(Casual D&D V) The Tourne

[Guilt Puppy]

"Has it always been that way? Not that I expect to be shown straight in to Sir Rienne, but that experience was like descending into undeath."

Koehl grins a bit. "If the kingdoms were at peace your welcome might have been a bit easier, but no, hospitality has never been their strong point."

He pauses for a moment, twisting his lips pensively.

"But they're not really that bad - the way you tell it, I think you may have just met with a particularly hard one. I'm sorry for your bad luck, anycase." His jaw flexes briefly, and he flashes an embarrassed smirk before correcting himself. "In any case."

 

[Sparky]

"Ah, so, our reception wasn't entirely out of order." He scratches his head. "I'm going to await word at The Farlund. Alone." He glowers at the rest of the group, "This is my area of expertise. I know where to find you. Plus... how much notice could an old man with a donkey and an owl attract?"

Pursing his lips he considers the owl sitting sullenly in its cage. "Do you know anyone who could care for Winkle? I am rather loathe to cart him around in that cage any longer, now that he's got his wings."

Thanking Koehl for his hospitality, the old rogue grins and clasps Koehl's arm. "I don't know what will happen after we deliver this last missive, but I'm glad we fell in together, Koehl."

Oliver heads to the stables, mounts Whistler and takes Bastrop's lead from the stablehand. He tips the groom a silver and heads out alone across the city.

 

[Festy_Dog]

"Do you know anyone who could care for Winkle? I am rather loathe to cart him around in that cage any longer, now that he's got his wings."

"I've trained an animal or two in my time," Nurthk volunteers, "Admittedly, they were dogs, but I'm pretty sure I could do right by a winged predator like Winkle."

Nurthk gives a small gesture as Oliver leaves, half-wave, half-salute, "There'll be a drink waiting for you when you find us."

 

[Guest 11456]

Cylantro : Female Human

Cylantro thinks for a moment. "Well! It seems like we will have some down time. It will give me time to study my spells. I have a few that I've been working on. I almost have them worked out. Perhaps I can finish them up while we wait." She pulls out her spellbook and leafs through it.

OOC: Near a new level so I thought I would simulate the learning of her two new spells in game, instead of her just suddenly having them at the new level.

 

[hellrazor111]

See you friend, come back to us! he says to Oliver with a wave and smile before sitting down. Boo climbs out from some position and runs around on Cray's enormous chest. Cray can be seen whispering to it.

 

[Sparky]

Oliver rides slowly across the city. The great fortress bulks in the distance, waiting for him at the turning of every corner, crouched, watching with countless empty eyes, waiting to swallow him again with its stony throat.

In time he comes to the Farlund. He gives the groom a half-silver as he dismounts with a grunt, handing the reins over idly, though his eyes are keen on the young man's hands and way with the animals. Satisfied, he leaves Whistler and Bastrop to the man's care.

He pauses in the doorway, his gnarled, tattooed hand looking all at once strange to him as it rests on the alehouse door. It's the hand of some old man. Not his hand. He shakes off the feeling and takes a deep breath, pushing the door open and enters.

OOC: Goal is to make arrangements for a private room and dinner at the eighth bell. Dinner for two.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Following the crestman's directions, Oliver passes through the assortment of fine boutiques & restaurants that comprise the city's Northern district. It is a slight uphill climb the whole way; looking back much of Perlech is visible. The Farlund itself lies at the very edge of town, a grassy estate locked behind a tall iron gate. Presenting Arrich's writ is all it takes to be granted entrance by the two young men (boys, really) who watch the gate.

What seems to be the main structure sits atop a tiered garden a short distance from the gate. It is tall and made of pale stone, looking more like a temple than an inn. The stables are off to the right from the entrance, near a path which leads to the Northbound road.

From there it is a short climb up the steps to the main building. Coming through the gardens Oliver passes by two guests, easterners dressed in casual ornamentation, seated around a light meal. Their conversation stops suddenly as their attention is drawn to the visage of the well-travelled old lutist, their gaze carrying curiosity more than suspicion.

Beyond the tall doors is a small receiving room, to the right of which is a long, wide lounge. There a row of massive windows let in light through the angled ceiling, giving the room even on this overcast day a sense of lightness. The sound of a string section somewhere around the corner only enhances the effect. The room is only lightly populated: Three older men in the now-familiar tunic of the Crown; a small contingent of elves garbed in the ostentatious thread of Sanadun; and a lone white-haired heavily-bejeweled dwarf near the entryway. All regard Oliver with a peculiar interest.

A young woman meets Oliver - a girl, really. Looking into the lounge, the servers there are all also young; the oldest attendants here were the boys at the gate, and even they couldn't have been older than sixteen. Fifteen, more likely.

Upon seeing Arrich's writ, the young hostess smiles amiably. "And where should you like to stay, sir? We have suites in the rise if you'll be in the city much, and cottages out in the wood if you'd like a bit more privacy."

 

[Sparky]

I should really get some new clothes. Oliver pats at his careworn duds and puffs of dust tickle his nose. And a shave couldn't hurt. He grips his jaw thoughtfully.

"Good day to you, miss. Are the cottages very far?"

The old man's grizzled and vaguely sinister face crinkles into a grin.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

The young woman smiles up at Oliver. "Oh, not far at all. Just out past the trees. How many will you need?"

 

[Sparky]

He nods at the young woman, "Just the one." He looks off in the direction of the stables, "If they have stalls, would you have the groom bring my animals out?"

 

[Guilt Puppy]

"Certainly, sir," the young lady replies. "Weir!" she calls out to a boy around the corner - a short young lad with a wild mop of blonde hair, who struts briskly to attention. "Come show our fine guest the wayhouses. He can have his pick. Find one with plenty of room."

