Silent Slough

[Drathiranon]

Gives a chuckle as he looks at the active Bludgeon and does wonder if Slog plans to kill all the boar by himself.

My Lady Bludgeon you are not my clan chief. You offered to bargain food for spice. That did and does not include service helping to cook the dinner. A deal is required for that or the trade becomes a simple food for work bargain. The deal for my wares will become something else. The elf of course agrees to her own deals.
The food needs to be preserved, cooking is just one way.
I can offer to help, I will not be ordered as if I am a servant.

Looks to Llelanni to see her reaction to the orders and his response yo his.

My Lady Llelanni have you any thing to say to her or request from me>

Bludgeon is hyper focussed, covered in blood, and joyfully hard at work preparing the meat. After doling out orders she no longer pays any attention to anything or anyone else.

Llelanni is quite delighted to know she is not the only one to experience this kind of assertiveness from Bludgeon. She takes this opportunity to quickly make her escape from the tyrannical taskmaster!

The dark elf woman holds Tarvis' hand, gently beckoning him to depart with her.

Once outside the back door of the general store, Llelanni talks with Tarvis while stoking the embers of the fire with a stick. She adds some kindling and the last few dry logs to prep for cooking. The wavy patterns from the heat radiates in the air carrying some smoke that irritates the eye. The drow healer steps back to draw her snow white tresses into sections to make a long, waist length braid down her shoulder.

I've come to believe Bludgeon communicates differently than you or I. In fact, it seems these orcs are more interested in barter than coin.

She blushes.

At first, I thought she was downright forceful and mean but now, it seems that is just her way of survival in this world. Please try not to take her behavior to seriously.

In the glow of firelight, the drow has to focus her attention away from it as her darkvison reveals life through a different lens. Colours, images, beings all look different than during the day. She is interested in the human stranger, having never met one.

Would you like to talk about training or maybe about you travels? I'm curious to know about your adventures and how long you have been in this trade.

[Bhaern Quel]

Darn orc female, not listening at all. Takes Llelanni's hand and walks with her outside. As she tends the fire, glances about for what wood is near.

As to her ways of communicating, clearly she uses a sign language. That the fairy read for you. wonders why the blush, maybe just heat from the fire. While tribes often barter, not much use for coin for many. Coin often is for dealing with other races, some orc tribes just kill , if not as well eat, other races or even non clan orcs.. So things are often more useful. Weapons food, some times items pretty, necklace, or lipstick .That might buy the fairy free..

Considers your request for more information or training that He said he would offer. Where to begin.

My travels are simple to describe, most of the time I walk. Though I do know short cuts to be able to travel wide. Of dealing in herbs, I have been doing this about ten years. There was some two years learning before I started to travel. I do at times stay in a location to learn more, for my trade, also I often learn other things to make my travel easier. Like the short cuts and other survival knowledge. In that I am still learning. I have met others of your race, a few kind. a few I had to flee or otherwise deal with. Right now I would like to find a be. Also trying to think of the best way to deal with a boar attack. I carry a simple weapon, can use others with limited shills.

Slides his cloak back some to show the hilt or a sword on his belt. The sword is does not appear to be a large one.

[Drathiranon]

So...guess you kind of knew there isn't much wealth to glean from dealing with orcs. Do you know much about wetland flora and fauna?

She smiles, still adding bits to the fire and listening. The drows ruby colored eyes are not like orcs. They have a softer, more faceted appearance.

Bludgeon trundles out to put a whole boar carcass on a spit over the fire then gleefully runs back to chopping meat. The fairy is riding in her hair, on the back of the orc woman's head so not to be seen and told to do more work.

Do you use any fast travel or teleportation spells in your line of work?

The more she listens, the more questions she has. Llelanni sits on the moss covered boulder to enjoy the savory fragrance of boar roasting over the fire and to hear more. She covers her feet with her robe.

[Bhaern Quel]

Some orcs indeed do have wealth from raids or hidden treasure, most however indeed are barter only. I should get a tree for the cook fire as Bludgeon will have much to cook.
Takes off a back pack and searches though it to pull out a hand saw.
A small tree of course. Fast travel as in speed? Only the occasional bird ride. though I do know some gates to walk though to cover a long travel distance. I cast no magic of travel. Sometimes my customers use their magic for my travel.

As for trees to cut down, one already dead will burn better.

Looks out toward what trees that are near,

[Drathiranon]

There are many trees, some fallen, many in various stages of decay, and much dry wood laying around atop the mossy ground cover.

