Hopetoun rangers build a lodge doo-dah doo-dah

[Darius Baer]

Vega's experience of the Darbyton Derby caused Darius to shake his head in dismay. At the time, he had heard whispers of something controversial happening there, but being in Scalvoris Town, he wasn't sure if the stories hasd changed or been twisted on the open road between the two towns, so he had paid them little heed. But the redhead claimed to have been there, which gave her version of events an added level of credibility.

That the Rangers had been impacted - by some of their own, no less - made it seem more pertinent for Oram to hear, but Darius had a question of his own.

"Did they ever catch this Cornel individual?"

Darius had a deep sense of doing what was right, and it seemed unconscionable that someone could cause the death of another without being brought to justice.

By the time the trio had arrived at The Hopeful Rest, the conversation had moved on to less dramatic topics. After Vega and Oram had ordered drinks, Darius did the same, opting for a simple ale.

Serena Dhunen, the owner of the establishment, was quick to pour the drinks for her patrons, before sliding a menu across the top of the bar to each of them.

Vega spoke of potential tour locations, before making a reference to her pregnancy which made Darius grin. Oram seemed just as uncomfortable as the men who the redhead had spoken of.

"Aye, we're very glad the Order is here," Darius chuckled between sips of ale. "Although this is Faldrass - I doubt we'll have trouble heating up towels or water!"

When Oram offered his help, Darius took a pause. His encounter with Lars that morning immediately came to mind. It might have been easy to insist that very thing was fine, so as to promote the Hopetoun success story, but he knew Oram was a skilled wilderness man and could be of significant help. And, if they were able to solve that confusing issue, the Rangers would be all the more welcome to set themselves up in Hopetoun.

"Actually," he said, as he began to recount his morning meeting, "have you had any experience with archeology?"

[Vega]

34th Ymiden, 721

She didn't answer when Darius asked about if they caught Cornell, because she didn't know. She knew that, should she ever encounter her, Vega would be thumping first, asking questions later - if at all. Still, she hadn't clapped eyes on her since and she figured Oram would be more in the know about such things. She chuckled at Oram, though, and shook her head. "Dweebs, not dweeds. If you get the word wrong, folks'll think you talk funny or somethin', you know.". She grinned when he said that the thought of her giving birth made him nervous and shook her head, but did not torment him because they didn't yet know each other well enough. Her smile was genuine though and she glanced at Darius as she sipped her tea. There was a general air of panic from most men-folks regarding the baby delivery; it was something she just didn't get, though - didn't understand. She'd go in to labour, it would hurt, she'd have a baby. The end. Maybe, Vega figured, she was just a bit thin on the details.

Oram asked if there were any issues that the Rangers could help with. Darius asked about archaeology and Vega raised an eyebrow at that. She had no idea what that might be about, but she was sure she'd hear it soon enough. For herself, she considered it. "We make arrows here," she said, with a smile, pulling one out to show him. "I taught the settlers to do it, an' we've been workin' together since. They're made from phoenix wood an' etchwing feathers. It makes them bright an' easy to see, but it also means that they're fire resistant, an' sturdy. It's helpful, because it makes them useful in a number of different ways. I reckon it could bring some money into Hopetoun if they were supplyin' them to the Rangers." She shrugged slightly and then glanced at Darius with an almost-apologetic look. "I'm a 'throw myself in to things' kind of girl, an' end of the trial, it's Darius' decision. But the other thing is that we could do with havin' some caches of emergency supplies located in the woodlands around, in case people need them. Sort of safe stops, I don't know. Do you lot have anythin' like that an' if you do, would you be able to help with explainin' how you do it, so we can look at it an' put together a proposal, see if it's somethin' that would help here?"

Vega looked around and then shrugged, slightly disappointed that there wasn't a handy example sitting nearby. "We've got cadouri here, you know? An' at least one child, soon to be at least two, though my family is a typical biqaj one an' we've got twins all over the place. An' with the school an' everythin'. It might be that there comes a trial when a Hopetounian isn't able to get back to Hopetoun, but could make their way to an agreed spot, where we'd know where to start lookin' for them an' they have access to supplies. I dunno. It makes sense in my head." She sipped her tea once again and then gave a wide and toothy grin. "But I have to admit that my head's a well weird place to live when I'm not pregnant, an' bein' pregnant makes it all jumbled in here."

