Wandering the forest (Nashu-joining)

Post by **fireniko1** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:40 pm

Nashu skipped playfully through the trees, her large ears focused on her surroundings as the young firediamond niko bounced along. She looked up suddenly and cacked her head, when high up she noticed little houses. 
 
"Neat!" she exclaimed, and looked for a way up.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:08 pm

Down the path came a large creature, several heads taller than a grown human. It was red-brownish of colour, with a long snout and tusks. Its arms where long and bulky and the legs angled in a strange way at the knees. But this was where the likeness to some monster ended; for it wore a huge leather coat, a yellow vest and green pants. A broad hat sat on top of the broad head. The eyes in that elongated face was black, but seemed to glitter most expressively. This was a troll, but just not any troll. It was Blackback, out on one of his errands. 
 
Seeing the large-eyed creature looking up one of the trees, the troll stopped, trying to see what it was she was looking for. 
 
"Not all houses are in the trees" the troll noted helpfully. "No point climbin' them trees unless you have too. Byulding houses in the trees -- that's just the elves and their funny ideas... 
 
You lookin' for something special, young one?" 
 
(<a href="http://user.tninet.se/~dut963a/BlackbakHowdy.jpg">This is how Blackback looks.</a>)

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___________________________ 
Profiles: <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... >Blackback </a>, <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... </div>

Post by **fireniko1** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:06 am

Nashu turned her head, facing both huge ears forward, her bright yellow glittering as she looked in startlement at the big troll with the floppy hat and big teeth. 
 
"I don't know," she said, trying to look cute and adorable. "I was just walking." 
 
She bounded over to the troll, to stand pratically on his toes and look up at him. 
 
"I'm Nashu," she said. "What's your name?"

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:41 am

"Well, hi there." the troll said. He was in his mid-fourties, and whereas troll-children looked very different from this creature, not even a troll was immune to the effect of large eyes and a big smile. "I'm Blackback, I am" he said. "The forest merchant. Nice meeting you, young Nashu. You new in these parts?

<div style="text-align:center"> 
___________________________ 
Profiles: <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... >Blackback </a>, <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... </div>

Post by **fireniko1** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:11 pm

Nashu could see her effect on Blackback, and knew he was very nice and friendly. She held her tail in her hands, and stroked the fur as he asked her if she was new. 
 
"Oh, yes," she said. "I'm so new, I don't know what's happening!" she exclaimed, wide eyed. 
 
"But I'm all alone, and there's no one here that I know," she said, sounding sad, and letting her ears fall in a heart-breaking expression.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:28 am

Blackback arched an eyebrow. He had nothing against children, but he was also a businessman and had worked the human realms. He had knew all the tricks in the book and this one was playing them all. He got a gnawing feeling she wanted something from him, and that always made the merchant a bit on guard. Still, he swept his large hat in a wide arc around them. 
 
"Well, my furry young friend, as said, you have come to the village. 'Dem elves never gave any better name to it and it's the only one in the entire forest, so that's what we call it: The village. Many live up in the trees. There are staircase here and there and even some sort of magical baskets goin' up and down -- I would stay away from those, they don't look very safe to me -- but some of us also have places on the ground. My shop for example. Blackback's emporium. The best place to buy what your heart desires." 
 
The troll scratched behind an ear with a clawed finger and put his hat back on his head. "As for what is going on ... I'm afraid there is a bit of trouble in the lands. Not a safe place to be at all, in that business-ruining kinda way."

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Post by **fireniko1** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:33 am

As Nashu wasn't after anything more than a friend and somebody to play the parent long enough for her to grow up to find her own, she wondered in confusion why Blackback suddenly went on guard. As most children are capable of doing, she very easily picked up on the slight change in atmosphere, and though she listened to what he said, a childish sort of indignation was forming, without any reason of her knowing. 
 
She drew away slightly from the troll, not sure what to do, but putting a space between them, a space that was cold and empty, and hurting. 
 
She didn't understand anything about business, or what would ruin it, or why. But she understood the words "a bit of trouble" and "Not a safe place to be", and she was scared. She was tired of being scared, and she'd been scared ever since she was taken prisoner...she couldn't remember how long ago, but it was a reeeaally long time, in a child's reckoning of things. 
 
