Ura nods in agreement.  „I don‘t weigh much, and these horses look pretty strong. Let‘s try it!“

Uthal picks up a cask in each hand and starts to bring one to each horse. "You've all overthought this. The horses are strong. Unless I've missed my guess about how much you all weigh the horses can take their rider and one cask without trouble."

"As long as you can help with the heavy lifting to put it on the horse," Ura says as she eyes the cask, then looks at her arms.

She gets to work securing the cask to her mount, however, with the help of the others.

Austin will aid in securing the barrel to her mount as well.

Uthal holds the casks secure while the others tie them on, looking like it's heavy but easily within what he can do. Once they're done he remounts his horse and follows the others as they leave, bringing up the rear.

The party heads out, finally starting their long trek through Shinra. The wine casks having been secured, as Nik claimed, to be their ticket in to see 'the old man' guild master of the Thieves Guild in the Shinra capital of Wutai. Leaving the Hunter's Lodge having searched out for little more than a half-night's rest and minimal information, the party set out north along a fairly well-traveled dirt road, with thick dark green forests on either side.

Nik: 12

At one point only about 20 minutes or so into the journey, Nik took a rope tied to the cart horse's briddle, and managed to run up to Uthal's horse. He lashed the rope as a guide, through part of Uthal's stirrup, and ran back to hop into the wagon; attempting to let one horse lead the other, rather than the dwarfs driving themselves.

There were other's along the road, some even having left the Lodge as well, but as the day went on, the other party from either being slower or faster than others, lost sight of any other than themselves. After traveling for a day, the party had seen nothing but the same endless trees, though on the bright side, it was easy to find a manageable spot to camp for the night and kindling for fire.

The next morning, just before mid day, the road finally began to turn towards a northwestern direction, and they saw the first 'man-made' structure since leaving the Lodge. It was a thin three story tower of wood. It had a platform on the top, and a ladder leading up to it. At the base we're two things of note; the first, a sign reading "Lindenfeld" with an arrow, that pointed down a path, likely towards the river raft that crosses the river between Shinra and Cathaan.

The second thing was a what looked to be a road-side farmer's stand advertising with a counter of pumpkins. The individual behind the counter though, was the point of note. Smiling and beaming towards the party as a whole was the one of the party's arguably dearest friends. None other than Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey.

Current looks up at the farmer stand. Riding for the last day had been tiring, but it had been uneventful. When she sees the farmer stand, she glances quickly at her allies and notices their look of recognition. Giving pause, she turns and asks the others, "Do you know that man?"

This farmer that looked on at Current's companions with recognition was an eldery wood elf. Though his appearance was more that of a grown feral child, than a farmer. The wood elf had wrinkles covering his face, and by every blemish possible showed old-age and weathering; sunspots, crows-feet, liver spots. One of his eyes looked as though he had suffered some sort of attack or accident with scarring around the socket, and he was missing a couple teeth, randomly among the wide, open mouthed smile he now showed to the party.

He wore simple commoner clothing, all the same color brown, the shirt which had no sleeves, even though the party was once again returning to a northern climate in which snow fall at any moment would not be unheard of. And he had a gnarled, bleach-white walking stick or staff positioned where he leaned on it, but with a stance that didn't seem that he actually needed the support, just more so for convenience. 

"I see the staff is still of use." Austin comments as she rides her mount closer to the old elf. "What news is there of the wide world?" She asks as she looks at the pumpkins he is selling.

"Indeed. This is Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey. We have crossed his path a few times in the past.", said Anearis in response to Current’s question. He seemed genuinely happy to see the old elf.

He rode closer to the stand to greet the old elf.

"Salutations, old friend. Trying your hand at a new business I see?", he asked noticing the pumpkin sitting on the stand.

"Dah'Deey!" Atal says, sliding off the horse and leading it closer.  "I didn't expect to see you here!  Did the candle business not work out, or is this one of a many-stepped process to make the legendary pumpkin spice scent?"