Thinking about it, she put her cup down and asked, generally, to the two of them. "What's archaeology?"

[Oram Mednix]

A dweeb in neeb is a dweeb indeeb

Oram shook his head grimly when Darius asked about Cornel Sherapo. ”No, they never caught her. Not even sure where she went, to my knowledge.” The hunter shrugged. ”I know the Elements and Council want her caught. Me, I’d be glad if she simply never showed her face again. I bet Elliott feels different, though.” He had been learning things about Cornel and about the Logging Consortium in general: unpleasant, disturbing things.

In truth, his unconcern was an act, one Oram felt somewhat guilty putting on for Darius; he was in the midst of investigating certain ongoing shenanigans of certain Logging Consortium operators, former and present. There were not a few people on the island, not least around Egilrun, who had liked the old ways better, and would probably welcome a comeback from Cornel Sherapo and the other missing troublemakers of her circle. Thus, while sincere in preferring that the woman simply never show her face again, Oram also knew better than to assume that that would just happen; he was busy trying to figure out how to ensure that returning to Scalvoris was not an option the Sherapo crowd could safely pursue. But he was also trying to keep that quiet.

Oram listened with interest -and also with gratitude at the change in subject- as Darius explained what Lars had told him earlier that trial. Marble shards? In farmers’ fields? ”If they were shards you could mistake for pottery, they’d have to have been cut pretty thin for stone.” Oram was no stonemason, but it seemed unusual for marble to get worked so thin. Probably difficult, too, he guessed. ”Did Lars bring any of the shards to show you?” Oram asked.

As to ‘archaeology’, it was a word Oram had heard Jim use when talking about digging through the rubble-filled, burned-out buildings in the Egilrun compound, or about searching for underground tunnels or chambers. It seemed to Oram it was a word that meant “exploring old architecture”. He didn’t know if a farmer’s field qualified, unless there were a lost city buried in it somehow. Nonetheless, he was happy to take a look and if need be to lend a hand, to help Darius get to the bottom of whatever was puzzling him.

Apparently, it was ‘dweebs’, not ‘dweeds’. Vega still didn’t explain what they were, so the correction didn’t mean much to Oram. Not wanting to have people think he talked funny, the hunter decided it would be easier to just not use the word at all. Vega’s mention about the arrows was far more interesting. Oram nodded enthusiastically. ”The Rangers posted here will definitely appreciate having a local supply for arrows, I bet,” he agreed. If they were as striking-looking as Vega described, they might even catch on elsewhere sometrial.

The idea of caches was an intriguing one, though not without problems. Oram thought about it, setting down his cider to scratch at his beard. ”Shelters,” he mused. ”Yes, setting up simple emergency shelters could work. Stashing supplies? Firewood. I’d have to ask the Order what they’d think about bandages or something. Not water or food, though. That could go bad, and would attract wildlife. I’ll have to think about that a bit more and get back to you.”

Oram glanced down at the menu, realizing he did not have his glasses with him. ”What would you recommend?” he asked Darius. It was easier than spelling out everything.

[Darius Baer]

Darius nodded at Oram as he concluded the story of the Darbyton Derby, but he soon found himself attempting to stifle a chuckle as Vega felt obliged to correct the wilderness man's pronunciation of the word 'dweeb'. He tried to keep his mirth quiet, for he didn't want Oram to be offended, and he hoped that his friend would see the lighter side.

But the conversation became more serious when Vega presented an arrow and explained how it had been made. The woodworker in Darius was eager to study their design, and he immediately wondered if he would be capable of crafting one himself. He lacked any fletching experience, but it could still be a useful skill to learn.

But that was not the reason Vega had brought the missile into the conversation. She was attempting - or, perhaps, just offering - a business proposal for the Rangers to consider. And for Darius to do the same, of course.

"Aye," he agreed with the redhead, and was pleased to see that Oram thought the Rangers might find them useful. "I'm sure we can work out a price that suits everyone."

The suggestion of emergency shelters seemed like a good one. It would take some work to find suitable locations and to source the supplies needed to support them, but the concept itself was something Darius could happily support, and he said as much. Setting them up seemed more Oram's area of expertise than his own, however.

Vega asked what archaeology was, and in truth, Darius didn't have a detailed answer. He had a basic concept of what it was, but he had never studied the minutiae.

