Silent Slough

[Drathiranon]

MOUXSIE

The fairy hasn't a moment to react. She is caught. Mouxsie doesn't fancy servitude at all but, she is willing to play along. If for no other reason than pure boredom. The fey has already avenged her family and now her cohorts have received a just sentence for their treachery. So, why not?
She taps her tiny fingers inside the glass jar,

"Ok, ya got me. No need to be a bleedin' melter."

She crouches, kneeling down on the bottom of the glass and continues speaking with a bit of sarcasm,

"So, guess you'll have a bit of the ole scut work for the wee culchie, then?"

The fairy sighs.

"Fine! Fine, I've been through worse, tis true. She nods her head knowingly.

As sure as the mornin' comes, I've had me share."

The fairy looks up from the bottom of the glass to Bludgeon's green eye and stands to speak to her.

"Mouxsie Meadowfly, at her service.

The fairy grabs the tail of her dress for to curtsy.

[Drathiranon]

The noonday sunbeams move along the side of the Grab, Root, & Growl General Store, casting shadow along the back side of the building. Crickets begin to chirp and frogs come out to warm themselves while they can before hibernating for the winter. The late autumn wind winnows through the cattails.

The orcan woman rolls her eyes over to Llelanni. She doesn't much like company. Being friendly might imply the elf is welcome to overstay her visit. Bludgeon sets down the jar of fairy and looks to the drow, narrowing her emerald eyes to mere slits. She blows a tuft of air between her thick black lips to make a short rude blast from agitation.

Ppplbt! You sleep here, I feed you, you work, now you go!

Bludgeon thrusts her finger, pointing at the door then trudges back to the corner to grab her mop and plunge it into the bucket. Just who does that elf think she is? Maybe a spy or just trying to get more out of the bargain. Why did she have to show up here? The orc wanted paying customers that would take their purchase and go away. Bludgeon turns her back to the elf, hoping she will just disappear, and continues mopping over the wood floor a second time. Maybe she would get the hint and leave.

[Drathiranon]

~ Llelanni ~

The Drow takes her leave, saddened in its fruition. She thinks upon Bludgeon's words. How they pained her. Llelanni cannot understand how she could be so direct and so cold. No, Llelanni wasn't going to leave the Slough nor was she going to trouble the orc any further. Perhaps she might drift in her boat along the stream to see if she can find a more suitable abode.

The dark elf takes up her oar but feels hesitant and uncertain upon which way to go. On the one hand there are more cattails so prolly more dry land nearby or just a place to get stuck. No telling what kind of creatures are out there waiting for a night time snack. On the other, there is the wide lake she must have come from. It is getting late again for the moon is low. The evening air is cool but the drow cannot feel it. The disappointment and what feels like shame burning in her heart wont let her succumb to it's affects. She had sit there for hours mulling over the situation in her head.

Llelanni, finally relinquishing her desire for understanding, sets the oar down in the floor of her boat and places her hands on either side of the craft to try to ground her feelings. She can't think straight. The drow decides to take a different vantage point and turns herself around on the bench seat, away from the back of the general store and make an attempt to face the unknown.

[Drathiranon]

~Kena~

Like a statue of carefully sculpted malachite, an orcan woman appears standing in pose on an old hewn cypress stump, surrounded by moonlit marsh waters. Her raven hair is fashioned into a half bun held together with a long, silver throwing dart, the rest of her tresses fall loosely to frame her shoulders and flow down along her back.
Kena's slim body is gently taut with muscular nuances. Her shapely legs and gracefully, outstretched arms are equal in length. In both her small hands she holds silver, seven bladed shuriken. She moves them from hand to hand in a dangerous display of exchanges, proving she is a master of such craft and warfare.

With every transformation of her movements, the orcan woman seems to stir the waters beneath her and reflect each step in her elegantly choreographed dance. In her loose-fitting, silvery dress she seems delicate. But in reality, it requires a tremendous amount of strength, balance, and dexterity to accomplish such poses. Her eyes are red pools of radiant warmth. Her full lipped, simple smile is a ribbon of black velvet. A thin electric aura of light surrounds the orc's body, pulsing with a life of its own, crackling like fire. It signals a blessing of the Dark Maiden's approval. The aura then sinks into the orcan woman's form, leaving only her mundane reflection upon the once again still and tranquil waters of the marsh lake. Her hands rest at her thighs with her blades shining like heavenly stars.

As if the whole moment was but a dream, the orc woman suddenly appears standing on the pier next to Llelanni's boat. She gives the drow healer a reassuring smile. Her voice is soothing like the call of an owl, having flute-like notes.

"Llelanni, I bring you good news. The Dark Maiden has heard your supplications."

Kena removes a scroll from her belt pouch and hands it to Llelanni. The scroll looks ordinary though, it is closed with the seal of Eilistraee. The orc also hands the drow 3 more items. A single silver hair, a single dried crab brittlegill mushroom, and a black sackcloth containing a lotus pod.

