Norwick's envoys and the goblins of the West Rawlins
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Tindra looks over the map for a few minutes, spinning it to a different direction every so often until she returns it to it's original position. She rubs her head and reaches for a bottle of ale while muttering some obscenity in Elvish.
Before she opens her bottle of ale, she notices it's dwarven ale and puts it back, grabbing a decidedly weaker human brew. "Let's keep the mind functioning for now."
((Salsa, any chance you could make a image file of said map?))
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Ragnhild's eyes glaze over as she stares blankly at the map, then she follows Dwin's example and reaches for her ales.
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((jams an icepick in his ear to make the pain stop))
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((ok the map didn't coem out right, ignore that. Look at your keyboard.
The letters Z, R, F, N, J, ., then { are on the map.) make more sense?))
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- Dwin rubs his temples and opens an ale. *
This hurts me head more than an Ettin hammer…
He goes back to his small black book, which he normally writes his armor orders into. He appears to be taking notes and scribbling some quick drawings.
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(( The map is such it has now boundaries or whatnot. No town or river or wood even marked. It consists of various symbols and a few words in goblin spread across the hide in no discernible pattern except for the fact that there are two symbols that have only one symbol near them(possibly the begin and end?). Examples of symbols: a hook looking figure with a crown shape next to it, goblin words 'slippy rocks', a couple of lines intertwined with dots at the tops. You a e pretty sure you could follow it by finding one symbol then heading towards the next. Trick is, you aren't sure which way is North….))
Just an example of the map to explain better. Letter represent a symbol:
CH
O
WQ L
F tBR VF I
K TW SC V EW
One can infer if they find out where "C" is and the direction of the map, you could travel towards "BR", then to "F" and to each nearest symbol till you got to "CH". Trick is knowing where the starting point is.
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Tindra stands quietly for a moment after listening to Ragnhild's tale and request, a frown clearly seen on her face. "Goblins? We're dealing with goblins? To be honest, I hate the buggers. Nothing but trouble for the woods."
After a pause, she picks up the map to take a look. "But then again, I've never heard of a goblin adopting a human before. Guess that should count for something. And if it'll help stop the demonic goblins…"
She studies the map closely, trying to think if any of the markings bring parts of the woods to mind.
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Returning Tindra's smile warmly, Ragnhild gestures to the map-like hide in her hand.
"I have map of sorts found, but no normal landmarks on it, see? Dwin thinks it is morr like set of instructions rather than traditional map, but almost all symbols on it be strange to us both. Is gobbalin made, from chieftain Grahk of Bloody Tooth tribe to me, his adopted daughter."
She points to the crown, adding calmly:
"His worrds be that vhen I am redi follow him, I look in place vhere he once hid axe for me. There, I find this, but am unsure how to read it. Crown be the onli symbol that make sense to me, as I mean to claim my legaci and become chieftain. My ambition vith such is to unite gobbalin tribes and together vith Norwick fajt Kal'Vargen, as gobbalins call the tainted ones. I vill avenge fate of my father and of Bloody Tooth tribe at their hands, so I have sworrn."
Ragnhild goes on to explain her history with Grahk and his tribe, aswell as the details of the envoy's recent meeting with the assembled goblin tribes, looking to Tindra for comments afterwards.
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A short while later Dwin returns with Tindra following behind. Upon seeing Ragnhild, the half-elf offers a friendly smile and wave.
"Lucky that I decided to stick around a bit before heading back up to the Gypsy Camp today, eh?" she remarks. "So, what's this all about? Dwin mentioned needing to pick my brain about the Rawlinswood?"
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Stay here, let me see if she is out in the center of town. She's been visitin' alot lately…
Dwin hurries out to see if Tindra is around and to send her an invitation if she isnt…
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Ragnhild smiles warmly, nodding.
"Ja, I know Tindra since long ago, and though we have not alvais met often over the years, she be person I both like and trust. Her advice is one I vould value highly."
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Dwin scratches his beard and looks at the map, turning it at diffent angles.
"Let's ask Tindra for assistance. Do you know her? Few know the Rawlins as she does."
"I've been speaking with her lately about the tainted goblins, and I'm glad to say that she is eager to help. Would you be interested in seeking her advice?"
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Ragnhild bends down over the map, tucking unruly blonde curls behind her ear to peer at it again.
"Instructions, huh.. but to real place, you think? Onli thing that make anni sense to me be the crown symbol, this seem sign of leadership, ja? But to vinn crown, need to follow instructions.. somehow."
