IC III

[thirdkingdom]

Prince Nacknosh

The companions can literally see the Faery Lord thinking. "So," he rumbles, waving forward a dozen goblins dressed smartly in black trousers, waistcoats, and white aprons, struggling to lift a partially cooked animal -- very clearly once a horse -- on a spit, "you are suggesting I send you, accompanied by these mortal morsels, to the Verdant Field to try and right your mistake? And if they succeed, the glory will go to me and I spare their lives, but if they should fail, I can eat everyone? I like what you say, except for the part where I don't get to eat any Man. How about if they succeed I will spare the lives, of say, a dozen of them! I will even be so gracious as to let them chose who amongst them will live!"

[Atlictoatl]

Whifflespice

Whifflespice looks to the companions, expecting that this is not yet acceptable to them, but uncertain what solution would be.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"Your grace...if the prime reward for you is a measure of vindication and ongoing glory from our successes, surely hamstringing us by reducing our numbers is counterproductive. Particularly when a prodigious appetite like yours can be sated in many ways, but a successful adventuring party is likely far more rare. Besides, perhaps there is something that we have won along the way that can sweeten the deal?"

[thirdkingdom]

Prince Nacknosh

"What Hufflepish says has merit. All educated peoples know that while the promise of a Faery is binding, the word of Man is broken as many times as he draws breath. Leaving hostages with me will ensure you do the task you promise, and will give me the chance to fatten them up before your inevitable failure and my inevitable feast!" His eyes catch on Notai for an instant "Oh ho!" he exclaims, "who is that supple beast? She is mortal, yet has the look of the fey about her! Gift her to me and I will let you leave only a dozen men with me, and their mounts, and you may have the rest!"

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

Feargus glances around the clearing, counting obvious foes.
"Mr. Whifflespice - do you have any idea what we will have to do to entertain this Lord of the Verdant Fields? Will it necessarily be a challenge of arms?"

[thirdkingdom]

Feargus

Feargus glances around the clearing, counting obvious foes.
"Mr. Whifflespice - do you have any idea what we will have to do to entertain this Lord of the Verdant Fields? Will it necessarily be a challenge of arms?"

He espies, in addition to Prince Nacknosh, a half dozen ogres in dress plate, and nearly a score of goblins acting as staff. Plus, who's to say what the two dozen dancers -- all presumably Nacknosh's subjects -- would do were violence to erupt. Sure, they look relatively nice and non-threatening, but in this place? Who knows.

[Atlictoatl]

Feargus

Feargus glances around the clearing, counting obvious foes.
"Mr. Whifflespice - do you have any idea what we will have to do to entertain this Lord of the Verdant Fields? Will it necessarily be a challenge of arms?"

Whifflespice

"It's been some time, to my memory, since the Rite of Travelers has been invoked in Lord Mereldan's court. Most travelers, er, head south instead of north when encountering the road. The specifics may therefore have some binding in the whimsy of the court, but I should think it would be cause for festival, and traditionally features contests of strength, endurance, and wit. Puzzles that haven't been solved in an age, races through malevolent woods, arm-wrestling a giant, those sorts of things. In my most recent festival, I was charged with charming a sylph, undine, and dryad, for instance, an-"

"Fat lot of good that did ya!" a goblin hoping to curry favor with Nacknosh interrupted.

Whifflespice pursed his lips, his brown skin darkening with embarrassment.

"In any event," he continued, "were you to ask for a challenge of arms, I believe that would be in your rights within the Rite. Though I shouldn't expect that to be the only contest you would be subjected to."

[kalstone]

Svenn

"Strength, endurance, and wit? I have at least one of those qualities."

[thirdkingdom]

Prince Nacknosh

The Faery Lord bellows "What'll it be Woofleshit? I see you over there, prattling with your new friends! I grow hungry!" He reaches over to the roast horse his goblin attendants are struggling with and casually wrenches a hind leg off, then takes an enormous bite of the partially cooked leg. Blood and juices drip down his chin, splattering an enormous napkin he had tucked in as a bib.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

As the Prince talks about eating the men, Gardo slowly fumbles at the pouch on his belt. Gaining entry, he casually grasps a small stone within. His focus intensifies on the Prince when his desire for Notai is pronounced. He immediately moves in front of her and starts to remove his hand from the pouch. His movement is arrested by Wulfka standing in front of him, her hands holding his arms in place, and Mariusz to the side, his dagger held up towards Gardo's side. He tries to move a bit but she continues to hold tight and the dagger comes upwards, showing the vulnerability of his neck. Turning his head a bit, the withering glare hits Mariusz who wavers slightly but stands resolute.

Lips begin to speak but a feminine hand stops them and a hushed voice reaches his ears. "Gardo, I know you would die for anyone under your care, especially Notai, Mariusz, and myself. I am not pleased either but this is not the wisest time to pick a fight. It is more likely that we all die rather than escape. There has to be another way and the Prince even gave us one, a promise that can bind him. I have an idea and I need you to just acknowledge to that disgusting creature that the three of us are our own people and you always let us speak freely. Will you do that?"

Gardo looks from Wulfka to Mariusz. Mariusz eyes him back, dagger peering at the neck, and gives a quick flick of his eyes towards Wulfka. Gardo takes another breath and lets a mote of tension flee his body. He grunts compliance. Wulfka smiles and nods. "So, let's hope I can say this without getting us all killed. If Mariusz figures out what I'm doing, his help may be beneficial."

