Journal entry 10, 48’th Marapril, We arrived at our stop for the evening, having passed the Goblin camp with a wide berth to avoid any encounters if possible, and are now staying in the church's boarding house for the night as the inn was burned to the ground after the attack. Thankfully the pastor was kind enough to give us these rooms without rent since we told him why we are here and the fact I have known him since he was a child likely helped, at least a little. Lances’ scouting party of ants is very resourceful and surprisingly coherent to our requests, they have hidden themselves in a pair of trees a quarter mile outside town to avoid any incidents with the townsfolk, I also asked that they avoid hunting any of the farm animals in the area for the same reason and the leader seemed to understand the implications. We will be leaving just before first light and hopefully, we will be at the encampment just after first light while the goblins are still partially sluggish and asleep, if luck is on our side then the sentries will be undisciplined enough to have fallen asleep while at their post, if not then things are going to escalate very fast.
I close the journal and place it on the small oak table I am sitting at. I helped build this place years ago and yet I never once stayed a night in it, I suppose I never had to after all, I used to own a hovel down the road from here. The town is recovering more rapidly than I had expected, with aid from the city being sent in the form of some guards, a small caravan of wagons with lumber, nails, food, and a few craftsmen to expedite the process. Apparently, we were hit the hardest out of the satellite villages in the area so it seems understandable that the Baron of the region would want his main iron mining town back up and running sooner rather than later. Felwen is the second largest village in the area only being beaten by Brigander due to the sheer amount of lumber the village produces allowing them to grow exponentially faster than the others. Of course, that makes sense being that Brigander is a lumber producer.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door and the familiar voice of Marvik passing through the sturdy wood.
“Rennie y’a wake?” I shuffle over to the door and open it, the hinges letting out a slight grating sound as I do so.
“How can I help you, Marv?”
“I was jus’ curious if there’s anywhere ta' get’a nice ale around here fore’ we hit the hay, mos’ the town folk seems nervous around Evaren an’ me so I figured I should ask our esteemed guide.” He made a sarcastic flourish and bow as he finished his statement and I had to rack my brain for a moment.
“Maybe. With the inn burnt down, there wouldn’t be much stock around town, although I have one idea as to where we might be able to get some mead. If the bees had a good season that is, and if the house is still there.” I say while scratching at my chin and staring off into space.
“I haven’ had a nice mead in a good while, lead the way master hobbit!” I step through the door and pass Marvik while heading towards the gate and outside is Evaren waiting patiently, she gives me a nod and a smile while stepping up next to the dwarf and rests her arm on his head, leaning into it. It doesn’t seem to phase him in the slightest and I slowly glance around, purposely avoiding the graveyard with my gaze before spotting the small wooden cottage with a thatch roof as opposed to nearly every other building in town which had wood or clay shingles. I turn back to the duo who were standing and waiting, watching me scan the town wordlessly.
“Well it looks like Polly’s house is still there, I can’t say for sure if Polly is though.” The statement comes out a little more cold than I had intended and with just the slightest wobble to my voice. Sending a sight shiver through my shoulders as I imagine what could have happened to the old widower before forcing myself to think about something else.
“Which way is the ale?” Asks Evaren, her voice sounds smooth and innocent. If it was dark and you couldn’t see her you probably couldn’t have had her pegged as an adventurer on just her voice alone.
“Nah. Likely no ale for us tonight lass, possibly som’ nice mead in ar’ near future though.” Marvik states in his usual jovial fashion but Evaren's expression twists slightly.
“I’ve never tried mead before, I grew up in the marshes and bogs to the north, no flowers or bees for honey and it was always more expensive than ale to import so my town never really had any.”
“It’s not bad I promise lassy, it tends to be sweet. Think wa’ered down honey with spirits n’ spices.”
“That… doesn’t sound very good.” The incredulous tone in her voice was now audible which received a raised eyebrow from the dwarf.
“He may not have explained it quite the way I would have.” I say as I start walking to the gravel road. “But it isn’t that bad, I personally prefer it more than ale or wine.”
“Well I’ll give it a try, I wouldn’t mind a nice buzz before bed tonight.”
