Trast at Trollkill

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 1 – Trollkill Station]

Approaching the gates of Trollkill Station, Trast slowed his speeding
horse to a more sedate pace and thanked his god, Dumathoin, for a safe
and rapid journey. Still taken aback that he had left the Delving just
after breakfast and would be eating lunch at the inn shortly, the
dwarven druid took note of the construction progress that he himself had
laid out just a few months ago. With a smile of satisfaction at what had
already been accomplished, even during the winter months, Trast reined
up in front of 'Mind Over Mattress' inn. While dismounting, a stable boy
rushed up to take charge of the horse. Handing over the reins and a few
extra coins, Trast addressed the young boy, "Here lad, this is
Stoneskipper. He gave me a good ride today, so give him a good rub down
and an extra portion of oats."

"Of course, sir," the youngster replied, giving a slight bow, "I
remember Stoneskipper quite well. He's a fine horse and I'll take good
care of him. I'll bring your bags up to your room once you've settled.
Nice to have you back."

Settling Niska in his carrier on his back, Trast entered the building
and made his way to the counter where the lovely and congenial
innkeeper, Isebridien, was working.

Hearing the door open and close, the innkeeper looked up and displayed
her 1000-candle smile, "Trast," she beamed, "and Niska, what a pleasant
surprise. What brings you way down here in this weather? Business or
pleasure?"

Returning the smile, Trast said, "Well, it is always a pleasure seeing you."

"Such a charmer you've become,” Isebridien smiled. “You've obviously
been hanging around those bards too much"

"Not enough lately,” the dwarven druid chuckled. “The Khudzar has kept
me too busy. A bit pleasure but got some business to take care of too."

"Anything I can help you with," she asked?

"As a matter of fact, there is,” Trast said seriously. “We had an
expedition into the western ranges and some things came up I need
information on. I was hoping to have dinner with both you and Seaweth to
talk about it."

“That will take some doing,” the innkeeper frowned slightly and shook
her head. “I’ll have to talk to everyone else to see what can be
arranged. Evenings are our busiest time. I don't know about Seaweth, but
I'm intrigued. Shall we say about 9:00? A lot easier to get both of us
free after a lot of the other guests are abed."

"Fine by me,” Trast nodded. “Now, do you have a room available for 2 or
3 days?"

"We are not quite full,” Isebridien assured him briskly. “I think number
4 should suffice just fine. Same arrangements as before? "

"Yeah," replied Trast laying some coins on the counter, "except it's on
my bill this time."

Grabbing his room key and turning towards the stairway. Trast saw a
crowded bulletin board and one notice stood out in particular. Pointing
towards the board, "What's this 'mail' business about? "

“Tűzőz swung in a few days ago and posted that,” Isebridien nodded. “A
grand idea, if they can make it work. She said the Madame is going to
try to get wizards to help carry the mail over to the old country on the
coast a couple of times a months. That’s what the other big notice there
is about.” The young, pretty innkeeper pointed to another notice
prominently posted there asking for wizards capable of teleport to
contact Madame Blackswallow about a business proposition.

“I already have a post-box set up at the front desk,” Isebridien
explained proudly. “Blackswallow Post has made arrangements with the
local patrols to carry a mail bag both directions every day. I have a
stock of envelopes, paper, and stamps for sale, too. We’re not the
Imperial post by any stretch of the imagination; but like Tuzoz said,
they had to start somewhere, and if we all work together we can make
something like they have happen out here.”

After stowing his gear in his room and having a leisurely lunch, Trast
strolled over to 'Mind Over Magic' to meet with the proprietor, Seaweth.
After a brief round of greetings, Trast came right to the point, "Truth
be told, I need several things from you this trip. I need some supplies,
some education, and some insight."

"Color me intrigued, " replied Seaweth. "Please explain."

"Had some run-ins while on a mission with the Dwarflord into the Western
Ranges,” the dwarven druid explained. “First off, I need to purchase
some first aid kits and supplies, it got interesting. Which leads me to
my next request; we brought some things back along with some questions,
so I was wondering if you could join myself and the lady Isebridien for
a working dinner tonight."

"That can probably be arranged, just a matter of rearranging everyone’s
work to make it happen," she replied, "I would be most pleased to dine
with you. It sounds like it would make a most interesting tale. I'm also
thinking you have at least one more request you wish to make."

"You're right, of course," admitted Trast. "I wish to spend some time
with you and learn what you can teach me about brewing potions,
including ingredients and equipment I would need. Naturally, I'm willing
to pay you for your time."

"Rest assured, I am happy to give you instruction on the art of potion
making,” the shop wizard smiled. “After all, knowledge is meant to be
shared, not hoarded. How about I free up tomorrow for our lesson?"

"Sounds perfect. Now, what do you have in your shop that I need?"

