The Keep of Grunwich Forest

"Time to announce our deeds, huh," Lissa murmured, flushing slightly as she hefted the heavy, stinking bags with the ogres' ears in them. Fortunately they'd stopped dripping, at least. She took a breath, nodded to herself, then stepped forward from the group, and as she walked her bearing transformed. Standing up straighter, her shoulders broader, she looked around to face the crowd, making eye contact with seemingly everyone as the excited crowd's chattering died down to expectant murmurs. She hefted the bags high.

"The beasts are dead," she announced, her voice ringing out clear through the entire village. "They fought fiercely, but were no match at all for our knight's gleaming blade -" she gestured to Oisin - "our druid's fearsome claws -" to Sanna - "our cleric's mighty magic -" to Drusus - "and to the wondrous illusions of our wizard." She smiled easily, falling into her cadence. "And among us, the youngest of all proved the most heroic, for without Aldrik Carter’s help, we might not have returned at all."

At those final words young Aldrik blushed a red even more vivid than Ria's hair, causing the young lady to laugh a little even as she put a reassuring hand to his shoulder, the youth seeming as if he wanted to disappear as cheering and words of teasing compliment came from the crowd.

"Oh, oh! And don't forget our Lissa's cunning and skill! When she sings the story later always ask her for her deeds, she'll probably try to play humble even when it was her blade that took the life off one of the Ogres!" shouts out Leina to be heard over the cries of the crowd.

The mayor for his part nodded his head and looked at the revealed ears... being surprised for there to be two of the monsters. Still, he then smiled and said "I see that indeed, our monster has been slain and your party of heroes have done good by us! Later today, more privately, I shall award you your reward... but for now..." he says, nodding to Maebar.

The dwarf then roared out "Bring out the caskets! Today we celebrate and drink to this valiant band! The monsters lay slain! Our own have been returned to us! Riltplait is safe!"

Huzzahs run out at this and many smiles are had as the halfling matron signals for her people to bring out some caskets for people serve themselves.

And then... from the crowd comes a singular person... eyes full of tears as she runs towards the band... embracing her sweet Ria, a mother's tears of relief are dazzling to see as she is reunited with her sole daughter. Ria too can't contain herself... crying as she hugs her mother and whispers reassurances to her.

Sanna stood silently behind the others. She'd never been particularly enamoured with life in the city, and the noise from the crowd's adulation seemed almost alien to her ears. Furthermore, the talk of settling in the keep they'd just secured - and of taxation, and conscripting, and business - all these were anathema to her. The forest was her home, and she knew she had much more training in the druidic arts to pursue before she could even consider settling in a place like this: her inexperience with the wolves, the ogres, and the strange symbols in the keep had shown her that much.

It took a bit of scrounging, but at length, she managed to borrow a scrap of parchment and a pen from a passer-by. And a few minutes later, a note, hastily-scribbled in Elvish, was tucked into a corner of Tirnanog's saddlebag.

<My duty as your guide is done. I return to the forest. Keep the treasure, and respect the land.>

And with that, Sanna departed.

Oisín turned to Ria and her mother, "I'll have a word with the pair of ye, when you're able. This afternoon abouts though, I'd fancy a chat with the pair of ye, alright?"

He smiled and left for the crowd, seeking out Aldrik.

Lissa stood back to give Ria and her mother some privacy, moving aside to draw the crowd closer to the Mayor. With beer flowing, everyone would be in the mood for a song or two, and she had plenty in mind... though she desperately wanted to play the lovely golden lyre, it would have to wait, she firmly told the instrument and herself. The pipes would be more than enough for now.

Thus did the celebration get into full swing as the Mayor bought the first three caskets for people to delight in, the cooks in the good halfling matron's home working overtime to let the lovely scent of cooked meat waft through the air to entice costumers. Soon enough people and merchants had gathered, making the occasion an impromptu carnival. Oisin would see Aldrik being carried over the shoulders of some of the village sons, in a bit of a good natured panic and embarrassment as they sang his praises.

Ria and her mother were surrounded after a while by the ladies of town, who proceeded to comfort her and then try to get the story of what happened out of her.

Thus for a good while people danced, people sang, drank and celebrated. Leina, together if it was Lissa's inclination, began to weave the tale of the fight, casting her illusory magic a couple of times to conjure the image of the ugly ogres and dashing heroes as the narrative went on.

It was a good day and proceeded like that for a good while... however, after a time the party would be free to move away from the celebrations... the mayor and Maebar retired to their office telling them to pass by for the reward at any time. Ria and her mother, as well, drifted to a side of the crowd, finding a nice moment alone. Aldrik... well, he could be fetched from his companions quite easily.

It was up to the party to decide where to go to and in which order.

Oisín looked over the precedings with a smile, in particular Aldrik's triumphant return. The boy still had a long ways to go, but Oisín realized as he looked out at the boy and the happy town that it was a long hard path and one that would be there tomorrow. To tear him away from this celebration or talk of serious business with any of them would be perhaps even to trod upon his oath.

