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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3362895" data-attributes="member: 11760">Renraw tugs on his chain in an effort to get Wormy moving back in the direction of town. Katadid blinks in agitation, snapped out of the comfortable pattern he had established with the kobold."Um, wait. The cairn ... my questions," he stammers. He turns to Wormy. "A moment. Just a moment."He walks up to Tucker, pulling at his sleeve."Th-the cairn. I want ... Well, I haven't," He sighs deeply, obviously flustered. He turns, finding Hazel. "Lessons, you'll need lessons.""Kat? I know you really want to investigate the barrow, but Bufer's life could depend on you going with Tucker and translating," Hazel says, ducking down and trying to catch the young wizard's eye. "You're right, though, I do want those lessons. And you can start teaching me Draconic tomorrow while we hike back out to the barrow so you can investigate. I'll keep you company all day long in that place if you like."Renraw whines, jerking the chain again, which yanks Wormy, drawing a fierce look from Tucker."We're not waiting for Tiberius, we're waiting for Bufer," Renraw snaps, "Which is why we're not waiting here. Now Wormy, I and your right hand are going to go the orchard. If you want to come with us, then fine; if not, get chewing."Care to come along, Kat? Your linguistic skills will be valuable, and like Hazel says, the cairn will be waiting for you tomorrow. Half of today is already wasted; come back tomorrow and you can spend the entire day exploring. It'll be fun."Staring intently at the ground, Katadid nods."Sorry," he mutters to Wormy as the group begins to move. "Distractions. So, Tiberius, yes. Is he familiar to you? Oh, and think of your question. Things must remain even. Can't have any odds, no.""Leach," Renraw interrupts, "You are, of course, free to go where you wish, but don't for a minute believe that this lawman has your best interests at heart. If you would have preferred to stay back with the girl, explore the barrow, and perhaps get to the bottom of this 'Tiberius' puzzle, you should have said so. I would have been more than happy to ask the kobold your questions. If, on the other hand, you actually wanted to come with us, of course, I offer no argument. I just want to make sure you know that the choice is yours, and definitely not his. You're not the one in shackles."Renraw takes a breath and continues on in a sober tone."Sometimes, I find, when someone like that one wants you to do something, it may be the best thing for all parties not to cooperate. I'm not saying that's the case in this instance, of course. I'm sure you're well aware, those in power rarely have the same interests as you and I, and in most cases they actively work against those interests. Those who would pursue knowledge are dangerous and frightening to people in positions of power because such investigations could reveal just how tenuous their authority really is. Our Gallaway here is a small man, a small man with a small mind. Do not allow him to limit you."Katadid sputters, trying to process all of this."Please, just let us ... Please." He turns back to the kobold with a desperate expression.Wormy looks between the two wizards, listening intently."No, I do not know a Tiberius. That sounds like a human name. The only one I have ever met before today is Khenemet-Apep," the kobold says, referring to the Wizard of Green Mountain. He thinks a moment, then turns back to Kat. "A question for a question. How many constables and deputies are there in your town?"Katadid looks as though he were struck."Ah, I was expecting we would get to that. Disappointing, but not unexpected." Kat looks toward the constable and back to the kobold. "I don't care about such things. And, it's ... it's insulting ... to both of us. That isn't the purpose of this conversation. At least not for me. You can ask another question. I won't ask you any questions that will hurt your people."Wormy snorts."The dead will learn nothing from the dead. Any more questions you have, you will have to torture me for the answers, servant to a gnome."Katadid boggles at this. He looks from Renraw to Tucker and back to Wormy."Are-are you sure?" Kat asks quietly. "Who is the 'she' Pick mentioned? The new 'big boss?' What do you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? How do you go to the bathroom?"His mouth opens and closes helplessly, like a trout pulled from the Moss River and now lays gasping on the shore.Renraw laughs. It's not a pleasant laugh."And what if I answer instead?" he asks, addressing Wormy. "Could we continue our little question-and-answer game then?"Renraw sees his face reflected in the dark glass of Wormy's goggles."That depends on how my question is answered." the kobold replies."Why, truthfully, of course. What use do I have for those hayseeds? You've seen me betray some of them once already; imagine how I must feel about a whole town full of them?""It's not a game," Katydid pleads in Imperial. To calm his agitation, he begins knocking on the trunks of passing trees."Then answer, wizard," Wormy replies to Renraw, keeping his voice even and calm. "And know that my tribe watches Apple Town closely. If you lie, you will need to begin your much-delayed torture."</blockquote>

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