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@Elector Count of WAAAGH! _____________________________________________________________________________
IC:
Faelis was having an average day.
Admittedly, an average day for him was far from the average day of a normal person, you know, a farmer, a shopkeeper. Yes, an average day for the elf could include sneaking into some high-security treasury and just stealing a few things, and leaving a note with some snarky remarks on how security could be better, or it could be starting a barfight and ending up running from the city guard.
But today, while average, was coming off as uneventful to the thief. Sure, he had pickpocketed some wealthy nobles walking through the crowded market, and he had even managed to get a necklace right off of a Lady's neck. The elf really liked Cerenis, the market was always lively, and there was always something going on, but now Faelis was sitting in a rather nice inn, the Copper Inn, and was drinking a mug of ale and just relaxing. He was sitting in a darker booth in the corner, just watching the people come and go. The barmaids would've kicked him out long ago, he knew, for staying here so long and for how he looked, black clothes, black hair, piercings, but he kept buying drinks, and he did have a way with words when he wanted to.
He wasn't waiting for anyone, or looking for a job, but just sitting, and contemplating what his next job would be, who he would steal from next.
While he had been looking for a place to have a drink, he thought about finding a place and, after his drink, of course, starting a fight, but he had decided on the Copper Inn, and, since he liked the place, he wasn't going to start a fight here.
Josef Bugmen opened the door, rather loudly I may add, and came in laughing heartily. He went up to the bar, but from over the counter the bartender could only see the top side of the helmet with two horns sticking out.
Josef took a moment to climb onto a nearby stool, taking care not to topple over, before turning to the innkeeper and said. "Oi, Umgri, a pint of ya strongest grog." before slamming his metal pint cup onto the table as well as some coins.
The innkeeper looked at him questionably before the Dwarf just laughed. "In your words, manling, a pint of ya strongest Ale." the innkeeper gave the Dwarf a look but proceeded with his order.
Josef took a small chug of the said beverage. He kept some in his mouth, purly to see how it tasted, before swallowing it. "I've had better... but I have worse. Haha. This'll have ta do." said the Dwarf as he turned back to the innkeeper. "So lad, what's da good news?"
Faelis, of course, noticed immediately when the dwarf entered, how could he not? The stout man banged into the place and Faelis's golden eyes followed him as he walked to the bar and sat down, banging his mug on the bartop and ordering some strong ale.
Faelis continued to study the dwarf, gathering as much information as he could about him. He looked like a rather average dwarf, and he looked rather travel-worn to Faelis, but that was no surprise, this whole city was for travelers, basically, it was, after all, a port city.
Faelis listened to their conversation as the dwarf asked at question. The innkeeper frowned at the question, not quite sure what the dwarf meant, so he asked him. "I don't know what ye mean," teh man asked. "The 'good news'?"
"Now that's somthing you manlings say. What I mean is what's the local news, anything intreasting happen in town that deserves drinking to?" Said Josef.
The innkeeper frowned again, not quite liking the term 'manling', but he made no comment. "Nothin' really," he said. "There are a few royals in town, but then again, there's always some noble or two aroun' the place. There's been a recent increase in burglaries in the area, too. In fact, a rich merchant's treasury was just robbed last night. The culprit hasn't been caught, though I don't suspect they will be, with all the crime around here."
Faelis smirked, feeling the weight of the coins in his money purse, he hadn't stolen anything special from the merchant, or even very much, just some coins. The real reason he had broken in was mostly to spite the merchant, and for a little adventure.
"Not much else happenin', though," the innkeeper shrugged. "Whe're ye from, dwarf? 'Round here?"
"No, manling, I'm not from around these lands at all. My hold is quite a far ways from here... or anywhere around here for that matter. Although I tell you what, I've never seen such beautiful lands such as this. Well, not since I first poked me head out of the o'l Kazad years ago, haha." The dwarf took another chug before continuing. "Truth be told, me guild has employed me ta find out about this place. They want ta open up communications and possible trade. I've been able to map parts of the mainland but I was lead to believe that this was the coastal port. I was hoping ta come here for information about this town. Now tell, since there are so many wealthy merchants around, I would assume trade would be good, yes?"
The innkeeper nodded. "Aye, there's plenty 'a trade around here! So, ye're on a mission, do ye know where ye're going? Do ye have any knowledge of Le'raana?"
