When the pants arrive you turn around and put them on. They're brown, some kind of thick canvas, no pockets, with a built-in drawstring.
"There's so much I don't know, I hardly know what to ask about. Are there lots of races of people besides humans and goblins?"
"The goblins and trolls are the only ones I'd call "people". There's the occasional gnome and I think they must have communities somewhere but I've never heard of any. The gremlins are just horrible ravenous monsters. Then you have forest sprites like dryads and pixies, mountain sprites like oreads and sylphs, and water sprites like naiads and nixies. I've only heard vague stories about them. "
"The goblins talked about enemies, what's going on with that conflict?"
"The goblins and the trolls have been bickering for a long time. They both moved in around the same time and neither side is satisfied with their neighbor. The trolls command the mountains to the east, the goblins command the lowlands to the west. Right now the trolls have the river diverted or blocked off or something and it puts a crimp in the goblins' lifestyle. So the goblins are preparing to strike back by building war machines. "
"What year is it now? What's happened since the Fair?"
"We don't know exactly what year it is. Probably about 90 years since the Fair, which was 2000 according to the things we've found. Sometimes there's a commemorative piece made for the Fair that survived because it wasn't near Stachura."
"Anything you think I should know I'd like to hear, from your plans and goals to whatever problems you expect, even to how I might be able to help you if you need help - I know so little I don't even know what I should be asking."
"Right now we're just keeping an eye on the goblins and seeing what happens. Anything that weakens both sides is great for everyone else. But an end to the conflict would be a problem because then the goblins would be unchecked."
"We're always trying to plan an attack on the wizard Durden to retrieve Claire and Charlotte's voices - and there is no doubt his mansion holds powerful magic we could use."
"We could scout the mountain abbey that the trolls use as a fortress. It is a ruin from long ago and may hold ancient secrets."
"We've also never really explored in Stachura. There may be answers there."
"The gremlins have a lair near here, to the west. They drag their victims there to be eaten alive, which means there's probably a concentration of equipment, magic items, and treasure. Anything we can't use ourselves could be a bargaining chip or trade goods."
I met a creature named Nah in the floorboards of a house. He called himself a Cramp. What do you know about them?
"Cramps are little weirdos who are obsessed with squeezing themselves into the smallest possible space. Mostly harmless."
Pearl has both hands contorted above the lock, holding six different tools in all her fingers, pressing at hidden catches in the lock. The latch finally snaps open! She sticks a piece of wood in the lock so it won't accidentally close again. As she's putting her tools away you slide the book over to your side of the table and crack it open.
The first page is a warning to thieves, a curse:
Let any one who steals this book, or fails to return it, be consumed by plague and pestilence so that his eyes rot and his innards burst forth to strangle him. May his gods abandon him to waste and sorrow. May his wife find joy in the arms of his enemies. May his children wither and die before him. May all water turn to dust ere it moisten his lips. May he fall into a yawning crack in the earth and be tormented forever by the sizzling forks of Hell. Do you continue reading?
Pearl, Claire, and Charlotte are here.
A Big Heavy Book [Unlocked] (10 ENC) is on the table.
Equipment
Clothes: Fur Cloak, Trousers, Belt with Dagger Sheath
Armor: None
In Hand: None
Satchel [0/10]
Dagger
Bottle
Floppy Boot
Rocks x3
Black's Magical Reference (5 ENC)
Sharp Stick
Torch
Lame Torch
Sausages x2 (1 ENC)
Bread Loaf
Jug (2 pints hard cider)
Small Items (No Weight)
Compass
Pocketknife
Engraved Lighter
Pack of Cards
Ceramic Ocarina
Handful of Bugs
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