Meager Beginnings (Durrak)

[Durrak]

Durrak listened to Oktar Draftmaul as he explained the conditions of the initiation. The mixed emotions that came with it ranged from excitement to confusion to unease. Although Durrak did not feel entirely happy about having to leave his dice, but still aloud to bring his cards. Then there was the issue of the rock spider, the stories he had heard unpleasant ones, where it would take every ounce of strength and ingenuity to take down a rock spider, and then the problem of making something presentable with the shell of the spider.

Anyway Durrak thought of it though, they were far off problems, the things that concerned him now was the fact that he had to give up his dice, but oddly still aloud to gamble, as long as he did not occur a debt greater than what he had on his person. The one thing that did brighten his attitude though as he made his finishing strokes on the cordish was that there was no time limit in which this must be done. Which took a great deal of pressure off of Durrak.

When Durrak noticed that Draftmaul was holding out his hand for his quickly sculpted granite as he just finished the snow on the rear legs. Durrak handed it over with a sigh. “Sir, I would like to thank ye for everything, I really appreciate this.” Durrak said as he stood to dig the dice out of his pocket. Once out, Durrak took a long look at the dice in his palm. I’ve relied on you so much over the years, I really hope you don’t fail me here, in the Oktar’s possession. Durrak thought to himself. Finally looking up at Draftmaul he held out his hand to the Oktar.

Then Durrak turned slowly to his chisels and rasps, packing them neatly into his bag. When a thought occurred to him, Durrak would still be able to grab a few small things from the stores before he made his way out of the town. Which helped lighten his mood considerably. Finally when he had his bag packed he turned to Draftmaul.

“Sir, again I would like to thank ye for giving me the time to meet with ye. I truly hope that what ever I create from the shell of the rock spider will be an admirable piece. And I really can’t wait to finish the cordish I started today either.”

With that Durrak placed his bag up on his shoulder, moved his matted hair out of the strap, and bowed low.

When Durrak was given leave, he would turn leave through the door, and if he saw Kurden he would bid him farewell, then make his way out to the streets to begin to formulate his plan to find a rock spider.

[KM Pestilence]

The Oktar placed the dice Durrak had just handed over beside his ale, smiling a bit once more.  It seemed to Durrak that he found something about the moment amusing, though he couldn't guess at what that might be.

"I'll keep them for you till you return lad.  And make no mistake, you are not forbidden from throwing dice, but if you do you will do so with unfamiliar dice in your hand.  Do not make or purchase a new pair of your own, and remember what I said.  We will see if you can keep your fondness for games of skill and chance under control with this," he said, stroking the dice with one fingertip.  "As I said before, I do enjoy a good wager now and again myself.  It is just too easy, in youth, to let that enjoyment get you into trouble, and your House and Clan with it."

Taking the carving in hand, Draftmaul looked it over carefully, with eyes and fingers alike.  Durrak was very certain that the old dwarf was examining his piece from the inside out.  The cordish was recognizable as such, though Durrak had not had time to put in much detail, only the overall shape and the details of the snow visible.  The proportions were also a bit off, as Durrak had not seen a cordish in many years.  Still, it was a very good piece considering Durrak's level of training, and the Oktar seemed to approve.  Durrak was also able to see that the Oktar paid careful attention to how the younger dwarf put away and cared for his tools.  Approval radiated from him for that as well.

"Hargen is right, you have taken well to stone since he began teaching you.  As promised, I will keep this piece here with your dice, ready to be completed when you return my young friend," he said, and stood up with Durrak as he rose.  Draftmaul rose to his full height then, and Durrak was surprised to find the old dwarf had in fact been standing with a stoop before.  The Oktar towered most of a head taller than he did himself!  He held himself to this erect posture only a moment, before giving a shallow bow of farewell and then returning to his stoop as he gave Durrak leave to exit.

Back in the hallway, Durrak was briefly reunited with Kurden, who bid him good luck and waved to the proper path to take out of the headquarters, not wanting the youth to get lost in the unfamiliar passages.  He also exchanged a few short but friendly pleasantries, and if asked would indicate some knowledge of the Rock Spider and its dwelling places in the mountains.  Otherwise, Durrak would shortly pass the exquisite stonework within the headquarters and be back on the street.

Whichever direction he took, however, he would shortly feel an odd sense, as if he were being followed...