"It's essentially digging up the past," he responded. "Finding things that have been buried by time. That seems especially true of a place like Faldrass, given that the recent eruption covered up much of what was previously here."

The settlement leader shook his head when Oram asked if Lars had shown him any of the marble shards.

"The farmer wouldn't let him. It seems the man was particularly fervent in his desire to hunt for more, and he was unwilling to let any of it go. Lars himself actually had some difficulty leaving the farm, because the farmer wanted him to stay and help."

Oram asked about food options, and Darius began to read the menu. But about halfway through, he paused, his brow furrowed. He had delayed doing anything about the curious find in order to secure supplies from the incoming ship. It had seemed like a good decision at the time, but hearing his own words brought a change of thought.

"Actually, we should probably look into that farm situation sooner, rather than later," he decided, but not before sending Oram a guilty look and seeing the man with his half-finished cider. "Notwithstanding your need to refresh after your travels, of course."

[Vega]

34th Ymiden, 721

There was an ease between Darius and Oram which Vega recognised and understood. They were friends and that meant that they had a sort of feeling of acceptance between them. She didn't know the nature of that friendship or how long they'd known each other, but she'd have bet her uncles knuckles on it being something they both felt. So, they'd agree a price on the arrows, Vega was sure, and the idea of supply stocks didn't seem too outrageous to them. However, to Oram's point she considered it and then shook her head. "There's no need for there to be no food, people can go trials without that. But if there's bandages an' water, they can survive a long time on that. But, actually, as I say that it occurs to me. We could plant cactuseses." Was that the right word? Vega wasn't sure.

"They're these plants, right, what store water in the roots. We have them on ships, keep them in case of emergency. Somethin' that will give even a small amount of water can be the difference between life an' death, so long as we make it common knowledge what to look for, an' use the same type of plant in each place." Vega knew that a water-storing plant could make the difference to people. As long as they knew what to look for, of course, but that was something that they could work on as a group - letting people know, teaching them. She looked between Darius and Oram and gave a toothy grin. "Ever the optimist, it's in the job description."

Darius and Oram spoke then about the farmer and Lars and the marble shards. At Darius' description, Vega had to wonder if they should maybe have a sense of slightly more urgent about it, but she trusted Darius' judgement. "You two want some obnoxious ginger company doin' this thing?" She would quite happily come along and, truthfully, "I'd like to help. But equally, I understand that you lot of the male persuasion get twitchy round us pregnant folk." In fairness, Vega quite enjoyed that and had tormented a few people, just in and out. However, it also might be something useful to them.

"Because you know, that might be somethin' that the farmer is feelin', too. It's weird behaviour an' I can be surprisin'ly persuasive." Vega sipped her tea and then added, quite genuinely, "even before I start thumpin'."

[Oram Mednix]

I think it’s ‘cactle’

Oram’s brow creased more and more as Darius recounted the farmer’s odd behavior. He didn’t sound like a man who was easy to deal with. ”How well do you know this farmer?” he asked the governor. ”Is he often like that?”

They didn’t have time to talk much more about it, as Darius abruptly announced that they should go now. Oram scowled. What was the rush? They couldn’t take half a break to eat? Was the farm on fire or something? He could probably have said no, or offered to catch up later. But that would hardly do. Cassion, in particular, would probably never forgive him for failing to jump at an adventure on an empty stomach. Sometimes being Adored by the Man of Roads wasn’t much fun. He did finish the rest of his cider, and asked if they could at least get some fresh fruit or a hunk of bread to munch on the way.

As to Vega, she was full of curious notions. Catbus at emergency shelters? The hunter knew nothing of these plants; they sounded interesting, though. He wasn’t sure what to make of her other suggestion, either. What exactly was she suggesting, apart from simply tagging along? Having her pretend to go into labor should things get awkward sounded more like a mean practical joke than a recipe for a good outcome. Or did she mean that what the farmer was feeling was something like expecting, and that she might offer some perspective?

Not really understanding the point of her suggestion, Oram shrugged and shot a questioning look at Darius, who knew both her and the situation better. It wasn’t the traveler’s show. If Vega wanted to come with, he was not about to tell her that she couldn’t.

At last, he threw up his hands in a resigned, helpless gesture. ”Well, I guess we aren’t going to get to the bottom of this sitting here. So let’s go, then, and talk to the farmer about his shards.”

