Subject: Part 1: Ningjorns rest 2,396 views

[Black_Hawk]

"Then it is settled? This group shall embark with this young dwarf," he gestures at the young hair-crafter, "Through the mountains to sylvan lands." Rashid looks from person to person, an appraising look in his eyes, "I am sure we shall be of sufficient mettle to guide this Dwarf through the mountains."

"Should we find this Isgur and acquire a map of the area, when is the earliest we could depart? Should this snow be as bad as you and your folk seem to be saying it will be it would be wise to get moving in a hasty fashion."

[Weasel]

.oO(Yeah, yeah... 300. Knew I was right.)

When the barmaid reappears with a steaming plate balanced on each arm and both hands clutching large mugs of ale, Bnor smiles broadly. After his portion is presented to him he hangs over his plate and smells deeply.

The plates are filled by a large helping of roast venison, lightly covered with some sort of brown gravy, and surrounded by small steamed potatoes. The smell is enough to make any living creatures mouth water.

He looks over to Zvordjien and smiles again.

"Be thankful in all things, and especially that which fills your belly."

He looks back to his food and begins to eat. In between bites he takes a large gulp of his golden ale, and every so often he looks up and checks to see if anyone has left his immediate presence. Regardless if anyone has or not, his focus quickly focused on his meal again. At some point during the feeding, he requests a piece of hardbread, and uses this to sop up any remaining grease and/or gravy.

When the dwarf is satisfied nothing edible remains on his plate, he pushes it away, leans back, and belches audibly! And then does so again. Taking another long pull of his ale, and swishing it around in his mouth for a moment (to catch any stray bits that may be stuck in his teeth) he sets the now empty mug down next to his plate.

.oO(Mother have mercy...)

He looks almost suprised when he turns back around and sees everyone is still there.

"Well unless one of ya is about to get into the fray and get yer arse tossed across the room we'd best be on our way." he says finding his feet. "B'sides, we can always come back! Night's young... and I could stand to let me food digest..."

[Shiv]

The group soon finds themselves standing in the street outside the inn, having said their farewells to the odd pair inside and agreed on a meeting place for the next morning. Snow is still falling lightly from the dark skies above, and a smell of roasted meat wafts over you as you step out the door. Nearby, further down the street, several dozen dwarves have made a giant bonnfire and are busily roasting large spitted steaks near the flames, the smells from the heavily spiced meat reminding anyone who has yet to eat of how hungry they are. From all around you come the sounds fo singing, cursing, screaming and laughter, intermingling and creating a strange melody that drifts through the late evening settlement.

You pick your way through the snowfall and the occasional group of inhabitants down the street, finally locating a small stone building, wedged in between two larger constructs. There is no official sign, though Bnor manages to spot the dwarven runes for "maps" carved -or rather chiseled- into the door as the group passes. The building itself is an unimposing block of grey stone, the usual heavy wooden door forgone in favour of a solid stone slab that needs to be slid to the side to enter. Next to the carved arch where the door sits is a small cord, a simple rope, that probably connects is some form of doorbell on the inside.

SPOILER: Click to show

Somehow work into the following posts when you agreed to set out the next day. Zvordijen can be pushed as far as midday (considering the festivites) but he's quite adamant that you leave the next day, since the weather might not stay stable much longer. He has also given the advance (750g) to Rashid.

[coyotelaughs]

As soon as we exit the tavern Nu relaxes visibly almost sighing aloud. (Sylvan)"I thought we would never leave that cage. I swear aia I do not understand the need to build these cramped cages." As the party moves towards the shop Bnor indicates, Nu falls back and takes up rear guard setting Lanna to the sky to watch from above. (Common)" Sun up....Bael and me be ready go.....will be at North.......trail in wait.." Nu watches all angles but always has one eye on his aia, his bow is in his right hand, which hangs loosely at his side. (Common)"Will wait here......you get map."

As the party enters the shop Nu takes up guard outside door standing calmly by the building door looking to be half asleep in his calmness. There is no movement from Nu to indicate he has noticed the party has moved to enter.

When the party exits the shop Nu is still standing in the same position as though a statue of superior quality. Lanna can be seen perched upon the peak of the nearest building facing Nu, but appearing to be sleeping again. (Sylvan)"Bael, are we ready to return to our camp?"

