Monsters in the Forest

The Wilderness, Midday

After the downpour not too long ago, the woods is murky and damp, the trees dripping into slowly draining puddles on the forest floor. Among one of the many trails that spirals through the wilds, this one was more traveled, typically taken on a route to and for Mictlan and Wilderness Pointe.

>Thunk!< A tree rustles, shaking free all its water. >Thunk! Crack!< It sags. >THUNK! Crash!<

As the dust settles, an incredibly shiny sith-makar hefts a large wood cutting axe over a shoulder, it as nearly as tall as them as he takes several heavy breaths. Clouds of frozen air waft from them in each pant. He sports not much aside from a silvery breastplate, and a tall weapon of some sort resting against a nearby tree.

He wipes his face off, unnatural and long fangs on display as he yawns wide before shaking his head off. "Buh. Thiss one did not mean to sleep in sssso long..." he murmurs to the creepy looking halberd.

It doesn't reply, but the jagged crack on it seems to be stuck in a permeant curve.

GAME: Simony rolls stealth: (11)+3: 14
GAME: Skielstregar rolls perception: (15)+14: 29

The Goblin moves from tree to tree, resting a moment behind each tree, before quickly darting to the next. She squints through her pince-nez, trying to see what is thrashing around the forest here. Dressed in simple, home-spun clothes, the pants rolled up from her feet to her knees. Understandable, given that she is covered in mud from feet to shins.

Then a voice speaks, and she cants her head slightly, to listen. A few more trees closer, and the silvery Sith is spotted. She pauses there, peering out from behind a tree, marveling at the living silver statue. Simony pats herself over, and grumbles. "Dammit, left my notebook and pencils behind."

The silver statue stretches, setting down the large axe beside the halberd as he ambles over to the felled tree. Reaches down and wraps his large arms around the base of it before-

"Hrrrng!" Muscles flex, tail presses to the ground, jaw clenches as the felled tree is lifted up to rest on his shoulder, the branches and all sagging to drag on the ground. Another few breaths spill out, tinged with a black hue. Something metallic rumbles. And the silverscale looks up and around. Not finding anything, he shifts his posture to hold the tree more firmly. "... if anyone isss out there, it isss bessst to reveal yourssself," he calls out in a bassy rumble. "Thisss one isss not good game to hunt. They are armed."

The Goblin goes still, looking away a moment. "I am not armed.", she says, "Just wanted to see what the fuss was about."

She slowly steps out from behind her tree. Taking a few steps forward, peers up at the tree. "That... tree would hurt.", she says softly.

The muscular silverscale squints down at Simony as they step out from behind the tree. A few moment pass, along with him sniffing at the air before rumbling in satisfaction. "Sssa, it would, but thisss one would prefer to not do sssuch a thing."

He sloughs off the tree. Which impacts into the muddy ground with a >splat< and >thud<. "It isss unwissse to be unarmed in the foressst, sssmall one," he mentions, him rolling his shoulder. The amulet of the Dragonfather clanking softly against his armor. "Thisss one isss just felling some treesss for the People. There were sssome thisss one damaged on accident a few daysss ago, so they have been marked for felling."

The fallen tree beside him bears several scratches where the bark has been shredded, as well as some cracks as if something heavy was thrown at it.

The Gobbo nods slightly to his suggestion about being unarmed. "I just heard some thrashing from where I was camped. Just sort of took off running to see what was going on." She scuffs a muddied foot on the ground, before moving over to investigate the fallen tree. Running a hand over the bared tree had been scored by... something, Simony peers curiously at the cracks.

"How did they come to be damaged so badly? Cracked and scratched up."

Simony smiles at him then, "Do you know Aelwyn? Are you the one he calls Silver? He said you were good looking, but he is wrong, your scales are gorgeous. So shiny! You're like a big mirror!"

The Gobbo runs around the Sith a few times, and then leans against the fallen tree. "How many trees need chopping down? Are you taking all the wood for your people?"

The massive silverscale rubs his neck. "Ah, well, thisss one wass... taming a monssster. Ssometimesss creaturesss mussst get their frussstrationsss out before they calm," he explains slowly. It wasn't a lie. "The monssster is dealt with."

