Nashkel

Jan 18, 2023 4:56 pm

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"Keep your secrets. I'll ask your assassin." Aiwë stands to leave.

Pressing his head against the bars, the dwarf's response is to spit in Aiwë's direction.

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"Whoever led you to us didn't give you enough warning of our skill, if any at all. They saw you and your brother as a tool. An expendable one. If you want gold going to the right place, it certainly shouldn't be them."

Hoarse laughter erupts from the dwarf's throat. "Ye've a lot to learn about the world, lass. Everyone's expendable. And everyone has a price. Me brother probly woulda stabbed me in the back after we got our reward, unless I did 'im in first!"

Stella's sure that coin isn't the only thing that matters to this stubborn dwarf. But what else could it be?

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"Speak now dwarf, as you may not be able to after this conversation," Sheemish says with a hiss. He then adds in a voice that was no longer a request and whispers in the dwarfs ear in draconic "Now!"

The dwarf stares with wide eyes at Sheemish, evidently seeing something the others present do not. "Abbathor, Grand Master o' Greed. Wyrm o' Avarice! Pardon this dwarf 'is weakness..."

He slumps to his knees. "The hands o' darkness reach far. Most every town on the Sword Coast has a way to get the word round. By bird, by spell, by rider... News travels fast, for those who know where to look. Me and me brother got the bounties earlier today from a pigeon-bird. We thinked it came from Beregost, but I cannae be certain."

The dwarf looks up at Sheemish. "What more do ye wish to know, Dragon-Blessed?"

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jan 18, 2023 5:16 pm

Aiwë stops and turns with interest, eyeing Sheemish and rapidly making mental notes for her next ballad.

"How were you going to turn in the bounty?" she asks the dwarf.

Jabbbahut

Jan 18, 2023 5:52 pm

"You will answer my companions as you would me" Sheemish now says in dwarvish.

"Where were you to deposit your kill and how were you to receive your reward?" He presses in a dark tone while maintaining eye contact.

Jan 18, 2023 6:00 pm

Dieter has his arms folded his back holding up the wall of the prison giving his best tough guy impression. His distain for the dwarf grows with every slimy word that drips from his mouth but he contains his anger out of duty and self mastery. Dieter turns to leave "let me know if you need help cleaning up" maybe Stella is back at the tavernDieter walks right into Stella "oh my, sorry Stella you know you’re just the person I was looking for. What do you know about dueling?" Dieter says turning his body to leave almost guiding Stella out of the room.

Last edited January 18, 2023 6:55 pm

Dwarf Scoundrel

Jan 18, 2023 6:15 pm

The dwarf scoundrel, still kneeling, nods his hairy head. "Nobody cares 'bout the bodies. Jus' an ear an' such. A decen' priest or wizard can tell who it belonged to, ye know? But the reward be in Baldur's Gate. There be a han'ful o' places to collect, most down in the sewers 'neath the city. The Undercellar."

Jan 18, 2023 6:32 pm

Araklusta says:

The tattooed man gives a hearty laugh at Sheemish's words and pats the huge sword laying across his lap. "Bahaha! We are always happy to help good people in need! And to give evil a good kick in the backside." He looks down at the splattered cake remains. "Ah, the casualties of battle. Still, I do not think Boo will mind."

He gives a little whistle, and a small mammal rustles out of the salad plate on the table, its enormous cheeks puffed out. It gives a little squeak and scurry-waddles over to the big man, deftly climbing into his open hand. It looks much like a mouse, but bigger and with only a tiny little nub of a tail.

The tattooed man leans down from his seat to scoop a fingerfull of frosting off the floor and offers it to the strange creature. It sniffs eagerly at the offered treat, then snatches some of the nuts off the cake and stuffs them into its cheeks - no doubt where it has more food safely stored away.

"Yes!" The big man cries. "Boo's birthday is a good one! Beautiful song, tasty cake, and a fight against evil. What more could a pair of heroes ask for?"

"Ah, I thank you, young witch!" He looks around at the other party members as they perform various tasks. "Which one is your warrior? Every witch must have a protector, no?"