The boy leads Oliver out across the grasslands, into a sparsely wooded area. The first he offers is a large place indeed, at least the size of the mayor's home in that town near Eivanrach - the one that burned. There is a place for horses around the back.

"Six beds in this one," he states, "all fit for men of rank. Would you like to see inside?"

 

[doghead]

Xiao watches Oliver set off. The stranger's strange features are set with a sullen, unhappy look.

"Xiao will go with Oliver," he announces suddenly. Standing he gathers up his few possessions and, pausing only long enough to see if anyone else will follow, heads off in the direction Oliver so recently himself took. By now Oliver has something of a head start. This, to Xiao's way of thinking is just fine. The monk plans to hang back, keep out of Oliver's way and just ensure that help is at hand should Oliver need it. Not hiding as such, just remaining at a discrete distance.

 

[doghead]

Xiao flows easily through the city in the wake of Oliver. The stranger from a strange land has one eye on his companion, the other on the city around him. Occasionally it leaves him feeling a little cross-eyed. But otherwise the trip through the city is very pleasant. Along the way Xiao spots a shop that seems to sell tea, and the monk makes a mental note of its location. Once or twice he loses sight of Oliver. But the old man on the horse is not hard to reacquire.

Eventually Oliver arrives at his destination. Xiao arrives just in time to see his friend pass through and the iron gates swing closed behind him. Pausing for a moment, Xiao comes to a decision. I will catch two birds on one rock. Turning he heads back into the city and returns to the tea shop. With the few remaining coins Xiao purchases something that at least in smell, resembles the tea he remembers. Then tucking his purchase away in his robe, Xiao returns to the iron gates.

"Good afternoon," he announces with a broad smile and a bow. "I am Xiao Yu. I bring Mister Oliver his tea. This is Farlund is it not? Mister Oliver has arrived earlier I think. He is venerable gentleman on a horse. May you show him to me?"

 

[Sparky]

(Hokey smokes! It's been since December since we posted!?)

Oliver nods. When the boy moves on ahead to open the door, the old rogue looks around appraisingly at the area surrounding the cottage, the lines of sight... vectors of approach... Not great, but not too bad. He'd been in tighter spots.

He steps in, eyes adjusting to the gloom. He half-listens to the boy as lad shows off the cottage's amenities. He murmurs appreciatively here and there. His eyes are on the furniture, layout, ingress and egress, light sources and how they might silhouette a resident in twilight or dark. At some he registers an expectant note in the boy's talking.

"Eh? What's that? Uh, yes... no, no need for any butling. I would like a shave if you've someone." He doesn't need to check the stubble or the state of his garb, "And I'd like my clothes and small clothes seen to if possible. Thank you, lad. Weir, was it?"

He fishes a coin from his pocket and flips it in a flickering arc. The boy opens his hand to catch it and the old rogue snatches it from the air a hand's breadth from the boys open palm.

"And I'd like to know that I have visitors before I have visitors. Follow, lad?"

The coin he puts back in the boy's palm is a different color. A weightier color.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

"And I'd like to know that I have visitors before I have visitors. Follow, lad?"

The coin he puts back in the boy's palm is a different color. A weightier color.

Weir smiles puckishly. "Yes, good sir! Of course, good sir!"

The young lad leaves the cottage - only to return a few minutes later.

"Sir Oliver? A man is here to see you - a Mister Xiao Yu. A man from the Far Continent..."

---

After the two traveling companions reunite, the evening passes peacefully. Oliver gets his shave, and both men get a set of proper attire - rigid dark suits of the Tournean fashion - to wear as their traveling clothes are tended to.

In the meantime, the sun begins to set. And as the evening light begins to lend its dignity to the edifices of Perlech, seen distantly from the Farlund's expansive meadows, one can see even more distantly the dark, hazy shape of the Tower Riege, presiding in silence over this stretch of the Tourne...

(Dang! I just realized that Cas turned six a couple of months ago - and still going, albeit barely. About a year in I estimated how long it would take to complete the storyline, and I guessed six years - I couldn't imagine it would last so long. Wow!)

 

[doghead]

Xiao tentively picks up the pants by the end of the legs and holds them at a distance between thumb and finger. The stranger from a strange place cocks his head and considers the garment from another angle.

"Xiao can not wear this. It is physical impossiblity."

He shakes his head and gently lays the pants back down where he found them.

"Beside, modesty forbid it," he mutters darkly. Getting Xiao into the suit is going to be like getting a herd of ducks into a box - it will take much effort and patience.

Turning to his companion he says more brightly, "So, what is plan?"

 

[Guest 11456]

Cylantro : Female Human

Meanwhile back at Koehl's family estate, Cylantro is snuggling down in her bed with a tired Ginger curled up at her feet. Cylantro wonders what tomorrow will bring.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

The night passes uneventfully, if not easily, for both halves of the party.

Come morning at the Farlund, Oliver & Xiao awaken to a knock on the door, and young Weir's voice calling out - "A letter for you, sirs!" He slides it beneath; it is an invitation to dine with Sir Vaustus this evening, at the Farlund's dining hall.

Meanwhile, at the family estate, Koehl offers to send an attendant to check in at the Farlund, suggesting that it might be a less conspicuous way to communicate.

 

[Guest 11456]

Cylantro : Female Human

Cylantro nods, "Thank you, Koehl, that would be helpful."

 

[doghead]

Xiao frowns looks over the spider-tracks that the people in this part of the world call writing.

"We tell the others, yes?" Xiao asks Oliver once the meaning of the letter has been passed on. "Xiao is hoping that dinner Sir Vaustus is good news.

"Xiao has find a good tea shop yesterday. We can stop in on way home."