You say nothing to them, but do take a couple steps forward, watching the me closely. You'd like to really make sure they're on their own way, before you are, however, that doesn't seem to near anytime soon. Instead, they cluster together when you make distance, and exchange thoughts, just so that you cannot hear them. With one eye on guard you proceed, and they do not pursue, by the cottage they remain conversing.
Swiftly you navigate back up from the riverbank, onto the streets. At every turn, you cannot help but expect another nasty surprise, fortunately, no such show up. It's quiet all over, even the fishers stay hidden in their huts. This makes you no less uneasy, however, you are certain there has to be more... The rest of the party better know about this, and further to your convenience, you can spot them from the bridge, already waiting.
"There you are!" Flax greets you, observing your sack got a bit heavier, as did theirs, well supplied indeed. "To how wretched of a corner has destiny led you, ey? And what do we have here?"
Keenly he spots your materials are not the only element changed, and reaches for the vagrant's new weapon. The head he seems to appreciate, but as you have come to expect, he has more to say about this.
"Behold, the arms of a peasant!" he snickers. "I should've figured."
"Oh do believe me, I'll serve you much better with it!" the stoat replies confidently. Although the grinning leader doesn't look too angry, cannot tell whether he's genuinely amused or just handing ridicule.
"Sure, if this you can shred bodies with! Else I'd have a better use for it... And you Black, I see having your own good fun going on! I am much more eager to see what comes of that!"
"Ye, about that..." you mutter, and approach the warrior closer, soon to diminish those high spirits.
"We've come by some unpleasant men, who... Ambushed us, I suppose, to arrange a meeting. Claiming that their master wants to trade with us. They weren't armed but immortals take me, their intentions cannot be pure. Be it gold or our jewels they're after..."
Both humans pick up the serious tone, and Flax responds promptly, signaling with his head to move somewhere less crowdy.
"How did they look?" he asks you on the way, keeping his voice down as you have set the example, and further gesturing to stay close one to another. "Did they have uniforms? Or was it some urchins."
"Neither, but criminals for sure, organized." the vagrant reckons. "If we won their attention there's more to fear than just the few ruffians we've met."
"Ah. So no public official, in this, nor on his behalf?"
"I don't know, but I too worry of how much we didn't see." you say. "Seemed rather bold. I don't know if we're safer in or outside the city, but what's for sure, better not to split up now."
"Certainly up for a ponder." Flax mutters, and takes a long, thorough look at you, halting your progress by the town's edge. "But you're right, everyone had more than enough time to figure we belong together. As for how far their fingers reach, I cannot know, but if we're finished here, we might as well leave..."
"This trouble could very well prove not only burdensome, but dangerous all together." he continues. "Say, before we act, let us have a gander at the map "
"I haven't picked it up yet."
"Then we'll do it now. Come!"
On constant lookout, the four of you skim up the street, and visit the library for the last time as planned. A very straightforward journey it is this way, and in no time both scrolls retrieved. But you do not leave just yet, as Flax rules the place adequate to house your inspection. A quiet corner is all you need, and he bids you to show the parchments.
"Not the pale, lest we'd be stuck till the morrow..." he chooses the script. "Flash the other one, aye, I can handle that."
Briefly he reads through, and once getting hold of your location, lays out the matter.
"Alright, here's where we at. Todoti in its splendour, a good time while it lasted, I suppose."
"Our destination is across the mountains, here, to the lordship of Copnutgashi. Now since we may have company in our tracks, we should give more thought to the path we choose."
"That's new for you." the stoat chortles, and you can't but agree, all the more you pay attention, what does your leader have to say.
"Ey, whatcha gonna do. If we follow the road, we play it safe. The king has the woods on the route cut, so it'd be rather daring for anyone to try to jump us there. And, superior nourishment as well as shelter is available for the duration. The downside comes around..."
"Here. The Joñu now control the pass of Enilus, where man seeks to pass the mountains, and it's not their only chunk of land for us to cross. With their strange customs, it is a feeble rope to step on. Although I do have some insight on how to deal with them, still, anything can go wrong at any time."
"A lot already has, captain." speaks Sas. "And we have endured."
"Only it seems to get worse every time. It is unwise to test fate, unfortunately, the other path is no less perilous. If we step to the wilds again, there's no telling what could befell, especially as we will begin to rise. The mountains are outspoken for the monstra they house, and all who'd come to settle have perished. But given we're few, and hardy travellers indeed, it won't slow us much, we might end up reaching our goal faster. What do you think?"
"Let's follow the road, obviously!" the vagrant suggests. "A couple loons won't stop us, it's worth it!"
"Now you're one to talk... Sas?"
"I am prepared for either to come." states the hunter. "Our supplies will last some time, and even thereafter, we can take care of ourselves, no matter the surroundings."
Now you remain sole, and suitably so, not to diminish the others, but you have a lot to consider in particular. Where you can assemble the staff is an apparent one, still is there more...
What do you want to do?
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Topic: Dwarf Fortress -Drawings- : Tales of the Deer Wizard (Read 170113 times)