He blinks as Simony runs around him several times, him trying to keep try but ending up getting too dizzy. "... why doesss small softskinsss obsess over thisss one? You are not the firssst, nor the second, nor the fifth..." he rumbles in mild amusement, and mild confusion. "Sssa. Thisss one knowsss Aelwyn. Isss friendsss with him. Thisss one isss Skielssstregar, Warrior Cassste. Thank you for your kind wordsss."

He finally gets his balance back, rubbing the side of his head. "Thisss one doess not know. However many it isss. And yess, back to the People. Unlesss you really need one, thiss one can turn sssome into firewood."

Simony does look around nervously at the mention of monsters. She seems only slightly relieved that Skielstregar has dealt with the monster. "Are you hurt at all? I'm a priestess of Navos, I can mend your hurts." Her eyes squint through her pince-nez as she inspects him from a distance.

"Why do we obsess? It is likely due to the fact that you look amazing! And you're all big and strong. You also seem very friendly, and calm, which helps a lot for tall people such as yourself. I mean...", the Goblin gestures at both hands at Skiel, rolling up her sleeves to pose flexing little biceps at the silver-scale. "And you stand out, it's hard to miss you."

She taps a chin. "Well, I'm trying to collect fallen trees and logs for firewood also, for Ous' camp. I don't want to chop down a tree that's perfectly healthy, you know?"

"Oh... I am Simony Smithsdottir." She bows to him. "I am friendly with Aelwyn too."

Taking a look at Skielstregar, it's clear that he's healthy and hale. But there's something... off, about him. He's smiling (for a makari), but his eyes are dead. His posture is peaceful but the back of one's neck prickles like something is vaguely wrong. He shakes his head. "Thisss one isss fine. It isss hard to harm thisss one. Thank you though."

Further compliments make his cheeks frost up despite the warming weather. "Well, erm, thank you," he waffles. "Thisss one doesss like how shiny they are. While they are big, small softssskinss have their own ssstrenghtsss thiss one cannot do."

"Peassse on your nessst, Sssimony Sssmithssssdosssir. Ssmisssh. Dottssir. Sssimony," he tries to pronounce, but his sibilance foils any true pronunciation. Trade is hard, okay? He looks to the tree he just cut down. Back to Simony as he picks up the large wood axe. "... thisss tree isss now dead?" he points out, taking a half step towards it.

GAME: Ous rolls Stealth: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Simony rolls perception: (8)+10: 18

It isn't exactly a silent Ous that enters the area. Moving at a leisurely pace, the big ranger whistles a soft, tuneless song as the overly large Mastiff pads along beside him. The pair have been gone for a couple days. Wandering mostly as Ous has want to do when not working it would seem. Closer inspection on the pair tell a slightly different story. Despite the happy demeanor of Dog, the animal looks exhausted. The ranger's boots were worn through in multiple places, his toes poking through a hole in the end and covered in dirt.

Pausing as he sees Simony and Skielstregar, the ranger's hand drifts to his axe for a moment before recognition for the Makari dawns on his face. the hand drifting away from the weapon once more. "Hullo."

"I am glad you are okay. I like to ask, though, just in case. And I would agree, you look like a really solid Sith-Makar.

The Goblin nods, "Oh yes, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses." She grins brightly, giggling lightly. "Oh gosh, I am sorry, my name must be terrible with all the esses. If it would be easier, you may call me Mony, okay? Aelwyn tends to call me White. For some reason."

Their noise startles her at first, and she looks over her shoulder, looking ready to run. "OUS! Dog!" Simony takes off at a run, bare feet slipping and sliding a little on the damp forest floor. She jumps into the air, aiming to crash into Ous' chest. Luckily, she's got no armor, or metal bits sticking out, just homespun clothing and a dash of muddy feet.

Skiel looks a little... worried? He looks down at himself. Then back at Simony. "... thisss one hopesss they are solid Kin?" he murmurs. Confused briefly, but he doesn't keep it long. There's a snort, him shaking his head. "Very well. Mony. Thisss one can be called Ssskiel if it isss easier for you too."

Movement. The large makari raises his head, fingers regripping the wood axe out of habit, but it shifts to just rest on his shoulder. "Peasse on your nessst," he waves, looking him and the dog over. As well as the impact from the gobber. "... are you well? You ssseem... like you are very tired. Much walking. Softkin shoe thingsss falling apart..."