Faelis raised an eyebrow, and idea forming. If the dwarf needed a guide, perhaps he could do it? He knew a lot, seriously, a lot about Le'raana, and it sounded like it would be an adventure. . . The elf waited to hear the dwarf's reply.
"Well to tell you the truth Umgri, I've 'aven't da faintest clue. Although I did come down by the river... Right now I'm looking for the highest point within these lands, want to try to map out the area for meself. Would you have any idea where that would be?" Asked the dwarf.
Faelis smirked to himself. So he did need a guide. The Innkeeper looked perplexed at his question.
"I have no idea," the man said, and that was when Faelis got up and sauntered over to the bar, leaning up against it next to the dwarf.
"What do you mean the highest point in these lands?" he asked, not ashamed at all to be letting the dwarf know that he had been listening in. "Do you mean just here, in Serendipity, this country, or in all of Le'ranna?"
Josef raised an eyebrow "If you have to know, elgi, I'd like to find somewhere high in this country. But if there's such a place as high in the entirety of Le'ranna, I'd like to see it. But what's all this to you?"
Elgi, elf?
"There are the mountains to the north," Faelis said. "And the ground slopes more gently before the cliffs start." He shrugged when the dwarf asked what was in it for him. "What's in it for me?" he repeated. "Well, if you're going to pay for a guide, there's that." He shrugged again and stood straight, as if he was going to leave. "But if you don't need a guide, and think you can navigate this whole world by yourself, a world I happen to know much about, then I can leave. . ."
Josef snorted "Figured a elgi won't help out of the goodness of your heart. Nevertheless a guide sounds nice... But it's with a elgi, soooo... Let's talk about how much you are charging."
Faelis leaned back on the bar.
"Believe me," he chuckled, only slightly offended by the dwarf's remark, after all, he was a dwarf, and they weren't known for loving elves. "You wouldn't be saying that if you knew my brother, he'd help you out for free, and give you some money besides."
He turned so his back was to the bar as he leaned against it and looked at one of the many rings on his hand as he continued. "But as for what I'm charging, how much do you have?"
"Rule number one of business, my pointy eared friend, never tell your dealer how much your dealing with." said the Dwarf as he took a chug. "Name a price, then I'll tell you which way we can go."
Faelis smiled, not surprised by the dwarf's answer. "You know your stuff, I wasn't sure what kind of dwarf you were," he said. "So, for a price. . . how about, twenty-five glints?"
The thief knew the price was high, and he assumed the dwarf would know that too, unless currency was different where he came from, but he wanted to mess with the shorter fellow a bit.
THe dwarf nodded a bit, before asking "What exactly are you planning to show me? Egli?"
Faelis noted that the dwarf did not comment on the amount he was asking, but he continued.
"Whatever you want me to," he answered. "What sort of place are you looking for?" Almost as an afterthought, Faelis added. "Do you even know anything about this world?"
"I've only known bits and pieces since I've gotten here." said the Dwarf "Looking to expand on that. My main concern is mapping out ever trail as well as learn a bit about each place I visit. Right now, I'm focused on this country."
Josef brought up a map of the Serendipity with the separate provinces, towns, and cities. "Right now I've gone through the river, but I haven't really seen much else."
The dwarf looked up at the elf "But besides showing me everything I want to see, how long are you planning on staying with me?"
"As long as you need me, or as long as you have coin," Faelis said, winking at the dwarf, however, this wasn't strictly true, if the dwarf didn't have enough money to keep paying him after a while, the elf very well might stay with the dwarf, if the adventure was interesting enough.
"You say you've seen the river, but you must have sailed to Le'ranna, correct? If so, where did you dock? Here, in Cerenis?"
The Dwarf shook his head "We dwarves don't like traversing the surface lands, much less the sea. I arrived by foot, if you could believe it." The dwarf said, finishing the last of the ale before sliding more coins to the tavern keeper.
"But in all honesty, elgi, your price is more then a little steep, considering I know very little of you. Besides, you pointy-ears have a great tendencies of running... specifically away from the likes of me."
When the dwarf mentioned the price again, Faelis smiled. "Don't worry," he said. "I have no prejudices against dwarves, unlike many of my kind."
Though that wasn't to say he wouldn't leave the dwarf high and dry if he wanted to, just that if he did, it would have nothing to do with the dwarf's species, Faelis would treat an elf just the same.
"But about the price. . . how about twenty glints, that fair?"
