Silent Slough

[Drathiranon]

Slog have many pine logs. Slog no like pine sap.

The orcan farmer points to a section of land to the southwest of his crops. The pine logs each are about an orcs hands width in diameter and roughly 2 and a half to 3 ft long, give or take. The logs are neatly piled. The orc man looks around for his wheel barrow.

Slog split logs, have plenty boar leather straps in shed.

Llelanni looks around the land for anything not good for growth. It all looks good. She looks to Tarvis.

We may have to use Plant Growth one at a time in sections to get the most coverage out of them.

[Bhaern Quel]

Looks at the logs and nods.

They look good enough to split for fencing and posts. Leather lashings can work good well for building the gate as well. We can plan this eve on how best to divide your fields into sections.

Looks to Llelanni

also perhaps the best way to grow the weed.

Takes another look at the boar and the ground,

First we should gather the wood and start making fences. The dust and feed should keep the boar contained for now.

Walks to the pile of wood.

We do what we can until food call, unless you need a break before. No one should over work

[Drathiranon]

Llelanni goes to the shed to fetch the leather straps.

Slog grabs his long handle axe and gets right to work splitting the pine logs. It isn't long before Slog has a barrow full, ready to move across the field.

Llelanni checks the state of the ground before attempting to push the barrow. The ground is firm, still solid from the cold so not soggy now and no need to Shape Water to create ice in order to move the barrow effortlessly. .
Once they get some fencing down Llelanni starts tying the split logs together.

Slog fills another barrow load then takes a break to wipe his forehead with a red bandana. He looks across the field to see Bludgeon walking through the tall grass, carrying a large pot, a large wineskin, and a small sack over her shoulder. He grins.

Along comes the fairy, buzzing like a bee. She lands on one of the posts sticking out of the ground.

Aye, me wee shoes er stuck.

She pulls her tiny feet up from her leaf green shoes that are standing alone, practically glued to the post top from the pine sap. As she flutters over them she tries pulling her shoes up from the wood.

Slog starts a small fire on a bare patch of ground.

Bludgeon lays out a leather tarp to set the food and for all to sit. She has a large pot of roast boar stew with potatoes. In the sack she has fresh hot oat scones with a jar of wildberry preserves. She sets out a kettle for tea on the fire, pouring water from the wine skin. She sets out wooden bowls and spoons as well.

Food here, have some.

[Bhaern Quel]

Setting fence posts in frozen fields would be impossible, the good thing is that winter is just starting and the land not yet frozen. At the edge of the fields use of trees as posts lend strength to the entire fence. Setting posts easier in the fields as the ground has been worked by the plowing. So the fence across the fields can be done the quickest.

As the food comes, stops working and joins the others. Offers the fairy a sweet roll.

Well it is a start. We will do more after we eat..

[Drathiranon]

Llelanni looks quite relieved to take the supper break.
Sir Tarvis, how far do you think we can get with the fencing before evening?

Mouxsie leaves her shoes behind for the attempt to remove them is pointless.
She pulls a big bit from the sweet roll and lays back on the top of the empty wine skin, which is very comfortable.

Don't mind me, I'll be no trouble at all.

The orc woman kneels on the tarp, doling out bowls of the steamy stew. It is thick with a gravy like consistency, savory, and heavily seasoned with the new hot spices from Tarvis' selection. The spices are mostly absorbed by the potatoes. They produce a nice heating action, keeping everyone alert and warm.
Bludgeon plants a few wrapped and spiced potatoes deep under Slogs fire. Frogs chirp their greedy songs for want of rain and crows watch from the trees as everyone eats.

Once the kettle is hot, the orc woman pours the tea made from dried dandelion root and wild mountain thyme, offering a cup to anyone interested.

From the depths of the bogland forest a migrant hermit thrush sings his sweet song. The flute like tones and echos bring awareness and life to the groups surroundings.

Llelanni tries the tea. It's a little bittersweet. She looks to Bludgeon.
Is this one of your favorite tea blends?

After finishing her mouthful, the orc woman smiles, looking up nostalgically,

Mother's blend.

The dark elf can't help but smile too. It's interesting to see a happy orc.

Slog is on his 3rd bowl.
He offers more to Tarvis.

Slog have about 8 barrows left. More straps drying on porch. What you need, Tarvis? All good?

[Bhaern Quel]

Llelanni considers the question a few minutes.

Lady Llelanni we might get 100 more foot complete today.. It will take a few days to have a fence line established. if we did not have weed it would take weeks to have strong enough fences to hold them.