While Simony wears no metal bits, the throwing axes on the bandolier across Ous' chest are decidedly metal, and sharp. Seeing Simony coming, the ranger pivots slightly away from the goblin, catching her with one arm as a hand drops across the head of the nearest axe so as not to Bisect the goblin. Taking a moment to kiss the top of Simony's head, Ous looks to Skielstregar for a moment and nods, a wide grin crossing his face. "Aye'm good. Went fer a run. Dog needed th' training time."

Dog drops his head to the ground. sniffing his way towards Skiel for a moment. Sniffing around the Makari's feet until he decides that the dragon born isn't a threat, he finally just flops over sleeping before his head hits the ground.

Still watching Skiel, Ous adds. "Aye Dinnae think we've e'er been intr...intor....Aye dinnae think we've actually met yet. Aye'm Ous. If the Squggly letters gives ye problems, Killword works too."

The Goblin clings for a little bit, her face smooshed into his chest. "I missed you.", she says shyly. Wiggling free, she drops to the ground, peering at his boots. "I think we can fix those.", Simony says, gesturing at the holes in his boots. "Or getcha new ones."

Blinking, she gestures to Skielstregar, "Ous, meet Skiel. Skiel, meet Ous."

The dog catches her attention then, and she runs over to thud onto her knees beside Dog, running her hands along his belly. "Aww, he's so cute like this..." She looks over her shoulders at Ous. "Are you uninjured? No crossbow bolts I gotta dig out of you?

Looking up at Skiel, Simony grins. "I mean, you're solid as in... strong. Muscular. Well built. A literal pillar of your community."

Skielstregar scratches his head with the head of the axe. Also looking at Dog as they inspect the silverscale. Half expecting a growl, instead, the canine just flops over and passes out. He blinks. "... sssa. Ousss. Peassse on you nessst," he bows his head towards him as Simony introduces the two of them. "Thisss one might have ssseen you at a meeting maybe. To be honessst, thisss one isssn't good at keeping track of people."

The silverscale's maw opens briefly, like that of an 'o' before giving a chuff, his large tail whipping once behind him. "Ah. Yesss. Thisss one isss strong. Try to help the People!"

But with that, he hefts the axe, taking a step towards the felled tree. "You sssaid you needed firewood?"

GAME: Ous rolls perception: (19)+7: 26

Looking around the forest for a moment, Ous frowns slightly before he speaks. "Aye dinnae 'ow much wood we're needin' tae be honest. Aye am thinkin' tha' Simony's been busy." Looking from one to the other, the ranger adds. "We might 'ave met at a meetin'. Aye think Aye remember seein ye drop kick a bunch o werewolves in th' face awhile ago gettin' tha' Tellyman guy."

Looking at Simony, Ous adds. "Aye missed ye too. Aye'd 'ave took ye along, but ye were sleepin' an' it were still dark when Aye left." Looking down at his feet, the ranger wiggles his toes for a moment before turning towards the Rocks a little ways off from them. "Aye've another pair of boots in me possibles. Ye lot eat yet?"

The Goblin grins at Skielstregar, and then shakes her head about the firewood. "I was just wondering if I could have one of your logs? I've been using chopping wood as a way to get stronger. I would happily have you chop it, since you seem eager to, Skielstregar. But I do want to get stronger. So.. may I have one of the other trees that got damaged in your fight? I'll chop it down and chop it up."

She looks to Ous then, and giggles. "Uhm. Yes, we have lots of firewood. Also, I... made it a little prettier." She attempts to decline food, but her stomach gurgles noisily, her head hanging. "I've not."

Skielstregar's scaled brows raise. "Oh! Yesss, thisss one remembersss. You were part of the rear guard. Thisss one froze many of the werewolvesss before advancing in to get Ssshaman Telamon. Thisss one remembersss many of you tearing into them."

He bobs his head. "Very well. Thisss one will get a log for you." The axe is hefted as he walks back to the felled tree. Brough up high. Then briskly falls to slam into the side of the log, making it crack and splinter almost halfway through. Prime example of why he went against the main werewolf if he's hitting trees this hard.

Skiel wrenches out the axe, and shoves the entire tree to roll it to the other side. "Thisss one hass eaten, they thank you for the offer," he rumbles before pointing to another tree. One that has most of the bark stripped off with several bite marks on it. "That one you can fell, Mony."

