Cayzle's Wemic Site
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Owyth makes new Friends
Cronis Steelehammer, Adventurer for Hire
Four days after they defeated the ghost, Owyth and Urameshi came to the end of the forest and met the Northride Road. They travelled south for a couple of days and once more Owyth felt the unpleasant reaction from common travellers to him. There was even a circus owner who wanted to buy Owyth from Urameshi. But besides that the travel was easy. The spring days were lukewarm and the sun kept shining brightly in the clear blue sky. They are a two days ride from Tilverton, the merchant city, and the sun is going down, the moon about to take its place in a few hours. The road has been clear in the last three hours, but then Owyth and Urameshi spot another traveller, a short one by the way. Itīs a dwarf, with long firery red hair, worn in tight braids, and a long red beard dangled to his waist. He is wearing a dull colored chain mail armor and wielding a battle axe. In front of him, a young owlbear the size of the dwarf keeps screeching loudly and threatening to cut the stout little fellow with its claws.
Owyth ponders for a moment the young, immature owlbear. "It must have wanderred frrom its home rrange," the Wemic whispers to Urameshi. "Well, therre's no rreason to slay the poorr beast. Too bad my Frriendship spell will not affect it."
Shushing the ninja, Owyth uses his Hunting ability to sneak up on the young owlbear. He is glad that the dwarf is keeping it at bay, and keeping its attention fixed.
If he manages to surprise the owlbear, Owyth will pounce on it. With any luck, after a few minutes of overbearing it, he will have it pinned. If he doesn't surprise the young beast, let me know.
[Out of character: A large character overbearing a small one has a +8 to hit. If large vs. medium, +4 to hit. Add in bonuses for charging and back attack, and with luck Owyth's overbearing attack will pin the owlbear after a few rounds of successful overbear attacks.]
If he manages to pin the owlbear, Owyth will call Urameshi to help him bind it. Then they can carry it back to the wilderness where it belongs.
Cronis keeps circling with the owlbear, that suddenly stops, probably tired of playing and ready for some action. The dwarf finds himself in the same position he was before, with his back to the road. He stays in a defense stance, his axe half raised near his right arm, both hands holding tightly at the hilt. The owlbear screechs repeatedly, the fur around its head, standing, but it still remains at its position. Cronis is waiting the beast's attack at any momment but then something else catches his attention. Not very far from the owlbear, a stranger beast appears. It's like a man in the body of a lion. It moves swiftly, from behind the owlbear, that is unaware of the lionaman's presence, and pounces on it, its claws penetrating in the back of the owlbear. The lionman, using its weight throws the other beast on the floor and stands over it, the wolbear now dominated. A few seconds latter a man all covered up in dark clothes, from head to toe, comes closer Cronis and the two beasts. The dwarf can't see his face, except for the round black eyes showing in the mask, but judging by his size and physique he would guess the dark clothed man is an elf.
"Hi. My name is Urameshi." he says in a very accented common, and giving a quick nod to the dwarf. "That is Owyth. He is a wemiku. A gureato warriah."
Cronis shakes his head and begins to laugh."If that isnt the strangest thing Ive ever seen,Im not knowing what is."Cronis then looks to the hooded man."I be Cronis,adventurer for hirer."He swings his axe in a wide circle before hooking it to his belt."I am sure proud to have stumbled into you lads.It has been a might bit boring so far,on my journey."
As Cronis introduces himself, laughing, Owyth finds himself smiling as well. After the young owlbear is tied up, the Wemic offers his hand to the dwarf. "I am glad you would like to join us, at least forr a while. Our firrst job is to rreturrn this crreaturre to the wild. Then we shall rresume ourr quest. We could use a companion like you to help us. Isn't that rright, Urrameshi?"
The ninja nods to Owyth and gets closer the owlbear. "Maybe this will help." Urameshi produces a thin blow-pipe from somewhere inside his clothes and puts a small dart inside it. He aims down on the owlbear and blows it, the dart disapearing in the midst of the animalīs fur. Then, a few seconds latter, the owlbear becomes unconcious. All around them there are just clear plains, with mountains lining the horizons to the north, east and south. They take then the owlbear a few miles away from the road, for its safety and other travelerīs.
They camped a hundread yards away from the road that night, and this has been the most pleasant night in weeks. The black sky was lit with stars with a yellow full moon reigning over them. The croaking of frogs together with the sound of crickets buit a calming and uniform music and the fire they built gave them warmth in that not so cold night. They ate a boar and a snake Owyth hunted on the way back, after they had returned the owlbear and with their bellies full and satisfied, they called the night and went to sleep, sharing the watch turns, just in case.
