Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Five

[JMaytr]

"If I could sense van Dieks I would be out there, making sure the bastard is truly dead and destroyed for what he has done to me."

Jonathan takes a look around at the girls he had been dancing with at the moot.

"As far as these girls go, they are all fair. I am just a boy Norzak, I'm not sure who that beast would target next for his monstrosity. they all just look like girls to me."

Jonathan's eyes fall to Nissa. He points her out to Norzak.

"Dorgio has spent some time lusting after that one. Maybe we should guard her. Your shadow could keep tabs on her without her knowledge right?"

Jonathan shivers as the growing mist brings on a chill.

"I don't like the looks of that fog either. I don't trust the gypsies as far as Cirdan could throw one, but look! Even they leave this place now. maybe we should also go into the mists. Perhaps that way we can find our way home, or even to an actual town. Did they tell you anything? About Van Dieks or our still being trapped?"

[steveflam]

Norzak listens to Jon with interest. "Well I dunno if Dorgio is lustin after some wench, but yeah me shadow kin do it within a mile o me an be very discreet. She won even know it is there. An like you, if Van Dieks was out there an I knowed where e was, 'e'd be deader n a doornail. I never thought I'd be hatin someone as fierce as I hate him. That's not countin what e did ta ya. 'E deserves ta be killded real slow an painful like. Ifn yer kin git im, do it. BUt make sure I git in some licks fer all the trouble 'es caused, especially ta the innocent wimmins, laddie."

He pauses, then tells Jon what transpired in the Vardo. "I never met one a them gypsy raunies afore. They be real cryptic ifn yer ask me. Kinna like me god if ya think about it."

[JMaytr]

"I have only had bad experiences with the gypsies. I have never trusted them and so far I have not befallen any of their foul magics. But if they say something is bad here at the Moot, maybe we should believe them and leave too."

hearing Norzaks words about Van Dieks causes Jonathan to smile.

"Thank you Norzak. You are a real friend to protect me so. I think if these mists are as mysterious as the gypsies told you, perhaps if we leave in them, Van Dieks won't be able to find us or follow us."

[steveflam]

The dwarf grins back at Jon, ruffling the lads hair. "Well I dunno nuthin bout them mists, but I guess if the more smarter ones in our band wanna go in them, then Imma follow em. They know more bout that there mystical crud then I do.

An if he tries ta follow us, e'll be a dead fink. I bet that Cirdan could cut im in two if he tried!"

[JMaytr]

"Lets ask Benn what he knows. Dorgio is still mad at me for not trusting the Gypsies so I think Benn is our best bet. And he seems real smart. I bet he knows about the mists."

[steveflam]

"Yeah I suppose we should go ask Benn. An cut Dorgio some slack, lad. He's only doin what he knows too, awright? He is a nice fella and only means well in 'is own way. Both a ye's had experiences with them gypsies. His musta been better n yers. I bet he's not even mad at yer. Yanno, sometimes in the heat of the action an when companions travel together a lot, sometimes bein together a lot makes for tense moments. I think thass whut happened, Jon." Norzak pats Jon on the shoulder. "Dun be worryin bout Dorgio. He'll be fine and you both will get on jess fine, awright? An he is gonna try ta git yer a cure, I'll make sure of it! I kin promise yer he won't fergit cuz I'll be remindin him all tha time, awright?"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

As the mist settles in, unconsciously brings a hand up to his throat, and he remembers.

"Be excusing me. I must find tobacco."

Dorgio makes his way among the people of the moot, looking for anybody who will sell him tobacco and spirits.

[JMaytr]

"Grown ups scare me Norzak. They're not short like me and you. When I was alone on the streets Grown up men sometimes hurt me. That was why I worked in the sewers with Stoneguts. He was not like the grown ups and he was nice to me. Most grownups didn't go below. I guess thats why I trust you. Dwarfs...they are not as mean as grown ups can be.