We traveled the distance of the town with relative ease, the odd pair seemed to hit it off pretty well after we left Hoagen which wasn’t too surprising given that both of them shared a favorite pastime in the form of drinking and getting into bar fights. While they bickered about one brand of alcohol being better than another seemingly carefree I was keeping a clear eye out to watch how the town was doing. Construction on a few houses and the inn was already underway and the fences surrounding the small pastures were finished.
The townsfolk were indeed nervous of the pair walking behind me. I occasionally would notice a worried glance or scowl cast in their direction, but after the onlooker's view fell on me a few feet ahead of them their features would relax as they recognized me. If I had to guess there is a chance the people probably thought they were with a band of highwaymen or thieves scouting the town for easy prey. A village after an attack is always easier to extort or steal from, even with additional guards sent in from a bigger settlement so it’s understandable that the people here would be wary.
We were nearing the cottage now and I could see some light damage here and there where a sword or club had gouged the wooden wall, and the faintest stain of blood could be seen in the dirt below. The bulk of the fighting had occurred on this side of town so it’s not an uncommon sight over here. My companions decided to wait by the gate to Polly’s yard, Evaren admiring the wildflowers filling the entire area aside from the cobble walk from the road to the door. I knock on the door a few times and wait as I can hear the shuffle of a pair of feet leisurely making their way to the door. As it opens I’m greeted by the familiar sight of an old wrinkled and mostly bald hobbit. In fact, the oldest hobbit I had ever met, And one of the original settlers in this village.
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“Good evening Polly.” I say with a genuine smile and reach out to shake his hand. “I’m glad to see you are no worse for wear after the latest happenings around here.” The old hobbit takes my hand and though he is nearly twice my age still gives a firm shake and returns my smile with one of his own.
“I heard you had sold your home and left, back so soon already?”
“Yeah, I formed a small party and we’re going to be off to deal with the goblins at their camp come morning.” I say as I look back towards the elf and dwarf who are still looking around at the plot of flowers and bees milling about getting their final trip for nectar before the sun completely sets.
“Well let’s not exchange too many pleasantries out here since I haven’t a porch, come on inside!” He turns and shuffles back through the doorway his feet seeming to never leave the smoothed floorboards as he waves my companions to follow and before long we are all sitting at the table in his dining room. The walls were covered in dried and pressed flowers with neat tags hanging from them with a name and date as well as the region they were native to.
“You lot must be parched from wherever you traveled from, Hoagen if I was to guess? I’ll fetch us something to wet our whistles.” Before anyone could say anything he had shuffled off around the corner and the sounds of wood mugs being placed and filled came from the kitchen. Shortly thereafter the elderly hobbit came back with a wooden platter holding four mugs and it levitated up onto the table from where he was holding it and then he himself was levitated up onto his high stool, an act which seemed to surprise Marvik at the very least.
“Tha’ was quite the display master hobbit, no chant nor mote for a levitation spell?”
“Ha, it’s really nothing my friend, when you live as long as I have you learn a trick or five, mostly just to make life easier on your aching joints in your old age.” He lets out a quiet chuckle to himself as he looks down and begins floating the mugs to each of us before taking his own, then a look crosses his face like he is forgetting something. “Oh, where are my manners? I'm Polly, the town's resident old coot, the local apiarist, and part time brewer. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Before long the three were having a grand old time, not to say I wasn’t having fun, I was just the only sober one among the four of us having lightly nursed my drink as opposed to downing it by the mug full, well, sober-ish. Evaren had apparently taken a liking to the old man's mead and was going on about visiting the town every now and again to buy some off him when there was a knock at the door, it was getting late and most people were likely at home or in the boarding house for the night.
“I'll get it.” I tell Polly before he can attempt to get down from his seat, seeing how I'm the least drunk out of the group of us. The old man smiles and gives his thanks as I head down the wide hallway to the foyer. I’m surprised to see both Darnell and Erb standing there, looking at me expectantly.
“You’re up late for an old man.” Darnell said with a lighthearted grin and I let out a chuckle. Before I could retort however Polly had seemingly popped up behind me without the two humans seeing him nor me hearing him.
“More guests! Come in, come in! I have plenty of drinks and biscuits.” The two humans were ushered into the foyer and led towards the dining room as I closed the door behind them and Polly shuffled off to the kitchen once more.
