The Lady’s Hand (A Dickings & Dalliances Adventure) - (Closed Except By Invitation)

[justspitballing]

Sprite let the wolf go. Using her axe against it now would be cruel. It was just an animal and its’ fellow pack mates were lost. That was a lot of pain to give something that in reality just wanted to feed and protect itself. Sprite wasn’t going to add to that.

She looked over to the goblin as she landed softly onto the ground, no longer needing to fly. “It’s done if you want it to be. Whatever you were doing here, be it simply spying or wanting to pick pocket, we can let you be if you wish,” Sprite stated.

A part of her pondered actually asking the goblin for help, but that would be silly. Sprite looked over at Arx who was pretty hurt. Maybe they needed to go back to town for better supplies, Sprite's confidence in being the best had put them at risk and they had gone out unprepared. On the other hand, returning to town meant dealing with the guards there some more. She did not like this idea at all.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The goblin lowered its spear and gave Sprite an embarrassed look. “No picking pockets! No spying! Well, no spying on harpy or human. Scouting wolves! Too many find me, and I try sneak away, then see harpy, and human see me.” They gesture deeper into the forest. “Wolves eat me without you, and you hurt! You come! We go! Button heal you!”

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite took out a torch and quickly lit it. It was the dead of night still, and though her eye sight was a bit better then a human’s, she could not see in the dark. With the fire before her, her face glowed in the darkness, making her seem somehow even more intimidating.

“We can come with you. You did help,” Sprite said to Button.

She then looked over to Arx as if to check that it was a good idea. If Arx agreed Sprite would gladly fallow along. They really didn’t have to many other options.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx sighed and nodded, bending down to gingerly pick up and put one of her daggers back into its sheathe. She trudged over to a nearby bush, vaguely recalling that it was the recipient of her poorly-aimed second dagger. It would have been impossible to find had it not been for the glow of the torch, the warm light causing the blade to glint where it lay in the the mossy forest floor.

Button was a decidedly adorable name for anyone, and it only seemed to be more so for the little goblin. While the streets had taught her to be distrusting of strangers, it wasn’t as though she had any trusted individuals nearby would could patch her and Sprite up. She would indeed follow, be she was going to keep her wits about her and keep a close eye on the goblin for any funny business.

It would probably do better for them to be on good terms with the spear-wielding forest-dweller, so she turned her head toward the goblin and spoke apologetically. “Sorry for trying to scare you off earlier. I’m a bit distrustful of those I don’t know.”

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The goblin waited patiently for Arx to find her dagger, and then started creeimg stealthily further into the forest.

“It no problem. I walk in, spear out, stare at mastub— murstarb— mastubrat— jilling off harpy… I get it. Important to be careful in wilderness.”

His bulging yellow eyes comb the forest for threats, but his lips are spread in an easy smile.

“You from city? Button and Redcap nervous sometimes around cityfolk,” he palms his chest to indicate himself. “But Nemmels put in good word for you. You saved me!”

 

[Poprockz]

So Nemmels was his name? Arx made a mental note of this, walking beside the goblin while paying attention to the path in front of her. It would not to to trip and fall over a root at the moment. While it wouldn’t kill her, she knew it would hurt like a son of a bitch.

“Yeah, I’m from the city by the ocean, not much of a forest-goer.” She chuckled softly, “well, hopefully we won’t have to stay long enough to make them too uncomfortable. Sprite and I need to continue our journey.”

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite seemed to think out her answer about being a city folk.

“I’m from a city close by, but I’m of nature just like your clan is,” she answered in the end.

Sprite did have herself prepared for anything. It sounded like the group of beings could be over protective and likely a bit dangerous. She would be ready to defend when needed. She kept her torch held high.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Nemmels led the two of them a couple of miles deeper into the forest, keeping an eye out for threats the entire time. Thankfully, none came, and after about an hour, his group's camp came into view. There was a short ridge that a ramshackle hut and several tents were backed up against, giving them at least one direction they should be from, and thick briars gave them some additional protection on one more side, but still: this group was roughing it.

