eastbound | audio | username: haltham

He... llo? Hey-ho! Hello. Got the hang of it now —

( But does he? A sudden spell of background laughter would indicate the channel remains disrupted, until… it suddenly quiets down. )

...there we go! How’s you lot? This is Haltham. Me? Been good. Real swell. Got me a... got a goat now. She’s a handsome one. Met’er coming down from the mountains, minding my own business, might’ve had a little to dri — ...but keeps the body warm, don’t it? And there I was, and there she was, and I think she’d just killed a man? Can’t be helping it, happens in a mountain. And we looked each other up, then down, though she’s mostly sideways, think she’s, hm... her eyes sort of cross, but you know, she’s a looker, and she walks the leash right, and we headed on together, so. And now, I take her everywhere.

( He seems, suddenly, to remember the point of his outreach: )

Anyway. You’ll have your own goat! Maybe. We’re taking you. Taking you elsewhere. On a walk. To a new place, better place, for living. Mostly better. Well... right, it’s not all that better, but it’s a home, a farm. And... look. Can’t be having you at the… ladies’ house no more. There’s trouble in the city now, with all them folks rising for Anurr, and... heard some of you got involved with all that. Keep your heads down! Oi! Oiiiiiiii. Down. Don't be dying before I even see you.

( A pause, then: ) So, this farm. Used to be a woodhouse. It’s... closer to the forest, where the old blood live, and it’s farther out, but… you can still walk to the merchants’ places, and it’ll do you good. Proper, honest stroll each morning. Works an appetite. Old man thought it might be rough, but I talked him into it, and it’s all yours, now! You can head on tomorrow, and Karsa’ll even... you know, sort out your speech pieces, so you can talk smart there too.

Now, it’ll need some cleaning... and some urging along of the wolves. And rats, and... the trouble with the... you'll see. I don’t think some walls are holding, but you’ll prop them, won’t you? Bit of sweat and mud and snow, and it really is all yours, once that’s done! And no one will come along to bother.

Just... don’t open your doors at night, no matter what the wind tells you. Or people. Them’s not people, in that forest.

( ooc: A mission log for the move-out and the delights of the 'farm' will be up tomorrow :) Characters with jobs at the House of Dew can hold on to their posts, even after they relocate. Translation devices will work throughout. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The undead can affect the weather?

I don't know. But it's not like it used to be, this time last year. Was warmer, then.

When was the last time it was warm in this region?

Must have been... hmmm. Warm-warm, so you could feel your fingers, or only warm, so they don't freeze on sight?

Um, when the ground wasn't frozen and the snow was melting. If there's a farm here, there must be planting and harvest seasons.

Ohhhhh. Oh, like in them eastern places. No, no. Is a different sort of farm. You'll see. Karsa's kind of people, they make big rooms warm, so the earth'll keep the seed to grow.

[Well, color him intrigued]

So you're able to farm all year round?

Some things... more than others. They don't keep it too warm. They say it takes deep thralling, and that's expensive. But beets and turnips, they make it warm enough so they'll grow.

[Hardy vegetables, he knows]

Is it a working farm now? Something we can help tend to?

[And possibly make some coin for the service if so]

I... wouldn't go quite that far. But I haven't been in some time! And who's to know, once the... wolves are gone?

[He hums, disappointed]

I guess it depends how long we'll be there for, then. It sounds like it'll be difficult to live there if it's run-down between the cold and lack of food. And we'll have to raise more money..

Any suggestions?

...don't open your doors at night. And don't feed the wolves.

Right. I think it'll be hard enough to feed ourselves to have enough for wolves.

Don't be feeding yourselves to the wolves either.

..I appreciate the advice.

Won't be all bad, will it? A place your own. Look after it.

We will.

Better than what you've got now. I'd love to have it, me!

It'll be nice to have more space and somewhere we don't have to hide. I'm only worried about staying warm and finding food. We've had those things here at least.

But there's more of your now, no? Enough for a huddle?

We can cooperate, but I think it's only a loose alliance. Hopefully we'll grow a little closer.

The cold brings people together, don't it?

Yeah. I'm going to try.

And just remember. What did we say, eh?

..About what?

(no subject)

aprescoup - 2021-05-09 22:24 (UTC) - Expand

bearshermark - 2021-05-09 22:25 (UTC) - Expand

aprescoup - 2021-05-09 22:33 (UTC) - Expand