“Well this is quite the cozy little home isn’t it.” Mused Erb as he inspected the wall adornments and their various tags or labels. I couldn’t really place if it was a rhetorical question or just a general statement but Darnell nodded in agreement as they sat down at the large round table and I climbed back into my chair. Evaren and Marvik were arguing about what form of casting was more efficient, being oral or physical but they had already begun to slur their words so half of what they were saying was unintelligible. I may have to cut them off soon so they aren’t too hung over for our job tomorrow and given the glances from Darnell, I could tell he held the same sentiment.
“We are still planning on leaving at first light right?” Darnell asked me as he kept his eyes on the dwarf and elf who were in their own little world, having not noticed Erb and him yet.
“That is indeed the plan.” I say.
“They’re going to have a rough time in the morning.” Interject Erb as I took another sip of my mead, letting the mild honey noted alcohol wash over my senses for a moment. Two slightly larger tankards of mead floated over the table and placed themselves at the two newly filled seats getting surprised looks from my companions along with a wooden platter of irregularly round biscuits which immediately drew the attention of our now drunk colleagues also clueing them in on the new arrivals.
“Darnell an Erb! I idden know ye’d be joinen us here t’night!” Marvik not quite yelled out at them in a boisterous laugh as he took a drink.
“We saw you three enter this residence a while ago and figured we might stop by too, so long as we wouldn’t be imposing.” Erb said as he reached for a biscuit.
“Imposing? Nonsense, the more the merrier I say!” Added Polly
“I’m usually not the responsible one of the bunch but we shouldn’t get too drunk, we still have a job to do tomorrow.” Darnell said as he got up and walked behind the two drunk party members and leaned down closer to them with a hand on each of their shoulders.
“Maybe cut it off here for the night for you two after these mugs.” He then reached out and grabbed a pair of biscuits and placed one in each of their hands which Marvik seemed to ponder for a moment before downing the last dregs of his mug and pushing it away from himself while leaning back in his chair.
“Ooohhh now at ya mention it laddy, I am a good bit far’n tipsy. That's some strong mead.” Evaren on the other hand didn’t seem all too thrilled about having her fun cut short and had a whole conversation's worth of emotions pass over her face before it finally landed on what I’d describe as resigned sadness. She too emptied her mug and began nibbling on her biscuit as Darnell made his way back to his seat.
“If I didn’t know any better I'd have you pegged as father material.” I shot at him as he was settling back down in his chair.
“Me having kids? Never… Well, I might have one or three in the capital, but I never went back to that brothel to find out. So who knows?” Erb and I just shook our heads and Polly let out a laugh.
We remained in the care of our host for another hour or so before deciding it was a good time to go get some rest before our long hike tomorrow and I stayed behind to help clean up, which Polly insisted I needn’t worry myself about. I stayed anyway and by the time I had made it back to the common house the sky was full of stars and the moon was halfway into the sky.
.-.-.-.-.-.
I had woken up before the roosters sounded at the start of the day and was greeted by the cool breeze coming down the valley as I lit my pipe and sat on the stump placed next to my door. Shortly afterward Erb exited his room next to mine and we exchanged morning greetings before he too lit his pipe and enjoyed the light gusts of wind carrying the scent of the forest to us. We sat in silence for a good few minutes before another door opened to reveal a very messy haired and red faced Evaren; she froze as she saw us then turned around and passed the door she had exited before entering the next room down the row. Immediately coming out of the same room Evaren had been in was a sluggish but happy looking Marvik who got a raised eyebrow from both me and Erb as he finished tightening his belt while walking over to join us in smoking, pulling a short fat cigar out of his breast pocket and lighting it between his index and thumb, shaking the embers from his fingertips and taking a few short puffs to make sure the ember caught. We all sat and stood there in silence for the time just enjoying what was likely the last bit of relaxation we would get for the rest of the day, that is until Darnell left his room between Marvik and Erbs and walked over to us, his eyes looked somewhat bloodshot in the dim setting moonlight as he looked right at Marvik.
“Thin walls.” Was all he said before pulling a wad of tobacco from a pouch and pressing it into the inside of his cheek.