Pausing for a moment, Ous chuckles. "Well. Tae be fair. Do-lan done most of th' tearin' th' rest of us helped some while sayin things like 'Oooh. ahhh. He's so manly an' Aye'm all twitterpaytered.'" This last part said in a falsetto voice. Winking the ranger continues. "bein' truthful though, 'e were somethin tae see. Hell of a fighter tha' one."

Watching Skiel splitting trees, the ranger nods and lets out a low whistle as he rummages in a pouch on his belt. coming out with a couple of round, brownish, slightly greasy looking pucks, he tosses one to Simony before taking a bite of the other one. "Aye'll get stew started in a bit. Do Aye want tae know what ye means by prettier?"

"Holy f.. I mean, goodness, Skiel!", the Gobbo comments as Skielstregar casually dismantles the large tree. Her eyes flick to the other tree with most of the bark gone, and ominous bite marks on it. "What the hell beast were ya fighting?"

Simony giggles at Ous then. "Oh, Dolan making ya feel hot under the collar, hmmmmmm?" Her eyebrows waggle. The brownish puck is caught with both hands, and an eyebrow raises at Ous. Then the smell hits her, and she sniffs at it curiously, before shoving the whole thing into her mouth. With her cheeks full, she chews awkwardly.

Skielstregar chuckles. "Dolan isss a good warrior, very ssstrong," he rumbles, rumbling a laugh as he brings the axe down again, crashing into the wood to lop off a log for Simony. He rolls it over with a foot. He glances to Simony. "... a.. very angry beassst," he says evasively. "It isss dealt with.

The joking goes right over his head, him shrugging.

GAME: Ous rolls survival+2: (7)+9+2: 18

Blinking as Simony sticks the whole puck of Pemmican in her mouth, Ous clears his throat. "Ye...Tha' were 2 days worth of food ye jes' ate...Be real careful about th' water ye drinks fer th' next day. Tha' stuff'll get bigger in yer stomach." Swallowing his own mouthful down, the ranger sticks the rest of the puck back in the pouch on his belt. "Do-lan dinnae bother me. Aye likes th' man."

Watching Skiel, Ous nods once more. Apparently impressed. As an officianado of the Axe, it took a lot to impress him with Axe work. Eyes moving to the ground, the Ranger looks around the area quietly for a long moment before speaking. "No shite it were dealt wit'. Looks like it were a good fight."

She coughs and chokes a little, before the 'puck' is swallowed. "O..oh.", she says, blinking at Ous. "Tastes great. Kinda ... thick."

Simony bows to Skielstregar. "Thank you for dealing with it, it certainly looks as if it were a very angry thing. And for letting me have some of the spoils."

Her eyebrows raise at Ous then. "How does two days of food get into that small thing? And Dolan's a good man. Seen him fight."

Skielstregar blinks as Simony eats two meals worth, apparently, him scratching his head as he shakes his head, chuckling. "Sssa. Dolan isss a good man."

He ambles over to a tree where his halberd is, the ominous weapon standing upright on its down as he leans the axe against it. He looks over his shoulder. "... it wass a necessary fight. But everything ended well in the end. Its anger needed to be vented."

Looking back to the ground, then up for a moment, Ous reaches up to scratch his chin under the thick beard. Finally the ranger nods. "Aye've been in them kind of fights. Sometimes they happens."

turning to look at Simony, Ous shrugs. "Th' nut-ri-ents is con..." frowning, he grunts. "What's th' word. con-se-crated. Yeah. It's like one of them consecrated types of food. little goes a long way. Mix it wit' water or milk an ye can make a pretty good soup." Pulling another small piece from his pouch, Ous tosses it to Dog. the animal doesn't even open his eyes as his tongue rolls out and lazily pulls the food back into his face. "Ye wantin' any Skiel? S'no' fancy, but it's meat...mostly."

"That's good, SKiel, I'm glad ya were here to deal with it. Good work!" She makes a small, victorious pose, before grinning brightly. "That is the most ominous polearm I've e'er seen. No wonder you got away unscathed, a few swipes of that thing should send most things into the dirt."