[Darius Baer]

Darius had learnt that when Vega had something to say, it was important to listen. He had a suspicion that due to her unique way of speaking and a perceived lack of tact, there was an all too real possibility that she would not be taken seriously. And he could not think of a single time that Vega had not provided something of value.

That was not entirely true. There was a single time, actually, when Vega had attempted to teach Darius how to fight by explaining it to him. It did not go well. But she was not teaching at the moment, and that meant her recommendation carried a lot of weight.

"I'm not familiar with that plant," Darius admitted, "but they sound ideal, especially if they can survive in a hot climate like Faldrass."

Oram asked about the farmer, and Darius had to make another admission.

"I'm don't actually know the farmer well. He's new to Hopetoun. But Lars will be able to answer most of your questions, I'm sure. It's very odd behaviour."

At Vega's question, Darius was quick to nod.

"Aye, we could do with a bit of obnoxiousness," he grinned. "It sounds like this man might need some persuading. But if things turn violent, I want you at a safe distance."

He doubted such evasive action would be necessary, and he knew Vega was tough, but some risks didn't seem worth taking.

As the trio rose from their table, Darius asked Serena for a some items they could take away with them. The bartender was happy to oblige, and Darius handed over a few nels for her trouble.

As they stepped outside, Darius opened the napkin to reveal a few pieces of fruit, some hard bread, and small chunks of cheese - all of which was offered to Oram and Vega initially, and then also to Lars once they found him.

"It was when I was passing by Glem's farm," Hopetoun's wilderness man explained as the four of them made their way away from the heart of the settlement and towards the farmland that rested on the outskirts. "He showed me what looked like shards of marble. He said he'd dug them up on his land. Apparently his neighbour has done the same. But he was very possessive of them, for some reason. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

Darius looked to both Vega and Oram, in case they had any questions. He knew they were nearing the farm, and they might want more information before they arrived.

[Vega]

34th Ymiden, 721

Neither Darius or Oram seemed to know what a cactus was and Vega had to remind herself that they were not travellers. "As a kid, I grew up on my papa's boat," she said. "an' we went pretty much everywhere. In very dry places, there are plants what grow even in sand, an' they're prickly to the touch, but their roots store water. Like a camel's hump, I suppose. Anyhow, those can grow anywhere, an' since the roots store water, it can be a right useful plant to have growin' somewhere that you might use as an emergency shelter." She grinned a wide and rather toothy grin. "Salt buoy when you're on the ocean to take the salt out of the water, an' cactus when you're on the land, to have a means of storin' water without havin' to carry it. You can cook them in an emergency, too. Cactus soup."

When Darius said that, should there be violence, he wanted her at a safe distance, Vega nodded. "I'm not takin' any risks, you don't need to fear on that account." They left, walking together and Vega listened to what Darius had to say. Possessive over shards of marble that he found in the ground? She shook her head. "That's not normal behaviour, for sure. So, either there's somethin' weird about him or somethin' weird about the shards of marble, I'd say." It made her a little twitchy, the idea of these people getting possessive over things, and she was happy to accompany and support Darius and Oram.

It wasn't far to walk - waddle, in her case - but as they made their way there, Vega paid attention to the land and sky around them. She cast her gaze around, looking for changes and then she frowned slightly. "Someone's been diggin' a lot there," she said, pointing to an area next to the farm in question. "It's weird, though, because look." she pointed to a nearby trellis which had fruit on it. "Those have been ready to pick for at least two trials, an' the birds have been at them. They've been ignored, but someone's been diggin' right near by."

Sighing slightly, she looked at Darius and Oram. "An' the tracks around here, they're wonky too. I'm not goin' to bend down, cos I might not heave myself back up, but look. The older tracks, more'n a few trials old - they're all over the place, like someone's goin' from place to place an' workin' the land. But the more recent ones, they're all much more focused around that there place where there's diggin'." Vega rolled her shoulders slightly, relaxing the tension in her back. "This jus' graduated from a bit weird to Somethin' Squiffy, this did." Glancing between the two men, she asked. "How'd you wanna play this? We can be interested an' helpful. That might make the blokie more likely to talk. But that might mean chattin' an' makin' nice with a nutter."