The old man excitedly came around the front of the stand, to be closer to the party. While seeming old is semi-decrepit at first glance, he bounced and moved about with the vitality, speed, and general energy of a rambunctious child on which someone cast 'haste'. 

"No news, just Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey. Same as you left him. Old business, new business, business is just business. But Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey knew right to trust you. Oh, he knew right. Always bringing new customers," he said motioning towards Current and the set of dwarfs.

"Can I interest you all in a pun'kin? Many uses. Some use it for pies, other for the seeds, fertilizer, storage. Wait.." He then, rather than going back around the stand, threw himself over the counter, disappearing behind it and reappearing with a pumpkin. This pumpkin had had a hole cut in the top, and some large shapes carved through the sides. Setting it down, he then produced a candle, from behind his back and placed it within the pumpkin. He held up a finger towards the party while using his other hand to pat himself down as though searching for something. Although he produced nothing further, he faced turned to one as if he found exactly what he was looking for. He then snapped his fingers and the candle lit, and the old elf picked up the pumpkin for the party to see, as he proudly displayed it. "Candle holder!"

Uthal gives the man a cautious look. "What happened to your old shop?"

"One moment..." Austin says, digging in her pack. She pulls out the candle she purchased with the staff and holds it up. "Do you have a pumpkin that would work for holding this?"

Current looks at the farmer's wares curiously. She had never seen the strange orange fruit before and guessing by the existence of the candle inside of it, the fruit was meant to be some kind of container. Staring at it strangely Current starts firing questions at the farmer, "Are those grown here? Do they grow hollow like that? How are they harvested then? And where are the seeds for it to reproduce?" She isn't hostile, but the questions are coming to her rapidly and so she is just spitting them out as they come to mind.

The old elf, goes back toward the stand and picks up a different pumpkin, without looking at it. "The cabin? Still there. Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey Kandles is always open, and Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey will be there, whenever there's a customer." Bringing the pumpkin to Austin, he didn't seem to have put the same level of thought and consideration into picking one, but simply picking one at face value, so to speak. "There ya go." He was polite and considerate socially nonetheless. 

He bounded the short distance over to Current, willingly and happily answering the questions at the same speed with which she asked. "Not any longer; it's too cold so these are the last of the season. They do. They have innards to scoop out, but more empty space than filled. You just pick up right off the ground; they grow on vines. The seeds be right in there along with the innards."

"Any chance ya got one this size, a'ready holla'd?" Nik asked, holding his hands out, cupping them together. Smiling Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey skipped back behind the stand, and a few pumpkins rolled out from where the elf disappeared behind the counter. After a few moments, he emerged with a small quart-sized pumpkin, with the top removed.

After returning, in the same manner, Nik nodded and took the pumpkin. Turning in the cart, the dwarf proceeded to pour wine from the tap in one of the casks, and took a sip. The look on his face was most definitely one of approval, and he offered some to the elf, who graciously refused.

Dah'Deey Yahn'Keey returned to Current. "Anything else?"

Austin accepted the pumpkin as it was handed up to her. She shrugged and set it on her saddle in front of her, not quite certain what to make of the old elf.

"Have you got a special kind of pumpkin that you think would impress somebody looking to receive a gift in Shinra?" Atal asks.  "Also, would it be possible to get a refill for my candle?"  He holds up the empty candle glass with a look of disappointment.  "It really served me well, I'd purchase another in a heartbeat if I could."

Stunned at the strangeness of these fruits the warlock stares at the pumpkins for some time before eventually coming back to her sense. Current shakes her head in response to the farmer, as she stares at the strange fruits. There is a twinge of sadness in her eyes as she realizes how different the land is, compared to her home. Seeing the rest of the group starting to wrap up their business with the farmer, the genasi decides against distracting him with more questions.

‘’Is there any chance you still have some of those pumpkin innards you speak of? I think I remember they can make for savory meals if cooked right.’’, asks Anearis.