The still shook his head "I've spent enough time on the surface to know how to take care of myself. THat price is still too high, the most I'd pay is fifteen silever, and that is only if I'd be drunk."
Josef closed lid of his mug and hung it around his belt. "Oi, tavernkeeper. Ya know where the nearest mapmaker is?"
The innkeeper looked over and nodded. "Down the street to the left."
THe dwarf turned around to the elf and said "Unless you have anything else to say, egli, I need to keep moving."
Faelis chuckled, shaking his head at the dwarf's response. "You can get a map, but it won't tell you what you need to know." He paused for a moment before continuing. "How about seventeen glints, no higher."
"It's fifteen or nothing, elgi." Said the Dwarf as he got off of the stool "Besides, i need a map less for directions and more for recording."
"Fine, fifteen," Faelis shrugged, it wasn't as if the price really mattered to him, he had enough money, the adventure, if there was to be one, would be the real reward. "So, first things first," the elf glanced at the dwarf. "I'm Faelis."
He wasn't in the habit of saying his last name, too much information to give out, and shaking hands? Not usually, too many attacks started with grabbing a hand or wrist.
"Josef, Josef Grinsbeard." said the Dwarf as he extended his hand.
Faelis smiled at the dwarf, Josef Grinsbeard, as the other extended his hand, but most people with eyes could see that the smile was not completely genuine, at least not in the sense that it came off as sort of rude.
"I don't do that," Faleis said, ignoring the dwarf's outstretched hand, completely unashamed of his refusal.
"The manling's would call this a trust exercise. We're gonna have problems moving if we can't trust each other... at least I will." said the Dwarf, hand still in front of him.
Faelis put his hands in his pockets, obviously not going to accept the offered hand. "Trust?" he half-scoffed, half-laughed. "Where are you from? Maybe trust comes easy where you're from, but not here, at least not in my book. I've met way to many tricksters and cheaters to trust someone the second they offer you a job."
"Well then, elgi, your lose. If you can't even trust me enough to shake my hand, how can trust you with my back?" said the Dwarf turning suddenly around and grabbed his crossbow, before heading for the door.
'Argh! Why so difficult? I should have suspected from a dwarf, stubborn as a mule,' Faelis thought, and he was half-temped to just let the dwarf leave, to preserve his own pride, but he sighed and sauntered after the dwarf towards the door, falling in step beside him, though, admittedly, the elfs strides were far longer than the dwarfs. He did want an adventure, what did he care about danger? Heck, he lived it.
"Okay, you want a hand shake, here you go," he stepped in front of the dwarf, blocking his path, and held out a hand.
Josef whirled around with a grin, as he took the hand of the elf with a firm grip. "Now that wasn't so hard. Come on elgi, we've got places to be."
Nearly as soon as the dwarf had taken his hand, Faelis withdrew it, putting it back into his pants pocket and sauntered after the dwarf and out the door.
Josef opened the door to the sunshine onto his face. No matter how many times that happened, Josef would never be rid of that tingling feeling when the light touches his beard. He headed for the map shop while humming an old dwarven tune to himself.
"So, your mission is to find out about this world, right?" Faelis asked, but he continued without waiting for an answer. "So what's the land called where you come from? What's it like? Are there as many different beings and cultures?"
As he said the last one, he waved a hand at their surroundings. The street was bustling with people from many different races, from fairies and fauns to a few smaller dragons and even a few goblins here and there, the diversity was amazing.
"Aye, it's me job to find out about these lands for me trading guild. THey're looking to expand their business." said the Dwarf thoughtfully. "As for where I'm from... well there's really nothing much to tell about. For the majority of the surface world is ridden of all sorts of abominations seeking to destroy the civilized nations, including our own. I come from the North, and they're are truly about three nations I know well. There's our dwarven Holds of the Dron Karak, or Thunder Mountains in manling tongue. I come from the dwarven hold of Dhogh Darahl, we dwarves are known for our fine dwarven weapons and fierce dwarf warriors. Down below are you human settlements, they collectively call themselves the Ufrad Commonwealth, I believe. Then even further down are the accursed wood elgi, they hide themselves among the Forest of Erfluna." Josef seem to say that last part with a good deal of disgust.
"What about your people? Elgi. By the beards of my ancestors, I hope they're not as bad as those wood elgi."
