Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Five

[Adam]

Bennedict pulls a warm looking leather shirt with fur lining, trying it on first to satisfy himself that it fits.

He pulls out a handful of silver coins, roughly trying to communicate with the vendor that he would like to pay with them.

[ewancummins]

Benn, inside the great hall

The old man takes the shiny coins and carefully examines each one.

''Argentos?''

The old man plays with the small silver discs for a minute, the nods his head as if making up his mind.

''Good.''

He hands the fur trimmed tunic to Benn.

Norzak, inside-

The thirsty dwarf soon finds a man giving out drinks, near the traders' sections of the Moot-Hall. Whatever this stuff is, it isn't ale- it's pink and foamy! It would appear to be free; however, for the jolly drunkard pouring accepts no payment from those whose mugs he fills.

Jon, outside

Jon, following the smell of cooking food, exits the Moot-Hall. Outside on the open ground he finds an old woman beside a fire pit. She's busily making roasted potatoes stuffed with meat, cheese, and chopped onions. When she spots Jon, she tosses him a warm [but not blisteringly hot] sample of her work.

''You look too skinny, boy. That one is free. You want more, you must trade.''

The crone smiles at Jon, revealing a mouth that holds half its original issue of teeth.


Dorgio and Cirdan, with Ottokar inside the hall


''Yes, I have heard of the tinker's sorrow. I have not seen a man like the one you describe- but there are many here at the Moot, and even I do not know them all.''

[Adam]

Bennedict dons the shirt, cutting an odd looking figure in his slacks and glasses paired with the leather shirt.

He returns to his books, nothing yet succeeding in drawing his attention.

[ewancummins]

Wat finds Benn and takes a seat next to the scholar.

''Apple?''

The woodsman holds out a green apple, offering it to Benn.

[JMaytr]

Jonathan smiles at the crone and eats the foodstuff quickly, nearly inhaling it.

"Thank you ma'am. I am actually in search of a crossbow."

Jonathan leans in closer, so only the woman can hear.

"I also seek some toxin. Something to coat the bolts with."

Jonathan gives the crone a few silver pieces.

"Here, for your discretion."

[ewancummins]

Jonathan smiles at the crone and eats the foodstuff quickly, nearly inhaling it.

"Thank you ma'am. I am actually in search of a crossbow."

Jonathan leans in closer, so only the woman can hear.

"I also seek some toxin. Something to coat the bolts with."

Jonathan gives the crone a few silver pieces.

"Here, for your discretion."

''Hehehhehee... good boy! Sit, sit.''

She pats the flattened grass beside herself.

Dropping her voice so it doesn't carry far, she says to Jon-

''I can make some poison for you. Hmmm...And I think I know a man who will trade a bow and some arrows for more of those shiny metal bits. ''

[JMaytr]

Jonathan sits with the crone and pulls out another few silver.

"I will take some yes. This man with the arrows...could you point him out to me?"

[ewancummins]

''I don't know exactly where he is, but you should look for a tall, lean man who wears a necklace of beasts' teeth and ties his hair in a topknot. His name is Surt. He will have arrows, and a crossbow or a bow for trade, if anyone will. ''

She takes another potato from the fire and begins carving it.

''Come back at midnight, and I'll have some hunter's helper cooked up for you, boy.''

[steveflam]

Norzak approaches the man whom is selling free booze? "Oi, why's yer alkihaul free, bub? Is it cause it ain no good?" Norzak eyes the concoction warily at first.

[ewancummins]

Norzak approaches the man whom is selling free booze? "Oi, why's yer alkihaul free, bub? Is it cause it ain no good?" Norzak eyes the concoction warily at first.

'''Sgood.....get ye drunk!''


The jovial fellow slaps a full wooden mug into Norzak's hand.

''Made from yarra. Drink it!''

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio tries and fails to hide his disappointment when the big man says he hasn't seen Van Diecks. "Maybe he has fled too far. Tell me, friend, are you traveling often, to other lands or kingdoms perhaps?"

[Adam]

Bennedict takes the apple from Wat, biting into it savagely. He relishes the taste of something other than dried boar meat, thinking back longingly to the many and varied flavors of food available in Pont-au-Museau.

"Tell me," Bennedict says, looking gratefully at Wat, "What are your plans, now?" He gestures around him. "This place is freed from the Witch's influence. Your people can do as they will without fear of riders in iron trampling through the woods at a mad ghost's behest. Should we tell them, do you think? It may be a cause for some celebration."

[steveflam]

Norzak takes a pint and in one fell swoop, downs it all!

[ewancummins]

"Tell me," Bennedict says, looking gratefully at Wat, "What are your plans, now?" He gestures around him. "This place is freed from the Witch's influence. Your people can do as they will without fear of riders in iron trampling through the woods at a mad ghost's behest. Should we tell them, do you think? It may be a cause for some celebration."

''I plan to return to my cabin with my dogs. My garden needs tending, lest the weeds invade it. I do think that we should tell the people of Wolutha’s downfall, Benn. So long have they lived in fear of her and her Rider... Some may not believe we speak the truth. Maybe we should display the things we have taken from the Witch's Keep? ''

[ewancummins]

Dorgio tries and fails to hide his disappointment when the big man says he hasn't seen Van Diecks. "Maybe he has fled too far. Tell me, friend, are you traveling often, to other lands or kingdoms perhaps?"

Ottokar, switching now to a queerly-accented Low Mordentish [one that contains many archaic words, but that Dorgio can understand more readily than trade- pidgin or the native tongue of the foresters], answers the cleric thusly:

'' In my youth I travelled far, yes. I have seen the sea, Dorgio, and the great boats of the sea-folk. My old travelling partner, Vassilios, was of tinker blood, and he had inherited some measure of the tinkers' talent for walking the Mists- he could smell the old roads, the mist-roads, better than any man I've ever known. It was never a sure thing, though- and one night he mistakenly led us into a place it is not well for men to go... Vassilios is gone , now, and I have not walked the Mists since that time.''