The Contact (RP)

"You going to see the baron?" Olaf confirms. "Good, good. Maybe don't mention me." He adds, possibly because of the whole mistake with the near baron, but also maybe for another reason related to his indication that 'people over there don't like him'.

He happily gives you directions, which --possibly irritatingly-- take you back along the path you just took to get here. This also means you are going fairly close to the village, though you doubt there will be time to go there and get to the baron today unless you are very quick about everything.

Olaf looks pleased with the pile of fire-wood. "You want to eat first?" He asks with all sorts of undertones (your refusal to eat before sleeping --while obviously hungry-- has left him intrigued by whether there are even more miracles at work with 'adventurers').

What do you do?

"Of course." Olaf says inviting you all back into his house.

Olaf did not seem concerned before about his food situation, but when you enter the kitchen you see that there is enough. There is a large ham, eggs, and an apple pie --though the number of apples in the pantry has not gone down-- in addition to a bit of the simple bread that was baked this morning. Pretty much enough to feed the family and the extra three guests.

What do you do?

A strained silence descends on the previously chattering household at the mention of 'Aunt Nicki'.

'Timmy' shrinks in guilty shame, and Olaf glares at Albert angrily. "I will not have that woman's named spoken in this house!" He declares.

Olga sighs at his posturing. "Was Nicki here?" She asks casually while cutting slices for everyone from the ham and manning the frying eggs at the same time --though you can hear the lie in her voice. "I did not see her." Olaf turns his disbelieving glare on her, though they flick suspiciously to the food.

'Timmy' says nothing, hoping his part in this will not be mentioned.

Clearly you have touched on a sore-point.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Both Olga and Timmy look at you thankfully. "Fat cow, more like it." Olaf says in a pretend-quiet voice that everyone hears but does not acknowledge. "Oh, yes. I know 'fat Micky'." Olaf agrees. "... but not from a tavern."

The fight seems to be over, but there is a brittle detente at the table. "Have some eggs, dear." Olga says, plonking plate before you. Despite the tense distraction she has cooked them to perfection.

- Albert -

"Nicki? She lives in the deep forests somewhere." Olga whispers to you as you help wash up. "But I don't understand why you are asking about her. I really have not seen her since last moon." She looks around furtively as though she has said more than she should. Olaf is not looking your way, but she still ducks her head and focuses on finishing the work.

Do you push her for details?

- Norbert -

Most of the kids enthusiastically join you. Olga tries to plead that they 'don't get too wet', but gives up good-naturally --knowing that that is a lost cause-- it is warm outside so they will dry off before bed.

'Timmy' is too scared of getting into trouble for talking out of turn again, and shrinks away when questioned. Seeing this, one of the older kids sighs and explains: "Daddy does not approve of Aunty Nicki. He says she is giving the other women 'ideas above their station'. She does not come around when daddy is here, else mommy and daddy end up fighting."