"There's quite a wide variety here," Faelis said. "From the elves like me to those immortal near-god-like elves, to the elves that are more like imps. There are some ethnicity that are more stuck-up or more warlike or whatever, but I tend not to categorize people by their race," Faelis said. "The dwarves here, on the other hand, are more similar to each other from type to type, though that's not to say there aren't differences." He glanced down at the dwarf. "What was your problem with the elves in your land?"
"It was never a matter of my problem... all my problems with the elgi could be compared to most of my kinsmen. Dwarves and elves are as differnt as the sun is to the moon. But you see, we dwarves of the Dron Karak can bear grudges that last generations. These wood elgi have wronged our ancestors on more then one occasion and were a mortal enemy until only recently, thanks to the manlings." the Dwarf grunted
"My problem with them have always been their attitude... we share common enemies, yet they think they are superior because they are the so called guardians of the forest who uses magic in the most uncontrolled fashion. Worst yet they think both dwarf and man are pathetic and disposable." Josef huffed a bit. "In fact, you should be lucky my kinsmen thought it be a good idea to send me... if it been any o'l dawi they would've put a hole right through your skull."
Josef reached the map makers and began opening the door.
"Humans have always been great at forging through," Faelis said when the dwarf mentioned how the humans had stopped the dwarves and elves from fighting. He nodded when the dwarf continued to talk about the elves from his land. "Some of the immortal kinds are like that," he said, and chuckled when the dwarf said he was lucky.
"I doubt it," he said. "I'm quite adept and dodging attacks," lots of experience, he added in his head, "even if my strength isn't as much as a dwarf's."
"Oh it's not always abut speed, egli. Sometimes it's about how much you can take... and how much you can give." chuckled the Dwarf as he entered the mapmaker shop.
Josef casually walked up to the counter, he looked around and grabbed a nearby stool, then got onto it.
He said to the owner. "Oi, do you have a map of the entirety of Serendipity."
The owner nodded and said "Of course I do master dwarf, but give me one moment."
As Josef waited he looked back over at the elf. "So, what brings you to this town specifically."
Faelis said nothing about the dwarf's comment about speed, and shrugged when he asked him why he was here.
"I'm a traveler, I travel. Plus, I like this place, there's so much happening all the time, so many people, so many cultures and adventures just waiting to happen."
"Sounds more like a explosion waiting to happen, with all those conflict cultures and what not." said the Dwarf.
"There are explosions," Faelis said. "But it works most of the time. Besides, diversity is strength, if there was only one type of person, there would be no progress, no solutions to naturally occurring problems, and no fun. That's why I like it here so much."
"Can't argue with you on that, even the holds of the Dron Karaks are differnt from each other." nodded the Dwarf. "But it is after all a double bladed axe afta all..."
The mapmaker returned with the map "Here you are, that would be one silver." the Dwarf grunted but brought up said amount "Thankie."
The Dwarf jumped out and headed for the door while looking at the map.
As he exit he scrolled up the map and turned around. "Well, at least it's good quality. Now, do you have any other business left in town?"
"Me? Nah," Faelis answered as they left the shop. "I'm ready to go when you are."
"Then elgi, where should venture to first?" asked the Dwarf.
"Hmm," Faelis thought for a moment. "What exactly are you looking for? Industry, creativity, warlike peoples? For trading, here, Cerenis, would definitely be a good place to mark on your map, especially if you are planning to do trading by water. Essryn is also a great trading city. Yeah, just what are you looking for."
"Anything else you can tell me about this place. What of the people? YOu speak diversity, yet I've yet to understand how bureaucracy works around these parts." said the Dwarf.
"Well, there's somewhat of a variety between ruling systems around the world, but here, in Serendipity, there's a specific ruler, king and/or queen," Faelis explained. "The crown is passed down to the oldest child, regardless of their sex. There are twelve provinces here, one is ruled by the crown, the other eleven by the High Lords and Ladies of those eleven Great Houses. They're there to help the crown and to make sure the king or queen doesn't abuse it's power or anything. But that's just Serendipity, the other countries are different."
"How do treat foreigners... Like us Dawi." The Dwarf began moving as he said that.
"Serendipity is pretty open-minded, lots of races live here, so you'd most likely be accepted," Faelis said. "But it really depends on the individual, you could come across some crazy psycho elf or someone who hates dwarves, but there are always risks to everything. Most likely you'd find your place here if you wanted it."
