Chef Tramma’s Pre-Dinner Plan

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 6 early evening – The Godcarvers]

> “Bartras wonders whether the Flying Tigers might help us sell this
> ‘daft scheme’,” the big barbarian rumbled curiously?
>
> “Officially, there’s no chance, because we have no role in decisions
> at that level,” Gilbert chuckled. “Unofficially? You have me at least
> listening, and Sully will at least hear you out. The others, who
> knows, and it will take a couple of weeks to get the word around and
> find out. Another reason I wish we had some way to convince the Bardic
> Circle to lend a hand, but the Tribal Bards tend to be scattered
> around every bit as much as the Streak Leads.”

One of the half-forgotten wait staff for the night unexpectedly spoke
up. “I am not sure she would be happy that I told you this,” Val said
slowly. “But… Sully has a lot of contacts among the Tribal Bards. And…
Mom might be able to help with spreading the word quickly, if you can
convince her this is a good idea.” She shrugged helplessly, and said, “I
am in the same canoe as my Streak Lead Gilbert, though. I’m listening,
but still a bit dubious myself, so who knows what Mom and Sully are
gonna think?”

Finfin nodded. “It sounds very much like a trip to Fort Resolute is very
much in the cards,” he mused. “Along with a diversion to the
Holymolders, if the Abbot is willing to consult with Grandma Rayga, and
the Briarpatch to deliver the kobold scout Beekin. All of which I can
do, if some passengers are willing to be carried.”

He held up a hand to ward off the expected interruption. “Now, I am
fully aware that we have MANY Teleport capable wizards now, which is
indeed a blessing. Along with the Abbot’s own ability for transport. But
we also have a number of pending commitments as well that requires us to
keep a significant amount of Teleportation in reserve. Please remember
that we have agreed to be on call for the Foreman’s twenty four hour
notice of a new Raid to carry out against the SJE. He stated that it
might be a couple of days… but we would be wise to keep the ability to
respond in that twenty four hour time period in mind.”

He glanced significantly at both Ben and Sister Erin as he added, “Not
to mention an entirely unrelated commitment that may require some of us
to travel elsewhere in the next few days.”

“I’m thinkin’ I should be addin’ an action item to get some teleport
scrolls written up,” Sister Erin suggested diffidently. She glanced
questioningly at the Abbot, and jotted down a few items on her ever
present notepad.

None of the rest of them could see that she had written one note at the
bottom of the page prominently enough for Ben to read while keeping the
pad angled so nobody else could spy what she had written. Once she
confirmed that he had read her note saying: ‘perhaps a Teleport scroll
or two might be a legitimate defense expenditure?’, Sister Erin
nonchalantly turned to a fresh page.

Ben looked at Sister Erin and nodded in agreement. She efficiently
jotted another note at the top of the next page recording the decision
and a reminder to quietly mention this to the wizards at a later date.

“Abbot, we should write a few cleric scrolls for emergencies. In case
one of us was wiped out by Duhlocks spell or something similarly nasty,”
Laurelin suggested while Sister Erin was busily jotting notes.

“For most situations, we probably have about any needed remedy on a
scroll already,” Ben told her gravely. “That Destruction spell is one of
the few things we do not have a counter on hand for; and I intend to
take care of that as soon as practical. I’ll get Sister Erin to give you
a list of what we have on hand, and if the worst happens Alaelia already
has a good selection, too.”

“I have several copies on hand,” Sister Erin said crisply, pulling out a
neatly lettered page from her folding portfolio and handing it across to
the Galdis. “If you think of something we haven’t, let us know.”

Finfin, meanwhile, had been scribbling a few notes of his own. “So
perhaps I can carry an expedition to Fort Resolute tomorrow with a
handful of passengers, including stop offs at the Holymolders and the
Briarpatch, the latter to deliver Beekin? Overnighting at Fort Resolute,
and then returning by a similar route the next day?”

“This Beekin is going to need an escort at all times,” Gilbert warned.
“I am sure he’s a fine fellow, but any settler or Forest People warrior
will assume if they spot him alone he’s the usual sort of kobold up to
no good of some sort. They would likely shoot first and ask questions
later; that is not likely to end well for anyone.”

Finfin nodded. “Team Leader Laquendi,” he mused. “Would you be willing
to transport Beekin to what I believe to be a Keeryte forward base in
the Briar Patch, and make suitable introductions?”

“Absolutely,” the Drow said with a nod. “I can stack two or three
teleports if necessary, obviously at the expense of higher-list evocations.”

“I can come along to help out with that, Fin!” Tramma’s voice echoed
from behind the curtain line dividing the lounge area from the kitchen.
“I’ve got friends there that can really help!” The entertainer in her
role of head chef for tonight’s performance could be heard musing over
the intriguing sounds of culinary preparations, “I need to talk to them
about some other things, too.”

“I have an idea how to help ensure Beekin’s safety and the local
equivalent of diplomatic immunity,” Laquendi put in. “Tramma can’t be
two places at once, but we have ANOTHER Forest People Tribal Bard I
suspect we can deploy-”

Again one of the volunteer wait staff spoke up as she went about her
duties. “Sending me to help the little guy might do more harm than
good,” Josie blurted out dubiously. The usually brash Flying Tiger
suddenly visibly blushed and looked abashed, quickly murmuring, “if
madam would excuse my saying so,” as she curtsied prettily. Apparently
her lessons had included more than curtseys, and she was determined to
play her chosen role as best she could.

