Subjet: Mund and Ally, pt 2

Two hours later Ally stops to think for a minute. They have actually done pretty well. Ally keep forgetting that Mund grew up playing these types of bar games. His brother also had a natural cunning. He might not be as smart as Ally, but he knew how to play a con. So Mund had pretty much split the are wrestling contest, winning some, loosing some, but never loosing so many as to push Ally to his limits. Once, when Mund was handing Ally another drink, his brother had whispered to him "It's ok to act a bit more drunk." The mage realizes he has had a continuous buzz for the better part of these past two hours but that he was still acting sober. Nodding to his brother Ally starts acting up a bit more and slurring his speech.

Another two hours pass as Mund starts to raise the level of the betting. Gaelheart's partner has had to take several drinks in a row and the pot is getting rather large. Mund looses the next two rounds and Ally drinks up, hoping that this will be over soon. He knows that with all the alcohol he has had tonight, he would be feeling it tomorrow. Sensing victory, Gaelheart raises the stakes, not only on the bet but on the number of drinks the loser must imbibe. Ally starts to worry. He knows his limit and is getting close to it. The dwarven ale they have been drinking is potent stuff. If Mund lost this round then it is likely they would loose the contest.

Mund comes back with an even higher wager, one that stops their opponents in their tracks. Ally realizes it would take all of their combined money to pay off this debt if they lost. Gaelheart looks around and thinks for a minute before speaking "I do not have that much gold on me. Will you take my word?" "Your word? What do I know about you?" Mund lays the sarcasm on a little thick Ally thinks. Gaelheart starts to get angry "The word of a dwarf is his bond. Even humans know that." Mund laughs at that "Well, I've known only one dwarf in my life and he's a pretty straight fellow. So in honor of him, I'll take your word. Let's wrestle."

Mund is tired. He was able to take Gaelheart easily early on but the legendary stamina of the dwarves was beginning to tell. The last two losses, while planned, were not faked. It had taken Mund hours to get to this point, but here they were. Ally had done a great job holding his booze but it was time for Mund to seal this deal. Quietly getting into place, arm to arm with Gaelheart, Mund calls on the rage of the bear. He feels the strength of the bear flow through him and he growls out loud as he slams Gaelheart's hand to the table with a smash. Gaelheart's partner looks stricken but starts to drink the 8 ales in front of him. On the 5th he starts to slow and by the 7th he falls over."

OODM: I will write more tomorrow.

Subject: Mund and Ally, pt 2

Very well written :)

Subject: Salix and Surin, pt 2

Salix hopes that he has been able to make friends with the dwarven merchant. He buys several small but wonderfully crafted items. The price is steep, but after talking with Surin the druid thinks he has gotten a good value. "Doli" Salix asks when he has made his purchases "would you mind joining my friend and me at the next meal? We are new to the Underkingdom and would love to learn more about your people. I am a druid of the Great North Woods but have never really had a chance to talk to dwarves about their world underground."

Doli thinks for a bit. "You two seem like nice folk. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a meal with ya. Mind if I invite a friend?" Salix lets him know that a friend is welcome and they set a time to meet in a local pub a few blocks away. Salix and Surin spend the next couple of hours browsing through a few more stores and show up at the pub a few minutes early. Salix is surprised to see Doli already there along with another dwarf. This dwarf is much older, her beard going white. She is also dressed in leather instead of the common mail shirt that most dwarves seem to wear out in public. Doli introduces the lady as Agrana, an old friend of his.

Surin and Salix order some food as do the two dwarves. The four talk casually for the next hour or so, with the halfling and the ½ elf relaying some of their past adventures to the two dwarves. They do not tell many specifics, but they talk about the locations they have been. It takes Salix a while to realize that Agrana has been quietly interrogating them. Salix shuts up, realizing that he has told her more than he had planned. Salix had not sense any wrong in the questions she asked but was disquieted that he had not been a bit more reserved.

As Surin tells a story about the circus he grew up in Salix notices that Agrana has drawn a design in the potato mash on her plate. It takes Salix a few seconds to realize that he recognizes the design. It is not complete but Agrana is looking at him intently. A bit hesitantly Salix takes his knife and reaches over to her plate. There, in the potato mash, he completes the figure, the symbol of an oak leaf. The dwarf lady looks up at him and smiles "Welcome, Brother."

OODM: I will write more later.

Subject: Salix meets a friend

A bit shocked, Salix fumbles as he says "Greetings, Sister. My apologies. I had not expected to find one of our order here." Salix is unsure of what to say, especially in front of Doli.

Subject: Salix meets a friend

Agrana smiles "Why not? However, we are not of the same Order. I belong to a different druidic line, but one compatable with yours. I have hosted several druids from the Great North Woods in my days. Mountain Father Flint even spent a year here once. Now there was a man. If he had only been a dwarf."