“I’ll certainly show you what I can, young man,” the shopkeeper wizard
smiled. “As you can see, there’s a lot to do to keep the shop and the
inn humming along. I’ve taught a few people in my time. Getting the
basics I’d say you could learn in a week or so helping out as I work.
But even when Mithi was apprenticing it took a lot longer than that with
everything else going on. Some of it is a knack, too. For now, let’s
show you what we have today.”

After a fruitful shopping session and receiving Seaweth's assurance that
his purchases would be delivered to his room, Trast returned to the inn
to relax a bit and get cleaned up for the upcoming meal.

Late that night, after a rather sumptuous dinner and the table in the
small private room away from the common area was cleared, Isebridien,
Seaweth, and Trast settled into more comfortable chairs with glasses of
wine. Patting his rotund middle, Trast sighs, "A fine meal, my
compliments to your cook, fair lady."

"Well, thank you, from all of us,” Seaweth chuckled. “So far Isebridien
and I do most of the cooking, but all three families help out as they
can. We don’t get much opportunity to flex our culinary muscles, so to
speak.”

“I keep hoping to hire a good cook,” Isebridien nodded, stifling a yawn.
“I am not bad, and Seaweth is way better, a wizard with the spices, you
might say. But we both have too much to do, and usually have to keep it
simple since we can’t dedicate full time to the kitchen. So far no
suitable applicants.”

“Isebridien is being polite,” the older woman observed tartly. “So far
one old slob I wouldn’t have in a clean kitchen, and a hopeful young lad
or two more interested in making eyes at the pretty innkeeper than working.”

“That is a problem,” the young innkeeper sighed wearily. “A husband
might be nice enough if I can find someone with some business sense. Too
much to do right now, just not enough hours in the day.”

“So, just what is it you thought we could help you with, Trast,” Seaweth
asked curiously? “A shopkeeker wizard, and an innkeeper who’s a wizard’s
little sister, sure, but we’re primarily businesswomen, and only
incidentally sages. That would be Anadrieniel, I suppose.”

“Yes, now please, tell us your tale,” Isebridien urged. “Our curiosity
is about to drive us wild. About the only thing keeping me awake, it has
been a long day."

Trast replied, “Well, I’m no bard, but here it goes…..” Relating the
tale of the trip to the Squashditchers, Trast paused after the battle
with the yetis to retrieve the pelts, “these are the furry hides we
recovered from the carcasses. I was wondering if they might be useful in
creating items.”

Both of the ladies examined the furs, and Seaweth spoke up first as she
fingered one of the pelts. “Potions are more my specialty,” the wizard
cautioned. “Item crafting is more in her sister’s lane. I don’t know of
any special use for them, nor have I heard of anything along those
lines. Checking these I don’t detect any residual magic or powers
inherent in them. From the nature of the beasts you describe the pelts
or bits of the fur should be useful for some enchantments related to
cold, I suppose. I could probably come up with a way to use them in
potions. If nothing else, I’m sure any competent leatherworker or tailor
could transform them into something useful. If you want to sell them, I
can offer you a fair price.”

Turning to her companion the wizard asked. “Isebridien, you got anything?”

“I leave the wizarding to you Minds,” the innkeeper chuckled. “So, no,
other than a reasonable guess at their base value, I have nothing useful
to add.”

“Oh well,” mused the dwarf, “it was worth a shot. I’ll take them back to
the Delving. Maybe some of the others would like one as a keepsake or
so. Make a good sleeping fur in my opinion. Well, on with the story.”

Trast continued the tale of their greeting by the mountain tribe and
noting that Tiglo was no doubt penning an epic saga about it as he
speaks. No doubt to be on the best seller list in no time. After
continuing the tale and describing the encounter with the giants, Trast
leaned forward and asked, “Have you ever heard of such creatures as
these? Do we need be on alert about more of these things?”

“Huh, can’t say I have,” Seaweth shrugged. “I was always a shopkeeping
wizard, not the adventuring sort. Heard a lot of tall tales from
customers, is all. You’d be better off asking Isebridien’s sister
Anadrieniel out at Fort Resolute.”

“In fact your time would be better spent talking with her than hanging
around my shop and getting spotty information,” Seaweth chuckled,
sipping her tea reflectively as she paused a moment. “What I can do,
which I think will be more helpful, is to make you a list of books about
brewing and what equipment you'll need. With the mail system going up,
I can also give you an address where you can correspond and they can
more than likely, help you get what you need."

“This whole tale does remind me of an old story I read,” Isebridien
blinked a little muzzily. “Anni may not know,” the younger woman nodded
uncertainly. “She was never an adventurer, either. But she’s got all the
standard references to go through. The Monster Manuals, all 15 volumes
of the Monstrous Compendium, even some of the more obscure tomes like
the sage Turnbull’s ‘Fiend Folio’ A bit dry for my tastes, but
Anadrieniel is the scholar in the family.”

“Give her some time, and I bet she can figger somethin’ out,” Seaweth
predicted. After that hopeful note, everyone said their good nights and
headed off to their beds.