"That may be nice to know, but I'm talking on a government wise. How do treat say... their neighbors?" continued the Dwarf.
Faeis nodded. "Well, in that regard they're also very peaceful. Considering the Sea's to the East, mountain ranges to the North and West, and Adela, a longtime ally, to the South, Serendipity doesn't have the best defenses, and they've really never needed them. However, since Serendipity is so open, and Connlaoth has a thing against magic, there may be some tension there, but I'm not sure."
At the mention of Connlaoth the Dwarf became intrigued. "This... Connlaoth, they're against magic?"
"Well, the leader is. Their previous Duke was killed by a mage, and now the mages are all being driven out, killed, it's a pretty nasty business. The ruler is leading all this, but there are groups fighting against them and trying to save the mages." Faelis shook his head. "Personally, I see no problem with magic, and i don't know what exactly they have against it either."
"Hm... the captains going to be intreasted in hearing about this..." muttered the Dwarf under his breath. "We dwarves generally don't like to tamper with magic... it's a very dangerous if not properly dealt. It is another reason why we Dron Dwais dislike the elgi of the Erfuna forests, they play with magic as if it is a game. THe manlings fare better, but some lack the mental discipline that should come with using magic. But we dwarves? We prefer to limit it and control it. The folks around here have runes, am I correct? And you understand what they are, correct?"
"What type are you referring to?" Faelis asked. "There are many types here, so much magic, so many different kinds."
"What is the basics of a any rune?" ask the Dwarf.
"I'm thinking of the kind that would go along with magic in a spell-casting way," Faelis said, still unsure of what the dwarf was referring to. "As in to place a spell upon an item you'd write it on the item and the spell would be performed." He thought for a moment. "But then there's the kind that is tattooed or inscripted upon the body, giving the bearer magic. . ." Faelis glanced at the dwarf. "Is that even close to what you're thinking of?"
"it is a bit akin to what you've said, yes." said the Dwarf as the approached the outskirts of the town. "The Dron Dawi have very little in the way of actually casting or using magic in it's raw form. However, their are the few who are capable of using a form of controlled magic. You see, ever dwarf understands how to craft, but they're the few who can permanently imbue items with any magical effect desirable. We believe that in this state, the magic can controlled and thus safe to use."
Josef pulled out his runic stone from his backpack and showed the glowing rock to the elf.. "This here stone was passed down to me by a distant relative. It's particular ability is to dispel magic."
Faelis nodded, looking at the rune stone and then back at the dwarf. "Have you ever tried to learn magic yourself?"
"Haha, never! As I've said before, we dwarves of the Dron Karak don't like magic compared to anyone else. Unless it's runic magic re are not intreasted." The dwarf said with a laugh "Magic is far too dangerous to tamper with in its natural form."
Faelis shrugged. "Lot's of people do it," he said. "It's not all that dangerous if you learn right. Of course, Dark Magic can be dangerous."
"That may be so, but I've seen enough of magic to feel as if I'm lucky not to be one. Not that it doesn't have it's merits, it's just I'd rather let others handle it." replied the Dwarf
Faelis nodded. "Anyway, do you want to get some horses or something? Traveling from place to place will be much faster that way."
The dwarf gave the elf a somewhat unamused look. "Do I look like I can climb onto one of those things without help?"
Faelis chuckled. "Perhaps not," he said. "A pony then?"
"I would take it as an insult if you were not serious about it." Grunted the Dwarf "Even though I am a ranger of my kin, even I do not feel comfortable riding one of those beasts."
Faelis smiled. "I walk almost everywhere anyway," he said. "I don't know why, maybe I just like to travel? Have you done much traveling besides this?"
"I just said I was a ranger didn't I?" smiled the Dwarf. "The travel to Le'raana wasen't exactly short...nor easy."
"I know," Faelis said. "I meant did you travel a lot around your homeland, did you?"
"Oh yes! I've seen a quite a lot of my homeland, far more then any of my other kin!" Chuckled the dwarf as they continued down the road. "What about you, how much of La'raana have you've seen?
"Preeetty much all of it," Faelis said. "I mean, there have been, of course, places I haven't been, but I've been to all the countries, major cities, minor ones, countless number of towns, and getting to those places I've passed through many stretches of wilderness. I'm a traveler, but I generally don't go exploring in, say, the Sionad Tundra, though that's not to say I haven't traveled through it on more than one occasion."