Itīs another beautiful spring morning as they wake up. The sun is still climbing the Thunder Peaks, and a soft and cold breeze blows the long green blades on the plains. A field full of flowers wake up at the touch of the sun rays. Owyth, Urameshi and Cronis prepare themselves a quick meal to start the day and while they are sitted around the burnt out fire Urameshi shares a dream he had. "I do not know ifu thisu means anythingu but I just canīt get thisu dureamu out of my mind. I was walkingu in a swampo and I walked for long long time. Till I see a bigu gurey Tahwah. Something evohru was insido...then I donīt remembah anymore." As the ninja was telling his dream, both the wemic and the dwarf listened carefully, as they realised they had the same dream, of them walking in a swamp till they found a grey tower with an evil aura around it. After they shared it with each other Urameshi turns to them and says, "I think that is our goal. We must go to swamp and defeat evil." Owyth understands the importance of the dream better than Cronis, who found it weird that they shared the same dream but saw no reason why they should go to this swamp. Or at least he thought that there may be also other ways to interpret the dream. Urameshi then tells the dwarf how he met Owyth. He told him about his homeland being destroyed by evil spirits and that he was one fo the few who survived. Those spirits were looking for a holy sword, which is the one the ninja carries with him, because the sword is the only thing that can defeat their master, the great demon Gurimu. Gurimu was defeated more than a thousand years ago but he is trying to return in the body of a royal prince. Somewhere a prince will be born and the sword must be used to kill it before he becomes aware of its powers. On his search for this prince, one night Urameshi had a dream. He dreamt with a lionman fighting evil by his side and one day he met the wemic in the Spiderhaunt Woods, who healed him from a wound he had below the ribcage. The next day they fought an evil spirit, a ghost samurai and since then they have been walking together. Maybe because of their cultures, both the wemic and the ninja believe very much in the meaning of dreams.
"The Dragon God" says Urameshi, "the god of my people, works with us on our dureamus. I believe we are meant to fighto togedah." After the long explanation things start to make more sense to Cronis who starts to believe in the ninjaīs words. 'Yes', he thinks 'maybe this is what the gods have in mind for me... or maybe not.'
[OOG: Ok, by looking at the map, you as a player will be able to see where swamps are located. But neither Owyth, Urameshi or Cronis know the Realms that well. The dwarf may be the one in the party who most knows this part of the world but still he is not sure of where they can find swamps. Now, if you look at the map you will see a big desert called Anauroch. At itīs south eastern end there is a chain of mountains with a few rivers going into it. After the mountains there is a city called Tilverton. There are three roads leading to Tilverton, two coming from the northeast and on from southwest. You are at the Northride Road witch is the upper road that cuts through the middle of the mountains. You are after that passage, some 30 miles away from the city. Here is a better hook to continue the game...]
Noticing that, just as him, the others know little about these lands, Cronis proposes them to go to Tilverton since they are just two days from there. The others nod to the dwarf and they continue their journey.
Two days latter, just as the dwarf said, they reach Tilverton. A small line of people is coming from the city gate as a few guards question the travelers and do a quick search. All weapons carried by men are tied with a white ribbon. Finding that curious they ask to someone infront of them, and the man says that in the Country of Cormyr itīs a sign that you are armed but travelling in peace. Just as they reach the gates two guards, dressed in chain mail, and armed with long swords hanging at their belts, address the party.
"Welcome to Tilverton travellers!" the taller guard, with short black hair and an unshaved beard greets them. After they answer him he walk near the wemic and looks him upside down. Owyth wonders if the man is about to call him a beast and ask where Urameshi or Cronis got him, as many have done on the road, before they met the dwarf. But it seems the guard recognizes Owyth as an intelligent beign, though a very strange one. "Whatīs your name sir, and what are your intentions in this city?" he asks directly to the wemic, his eyes at the same level as Owythīs.
The wemic introduces himself and the others as travellers new to the country of Cormyr, who are coming in peace and looking to hire the services of someone who would be able to guide them in their travel. THe guard nods and tell him he could find such a person in the Red Rock Inn and wishes them a good stay in the city.
The party is then allowed passage through the gates, after having their weapons tied up. As they walk through the crowded streets, heads turn around to them, and a few words are spoken but there are no agressive actions is directed towards them. After walking crosing a few streets and looking for lots of signs in the buildings they finally find the one with the writings "The Red Rock Inn". Itīs a two story building made of bricks and wood, the entrance door painted with red. They push it inwards and enter the Inn. There are a dozen round tables, almost all of them crowded with patrons of all kinds. The music is loud as well as the chattering. At the end of the room, behind a big counter, is a bald and tall fat man, probably the landlord. He shouts as he notices the party entering, so they can hear his greetings. "Welcome to the Red Rock sirs!!". The party moves towards the counter to talk with the Innkeeper. "So, what can I do..." he takes a long look at the wemic as he gets closer and then continues, "...to help you?"
Cronis hops up on a stool so that he can see the inn keeper when he talks,"Aye,ya sure can be a helpn us.Me friends and I are looking for a guide.We was told we could be a findn one here."Cronis then looks at his new companions and gets a sly grin on his face."We also be in need of the strongest dwarven ale that ye got."
Solana and Mink
The innkeeper nods to the dwarf with a warm smile and fills three mugs with ale, putting them over the counter. But before he can answer the dwarf, a small and cute elven woman address them. She is a couple of inches shorter than the dwarf, and has a medium-length brown hair falling in free cascades down her back, and green spakling eyes.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Solana. I hear you are looking for a guide?"
Cronis eyes the lady and a large smile crosses his face."Aye,we do be needn a guide.Would your pops be a wantn the job little girly?"
Solana again looks over the group quickly. "My father?" A shadow crosses her face before she returns to her cheerful self. "My *foster* father probably wouldn't make too good a guide, it'd sidetrack him from his business, and besides, he's getting old. I'm looking for something for myself. So, allow me a few questions. What duties do you expect your guide to perform? What does it pay? And just how territorial is that lion-man with regards to other cats? I'd hate to part ways with Mink..."
