The dire troll was infuriatingly hard to kill. Thoroughly bloodied and bruised, we continue onwards to Spesof’s home town of Helsinki. Looking at him, it almost seems to be pulling him forwards, as the closer we get the faster he goes, until he’s leaving us behind in a full on sprint.
We catch up with Spesof as the town comes into view. It’s a rather small farming community, with a few larger longhouses near the center. Maknok leads us along to one of the smaller longhouses. As Spesof approaches the door, he hesitates before opening it. Inside are already four people. There’s a moment of confusion, before the old man inside recognizes Maknok.
After a minute of surprised re-introductions, we’re properly introduced to Spesof’s aunt and uncle, Thislulo and Kerghug Beegstick and his cousins Wauktug and Umphala. As we’re introduced, a bowl and washcloth is brought out to help clean off after the dire troll. At the mention of the Monster Basher’s and the Dire Troll, cousin Wauktug immediately lights up, asking all about monster hunting. His father though, does not look terribly impressed. It’s not difficult to see why, as monster hunting is a dangerous profession. That being said, “If my cousin is doing it, why can’t I?” is a hard argument to refute. Kerghug quickly shoots down Tittlin’s offer of going out on a hunt, wanting to know instead where Spesof and Maknok have been all these years.
Maknok and Spesof each take sometime talking about where they each washed up and what they got up to before re-uniting. As they start with the storm, we briefly get side-tracked into asking about Folduin who, no surprise, hasn’t been so much as heard from from in these parts. The stories continue, detailing Maknok’s stranding, captivity and release. Spesof follows up, summarizing his washing up, finding his way to Cedar Combe and how he met Merric and joined the Cedar Combe Monster Bashers.
Speaking over Wauktug’s renewed monster questions, Kerghug asks Maknok if he’ll become a merchant again. As Maknok’s silent for a moment, I realize that it’s not been long at all since he came back from his ordeal. He probably hasn’t really thought about what comes next, having been focused for so long on just the next day. He eventually responds that he supposes he will, though without much enthusiasm, but he’s unsure if he’d be able to get the money together for a new ship. Kerghug starts ribbing him about the loan for the first boat, which apparently came from their parents and was never repaid.
Spesof, with a hint of surprise in his voice says that he could provide the money for the loan. I suppose we all have gotten rather rich from the monster hunting. I can see Wauktug’s coming to the same conclusion. ⦁ Didn’t repay loan from parents ⦁ Spesof could spot him the money ⦁ Probably die before repayment ⦁ Resurrection ⦁ Wak: “So what you’re saying is there is no consequences?” ⦁ Sucessfully disuade him ⦁ Wak can’t get into carpentry ⦁ Tit: What about thieving like me? ⦁ Aunt Thislulo frowns ⦁ Momen: Don’t listen to this bad influence ⦁ Spesof carves impressive beholder statue ⦁ Wak impressed ⦁ Momen not happy about the thing that killed him. ⦁ Tit tries to take spotlight back with slight of hand card tricks ⦁ Cousin Umphala Beegstick pays close attention, unsure if it’s interest or scorn ⦁ Wordlessly refuses game when offered ⦁ Plays slight of hand trick on Wak ⦁ Mother not impressed, eyeing spesof & maknok to deal with him ⦁ Spesof enjoying the antics ⦁ What about the book of monsters? ⦁ Redirect conversation to something else ⦁ Kerg talks, how long are you staying ⦁ Still after him, so not too long ⦁ Conversation gets onto the liege, knights and the troll ⦁ Back to monsters ⦁ Book? Momen tries to redirect again “Surely there’s something we can talk about other than monsters?” ⦁ Tit: It’s what we do mostly. Well, that and running a brothe- bed and breakfast ⦁ Mother really angry now ⦁ Ask Titlin for help outside ⦁ Whisper: I was going to tell them about the teleportation network ⦁ The longer you stay, the more feet you fit in your mouth ⦁ Take him outside and immediatly lose him ⦁ Search around and try and find him, to no avail ⦁ After many minutes of searching, realize he’s long gone and head back inside ⦁ Spesof hungry ⦁ Thisulo serves fish & stew & pork ⦁ Get some food ⦁ Small talk ⦁ Umphala appears kind of interested in magic, still doesn’t say anything ⦁ Convo moves to will Maknok stay? ⦁ He’s uncertain ⦁ Momen recommends spending more time with his clan ⦁ Decides to stay here for a while before making the decision ⦁ Maknok goes and comes back with picture of him, his wife and a child spesof ⦁ Only way you’d have a chance to see her ⦁ Bit of wavering in Spesof’s voice, stares deeply at the portrait ⦁ Looks around at family, can see his hand going to something in his pocket ⦁ Scribing private sanctum ⦁ Umphala interested, points out transcription error ⦁ Try to give basic lesson, doesn’t work well with the lack of materials and attempt at yes and no questions ⦁ Rest of the day passes uneventfully with people and visitors coming and going ⦁ Good to be back at the communal hearth ⦁ Evening, hear Wak pestering Spesof until told to put a sock in it ⦁ Tit meditating on lawn with rabbit ⦁ Don’t ask ⦁ Visit town ⦁ Spesof gets tattoo of protection, overlapping chain rings in pattern of purple chain mail ⦁ Momen gets illuminator’s tattoo, pays by cheque ⦁ Tittlin re-appears and gets a tattoo of, a mustache on his finger? ⦁ Get’s fleshrot ⦁ Lesson not ready yet ⦁ Another day ⦁ Successfully teach her, in spite of lack of material and difficulty ⦁ She learns prestidigitation, running around happily ⦁ Spesof manages to convince Wak of how interesting carpentry could be, not merely lumber ⦁ Head back to Hvitsand ⦁ Lunch with the Kallestad ⦁ Relay what happened with the troll and the beans? ⦁ Learn that Fuldwin keeps good relations with artificers, trusts magic more than people ⦁ Continue travel, past the north of the continent (past spire of drizith) ⦁ Heavy rain as we head into Nysted in Tillnola ⦁ Spires with bridges and buildings on all sides, rough looking place ⦁ Instinct to turn around ⦁ Park in out of the way crevice, rope up with magic rope ⦁ Can’t find his place, best sign that he’s here? ⦁ Think to find magic shop, can’t see any