"Since I have traveled with you and the others there has been a lot of death around us and it has scared me a lot. The doctor...Van Dieks...the witch and the gypsies...there is so much darkness around. I still have nightmares about the houseboat and the woman I killed there. Would I have ever done that if I wasn't with this group? Would I ever have been scared so bad by the witch that even now I feel like she is out there waiting to take my skull and add it to her collection? Would I ever have encountered that beast Van Dieks and become this cursed thing?! I should have run from this party a long time ago but...."

Jonathan is quiet for a moment and then looks with teary eyes at Norzak.

"You are the closest thing to family I have and are my only friend. I think its scarier and darker out there, without you. I don't want to be alone again. I don't want to change into a monster. I just want to go home."

[steveflam]

Norzak cups Jon's chin in his hand. "Yer like me family too, bub. An I won't let anythin happin ta yer if it's in me power. I be sick o this place too. Now dun be afraid, I'm here to make sure noone does nuthin ta yer, ok? As fer changin into a monster, well I is sure we kin find some infermation back home. I want yer ta do me a favor. I now it's a lot ter ask ye, but try ta fergit the past. Ye gots tha whole future ahead of ye an with me around, it's gonna be bright! I got me some bad memories too from me past. Me children is ...*sigh*.... gone as is me wife. Made me bitter fer a long time till I finally moved on. Tis a hard thing ta do, but I always remember em in the best o times, Jon. I'll never fergit em. Now I be thinkin I gots you as me family an I think thass jess fine by me lad."

Norzak puts his arm around Jon and squeezes the lads shoulder then looks out onto the dance floor. "Lissen. I knows ye not be likin them girls a too much, but why dun ye go dance n have fun? It won't hurt ye, I promise, " he says with a wink before adding "An I be around with me shadow watchin that lassie Dorgio was speakin of, yanno the one." Here he wiggles his eyebrows and winks and gently pushes Jon back onto the floor. "Now git an have some fun else I kick yer arse onto the floor!"

[JMaytr]

Jonathan wipes away tears and nods at Norzak.

"I like to dance Norzak. Its fun. The girls are just fine too, I just think kissing one would be gross."

Jonathan goes over to rejoin the moot dance.

[steveflam]

After Jon goes off, Norzak nearly chokes on his ale. "Kissin a lass would be gross? Har har har har!!!!!!!!! Ah, the youth ain't youth fer long, thass fer sure, ha!" He sips his ale and orders his shadow to keep an eye discreetly on Nissa. He is actually chuckling to himself as he walks around the Moot Hall, observing the dancer and revelers alike. "Too bad there ain't no dwarven lassies with beards here,' he mumbles to himself.

[ewancummins]

"Be excusing me. I must find tobacco."

Dorgio makes his way among the people of the moot, looking for anybody who will sell him tobacco and spirits.

Dorgio finds a man who sells both items. The gentleman is a big, hairy fellow with a long shaggy beard and sparkling black eyes. His clothing is as rude as any of these other rustics, but he wears silver rings on five of his nine fingers [missing his left little finger]. Clay jugs and leather bundles lay spread out before him on a deerskin mat.


''Strong drink and tabak- you need these? What have you to trade, estranger-man?''
The fellow jabs a finger at Dorgio's gear, while doing a fair imitation of a smiling bear.

[Le Noir Faineant]

Cirdan, somewhat more relaxed than usual, will accompany Dorgio to the weaponsmith, in order to find a better sword - the one he's bearing is still the old one from Wollutha's castle, mind you.

The helmet under his left arm, and the black cloak blowing in the wind, they surely make a strange pair...

[ewancummins]

The big man selling tobacco and booze sells quite a few other items, as well. On a second mat he has on display various and sundry trade items, including several weapons. Cirdan can see four antler-handled iron knives, an iron-bladed hand axe [looks serviceable for chopping firewood or men], and a stout pigsticking spear- but no swords.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio tilts his head to the side. "I see you are liking silver." He reaches into his pocket and produces a handful of silver coins. "Will these be getting me anything?"