As Stella tends to the man's wound, she notices the old scar of a nasty head wound opposite his largest tattoo. Something like that may have done lasting damage to the man, and not just the physical kind.

"Oh my staaars," Stella exclaims, almost completely forgetting the attempted assassination and deaths that just occured. "He is adorable! What is Boo, is he a chipmunk? May I?" If he gives permission, she'll reach to give Boo good, affectionate scratch.

She giggles and beams. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed his birthday!" She turns to Runeson. "And thanks for singing along!"

She turns back to wrapping the wound. Head injury... she thinks. Well, he seems to be doing fairly well for himself anyway.

"Oh, uh," she looks around at the party. "I guess all of my friends here are my protectors? I don't have a dedicated one. But they've all helped protect me and each other at some point or another," she explains.

Last edited January 18, 2023 7:07 pm

Jan 18, 2023 6:34 pm

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Hoarse laughter erupts from the dwarf's throat. "Ye've a lot to learn about the world, lass. Everyone's expendable. And everyone has a price. Me brother probly woulda stabbed me in the back after we got our reward, unless I did 'im in first!"

Stella flushes red in embarrassment, eye stars turning blue first out of shame, but then out of sorry. What a sad way to live... she thinks, glancing around at her companions.

Thankfully Sheemish seemed to know what made the dwarf's world go round...whatever it was.

Last edited January 18, 2023 6:35 pm

Jan 18, 2023 7:11 pm

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you know you’re just the person I was looking for. What do you know about dueling?" Dieter says turning his body to leave almost guiding Stella out of the room.

Stella narrows her eyes in confusion for a moment, then giggles. It seems she wasn't the only one who wanted an excuse to leave the interrogation. She follows.

"Not much," she admits, twirling some hair around a finger. "Calliope's father is a master duelist though. She's probably well-versed in that area. She's well-versed in a lot of areas..."

Jan 18, 2023 7:18 pm

Carcabob says:

"Calliope's father is a master duelist though. She's probably well-versed in that area. She's well-versed in a lot of areas..."

Dieter laughs with her "maybe too many. I think academia and knowledge is like fighting. You need a strong base in order to reach far. I’m going to be dueling Shar-teel tomorrow and I want you to be my second."

Last edited January 18, 2023 7:18 pm

Minsc

Jan 18, 2023 7:22 pm

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"He is adorable! What is Boo, is he a chipmunk? May I?" If he gives permission, she'll reach to give Boo good, affectionate scratch.

"A... munker of chips? No! He is far more special." He proudly holds Boo out for Stella to pet. "He is a miniature giant space hamster! And a hero, besides!"

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"Oh, uh," she looks around at the party. "I guess all of my friends here are my protectors? I don't have a dedicated one. But they've all helped protect me and each other at some point or another," she explains.

"Ah, group comradery! It is a beautiful thing, yes. But in Rashemen, my home, the wychlaran always has a warrior to to protect her!"

He's gung-ho demeanor changes suddenly, and he looks down to rub between Boo's ears with a thick finger. "I myself had a wychlaran to protect. I came all the way out here to guard her with my life, and prove myself a grown man. A dajemma, this task is called. A quest."

His face screws up into a sad frown and tears begin to fall from his eyes. "But I failed Dynaheir! Three days ago she was taken by gnolls, the dog-faced minions of evil! I try to track them, and nobody helps. I ask big soldiers, and nobody helps. Are there no heroes in this land? No, none. Not even Minsc!" He pounds his chest with his free hand to indicate himself. "I am not worthy to journey with one so heroic as Boo! I give him nice birthday as good-bye, and tomorrow I return in shame to Rashemen." A sob wracks his enormous body. "They will never accept me into the Ice Berserker Lodge. I could live with that, but my poor, wise Dynaheir! A fool she was to trust in Minsc..."

Jabbbahut

Jan 18, 2023 7:54 pm

"Is there any other useful information you are hiding from me? I will NOT be tested Dwarf" Sheemish says with a growl.