The Dog is visited again, the Gobbo giving lots of belly rubs and scritches, to be rewarded with a very lazy wag of his tail. The final stop on her moving around is Ous, where she leans against his side. "How... big does it get? I mean, I'm gonna get thirsty at some point."

Skielstregar squints at Ous, parsing the man briefly before turning back to the tools in front of him: one of war and one of harvest. "Ssa. They happen," he hums a bit aimlessly. The offer of food gets him to perk. Scratch his head, then nod slowly. "Ssssure. Sssince you inssissst," he sibilantly agrees, taking one once its offered and glances to Dog tiredly eating it.

The halberd. Skiel looks at it.

The weapon /turns/ on its own accord, facing the group. The jagged crack down the axe head splits, metal groaning from the movement. "His definition of 'unscathed' is 'alive'," the weapon's jagged maw metallicaly growls and rumbles. "But yes. It does take only three licks to get to the center of the crystal skull."

Shrugging to Simony, Ous chuckles. "It'll nae kill ye. ye'll just get really fu..." The sentence is cut off as Skielstregar's Halberd begins to talk to them. hand now free of Pemmican once Skiel has taken it, the palm rests lightly on the battle axe on his side. Head tilted slightly and bright emerald eyes narrowing into nearly a squint, Ous leans forward slightly, looking back and forth between Skiel and the weapon. "Um. Aye hope ye dinnae find me rude fer this, and Aye apologize if ye do. but aye 'ave learned in th' past while tha' it is fer th' best tae be askin certain questions at times like this. So. Aye will start by askin' is yer pokin' stick talkin'? next, How is yer pokin' stick talkin' followed by Are ye at all concerned about yer pokin' stick talkin'? and Aye will then finish up wit' Is yer pokin stick a dark an' eldritch bein' from another plane of reality bent on our destruction or actin' as one of them harboingers of death an' des-truc-tion in disguise?" eyes firmly on the weapon as he goes through the questions mentally once more, he adds. "Oh. and is this concern as well? Like Aye said, I dinnae wish tae be rude, but aye also dinnae wish tae have me soul eaten by a dark an' eldritch bein' from another plane of reality either. An' it is talkin' about lickin crystal's skull. No judgement, as far as Aye know Crystal deserved it."

Simony gasps as the weapon turns on its own, and she stares as it speaks on the definition of unscathed according to Skiel. She swallows noisily. "Crystal skull? Why are you licking a crystal skull?", the Gobbo wonders.

She turns and stares at Ous, "I'll just get really... fucked? Is this thing going to explode or something? Swell up to the size of a watermelon?" Her eyes widen further as Ous asks.. good questions. Sensible questions. She reaches for his hand, tugging gently at him. "Where on earth did that come from?", she wonders with a snort. "And no, seriously... tell me what is gonna happen, yer freaking me out a little."

Skielstregar is stymied from the flurry of questions, him opening his maw to try and address and assuage any worries as his hands are half raised. "N-No, Malefic isss nothing of the sssort-"

The weapon seems to grin at the onslaught of questions. Enjoying this... paranoia? And it begins to prattle. "No, it is not rude. I am talking. The how matters little. I am not an eldritch being in any capacity except to smite any heresy unto the Dragonfather's na-"

It gets a look from Skiel.

"-as I am also reminded to tone that down." It makes the sound like its clearing its throat, sounding like a piece metal in a tin can. "I don't eat souls. Too messy. The crystal was good though. Good trophy." It turns to Simony. "You know? Licks?" It takes an idle swipe through the air on its own accord. "Three licks."

Skiel just has his face buried into his hand. Embarrassed by the weapon. "... we fought a machine that had a crysstal skull... Malefic isss a servant of the Dragonfather. Daeus. Be not afraid..."

"Or do! It's fun that way."

"Sssshhhsushsssuhh," Skiel lightly growls at it.

Eyes still on the talking, orally obsessed halberd, Ous leans a little towards simony as he says. "Th' word were Full. Ye'll get really full. Ye'll nae die...but there is th' matter of a possibly eldritch Pokin stick that Aye am thinkin' might take some priority over how badly tha's gonna stop ye up when it gets through yer system..."