(OOG: Speaking of which, Mage, where *is* Mink currently? You didn't mention her.)
At the mention of her name, the little cat meows to the elf, her bowl of milk already finished. "Nice cat you have." the dark clothed ninja says in an accented common. Then, he continues, "We need to go to swamppoh. We do nottuh know this countuhry and do nottuh know where swamppohs are. About Owyth," he turns to the wemic, "he is harmlessuh, unlessuh you become his enemy." Urameshi says smiling then turns back to the elf. "I do nottuh know how much you get payed for this job, but tell us your puhrice and we will pay." he sighs after a torturing common talking, and seeing the mug of ale over the counter, removes his mask, so he can feel the cool drink running down his throat. Solana can now see that, whoever Urameshi is, he is really not from around the Heartlands. He has a round yellow face, with high cheeks and almond-shaped black eyes, his short and also black thin hair, sweaten from the long using of the mask in such a hot day. The ninja drinks his ale as he waits for the elven girls answer.
Solana takes a look at the foreigner, then decides that according to the cold prickle at the base of her skull and her neck hair standing on end, she might be better off not knowing - in fact, not even *asking*. Glancing down at her cat, she bends down, making a soft, cooing sound. "Here, Mink..." Picking her companion up and petting her, she straightens again. "Swamps, you say? There're only two I can think off in Cormyr - well, it's really just one, but it definitely is large enough for two. Those two are the Farsea Marshes around the springs of the Tun, and the Marsh of Tun in that river's vale, and in effect, both are the same place. I can't really claim to know much more than the common folklore about the area within those swamps, as I've never been there, and I don't think anyone who has lived very long after getting out... Talona reigns supreme there." She takes a look at the group, then continues, interrupted on occasion by the content purrs of her little companion. "About my price, I'd say an equal share of whatever we find in those swamps. I *do* recommend we take a lot of antidotes and medical supplies with us. That area is the worst breeding ground of all sorts of plagues and pestilences you'll find in this part of Toril."
Owyth ducks his head shyly as Urameshi describes him as "harmless." But his ears prick up (literally) as the female elf describes the Marsh of Tun.
In his own throaty accent, Owyth says, "I look forrwarrd to hearring all about this swamp. Not only because I am a student of Naturre in all her envirronments, but (more imporrtantly) because of ourr quest."
The Wemic describes a swamp surrounding a grey tower with an evil aura around it. "We seek a place such as this, a place we have all seen in ourr drreams."
Solana listens to the Wemic, trying to remember if she ever saw or heard of a place like that. "I am truly sorry, but I can't say I've ever heard of a place looking like this, nor have I ever seen it. But like I said, I've never been inside those swamps myself, nor has anyone who was and returned ever lived long enough to give a complete account of what is in there. If you wish to look for that tower, there is no choice but to search the marshes yourself, and hope for better luck."
Owyth answers Solana, smiling, "Well, it would be harrd to know less than we do! Would you be willing to come with us in any case? And I would like to sharre knowledge of healing supplies and antidotes with you, as you mentioned."
"I think we should rest foruh today and leave tomorrow morning." says Urameshi. "Tomorrow we buy any provisions we need as well as those antidotsu. How about you Cuhronissuh?" he turns to the dwarf, whoīs already at his third mug of ale.
Cronis grins at being caught drinking so fast."Aye folks,be soundn like a good o'nough plan to me."He shakes his head to get the ale foam off of his beard."Another ale,and what ever our elf friend here be a drinkin"He looks to the elf."So will ya be a joinin us then?"
Solana looks at the dwarf. "Assuming there are no objections to not only sharing the danger, but also the gains, I think I might want to go along. I'm curious what is so attractive about those swamps. And no drinks for me, thank you. I've already had a glass of wine, and I kind of dislike hangovers..."
Thus a deal is settled between the wemic, the ninja, the dwarf and their guide, the elven girl. They drink and eat and talk till the moon rises and the sky is covered with a sparkling dark blanket. They rent their rooms and go to bed early, anxious to start their new adventure in thext morning. The night is calm, but a little cold breeze enter their rooms and chill their feet as they sleep and dream about the swamp. In the dream they are walking for hours in the muddy ground, watching death and decay all around them, till they reach a black tower and they can feel an evil energy pulsating from its walls and hitting hard on their chests. Then, suddenly, the wake up. A few rays of light already invaded their room through the window slit and in half an hour latter they were meeting at the tap room. They talked for a while revewing their plans and discovered they had the same dream. Urameshi and Owyth were already used to it and were the ones bringing the subject. They tell Solana about their holy quest but the elven guide still have her doubts about it. It could mean something or just be a coincidence, as of course, they couldnīt take this swamp thing out of their minds and it was completely normal that they all dreamt about it.
After they finished their breakfast they leave the Red Rock Inn and go to a few general stores as well as some merchant tents, buying provisions and herbs to treat them in case of poisoning or disease. They also bought an antidote potion from an old wizard, after half an hour negociating price, as they were short on money. Urameshi paid 150 gp for it, leaving just a few silver crowns at his purse. The wizard said that there was enough potion for the four of them. That left them with just enough money to buy food and rent cheap rooms at cheap Inns.