“Only if you interrupt before someone less accustomed to your brash ways
finishes their thought,” Laquendi told her with a smirk. “You will need
a minder, obviously. I had in mind seeing if Vowsister Orah would be
willing to lend her prestige to the effort.”

“An excellent notion,” Gilbert agreed with an approving tone in his
voice, whether of Laquendi’s suggestion or the sight of Josie trying to
behave was not clear. “All the Forest People will recognize that green
dress as soon as they see her, and nobody in their right mind will cross
the Sisterhood. Everybody knows that’s bad medicine.”

“An’ she has plenty of experience keeping exuberant young ladies in line
when they get up to no good,” Sister Erin nodded with a reproving fond
glance toward Josie.

“Of course, Mother Erin,” Josie murmured with impeccable recently
learned manners, once again showing off her curtsey.

“All right, I deserved that,” the Erish priestess made a wry face. “But
teamin’ you two up ought to keep this Beekin fellow protected while he
does his lookin’ around, and let’s face it, we also want to keep an eye
on HIM.”

Finfin listened carefully to the various suggestions, even as he drew up
a number of lists on the paper conveniently left next to each of the
“lounge” seats. No sooner would he draw up a list, than he would draw a
line through it, and start on a new one. Finally, he nodded. “I
believe,” he stated to the assembled group, “that we can make this all
happen. Fortunately, we have a healthy amount of dimensional transport
available, so we can get all of this done, particularly if we accept
Team Leader Laquendi’s offer to transport Beekin, and Vowsister Orah, if
she is willing, to the Briar Patch.”

“As long as Laquendi won’t need to leave until tomorrow afternoon,
Captain,” Alaelia interjected mildly. She was, by any analysis, entitled
to use the affectionate diminutive “Fin”, but in a gathering such as
this, she preferred to stick with the more formal title. “I am afraid I
have grounded her from Teleports until then.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Lomi added. “I’ve first got to meet
Beekin a ways out at that RV we’d arranged, and then walk him in. We
probably wouldn’t be ready to leave before then anyways.”

“Very good,” Finfin agreed. “So next it comes down to who wishes to come
along.” For a moment, it looked like he was going to continue, but
stopped abruptly, allowing a number of suggestions to waft over him. The
reason for his sudden silence was the unheard sound of Tramma’s voice in
his ears. Clearly, she had saved another Speak With Allies spell.

“Fin?” the bard’s voice asked. “Before you get too far into the details
of who’s going along, I really recommend that you bring the Abbot along,
both to Grandma Rayga’s at the Holymolders, and then to Fort Resolute to
debrief Sir Erik directly. And I’m afraid I think I’d better be there as
well.”

“That is certainly possible,” the elf silently sent back.

There was a momentary silence before Tramma’s unheard voice returned.
“Everyone try not to react. I’ve expanded my Speak With Allies to
include Mithi and Lomi. Do you all trust me?”

There was a chorus of “yes”s over the silent communication channel.

“Lomi?” the bard’s “voice” continued. “I know you were hoping to have
our lovely wizards as your houseguest overnight at Fort Resolute, but
could I beg you to defer that to another visit? There’s… stuff going on
that I can’t explain right now that makes it kinda important for the
wizards and me to overnight in the Briar Patch area.”

“As well as seeing Josie off, if she’s staying behind for a while?” the
scout asked back.

“Well… yeah, that too. I’m really sorry, sweets. I’ll make it up to you.”

Lomi’s answer did not seem particularly put out. “Like I said, I trust
you, so I know you’ve got a good reason. But I’ll still hold you to
making it up to me; I kinda like the sound of that.”

“Deal!” Tramma replied happily. “You won’t regret it! Now, Fin, go on
with your plans.”

Finfin did as he had been asked, drawing up yet another list. “Your
Grace?” he asked out loud for everyone to hear. “Would you like to visit
Grandma Rayga as suggested at the Holymolders tomorrow? And then
continue on to Fort Resolute where you can debrief Sir Erik about the
diplomatic angle? I believe I can make that all happen tomorrow, for you
and Sister Erin both, as well as bring along Val and a few others who
have some domestic concerns they would wish to address.”

“That is a wonderfully polite term for it!” Tramma’s magically conveyed
words whispered in Finfin’s ear. “I’m rubbing off on you!”

“Yes, Captain that would be fine, thank you,” the Abbot told him
sincerely. “As long as it does not cause much of a conflict in our
timing or our agenda.”

“Once we have concluded our business in Fort Resolute,” Finfin
continued, “I will take Josie and a few others with business in the
Briar Patch that night, returning without our Flying Tiger bard to Fort
Resolute in the morning to pick up those returning back here to be
available should we get the Foreman’s call to arms.” He glanced at the
two Belmakians and added, “You can either remain overnight in Fort
Resolute tomorrow evening, or make your own way back here, assuming that
is possible, whichever you would prefer, while Galdis Laurelin remains
our Ace In The Hole as an uncommitted Teleport resource should something
immediate emerge.”

“I believe we will remain at the Fort overnight,” Ben mused aloud.
“There are some notes I need to dictate to Sister Erin.”