Hearing the explanation from the weapon, Ous nods again slowly, seeming to relax some. "Well Aye suppose tha' makes sense then. Aye'd offer tae shake yer hand, but...ye don' have any an aye don' want tae. Nice tae meet ye though Malefic. aye'm Ous, tha's Dog, an Tha's Simony." Motioning to the others as he introduces them, the ranger leans against a tree and relaxes once more.

"Malefic is an interesting name. A servant of Daeus? Ooooooh. You must be proud to be wielded by such a silvery Sith!" She snorts at the movement of the polearm. "Ah, so it only took three swipes to take the crystal skull thing down. Did you.. keep the crystal skull?" Simony's eyes flick back and forth between Malefic and Skiel.

"Oh... I'm gonna be stuffed for a few days is what yer saying. An' I don't think Malefic is dangerous to us, if he's a halberd of Daeus." Her eyes suddenly narrow and she stares at Ous. "Did you just say 'stop me up'?" The Goblin crosses her arms as if to sa, 'This is all your fault.'.

Malefic bends slightly, seemingly bowing. "Fair. I don't bite. Much." It grins. "Pleasure to properly meet you, and you, and you. Dragonfather's grace and Light upon your mornings, and brightest of days upon your paths. And his rightful vengence upon those tha-"

Skiel simply reaches up and chops the top of the halberd with a hand.

Malefic takes the hit. Turns. And bites onto Skielstregar's extended hand. He sighs before he is released a few moments later. "Yes. Skielstregar is a very good servant of Him! But sometimes he gets a bit wayward, so I am here to keep him on the right path!" Malefic declares.

Skiel stares at it. "... wasssn't thisss one just trying to keep you tame."

"Yes, we kept the skull, it is at the hoard," Malefic grins, ignoring Skiel.

The Gobbo giggles, "You don't bite much... then you turn and bite his hand." Nodding, she grins. "Ah, so he gets out of hand, you bite him in the butt, all is right again in the world." Her ears perk up and her eyes widen. "Hoard? Like... a pile of gold coins and art treasures and so on? Do you have any paintings?"

Simony leans against Ous once more. "So what would dinner be, Ous? Rabbit or deer?"

Nodding once more as the Halberd speaks, Ous scratches his chin once more. "Ye rimind me of a Cleric aye met once. 'E were big on th' hellfire an brimstone stuff too. Good man wit' a 'ammer. an a knife. 'e were pretty good wit' 'is teeth too." there's a moment of contemplation before Ous continues. "Ye know. 'e may 'ave jes' been crazy. Aye don' think aye ever heard 'im prayin', 'E jes' yelled a lot about sendin' people tae th' hells." Watching the pair for a long moment, Ous slips a small ball of leaves from another pouch and hands it to Simony without looking. "Dinnae eat those right away. it'll unstop ye."

Malefic grins at the compliments. "Thank you, thank you. I enjoy sending those, especially fiends, back from whence they came. So your friend and I have something in common." To Simony, it turns. "Less gold coins and art. More trophies and trinkets," it growls in satisfaction.

Skiel stares, deadpan, at Simony. "They jusssst.... ssstand there, in the middle of it all. Ssoo many trinketsss...."

"We must get more!"

"You have plenty, Malefic," Skiel huffs, reaching over to slot the axe into a loop on his belt before walking over to the rest of the tree he felled. There's a grunt as he squats, grabs, and hoists most of the tree over a shoulder, letting the rest drag on the muddy ground. "Thisss one musst return to deliver thisss. Feel free to fell any treesss that are damaged. Peassse on your nessst. Pleasssure to meet you both."

With that, he starts to drag the fallen tree off with minor straining and huffing.

Malefic bows to the two of them. "Brightest of days." Its form starts to waver, black ichor dripping off of it to make an inky pool of miasma on the ground. It collapses into the puddle, liquifying to nothing, before the whole pool zips across the ground like a fast moving shadow, following Skielstregar.

Simony takes the ball of leaves, sniffing at it curiously. "What will thi... oh. Oh no." She sighs. "I'm gonna be indisposed for a bit, aren't I?" She rubs at her cheek, and giggles at the magical weapon. "Oh, you want more trophies? Hmmm." She offers a wave to Malefic and Skielstregar. "Thank you for letting me have one of the damaged trees, and it was nice meeting you both!"

The Gobbo leans against Ous again, tugging on his arm. "Shall we go and eat? You'll get to see the .. creative work I did."

