Zorg's Lost Souls III

Mulligan

G'Reg listens and nods, this idiot doesn't understand, and the anime not knowing what is being said between Mulligan and the captive starts to talk to him again. "Things will go pear shaped whether you want it to or not, the fact of the matter right now is that Kelek and your band are sitting on riches that you cannot use, I could help you get at them but not for free, until that point Kelek is going to run out of payment to solve his problems, then who will lay your loyalty at the feet of?"

In reply Mulligan mentally counters with:

Barria tries her hardest to keep up with the conversation, but there are a lot of new names and roles and puppets that are people and... she starts to lose it all.  Then as G'Reg goes well... G'Reg, and then Mulligan starts chatting with him, her mind starts to wander.

As the others converse with the creepy little guy, Barria turns back towards the lake... wishing for the unicorn to come back.  She almost wonders if they should just let this guy go so that Lamore would return.  At least... she hopes she will return.

Zarak seems to be lost in thought for a moment, apparently contemplating Greginald's words. Then finally he seems to make a decision. Perhaps the gnome's persuasiveness paid off after all!

All right then. You're smart, like Kelek. Maybe smarter. Them hags could do with bein' taken down a peg or two. And who knows, maybe they'll have something' worth lootin', right?

He pauses a moment... licks his lips... glances at Mulligan again... and then continues:

That Will kid... he lives in a tree with a bunch of other kids. A tree that walks around. I saw 'em when I was trying to find a way into this lake, but round the far side, just past that second hill you can see, to the left of the clump of spruces. Sure, I seen the reward posters, but Kelek's bounty on the horn was bigger, so... I left 'em be... makin' a mental note for later. But that's cool... you can find 'im and hand 'im in if you want.

Zarak wriggles again to get comfortable, looking around at everyone in the group as he continuous to expound what he knows.

The palace... well, that's where folk go to get their wishes granted, or somethin'. Anyone that was there at the time got frozen. Some more folk been arrivin' since, but they're just waitin'... they don't know what's goin' on. Dunno much else. Fairy queen. Big pet owl in another room. Like real big. Lotsa rooms. Big garden. He shrugs again. I'd have cased the joint more if I'd had time.

Then looking at Greginald again, he asks:

That enough for ya?

     Mulligan confiscates the wooden replica horn, handing it over to Barria for safe keeping, then nods to Zarak and the rest of the group that it is good enough for him.  Mentally he provides the Orcling the best directions he can to find Nibs and again stresses not to harm the guy but there's a virtual pond of gold coins littered around him for the taking.  

     The crazy coot tells some wild stories to try to dissuade you but my own pouches are proof enough that it's easy pickings.

     Mulligan then pantomimes to the group that they may as well let their hostage go unless anyone else has more questions...

Barria tucks the wooden replica horn away and starts dreaming about this beautiful palace full of frozen people.  "What a strange idea.  But where is Kelek?" she for one didn't want to run into this brutal, manipulating man.  As she thinks this, she looks down at G'Reg and smirks, one is enough.

She shrugs towards Mulligan.  She's fine with letting the creature go, sooner rather than later really, as she is really hoping the unicorn will come back once he is gone.

With everyone apparently in agreement, Mulligan nods to Zarak to indicate that he is free to go, and Rowan unties his bonds.

Kelek's stayin' at the castle, he explains to Barria, rubbing his wrists which are now free of the ropes. He won't go nowhere else until he gets that staff.

The little orc doesn't bother to stay and exchange any further pleasantries... whatever passed between him and Mulligan, it certainly made the assassin keen to get going. With hardly a sound, Zarak slips away across the grass and into the trees.

The group take some time to wait patiently, hoping Lamorna the unicorn might return... but there is no sign of the magical creature.... just the perfect serene stillness of the pristine lake. Much like the grove of the tree-maiden, this domain seems to avoid the heavy ageing decay that lays on the rest of the forest of Thither, resisting the influence of the Hag of Regrets.

Now it seems there is a choice. If the encounter with Zarak qualifies as a completion to their fey directions, and if they trust the word of an assassin, then they could make directly for Will's tree on the other side of the lake. Alternatively, they could continue the previous plan and seek for Grandfather Gum.

(A reminder of Nib's directions)

Hmm. Directions. Nibs says as he resumes his knitting and looks to Barria. Well... Locations in this place... they don't seem to stay put, So feyfolk don't give directions by landmarks. Now, Will's tree? Let me remember... To find that what wishes to stay lost... Go to a place none can go but one... Visit the invisible... Speak to the living remains of the dead... And prevent a happy ending. Yes, I think that's it! But of course it might not be in that order. Hehe, that's fey logic for ya.