16 May 593h
You settle down for the night, and each take your turn at standing watch. Through the night you occasionally hear the howl of wolves and, even more occasionally, hear something moving around just outside the lighted area shown by your campfire. Whenever you move beyond the rim of your camp, the creature making the noises moves away, sometimes quite rapidly. All in all – a normal peaceful night in the wilderness.
Next morning again dawns quite fair, although there are a few light clouds in the sky. Kerim loads the mules differently and there is space on two of the mules for a small, light person to ride. The position will not be particularly comfortable, but will be fairly secure.
As you journey on you see the land to each side of the path is heavy scrub, there are gorse and heather bushes and knee high, tough, wiry grass. There is the occasional tree or bush. As you travel you disturb the occasional pheasant, and once a herd of small deer are startled and bolt away as you ride past.
Approaching mid day you see something on the road travelling towards you, as it draws nearer it you can see that it is a train of three mules, all heavily loaded. In front of the mules walks a sturdy dwarf in chain armour, another dwarf leads each mule and another four dwarves act as flankers and rear guard.
During his turn at watch, the cold hours before dawn, Aenis finds Rolf rather taciturn. He seems far more focused on the night sounds than the mage. Occasionally, rustling sounds draw his attention. He moves in that direction often, but never goes out of sight of the Aenis.
As the light waxes and the others stir from their blankets, Rolf asks if there is anything to report during the watches. Afterwards, he assigns duties, some he tasks with striking camp, others with preparing breakfast. While they are about that, he pulls Elsbeth aside. Moving toward the scrub about camp, he says, "Something was moving around out here last night and I'm hoping that between the two of us, we can figure out what it was." He moves ahead, carefully seeking out any sign of the source of last nights shy visitor. [OOC: John, does Rolf find anything worthy of note?]
Getting ready for the march, Rolf checks with Kerim on the matter and then speaks to Smilo and Mandrake. "Kerim has found a place on his mules for the two of you."
Starting off on the days march, Rolfs mood is light. Towns are very nice and all and the chance to enjoy a brew is a rare prize for him, but it's the wild that holds his heart. He pauses to watch as the herd of deer bolt, enjoying the sight. As the sun rises towards midday, Rolf watches the oncoming band of dwarves. He notes their number, their war-like bearing. He knew of dwarves of course, but he'd never actually met one. As they draw near, he calls out [in Norse], "Greetings, friend dwarves. How do you fair this fine day?"
Kerim will have woken early, laid out his prayer mat and prayed for a fruitful journey. After breakfast, he would have approached Rolf & Mandrake and told them about re-arranging the mules' loads so that Smilo & Mandrake could ride.
As others put the fire out and put the tents down, he would have prepared the mules for travel and settled the loads so they were balanced.
He would help Smilo & Mandrake get onto the mules if required. If given the choice, he will arrange that Smilo ride a mule closer to him so they can talk. [I assume both Smilo & Mandrake take up the offer?]
He asks Rolf if arrangements have been made to get provisions from the villages on route, as there is now only 4 days rations on the mules.
As the dwarves approach, he inspects the mule's loads closely as he can and the obvious armed guard. He listens for a reply to Rolf's greeting.
OOC: Rolf finds nothing unusual. There have been a number of animals around here recently - at least one wild boar and a giant beetle of some type are the most obvious tracks.
Peter gets up and goes on to make breakfast for the group before cleaning and packing the various cooking utensils, and passes them to Kerim for loading on the mules.
He then prepares for the day's march and takes his assigned place in the party. During the morning he darts out two or three times to examine plants and once jumps back, with a small squeal, as he disturbs a pheasant.
After the dwarves are spotted, he stays close to the party, and ignores any interesting plants that may be growing on the margins of the path.
Mandrake grumbles at the offer of riding on the mules and puts up some resistance, but it is obvious that the rest of the party are more concerned with speed than he and not wanting to push things too far he concedes after a while. This does not, however, stop him from complaining and all the way along the trail the occasional comment can be heard, but his complaints are kept generally to Gnomish.
When the group stop at the approach of the dwarves, Mandrake breathes a large sigh of relief and jumps straight down from the mule. As Rolf calls his greetings to the dwarves, Mandrake scurries to the front of the party and, removing his cap and bowing deeply, calls out in dwarven “Well met cousin dwarves, I am Mandrake Underroot of Deep Delve. We are coming from Dingaic bound for Farfobest, whilst you I assume are of Farfobest and headed for Dingaic. The road there was quiet as we travelled it yesterday.”
As Mandrake straightens, it is with a little stiffness in his back, and he stands there rubbing some life back into first it and then his bottom. He then adds with a laugh “I envy you your mode of transit, these humans are in such a rush that they would have me, a gnome, sat on a mule like a barrel.”
Rolf frowns slightly, less than pleased at Mandrakes presumption, but remains silent as he patiently waits for the dwarves response.
[Before the dwarves] "Don't know if water'd quence this thirst," replied the hobbit, "if you catch m' meanin. What's in the barrels?" "Anyways, a story. So this Bufanese walks into a bar and there's a brass lamp on the bar and he touches it and a genie appears and gives him three wishes. Ah, faith - I wish for a bottle of Port that will never run dry. And poof! there it is. The Bufan drinks it, holds it up, it fills again. Drinks it down and it refills. The genie says, 'And what are your other two wishes?' Aw, just give me two more like this one." Smilo brays a laugh and slaps his thigh. It's evident that he's quite please with himself. [Dwarves appear] He starts climbing down from the mule, dangles a bit from the tack, and drops to the ground.
