[IC] Into the Unknown

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"There may yet be opportunity for you, Maurus. There is a wealth of widows withdrawing from the civil war in Severia*, who will want virile husband to welcome them. Remoteness and hard living will not faze them, because what is left of their homeland is far worse. I smell food; let us eat before Cadmus, Decimus, and Tacitus consume it all."

*There is much more alliteration in this sentence if you pronounce with the Classical Roman v.

[Julius Sleazer]

Maurus, Loon

"Civil war in Severia, you say? The name is only distant rumor to me, but if conditions are bad there, then certainly widows might find an isolated life scratched from the soil more appealing. As grim as your news is, it has alleviated my own personal dejection."

***

Alfius descends the ladder. As his eyes accustom themselves to the dim lighting, the old woman offers him a bowl of broth.

Haha, there was a guy somewhere (can't recall the site) whose signature was "Veni, vidi, wiki."

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"It is so. Honestly, many of the wretches coming from that direction would be glad of any husband, or wife for that matter, that could feed them. You'll want to make damn sure they don't have the flux before you bring them home, though."

[Julius Sleazer]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"It is so. Honestly, many of the wretches coming from that direction would be glad of any husband, or wife for that matter, that could feed them. You'll want to make damn sure they don't have the flux before you bring them home, though."

Maurus, Loon

"You raise a vexing point indeed, sir! The flux is to be feared greatly. Here, are you going below to dine with your comrades? I shall keep watches on the horses."

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

Seeing the locals eating with no ill effects Decimus starts to eat carefully minding his manners.

"So did your grandsire come here from that wicked city then or some other place where man had descended into wickedness and chaos?"

[Julius Sleazer]

Decimus Numerous

Seeing the locals eating with no ill effects Decimus starts to eat carefully minding his manners.

"So did your grandsire come here from that wicked city then or some other place where man had descended into wickedness and chaos?"

Goatherd

"Oh, he was not from the Witch-City, sir," replies the female goatherd. "However, he recognized that the wizards, warlocks, witches, and were-men of that accursed place do much to exacerbate the natural wickedness that occurs when over-many persons congregate in close quarters. Via usury and espionage, the masters of the Wicked City set brothers at each other's throats. Those foul deceivers serve Chaos beneath a filmy veil of righteousness."

The old woman nods and makes approving noises, while the young man in the feather-adorned hat seems to take such statements as a matter of course requiring no comment.

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"We should avoid the witch-city," Alfius declares. He eats his soup politely. "I have suffered enough from the miscreant scheming of ordinary city men; under the machinations of ancient warlocks I would likely find myself transmogrified into some sort of unsavory vermin. Tell me, Selenia, there are no other cities or towns in these lands north of Camulodunon other than that of mystic malefactors? It must get lonely at times, with no one other than your parents and your brothers to entertain you."

[Julius Sleazer]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"We should avoid the witch-city," Alfius declares. He eats his soup politely. "I have suffered enough from the miscreant scheming of ordinary city men; under the machinations of ancient warlocks I would likely find myself transmogrified into some sort of unsavory vermin. Tell me, Selenia, there are no other cities or towns in these lands north of Camulodunon other than that of mystic malefactors? It must get lonely at times, with no one other than your parents and your brothers to entertain you."

Selenia, Goatherd

"In truth, I know little of great cities---the Wicked City, the Witch-City, stands out in my mind because of its size, reputation, and disproportionate and malicious influence upon the weary world. For certain there are cities and towns in the Kingdoms of the Perimeter. Doubtless they too are wicked in their own way, but surely less so than in the Witch-City. Nivonia is also held to be a preeminent city, and lies north, I believe, of Camulodunon."

"As for loneliness, certes, one grows lonely out on the plain. 'Tis better to be lonely than surrounded by the wicked, though. Surely you would agree?"

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

Tacitus joins the others without further delay.

[Julius Sleazer]

Dwelling

The farm-born fighter is soon offered a bowl of broth.

[Vektunaxa]

'Tis better to be lonely than surrounded by the wicked, though. Surely you would agree?"

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"Truly, every time I have entered a town or city, I have been certain to have the company of a priest who shepherds me through the malignancies. Far better to be in the company of those you trust, surrounded by indignancies and malignancies, than to be alone sheltered in a fortress of solitude."

[Julius Sleazer]

Selenia

The goatherd nods politely.

***


Dwelling

The man in late middle age approaches the old woman and whispers to her. Body language and social cues indicate that he is merely imparting information in a semi-private manner, rather than engaging in malicious conspiracy. None of the dwellers reach for weapons or give signs that spell-slinging is about to commence.

"So," the old woman finally says, addressing the four from Durans Well. "You wish to lay low for a while here, hunting and exploring perhaps, while some trouble from the cities and towns blows over and dissipates. Hunting, hmm. You four look like strong lads, hardy and brave. Too hardy and brave to spend a few weeks in mere hunting---that sounds like an idle retreat for a young lordling!"

"What of exploring? I know of a ruined place of the old people. There is an object there which would help our family here. Swear to bring me this object, and I will give you directions to this place. There is much else there which you might wish to take, the way I have heard it told: coins, precious metals, gems, weapons of old. All this can be yours; I seek only the one thing."

"How say you, young sirs? Is this more to your liking than laying low in a mean turf house, stalking the windy plains and firing darts at hares?"

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"We like the nature of the bargain that you offer, but must quibble over terms. We cannot rightly swear to bring it to you, because it may not be present, or we may find that circumstances render it unrecoverable. We could, at most, swear to bring it to you if we are able."

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

"Indeed until we have travelled to this place and explored it how can we be sure that this item still remains there undisturbed? We can only promise to strive to obtain it and then see how the tides of fortune break for us."

[Julius Sleazer]

Old Woman

"Yes, if you swear so, that would certainly be sufficient. You will solemnly swear to make a good faith effort, yes? Here, drink of my broth if you have not! I will also produce bread that we may break, and salt for you. I will eat of your food and drink of your water as well, if you wish."

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"That sounds agreeable to me. I solemnly swear to search for your item at the place that you indicate, to the best of my ability, and if it is possible and within our means to recover it, to return it to you."

Alfius turns away his eyes from the mother towards Selenia, to watch her response.

[Julius Sleazer]

Selenia, Goatherd

The young woman nods with guarded approval.

[thirdkingdom]

Cadmus the Confused

"Very well. I am opposed to a long stay, but a quick delve shouldn't hurt."

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

"So how far away is this place where the item that you want is located Sir?"

With a reflective look on his face he continues "And would there be any form of guardians at this place whether mortal or spiritual?"

[Julius Sleazer]

Old Woman

"Swear the oath, and drink of the broth, so that you have established yourselves as guests. Then I will divulge the location of these treasures!"