[Durrak]

OOC: Sorry for the super short post, I'm sitting in the airport and figured this would be a good use of my time

Durrak watched the Oktar closely as he stood to full size. Surprised that when he stretched he stood taller than Durrak by a good head. Once he was back in his slouch, Durrak noticed something in the way he looked at him, bit he could not quite place it. When Draftmaul looked over his work and placed it next to the dice, he noticed it again when he spoke to him. Best not to test my luck. Durrak thought, and with that he said farewell once more and left the room.

Once out of the room Durrak saw Kurden. “Well my new friend, it appears I will leave Korgarr for a bit.” Durrak said to the older dwarf. “I have been given the duty of finding a rock spider and making something from it’s shell… Although I’m not entirely sure how this task will find me.” Durrak said to the bodyguard of the Oktar. While talking he began to run through the things he absolutely needed. A flask, a tent, and maybe a heavier cloak, and that would be the extent of the money Durrak would spend on gear for the journey.

Once out of the building Durrak set off  to the closest store near the entrance of Korgarr that he could find, but he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong.

[KM Pestilence]

OOC:  I think you found an excellent way to use your time at the airport.  And short posts are not necessarily bad posts, I see no cause for apologies here

IC:  When informed of his initiation to come, Kurden made an odd face, one Durrak would not have thought to see there.  The bodyguard was surprised by the news.  That look appeared only a moment before he managed to control his expression back to normal, but Durrak did see it.

  "I do hope t'Oktar didn't ask ye to bring back an adult shell, boy, or I fear we'll no'be seeing you again.  Yer only real hope of surviving this quest, let alone finding success, that'll be t'find a youngster too small t'fight back," he said, then tilted his head back on his stumpy neck to consider something.  "To find a baby rock spider, ye'll need t'find a spawnin' adult.  They come down from t'heights o' t'mountains lookin' fer meat when it comes time t'make babies, they do.  Little ones just fall off of'em as they travel.  Ye find one and follow it, eventually ye'll get a shot at a little one, so long as it's momma dasn't eat ye up."

  As he headed for the store, that irritating and nerve-firing sense of being watched did not go away.  It made Durrak nervous about going into any of the shops he saw and passed, until he reached the Silver Wheel Trade House.  Then, a familiar face suddenly appeared ahead of him.  Or rather, a familiar lack of a face.  Black Cloak beckoned with one shrouded arm, and continued heading along towards the Raven's Eye where they had met before, just a short walk away.  The odd creature's body language seemed to imply that Durrak would do well to follow.

Oddly, the sense that someone was watching him disappeared the instant Black Cloak's deep cowl no longer pointed in his direction.

[Durrak]

OOC: I'm back, and posting should be back to normal. Thanks for the wait, and her is a small post as I try to get back in to grove of normal, none holiday and vacation life.

Durrak thanked Kurden after he informed him of the way that he would have to catch a rock spider. Well let’s hope I don’t have to fight an adult spider then, if they are anything as bad as Kurden had suggested.

Once out in the city, Durrak started to make his way to the shops to try to find some needed supplies for his journey. Making a list in his head while he checked off some items and added others that his purse would allow him to buy. Soon though Durrak found himself looking over his shoulder and down either side of the street as he made his way to the shops. I’m just paranoid, no one is following me. Durrak tried to convince himself, but he could not shake the feeling that eyes were following him.

Finally after readjusting his bag, his axe on his belt, and throwing his hair back over his shoulder several times he reached Silver Wheel Trade House.

Durrak let out a yelp before he could stop himself when he saw the figure in front of him. Silently cursing himself for being so jumpy, Durrak turned back to Black Cloak as he gestured  him to follow with his fur covered arm. It only took a quick second of thought before Durrak figured it would be best to follow Black Cloak, as the previous encounter was more than enough to put unease in his mind.

As they walked, Durrak tried to think of the reasons Black Cloak would find him so quickly, and how he could get leave from the figure and begin his quest to find a rock spider. Slowly as Durrak followed the cloaked figure, he had the sneaking suspicion that they were making their way back to the Raven’s Eye.

[KM Pestilence]

OOC:  Welcome back my friend, good to see you again.  Hope your holidays were pleasant, that much fun was had, and that you're all rested up for the horrors I shall now heap on your bearded head.  Ok, maybe not quite that bad... maybe

IC:  Although he managed to keep track of the list of needed goods for his quest, in the back of his mind at least, Durrak was suddenly hard pressed to think clearly. What could the odd creature want?  And so soon, it had barely been an hour or two since they parted at the dicing table.