They left Tilverton after lunch and took the Moonsea Ride road, going southwest. According to Solanaīs calculations, they would travel through the Cormyrean country for about fifteen days at least, covering 360 miles of road on foot till they reach the Eagle Peak.
"Eagle Peak", she told them, "is small hamlet situated on a rocky outcropping overlooking the wide vale of the Tun River and the Marsh of Tun. The Farsea Marshes are almost 60 miles north of the Eagle Peak as the Marsh of Tun is just half that distance to the west. We have plenty of time to chose which one to go first that is, if we survive to go to the other."
Half their journey to the Eagle Peak would be spent to go from Tilverton to Arabel, the nearest city and one of the most important in Cormyr.
They are just on their second day, camping on the clear ground, a hundread yards away from the road, during another dark spring night. The crickets, frogs and chicadas playing their background music, as the party eat from their provisions around the fire. Owyth had problems finding game this day. What few animals he hunted they ate during midday. They are just stretching themselves in the not so soft ground as they hear a noise. They all reach for their weapons as they see the man coming towards them. Sensing their nervousism the stranger raises his hands, and cotinues walking slowly. They all could see with their infravisions, except ofr Urameshi, that the man was carrying no weapons. If he had any, it was inside his backpack. They let him come closer the light so they can take a better look at him. The man is wearing ragged light brown hooded cloak over dark brow cotton blouse and pants. His leather boots are worn-out with a few holes showing. He halts and pulls his hood back, showing a long light brown hair and the face of tired forty year old man, his grey beard probably left unshaved for months. He wears a black eyepatch over his left eye, and as he smiles to the party they can notice his dirty yellow teeth.
"Good evening fellow travellers. May I join your fire in this beautiful but cold night?" he says widening his arms as someone who waits for a hug. "My name is Cosmos, and Iīve been short of money lately, so if you could also spare a little of your food, I would be very thankful." He forces a smile as he waits for an answer, rubbing his arms as to tell them he is cold.
Solana pulls her knees up to her body, resting her head on them, her right hand idly playing with the fur cuffs on her right boot. Despite her seemingly relaxed position, she is ready to jump if the man proves to be a threat, though. "Sure, join us - that is, assuming you don't mind dry food... No luck at hunting today."
"Thank you! You are all very kind!" he smiles to all of them and sits by the fire. Urameshi gives him some food, which the man eats voraciously. As he notices the others staring at him he says, "Sorry about my manners, but Iīm starving. Itīs been more than a week since I satisfied my hunger." he turns back his attention to his food.
[Out of Character: Sorry to contradict, but Wemics do not have infravision!]
In Character:
Owyth bows to the newcomer. He takes in Cosmos's haggard appearance, threadbare clothes, and eyepatch.
"Wherre arre ourr mannerrs?" the Wemic says. "I am Owyth, adventurrerr, naturralist, hunterr, and serrvant of the god of all Wemics. This is Urrameshi, a ninja on a holy quest; Crronis, a frriend well-met on ourr trravels; and Solana, ourr guide."
"Come, frriend Cosmos," the Wemic continues. "Tell us yourr storry while I look at yourr eye. Perrhaps my healing powerrs can help you. And tell us what has brrought you to this strretch of rroad."
Owyth walks over to the man and casts a Cure Light Wounds on the man's injured eye, if he lets him.
Solana glances quickly at her companions, trying to identify their intentions. Invite him in, OK. Share some dry food with him, fine. But treating him as a... 'friend' might be going a bit quickly... Still appearing quite comfortably settled down, she addresses Cosmos. "Forgive me for asking, but what happened to you, anyway?"
Cosmos nods to the rest of the party, looking up from his food, as Owyth introduces them. As the wemic mentions healing his eyes he raises his arm between him and the lion man, shaking his head and moving his body away, "No, no, no...itīs ok. It, it canīt be healed, I tried. I mean, not I but, Iīve asked the help of priests when this happened. Itīs, itīs just ok, really. Thank you for your concern though." as the wemic moves away from him, Cosmos return to his position by the fire and resumes his eating.
Solana glances quickly at her companions, trying to identify their intentions. Invite him in, OK. Share some dry food with him, fine. But treating him as a... 'friend' might be going a bit quickly... Still appearing quite comfortably settled down, she addresses Cosmos. "Forgive me for asking, but what happened to you, anyway?"
He has just finished the food and was cleaning his teeth with his tongue when the elven girl addresses him. He looks to her and to the others, then he looks down scratching his beard, "I..." he pauses and then raies his head and stares at the fire, the sparkling flames and the cracking for the wood bringing some flashbacks to his mind. "I used to be like you. Yes, I look in your eyes and I remember of my youth, when I was in my best shape and thought I had the world in my hands!!" he raises his bony hands, and the light from the fire let them notice his black finger nails. He then lower his hands, letting them rest at his knees, and continues, " I had some brave and powerful friends...oh yeah, we were invincible...or at least we thought we were...till we found out the truth..." he sighs and turns to Urameshi, "Co-could I have some water please?" he asks the ninja who promptly gives him his waterskin. Cosmos let the water fall into his dry mouth, some of it running down his dirty and sweaten grey beard. He cleans his mouth with his sleeve and give the waterskin back to Urameshi. "Iīm gonna be frank with you guys," he says, now looking at them, "I kinda overheard your conversation at the Red Rock Inn, a few days ago. Since then Iīve been following you." he sees their surprised reactions but continues, "I have a proposition to make to you. I have a map, of part of the Farsea Marshes, where an old temple is located. There is a great treasure there, I know it, but I canīt do this alone. If you go with me, we can share it. I need brave and powerful people to go with me, īcause I wouldnīt survive alone. You donīt have to answer now. I know you already have your goals, but if we find this treasure we would live like nobles for a long time..." he shuts up and watches them analizing his propositing, a faint smile showing on his face.