"This single silver hair is from the Dark Maiden herself. You will need three more of these mushrooms, but they must be fresh. Finally, you must plant these summer lotus seeds deep within the muddy basin of these waters to grow at least one bloom. You will know them by the rich, buttery colour and deep lemony yellow seed pod in the center of the flower."

After handing the ingredients to Llelanni, Kena closes her belt pouch with a long pause as if she prepares her final words before departing company.

"Be sure to follow the Dark Maidens instructions precisely according to the direction of the scroll. This is your only hope to neutralize the effects of poison in your body."

She turns away, tilting her head over one shoulder, looking back to the drow.

"May we meet again under this same path of stars in their return."

The beautiful orcan woman disappears as if she were merely only part of the night mist.

[Drathiranon]

SLOG'S MILL

~Slog~

The orcan farmer awakens from his nap, rubbing his eyes. He wondered how long he had been asleep. He rises from his straw packed chair to have a look outside the front door. The orc steps outside, stretching his arms and twisting his back. Wood shavings float down from his clothing. It had been a good day. He thinks maybe he might go to the mill and check on his blackberry mead. Of course, there prolly isn't much change in the concoction but he didn't want to go back to rest just yet. He grabs his floppy leather hat and pulls the door of his shed to close behind him.

The night is indeed cool. He shivers, thinking maybe he should have brought his matching leather coat. He stuffs his freshly carved wooden flute into the back pocket of his overalls. As he travels the beaten path back the mill his eyes catch a glimpse of silvery light. He turns his head to look more intently at the vision in the distance. He can't believe his eyes!

"That... orc woman?"

It is like his feet had been planted up to his knees. Slog couldn't move. What an other worldly beauty with such exquisite sophistication! Had that orc woman from the general store gone crazy, dancing around in the dark?! He truly never met such an orc woman that caused him to lose all his bearing on more than one occasion. As the dance came to a conclusion, Slog grappled a tree trunk to stabilize himself and to hide behind as he continued to watch. When she disappeared, Slog had to rub his eyes again. Was he seeing things? Oh, he would surely like to meet her! He never thought she could be such an intriguing and mysterious lady!

[Drathiranon]

THE GRAB, ROOT, & GROWL

~Mouxsie~

The bottled fairy feels a bit dizzy from being rattled around in the jar like a cheap condiment. She watches the orc mopping away her frustrations.

Mouxsie's tiny eyes are drawn to look up and see lamp light streaming through little pin holes in the screw cap lid. At least she has air to breathe!

The fairy was glad to see the drow leave and for that matter, Bludgeon turn away as well. The fairy lays back against the jar, placing her hands behind her head and crossing her ankles.

But the night is deathly quiet. The thick air of hostility is as stifling in the room as the sulfuric smell of the wetlands itself.

Mouxsie looks back down to the thumb harp tied with a golden ribbon around her neck.
She begins to play. The notes tinkle out from the jar with the sound like a little glass music box. The mood of the general store starts to feel more welcoming and calmer, bit by bit. Mouxsie is satisfied with the results until
the fairy feels another presence entering the store from the back porch. With her senses she can see the feminine form of another orc moving about in a dance.

Mouxsie thinks to herself
ooO....Hmm...this could be interesting...Ooo

[Drathiranon]

THE GRAB, ROOT, & GROWL

Kena appears at the counter behind Bludgeon. She presses a finger to her lips, looking at the fairy. The lamp light casts her shadow on the wood floor.

"Ting!"

The sound of one of Kena's magnetic star blades being removed from the metal sash of her silver colored dress alerts Bludgeon to grab the handle of her mop and swing as she turns around. Three of Kena's stars fly toward Bludgeon's face. It is with quick instinct she can reverse the mop end, twirling it like a staff, and catching all the little daggers. She grunts with satisfaction, pounding her mop end on the wooden floor. Her green eyes flash with a dull light upon seeing her elder cave mate from the red eye clan.

~Kena~

She knows Bludgeon is an orc of few words. Not because she isn't able to speak them but simply because she doesn't like to be vocal, just like her mother, who was taken from a rival clan and made a slave. Kena remembers the two of them sneaking away from prying eyes and speaking in sign together, a secret language only they could understand. She also remembers Bludgeon's father, Rez-Frahl. He let Hagalaz take out all her frustrations, to the point of abuse at times upon him, never once one to complain. He was patient, willing to wait for her love in return. When Bludgeon was born they knew it a miracle because Hagalaz was past the age of childbearing. They were a happy little family.

Kena smiles, her heart glad to see Bludgeon still in good form and speaks to her in the same sign language of her mother's original clan.

"I've been to see the stone cairn you made for your parent's grave."

She walks over to look at where the stars landed in Bludgeon's mop handle.