"I suppose that's why you know so much." Said Josef with a chuckle. "By the by, do you know where this road leads to?" They'd been walking for a while and Josef thought the elf was taking the lead.
They were just leaving the city, and Faelis stopped, he was going to befroe Josef even asked the question.
"This road leads West," the elf said. "But where do you want to go? What are you and your people looking for, exactly?"
"To be honest, I ain't looking for anyone in particular. Though people like you are going to help me a great deal." Said the Dwarf "What's the closest city from here?"
"Arca," Faelis said. "Arca is the capital city of Serendipity, and it's a hub for creativity, magic, diversity, and general open-mindedness. It's about two weeks walk from here, to the South-West."
The dwarf snorted but smiled "Sounds a lot like a manling capital." He looked ahead at the roads and added "How dangerous are the roads in these parts? I came to these parts by river."
"Moderately dangerous," Faelis said. "There are bandits and thieves, but since this is a main road, there'll be less."
Faelis just hoped that if they did come across any bandits, they wouldn't recognize him if he'd worked with them before, or betrayed them.
"I don't suppose a fellow such as yourself every came under attack by such people, have you?" Asked the dwarf as he stuck his pipe into his mouth.
"Of course!" Faelis replied. "Many many times. It's hard to travel all over the place and not get attacked every now and again. That's why so many people travel with caravans, but, personally, I find myself a adequate enough fighter to be able to fend for myself," the elf smiled and continued. "I haven't died yet! How about you, have you ever had to fight your way out of a situation?"
"The question should be when have I've not been attacked on the surface." The Dwarf grunted as he lit his pipe "Where I come from scarcely a day goes by without a settlement coming under attack by the various hell spawns plaguing our homeland. And if it's not those abominations it's the manling bandits armed to the teeth or the cursed wood elgi."
Faelis raised an eyebrow, not at the amount of attacks, there were places here that were attacked regularly, but at the fact that the wood elves would resort to attacking the dwarves for seemingly no reason.
"Why would the elves attack you?" he asked. "Other than out of pure spite? Dwarves and elves are related, distantly, but related."
"The main problem with those elgi is their arrogance." grunted the Dwarf "They believe themselves to be the purist form of nature. They believe that they must preserve such nature from the likes of us dwarves and manlings as tainting nature with our more industrial societies. But those elgi can never stomach a fair fight. They've only been known attack right after the Hellespawns have, or whenever we are few in numbers."
Faelis smirked. "We are pretty awesome," he shrugged, but held up his hands before the dwarf could say anything. "But it is also pretty low of them to attack you simply because they hate your industry. Personally, I love industry, probably more than nature. Of course, without nature we'd have nothing, and I like traveling, but really the only thing that makes me really like nature is because I'm pretty deeply connected to it, as Corrian elf."
Josef just shook his head. "Truth be told, I've only known one kind of point-eared all me life. In fact, it was quite a surpised not to get shot in the face for once."
Faelis clapped the dwarf on the shoulder. "Get used to it," he said. "There are all kinds of elves here, from three foot tall tricksters to eight foot tall dragonriders. In Le'raana, variety is something you'll always be able to find."
"S'long as they don't try to kill me I've got no quarrel with anyone of them." replied Josef, taking another puff.
Faelis nodded. "That's a good philosophy to live by," he said. "I do the same."
It was true, despite the fact that he stole from people, and even started fights for no reason sometimes, he was hardly ever angry at the person he was targeting, it was just what he did.
"So what be yer story?" asked Josef.
Faelis put his hands in his pockets and took a moment before speaking.
"I'm from a elven kingdom in Southern Le'ranna," he started. "I was a prince, but my older brother is the heir to the throne," he said this as though it were an everyday matter. "So he got all the attention and I was pretty much left to myself, the only direction my life was going was for me to marry some rich lady and be content with that. But I wasn't, so when I was fifteen I ran away, and I've been traveling and adventuring ever since."
"Hm... a life of a prince." mused the dwarf. "And ye gave it up for this?"
Faelis nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, it was much too boring for me, I was expected to do hardly anything."
"Well then." mused the dwarf some more. "We may have thin's in common after all."
Faelis glanced over at Josef and raised an eyebrow. "We do, do we? What's your story?"
"Aye, I never had such a grand up bringing as your majesty." smiled the dwarf. "I was brought up a normal dwarf, living underground in our mighty holds, making an honest living as a miner, warrior, and smith."
