[Completed] - Varas/Watchtowers II - 21 March, 1 VC

[Mister-Kent]

"Mister wolf?" Olympia wonders. "This must be the beast the boys spoke of!"

"Sir Wolf, we haven't had the pleasure of an introduction," she begins, standing with a hand on her hip and her warhammer held before her like a torch. "These new companions are Valorei and Varcand, and I am the Radiant Olympia." She bows respectfully but cautiously.

[MonkeyWrench]

Valorei circles around the group, watching the large black talking wolf, his face showing a puzzled expression, "So then... Is this your true form?" His tone is direct, almost accusatory, nothing like his usual cheerful and curious tone.

[Keehnelf]

The wolf chortles. "Olympia, you overstate things a bit, but it is charming. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Especially you, Earth Brother,"the wolf says, finally looking toward Valorei as he circles. "All things in this world are mutable, but my form is as real as any other. As real as yours, at any rate.

"The three of you may, as your companions do, call me Mr. M; though it is not a name of my choosing, I will answer to it if I am called respectfully.

"Please, please--read away. I would hear the words your treacherous duke would lay like a spider's eggs in my unsuspecting ear."

[MonkeyWrench]

Valorei looks a little taken aback by the words, he looks at the wolf for a moment before giving a genuine smile with a slow nod, "Forgive me, I forget myself. It is a pleasure to meet you, Hodoer" He bows low to the wolf.

Hodoer means wise one in elvish.

[AleBelly]

Varas unrolls the agreement, a bit unnerved that Mr. M see the duke as treacherous, and that Varas is serving as the messenger. He reads the words of the agreement aloud, doing his best to maintain a steady voice.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall appears confused by all the fuss. He walks directly up to the wolf and pats him on his large head. Dont worry everyone! This big doggie is our friend! He then begins to scratch behind his ears and pet it's bristly fur if he is allowed.

Ohh! A big white goblin you say? Did you make it kill all the others like you did with those lizard guys? That was awesome!

I'm not sure if you've noticed but, Wendall's eyes motion towards his head, we had a little trouble with those lizards after you left us that day.

[Keehnelf]

Wendall is a bit surprised to find that the wolf's fur is stiff, hard and cold like metal that has lain out overnight when you touch it first thing in the morning. The wolf recoils from this brief contact with a snarl. "Impudent boy, keep your hands to yourself."

He stalks in a circle on the far side of the room in silence for a moment before settling himself once again.

"I did nothing to the goblins. I watched them at their sport. I observed their behavior and learned their true names that I might employ them at a time and place of my choosing. And then I entered your tower and have awaited your arrival, foretold by the stars."

He perks up an ear at Varas's recitation of the scroll. "Well, it is as I suspected. The duke has crafted a sham treaty with me that he hopes I have neither the will nor the power to meaningfully enforce. He will soon learn otherwise, and he has bound himself by his slimy words.

"Lay the scroll down on the hatch, here where the monster still struggles." Mr. M motions with his head toward the hatch which, the group notices, is currently unlocked and uncovered. "Bring ink so that I may make my mark upon the treaty and seal him to his guarantees. And tell him that under the light of Dagon's Fire on Harrowing these new borders will be born, so do I swear by the ancient spirits of ash and oak."

[MonkeyWrench]

Valorei takes out some ink from his pack, spilling in on the ground for the wolf to dab his paw into, uttering another phrase in elven, "Sana sina, Hodoer ta Seasamin" He gives the wolf a slight bow of his head before standing back up and giving the group a cheery smile, "I knew I would not regret coming with you all."

"Elvish: take this, wise one it is my pleasure.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wow!........Sorry!.........Jeez!

Umm, Mr. M? Those of us gathered here are not bound by such treaties I trust?

I mean.......I thought we were all friends here? You know that we mean no harm to you or your lands right? We're on your side remember.

[AleBelly]

"Wait a minute..." says Varas. "Did you change into that worm that was eating the goblins? I mean no disrespect, but if that was you, we have one less basement problem!"

"Any chance you want to stay here and help us turn back their vanguard?"

[Keehnelf]

"No, I was not the creature in the basement; no, I have no interest in a battle of that scale; and no, you will not be allowed in my territory after Harrowing without my express permission--which I might grant in exchange for a boon yet to be determined. Consider the astern lands a preserve, a haven for wolves from the depredations of man and goblin."

[AleBelly]

"Fine, although I don't know why you would take offense to our presence. We have had nothing but amiable relations until this day" replies Varas, clearly taken aback by Mr. M's reply.

"Does this mean you'll stay away from this tower and the lands surrounding it? A preserve for men, if you will" he continues…clearly emboldened by the number of his party at his side.

After his bout of poutiness, he rolls up the marked agreement, returns it to the scroll case and tucks it away in his pack.

[psionboy]

Varcand watches all of this with interest, but remains silent.

[OGRE MAGE]

What? You don't want to try and "charm" this 19th level Druid?

As long as you are here, would you be able to help with our extermination of said "monster" downstairs? Or at least tell of its strengths and weaknesses? We don't even know what that thing is.

I would give you some trail rations in trade if you so desire? Are you hungry?

[MonkeyWrench]

Valorei gives the group a confused look, "So there is a giant worm currently residing in the basement of this tower? Above ground? Or is is subterranean and moving through the, I would assume, stone floor?"

[psionboy]

I would, but he's not a 'humanoid' (at least not currently). And I already cast it today.

[psionboy]

"If it is trapped down there, someone or something must have been... feeding it. How long has it been locked in here? Perhaps it has already perished."

[Scott308]

The last time we were here, replies Dorvar, it was eating the remains of dead goblins. We locked it in the basement, unsure of how to proceed. Some wanted to burn it, while others, he looks at Wendall, didn't want to risk burning the stone of the tower so we thought if nothing else we might be able to starve it.

[MonkeyWrench]

Valorei cocks his head sideways, "Hmm..." He gives everyone a cheery grin, "Then I suppose it would be best if we were to find out!" Valorei happily strides over to the hatch.

Can he just open the thing or was it locked? I'll be honest, I didn't finish reading the whole last expedition, freaking thing was 15 pages long...

[OGRE MAGE]

"Lay the scroll down on the hatch, here where the monster still struggles." Mr. M motions with his head toward the hatch which, the group notices, is currently unlocked and uncovered.

I think it's still down there but I won't speak for our LL who seems to be MIA again.

Everything OK Keehnelf?