It's getting colder, winds starting to pick up and carry moisture in the air. The dark elf's hair begins to unravel in little whisps around her obsidian face. She coughs, fanning the smoke away.

Seeing Tarvis at work, the dark elven woman pulls herself away from the fire, hopping down from the boulder to help by gathering the dried limbs and branches of wood.

She can suddenly see so many possibilities and struggles within herself to stay focused on the matter at hand. A fallen tree, hallowed enough to make a narrow boat....plenty of mud to use for building, lots of different plants...Llelanni starts talking to Tarvis to help ground herself.

Bludgeon is indeed full of surprises. Didnt know she had weapons for sale!

But yet again the dark elf's mind wanders on...

I noticed an abandoned outpost on my passage through the swamp. It is secluded but yet still part of this village and connected to the pier.

Llelanni investigates a deep hollow in a large tree near the water.

Bludgeon will prolly need different ways to cook the meat before it goes off. This looks big enough to create a wild meat smoker!

It may appear at times Llelanni might have a few screws loose.

[Bhaern Quel]

Selects a tree to cut down.

This tree will come down in a hard wind soon and is dead. It will provide some good dry wood.

Starts to cut down the tree, making sure the fall way is clear. Replies to your comments in between the work.

I am not sure she really had those weapons for sale to any, more likely Bludgeon revealed them to fight off the danger. However also it would appear it rare for her to have many customers at all.

When you move to the hollow tree, considers the out building you describe.

Well not sure here is a good place to live, a strong building clearly would be needed. Such a building you found likely is fortified to some extent. A strong building to defend from.

As the tree starts to fall. Small trees cut down quicker after all. Walks over to the tree you are looking at.

A bee hive might be a better use. A smoke shed tends to need to be needed to be able to walk about the meat and apply salt when needed.

The tree crashes where he planned, hitting a rock to split the tree into two lengths. Which will make it easier to move the logs.

[Drathiranon]

Llelanni has collected some small piles of old dry bits of wood and stacked them by the boulder. She is happy to have company again after such a long journey. Besides that, the human know more about this land of light, knowledge that can come in useful.

Oh, a bee hive much better idea! Besides, don't think Bludgeon will have enough salt for all the boar outside her door.

Birds fly up overhead, prolly to have a look for bugs or rodents seeing the tree fall. As the tree falls, two wild baby boar come running out of a thicket, grunting and squeeling. It's possible this could alert the mother and other hogs.

Llelanni grabs up her boat paddle, pulling the handle cap to reveal sharpened obsidian blades around its circumference. The blades are sharp enough to cut off a large boar's head. This weapon is called a macuahuitl.

Tarvis! Looks like Slog sent the sounder of boar this way!

[Bhaern Quel]

Considers Llelanni's words, but before forming an answer to bee hive, turns to meet the danger of charging boar,
The crash of tree should drive away animals, but trust youth to mess that up. Not that they are a problem the Mother though.

Flaps his arms and howls like a wolf, hoping to chase the piglets away. So that the Sow might follow. Draws sword in case the scare does not work.

Not enough time to shield the area. Which would be best way, until all males killed.
I see you have a weapon that should serve well.

[Drathiranon]

Llelanni looks down to her weapon. She holds it up to show the House Del'armgo emblem from the city of Tlethtyrr.
The scare works and Llelanni chuckles.

Oh, this old thing? It's been in my family for centuries. I'd be surprised if the blades still have good edges. Good thing your scare tactic worked!

She turns the knob of the handle to retract the blades, setting the oar down against the boulder, and tosses some wood bits on the fire.

I'd prolly do better with a flaming stick.

The dark elf holds up such a flaming stick. By now the oder of roasting meat is just beginning to smell. Bludgeon pokes her head out the back door,

More boar! Need big big fire!!

There is a rummaging in the thicket, lots of deep grunting and hacking sounds. Slog comes out from a stand of trees carrying a boar over his shoulder.

[Bhaern Quel]

The boars retreating. Puts sword away and looks at your weapon more closely.

It looks like it would serve well enough, however at least not to be tested now. I would like to establish a shield, but will not be staying here that long. There are many things herbs can do. Well maybe another time.

As Bludgeon calls for more wood and larger fire. Shakes head a bit.

This is getting to be a lot of work for one dinner. Back to work I guess.

Steps pver to the fallen ress and retrieves his saw. Bends down to cut the tree into manageable logs.

[Drathiranon]

Llelanni has the second fire up and running. It's suddenly getting much colder.

Slog help.

The orc farmer drops the dead boar at Llelanni 's feet.