[Black_Hawk]

As the group says their farewells, Rashid bows to the man in parting as the others are leaving the inn. "I will see that the others get their share of the advance before we depart tomorrow, ser. I imagine we shall leave tomorrow before mid-day, and shall visit this Isgur tonight."

Rashids boots crunch through the snow as he walks from the inn behind the others, the advance stowed safely in his pack. As the party stops in front of the door and the male sylvan takes guard at the door, he examines it and pauses before speaking. "I have been given the advance portion of the payment for this venture, and will have it portioned up and ready at our departure tomorrow. I would give it earlier, but this is not the time nor the place to tally up the coin and it would be best to give your portions when we gather to depart, to make sure all are there." He looks the door up and down and at the rope, after Bnor informs them that this is the place. "A very sturdy door, but methinks we should ring before entering." He reaches over and gives the cord a firm tug.

[rainbowpalmcakes]

Bael sighs in relief to be out of the tavern and on their way to doing 'step one'.
She keeps silent only nodding to agree with Nu. She was clear about the agreement of pay and what they had to do.
Sinking her bare feet into the snow as they made their way to Isgur's her vision shifts to Lanna who has flown skyward to guard from a distance. A small smile grows from her lips.
She nods yet again at Nu as he stood still guarding outside.

[Weasel]

After paying his fare, Bnor exits with the others. The cold air is refreshing on his skin, and he lets it be known with a broad smile and outstretched arms.

"Air don't get no fresher than that." he says as the begin their walk. He mutters dwarven greetings, and gives a smile or a nod as they pass by the locals, and even takes an offered drink of one's tankard.

Once in front of the door, Bnor translates the 'word' and watches as Rashid pulls the rope. He waits patiently for a response.

[Shiv]

The rope offers some resistance, a heavy grating senseation runnig up Rashids arm as he tugs the cord. Almost two dozen seconds pass and the Qua'hib is about to give the rope a second tug when suddenly -with a deep rumbling- the stone slab of a door slides left, revealing a circular opening into the house.

In the bullseye of the door, golden light streaming out around him, stands the most ancient dwarf you've ever laid eyes on. His skin is pale, having lost it's golden luster, and the hair running down the sides of head shares his ghostly complexion. His beard has little thickness, but great wispy lenght, and squarely on his large nose sits a pair of spectacles, thick glass surrounded by a wireframe. He wears a pair of metallic armguards, ornamented plates of metal depicting snakes intertwining into dwarven runes, a style -and indeed practice- that has fallen into disuse almost a century ago. He gazes at Rashid for a second, his eyes then quickly scanning the group behind the human.

SPOILER: Click to show

<Dwarven> "Yes? Fires of creation shine within you on this day", he greets the group, looking past Rashid and at Bnor. "You don't seem to be a normal band of revelers out tonight. Out on a quest? Yrm leading you by the nose?", he intones with a chukle. Even his voice is old, dusty, brittle like the unrolling of ancient parchment.

Bael and Nu

SPOILER: Click to show

As much as your natural elven hardiness is an asset, your feet are most deffinately begging for mercy by the time you have made your way across town. If you are indeed going deeper into the mountains like Zvordjien said. Warmer clothing will probably be needed.

[Black_Hawk]

Rashid bows to the, seemingly ancient, Dwarven man. "Good evening ser, and may your gods bless you this night." Rashid straightens. "Pardon, for I do not speak your tongue. We were told by a Zvordijen that we could acquire a map of the mountains to the sylvan lands from you. It is at his recommendation we have come."

[Shiv]

Isgur raises an eyebrow at Rashid, his eyes searching the human from behind their glass walls.

<Dwarven> "Tell your human companion here that I haven't spoken common on over eighty years. He did say something about maps, so I'm guessing that's what you are looking for." The dwarf pauses, "Most who come by do come for the maps...", he mutters thoughtfully.

As Bnor cordially translanslates this to the rest of the group. Isgur turns on his heel, gesturing for the motley crue standing outside his door to follow, a gesture that you all happily oblige.