Solana eyes the newcomer suspiciously, her head coming up from her knees, her hands stopping to move. "Ah, yes, an eavesdropper. I assume you know something about those swamps I don't, seeing how you even have a map of something there.Maybe you want to share with us exactly what kind of treasure we would be after, and what kind of guardians we can expect? And while we're at it, why didn't you approach us at the inn?"
Always cautious, Urameshi ponders for a while before answering, "I too care not foruh money. But sinssuh Curonissuh and Solana never hesitated in offering us theyah help, if they feel like checking that temple I would be glad to help too. But I aguhree with you, my fuhrendo Owyth and with Solana, that itīs imporuhtant to know why Cosuhmussuh is just telling us thissuh now." He turns to Cosmos, staring at him, his dark eyes demanding for an answer.
The one-eyed man is now much calmer than before, seeing that they are in need of the money. What seems to be the problem is that they donīt really trust him.
"Thatīs a good question!" he says enthusiasticaly, "and Iīm sorry I forgot to answer it before. But how someone like me, looking like a vagabond, would get your attention? I tell you how. With the mentioning of words like gold and treasure. But Iīm no fool to bring up this kind of subject in a crowded tavern!! Oh, no sirs, I am not! And if I stopped you on the streets, you would think I was just a drunk man begging for money or something similar. Thatīs why I waited you to leave Tilverton."He pauses for a while, to see their reactions and continues, "As for what dangers we can find in the swamps, I can tell only from what I saw. Snakes, crocodiles, spiders and all that kind of creatures who naturally inhabit those kind of places. They are not the real danger though. I have been at those swamps only one time in my whole life. On that time, I was my friends and we were looking for the temple Iīm talking to you about. Unfortunately we entered the lizard men territory and one of my comrades died in a fierce battle against them. We marked though, in the map we were making, where we found the lizard men so we could avoid having to fight them again. But the greatest danger lies inside the temple. We didnīt know what to expect when we entered it and we were caught by surprise you see, the first floor of the temple is filled with swamp water to the ceiling. The water is even ten inches high in the second floor. We had to enter the temple through a window and just after ten minutes searching the place, we were attacked by some kind of guardian! It was a giant snake monster!!!I sware, I never saw a snake that big!!!It killed all my friends and I was the only one who survived."
He pauses for a while, his head down and his eyes closed, breathing heavyly, as if some tormented by some flashbacks of that moment. A couple of minutes latter he raises his read again, and says, seriously, "I have been haunted by those memories since that day. I have nothing left in my life. Look at me. Look at me!!!" he suddenly shouts, and gets up, furious, and starts to walk around the camp. "I WAS POWERFUL!!! PEOPLE RESPECTED ME, FEARED ME!!! But now," his voice lowers again, but there is still hathred in his voice, and he continues, spitting the words out of his mouth "now, I, I`m just this poor bastard man, who works all day like a mule, just to have enough money to buy him some food, so he can survive to work on the next day Iīm sick of it. Sick of it!!!" he turns around and looks down at them, his hands tightly clenched in fist "I will not go back to that town. Iīll not continue to live like this. I thank you for giving me food, and for listening to me. But Iīm going to that swamp, with or without you, even if I have to die there. Iīd rather die fighting that monster than drunk in some dark alley with a couple of copper pieces in my pocket."
"Well, that certainly *sounds* like a valid reason. Since you already seem to have been there at least once, maybe you can give some more information on that oversized snake? Is it poisonous?" Solana looks a bit... perturbed at the thought of actual fighting...
Like Solana, Owyth is beginning to get a little suspicious as well, and his tail begins to lash back and forth.
"Solana, these are excellent questions," the Wemic says. "I too would like some answers. In fact," he says to his three comrades, "I feel that Cosmos here misjudges our motives. If he can lead us to the object of our quest, then I welcome him. But if he leads us on some fool's errand after mere gold, then let him go on his own, I say."
Cosmos scratches his beard and looks a little disapointed "Well, I thought you were like me. Treasure hunters!" he quickly raises a clenched fist, lowering it slowly, "But even if you are not, money can be of great help in these lands. You may not need luxury but you need to survive. Maybe the beast man here can hunt his food, and live in harmony with nature and all that, but what about the others??" he waves his arm showing Urameshi, Solana and Cronis. "This treasure is enormous!! There is some danger, yes, but it pays!! I believe there is more than a thousand gold pieces for each of us there! You can buy horses, new clothes, lots of jewelry," he turns to Solana smiling. Suddenly the calm hungry man becomes an excited greedy one. "Sorry to look this jumpy but you look like you are capable to do this and itīs not like itīs way out of your course. Itīs at the swamp! And, I have a map of a great part of that swamp well at least the part that leads to the old temple. You are my last chance! So, what do you say? What do you all say?" he stares at them, eyes wide open and hands trembling with anxiety over his knees.
