"You three have more knowledge about the area, and gremlins, so we should all vote and go with the majority. I suggest we leave at dawn."
Claire shakes her head, uses two fingers pointed down to make a walking-person figure go past, then waits looking at the ceiling a moment. Then she holds her hand palm-down and raises it up and out. Pearl says, "Before dawn?" and Claire nods. Pearl says "That does allow us to leave without the goblins noticing us, which might help."
Pearl looks to Charlotte, who shrugs.
Pearl says, "I say a bit before dawn, so we have more of the day to search in safety."
Going with something like a majority, everyone finishes the last touches of packing and preparation. Charlotte fashions shoes for you by wrapping cloth around some sandal soles that just about fit you. It'll be more comfortable than bare feet anyway. You notice their gear is a mixture of this kind of makeshift stuff and some actually nice things that were made by some craftsman.
And then to bed. There are three curtained areas at the back of the treehouse. Pearl must slip around the table of a kitchen area to get into hers. There are simple beds, with rough wood frames and, from the sound of it, springy wood slats, with bedding on top made from worn blankets and piles of furs. There are some rough shelves and hanging woven baskets with each woman's personal things. Looks cozy. Claire gathers a couple covers from each bed and plops them on the largest couch for you.
There's a potbellied stove that radiates heat long after the fire dies. It's been a long day and you're finally getting truly warm. You drift off to sleep listening to the creak and sway of the treehouse, the howl of the wind outside, and the incredible snoring coming from one of the three in the back.
You find yourself walking through a forest in the dark. Autumn leaves crunch underfoot. There's a bonfire ahead and some garrulous singing. You stop, paralyzed, at the edge of the firelight. A bunch of horrible trolls cavort around the fire. They sing:
Troll have forest, troll have field
Troll will always find a meal
Troll be hungry, search da land
Troll will feast on little man
Troll be smart, troll be swift
Troll make easy heavy lift
Troll take bite of arm or shield
Troll make hurts dat never heal
Troll will crush and stab and cut
Troll be always on de hunt
Troll lay waste to sheep and cow
Troll grind little man under plough
Troll like thunder and troll like fire
Troll cut wood and melt da iron
Troll take anything see or hear
Troll bring pain and troll bring fear
The tallest troll suddenly rises to his full height, towering above the rest, sparks from the fire flying upward behind his silhouette. He walks toward you as the rest continue chanting, hunching lower with each step, singing just the final line of each verse with the others as they sing the verses again in backwards order.
Troll grind little man under plough
He's halfway to you, but you can't move. You're like a rabbit in a wire trap.
Troll make hurts dat never heal
He's at arm's length, and now hunched down so his face, his grinning slavering face is right in front of yours.
Troll will feast on lit-tle man
He grabs your belly with his huge, impossibly strong fingers and grasps it, twisting. His hot breath finally wakes you with a start and you open your eyes to someone leaning over you in the darkness, nudging you. Guess it's time to wake up.
There's a feast of cold meat and bread, and ale, which you help devour. Your stomach stops rumbling.
Anything you want to do before you leave?
Pearl, Claire, and Charlotte are here.
a Big Heavy Book [Unlocked] (10 ENC) is on the table.
a Densely-Written Love Letter is on the table.
a Sharp Stick lies across the table.
Equipment
Clothes: Fur Cloak, Trousers, Belt with Dagger Sheath and Pouch, Floppy Boot Hat, Cloth-Wrapped Sandals
Armor: None
In Hand: None
Satchel [0/10]:Empty
Flimsy Goblin Spear
Dagger
Bottle
Rocks x3
Black's Magical Reference (5 ENC)
Torch
Lame Torch
Sausages x2 (1 ENC)
Bread Loaf
Jug (2 pints hard cider)
Small Items (No Weight) In Belt Pouch
Compass
Pocketknife
Engraved Lighter
Pack of Cards
Ceramic Ocarina
Handful of Bugs
Engraved Gold Engagement Ring
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