Motioning Simony to lead the way, Ous chuckles quietly. "Sure. Aye've go' some Rabbit hangin' back there tha' needs be eaten." Pushing off the tree, the ranger begins heading towards the camp. Dog standing slowly and padding after him.

She bounces along happily, her homespun clothes standing out from the greens of the forest. She intentionally passes through a few muddy areas, unconcerned about adding another layer of muck to her shins and feet.

"So.. I've chopped a bunch of wood. Had so many blisters along the way. I gotcha some extra tobacco, an' a bottle of vodka." Simony turns around to walk backwards. "I painted inside the cave a bit too."

following quietly, Ous nods. Listening to what Simony has been up to, Ous pauses near a pine tree for a moment. Stripping some needles off one of the branches, he sniffs them before putting the green needles in a pouch. a smaller bag is pulled out from the same pouch and the ranger goes about stripping brown needles off the same tree. Sniffing those as well, he fills the smaller bag with them. Finally, he cuts a small strip off of the tree not too big, about 3 inches wide and 6 inches long. He repeats the process on a couple of other trees. Finally he begins moving after Simony once more. "Ye painted th' cave?"

She too pauses to watch what he is doing. "Are... are you making stuff so that you can light a fire?", she wonders. Simony begins moving on as he finishes. Bouncing along again, she nods. "I did. I made a nice backdrop of the mountains on one side, and the forest on the other. I pained in Dog running around in the background, chasin' squirrels. I thought it'd be pleasin' ta look at while yer nodding off to sleep, or wakin' up early like."

"I also pulled in some leaves and pine branches to freshen up the sleeping spot. I thought it'd be nice to help ya out while yer off doin' work and trainin'."

Considering Simony's explanation on that, Ous chuckles softly. "Aye suppose it would be nice tae look at. Aye appreciate the fancyin' up Aye suppose. aye've ne'er really thought about th' sleepin' stuff. Aye'm ne'er awake when Aye does it."

Looking at the things he's gathering, Ous shakes his head. "Nae. It's for yer hands."

"I'm happy ta do it, it was fun fer me. And I hope ya like it. I read that sleepin' off the ground a little keeps ya a bit warmer. Good fer the winter months, right? An' I slept on it already, it's a bit more comfy." She giggles and nods, "Me too, always never awake fer when I sleep."

Simony holds out her hands, the palms showing multiple blisters, some of them popped and torn. "Oh, really? Fer me?"

Nodding quietly, Ous continues heading towards the camp. "Ye boil th' needles. th' green ones has 'stringents in 'em. they'll keep ye from gettin' infection. th old needles, th' brown ones. they're full o turpentine. Toughens th' skin. Aye've got Willow Bark in th' camp. Boil some of tha' an ye gets acetacylimilytrinisnical Acid. or someat like that. Pain killer. Works best if ye drinks it, but not too bad in this mix as topical. We can boil it all down. strain it off, an boil it again wit a bit of pine tar. slap it on yer hands an' they'll heal up ok."

Simony nods along as Ous talks. "I left my notebook back at camp.", she says softly. Moving back to his side, she hugs at him, giggling lightly. "Ya know so much interesting stuff. Practical stuff. The old ways, hmm? Nature's ways?" The Gobbo is distracted momentarily with lavishing Dog with attention. She then makes the first steps into the odd, boulder-filled area where Ous' camp is carefully hidden. A few moments are spent scraping off the mud from her feet and legs, so as to not leave a noticeable trail behind.

Shrugging slightly, Ous smiles. "Jes' stuff Aye knows Aye suppose. Dunno if they's natures ways. They's my ways. Some of it's Skirmisher's secrets. Some of it Aye learned from some Druids Aye knows. Some Aye jes learned growin' up. Aye've never had a roof. Even in Camp, Da ne'er owned a tent an' wouldn't suffer that we use another's We made do. 'E thought roofs made ye weak. 'E also thought that if 'e were tae sleep in a building made by man tha' 'e would lose his powers on the battlefield." Scratching his ear thoughtfully, Ous adds. "It is possible tha' Da were a nutter too. Aye love th' man dearly. 'e were me 'ero...bu 'e also dinnae believe in changin' his loincloth often on account of him thinkin' it could make 'im unlucky."