(055) Wildwood/The Ivory Wold

[Eris]

"All very good ideas!" Olaf nods, "Our mission isn't over until we can report back to the Sisters and return their artifacts, but until we do, we might as well make use of them. Especially, if the use aids in their cause."

"Our mission isn't over until we return the artifacts to the sisters and they make you whole again," Dieter says to his comrade. "Remember that. If it were merely a matter of returning their trinkets, I wouldn't be concerned about time."

"It's not like I can every forget that." Olaf says with a sigh, "Dieter, I feel it with every breath, with every step. I just feel so...I don't know...weary all the time. It's like I am constantly getting too little sleep no matter how long it is a really slumber."

[waysoftheearth]

The following day Ulric spends most of the day studying and experimenting with the Queerious Orb for any indication as to how its power might be invoked...d6=4 but alas he is largely frustrated; for now. What instruction he is able to find is cyphered most cunningly...

An visit to the quartmaster's store gains him a stout, comfortable staff (3 sp), and he learns that the Elves are well provisioned; their way bread is half the bulk of regular iron-rations, but the same cost (14sp per week), and a good deal more interesting on the palate.

The great book appears, on closer examination, to contain a lot of repeated material--mostly religious pretext, with occasional passages of more fanciful or boring stuff. Some sections are wholly repeated in several different hands... strange that anyone would go to the effort?

Josiane retreats to a day of contemplation and meditation upon what is to be done with the artifacts with Hoot looking over her shoulder... at one point later during the day, Torben ambles into her presence to watch for a while; clearly thinking of something. But Hoot's unyielding stare is eventually enough to drive him away with his thoughts left unspoken.

Armando finds his way back to the quartermaster's and finds the charming old Elf isn't above taking coin from foreigners and therefore requisitions for himself a grey-green Elvish travelling cloak with hood, and a silver dagger (costing 3gp and 2gp, respectively--that's 30sp). The craftsmanship is as fine as anything he's ever possessed.

Everybody else is enjoying a day of reparation and hospitality among the (relatively) friendly elves; levelling up!

They observe that the Elves maintain a strict, military-like watch--sending small bands hither and tither throughout the forest several times during the day, with like numbers returning. It's difficult, in fact, to know exactly how many elves there may be here, for who can tell how many are out on patrol in the larger vicinity?

[waysoftheearth]

Come evening time Gallaine of Wildwood calls you to her hall once more. Another modest but satisfying meal is served along with wine and accompanied by singing and poetry, all after the elvish fashion. When the eating is done and the sun set, Gallaine's council is convened:

Gallaine and half a dozen of her lieutenants are present, as are yourselves. She first appraises you of her latest intelligence on the Ket situation;

"Good guests," she begins airily, lifting a glass of wine in your general direction, "I trust you are rested and revived and that you find our humble fastness adequate. Alas that we are not a Capitol of the Wold with exquisite vineyards, waterfalls, gardens, nor hunting. We are a mere rural watch tower--but as fate has it we are well placed to observe as the dark plans of the Goblin King are unfurled before us." She continues in this manner for quite some time, pontificating merrily about the good fortune or foresight of her placement here, at this otherwise quite undesirable post.

Eventually she gets to the more valuable news:

"Since your arrival yesterday, I have sent swift runners to observe the farther eave of our woodland border, and birds have gone aloft to spy whatever might be occurring upon the Southchase. Now we have word back from within a mile of Ket, and it seems to our eyes that the town is held by a modest sized army of hobgoblins--some hundreds--which must have issued from the Hinterlands yonder."

"Although it is not directly our interest, we are given to wondering what such a force could be doing there..? The fields about are razed, but the town is not (yet), and the army is largely encamped upon the field. There seems to have been minimal fighting--which may be a blessing, or perhaps a well disguised ill? There are many questions tonight... perhaps you can enlighten us with here with your own judgement concerning these developments?"