The halberd Slog chose from Bludgeon's supply has a large, thick blade. The orc man commences to help chop wood on the tree Tarvis cut down, with the halbred until the blade finally breaks. The orc takes the broken weapon back across the way to his outdoor forge. The sound of pounding metal can be heard, in the distance. White flakes of fine ice are carried by the building winds. It's starting to snow.

Llelanni is puzzled by these responses. First Tarvis speaks of establishing a shield and many things herbs can do. Then Slog coming out of nowhere to dump the body as if it was her job to clean it.
She scoffs.
The dark elven woman draws the slain boar over to the boulder and lays it upside down. She squats down to hand dig a hole then slits the boar's throat with a dagger she pulled from her belt pouch of holding, to drain the blood.

Llelanni looks to Tarvis.
Did you mean that herbs can build a shield?

Bludgeon walks outside with another split boar carcass on a spit. She sets it up on the second fire.

Good! We put meat deep in bog!

The orc woman smiles proudly, pointing to the draining boar on the boulder. She takes up a shovel and the fresh carcass then heads off further into the swamp. There she will store the meat underground in the peat. Bludgeon's voice trails behind her to Llelanni,

Boil water, all wash hands!

[Bhaern Quel]

Slog nods to his assistance in cutting the wood,

Thank you for help

continues to work beside him him until he goes to repair his blade.

To Llelanni and turns to answer her question

A shield from boars can be established with herbs, The scent of some of them will make them stay away from an area. A shield that works best are living herbs growing and forming a kind of fence or barrier. They take time to make.

As Bludgeon comes out with boar and then calls for washed hands. Considers her idea of bog burring. Not sure what washing hands in hot water all about. Certainly has no plans to put his hands in boiling water. Though washing hands is a good idea.

[Drathiranon]

The sun hangs low on the horizon, its soft golden hue melts through the coniferous trees to reveal sparkles against the freshly falling snow. The magical aura frostfall creates gives the sensation of being transported into a dreamlike realm. The chaotic beauty of nature seems to hold its breath as the cold embrace of Winter makes entrance.

The dark elven woman ponders Tavis' response about the shield. It never occurred to her that humans had much to contribute to elven kind. It usually seemed the other way around.

There is much to learn! In all my years in the Underdark I never heard of such things in shield crafting!

Bludgeon has rubbed the meat with bitter herbs, pepper, and salt. The cooking meat is really beginning to smell good. All might be hopefull there are no bears in the slough.

The water is boiling. Llelanni digs around in her travel bag of holding and says to Tarvis,

Do you have any herbs or spices for cleansing hands that can be added to the pot? Bludgeon has a lot of blood to be cleaned away and we all could use hand washing, I have enough coin to cover your price?
Shame you will be departing without some kind of profit. I can also help you find catfoot if the weather permits.

Slog returns with a long axe over his shoulder and a bundle of wood under his other arm. He drops his bundle in the first fire then goes back to help chop up Tarvis' the tree.

Slog help.

Bludgeon returns to transport another boar carcass for burial storage under the peat. The little fairy is still hanging onto the back of her head, tangled snugly in the orc woman's black hair.

As he breaks wood cuts into smaller sections, Slog's red eyes look up, watching her as she disappears into the swamp. The orcan farmer produces a wide grin.

[Bhaern Quel]

Stacks some of the wood in piles adding other pieces to the fire when they need them To answer Llelanni

Of course down there you have heard of it, The Smiths that make the Armor and buckles makes a shield crafted. I believe even some cities use glowing moss as a warning shield that could be called crafted.

Watches as Bludgeon tends to her cooking, debated weather to offer some spices, however decides against it. She hard to bargain with now. Giving her any thing might make it harder to get her to agree to a firm clear set bargain. As she goes off to store another boar. Speaks to Llelanni last question.

As to making of soap, herbs at best might add scent to it or some can make a oil for making. Nothing more that I know.

Turns to Slog .

Good work, time to clean and eat.

[Drathiranon]

A smirk appears over the dark elven woman's expression. She invisions an arm "shield of repugnant smell" for boar and a poison ivy "living shield of intensive itch." With a quiet chuckle she tosses her head. Llelanni takes a deep breath and answers.

Tarvis, I've always been a rebellious child, it's been a lifetime ago. I can barely remember the academy. In fact, it's been only recently I've decided to take up alchemy.


In her travel bag she finds a pouch of dried wild lavender and a small bottle of oil to use as an antiseptic. Llelanni pours them into the boiled water to steep like a tea.

This will have to do for now.

Slog drops his next arm full of wood and waits by the steaming pot to wash his hands. He looks to Tarvis,

Slog Hungry.