The dwarf paused a bit, gathering the memories of a certain faithful day. "Dinna git me wrong, I still do love tha underground. But, one day, I ventured a step to far from my hold. Next thing you know, I went tumbling down the side of the mountain like a goblin. Haha, I was a young and silly lad, Some wou' say I was ta curious for me own good. Others wou' say I still be."
"It was nothing to envy," Faelis smiled in response to the dwarf's words. "And I don't dislike elves, but I prefer to be my own self and not just do what everyone tells me to do. That is not my lifestyle."
In fact, it was pretty much the exact opposite.
"Aye, I don't mind having the company of one of my kin, but they tend to be a bit to stubborn and reserved." nodded the Ranger. "Odd, I know, "too stubborn" coming out of a dwarf."
Faelis laughed. "Some would think so," he said. "But sometimes I can hardly stand to be around some elves. So, you said your plan is to open up trade with your people and Le'ranna?"
"Aye, hopefully anyways." Said the dwarf, thinking to himself. "Maybe even with the capital as well."
Faelis glanced at the quickly darkening sky. "It's starting to get a bit dark, shall we stop for the night?"
Even though elves could see well in the dark, and some dwarves could as well, it would still be wise to rest now and set up camp before night truly fell.
"What's wrong elgi?" Chuckled the dwarf. "Scared of the dark?"
"Hardly," Faelis chuckled, he almost lived at night, at least in cities when that was the best time to swipe stuff from mansions and castles. "But it's safer to travel during the day and have a watch out at night. If we were to travel at night, we'd be louder, and any animals, or, more importantly, monsters, that are out only at night would be more likely to hear us and attack."
"I supposed that's a sound idea." the dwarf said thoughtfully. "So where would you suggest we camp fur the night?"
Faelis glanced around, then stepped off of the trail and into the trees. He ducked behind a pile of boulders, only to step out again a moment later.
"Here!" he called to the dwarf. "It's mostly hidden from the road, but close enough so creatures are less likely to come near." He motioned to the boulders. "And the rocks block the wind."
The dwarf followed his guide. "Afraid of a little breeze elgi?" Laughed the dwarf as he followed.
"I would rather be comfortable," Faelis said. "And if it were to rain, I would rather be blocked from most of the gale. Besides, they will hide our fire from the road, and the thick tree cover will conceal the smoke, and the wind will blow the smoke away from the road so no one will be able to smell it."
He motioned off deeper into the forest. "Of course, the creatures in the woods will be able to smell it, but the fire will keep away most non-magical animals. The magical ones wouldn't need a fire to find us, and it most definitely won't keep them away. The safest thing is to set a guard."
As he spoke he gathered branches and logs from the surrounding wood, and he dumped them in a pile behind the boulders. He pulled a flint and steel from his pocket and struck them together, creating a spark which drifted down and alighted on the pine needles the elf had piled under the sticks.
He swung his pack of his shoulder and rolled out his bedroll, sitting upon it as he stoked the fire.
The dwarf chuckled as he looked around. Eyeing a nearby tree, he went over there. With a grunt, he hoped up, and started to scale the tree.
A few more grunts later, he had disappeared into the canopy, but his grunts still could be heard, accompanied by the rustling of the tree branches.
Faelis raised an eyebrow at the dwarf as he started up the tree.
"Well, that's a thing I've not often seen," he called up, smiling. "A dwarf who can climb! Some dwarves hardly want to come out of the ground!"
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(OOC: Do you think I could make the thread private?)
"Don't get used to it elgi." said the dwarf from the tree branch. "If it isn't for the fact that it's safer to keep things up here, I wouldn't be bothering with this nonsense of "climbing."
Minutes later, the dwarf slide back down the tree. He turned around from the tree, seemingly more comfortable, now that he was standing on solid ground.
"Yes, it's quite undwarven like for my kind to do such a thing." said the dwarf with a chuckle. "But when it comes to survival, we rangers do whatever it takes to get it done. That, and fighting too!"
(Sure)
Faelis nodded. "If you want to survive you can't be picky."
He rummaged around in his pack for a moment before pulling out a small paper package. he unwrapped it, revealing dried meats. He took one for himself and offered another to the dwarf.
"I just bought it today," he said. "Dried food can get a little boring after you've been traveling for weeks, but this stuff's pretty good."