Jan 18, 2023 7:57 pm

Stella blinks, confused. "Dueling? Shar-teel...The noble's guard? Why? And wait a second. What's a second? Wouldn't Runeson be better to help you?"

Jan 18, 2023 8:12 pm

they continue walking "sure Runeson is qualified to be my second but whose to say you aren’t either. Ive seen you talking with Aiwë and you seem a bit lost, you keep yourself in the past and find yourself conflicted in the present. There are many things in this world and I want you to show you this side. I want you to see this to help you find your base. Fighting is often seen as evil and full of bloodshed. Fighting has helped me overcome some of my imperfections and help me grow confident in myself as an individual. I fight not to kill but to live I hope that with this experience the contrast will help you find what drives you and what brought you out here." Dieter smiles at a passing families and waves

Dwarf Scoundrel

Jan 18, 2023 10:33 pm

The dwarf sits back on his rear and puts his head in his hands. "I don' know nothin' more. Leave me to me shame!"

Jan 18, 2023 11:23 pm

Stella looks down uncomfortably and purses her lips.

"Lost is a good word for it," she agrees. You keep yourself in the past and find yourself conflicted in the present. She'd have to think on that more, but she suspected he was right.

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I fight not to kill but to live

She nods. It was a noble goal. She looks up. "I believe you, but then why do you scream out death upon your foes and pretend to be invincible? I'll be your second if you really want me to, but you don't exactly have the greatest track record of not dying."

Jan 18, 2023 11:30 pm

Dieter stops for a split second "I could pretend to have a good reason for that but I won’t insult you" dieter looks off somewhere far away "sometimes I think back before, I don’t think I knew what being alive meant till I died. It’s a hard lesson to learn and I don’t want you all to have to learn it so soon" Dieter fully stops now and turns to Stella. He puts out his "So, will you help me?

Jan 18, 2023 11:37 pm

"A SPACE hamster?!" she exclaims even more delighted, ignoring the oxymoron of "miniature giant". "Then I guess I made the perfect cake, didn't I?"

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"But I failed Dynaheir! Three days ago she was taken by gnolls, the dog-faced minions of evil! I try to track them, and nobody helps. I ask big soldiers, and nobody helps. Are there no heroes in this land? No, none. Not even Minsc!"

Stella listens solemnly to his recounting. A berserker with so much strength, but being unable to protect those they wish to most. It reminded her of Papa's stories of Ug.

Are there no heroes in this land?

A chill runs through Stella, her eyes sparkling violet. It was not an unpleasant chill. Rather, it was one of realization and epiphany.

She opens her tome to the list of vast list of names, concepts, and descriptors. she had written the other day in her bought of moral exploration.

"Hero, she says, trying the word. She writes down the word, as well as Protagonist, remembering from her discussion with Awie the night before. She then draws lines to several of the names. Alalla. Erevain. Halla. Zenithral. She stops in front of her name.

Was she a Hero? If she wasn't, perhaps she could be.

"The Mayor spoke of gnolls," she said, finishing a couple notes and closing the book. "And my friends and I have seen many get captured yet not killed, so there's still hope. We were planning to investigate the mines tomorrow, but maybe I can convince them to come with you to find Dynaheir. I---"

At that moment, Aiwe calls her over to help stabilize the dwarf scoundrel.

"I have to go. Will you be here tomorrow morning? Can we talk then?"

Jan 18, 2023 11:45 pm

When Dieter stops, Stella does too. She folds her arms, tiling her head and leaning on one leg. She looks him over with skeptical eyes.

"I've probably been the most death-avoidant out of our entire group, so I don't know how this will help with that. But again, I believe you, and I'll help if you really want me to. If, you can give me a good reason for the duel in the first place. It's not like we need to look for more ways to die, after all."

Jan 19, 2023 12:18 am

"oh sorry I should probably tell you it isn’t going to be to the death. It’ll be submission. Some duels are first blood but usually submission though to the death is the most….popular" Dieter says and gives a "convincing smile" Dieter becomes serious "I think it’ll really cement Shar-Teel and I’s friendship."

Last edited January 19, 2023 12:19 am

Jan 19, 2023 12:41 am