IoK Session 8

"They have returned, priestess.  We should join the others to greet them."

Lifting the tent flaps, the Jerule looked out at the gathering crowd.  All activity in the makeshift camp had ceased to hear word of the scouts. 

"This one knows.  The wind has whispered to me.  They will bring words of great forests and of fallen creatures.  Of hungry wolves and of lost children of a betrayed mother."

With those last words, Felsyrlus saw his daughter frown.  She had a kind heart and a soft spot for all of nature.  It was a weakness that he did his best to shield her from, the isles were ruled by warriors and hunters.  They rarely concerned themselves with the feelings of a young srylian.

"Come when you are ready, the dwarves of nine hammers will expect you."

With that, he stepped into the sun and let the flaps close behind him.  It was warm today, sunny.  A good sign for the scouts to return this day. 

Approaching the gathering, the wave of Forgen tongue flowed over him.  A crude language with no subtlety or music.  Hard consonants crushed through oversized teeth.  The dwarves used their tongue for little more than tasting fermented grasses.  He had to concentrate to focus on Fardal's report, attempting to listen to the dwarves anxious report over the cacophony of the others.

_____

"So the hobok and the flatlander, they are riding bears... bare back bear-riding while bearing their bear-skin cloaks!" 

Fardal shouted over the others, reveling in the attention and excitement of the crowd.  Standing on a stump, he raised himself above the others.

"They carry pelts from the wolves they've slain, and skulls from the golyn they've defeated.  The hynn, caked in the blood of his enemies, bears a necklace of golyn ears around his thick neck!"

Mugs raised high at the stories of triumph... all but one.  Benjamin Shipworth stood at the back, a grimace on his lips as he counted out silver.  Drauk Northwind demanding payment in full, it seemed their wager had expanded since its initial agreement.  Fardel took pleasure in this simple expression, never really fond of Bolan's enforcer.

"Best of all, they left none behind.  What are the chances that seven would enter the great unknown of the Hammerfell mountains, defeat an army of golyn, fend off savage creatures, and come back with new mounts and fur cloaks... By the look of them, they are fatter as well.  If only to be a woodland scout and not have to suffer anymore of Eland's 'Tuesday Specials' "

With this, the dwarves laughed and cheered.  Eland himself, enjoyed the jest... heckling Fardal's preference for Deltan cuisine. 

"That's enough, Fardal.  Save something for the scouts themselves... I'm sure they will be happy to swap stories."

Yurgrim Ironsbane smiled up at the young dwarf, motioning for him to step down and end his show.  As Fardal descended, he whispered to Yurgrim.

'Do you think the golyn followed them?  I heard that they didn't find their nest."

"Go join the others, Fardal.  We'll worry about the mining site later"

Ironsbane held his smile until Fardal reached the frowning face of his uncle.  Reaching for his pipe and pondering Fardal's question, the old dwarf looked back into the woods.  Turning, he approached Drauk Northwind.

"Could you double your patrols for a while?  Just long enough for us to get packed up for the journey east."