Before they were noticed, the group was already tense, huddled close in the center of the camp. A stout dwarf and two petite gnomes were in a hushed discussion with a handful of goblins. They looked concerned, but the most remarkable thing about them was their dress. All of them wore the same simple loincloths Nemmels wore, and nothing else. Male and female had their chests exposed. The goblins all carried the same sharpened wooden spears that Nemmels had, but the dwarf carried a heavy log that had been whittled into a thick handle on one side. The gnome woman leaned on a staff of gnarled wood, and the male gnome looked to be the only armed one, with an old, rusted blade tied with leather rope in what looked to be an effort to replace the hilt. He was also the only one wearing anything other than that loincloth, a ratty knit hat in faded red perched on his head.

It wasn't long before one of them pointed out Nemmels walking up, the fear visible in the group giving way to excitement, until they saw that he wasn't alone. The goblins were unfazed by the newcomers, and the dwarf wandered off to a tent, while the gnomes watched Arx and Sprite warily.

"Nemmels, you can't bring travelers here," admonished the gnomish woman, shaking her finger at him like he was a child, which made her modest tits shake.

Nemmels looked changrined, but with an energy that made it clear he was hard to keep down. "They save me, Button! Three wolves. Cornered. But they kill one and chase another off." At the mention of the wolves, a few of the other goblins frowned. "They hurt, too," continued Nemmels. "I tell them you heal them."

Button turned to Sprite and Arx, while Redcap sheathed his knife and spoke in a cool, but cordial tone. "That true? You kept the wolves from Nemmels?"

 

[justspitballing]

“It’s more like Nemmels kept the wolves away from us. He’s to modest. We may owe him our lives. I did take out one, but it did strike hard,” Sprite said, nodding over at Arx, her wound was still on display.

They were greatly out numbered. If this was a doomed path to take, well, they were already to far gone. All they could do now was hope they didn’t accidently trigger any fury from this group. And this group, it was intimidating.

They were not well equipped, hardly living at all, but they were all dressed the same. To many, seeing perky breasts and abs on full display would be arousing, it had Sprite concerned. It suggested a cult like mind set. She had heard stories of Yeenoghu cults living off the land, being like wild animals and eating others to live. It was easy to assume in this dangerous world that this could be such a cult. As such Sprite would make sure to be on her best behaviour.

“We could use your help. We would be grateful,” Sprite went on.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Redcap smiled at Sprite’s modesty, but Button’s expression didn’t soften. She narrowed her eyes at the two.

“Not much out here but old ruins,” she pressed. “What brings you this far up the Green?”

Redcap rolled his eyes. “They’re no priests, sister. Look at ‘em. You don’t need to do this.”

Button steeled her expression, undeterred. “It matters. If they saved Nemmels, I’ll heal ‘em, but they’re from the Twins, surely, and I ain’t letting ‘em in if I ain’t sure they’re not proselytizers.” She turned back to Sprite and Arx. “Well, what about it? Either of you two religious?” She taps the ground with her staff, which seems to pulse with some kind of divine energy.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx blinked at her before shrugging. That turned out not to have been the best idea, and she ended up wincing from the movement. Religion wasn’t really her thing, especially having grown up in a thieves guild. To her, it seemed like a group that got together to put on shows and lord power over the little people- she had no time for such hypocrisy.

“Religion? No, that’s not for me. I just try to be a somewhat decent person and hope it all evens out in the end.” Arx looked out at the group. In her eyes, they were small enough that they could likely outrun them if need be if they didn’t get a spear in the back.

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite could feel some kind of power take over her form. Something seemed to wrap itself around her throat uncomfortably so. She didn’t know how, but she was simply aware that if she tried to lie this force would close down on her and rip the truth straight out of her. This was some kind of powerful magic. She was reminded of the charming songs that some of her kind could do, but this was more powerful then that. That Sprite would have likely shrugged off, this not so much.

The evidence that this group was potentially dangerous was added to. They were at the very least concerned about the ruins, or at least that seemed to be the case. Sprite couldn’t lie, but she could still maybe get these beings to trust her.

“We don’t serve a religious faction, nor do we serve the Lady of Rionne. So no, not religious,” Sprite stated.