Solana's gaze is piercing as she looks over the man. That guy hasn't yet answered a single question. I wonder if he even understood me? And *why* didn't he address us at that inn? Maybe Godofred knows him? Careful now... "OK. Over 1000 gold coins per person sounds promising. In what form? Jewelry, art, gems, coins, other items of value? You say there is danger, but we already guessed that. *What* should we expect? Also, it is within a temple. I think we all can think of better ways to die than by offending whoever that temple is or was sacred to. Last, you haven't yet answered the most... interesting question. Why didn't you float that before us at the inn? Why trail us?" Solana absently pets Mink with her left hand, softly trailing her fingers over her head, caressing the fur between the cat's ears.
Owyth remains skeptical, and would also like an answer to Solana's question. However, he is open to the possibility of the adventure Cosmos has proposed.
"We do not know what forrces we will need to overrcome the evil of the Tower," the Wemic says. "It may be that some wealth will be needed to help us achieve ourr quest." Owyth looks at the ninja and the dwarf, saying, "What do you think, comrrades?"
Cronis listens intently as the group dicusses the pros and cons of this adventure."Look, I be in it for the adventure,wherever that may lead.I have the wandering lust."He looks at the rest of the party.
Owyth, ever eager to learn more about nature, questions Cosmos about the great snake. He asks about color, scale patterns, habits, method of attack, etc. Does this snake seem familiar to him, based on his Animal Lore skill?
"But naturre aside," the Wemic continues, after the snake discussion, "I must admit to two rreserrvations. Firrst, if we are bitten by a giant snake of any kind, I do not have the powerr to counterract it, norr do I yet have the powerr to talk with the snake. Of courrse, we do have the poison antidote potion Urrameshi bought. Second, I cannot swim. How will we enter the lower, submerrged levels of this 'trreasure-house'? Brreathing underrwater is an arrt I will not learrn any time soon!"
Cosmos hear attently as they speak. Then he says, "I donīt know if the snake is poisonous its colour nor anything about it, except itīs huge...everything was too fast and it was very dark. I just remember seeing all my friends dying quickly. I left the temple as fast as I could. Now as for having to swim, we will need to swim to the temple. Letīs just hope the treasure is not on the first floor, īcause swimming is one thing, but breathing under water is a totally different story."
"I can hold my buhreath foruh ten minuhtsu." says Urameshi. Cosmos turns to the ninja smiling, "Excellent! So, we are getting somewhere here. Shall we consider it then? You donīt have to answer now, as we have a long road ahead of us. For now I just ask you to let me go with you. I see you have a quest of your own but I can also say that you find my proposition a little interesting. Take your time friends. There is no hurry." he says smiling and sits again near the fire.
Urameshi looks from Cosmos to the others, "Well, I thinku this sounds reasonabohru. I do not mind him coming with us. And he is right. We have a long roadoh ahead of us. No needuh to decide now sinsuh heīs going there anyway, with or without us."
"Rreally, I'm not trrying to be difficult," Owyth says, "but Cosmos says we need to swim to the temple -- and I can't swim! Can we get a boat? One that will bearr my bulk?"
Solana said, "Well, I swim about as well as a stone myself, and seriously doubt Mink'd enjoy a trip through swamp water. It seems that, if you want our help, we will have to come up with an alternative to swimming."
Cosmos said, "That is not problem. One of my friends, Gerard, was a huge man, and he was wearing a chain mail suit that time in the swamp. Luckly, Frey, the brain in the group, built a raft. At first I thought that thing wouldnīt support us but itīs stronger than it looks. īPoint is, I can do a raft for us, since I remember how to do it."
Cronis listens intently."A raft! A raft!Did I hear you right? Did you say a raft? Not a boat even,but a raft."Cronis shakes his head furiously."Do you see the size of our lion-friend here.He is huge,and I am very small.If he starts to fall,I will have no where to go but in the water.I am a dwarf,how many dwarves have you seen that are swimmers."Cronis stands up and stomps away from the fire."Crazy humans,what are they thinkin.
Owyth laughs! "You arre rright, frriend dwarrf! No matterr how big yourr frriend was, Cosmos, I prrobably weigh thrree times what he did! This betterr be a decent-size rraft you have in mind."
"Of course we are going to build a raft large enough for us all!" Cosmos says to Owyth, "But. as I said before, we donīt have to decide this now. It seems we all need some sleep and time to think it. We can discuss it along the road." He stretches his arms and yawns, "Well, I think Iīm gonna sleep now. G'night!"Cosmos lays on the ground, using his old backpack as a pillow.