"The different colours of limestone glitter with opulence from dawn til dusk, it is a sight to behold. They would be so honored."

Kena's red eyes look back up to Bludgeon's face with compassion because without a clan now, her younger cave mate is vulnerable, its dangerous.

"If you ever need anything, call on the Dark Maiden. She will let me come to you."

And at that moment Kena departs company, leaving the star blades in Bludgeon's mop handle.

~Bludgeon~

Of course she didn't want to talk to the Red Eye Clan chief, Snarg's daughter. There were plenty of good reasons not to like him or the clan. Though, she did like Kena enough to secretly teach her the sign language. Snarg allowed his daughter to leave with the shaman Vanessa, because her path was different than with the rest of the clan. He didn't know how right he was to make that decision. Kena would visit often to see her family, help her clan, and spar with little Bludgeon. However, there was a conspiracy to overthrow Snarg while he was out with a hunting party. Kena was also away on a training retreat when it was rumored one of the stronger clan members, Dragin, took out Snarg with a single blow to the head in part of a premeditated plan to overthrow his leadership. No one could prove he did it or ever find the body. Some say Dragin ate it.

Bludgeon pulled the stars from her mop with a rusty screwdriver, not wanting to touch the blades lest they be tainted with a Drow poison. Her eyes look to the fairy. She wonders if maybe she was too hard on that dark elf. Maybe not.

[Bhaern Quel]

"The fun side of being a dealer in items rare"
Mutters a human male , pushing though the cattails..
"Tarvis you will find it. " Searches some more looking closely at the plants he searches though. Not yet aware yet that he is nearing a dock.

[Drathiranon]

The drow woman hears a voice echo from the catails. She quickly steps off the rowboat still holding onto the oar tightly. Llelanni moves quickly to the back porch of the general store.
After escaping the Underdark she is still a little stressed. The drow healer decides to take a chance and see if she can locate the voice and observe the individual's movements. From behind tall grass and cypress tree, she can see the human. Still clutching the oar she makes herself visible. A human, she supposes he's new in these parts and prolly doesn't know about the orcs here. She speaks in common.

"Need help looking for something?"

[Bhaern Quel]

Tarvis looks up from the cattails to the calling voice. Looking toward the pier and seeing the female elf.
"Aye My Lady I am searching for catfoot, they are hard to find so much desired by some people.. I suspect you are not trained to aid me. Bows slightly to you. "Could take a rest with you out of this water if you want to know more."

[Drathiranon]

The dark elven woman is not familiar with swamp plants but is eager to learn more. She moves out into clear view.

My name is Llelanni, healer by trade, though looking to expand knowledge and learning about flora and fauna of this wetland.

She produces a simple smile, a bow in return, and is ready to extend the oar should Tarvis need a hand out of water.

"Is catfoot a flower or a root?"

[Bhaern Quel]

Tarvis bows slightly again
" My Lady Llelanni my name is Tarvis"
Walks though the swamp toward you, reaching the shore.
" I am a dealer in spices and herbs, common and rare. Catfoot is a leaf that grows on some cattail plants. The ones that grow it have them near the water line. Difficult to find, so valuable to some people."

[Drathiranon]

So then you are familiar with this slough. Have you traveled very far to search for these leaves? They must have some pretty impressive qualities!

Llelanni inquires while watching Tarvis come out of the water. She is amazed that anyone would be in the water as cold as it is.

[Bhaern Quel]

Once fully on the shore with some water dripping. Adjust his cloak a bit.

"Here Llelanni is a new hunting grounds. Just a good place to search for them. I often travel far distances in my quests. Yes some Wizards and Priests seem to set high value for them in good condition. There are many things of value that they offer. Gold, Gems, Special Items or some kind of blessing."

Looks toward the settlement.
"Is this your home? Is there a good Inn or rooms available?

[Drathiranon]

Llelanni thinks for a moment, gathering her assessment of things.

I myself have just arrived. Lets come stand by the cooking fire so you can warm up.

The dark elven woman leads Tarvis to Bludgeon's fire. Not really sure how the orc will take it but surely she won't mind since she is inside. Llelanni rolls a couple of logs onto the fire.

While rowing along the stream last night I noticed there are a few abandoned buildings in an empty village. Thinking of starting up an herbal remedy shop there. Perhaps make healing incense.

The dark elf woman takes a sachet of lemon ginger tea from her robe pocket and pulls some clean hot water from the pot into two bowls.

There is an orc running this General Store. We are standing in the back of it. There are no rooms here. I slept in my rowboat. The orc isnt very friendly. She did barter with me some chicken stew for work, then promptly told me to leave.

Llelanni looks up from the fire with a nervous laugh.

Seems she just wants to run her store and be left alone. She does have a good assortment of supplies and preserved food for sale.



She pauses for a moment, poking the fire.

Across the road, out front of the store, there is another orc. I haven't met him. Looks like he owns a small shack and a mill.