Bowing down and slipping in thorugh the circular door, you find yourselves in what seems to be a room that is one third study, one third shop and one third one-man fort. Several stone slabs and benches serve both as working areas and to funnel anyone entering along the centre of the room. You see several dwarven weapons leaning agains these low walls, giving off the impression that the old dwarf is expecting an orcish invasion at any given moment. The windows are small and slitted, barely letting in any light, but the room is kept bright by an enormous stone fireplace at the back of the room, an ornamented behemoth sporting flames rivaling the bonnfire in the town square. The flood of dancing light emanating from it illuminates the stacks of books, parchments, leather-scraps and tools spread across most of the open spaces in the room. Small towers of books stand, tipping precariously, next to brittle old parchments, who in turn rest on top of feather quills, knives, inkpots and all manner of clutter. It's amazing that the old dwarf has kept any of this from catching fire, seeing as there seems to be no way of keeping the sparks jumping out of the fireplace away from the papers.

"So, what kind of maps are you looking for?", Isgur intones in dwarven over his shoulder as he walks back into the room. He has a strange gait, half-limp half-waddle, though it's cause is not apparent. "I can sell you original maps for a hundred gold, or make you a nice copy for less. Though the price will depend on what you need and how fast you need it", he finishes as he reaches a workbench currently cleared to hold a large flagon of mead and a plate full of dried meat.

[Racer Xonclar]

Itrav's chosen to stay quiet through all this. Having grabbed his winter clothes as they left the tavern, he stood watching the sylvan elves' "pets" fly about, the fur coat closed all the way up to his neck and the fur hat holding his black locks behind his pointed ears.

He's visibly more relaxed now, but no less observant, watching the bonfire in the distance along with this motley crew he is walking with. A hand was put over his pipe to snuff it before slipping it back into his pouch. "That is acceptable," he plainly said in response to Rashid's talk of splitting up the advance, his hands stuffed into the deep vertical pockets of the fur coat.

Once inside the dwarf's home, Itrav simply stands to the side, head likely ducked a bit to avoid the ceiling. He watches the dwarf as he speaks, his black eyes jumping between the translator, Rashid, and him. "An overnight map, this will not be cheap. Perhaps I should try to argue this...lest we spend half of our advance on nothing more than the map."

"We were looking for a map to Valan's Haven in the north, hopefully of a path not 'crawling with orcs'. And we do need it with some amount of haste, since we were to depart in the morning before further snows can fall." His eyes never leave the dwarf, practically staring at him as he makes sure the old and stubborn fellow doesn't try to reach for any of the numerous weapons laying about.

[Black_Hawk]

Rashid notices the intensity with which the sunless one is staring at the old dwarf, and observes as Bnor translates for the group. He nods as Itrav finishes, "That will do well enough. We would like the map before noon tomorrow if it is at all possible. A copy will do well enough for our purposes." This sunless one is much strung up methinks, it does not seem to matter where he is he must always feel in control of the situation. One hopes this Isgur does not take offense to the manner in which he is looking.

[Weasel]

Bnor begins to speak, but stops short to listen to Istrav. He waits for him to finish, and gives the sunless elf a nod and a grin.

"We're lookin' for the most direct route to Valan's Haven. One that'll avoid the trade route for the most part."

Bnor rests his arm on a pile of books until he feels how easily it sways. He quickly steadies the stack before turning his attention away.

"What'll you charge us for 'as soon's possible'?"

[coyotelaughs]

I watch as Lanna flies around the village looking for any sign of trouble from the surrounding area. (Common) "Will stay out. No want...to enter.....that cage. Will watch Lanna." As the door grates open I stay to side of door and hear Rashid speak to whomever opened door, their raspy gutteral speak means nothing to me so I wait patiently.

After Bnor and the raspy voice speak and everyone enters the cage I relax and feel mentally how Lanna reacts to her surroundings as she flies around village. Soon she returns and lands on the peak of the building across way from me. I wait patiently for the group to return from their visit inside.

[rainbowpalmcakes]

(Sylvan)"Aias, I will go in to see Isgur then we will go to camp" Bael watches as the ancient looking Dwarf opens the door and speaks to Bnor then follows the rest of the party inside. Due to her height, she does not have to duck to enter, but as soon as she passes through the door, she feels the great pressure of the heavy stone of the space and stays near the door to escape.

Stressed from the ccramped living space, Bael stays only in earshot to hear what Bnor will tell them as it seems the ancient one does not speak anything but Dwarven. She looks back at the door frequently and wishes she was with her aias in the comfortable outdoors. As Itrav speaks and stares at the ancient Dwarf, Bael gets the feeling that he has no care for anyone and wonders that he would bother to join this group on such a quest.