Book 4: Act 1 - Kinstrife & Dark Tidings

[Eilandor]

Wren nearly chokes on his sweet roll when Dody slams the door. Stopping his sweep of the floor he listens to what he has to say. Looking at the others, "I guess we are never that far away from adventure. So what do you think, by land or by boat?"

[Shurijo]

From under a table, those sweeping the common room begin to hear coughs and moans. A moment later, Borir raises from underneath. He brushes off the dirt and dust swept towards him from the other direction as he eyes those with brooms.

"Could'a waited 'till I moved. I was... just making sure the table and chairs aren't broken." The dwarf says as he leans on one of the chairs to test it's strength.

[Eilandor]

Wren smiles, "Oh Borir, I will have to remember to look down next time..."

[Blubbo_Baggins]

Finn chuckles at seeing Borir lean so heavily on the chair. "You did quite well Borir. By the end of the night you were so convincing in your imitation of an Elf . . . unless that was you, Wren?"

"Anyway, of course we will go by boat. I have longed to be out on the water again, and if we have a lot of provisions, it will be far easier to make our way back upstream with them than by road." Finn smiles at the thought of being on the water again.

[Shurijo]

Borir holds up his hand at the mention of boat and water. "Wait.. Wait.." He says as he looks to his business partner. "Where are we going and why are we using boats?"

[Blubbo_Baggins]

"Well, my thought was to go to Laketown for supply. But seeing as Dody seems to have made up his mind (and I'm not interested in bringing that up again!), heading south through the Vales to Beorn's stead is where we can get mead, honeycakes, honey, and cream. That certainly doesn't take care of all the supplies, but it is a start.

Do you need a day of rest before getting out onto a wobbly boat?" Finn winks, "Somehow, I don't think that will help you. Don't worry, on the way back, you can help tow the cargo with a rope on shore!"

[Trogdor]

"I already have a list of things we need from the Beornings," Pipkin says. And I'm sure that Dody and Agatha do as well. It's good that we'll be taking a boat. I'm not sure we could carry it all for ourselves, even with a few mules or ponies."

[Vardaen]

Agatha nods to Pipkin, "Yes I have a list as well."

Dody agrees, "The boat will help, the river is flush with spring rains, so no danger of running aground even on the shallows of the river's edge. Be careful however, I don't want to hear one of you drowned trying to go barrel riding or some such nonsense. However you won't likely will have to go past Beorn's stead itself to the small communities of the Beorning people. Beorn himself doesn't like much to trade, and likes less to trade with dwarves, but his people south of there have pastures and farms and plenty of desire to trade. Finn you and I will figure out the coinage best to use for this and fare prices." He laughs again at Borir under the table, "Worry not it will take a few days to get things in order before you set out, long enough to recover master Borir."

[Muskrat]

The children have grown tired, so Varuthil ushers them indoors. As she does so, she catches the tail end of the conversation. "Another journey is it?" Her eyes sparkle with excitement at the idea, even if her voice does not convey the same. To her, it is another opportunity to see more of the world and learn about it.

[Shurijo]

Borir looks shocked at Dody's statement that he needs time to recover. He guffaws at the notion. Then he turns and says, "I'll be in the smith. Need to get that in order before we leave."