  Whatever it was about, it must have been urgent.  The little critter was moving through the crowds with an ease like Durrak rarely saw.  Black Cloak seemed to flow around burly dwarf males and broad dwarf matrons, so smoothly that they rarely seemed to notice them there despite the odd garb.  Luckily, the long and sometimes billowing folds of the odd cur robes stood out.  Even with his less graceful approach to moving through that crowd, Durrak was able to keep the odd one in sight and follow.

  In short order, they came to the Raven Eye once more, no surprise to Durrak.  Somewhat surprisingly, Black Cloak did not stop in the tavern, but instead continued on to the guest rooms, opening one with a flick of the key hidden by a deep sleeve.

  "Come in, my friend, and have a drink if you're a trusting type," Black Cloak called from inside the room, a sound of clinking cups and a bottle following behind.

[Durrak]

OOC: Sorry about the delay, work decided that my personal life should actually be called Make the Deadline, Part 2. I will be able to post, but will be closer to every other day or every third day until the project is done.

Durrak tried to keep pace with Black Cloak and quickly found that it would be a futile effort, as the best Durrak could do was to watch the figure as he snaked in and out of the crowd, barely drawing a notice to himself. Durrak wondered slyly if the way Black Cloak moved through the crowd and his skill with dice helped him make a living on the streets off of less fortunate or aware dwarves that he passes. Unfortunately while Durrak was lost in his thoughts, he almost stumbled into a few members of the crowd.

Finally they came upon the Raven’s Eye. Finally we can have a seat and take a rest, and let today’s events process. But that was not the case as Durrak found himself following Black Cloak through the tavern and back to where the guest rooms are.

Somewhere from the figure’s sleeve a key appeared, where he offered Durrak inside for a drink. Well, what’s the worst that can happen… Durrak chose not to allow himself to answer the question. As he walked inside, he adjusted the bag on his shoulder and moved his hair out of his face that became dislodged in the quick trek over to the in, as Durrak chose to stand close to the doorway until it became apparent that other actions were required.

[KM Pestilence]

OOC:  Sorry to hear life continues to play the old deadline game with you Durrak, a break from that might have been nice.  But, what can you do?  Post when you can and enjoy while you're able is about it eh?

IC:  The moment Durrak entered the room, his breath caught in his lungs.  It was almost unbearable inside, from the room's small fireplace blazed a roaring fire.  The flames were kept high and strong, almost too much for a fireplace so small to contain.  Hanging on a tripod just in front of the flames was a large kettle of water such as a camper might cook in.  This however gave no scent of food or spices, it just sat heating before the fire and giving off a great deal of steam.  The air within the room was so humid and  hot it felt almost like Durrak's throat would collapse trying to take it in.

  "Shut the door, ye fool," Black Cloak called from the misty interior of the room.  "I didn't risk burnin' this inn down, keepin' that goin' while I was out, so that y'could let it all out!"  Durrak heard all this over his discomfort, and turned to see Black Cloak draped over a chair, so relaxed as to seem boneless.  Himself, Durrak could have dealt with the heat, but the humidity in that room was horrid.  Already he could feel his beard soaking through as the water in the air found his cold form and condensed.  That was when Durrak noticed the other form in the room.

  The new being was around his own height, but much slimmer, with thin arms and a small waist.  Despite being slender, the being's limbs were wiry and strong looking.  Long braided hair of a dark green hung to just above that slender waist. 

  Having noticed these things, Durrak might be inclined to ask Black Cloak about the stranger.  Before he could fully part his lips to do so, however, that stranger turned toward him, a small wooden cup in each hand, and the dwarf made two more important observations.  Firstly, the hands holding those cups had dark green skin with tiny black talons on each finger.  Another glance at the cloak would show that it really was boneless, it was empty.  It's wearer was standing in front of him, a sharp toothed grin on its bestial face as it offered one of the cups to him.

  "What's wrong, my gambling friend?  Have you never seen an ixit, or never seen a female?" Black Cloak asked, just as her barely clothed form sank in fully and Durrak was forced to the conclusion that this creature was indeed female.  And he still had no idea what she wanted.

[Durrak]

OOC: Okay, now that the deadline madness is over I can begin writing on a regular basis again, thank you for being patient.

