[Lakelands] Six For Adventure

[wolfheart]

Dain agrees with the others and begins packing his goods. He heads out to the stables to retrieve anvil and hook-up the cart.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Standing confidently, Maldordo will address the approaching rodent in a friendly manner using its own language. "Ah, Norby I presume? I'm Maldordo. Well met! I was hoping I'd get a chance to chat with you before the miller holds his meeting here at noon."

The large rat stopped, nearly sitting on his haunches. "So, the miller has finally found a cat equal to his rats," it said. Then it added, as an afterthought, "Perhaps equal. How to know, eh?"

"It spoke!" the second rat squeaked.

"Indeed, my dear, it did. Maldordo, you say? Well, Maldordo, if you be here for revenge against the cats we've killed in the past, I swear that none spoke a word before dying. If they were favored by the Lord of Cats, I never knew it. And, it's often kill or be killed where cats are involved, you know."

The rat paused, as though considering. The other rat moved out from behind him, walking in a slow arc that would eventually flank Maldordo.

"If you be here on account of the kids the miller sacrificed this winter past, well, I'll admit that I had my fill indeed, but you cannot blame a rat for being a rat, as the saying goes. The dead are dead, and no one's any better for letting a tasty tidbit go to waste."

 

[Krug]

"Um... sneaking back and spy on the miller sounds viable," says Glom, trying to smile.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

"Um... sneaking back and spy on the miller sounds viable," says Glom, trying to smile.

That leaves the final total at 1.5 votes for the farmhouse, 2.5 for keeping an eye on the village, and 2 votes for spying on the miller's assembly. I'm not positive, but the last comment from Dain sounds like he might be casting his vote with the current majority, but that doesn't affect the outcome.

Looks like we're keeping an eye on the village. RC, are Hengist, Elidor, and Tillo coming with us?

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Horsom placed his hands on his knees and stood up from the bench he'd been perched on. "Well that's settled then. Amalric, we'll leave as soon as our gear is packed. We'd be thankful if you could spread the word that we've abandoned the hunt and let Maldordo know where we've gone once he returns." Horsom exchanged a handshake (or whatever passes for a handshake in the Lakelands) with Amalric. Gruffly, he spoke: "I am glad that you have recovered your faith in yourself." He paused awkwardly. "Take care." Horsom turned away quickly and went out to saddle his horse, vaguely embarrassed by his uncharacteristic display of emotion.

Once the five companions were underway, Horsom wondered aloud about their next step. "Selanil, you are the obvious choice to track anyone leaving the town. Is it wise for us to split up though? It might be the best course of action, but I'm not sure. What are everyone's thoughts?"

 

[Samuel Leming]

As the rat questions his reason for being here, Maldordo winces inwardly that he didn't consider that these country rodents would be less cosmopolitan than other intelligent rats he's met. After Norby finishes his point about not wasting food, Maldordo goes on, "I'm not here because of any of your past fights or past meals. As a mater of fact, I'm not here to offer either of you any harm at all." With that, Maldordo sits down and takes a casual, but brief, look at the smaller rat as it circles around.

"I, and some fellows, are here in Kell's Reach to hunt down the manticore that you may have heard about. What I'm doing in this mill at this particular time is keeping an eye on the miller, who we know is not only worshipping one of the evil ancient gods, but may actually be planning to call on this horrible deity for direct aid against his enemies. The miller intends to hold a meeting here at the mill at noon today to summon or conjure something to destroy the manticore. Anything from the old gods powerful enough to kill the manticore will be an even worse threat. Bad news for humans. Bad news for cats. Bad news for rats. I don't think the miller fully understands the danger he's about to inflict on himself and the people he cares for. I'm here to watch and interfere if I can."

"While I'm waiting, I figure it would be wise to talk to you to see if you know anything about the manticore, the miller, or some of the fey creatures that live around here. I thought I saw signs of other fey when I was exploring in here last night."

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Selanil listens carefully to the arguments presented by his companions without comment. Once the decision seems to be to keep an eye on the village, he nods in agreement. "I will go along with the majority, despite the fact that I believe that certain situations require more direct intervention, this being one of them. As we are all in this together however, I will defer to the majority. Let us find the best place to watch the village that we can and still remain hidden. If this plan shows no success after one day, I suggest that we revisit the other options at that time."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Selanil listens carefully to the arguments presented by his companions without comment. Once the decision seems to be to keep an eye on the village, he nods in agreement. "I will go along with the majority, despite the fact that I believe that certain situations require more direct intervention, this being one of them. As we are all in this together however, I will defer to the majority. Let us find the best place to watch the village that we can and still remain hidden. If this plan shows no success after one day, I suggest that we revisit the other options at that time."