Instead he endeavoured to celebrate from a respectful distance, with an perpetual smile; mild and polite but sincere. One could see he was happy but at once an observer rather than a participant.

To that end, he sought out Lissa once she had finished her set with a respectful bow.

Lissa finished her latest song, then waved down the immediate requests for more, grinning. "Let a storyteller catch her breath," she said, more or less fobbing the excited and increasingly drunk crowd onto Leina for more tales of bravery and heroism. She turned as Oisin came up, stepping a bit away from the kegs. "I suppose we should go talk to the Mayor, eh?" she said. "Well, first we'll have to track down Drusus, wherever he's gotten off to."

"It's best not to look too eagerly or quickly for reward, I've found," Oisín save a humble smile, "I'd think it best to wait until the morning. I had the same in mind for a few other tasks I'd had for meself, but aside from a pop into the smith, I think I'll leave them for now as well. Myself, I was going to find somewhere for the evening for a quiet drink and with a good view of the sunset. If you'd fancy reminiscing and the company of an old half-blood over the bustle of a town, I'd be happy for your company. Otherwise, I'll leave you to your joys and errands and meself to me own."

"I couldn't in good conscience leave poor Leina entertaining the crowd all night," Lissa said apologetically, looking back at the little illusionist and her fanciful tricks. "Though I guess she'll be alright for a while... and it has been a while since I've played for a crowd," she said ruefully. "It's not what I'm cut out for, honestly." She pulled the sling over her shoulder a little higher, feeling the lyre warm against her back. "Alright, lead the way."

Oisín shrugged and picked passed Lissa his waterskin filled almost to the brim with Porter. He led the way towards a hill at the edge of the town, overlooking the fields and setting sun overlooking the horizon. As he walked, he ruffled through his haversack.

"Nim can certainly handle herself and aside from that, I'm sure the town have their own devices and singers for these gatherings," Oisín remarked, "We're only after having seen a long and interesting couple of days and I thought I'd find a place to idle away the evening. We're a long time travelling together, but it'd be interesting to know your thoughts on this whole affair and your figuring on what to make of the keep."

He produced a pair of cups with a smile, "Aside from that, this doesn't really feel like our celebration. We did them well but you can see at the setting sun, it's for themselves. Certainly, I don't feel my place is beside them yet. I can think on rather is the work we've gotten for ourselves and the promises the future does hold for us now."

"So, for tonight's covenant, I thought we could do to trade our own stories and thoughts rather than old poems and tales for a change. If you'd like a go at it."

edited 1st Mar '15 4:09:15 PM by Fauxlosophe

Lissa smiled and uncorked the waterskin with a thumb, lifting it to pour into both cups, giving Oisin a few fingers more than her own modest amount. "I'm afraid I don't have many stories to tell about myself," she said, handing the waterskin back. "I can tell you any number of tales from the stacks, but I imagine you've heard most of those before."

Oisín paused and smiled in silence, advancing a little further. He'd had to the foresight to pull Lissa aside not far from the edge of the town to save them a long way.

As they passed the last building and began up the hill, Oisín raised his cup and took a sip.

"It's only odd for me, I suppose. I'd lived not unlike Sanna for some time, by the cycle of seasons; though I had far gentler company. It's still strange to see how much is after changing and to believe a century had gone by."

"I came home, not realizing the grey in me own hair was far more for me friends," He sat on the hill overlooking the horizon, "And worse yet, I came to find no home at all but a people broken and scattered and an oath all but lost. Me friends hadn't even lived to fight it, though some might have lived to see it. For all my knowledge, I might be the last bearer of me oath as I look on at the sun set; a fool with naught but coppers to show for a century of life. I left me people for me wife and me wife for me memories."

He sighed and took a longer drink, "But now there's a chance to make something in the forest. A legacy I'd believed was lost to time to be kept in whispers a short generation and buried with the grandchildren of the ones I foolished left behind."

"I'd fallen," Oisín says looking out, "Even now, I believe I'm fallen but for some phantom of hope and ghosts of an oath I keep. Now, though remote, there's perhaps a home for meself and me oath in this keep. A people born of both old and new."

He took another drink, "That's me own story which wasn't long to die for want of telling. I can't say I'm more than an old fool dreaming, one who's fled twice too many times and sits at the end of life, but there's an old warmth and kinship which was long lost but I think I've begun to find again with ye and the rest."

Lissa stared out over the bright and reveling town, past the lights into the darkening fields and the forest far beyond. Her cup sat untouched beside her on the grass, and she picked it up finally, taking a drink of the dark, strong beer. "I had no idea," she said quietly. "I'm... sorry, for what it's worth. Maybe not much, I suppose." She fell silent again, taking another drink.

"Like I said, I don't have much to tell," she started again, after a few minutes of silence. "I was found left on the doorstep of the College in Highmarket, up north. Cook raised me - well, most of the scholars and professors did. Some of them never did have time for me, but they were the ones I never had time for either, so we didn't tread on each other's toes much. The scribes taught me how to read and write, the accountants how to arrange my numbers, the chanters how to sing..." She let out a breath. "The taste for stories, though... I like to think that was entirely my own self. Even if I had been born somewhere else... I like to think I'd still crave stories the way most people do bread." She took another drink of beer, finishing off her cup.