Urameshi talks to Owyth and the others so they can divide the watch turns for the night. The cold night breeze, chilled their bodies, making them shake during sleep. Even the camp fire wasnīt enought to warm them. As they wake up the next day, the camp fire already burnt out, they rub their arms and legs and put on their cloaks, to fight this uncommon cold spring morning. The only one who doesnīt feel that cold is the wemic. He is building another fire at the time. Urameshi gets up and goes sitting by his side, "I can make hottoh tea for us. Really good!" the ninja says. Owyth looks at him, nodding, and in a few minutes they have the fire up, and using one of the partyīs shield as a bowl, Urameshi starts making the tea. Circling the fire, the party drinks the odd and thick green hot tea, but even if, to some, the taste is not as good as they wished, it helped them fight the cold. Solana also gives some of the tea to Mink, who seems to like it a lot. Urameshi smiles at Solana as he watches the small cat drinking the tea. He scratches behind the catīs ears, which now he only calls Minkku-chan.After they finish eating and packing, they take the road again to continue their long journey to the Eagle Peak. They covered a good ground the last three days, and just as Solana calculated, in two more days they would reach Arabel. Those last days have been less cold than that other night when they met Cosmos, but still they couldnīt wait to rich the big city and sleep in a soft and warm bed.
They kept having the swamp tower dream, though they saw that Cosmos didnīt share it with them. To Urameshi that meant that Cosmos have a different destiny, even though he walks their path for a while, there will be a time that his line would take another direction.
But if the chilling breeze bothered their bodies, there was something happening those last three days that was bothering their minds. Solana and Urameshi could swear that their food was being stolen during the night, while most of them slept. Of course, the first person to blame for it was Cosmos. But nobody said a word and decided just to pay more attention at him, during watch.
Sculg the Gully Dwarf Cook
Itīs their sixth morning on the road and they were so tired from the journey that whoever took the last watch turn fell sleep at the last hour. They all wake up with Owyth shouting, as something grabs his locks and starts pulling it hard. The wemic gets up and sees a little man hanging at his mane.
The camp fire is still on, with some water heating inside an iron pot. It seems that the little man wanted to add the wemic to his recipe.
"I AM NOT FOOD!" Owyth roars, but his friends see that he is struggling not to laugh.
The Wemic grabs the small man and holds him up. [out of character -- if he is too slippery, I'll leap on him and hold him down.] "I think I've found ourr thief! Now if you arre hungrry, just ask. Herre, eat! This is good to eat, but Wemics arre not!"
The little man seems not to have heard what the wemic said after its initial roar. It has fainted, and is lying on the floor, a miserable heap of worn rags.
Upon close inspection, you see (and smell) that the wretched creature is a gully dwarf. It is dressed in what appears to once have been a white robe. Now filthy and ragged, it can hardly be called that. A blanket is used by the creature as a cloak, a rather crude knot at the creatures' neck, put together from two corners of the blanket, is what is keeping it from falling to the floor. Clutched in its grubby hand, even in its state, is a wooden ladel. Its clogs have been flung several feet away, worn wooden things that look barely usable.
The sheer stench coming from it is horrendous. Almost utterly indescribable, the smell hints at creatures that may have crawled into the gully dwarfs' robes and died.
"Bahhhh,that thing is no kin to me.It is a damned gully dwarf.You would be better off just killing it.You try and give it a bath,and you are goina see one fierce critter."Cronis shivers at the thought of a gully dwarf being so near him.The stench is over bearring even for the stoic dwarf.He spits on the ground,"Ill try and catch us some breakfast."
Cosmos gets up with all the comotion and walks closer to examn the little man. Looking down at it he says, "Whadahell is that? Looks like a mixture of a gnome and dwarf. Well, whatever it was it was stealing from us. Maybe we should just kill it..."
Urameshi cuts Cosmos, "No! If his intention was to steal why would he stay here and cook us a meal?" the ninja turns to the little man, "Whatīs youruh namuh little ferow?"
OOG: Here is a description of Urameshi and Cosmos. Cosmos is an adult man, probably around his forties, wearing old ragged clothes. A light bown cloak and dark brown cotton blouse and pats. His long brown hair is dirty and together with his unshaved beard, one can notice he doesnīt wash himself in a few months. He also wears a black eyepatch in his left eye. As for Urameshi, he is a small man, 5 feet and a couple of inches tall. His face is human though uncommon to anything Sculg is used to. His skin has a slightly yellow color, and together with his high cheek bones and black almond-shaped eyes give him an exotic appearance. He is wearing some black skin tight clothes, only a little loose at his chest, that together with his face and neck are the only parts of his body not covered by his ninja clothes.
"Is this some kin of yourrs, frriend Crronis? He looks hungrry enough to eat a Wemic!" Owyth sniffs. "Let's give him a bath and then get some food in him."
The gully dwarf is totally incapacitated. It has fainted, and cannot answer questions, or eat. Strangely, it is still clutching the wooden ladel in its hand. Any attempt to wrest it from the creature fails. Examining it more closely, you see that the thing is indeed armed, a dagger at its belt and a short sword strapped to its back. Although dented, it looks usable.
Seeing that the little man is not answering, Urameshi turns him around, and see that he is unconcious. Taking his waterskin, the ninja throws some water into the little dirty man, bringing him back to conciousness. Then he questions him again, "Hi little ferow. Who are you? And why were you tuhrying to cookkuh owah fuhrendoh Owyth?" he says those last words with a smile to the wemic.