[Oram Mednix]

One shard to rule them all

With a stomach full of food -albeit it was just a snack of bread, cheese and fruit- and an ear full of catbus recipes that did surprisingly little to make him hungry again, Oram was feeling better about the adventure ahead as he, Darius, and Vega approached Glem’s farmstead. Lars had joined them and shared what he knew. Lars seemed like a good person to get to know, the hunter thought. He would be sure to mention him to the other Rangers, and to keep in touch with the woodsman.

The hunter noticed the signs of activity near the trellis as they passed it; however, it was not until Vega pointed it out that he picked up on how odd those signs were. He crouched down to take the closer look that the very gravid redhead could not. There were tracks from that morning, and the trial before, going to and from the site, so Lars must have seen the ripe fruit, yet done nothing to harvest them on his later return. ”Perhaps the farmer is convinced somehow that these shards are particularly valuable,” he suggested. Oram was not entirely convinced of that suggestion himself, even as it came out of his mouth, but for the moment he was baffled for a better explanation. What sort of farmer would neglect his own produce, when it was right there next to him? “Strangely spiffy”, indeed.

It seemed, furthermore, as if Darius was apprehensive about approaching the farmer. Violence? Oram wondered, frowning. Why should there be violence? Vega should keep her distance? Were these shards solid onyx or something?

He rose to his feet and looked towards the farmhouse ahead. This Glem would probably already know they were there; if anything, the farmer might come out to confront them if he saw them poking around his farm. ”If he was willing to show the shards to Lars, he should be willing to show them to the Governor,” he said. He turned to Darius. ”You’re the authority figure here, so it’s your call. Me, I think we should play this straight, just approach him and talk to him. Just because this farmer’s been acting a bit odd doesn’t mean we should break out the nets and treat him like some rabid animal.”

Just as he said that, he thought he caught a sign of movement in one of the farmhouse windows. ”At very least, we shouldn’t just keep standing here. I believe we’ve already been spotted,” he observed.

[Darius Baer]

As the four of them crossed the crest of a small hill, they were quickly able to get a view of the farm. It took the form of a series of fields, lined by fences. Like many of his neighbours, Glem was not on a large plot of land, but he had been making good use of it - until recently, at least.

The fields were being used not just for the famed Faldrass potato, but for a variety of other root vegetables, after it was discovered that the volcanic soil was particularly good at growing crops.

But - as Vega noted, pointing out the rotting fruit that clung to a stretch of trellis that was agonisingly close to where some digging had been done - Glem appeared to have become distracted.

Darius' brow furrowed at the sight. The first half of Ymiden was a time to harvest crops. Much of the food from the surrounding farms would form the basis of feasts and banquets which the settlers would look forward to after another arc of hard work. To see that a farmer appeared to have forgotten to...well...farm was somewhat troubling.

"Aye, you're right," he responded to Vega's footprint obervations. "Seems he must have got...distracted."

Then he turned to both the redhead and Oram.

"I say we talk to him first, or at least try to," he agreed with both of their suggestions. "There's no need for us to be hostile."

Not to begin with, anyway.

Darius looked towards the farmhouse when Oram said he saw movement. The wilderness man had a keen eye, and the group took the opportunity to approach the house.

"Who is it?"

The voice sounded more like a yelled command than a question, but it was Lars who responded.

"Glem, it's Lars. I've brought Baron Baer."

Lars had barely finished speaking before the group heard the metal bolt slide, and the door swung open. Staring out at the group was a wild-eyed man with toussled hair, who Darius guessed was in his forties. He had a large frame - presumably from many arcs of working the land - but his face appeared gaunt.

"Glem," Darius spoke quietly, his gravelly voice calm, "may we come inside?"

The farmer nodded eagerly, and led the group to his dining room, inviting them to sit. His movements were swift but sporadic, his eyes flitting from visitor to the next.

"You've come to help?" Glem asked, and Darius nodded.

In the middle of the table, as though it were a dining centrepiece, was a large white shard.

"Can you tell us about this?" Darius asked, indicating the piece of marble.

Lars reached out to touch it, and Glem hastily slapped his hand away, before grabbing the shard and pulling it away. He kicked his chair over as he stood, and held the piece of marble to his chest as if it was entirely dependent on him for its protection.

"No!" the farmer yelled as he cradled his possession. "This is my favourite one! You find your own!"