NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Iron Chef BBQ" data-source="post: 854242" data-attributes="member: 1844">Juls Polish Chep (run of 04-22-03, part 1)Kalina starts the next day by turning into an otter and diving into the swift moving river.  Lucre is very determined that they should find the evil mace of Chardon before it slips downstream and is found by a poor unsuspecting fisherman.  Kalina has been outfitted with a rope tied into a noose.  Her first attempts to locate the mace are unsuccessful, until she realizes that instead of searching with her otter eyes, she should detect magic.  Instantly she sees black waves of magic curling up from the river bottom.  Given the current she can’t keep herself stead and loop the noose around the mace at the same time.  She returns to the surface and calls Fang.In an odd pantomime she rolls around on a spare rope while Fang attempts to loop the rope around her body.  Finally, Deke gets the message.  He ties the second rope around Kalina’s body.  Marja advises that the otter should tug three times on the rope when she’s ready for them to pull it taut.  With a nod and a wink the perky little otter plunges back into the icy river.  In no time the three tugs are felt; the noose is looped around the mace; Kalina reappears on land with the end of the rope; and the mace is hauled out of the water.  Carefully, without touching it, Kenyan hoists it into a sack and stows it in his gear.Our band of weary travelers continues on the road for several days.  The dwarves recently released from certain doom travel silently, but persistently.  The group has promised them safe escort to the Temple of Gorin in Vesh where they can arrange safe passage back to Burak Torn.  The others are rather boisterous as they reminisce about their recent fight, and rib each other in good fun.  Lucre is still smarting a little over being out-done by his cousin, Borin, in battle.  Marja points out that not only did Borin steal his kill several times, but he did it in the body of an elven woman.  Kenyan composes a ballad on the spot entitled “The Mighty Miss Borin.”They see another party up ahead.  It’s Kel with his weary emancipated slaves who have been unable to make good time due to their exhaustion.  Kel comments that he could hear the group long before he could see them.  The party is nonplused.  They continue with their good-natured ribbing, and Kenyan inspires a little perk into the steps of Kel’s band by doing an encore of “The Mighty Miss Borin.”As they travel along the road they come to a sign printed in big messy letters: Juls Polsh Chep.  Clearly this is some sort of scam, and most of the party would just as soon avoid whomever this is.  They come to another sign that reads Arti’z Jul Polshn, and up ahead in the middle of the road are two tall trees.  The forest is about a hundred yards away from the road at this point so these trees were uprooted and pulled at great effort to somebody.  Then they see the somebody.  An 18-foot tall giant with green scabby skin and three arms is standing behind the logs like they are a make-shift counter.  He is wearing gem-encrusted jewelry from head to toe.  Next to him sits a morose creature similar in appearance, but smaller in size.  Arti the Giant waves vigorously as they approach.“You got gems you want polished?” asks Arti.  “I polish good like this.”  He picks up a rock and rubs it between his hands until it turns to dust.  “Do I get the gem back?” asks Lucre.  “Of course, you get gem back.  Not business if don’t give gem back.  Cost only two silver, yah.”Lucre tosses him a small (and hard) gemstone.  Arti rubs it with a dirty rag, hands it back triumphantly and holds out his hand for the silver.  Lucre pays, but declines to have any other gems “cleaned”.  “This very profitable new business for us.  Many people, they stop and hand gems for polish, but run away before job finished.  I give them slip.”  He holds up a stack of slips of paper to show off.  “But they no come back to claim.  So I keep.”“This is an interesting line of work,” says Kenyan.  “How did you get into it?”“Oh, my cousin, Grog the Ogre, he show me.  Commerce only way he say to me.  Violence not the answer.”  Marja and Deke groan.  They remember the name, and the phrase.  Grog is the ogre that Kalina cast Salamar’s Quiet Contemplation on all those months ago.  “So what’s Grog up to now?” asks Deke.  “Oh, he in very good line of work.  He in protection racket.”“Well, we really gotta run,” offers Marja.  The smaller giant looks hopeful.  “We gonna hit em now, Dad?” he asks in a whisper.  There is a tense moment where the party is not sure they will be allowed to pass until they pay to have every gem they own polished.  Kenyan jumps in.  He is amazed at the quality of Arti’s business.  Why with this location and a group of satisfied customers to spread the word, people will be flocking from Vesh to have their jewels cleaned.  He gladly offers to provide this free marketing just as soon as he and his friends get back to Vesh.  Arti is overjoyed and lets the party pass.  His son is more morose than ever.As they get out of earshot Kel points out that he detected evil.  They are clearly working hard to suppress it, but still, evil is evil.  He wonders how long the peace will last.  Deke bates Lucre.  He knows Borin is chomping at the bit to turn around and level the giants, but the lawfuls in the party are playing pacifists.  “I suppose it’s only a matter of time before their evil nature gets the better of them and they pummel some innocent travelers, but I guess we’re not really interested in provoking violence.”  Lucre doesn’t take the bait.  “If I hear of them harming anybody, I’m back here so fast,” he muses.  The party travels on.Another night and day, and they’re back in Vesh.  They deliver their charges.  The dwarves to the Temple of Gorin and the homeless, but freed Veshians to the Temple of Madriel.  Then they head home themselves.Deke is beside himself to see the progress the workdwarves have made in his absence.  He runs through the house checking every detail.  Kenyan offers to pen a letter to Lord Beltray about their exploits and to let him know they are back in town.  He begins pontificating and posing with parchment in one hand and pen in the other, but never actually makes pen touch parchment.  Clearly, he thinks he cuts a better figure standing upright.  Marja offers to scribe while he dictates.  He rambles on for 20 minutes telling a tale of heroism (mostly his).  Marja lowers her head over the parchment and writes:  We’re back.  Will meet at your convenience.  VII.The letter is sealed and sent before Kenyan gets a chance to proofread it.</blockquote>

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