She assumed it was the Lady of Rionne that this group really feared. The enemy of my enemy is my friend maybe the way to go.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Button relaxed. “Good to hear. We follow the old ways here, and a lot of people don’t li—“

“Lady of Rionne?” Redcap interrupted. “Who’s that?”

Button frowned. “Ah shit, is that a new cult we gotta look out for?” She walked over to Arx and placed a hand gently on her injured shoulder. Cool, undulating energy washed out of her little hand and Arx’s wounds started knitting together before their eyes.

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite had clearly been wrong in a few of her assumptions, but this didn’t make her look bad in anyway. If anything this group would be glad for this information.

“The Lady of Rionne is currently in charge of,… Rionne. She has interest in the ruins and is trying to lock them off from others,” Sprite went on.

Sprite was very glad to see Arx was healed by Button. Things so far at least were going well.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Button’s face softened as Sprite spoke, until she mentioned the ruins. “Ugh. Delathi.” She stretched up one little finger at Sprite to make her point. “They were the first to turn from the Wilds, you know? At least they didn’t cover themselves and hide in stone houses like those folks straddling the Green up in Rionne and Qelaz, whoever that Lady is.”

Redcap looked amused, like he’d heard similar things from Button before.

Button moved to Sprite as she talked, pressing a hand to the harpy’s thigh. “Those new gods don’t care if people spend time in the land or not. Makes you wonder if they care about it or us at all.”

Another pulse of magic washes out, and Sprite’s wounds heal as well. “Maybe that’s why they run us out when they find us. We remind them of what they’ve lost.” She finished up with a pat on Sprite’s leg. “You seem like fine folk, and thank you for helping Nemmels. You’re welcome to camp for the night. Firkan will keep watch. We’ll ask you not to tell anyone back in the cities that you found any Hind worshippers, though.” She gave them both a pointed look at that last admonishment, pressing home its importance to her.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx rubbed her throat absentmindedly. For a brief moment previously, it felt as though some divine force was tickling the back of her throat like a man’s cock. Though it was more like when a man was trying to be as considerate as possible, the head of his cock only brushing the back of one’s mouth. It was odd, but she wasn’t going to question it too much. What mattered was that they were unharmed and well, the changeling wondering if perhaps it was a residual effect of the magic search earlier.

“We won’t tell anyone,” Arx reassured her, giving her an easy smile. “If you want to be left alone- that’s your prerogative. But uh…” her eyes were distracted by the sway of a pair of goblin tits passing by before she returned her gaze to Button. “Uh, Do you know anything about the ruins?” She was curious, wanting to know a bit more about the place they were visiting.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Button shook her head, but Redcap answered. “Not really. We don’t go looking for them.”

Button pointed her staff toward one of the tents. It was a simple triangle of sturdy oiled cloth, technically big enough for two, but it wouod be a tight fit. “You can use Nemmels’ tent tonight. He spends half the nights in the sisters’ tent anyway, and I’m sure after that scare they’ll want him with them.”

 

[Poprockz]

Arx glanced at Sprite, wondering if she was okay with this. Obviously there wouldn’t be any funny business between them due to their previous discussion, but they would basically be a pressed up side-to-side. She could shift into a gnome and give them both more room, but that was risky in a camp of strangers where anyone could walk in at any time.

She wondered to herself whether the sisters were really related to Nemmels, or if they were just sisters he knew, or even just women who were sisters in some kind of way. Perhaps they were even prostitutes. Well, as much as one could be in a group that seemingly had no currency.

“Thank you,” Arx replied, digging around in her pack a bit before retrieving a large, swirled pink shell that she then offered to Buttons. “It’s a small token of appreciation. It’s a seashell from my hometown- one of the ones that are more difficult to find.”

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite didn’t like the idea of sleeping in such a small hut. Oh, she was well trusting of Arx at this point. She didn’t think things would be to crowded either. It’s just she always slept in the trees. Actually being on land, it was something her kind wasn’t to comfortable with. They always rested in trees or on top of cliffs or mountains. Able to look out at everything around them. But she couldn’t turn down the tent, not after things had gone so well.

