves is very small, use the tool now least the cost goes up when the Goblins come to the IvoryWold."

Back to Illiberal "For me I go to fight the Goblins where ever they are."

[doctorx]

Josiane looks on in pained concern as she sees the horror dawn on Dorgan's face. Her sole concern is for her friend until she hears Highbough (or is it Taurnorn now?) say something odd...

"If Ket is no longer home to Josiane the Saint..."

"Josiane the what..?"

But on seeing the old Elf stagger she is on her feet and at his side, offering her arm for him to lean on.

"Lord Highbough, please. You have been through much. Do not over-exert yourself, I pray."

[Tonneau]

Seeing things begin to slip away into disorder, Gustave stands to speak, his still-unwashed locks nonetheless resplendent even in the company of so many so fair.

"Well..." he begins, for dramatic effect (or perhaps because he has yet to think of what he wants to say).

"Well...", he continues, "this talk of Ket and greenskins is all very interesting, and the long view and the short view and the 'insignificance' of men", the last with a pained look at the now swooning Highbough.

"But I myself am...something of a man of action, if I may, and thus I propose to act. Where? do you ask? Where, indeed!", he pauses to survey those present, brow raised; poised.

"I propose we strike at the scum while they hold Ket by the throat. If perchance - My Lady", he adds, with a deft bow toward Gallaine, "...the elves have some council regarding the location of the source of these greenskins, our party - perhaps aided by any here willing - could mount a raid to hit them in the rear, in their unguarded homes. A first step toward raising the siege of Ket, this will also wrestle the initiative back from the enemy and may provide invaluable intelligence."

He smiles beatifically, "Any takers?"

[waysoftheearth]

| ref rolls a reaction check for the Elves, adjusted by +1 for Highbough/Gustave charisma and general friendly terms
2d6+1=10, a positive reaction. |

The to and fro of rhyme and reason continues for until well after sunset, but at length Gallaine surmises:

"You bring a compelling case to this council, and I deem it wise that we should further supplicate your endeavour.

Therefore The Wold will see that you are amply equipped and supplied ere you depart.

We have intelligence of a limited sort regarding the Goblin complex throughout the yonder hinterlands, including the whereabouts of several caves and fortifications that are in regular use by the Goblin-kind. This knowledge we will share with you, and further--should you wish it--we shall call unto us winged mounts to carry you swiftly to the nape of your next goal, be it Ket or the Hinterlands, though we cannot risk them to approach any closer than a league.

Else should you, boldly or foolishly, seek more ancient arms then I will bring you to the woodland spirits. From these venerable entities you may--if your hearts are true--learn something of the lore of elder days when the elves were yet young and the craft of sorcery was at its brightest and fiercest. Much is known to them that has been forgotten even by Elves, but be warned--they are fey and dangerous--even to the elves. We know not their motives, and none can say how they might respond.


What course will you so choose?"

[waysoftheearth]

| Gallaine's quarter master will supply any of you with any of the following:

Basic clothing (including boots, Master Dorgan),
Leather armour (several of you have lost your armour, or desire to trade-in),
Helmets, Shields,
Shortbows, quivers of arrows, spears,
Waybread (half weight rations),
Waterskins.

(All equipment is green and white, with the distinct "Look of the Wold" about it).

Gallaine's cartographer will show you a working map of the Hinterlands.

Gallaine's beastmaster will arrange a one-way ride on the wing to your next destination (within a day's flying of the Wold).

Gallaine herself will introduce you to the woodland spirits, if you so wish it. |