"In fact I recieved a message from him some weeks ago telling me to keep an eye out for you. That is one of the reasons Doli brought me to you. I have some followers here in the warrens. We are not officialy allowed to exist, but as long as we stay quiet and out of the way, the powers that be leave us alone."

"Flint said that we should offer what help we could. What are your needs?"

Subject: Salix meets a friend

Frowning, Salix considers her words. He did not sense deception in her, but he was unsure how much to divulge.

"My needs are few. A chance to see the sun once in a while would be nice. But, I would also like to learn about the deep places. I understand that it can be dangerous and that an experienced guide would be appropriate. Do you know of anyone who might be willing to be that guide?"

Subject: Salix meets a friend

"There are many guides depending on where you want to go. Some places are more dangerous than others. Some are harder to reach."

Subject: Salix meets a friend

"Some of us were interested in paying "respects' to King Dar. Maybe we could perform a small service near where he met his end. Would this be somewhere you could lead us?"

Subject: Harp and Kal, pt 2

Kal puts the practice tip on his rapier while Harp whispers "You have any problems with us making some cash on this?" The elf shakes his head "Not as long as I get half." Harp smiles "Remember that night in Boddentown? How your dance made you almost impossible to hit? Do that again." The elf nods and Harp moves off towards the small but growing crowd of dwarves. Kal signals to Bordin and the two advance into the combat circle.

As in most combats like this the first few minutes are not really serious. Each person is trying to figure out the reach and skill of the other. Most attacks are feints and parry s, testing the foes basic speed and reaction time. Harp uses this time to move over to the watching dwarves and make a few bets. "10 gold says your guy never lays a blade on the elf. Several of the dwarves quickly accept Harp's bet and they turn back to watch the fight.

Bordin prowls around like a cat, his axe light in his hand. While Kal has never used such a large and unwieldy weapon, he is able to recognize fine craftsmanship when he sees it. Kal centers himself and he starts to hear the battle song in his head. The tip of his rapier starts to weave and bob in rhythm only the elf can hear. Kal starts moving back and forth, flowing to the music only he hears.

Bordin, deciding he has spent enough time testing the elf, moves in for some serious combat. The dwarven axe swings in a bright arc, right for where Kal is standing. But the elf is not there. (AC28, 10+11=21, miss). Bordin stumbles a bit as his axe swings beyond where he had expected. Kal's rapier snakes in and touches the dwarf on the back, the wooden tip making a loud dinging noise on Bordin back plate."One" says the elf. The dwarf tries a backhand swing, hoping to catch the elf off guard, but Kal is too quick (AC28, 7+11=18, miss) and the elf twirls away, slapping Bordin on the helmet as he goes. "Two" is the call from Kal.

Bordin turns and gathers himself again. With a roar he charges forward, his axe swinging low at the elf's legs. Harp grimaces, knowing that even with the guards on if the axe blade connects the elf will likely have broken legs. However, Kal sees the blade flash and jumps over the axe (AC28, 13+13=26,miss) just barely missing the blade. This time his rapier clangs against Bordin's breast plate as the elf spins behind the dwarf. "Three" exclaims the bladesinger. Bordin stumbles forward, swinging his axe behind him, hoping to surprise Kal. No such luck. The axe blade does not come close (AC28, 2+11=13, miss) as Kal waltzes out of the way of the blade, his rapier slapping Bordin on the right forearm as the dwarf spins around. "Four" is Kal's call.

Bordin growls and hefts his axe again. He stomps forward and launches another flurry of blows (AC28, 10+11=21,miss). Again the elf spins out of the way just as the dulled blade of the axe flies through where he had just been. Kal spins and as he moves around Bordin he slaps the dwarf on the left forearm yelling "Five". A groan goes up from the gathered crowd as they realize that their dwarf has been defeated.

OODM: I will write more tomorrow. I am going to a UD ballgame to watch them play Pittsburgh in basketball. Kevin and I have tickets.

Subject: Salix and Surin, pt 2

At Salix's words both Doli and Agrana frown. Doli looks like he is very upset but the female druid lays a calming hand on his arm "They do not know our ways. But I am surprised that Flint has not included this in your education. We of the Underkingdom do not name our dead. It is considered bad luck."

Salix winces at the social faux pas he has just commited. "I am sorry for my statement. Please forgive me. It was not my intention to offend." Agrana seems molified but Doli still seems to bear some resentment.

"Paying respects to the fallen is a worthy deed" says Agrana. "It is usually done at the temple but it is not unheard of for people to do this at other sites important to the fallen. Would it be just you and the halfling? Flint's message mentioned a larger group."

Subject: Agrana

"There may be others who wish to go. We are part of a larger group, but I do not want to offend by having a large group stumbling through the tunnels. I think maybe four of us would go. Would that be alright?"

Subject: Agrana

"Four would attract less attention. When would you want to go?"

Subject: Agrana

Surin doesn't have much to add, he just attempts to remember as muchas possible about all of the parties, and to watch for eavesdroppers...