Durrak followed Black Cloak into the stifling room, the fire in the small hearth made the room almost unbearable. It was a far way off from the bitter cold that he felt in the streets, and to be perfectly honest, he enjoyed the cold more than this room. When Durrak heard Black Cloak  holler to close the door, Durrak jumped and quickly closed the door. Once the door was closed Durrak began to feel how truly hot the room was, his clothes were beginning to drench in sweat. Durrak was positive the room more closely resembled a furnace more than living quarters

Turning to Black Cloak, Durrak was surprised to see how relaxed the figure was. Then Durrak noticed the other figure, causing him to jump against his better judgment. Once Durrak got a closer look though, he quickly realized that the figure was slender, and had a braid of hair the hung just above her waist. Then the creature turned to Durrak with two cups in hand, that is when he noticed the creature had a black talons, almost exactly like Black Cloak’s.

With a  quick glance back to Black Cloak, Durrak came to the point that he believed that the garments that laid there were actually boneless, and that the creature with the glasses was actually Black Cloak. When the creature spoke and said she was an ixit, Durrak was positive of the fact that Black Cloak and the ixit were one in the same with the phrase “gambling buddy”.

“Actually no I’ve seen a ixit ‘fore. ‘Specially a female.” Durrak replied to Black Cloak, although he wasn’t entirely sure that was the appropriate way to address the girl. “So why do you keep it so hot in here?” Durrak asked as he gladly took the cup, hoping that it would help cool him. “And what exactly should I be callin’ ya? Black Cloak doesn’t seem quite right anymore.”

[KM Pestilence]

OOC:  Good to see you back again mate

IC:  "Well then," the ixit said, standing before the fire and soaking in the steam, "twill be my pleasure t'introduce you to one of my people won'it?"  In response to his questions about the heat and humidity, she said "I can tell you ain't never been t'Mirg if ya don't know why its so warm in here, as if yer staring innit enough t'figure that.  Or mebbe y'like what y'see?" she said, and Durrak had a moment of surprise when he realized she meant this to be flirtatious.  Whoever heard of an ixit flirting with a dwarf, after all?

The female pulled over a stool for Durrak, placing it as far from the fire as possible.  This might have been out of consideration, but the fact that the ixit pulled her chair over to the fire before sitting atop her own fur cloak might have spoken of her intentions as well.  She gestured for him to take the stool, and thrust one of the two cups at him once more.

"Poor thing, this'll ruin ya on every drink ye ever had, I suppose.  If y'ain't been t'Mirg before, I doubt you ever had any, its Mirgian Mead," she said, sipping from her own cup even as she finished.  "And I'd say ye can call me Marsh.  It's not m'real name," she explained in her chirping and whistling accent, "but its what folks call me 'round here."

[Durrak]

OOC: Well then, lets see what sort of trouble you have in store   

Durrak listened to the green creature while she talked, his jaw dropping slightly at her advance, but other than that he said nothing. The room was almost to hot to bare, and Durrak did not want to waste his energy speak right now when he was more focused on breathing. When Black Cloak finally placed a stool as far from the fire as possible, Durrak secretly hoped it was for him, and was greatly relieved when she took her chair with the furs and sat down next to the fire.

Taking the cup offered from Marsh, Durrak sat on his stool. Slowly Durrak’s wits came to him as he began to think of what this meeting could possibly be about. Why of all places would we be meeting here in a furnace? Durrak thought as the sweat from his beard began to seep through. Well I guess I should figure out what Black… er… Marsh wants. After all she is the one that came to get me.

Adjusting the hair to get out of face, and remembering his bag was still on his back as he sat, Durrak decided to make himself more comfortable, as he guessed that this would not be a short visit, so he took the opportunity to take a quick look around the room before he began to ask some questions.

“Well Marsh t’is then.” Durrak said as he raised he glass to her from his perch, taking a good gulp after he lowered his cup. “If ye not mind me asking Marsh, what do I owe the pleasure of seeing ye again so soon? Did ye want more dice to be thrown by chance? Cause I lost mine a bit ago to the O’ktar.” Durrak said as he tried to make the conversation sound as casual as possible.

[KM Pestilence]

OOC:  Sorry for the posting delay, my mind has been wandering a bit of late and I had trouble phrasing the post just right.

IC:  As Durrak's jaw dropped, Marsh let out a snort of laughter.  Apparently she found his reaction quite amusing.  She continued this basic reaction at his obvious relief when she sat nearest the fire.