Horsom nods in agreement. "Sounds good to me. What if we re-evaluate in mid-afternoon? If there is anyone reporting to the manticore, he'll have made his move by then. That way, if the manticore is still bloated from its last.. meal, we still have time to catch it at the farmhouse."

 

[Raven Crowking]

"While I'm waiting, I figure it would be wise to talk to you to see if you know anything about the manticore, the miller, or some of the fey creatures that live around here. I thought I saw signs of other fey when I was exploring in here last night."

"You mean the little sneak with its poisoned needles? Not much of a threat to anything what can think its way around a trap. Isn't that right, pet?"

"Right as rot, my love." The second rat stopped moving. It was now in flanking position.

"Miller shouldn't be surprised if he hears voices in an old mill," Norby continued, his voice taking on a sing-song effect. "Miller shouldn't be surprised if he asks for advice, and what, someone answers him, right? Here's a secret for you." The rat's eyes glitter wickedly. "Miller's grandfather, maybe the Miller's grandfather's grandfather, he built this mill by the stream. He built it out of what was lying around. He built it where stones were easy to come by, and where he didn't have to carry them far. You see what I mean? No? Dwarfie Run isn't the only barrow in Kell's Reach, is it, pet?"

"No, Norbert. There's another."

"It's all barrow stones, this. Built over another barrow, long ago. Bones down under our feet. Come out to these old stones and pray, ask for guidance, who knows what might answer, right? Maybe this miller will summon dead warriors to do his bidding. Maybe there's old spirits tied up in these stones, might help him. Maybe somebody whispered sweet nothings in his ear."

The second rat snickered.

"Ah, now, my trixie Beatrix, amusing as it may be to those of us whose lot is to live down among the bones, I don't think this fine feline fellow is quite so tickled. So, let me tell you a thing or two to ease your mind, Maldordo. First, I can speak whispered human speech with the best of them, so the miller's plan is sound enough as any I've ever had. And a rat knows a thing or two about traps, if he's to be long in the world, I can tell you. And don't get that look on your face, because I didn't tell him to sacrifice no children, either! Where he got that idea, I don't know.

"Other thing I'll tell you is this: My Trix and I are a might peckish, and neither one of us has taken a bite out of you. By which I mean to say that we're rats, yes, but we're country rats. Not bad as rats go. None of your dockside dealings for us, right? So, when you're talking to your fine human friends you might want to remember us, and make sure that the miller is buried close to the mill." The rat licked his lips. "He'd like that, you know. We'd see to it that little bits of him were spread about, as it were."

 

[Samuel Leming]

"So, Norbert, I'd be grateful to hear more about this trap you've tricked this foolish miller into. There'll be other village folk here, so I hope it's nothing generally dangerous. I've been in Kell's Reach only one day and I've already grown to dislike your miller, so I suspect it's more than hunger driving you to seek his death."

"I may not be able to arrange the miller's burial, but since I believe you've been straight with me I'll make sure you two have a feast. No, you'll have two feasts. You and Beatrix will be among the select few rats that know what a manticore tastes like."

"You wouldn't happen to know where I can find the little sneak with the needles, do you? Its name could be helpful too."

 

[Raven Crowking]

"Sorry, not among my list of contacts," Norbert said. "Though it did land on the mill roof last night."

"Oh, Norby's plan is a clever one," Beatrix cooed.

"Right you are there, my love," Norbert agreed. "See, what I told him to do was to armor himself as best he could. Then he's to take somewhat like a big hook or a harpoon, and tie it to a tree. Then he's to go out at night and stand there 'til the beast comes flappity-flapping along. Then he's got to lure it close, see? Play dead if he must. Then oof! he stabs the beast with the hook and it can't fly away. Probably kill him then. Maybe not. Maybe too busy trying to get away. Maybe too busy dealing with the archers, what come out of hiding right about then. Either way, the beast is gone. Maybe the miller is gone, too. Then his sons inherit the mill." The rat made a motion like a shrug. "Better way to die than hanging, and after you stumbled across his winter activities, his future stopped at the end of a rope."