Chapter 3: Ship people meet woods people

Tharadin moves carefully, holding a finger up in response to Melianne's question. Keeping his axe close, he reaches one hand out towards the nearest boar, palm up, hoping if he can brush their hide.

If only I had a few extra minutes to let my mind free, I could speak to them. he thinks as he inches closer.

Shhhhh shhh. Good boar. Nothin' in those packs for you. he says, using a lighter voice than you'd expect as he tries to politely shoo them away.

The seeking of the magic of the scroll had swiftly delivered Aravel to the lost ring. Looking up to the thieving bird aspiring to join the ranks of the magpies, he huffed and crossed his arms. Visible to only his own eyes a spectral hand hovered up behind the bird, only to swiftly remove its prize from it's beak. As it started it flew off in a hurry as Aravel smugly let his new acquisition come down to rest in the palm of his hand. Unless he missed his guess (he rarely did), his earlier deduction was correct; the chest the ring came from mostly contained magical trinkets of all sorts and sizes, and this ring was no exception. Most excellent! Magical rings were no trifle after all. And whatever guilt Aravel might feel at not swiftly returning the object to what some might consider the rightful owner was swiftly displaced by the knowledge that the thing would be wasted being left in a chest, rather then employed by his esoteric patronage. Besides, should he have no more need of it, he could always return it. Later.

The elf carefully stored away his new prize for later consideration. After all, his newfound companions were in some sort of rush, as their shortlived kind often was. He had best get to it.

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Boars. Really now. Aravel had expected some dwarves for all the grunting so close to the ground, but it was a group of visitors even less concerned with personal hygiene. Oh well. At least some animals were of little immediate concerns. Apart from the fact boars tended to have the most surly of demeanors. Another thing in common with dwarves, come to think of it. Really, it was no surprise that some of the beardly folk chose to ride such animals into battle. Oh, and what's this? The local dwarf is already having a chat with the visitors. Oh, now that was just too rich. But better let the short one handle this. He seemed rather apt at it. After all, Aravel preferred to wisely keep his distance. There was no need to get his clothing dirty by the sudden charge of such a beast, oh no.

Melianne watches with apt attention as Tharadin approaches the boars, leaning a bit so she can observe the happenings from a better angle and almost burning herself in the process - not that she seems afraid of the fire licking her skin at all. She watches in awe when the barbarian gets closer to the animals, and whispers in a loud stage whisper: "May I pet them too?.."

Feeling slightly foolish for calling out to animals, Krenmuth stays in place but keeps his illuminating warhammer high and ready. No need to antagonize them, he thinks. The cleric waits for a response to Tharadin's gesture, only turning if he needs to keep his shield facing the lead boar.

One of the larger boars approaches Tharadin and sniffs his hand. It is big, muscular and has two tusks about as long as Tharadin's hand is wide. Thick brown bristles cover its body. It licks his fingers and even allows him to give it some gentle pats.

The other five boars meanwhile are unimpressed by you and continue into the camp.

While Tharadin is occupied, two of the smaller boars circle him and begin to sniff and nibble at his backpack

Annika, Aravel and Melianne's backpacks are also visited by a boar each, with Aravel's belongings having the doubtful honor of getting visited by the biggest one.

Melianne watches as the boars move into their camp - completely fearlessly, if she might add, - and head directly for the backpacks. Good on them for knowing their target and going straight for it. "Tharadin, are all of the local boars this bold, or are we lucky to have tun into the bravest ones in the entire area?" Firebird is eraptured by the odd occurence and almost misses the fact that one of the animals decides to pick her own pack as a nibbling toy.

Once she does notice, the dancer reaches over to try and pull her own pack closer to herself, gently shooing away the tusked intruder. "Now, dear, there is nothing for you to eat in this pocket unless you like chewing on playing cards, tinder and possibly magical herbs. I suppose I can share some rations if you're hungry, but- Hey now, there is no need to try to climb me!" Melianne squeaks as the boar tries to follow the pack. "Gentlemen, I'm being crushed by the bovine menace, help please! How do I scare him away, Thar?!"

Tharadin whips his head around at Melianne's cry. If they are this bold, they aren't often challenged. Fifty fifty chance they run away if we holler. They may just attack. He digs into a pouch on his belt, pulling out a single ration pack he kept there instead of his bag. He waved it under the beast's nose. Yaaaaah. Come get it piggies! the ruddy dwarf says, trying to get the attention of the pack before he takes a few steps away, chucking the food away from the camp.

"No no no! that's Salchutan leather! Off with you swine!" the Elf Aravel ineffectively implored the boar investigating his backpack whilst he attempted to shoo the creature away from ten feet distance.

Krenmuth slowly moves to his backpack, grabs a couple rations, and tosses them away from the camp.

Annika snatches her pack away from the snuffling pig and glares, raising a hand to smack it in the nose if it comes any closer.

Tharadin throws his ration just outside the area where the fire illuminates the surroundings. The big boar that he calmed down runs away from him and chases the package into the dark.
Aravel successfully manages to drive away the boar from his pack, while the threat of Annika works as well. Melianne is still bothered by her 'adversary' but Krenmuth comes to the 'rescue' as he throws three ration packs around. Unfortunately his aim is way off and he just disperses them around the camp.
One of them hits Melianne in the face and drops down in front of her feet. While this may hurt a bit at least her wild menacing 'friend' leaves her alone and begins to eat from the ration pack.
The remaining four boars are immediately attracted to the other two rations. They stop bothering you and begin to eat the dried meat, bread and cheese that are contained within the packs.

Hungry beasties. We should probably hang our packs up higher, but no need to kill them just yet. Tharadin says. If we can take a few minutes, I can speak with them, see if that will convince them to leave us be. he offers, looking at the group to make sure they weren't going to run off and start stabbing.

Melianne yelps and flails around as she catches a stray ration to her face, but thankfully the boar at least seems more prepared and immediately moves on to munching upon the provided food. The dancer rubs her nose with a wince, then pulls her belongings closer before the animals decided they wish for more. The accidental collision doesn't discourage her from watching the boar however, as the woman is too curious about the wildlife to dwell on the fact that their tusks are notably sharp and dangerous.

"You can speak with them?" She glances at the dwarf, her expression lighting up with enthusiasm. "That sounds lovely! You can ask them about the area, right? Do you need to prepare anything for it? Here, let me help you distract them!" She scrambles to search through her backpack. "I mostly packed nuts and vegetables, so they'll probably enjoy these ones... Do you think they'd like to hear a song too?.."

Krenmuth throws out three more days rations to keep the boars busy.

Melianne and Krenmuth supply the boars with food. While they munch on the food and grunt in a seemingly satisfied way Tharadin finishes his ritual.

Tharadin and the large boar exchange grunting sounds, just as if they'd have an argument.

Now that she is completely sure of their peacefulness, Melianne delights in feeding the boars, offering them bits and pieces of her rations - mostly vegetables, nuts and cheese. She even manages to pet each of them, the boars offering no objections.

"Aww, aren't they cute?" The dancer extracts herself from a circle of snacking bovines and playfully elbows Aravel, who happens to be the nearest person. "You should try to pet them too! Or are you not one for animals, elf friend? ...Although, you do have a ferret, don't you?"

Tharadin continues the grunting, quite insistently.

Araval was carefully watching the intruders in his customary way, that is to say down his nose.
"Hmph. Some animals I do not mind. Horses. Small felines. Anything that provides a use really, like my companion. It is the animals that are well known for their preference to roll in the mud and their own filth I care not for."

He looks down at Melianne's hands, then markedly looks elsewhere..