[thirdkingdom]

Oh shit, the wishstone! I forgot about that!

[VonAlric]

Wulfka & Mariusz

Seeing Gardo relent a bit, Wulfka steels herself. She turns as the cyclops bits into the leg. Growing up on the farm, she was used to slaughter of animals, her time fighting made her accustomed to blood and gore. Still, the sight of the prince eating is almost too much. She swallows to compose herself then take a couple of steps up. She bows then begins to talk. As she does, she moves around a bit, her hips pronouncing their existence, a coy smile on the lips, and eyelashes that flutter.

"Good Prince, I would speak to thee. We understand your desires but, please know this, our leader is fiercely protective of his men and women. However, he leads us with benevolence, allowing us to make choices. At any time, we are free to leave his side and serving him. But, until that time comes, he will not easily let us go. So, this is why there is a delay and causing you to become impatient with us. We apologize for that inconvenience. I have a solution that should speed this up. If there could be some sort of promise, a vow even, that would ensure the safety of myself and the others while our leaders are away, then things could happen more rapidly."

As she talks, Mariusz watches and listens to her. A slight smile at the word 'vow' and he quickly sheathes his dagger and moves beside Wulfka. "She's right, your honor, my boss does like it when someone makes a promise, puts his mind at ease, you knowz? Now, my boss, he lets me help him out with all these wordy parts, 'cuz I like them so much. So, what we iz thinking would be a vow where all of the retainers and all of possessions, no matter where they are, as kept safe from any harm. See, the boss and I used to work for this one boss, a guy like youze iz, a big guy and he had all sort of tough guys, like doez ogres about here. Anyway, he had to help out this one other boss. Problem was, that other boss had a bad habit of letting accidents happen to people and our boss had some people get hurt, it led to a ugly time, and there was a whole buncha issues with everyone."

He holds up his hands in apology as he continues. "I know, I know, this is taking too long but here's the point. The boss would feel better about this whole holding some of us here to make sure they keep their end of the bargain if you could make a small promise. If you could vow that while all of us and the possessions of the group did not come to any harm while all of them were away, that nothing accidental happens to those peoples and things left here, not even a hair on them is harmed, I think we could work together on this. Sounds good?"

Wulfka looks at the prince, two fingers wrapping around a lock of blonde hair, twisting ever so slowly. "I mean, surely a prince such as yourself sees the benefit of this, yes?"

[thirdkingdom]

Prince Nacknosh

The Faery Lord blinks his single eye and digs a blood-streaked finger deep into one ear. "Er, what was it you just said?"

[Atlictoatl]

Whifflespice

The fae man interjects. "Your Grace, I believe they are respectfully declining your offer regarding the fae-seeming mortal, for her services shall be required for them to attain the success against the Verdant Field that we are asking of them. They are, however, accepting your first offer, to allow twelve of them to depart to trick Lord Mereldan's court into conferring greater status to Prince Nacknosh."

That wasn't exactly what the cyclops had said, but he was unlikely to recollect the exact detail of his earlier comments.

"In accepting your offer, they seek binding assurances that none of the people, beasts, or possessions left in your care will be harmed, by accident or design, until their return, and if they return victorious with status earned for our Sultan and Prince, you shall release them all free, whole, and without compulsion."

"In short, my lord, they bow to your wisdom and accept your generosity and assurances."

[thirdkingdom]

Whifflespice

The fae man interjects. "Your Grace, I believe they are respectfully declining your offer regarding the fae-seeming mortal, for her services shall be required for them to attain the success against the Verdant Field that we are asking of them. They are, however, accepting your first offer, to allow twelve of them to depart to trick Lord Mereldan's court into conferring greater status to Prince Nacknosh."

That wasn't exactly what the cyclops had said, but he was unlikely to recollect the exact detail of his earlier comments.

"In accepting your offer, they seek binding assurances that none of the people, beasts, or possessions left in your care will be harmed, by accident or design, until their return, and if they return victorious with status earned for our Sultan and Prince, you shall release them all free, whole, and without compulsion."

"In short, my lord, they bow to your wisdom and accept your generosity and assurances."

Prince Nacknosh

The cyclops takes another massive bite of the horse's haunch and chews, thoughtfully. "And if they should fail, I eat them all, beasts, boots, and beltbuckles. And you as well, fruit of my loins though you are." He scratches his belly. "You have ten days," he says, "and if you do not return by then our agreement is forfeit, and I begin to feast!"

Whifflespice knows that Mereldan is a three-day's walk to the north.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Umm... Whiff.. Whi..spash... You, good sir. I believe that my man said and I prefer that the agreement include that all of our party returns."

[Atlictoatl]

Whifflespice

The fae man nods to Gardo, acknowledging his comment.

"Thank you, Your Grace," he says to Nacknosh, bowing.

He informs the Men that it is three days to the Verdant Field and three days back, and that they should set out within the hour.

[shaidar]

Newton has kept quiet, but his scowl shows his displeasure at the situation.

"Let's get going now, and get this done."

He recovers his remaining weapons and backpack from his horse and ensures he has enough rations for 10 days.

[Rex]

Shmara

"Yes we should move out quickly."

She will gather everything she needs, including food and water for the trip from her horses.

[kalstone]

Svenn

Svenn prepares with the others.

"Tell me, Whifflespice," he asks. "How exactly does one travel between the mortal world and Faery?"