Takes a bowl of stew and eats along with a sweet roll. He offers some to the other.

Considers what Slog offers and asks.

In part enough depends on how much they test the fence. Then on how you want to the land used. Enough to have a good start.

[Drathiranon]

The dark elven woman nods in response to Tarvis' answer and gladly receives the sweetroll and asks,
Did you make these yourself, Sir Tarvis?

Before Tarvis can answer her, Slog also speaks up.

Slog think,

He says between slurps of stew.

Need five boar for winter.

Slog takes a sweet roll from Tarvis, using it to sop up the stew around the inside of his bowl.

Slog think maybe not plant crops for spring. Maybe plant crops for autumn harvest.

He pops the sopped sweetroll in his mouth.

The stew is definately enjoyed by Llelanni. She smiles, almost laughing at Slog. She takes her time, tasting the flavors she has never tried them before and sipping the tea.

Bludgeon is listening to Slog's answer and watching him enjoy her stew. She preens the fringe of her dark hair over one ear with a pink varnished fingernail.
Her eyelids lower as a deep smile curves up from her lips. She takes a sweet roll.

On the wineskin, Mouxsie lazily rolls over onto her belly. She reaches for another handful of sweetroll, her bare feet lift to cross at her tiny ankles in the air. She props her tiny head on her other hand, watching the group feasting on their meal. She is quite happy to have plenty of the good stuff for herself.

[Bhaern Quel]

Was wondering when someone might ask, however no time to answer as Slog needs attention.

Considers the farmers plan.

You have nothing in crop now then? The boar can graze all of it then.

Eats one of his rolls as well, then sips some tea. To wait for the farmer's answer.

[Drathiranon]

The orc farmer shrugs.

Boar ate crop, Slog no crop now.

He gulps his tea, steam and all.

The fairy grabs another hunk of sweetroll and rolls over on her side facing away from the group. She mumbles.

Tch, he would be the guy trying to sweep the waves back into the sea.

Llelanni takes one of Bludgeon's oat scones from the bag, breaks open the warm bread, and slathers some wildberry preserves inside. The jam smells floral rather than like a berry.

Bludgeon, the jam has a mild berry flavor but what is the flowery taste?

The orc woman looks to Llelanni and her answer is a simple mater of fact reply.

Honeysuckle.

Llelanni hums a happy, quiet tune to herself and moves away from the group and toward Slogs fire to toss on some more dried branches.

Bludgeon starts packing up the food.

Bludgeon help now, what I do?

[Bhaern Quel]

Slog nods.

Then all the fields can be pasture until time to plant. One fence to cut fields into two sections. A fence around all of the fields. The last fence line where you want new fields. Also of course the smaller pen for the feed and select pen next to the mill.

Sips some tea to moisten throat.

As Bludgeon asks her question speaks again.

Well we need to complete as much as we can. This fence should be completed first.

We do what we can until dark. Then we plant some seeds inside to start them. Which means we will need a few buckets of dirt to plant them in.

[Drathiranon]

With her question answered, Bludgeon's emerald eyes turn to the lazy fairy.

Delbachaem, how you can help?

Again, the fairy reacts as if in a trance. Her expression is stoic and her movements minimal. She stands up and steps off the wine skin.
Pile logs on tarp, I can move them each time loaded, closer to each work section as needed. Also, i can pull soil up from the ground but only long enough for scooping buckets to use for planting.

The little dairy then returns to behaving as her usual self.

Slog pulls himself away from the tarp and starts walking toward the cutting block to slice logs.

Dark come soon, Slog get back to work.

The orc woman looks to Tarvis.

What say you, Tarvis?

With the exception of the scones, all the food has been consumed. Gathring the dishes, Llelanni knows everyone will be tired in the evening. She Creates Water to boil and rinses the dishes. Thinking it good, she takes them to her boat to bring back to the GR&G later after work. With her oar strapped to her back the dark elf woman notices on her way, the boar are calm, seemingly enjoying their new home, and resting contentedly in the empty fields. She then rejoins the group.

[Bhaern Quel]

Considers as he stands .

I will set posts. The females will set the rails after enough are piled on the trap. The rlf and the fairy will male the planting buckets while the first rails are being made. The orcs will made the rails and pile on the trap until there are enough to start attaching the rails. We should have enough straps to last today..