As the dwarves approach you see that they are all dressed in studded leather armour, carry small shields and war hammers, four them carry light cross bows. It is obvious the cross bows are loaded and held ready although not pointing directly at you. The pack mules each carry two closed carrying baskets slung across their back.
At Rolf’s greeting the leader calls back, in Norse “Greetings to you human, where do you travel?”. Then turning to Mandrake, bows slightly and says “Azzak fe dina, komme ka broten.”
Elsbeth had slept as soundly as one might expect and was up at first light, cheerful and happy. She had investigated with their leader and found him to be more interesting than she had at first thought. *A nice fellow,* she decided.
It took all her will to not burst into song as they traveled. Her eyes took in the beauty around her, her senses tingled with the life of the world. Her mare's gait was as gentle as she had thought and she altogether found the trip wonderful.
The appearance of the Dwarves made her curious. She frowned at the Norse speach... she only knew a few words. Their reply to Mandrake was as incomprehensible. Still, she watched, staying in position, calming her horse with a whisper.
Rolf had not understood Mandrakes words, but he did catch Dingaic and Farfobest. Assuming the gnome had answered the information, Rolf confirms it, "As my companion has stated, we are headed towards Farfobest. And you?"
[Talking to Smilo]
As they travel, Kerim will swap tales of the sea for the Halfling's
stories. He will, reluctantly, slowly, and with much humming and
arrghing, explain that the barrels contain wine (...good wine...).
The cloth, the box of spices and the wine are trade goods. It is, he
will point out, common sense, not to taste (or spoil) your own goods
before they are sold (for there is no profit in that). He is expected
to make a profit from selling these goods and it is his duty to do so
(the family expects it).
[While Travelling]
He keeps looking back, frowns and has moments of deep thought. Then
he mutters to himself in Midani "Must do something about this.".
Then he notices Elsbeth's happiness and shouts "My lady, this compares nothing to the rolling deck of a good ship and the ocean's charms.". Then, remembering her reaction to the sea journey, he continues respectfully "But there are many forms of beauty and maybe mine differs from yours".
[Dismounting on Meeting the Dwarves]
He apologises to Smilo for the comfort of the ride, but before he can
apologise to Mandrake, the gnome has gone to greet the dwarves.
[Note: Both Smilo and Mandrake were riding mules belonging
to the party, the ones with Kerim's trade good have no space]
[On Greeting the Dwarves]
After listening to Rolf (and Mandrake) greet the dwarves, and noting
the direction that the crossbows are pointing, Kerim drops his hand
to his belt and rests it on a strip of leather that's tucked into the
belt.
On hearing their reply, he asks Smilo in a lowered tone (if he is earshot), "Do you understand this tongue they speak in?"
At Rolf’s greeting the leader calls back, in Norse “Greetings to you human, where do you travel?”. Then turning to Mandrake, bows slightly and says “Azzak fe dina, komme ka broten.”
Mandrake laughs and bows his head to the leader.
The lead dwarf replies, "We head for Dingaic, and will endure at least one more night in the open, but if you get a hurry on you should make Farfobest before the gates are closed for the evening. You look as if you have trade goods?"
He half turns and calls over his shoulder, "Fazzad me kolina bik famie, toe benni fozarta." and you notice that the following dwarves seem to relax slightly.
"Kerim here," he waves the man forward, "is the merchant with the trade goods. Kerim." he nods to the dwarves, indicating that Kerim should do the talking about trade goods.
On hearing his name, Kerim will find someone to hold the reins of the lead mule, the closest person (Smilo, Aenis or Peter?), thank them for doing this, and go to stand by Rolf & Mandrake.
He shouts out:
"I have many types of cloth, good strong Linen, tightly woven Wool,
the finest Velvet and Brocade to embellish any garment. I have spices
to make the dullest food taste better and two barrels of fine wine to
complement any feast. In addition, I have pelts of rare and exotic
animals for those that wish them."
"May I ask what you carry? Can I assume it arms or armour perhaps? Forgive me, but I understood that Farfobest produce the finest in the area."
With that he will, with a flourish of his arm, bow, rise and wink at Rolf.
OOC: Hey Guys, I'm at work - I wouldn't normally post on a Sunday.
"I hight Bofak, and yes I travel from Farfobest trading arms, amongst other things." Replies the Dwarf. "Will you show me the brocades?"
Slightly later after inspecting the brocade
"I will give a longsword for this bolt of brocade, but only if you do
not sell the other bolt when you get to Farfobest." He says with a
grin. "It will make a matched dress for the wife and waistcoat for
me."
Kerim will go into a huddle with the dwarf. The others will hear talk of Long Swords, Daggers and Spearheads. There is (what appears to be) an excitable discussion about acceptable profit, with much waving of arms and pointing (to the dwarves mules and the bolt of cloth).
Kerim and the dwarf will separate, Kerim to place the bolt of brocade by his mules and the dwarf back to his own mules.
It is obvious from Kerim's stance he is expecting to replace the bolt of cloth with weaponry.