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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brigit Deeperdown" data-source="post: 325104" data-attributes="member: 2437">Brigit and Mother Scrang's Exchange"A'right Scrang, Ah need ta be healed. Wha's it gonna cost me?" Brigit asked."Well ya see's, me old bones been achin' lately. I be needin' some ointment for me feet." Mother Scrang said slyly."Ah've some Keoghtem's ointment, if tha's what ya mean. Ah'm hard pressed ta let tha' go tho. Are ya sure ya wouldna want a nice ivory statue ta brighten up tha place?" Brigit bartered."No, I don't be needin' any more useless ornaments on me shelves. Ya can already see me lovely stuffed dearies." Mother Scrang pointed out various poorly stuffed animals crowding her shelves. "But I would be lookin' for some pretty ornaments for me fingers. The one's I got be gettin' a bit tight." she pulled absent-mindedly at a ring that was a few sizes too small."Ah'm hesitant ta part with me gems. But as Ah'm fellin' very weak at tha moment, Ah s'pose Ah can part wi' me ruby ring.""Nah, I don't like it. Red don't suit me hair color" Scrang paused for a cackle as she lifted some grey strands of stringy hair. "But me daughter would like it. Ya could give it to me from your little man. I could pass it along to me daughter. Ya can be bettin' she would like a ring. An engagement ring so's to speak.""Ah don't think Ah could answer for mah friend tha' way. But if ya be willin' ta take it for a bit O healin' Ah would be very appreciative.""We'll see, we'll see. What else have ya got for me?""Ah s'pose Ah could part wi' mah emerald ring. Bein' as special ta me as it is, I wouldna hope ya ask anythin' more O me."Mother Scrang took the proffered ring and slipped it onto her crooked middle finger. A crooked smile formed on her wizened features."Ahhh, even with a beard ya have good taste. I'll heal ya for the two rings-" Brigit breathed a sigh of relief as Scrang paused, "-An the ointment for me feet of course." Scrang finished with a cackle. "Done. Ah don' suppose ya can hurry it up a li'l? This armor is wearin' heavy on me.""Tsk, these things take time. Ya don't want me to screw it up now, do ya?""No, no.""Alrighty then. Ya best be layin' down then. This sometimes makes a body light-headed and I don't want ya falling about on the floor."Mother Scrang cleared off a pallet for Brigit to lay down. Brigit carefully settled herself down and lay waiting tensely."Get outta your armor! Ya don't think I can do any healin' through that, do ya?"Brigit groaned as she sat back up. She grumbled in dwarven as she struggled out of her full plate armor. Mother Scrang looked on, cackling every once in a while. In a few minutes Brigit was back on the pallet, dressed in her tunic and breeches. Mother Scrang started flapping her arms wildly, reminding Brigit of a chicken trying to fly. Scrang spoke, but it was in no language Brigit understood. She began to grow sleepy. Her eyelids drooped of their own accord. Soon Brigit drifted off to a peaceful sleep.She felt herself gradually coming to, unaware of how much time passed. She heard a quiet voice at her ear. "And you'll know what to do when ya get there." She couldn't tell if it was part of a waking dream or if Mother Scrang whispered to her. The statement filled her with dread though.Brigit took a few more minutes to fully awake. When she did, Mother Scrang was stooped over her. "How ya feelin' me dearie?""Ah'll admit, Ah've not felt better in many days.""Wll then me dearie, how do ya suppose you're going to be gettin' back out of town now? You're quite visible and the little man be gone."Brigit recognized a sales pitch when she heard one. "Ah don't know, but Ah'm sure ya 'ave somethin' for it.""I suppose I could drag out me invisibility draught to help ya out, for a price of course.""Why am Ah not surprised? Ah s'pose Ah would be needin' tha'. Now tha' we're on tha subject O potions tho, Ah was curious about any healin' potions ya might have. After all, now tha' yer gainin' a son-in-law, ya might wanna keep 'im. If he falls ill Ah'll need a way ta cure 'im." Brigit said with a conspiratorial grin."Don't you be threatenin' me daughter's suitor, dearie. I don't wanna haveta turn ya into a toad.""No no, Ah'm very thankful for yer help. Ah was jus' lookin' out fer yer best interests in our good friend.""Don't ya worry about that. Ah've got a potion that'll take care of that. It's a potion of love, among other things." Scrang cackled. "What are ya lookin' for in particular?""What's tha best ya got?""Well what do ya have for me in trade?""Ah've got this enchanted chainmail and shield." Brigit pulled the items from her voluminous sack."What's it look like to ya, that I'm runnin' an armory here?""Perhaps not, but ya asked.""Fair enough. Ya know I like rings" Scrang let the statement dangle."Sorry madam, all tha reast of mah rings are stuck on mah fingers.""Ahh well, what else ya got? That ya be willin' to part with, that is.""Ah've got a special shield or two.""Well for two of those 'special' shields I could part with maybe one of my best potions. It's sure to cure what ails ya." Again with the cackle."Ah don' think Ah can take tha' trade. Ya've gotta have more than a single potion, otherwise tha deal's off.""This is me best stuff. It's good for what ails ya, poison, wounds, fallin' down big holes, whatever. Scrang considered for a few moments. "I suppose I could offer ya two of them.""No, Ah canna take less than three.""Hmmm, ya drive a hard bargain, dearie. I could part with two of the good ones and maybe one of my weaker draughts. But I want somethin' a little more in return." Mother Scrang suddenly looked very pious, "After all, have ya seen the shack I live in? It be needed some repairs. Otherwise me daughter and me new son-in-law won't have a place to live." She eyed the sack Brigit held, "You've got some nice jewelry in there, I'd wager.""Ah already told ya, Ah'm not gonna give up any more jewelry."Mother Scrang looked very put out. "How about some gold then? I'm a starvin' old woman. Gold I can use to buy meself some food.""Ah don't think Ah can part with any of mah gold. Ah worked hard for it. Ah got another shield ya can sell fer gold.""What would an old woman like me do with all these shields? After all, Duke Stephen has been acting really odd as of late. And then there's the Baron in the castle of Fort Doom. It's said he's been really friendly with the Duke lately. It's all very strange. People comin' through town buyin' up all the weapons and armor they can find for a great war or somethin'. I don't need the extra suspicion with all of your armor. You best be on your way. My final offer is two good potions and one weaker one in trade for your shield and fifty gold pieces."Grumbling, Brigit counted out the money and handed over the shield in return for the three healing potions and the invisibility potion. She quickly downed the invisibility potion and gradually faded away. Brigit left Mother Scrang to her own devices and headed for the stables. Before reaching the wooden building she recalled the words she heard, half dreaming, "And you'll know what to do when ya get there." A shiver of dread coursed down her spine. Mother Scrang did something to her. A myriad of possibilities ran through her mind. What if she was going to force her to do something to Milo? Make her bring him to her for her daughter? Brigit couldn't stand to be compelled to do anything against her will. She was a dwarf, she thought to herself, dwarves are their own people, always have been, always will be! What if it's something more sinister than that? What reason do they have to trust Mother Scrang after all? Nothing other than the word of Otis, she didn't trust him much either. The fear of unknown after affects from Mother Scrang's 'healing' settled like a cold stone in the pit of her stomach. She had to warn Milo, in case she was forced to do something against her will.Brigit picked up her pace, heedless of the sound of her armor and the odd expressions of the townspeople she passed. Many folk thought a shade passed by, it's ghostly chains rattling as it moved through town. Brigit glanced about before entering Otis' stables. Seeing no one around, she burst through the unlatched door."We may have a problem."</blockquote>

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