Starts to set a post along the fence line. Wondering if there is better material in the store to build the fence with. Also the killing of five boar for the winter indicates still the need for salt. Many things need to come together.

[Drathiranon]

A murder of crows soar down from the trees to the ground, in search of leftover food from the picnic. The cool currents of air start to pick up as the sun sinks to the horizon. The grey cloudy sky grows ever nearer to twilight as all are busy at work..

While Tarvis sets the next post, Llelanni offers to help him get the pole set. Slog splits wood and Bludgeon tosses them on the tarp, Mouxsie floats the wood pile on the tarp over to the next section to be attached. Bludgeon and Llelanni then attach the rails. Mouxsie takes a break.

On the next round Bludgeon goes to toss split wood on tarp again. Mouxsie and Llelanni go to the store to get buckets. There are several several rolls of strong trip wire, some old iron hinges, and an iron lever lock laying among the buckets. Mouxsie is able to Move Earth, about 4 ft of soil upward, so Llelanni can fill four buckets. The dark elf then uses her boat oar, which is a bit longer than a standard one, to transport two buckets full of soil on each side. The soil is a light loam.

Mouxsie then moves the next tarp full to the next section and takes a rest. Slog also takes a short rest. Llelanni isn't long to return with the buckets. She sets them down and fills the kettle to heat. Everyone returns to their appointed tasks.

[Bhaern Quel]

Sets the last post of the line two foot deep like the rest of the line and looks to the sun. Then the others.

Last post of the day. I will help set the rails and then back to base to plan tomorrow and plant seeds.

Takes a rail and lashes it into place on the final post. Seeing the buckets of dirt picks two up to return to the Stor4e which has been used as the base for this project.

[Drathiranon]

Wiping the tiny droplets of sweat from her tiny brow, the little fairy then touches down on Llelanni's shoulder.
Ugh, no offense, but yer handy at the moment.
Mouxsie sits there with tiny bare feet dangle down.

Slog rests his long axe over one shoulder and slowly meanders over to meet Tarvis.
Fence strong, good plan, we all eat well for winter.
The orc farmer takes off his hat to fan himself, waiting for Tarvis and to walk back.

Bludgeon joins Llelanni in the boat. The current is fairly strong. The three of them are quiet as the boat coasts to the back porch of the store. Once out of the boat, Bludgeon pumps the well for fresh water to fill pitchers for the water basins and grabs a couple of lemonbalm soap bars so everyone can wash up.
While inside the shop the orc woman also places clean blankets on the bales of straw used for her guests bedding, all the while humming a happy tune.

Llelanni adds more dried branches to the smoldering outdoor fire by the water pump then heats up more stew for all and puts on the kettle for tea. She collects the dishes and gives them a right washing before going inside to see if she can help Bludgeon.

The little fairy on tired wings, lifts herself to rest on the mossy boulder. She rises in size to that of a toddler and looks over the swamp water, dark and shining like smooth polished black glass.
An orb of green fairy light dances over the pool of swamp water and cat tails, then sets down beside her.

So, me lil culchie, tis sweet to drink but bitter to pay for, yet, me be thinkin' the work is worth the wages of yer debt.

The leprechaun rises in size to that of a small child and sets his shillelagh on the boulder. He takes a pull from his clay pipe, creating rings of smoke that slowly disappear on the cool air.
Soon, wee colleen, you can come home to the seelie's Summer Court. Queen Titania has heard of yer deadly deeds, sending that pox bottle o' gombeen to Feywild!
His jolly laughter could be contagious as it is a bit funny in the sound of it.

Mouxsie looks at her dirty bare feet then back to her father.
Da, I canna leave just yet. Bludgeon doesn't have her a new lipstick in return for the one I used to send the cheeky buggers through the portal.

The leprechaun raises his red eyebrows.
His eyes twinkle with mischief and delight.
Well, if me name ain't Seamus O'Flaherty, then why all the magic expenses? You've been up and down like a fiddler's elbow. All the relations can feel the strain of yer useage! Hasn't the work been enough already, me lass?

Mouxsie musters a faint smile, looking into the face of her father with adoring eyes.

Da, I want to be good. If I stop now, I let her and everyone else down.

Seamus is taken aback by his daughter's thoughtful words and very proud to hear them.
Well said.
He lifts a hand and snatches the memory of Mouxsie's true name as if from the air but actually from Bludgeon's memory.
There now, you can't be a slave if you've already matched the work. Now hurry and help your friends. There will be a grand celebration when you return to Feywild.
He winks.