[mushgnome]

All assembled fall to a hush as the Grey Elf speaks the ancient greetings of the High Elf language in his sibilant whisper:

"Gallaine of Wildwood, I am the hermit Taurnorn, so named for the tall pine tree that grows in the high, lonely places of the world. Men call me the Highbough, the goblin-scum have dubbed me Morgulug a'Hezmog, and even their wargs fear my name: generations have been whelped on bloody tales of the Old Cat. My traveling companion is young Lleuad-Wen the Pale, lover of starlight. These assembled insignificants are the best representatives of their kind I was able to find on short notice. They have come all the way from Ket to seek the council of the Wood Elves and plead for your help to win back their city. I am sure each of them will want to present proper introduction to the Council to begin these proceedings. Beware! The Grey Elf brings no gift of song, magic, nor beauty to honor our hostess the Lady of the Wood; only tidings of bloodshed, starvation, and war!"

[Tonneau]

Gustave , voiced in the tongue of Elves, raises a brow at this new, imperious Highbough, but is otherwise nonchalant during his tirade until the mention of "These assembled insignificants", at which he is forced to heartily clear his throat.

[Olroda]

Beringar, clean but unkempt, is reluctant to speak. Instead, he gazes adoringly at Gallaine.

[sully]

Dorgan, oblivious to Highbough's insults, will explain how the Snorks had ingratiated themselves with the city's Traders Concourse by bribery and other methods of subterfuge. They had been accepted within the city despite their "security patrols" reaping a heavy tax on caravans outside the city.

It seems obvious to this dwarf that the Snorks opened the city gates to the goblin army from within and completed their coup d'etat easily. For what nefarious purposes they took the city, however, Dorgan has no idea.

He will mention the existence of the golem building facility beneath their rented mansion and the presence of the sleeping Guore, in case it makes more sense to elves than he.

He will also mention, now that his memory is warming up, the undead they encountered in Grumolg's warehouse, when Dorgan first made Josiane's acquaintance.

And since he's on the subject of the undead, he'll talk about the dug-up corpses that he and Josiane found evidence of, and the unsleeping dead that took a slice of Olaf's life-force.

[mgtremaine]

Wen listen as the older members of company begin to debate what is to be done. At some point he would chime in with his limited knowledge.

"If I may, I think perhaps my heroic comrades may have more knowledge then they might think. We greatly appreciate the councils willingness to help us sort through these thoughts and hopefully you will be able to lend your wisdom to our own so that we can all reach a positive outcome." Wen would pause.

"Lord Ulric is already trying to use magical means to scry upon Ket, hopefully they will give us more detailed insight to the situation. Other factors that you should be aware of. He meant Sir Boris upon the field outside of Ket when we journey to the Fallen Abbey. Several had suggested we find him and make an ally of him. Perhaps you have heard of his whereabouts? "

"Concerning the Abbey if you did not know it before, it has been overrun my foul priests and werewolves. Furthermore we were betrayed by a Dwarf there named Garven, he stole our supplies and I suspect had something to do with the death of the Warrior Envongr." Wen give the Elves a detailed description of Garven so they are forewarned of his treachery.

"Lastly we know there are tunnels leading into Ket, our friend Rufus told us as much before he died. He himself escaped Ket via some tunnel system. Alas his knowledge was taken to the grave. It seems if we could find out the route we could use that. As I understand it the Manse they rent is a place of some power." having said all he has knowledge of Wen goes back to listening.....

[mushgnome]

Dorgan, oblivious to Highbough's insults... will mention the existence of the golem building facility beneath their rented mansion and the presence of the sleeping Guore, in case it makes more sense to elves than he.

Highbough scowls as the blabber-mouth dwarf (likes vegetables? name starts with 'D'?) casually spills the party's darkest secrets. He has already begun to think of the golem factory as the future site of his own private laboratory (and the Guore as his test subject), but doesn't want to share it with the Wood Elves. (Or worse, the tree huggers might brand such science as "unnatural" and seek to destroy it!)

But the secret facility won't be much good to them without this, he thinks, running his finger along the spine of the golem-builder's journal he has carried hidden on his person ever since that fateful day in the cellar. Uh oh, getting senile---did I think that out loud?!?

Highbough/Taurnorn has a lot more to say, but he'll need a minute to collect his thoughts. He listens gratefully as each party member is introduced to the Council, for to tell the truth, he himself has forgotten most of their names by now. If he is trying to rehabilitate his public image, then it can't hurt to act a little nicer toward them, he supposes. He carefully studies the face of each Wood Elf present; do they present a united front in support of Gallaine, or is there one at the table who stands out as a black sheep or hothead young rival to the status quo?

[Eris]

Olaf lets the others do the talking. They are doing a good job, he thinks, so there is little for him to add.