“We’ll rest in there, we do need it,” she said simply, she refused to say anything more or else the truth spell she was under may end up making her look bad.

She nodded at Button and Redcap and then went straight to the tent to sleep. She needed to be well rested for tomorrow. She did not stop to ponder what was meant by them calling themselves Hind Worshipers, she would have to look into it when they got back to town, but for now this would make for a good safe area that Sprite and Arx could use.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Button took the shell and pressed it between her breasts. “Thank you. How are your wounds?”

Redcap cleared his throat and nodded at Button. “Well, I’m going to get some sleep. I’ve got the morning watch so the cat can sleep, anyway.”

 

[Poprockz]

“My wounds feel much better, thank you,” she replied with a smile and a nod. While this was mostly true, her shoulder still felt a bit sore and she felt like if she exerted too much physical effort she might get dizzy. In any case, it wasn’t anything a good rest wouldn’t fix.

“I should probably go to sleep too,” Arx added after Redcap informed them of his departure. With that, she sashayed away, headed for the tent Sprite had gone into. Having slept in her clothes many times before, she wasn’t going to have any problem just plopping down and going to sleep without delay. And so she did, entering the tent, wishing Sprite a good night, plopping herself down and starting to drift off to sleep.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Button smiled. "Rest well."


The night passed uneventfully, at least outside Nemmels' tent. Whenever the two awoke, they would find a pleasant scent of boiling stew in the air, and warm morning light streaming through the camp. The pot of stew sat on a smoldering fire in the center of the camp, and on logs placed in a circle around the fire were the dwarf and half a dozen goblins, some Sprite and Arx had not yet seen in addition to the ones they had, excepting Nemmels and the sisters. The two visitors would be welcomed to the fire and offered a hearty stew of mushrooms and root vegetables, herbal and well-seasoned.

 

[Poprockz]

She awoke next to Sprite in the same position she had slept in- on her back with her hands to her sides. Her guild had taught her that the less movement one exhibited at night, the less likely one was to be noticed. Plus, having gotten out of the habit of rolling around, she didn’t have to worry about cuddling people in same-bed situations.

The air felt really nice when she stepped out and stretched, looking around to see the gathering of goblins, gnomes, and the dwarf. She decided to sit next to said dwarf, accepting a bowl of soup and taking a good whiff of it before sighing contentedly. There was nothing like a warm breakfast to wake one up. Arx was not particularly a fan of mushrooms, but she supposed that it would probably rude to pick them out and flick them into a nearby corner like she usually did. The changeling started to eat the stew and found to her surprise that she actually didn't mind the mushrooms in this context, impressed by the cook's skills.

"How does a dwarf end up in a clan of goblins and gnomes?" she asked curiously, taking another spoonful of soup.

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite got up and fallowed soon after Arx had woke. She had slept like a rock the night before. The day that they had gone through had been much for her, full of intense pleasure and harsh fights, but it was only just the start. It was good that she would now be facing this new day fully prepared for it. She would take a bowl of soup when presented with it but would keep to herself while eating. She felt the meal was good enough. It was hardy meal meant for survival, so she would be putting it to good use.

As Arx asked about how the dwarf came to be in his current standing Sprite looked around to see if anyone could be talked into selling her any goods, such as a healing potion or really any kind of helpful supplies. It was unlikely, but really anything would help. She quickly finished her meal as she looked around.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

“Anyone can follow the Hind,” the dwarf grumbled. His wide chest was covered in thick black hair, and that was the part that wasn’t hidden by his bushy beard. His loincloth covered his stubby cock, but only just. “Is a dwarf not good enough for the old ways?”

At that moment, a tabaxi woman holding a bow and wearing nothing but a full quiver dropped from the heavy boughs above to land gracefully right next to the circle of logs. “Where’s Redcap?” she asked the dwarf. Her golden fur was mottled with black, and her body was lean and fit, with modest curves.

Redcap and Button walked over from their tents. “I’m here, Firkan. Get some rest.”

“Aye.” She answered, and nodded to Arx and Sprite. “Good morning, travelers. Hind sustain you.”

With that, she wandered off to her own tent, and the gnomes exchanged greetings.