The human approaches you, holding out a be-ringed dark hand.
"Greetings, my friend!" he beams.
"Are you quite alright? You seem rather well-covered, even for these cold climes.""Fair," you reply in a rough, croaking voice,
"but keep your distance, friend - I am a leper."[Liar: 8+4(S)+4(You're a bloody mess)] The man actually leaps back in fright, then immediately recovers and assumes a submissive posture; hands folded together and head bowed.
"Forgive me, my friend," says the man,
"I mean no disrespect. Are you... are you contagious?""Not sure. Best we don't find out.""Ah, yes. Yes, indeed!" The man rummages through the pockets of his furs and comes out with a cheap jade charm on a leather thong. He tosses it to you and you catch it.
"Here, my friend. A gift, to help you with your sufferings. May Ornal ease your pain."You look at the charm, a stylised representation of a badger. [History: 17+6] You recognise the symbol as being that of a Confederate goddess; Ornal, goddess of healing, bread and torture. You recall Ornal having a temple in Waterhills where the priests used to enchant such tokens with Life Magic to give them healing properties. After a Cruel Knives raid a hundred years ago killed off all the magician priests they stopped making them. You strongly suspect this is not one of the aforementioned charms, but perhaps the rubes believe they still work.
"Thank you for your gift, friend. You do me great honour to bestow such a priceless token upon me.""You are most welcome. Allow me to introduce myself, friend; I am Rist Easespices, traveller and merchant, and these are my guards and companions. Perhaps you have heard of me?""Ah... I am afraid not, but I am not as versed in the ways of trade as yourself. My name is Gr- is Locke. Locke -" (You struggle for a moment to translate the goblin words into human.)
"- Inkweaver. You seem foreign to these parts, if you do not mind my saying.""Indeed I am! I come from the west; the beautiful sands of the Long Dune are my home. There I traded silks and gems, spices, slaves and weapons." Rist sighs.
"Alas, circumstances - financial circumstances - forced me to leave my homeland in a hurry and I have been struggling to set up new routes in these gods-forsaken swamps. What of you? I see you have your own goods to shift."[Liar: 15+4]
"Ah, me? I... am just doing the rounds. Furs, swedes, you know. Going to trade them on at Mudcups." Rist seems to believe you. He snorts with derision.
"Mudcups? Hah! A backwater town for such fine goods. If I may see your merchandise?" Rist walks around to look at your cart before you can stop him; you hurriedly move your cloak over your own satchel and the package of Nal meat.
"Yes, very good furs here. I could get a better price for them at Waterhills when I make my way there. But Mudcups is the other way, do you have another supplier to meet?""Ah, well. I'm heading to Pilemurk first-""Oh, I see! You are trading for the Nightsbane? I am afraid you are out of luck my friend, I just bought most of their stock!"You know about Nightsbane, though you haven't seen it in person. It is a particular herb that grows in the swamps, known for its pungent aroma. In particular, Nightsbane has a very unattractive scent to night creatures and can be enough to discourage night trolls from approaching and ward off bogeymen entirely. Snatchers would often carry nightsbane and crush it against their skin when they needed to conduct a raid under cover of darkness; it is the only safe way to travel alone at night.
"No, no... I have another supplier to meet. But you say you just came from there? Has there been any news?""What, besides all the treasure hunters? Word at the local stable was that some of that goblin tower they stormed last year is trapped and that there might be loot still buried in the old tunnels. There have been a whole bunch of miners and adventurers gathering at Pilemurk, either to try and loot the ruins or get at any ore in the goblin mines. Lots of new trade there, I sold a handful of weapons and tools to the adventurers. Short on space to stay, though; all the old houses have been taken up."You curse beneath your breath. Pilemurk was an easy raiding spot before Swamprazor fell, so there were plenty of empty houses. It was one of the first places you visited, so you shoved your first book drop beneath the floorboards of an abandoned cottage there. Now it seems there is a very real likelihood that it might have been discovered, or the building occupied.
"Ah, but let us get to business, my friend. I would very much like to take those furs off your hands. Perhaps I could trade you something from my own wagon?""Well, if you've any meat that would be ideal...""Not quite what I carry friend, but I have rations for myself and my guards; salted beef and the like. I can certainly trade you those. If you think you can catch some new business I also have some weapons; swords, maces, even a shield that you might be able to flog to one of the new locals in Pilemurk. And of course I still have some spices, Nightsbane, a trio of books I recently picked up from a collector-""Books?" you ask quickly.
"What sort of books?""An old fighting manual, a book on herbs and medical treatment and an elven treatise on camouflage - tigers and such. All very scholarly, but quite rare! Expensive, though, I warn you. I'm not sure if all your furs would be enough for all three, though I've yet to find a buyer. But yes, I have books, and if worst comes to worst I can pay in coin."You breathe a sigh of relief - not your stash, after all. Still, the books would be useful, as would meat and tools. Coin would be easier to exchange, should you wish it.
Rist does not seem likely to block your progress to Pilemurk, though his news is a little concerning. You should probably decide whether/what to trade with him before going on, and how to proceed once you reach Pilemurk. The charm he gave you is a blessing, though; it adds to your disguise as a leper.
Vitality: 3 (Heavy bruising, bound leg wound. Slowly recovering.)
Full
Status: Relieved
Kills: 2 human hunters.
Inventory: traveller's garb & hood
1 Ornal charm (around neck)
2 plain iron hunting knives
1 -iron quill knife-
1 writing kit
crude maps
1 medical kit (+4 to medical checks, 4 uses remaining)
2 days' Nal meat
1 jug of strong spirits
5 sprigs unknown herb (in packet)
In the Wagon
1 lantern (w/ 3 pints of oil)
a fire piston
8 snares
3 bear/man-traps
ragged, formerly fine black clothing
a dozen furs
several jars of pickled swede
Expert Administrator
Proficient Historian |
Proficient Law Scholar
Skilled Geographer
Competent Negotiator
Competent Persuader |
Competent Liar |||
Competent Judge of Intent |
Adequate Dodger ||||
Adequate Leader
Adequate Knife-Fighter
Novice Wrestler ||
Novice Athlete ||
Novice Wound Dresser
Dabbling Butcher |
Dabbling Forager
Dabbling Pump Operator
Dabbling Biter |
Dabbling Stealther ||
Dabbling Suturer
Dabbling Animal Handler |
Languages: Perfect Goblin, Fluent Human, Broken Dwarven, Poor Elven
Contacts
Rist Easespices - A gregarious Sandish trader operating in the Mudcups area.
Author
Topic: Goblin (Read 13539 times)