She chews her lip slowly, thinking out loud:
"At wedding mine, there vhas a clearing, vhere rituals take place. Holi ground, you might say, a circle. All spectators must stand outside, not to interfere. These scribbels here say trees, ja? Like trees around clearing, perhaps.. but location of wedding circle be vell hidden, I do not think kan find vay back to it on my own. I know path to old camp though, not sure that help or not."
Ragnhild hesitates, tilting her head to look at Dwin, then studies the other symbols on the map closely once more, frowing.
"Map do seem use symbols other than normal, even I see that. I think you are right in your reasoning Dwin, but how proceed, vhen there but one symbol that seem clear? It is instructions, but in foreign tongue huh."
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After removing several dusty old maps from a case in the war room, Dwin pauses.
"Lass, let me see that again." He squints at the map, tracing his finger along the hook and then looking at the other symbols on the map he nods to himself.
"This aint a map like we're used to. I shoulda seen it earlier. We used to use maps like this in the caves as kids so that…" Dwin's voice trails off as he remembers something.
"Anyway, its more of a set of instructions than a map. This hook? Probably a signal tellin ya to go back in another direction. We used to use these to tell our kin to 'walk to the malachite vein, turn left, when ya smell bat guano, head south' ... That kinda thing."
"Let's look at it from that point of view and see what we can come up with, eh?"
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//bump-pokes Dwin You mentioned progress of sorts a while back, yes? Post, post!
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Dwin stares closely at the maps, listening to Ragnhild.
Lass, lets head down into the barracks where we keep the maps. Maybe we'll find something there, eh?
Dwin hurries off at a rate that is decidedly quicker than normal Dwin speed.
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Ragnhild stares at the map for a long time, her expression unreadable as she traces a fingertip along the symbol of the hook and crown. She then removes one of the feathers and a strand of her golden hair and places this in the box, putting it carefully back in place and piling the stones back into their original positions. The map is securely tucked into her pack when she turns back to town, again headed to the city hall. With most of her former companions having left, Ragnhild now seeks a private conversation with the Chancellor.
"Dwin, Norvikk have good maps of Rawlins, ja? I need compare vith one left by Grahk, one that might give chance to find my legacy. I have no skills in map reading, or uhm, reading at all, but seems unusual type of map to me. Here, take look for self."
Ragnhild displays the map to Dwin, asking if there are any words or landmarks he recognizes, before her finger once more seeks out the hook and crown symbol.
"See this one here? It remind me of meat hooks at my wedding, vhere Grahk put Zoma to various tests for prove his vorth to marry chieftain's daughter. Perhaps I need prove my own vorth to lead tribes in a similar manner? Think map could maybe show ritual, and not actual place? Or both, maybe?"
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As Ragnhild searches she comes across a pile of rocks long forgotten by herself. Perhaps a memory, or realization dawns upon her as she begins moving the stones where Grahk once produced the axe which she now carries. After some time of moving rocks a small wood box is brought forth from it's rest. Lacking any decorations or even lock the box opens easily releasing a slight smell of death. Inside is a hide, most likely a deer crudely preserved. Turning the hide over a crude map is burned in to the inner side. Various landmarks are marked but all seem unknown and strange. The map lacks any landmarks normally associated with a map, no forest edges or town, or cave is shown. Merely spaced symbols in a area circled with the words 'trees' around the symbols. Only one mark seems to jump out at Ragnhild. On one spot of the map is drawn a hook with a crown drawn right over it.
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After reporting the long night's event to Dwin, the group of envoys seems to scatter, each one returning to their own affairs for the time being. Ragnhild lingers though, heading up to the ramparts overlooking the Rawlins where she sits in solitude, long legs dangling over the edge of the wall. The shining silver greataxe lies in her lap as her light blue eyes stare off into space, lost in thought. Finally she sighs and rises, about to leave when a sudden revelation seems to strike her. Grinning excitedly, Ragnhild trots off through the gate and out into the near woods. After brusquely shooing any goblins near the cave, she looks around with sharp eyes, as if searching for something. She walks in a slow semi-circle from the cave towards the lake, stopping at rock formations here and there to lift stones and poke her spear into the ground carefully.
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In thoughtful silence the envoy returns to Norwick, Ragnhild striding ahead with her spear held high, the goblin charm adorning it dangling in the early morning breeze. Though the sun has barely made it over the treetops of the Rawlins, the group head straight to the city hall to find, or possibly wake Dwin.
//consider Dwin informed of events so far, and feel free to help certain dense barbarian lasses with riddle solving!
Whether we continue this ig or through forums is optional, poke me in mirc or through a pm
