It's Good To Bee Liam

[OGRE MAGE]

Marge just stares back into Liam's eyes, not hearing anything he says after he drops the emotional bomb on her.

"He's...........he's........dead?"

"What..........what are we going to do now?"

The large, normally strong woman's knees begin to buckle as if she is about to faint.

[Bluehorse]

Liam

oh crap... He braces his wiry frame under the weight of the woman and tries to console him. Marg? Marg!
Please, listen to me... I need you to stay with me now! Open your eyes... there you go lass. Okay. I know this hurts, but we have to act fast. There are dangers coming and we have to get ready. We have to be strong right now, if only for a little while. Okay? We will mourn but now we have to move fast to avoid more deaths. Can you do that for me?

[OGRE MAGE]

Marge tries hard to compose herself in front of the gentleman Liam, seeming almost embarrassed for her unavoidable reaction to the bad news.

"But......but.......what will we do now? This place need a leader. These people need a leader. Im not talking about someone who is off traipsing through the jungle, but a REAL leader. One who is willing to do what good leaders do in times like this."

As tears stream down her chubby face, Marge asks one more thing from Liam before she can comply with his suggestions about gathering the others.

"How.......How di it........happen? Did he suffer badly?"

[Bluehorse]

Liam

It was hard, but he chose a half-truth. He passed very quietly. he hugged the poor woman a moment and felt a pain he had denied himself so far but took a couple of deep breaths as he tried to console the woman. Come along. There is much that needs to be said. We have multiple threats to these good people in town. The quicker we act, the more we can save. he guided her forward with a gentle hand, Calling for Reythan as he begins moving towards town.

[OGRE MAGE]

The robust farm woman’s tears continue to fall, but Liam can tell that she is holding back stronger emotions.

“I think......Raythan is at his farmstead. We.......we will find Caleb along the way, working his fields.”

“Let’s go now, I want to hear everything you have to say!”

[Bluehorse]

He nods and consoles her the entire way to Town, picking up Reythan as they go

[Bluehorse]

Liam

since I keep forgetting that everything in town is a little wibbly wobbly timey wimey...

Some time after all the counsel talk is over. Liam will head back to his small budding farm to check on Joe and his animals.

[OGRE MAGE]

Farmer Joe seems to have things well under control once Liam finally gets around to checking on his mini jungle farmstead. The disheveled townie greets his boss warmly when he sees him coming.

"Liam! Is I ever glad ta see ya again! Things aint xactly been perfect round ere since ya left, but I think I got most things under control for ya. The critters seem to be getting used to their new surroundings, which is a real good thing. We did have a little bit of a shake up last night, but everything appears to be under control again now."

"Ya look tired, boss! Real tired. Where ye been, anyway? I hope ya brung everyone back in one piece like ya said ya would?"

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Sighs in relief seeing his animals are well taken care of and gives Simple Joe a hug of all things. Joe, you are a sight for sore eyes.
Sorry I was so late getting back, it was... a complicated trip. I'll tell you the story in a bit when we can sit and have a meal. Looks like you proved me right in entrusting you here. You have made me proud. Now, what is this you speak of about something happen last night? Everything seems in order... He points towards the pens and once they are near the animals he will use the excuse of leaning against the pin to do a quick mental count of animals to make sure everyone is accounted for.

[OGRE MAGE]

Slow Joe appears just as happy to see Liam back safe and sound, but still seems to be holding something back.

"Ya, my eyes is a little sore, sure, but that's cuz I aint been sleepin much. Now boss, ya aint'a gonna like what I gots to tell ya next. So, should we eat some vittles first and talk about everything all at once?"

Liam notices some very nice improvements to a lot of his cribbing and fencing that was clearly done with a skilled touch and not by Joe. Then he notices an area near the back of his chicken coop where there appears to be some recent damage.

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Tries to keep the tone of his voice light and casual, not wanting to alarm Joe too much about what he notices.  He gestures to the damaged are of the coupe.  Say friend, what happened here?  Does it have something to do with what you mentioned happening last night?  Is it why you are not getting sleep?  Are the young ones trying to pilfer for eggs again like the first couple of nights? 

[OGRE MAGE]

Joe

“Im afraid it’s worse than young-ens, sir. Foller me.”

Joe leads you around to the back side of the coop where the lowest two boards have been smashed and ripped away from the structure. This damage appears to have been done by something low to the ground, and with strong hands.

“I chased whatever they were off before they could get inside, but not before they did this. I’m mighty sorry bout them boards a yers, sir.” The man hangs his head and then points to the ground where several small, 3-toed prints can be seen in the dirt.

[Bluehorse]

Liam

He looked concerned and moved in close to get a good look at the damage itself as well as the footprints. Then he tries to remember how many toes the Phanatons had... First things first... He looked to see what kind of repairs or reinforcements could be made to protect the animals within. Joe, this isn't your fault, okay? Looks like you chased whatever it was away before there was any real trouble, so I could ask no more of you... Maybe we should stack some heavy rocks here and around the base of the pens to help keep predators from squirming or undermining like this. At the very least, keep them from prying up the boards...

[OGRE MAGE]

Liam remembers that the phanaton had five toes, just like a tiny, furry person.

Joe looks up at Liam with a gleam of hope in his eye. "That's a good ider, sir! I'll go round lookin fer some bigger rocks ta pile roun here. I can have this put back tergether and gets it all covered up fer ya in a jiffy, boss! Them ugly little basterds aint gonna get back in here without a fight."

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Nods. I'll help you shore this up then we can have that meal you mentioned... and Gods know I need a bath and a nap. I am sure I look like death himself by now and sure I smell like him too...

[OGRE MAGE]

Joe nods. “Ye do stink a might, sir.”

“Tell ya what! If ya wanna fix up these here boards a bit, I’ll fetch us some rocks ta build a real good foun.......found.......wall! I found us some real good building stone out in der jungle that will be perfect fer this job! Can I use yer cart an ass to ease the burden a touch, Mr. Liam, sir?”

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Thinks to himself, phrasing Joe! but nods. Sounds like a great idea Joe. Way to use your head. See to it. I will get to work here then give myself a scrub in the shallows before we sit to eat. that said she will busy himself with a hammer and nails doing repairs.

[OGRE MAGE]

Joe happily hooks Liam’s ass up to the cart and is soon off in the jungle while the former nobleman fixes the bottom boards of his chicken house. Around an hour later, once Liam is content with his repairs, Joe and Jack are seen heading back to the farmstead with a large load of black rock.

The farmer starts tossing the rocks into a pile at the base of the structure where Liam checks them over before formulating a plan.

The black rocks are strange looking, like no other material he has seen before. They have already been expertly hewn flat on two sides in order to better fit them together when they are stacked into formation. Liam is certain that Joe could never have done all this work in one hours time.

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Examining the rock. Joe my lad, these stones have been hued by an expert mason... where did you find them? not exactly looking a gift horse in the mouth, he still helps unload the stone as he ask the question.

[OGRE MAGE]

As the pair of farmers unload the black stones, Joe fills Liam in on a little secret.

"Oh I done got these rocks right over there! A little ways off the logger trail, just sitting in stacks, right there in the jungle."

"Easy peasy, Mr. Liam, sir."

The intellectually challenged farmer beams with pride as he tells of his recent discovery.