The gully dwarf, upon being revived by the strange looking human, splutters and twirls around in a frenzy while holding out the ladel in defence. At last, seeing that the wemic will not hurt him, although he does throw the creature a wary glance, he (although its gender is a questionable matter) turns to the ninja that questioned him. In an almost comical look of uncomprehension, the gully dwarf simply stares at the human, thinking maybe that these creatures want to eat him. In horror, the grubby little wretch holds out the wooden ladel once more, mencingly. Finally it sollemnly declares, "Me no ferow. Import person. Cook big meal. You hungry. Chief Sculg make food." Eying the wemic suspiciously, the gully dwarf adds, "This hulgspawn not food? Got four legs."
Solana looks at the gully dwarf with some disgust, cradling Mink protectively. "Bathing doesn't sound like a bad start, but since he's looking at four-legged beings as food, we might want to send him on his way for his own protection. He seems to have developed a taste for cat-like life, and I'm rather fond of Mink."
Having set down the small person, Owyth scratches his head and looks more closely at the creature. He sits down, so as to be more on the gully dwarf's level.
"We have gotten off to a bad starrt. Shall we trry again? I am Owyth, a Wemic, and a stranger to this land. I am pleased to meet you," Owyth says. He bows (which is entirely possible for a sitting Wemic) and offers his hand.
The smelly thing seems momentarily distracted by the furry thing that the little girl is holding, and licks its lips. Finally, its attention reverts to the wemic, and seeing that the lion-man is prostrated before him, the gully dwarf retains a regal stance, its chest sticking out and its chin potruding. "Thas right. Me import person. You my undling. Servant. Give me ride on back?" It asks, hopefully.
Solana glowers dangerously as the newcomer seems to size up her companion for edibility, then turns her head, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle as the gully dwarf asserts his... superiority. She then turns to Cronis. "Good sir, you seem to know a few things about his kind. What exactly should we expect?"
"Whatever he is up to itīs none of our concern." says Cosmos, "I think we should just eat and then hit the road. But of course, if you want him to go with us, who am I to say no?" he finishes that and walks away from Sculg.
Without waiting for the Wemics' permission, the gully dwarf Sculg tries to mount the lion-man. Shambling over to the side of the creature, it tries to get onto Owyths' back with one, fluid motion.
The result is a motion that is fluid failure. The gully dwarf miscalculates its aim, landing face first in the dirt on the other side of the wemic. Moaning, the gully dwarf rolls to its feet. "Hulgspawn. He moved. Bad food creature." Glaring at the Wemic for a moment, the gully dwarf turns to the human that addressed the others. "You no like rat stew? Make human food then. You see. Me import person. Dlup clan chief. Make good food. What meat you like?" The gully dwarf asks, looking at the cat the little girl is holding. "That good meat?" Pointing at the furry creature with a grubby finger, Sculg licks his lips once more. He then shambles over to collect the various things he had lost, namely the wooden ladel, his clogs and a dead rat that seemed to have popped out of nowhere from beneath its robes. You watch with horror as the gully dwarf lovingly ties the rat onto its belt. With its tail.
The pot of water at the fire is still boiling.
Owyth tolerates the small person's antics for a little while. The Wemic turns to Cronis. "Yes, friend dwarrf, what can you tell us about this kind of crreaturre?"
To Sculg, Owyth says, "We have betterr food than rrat almost everry day. If you want to join us and eat good food often, you must take a bath everry day. You must let us scrub you well so that you do not stink. Do you say yes?"
Cronis shakes his head as the others ask him about the gully dwarf."Smelly, rotten, no good, sons of a goat.You give them a bath,and I swear that they will find the nastiest pile of what ever to crawl into.I really dont know too many other things about them.They do seem to be pretty loyal,but honestly,I think they are more akin to a kender than a dwarf."
Urameshi looks to the open sky, partialy covering his eyes with his right hand, from the sun shining brightly over them. He turns them to the others, "I think we berah starutoh moving. Where are you going little one? Owah mission is very dangerous, though you are weruhcahmu to join us if you are headed in the same direcuhtion." moving closer to Solana and Owyth he whispers, "When we get to Araberuh, we washu this stinky little man." he smiles.
Cosmos, finishing eating a few fruits Urameshi gave him, gets up and cleans his hands on his pants. "I agree with Urameshi." he says with his mouth half full of food, "We should get going. Letīs eat and hit the road. If the stinky vermin wanna join us, fine! I just wanna get to Arabel and have a decent bath and eat a decent food for a change."
Owyth agrees. "We still have two days of trravel beforre we get to Arrabel, so let us get moving. Sculg, you arre welcome to join us, so long as you don't mind bathing morre often."
Turning to his friends, Owyth says, "In Arrabel perrhaps we can buy lots of soap and a Wemic bathtub."
Looking a bit hurt, the gully dwarf solemnly declares. "Me take bath. Join you. Cook food. Jump in river. But me no smell..." With that Sculg stares at the floor, a bit subdued, and kicks a small rock. However, the gully dwarf kicks too hard, and his worn wooden (but heavy) clog ends up tumbling thorugh the air, narrowly missing Cronis' head. "Hulgspawn!" Sculg says, shocked. "Me sorry. Didnt mean that...aah, you dwarf! Gully dwarf kin!" The gully dwarf awkwardly rushes towards Cronis, one clog missing, and proceeds to hug the dwarf. "We be good friends. This be one good journey! When we go?"