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Graela eyes the woman up and down and then looks around the fort as she listens for a reply to Travix and Tip. She beckons Salt Peter to come to her.
"Hey Salty...is it just me...or do you get a weird feeling about this attack? Why would other humans attack this fort? And why are the folks so...meh about it?"

She spits on the ground at the mention of goblins. They call me Mom and you shouldn't have run into anything between here and town. Something's up with the goblin presence in this area lately. We'll step up escorts to and from town but anything else right now...

She shakes her head in frustration. A man walks up to her side- flat, solemn, scar down the right side of his face- and whispers in Mom's ear while she nods.
She responds to him, once it's filled in we'll light it up at night until we find a more permanent solution.
Yes'm, from him and then his look lingers on your group before saying to her, why don't we ask them?

No, is Mom's response. We aren't bothering strangers with our problems.

Shaking Trvix's hand, Mom focuses back on your group. Diversion at the front gate while some come from under the back fence. We've never had such a brazen attack. Waves around her, this fence is usually just for keeping livestock in and critters out at night.

Salt Peter nods in greeting to Mom, but doesn't extend a hand for shaking—it's always so awkward, making the great walloping bastards bend down far enough to reach his hand. All the blood rushes to their faces and they inevitably groan and grimace when straightening back up.

hedgeknight wrote:"Hey Salty...is it just me...or do you get a weird feeling about this attack? Why would other humans attack this fort? And why are the folks so...meh about it?"

Pete, as a former pirate on the seas and highwayman on land, to say nothing of his late turn as a guard, is hardly surprised to hear about humans attacking their own kind. He whispers back to Graela, "Mos' natcheral thing inna world. Y'see ther other feller has somethin' ye want, and ye gather up enough mates until ye think ye kin take that thing. Question is, what's this backwoods outhouse got that anyone'd mount an attack ter git at it?"

Travix

Well then Mom. We are here now, are we not? Which means to me, that your problems are now our problems.

Why don't you tell us what you need before you simply wave off the fact that we can most likely help you.

Salt Peter grumbles, "If'n thar's a paycheck innit, y'mean."

Mom stares at your group, pondering, before responding.

I do have two groups out right now which means we are at a skeleton crew. Hunting this group down would help everyone. And they took something valuable we need back. It’s barely above trash to other folks but it is very valuable to us and I would pay big to get them back. But you gotta know these woods aren’t safe and I’m not sure what you’d be facing. You still feeling generous?

Salt Peter: "We're takin' work, if'n that's yer question."

Travix nods yes while rubbing his hands together, waiting for the inevitable deadly part that is sure to come next.

Tip agrees with helping the fort out and inquires, "What was it the group took that you need back. Not trying to be intrusive or pry, just want to be aware of what we are seeking."

Graela listens and keeps her eyes on the goings on in the fort. She waits for Mom to tell her group what is really going on.

The bastards took the heirlooms and we need them back. They’re just inscribed bronze plaques we use with our messengers and expeditions. Their cash value to anyone else barely makes them worth hauling off at all. But their special properties make them priceless for us. The term “heirlooms” is something of an inside joke we use.

It has taken a lot of time and negotiation to establish these plaques as identification badges for runners. They now guarantee safe passage among all sorts of groups in this part of the Southron. We had been holding on to multiple plaques due to what’s been going on in the mountains. They have also been magicked to be able to authenticate messages carried by the runners. I doubt this scum know what these really are but losing them cripples us and if they get an idea then they could seriously abuse the safe passage privileges. The other things they stole I couldn’t care less right now.

I’m not keen on sharing all of this with a group of strangers I just met two minutes ago. But I’m pretty low on options and there’s something else. You may not realize it but you came with references so I’ll take a chance. That braying fool Unburr doesn’t matter but Silring…She has a keen eye for character and if she felt she could send Hennoth here with you, well, that’s something. What do you say, Hennoth, should I trust ‘em?

Hennoth nods solemnly and states, They shook my hand.

Mom looks around the group again. Of course, maybe my trust isn’t the only issue at hand. Like you, lass, her chin juts out toward Graela, you look like the skeptical sort.

Tip:

"Seeing that these "heirlooms" help garner safe passage through Southron, I am willing to help see to their retrieval, but just as Graela mentioned, I would also like to know more."

Travix continues nodding his head.

We did! He says in response to Hennoths comment.

Mom nods thoughtfully to Graela’s statement. That it does…that it does.

You might have heard they are finding treasure up in the mountains lately, more than usual. You can imagine what word spreading on that is doing to our…tourism numbers. Thieves are moving in and power brokers are waiting for confirmation.

But there’s more than that. People are seeing strange things out there. Normally reliable folks are starting to crack up. And before you say anything- I know when my rangers are doing jimson weed, and they know better than to come tell me stories about it like it’s real. This is something more than recreational psychedelics. I had a spell caster come through here tell me that magic is changing too in this area. He had a scared look in his eye. I don’t know anything about all that and he wouldn’t say more. More than just money-hungry scavengers are coming around too. It’s like the weirdness is its own magnet. An increased goblin presence seems to be part of that. One of my rangers interrogated some goblins and heard some gibbering about bones- not sure if that’s anything yet.

So I’ve been tasked with “safening” up the wilderness around here, establishing communication lines, and other impossible shit. That’s all the more important if this increased wealth continues from the mountains with the population and trade it will bring. So, still glad you stopped by?

While Mom is talking, Hennoth, encouraged by Travix's enthusiasm on previous hand-shaking, cheerfully turns to the man to resume the activity with him.

Travix shows the lad a few new daps until the mention of jimson weed makes one of his eyebrows raise considerably. He listens intently to Mom talk about strange magicks, bones, and frightened wizards.

I for one am definitely still glad, Mom. Is there any place around here in particular that you think needs investigating first, or should we just head in the direction of the mountains?

Salt Peter: "Aye, what's ther direction ye'd 'ave us steer t'wards, then? And, ahr... the matter of remuneration fer our efforts?"

I'll have Doth here, indicates the man with the facial scar standing near her, point you in the right direction. It sounds like they weren't headed toward the mountains last we saw.

A sly glance at the party, But I have a feeling you'll be taking yourselves toward the mountains soon enough whether or not anyone is asking you to.

I'm sorry I don't have enough crew to send with you but we have to get things straightened here and be on hand just in case they return. You have my thanks for taking this on. And, luckily, you'll have my generosity too if you pull this off. See, my crews find some interesting things out and about and we need those heirlooms back somethin' fierce. I have six black opals and they're yours if you can do this for me. Mom chuckles at Salt Peter, that work for remuneration?


Meanwhile Hennoth appears to be straddling the fence between awed and spooked at Travix's magical dap maneuvers.

Tip Briarberry:

Tip's eyes widen at the sight of the black opals, "Quite...beautiful! I am certainly up for taking on the task. Is there anything else you can tell us about the mountains and surrounding forest before we embark?"

Mom looks thoughtfully at Tip a moment before responding. Remember who you were before coming to this place and take care of one another.