"This is one thing I love about visiting Garr," she said, her laughter much more obvious without the muffling cowl of her cloak.  "You dwarves do amuse me so."  Durrak took his first gulp of the liquid in his cup as she spoke, and his mind went blank for a moment as he savored the taste.  It was sweet, with a faint taste of nuts underneath, and strong enough to keep a dwarf for more than a day.  He'd never had anything like it in his life.  "I see you enjoy mead my hairy friend," she laughed out a bit more.

She reclined, sipping slowly at her own drink after raising her cup in return to his salute.  Arching an eyebrow at his questions, taking her time answering, she looked him over head to toe.  Despite her flirtatious manner, the inspection seemed more a matter of physical fitness than any real appeal, not surprising considering they were of wholly different races.

"No dice for the moment," she said when she finally broke the long silence, feral teeth suddenly bared in a smug grin.  "Ye've lost enough to me as is."  She stood, looking down at Durrak from in front of the steaming pot.  "No, I brought you here to call in your debt to me.  My favorite reason for coming to Garr is you dwarves and your honor.  You keep your word even when you didn't realize it was given," she laughed softly.  "Back home in Mirg, the law says any bargain made must be honored, whether they know the terms or not.  Similar, no?"  She paused for another soft chuckle.  This one sounded both more genuinely merry than those previous, and less friendly.  "So tell me dwarf, what are your immediate requirements to your Oktar?"   

[Durrak]

OOC: This feels oddly familiar lets see how long it takes to get back in the groove of things.

Durrak was not entirely sure what he could tell the goblin of what the task he had to complete, so he decided to be as vague as possible. “Well, my Oktar told me that I was not to roll dice that would cause me to go into debt, and also took my own dice that I carved. Other than that he sent me on my way to find a creature and use its shell for my own purpose.” Durrak had already said more than he intended to, the blasted heat made him feel as if he was being boiled alive. But it would be over soon, the dwarf told himself as he took his sweat dampened hair and threw it over his shoulder and off his neck.

Then Marsh’s words hit him, she was calling in her gambling debt. Trying not to sound too suspicious as to what he had to do, he asked a question hoping to get a more informed answer from the lady goblin. “If ye do not mind my asking, but what sort of favor are you calling in?” No well too bad for not sounding suspicious… Durrak thought to himself as he clicked his tongue, trying not to dwell on the damage already done.

[KM Pestilence]

OOC:  The swing of things eluded us for awhile there didn't it?  Sorry, had some brand new issues to work through.  Now let's see, where were we...

IC:  Marsh listened attentively to his explanation of the Oktar's orders concerning the limitations on gambling he'd been given, and the task he'd been set.  However, she made no secret whatsoever that her interest in it was not very strong.  Her face was set in what he was certain was an expression of abject boredom.  Still, she seemed to take the information in.  Once he finished his explanation and asked her what she wanted of him, she stalled by taking a small swig from her mead.  However, the angle at which he was seated allowed Durrak to see that the cup was meant to hide a small, self-satisfied smirk.  The dwarf found himself wondering if it was really supposed to remain hidden, or if he'd been meant to see it.

"Well now my bearded friend, let me just give you some advice to help you keep to your leader's orders," she said, with a small amount of mirth in her voice, "if'n yer be gamblin' with somet'in what speaks a differen' language from yer own, yer should ask what theys said before you agree to a wager," she finished, and this time she grinned in his full view, a bright, pleased smile that was just shy of being cruel.  "Ye c'n winds up a slave that way where I's be from."

  Durrak felt his stomach drop as he realized the bizarre series of chirps and whistles he'd heard when he and Marsh had in fact been additional payments he would owe if he lost.  And he had agreed to it!  His honor would be compromised if he failed to go through with it... but what if she demanded he demean his honor as per the agreement?  Durrak was shaken out of his thoughts when the goblin spoke again.

  "I be needin' a travelling companion fer now.  Tis easier fer a'ixit like me t'be about m'business with a dwarf t'go round wit.  An y'know, a little muscle never hurts anyt'in; either.  Might not be unpleasan' fer ya ei'ter, I's might even be able ter help yas on yer little quest in some way while we be together.  I know, loyalty to yer, whatchacallem?  Yer Ch'mok, that be it, loyalty t'that'll take priority o'er anythin' y'owe me.  So, Is'll need ter stay close to yas till y'can pay me back.  Ye'll learn what ye'll be doin' then, lessen ye figures it out before 'ten."  Having given him what information she seemed willing to give, she gave out a laugh and drained her cup with another grin.