"Ah," Oisín smiled taking another sip, "It does me no end of good to see someone as hungry for stories as yourself. I'll take this myself as a last chance to hand down the old ways and make a new home and I'd be honoured to do it with yourself and count your tales amongst me own in the halls and shelves."

Lissa smiled. "I imagine there will be space enough in the library for the tales we have to tell," she said, nodding. "And enough for the tales we have yet to write, too - though I'd rather not get ahead of ourselves with that one simply because we killed a few ogres."

"Leave an old man to his dreamings," Oisín lauged, "But you're right. There's still a long way to go; but it must be said that it's not only me idle dreams now. Sanna left her note on Tírnanóg, she's certainly no love of wealth or keeps at all so I'd be speaking right falsely to say I didn't imagine the coming of the parting of our fellowship but I do hope she keeps an eye on us. I'd seek her out but she's no want of that and has always been content in her forests, but she's a weakness in her heart that I don't think she'd leave without thought now. Drusus meanwhile has gone off to wander abouts and I can't say if he'll be about again."

"Meself though, I'd well say that I've found meself a home," Oisín said as he took another sip, "But I'm talking in circles now."

He laughed again and looked at the sun set as he finished his drink, "For now, I'll content meself with the view and figure the rest come morning."

edited 1st Mar '15 10:30:45 PM by Fauxlosophe

Lissa nodded thoughtfully, finding her cup empty yet again; she remedied that, then took another draught. "I hope she stays around, though I'm not sure I'd wish that forest on anyone," she said, shaking her head. "If anyone can live there, it's Sanna, though."

Smiling, she too looked over the village at the sunset. "Tomorrow sounds like a wonderful time to worry about things," she agreed. "A more sober Lissa can handle it."

And thus, a whole day of celebration and communion was had... and then a night of drink and song. A grand celebration to be enjoyed by all.

The next morning, our adventurers most likely will be found sleeping on the rooms of the local tavern... Leina had risen early and was having a hearty breakfast on the common room.

It was a party, and Drusus didn't much care that he was invited. The imperative importance investigating that keep bothered his mind even as he woke. He could think of no other lead at the time however, and reluctantly he accompanied the party back to town.

During the festivities, Drusus stayed with Leina, keeping to himself. Some came to Drusus, asking about his fellows and of treasures they may or may not have found. Drusus answered them, though he dodged the question of treasure. Tired from his lack of sleep the night before, he retired early, telling Leina of which inn he would be sleeping in.

Drusus lifted himself up from bed with his staff and stepped by Oisin and Lissa's beds. He tapped the bed frames with the staff.

"Morning has arrived. It is time to wake."

Lissa rolled onto her side, then sat up, scrubbing at her eyes as she yawned. "Yes, yes, I'm awake," she grumbled, squinting a bit in the morning light. "Where did you disappear off to last night, Drusus? I take it you weren't exchanging bawdy songs with the farmers for drinks." Rather, she knew he hadn't been, because one of the few clear memories she had of last night was doing exactly that herself. The porter Oisin had bought had had more of an effect on her than she'd predicted. "We have an appointment to speak with the mayor, I think..."

Oisín looked around the room. He remembered the last night mostly. He'd drank about three pints with Lissa, then did his errand with the blacksmith; ordering a new holysymbol made for his new and apparently magical shield, his chainmail armour sized down and a new breast plate commissioned for himself. He'd then decided to commission some new clothes so that he had something more than his chainmail to wear and another few drinks. It was around his 7th pint that things got a little hazy, though he knew it was mostly good natured fun at the tavern and he'd likely come out in the green for his gambling.

"Were we really out so much as to save a couple bob with a single room? We were hardly impovrished before but we've come on a small fortune now," Oisín stretched as he awoke, wearing a new shirt over his small clothes which were hidden beneath the blankets. With a swift motion, he shifted his legs into a pair of pants resting by his bed side. He'd liked this clothes and felt they were as fine as any nobles, though they were only Traveller's Clothes, he fancied that he had an eye for fashion.

"We can go by the bloody mayor first, and after, we'll have words with Ria and her mum to see that they're taken care of. After that I've to speak with Aldric and haggle with the blacksmith for me orders last night. I recall we'd agreed to settle on a price when the pair of us were more sober, provided he set to work right quick or something of the like."

"I retired early last night." Drusus explained. "I did not get much sleep the night before, and there is much on my mind at this time; I would not have myself distracted by merriment. I believe Leina is awake already, let us join her for breakfast.

Drusus descended down the stairs to the common room, keeping a careful grip on the handrail. As he reached the bottom, he looked around for Leina.

edited 3rd Mar '15 6:51:15 PM by SonofMelonHead

Leina was just finishing her meal, lifting a small mug to her lips to finish a bit of wine.

"Good morning." Drusus said, stepping up to the table. "The others are awake and will be down shortly." Drusus glanced at the remains of Leina's breakfast. "I assume you know what is for breakfast?"