She was frowning, the diamond in the middle of her forehead gleaming somewhere in the deep center. 
 
No wonder they...whoever 'they' were...had built homes in the trees. From her perspective it was the only safe and sensible place to be. 
 
And besides, she was just little, and he was trying to advertise? Nice. 
 
"I don't have any money," she said, her voice a step back from what it had been. The trolls gaurdedness had put her on edge, and made her wonder what she did wrong. Sometimes her father would do that when she had been caught doing something 'wrong', even when she didn't think it was wrong. 
 
It wasn't helping, that was for sure.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:32 pm

Blackback grinned, silently deciding not to talk anymore about the "troubles"; the coming war and the armies of the Hivemind. There was nothing any of them could do about it anyway. That was the problem of big guys with swords, of dragons and of mighty unicorn sorcerers, not the problems of a merchant and a child. 
 
The troll's smile was full of teeth, but it was a friendly one. "Hey, almost noone in this forest has money" he said with a mixture of regret and humour. "That's sort of a part of this whole 'magical forest theme', it seems." He winked: "You are already a very clever little girl for even knowing the word. Ask one of the unicorn's what 'money' is and they will look like this ..." the troll made a funny face that made him look like he was completely lost. He could make pretty big eyes too, if he wanted. "The store's closed now anyway, but when it's open I have been known to have a a jar of fruit sugars available. The foals and filles adore the stuff, I think you might too."

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Post by **fireniko1** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:35 am

"Yeah," she said, unenthusiastically to the trolls mentioning of sweets. 
 
It made her think of the white honey cakes her aunts made at celebrations, hot and sticky and soft and filled with nuts and seeds, berries and all gushing out of the lightly crispy crust in a sea of liquid honey...served just before the juicy rump of a deer, slow roasted and smothered in herbs... 
 
Her stomach growled, and she reluctantly turned her thoughts away from food. 
 
"I can make honey cakes," she said. Sure she could. Her aunts had taught her how, and making honey cakes was one of the fun and easy things niko children learned how to do, especially when they were bored. 
 
Flour, honey, nuts, seeds, berries...that was basically it. A special travling bread, made out of heavy oat rolls, and filled with berries, nuts, and seeds, and then soaked in honey was great fuel for long traveling. It was a basic recipe as well, that she knew. 
 
She was smart, and keen for a little girl. Sometimes travelers came by with other things, and they used money to buy them, things that they ordinarily didn't have, like those sticky caramels that the elders frowned upon, but which the children so loved. 
 
Which Nashu loved. 
 
"Do you have sticky caramels?" she asked.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:02 am

The troll nodded. Seemed kids of all races liked those. "What kind of troll merchant would I be without sticky caramels?" he said. "Yes I have sticky caramels, the blue, the red, the green and the yellow. Not all have the yellow ones, you know. 
 
So ... um ... are you looking for someone here in the village? Or are you just looking around for a bit?"

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Post by **fireniko1** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:57 am

Nashu set her foot against a stone, feeling like the troll, though friendly, just didn't get it. He would not be the one, she didn't think. Like any merchant, money interested him wholy, and the feelings and emotions she had laid bare to him he was blind to. 
 
"I'm just looking," she said, entirely dissappointed, and kicked the stone away. It skipped lightly over the leaf litter. 
 
"There's not much to do anyway." 
 
About that time her stomach growled loudly, but she didn't acknowledge it.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:22 pm

OOC: Sorry <img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/V ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> Blackback is many things, but he's not someone to take care of persons or to offer them free things. He might be friendly and he's not dim, but he is still a troll. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> It's a bit of a difficult time in the forest now, with almost everyone in the village camped up in the "Forest Plague -A night's rest" thread above. Blackback is leaving for the swamps as part of the plot, so if you want to join with that (in that case, this conversation is considered to have happened earlier in the day, at which time he didn't know about that trip yet) you can perhaps go to the Night's rest thread when you're accepted if you want.  
---------- 
 
Blackback shook his head: "Not much to do? Oh, this forest is full of things to do. " the troll looked thoughtfully at the child. "I'm off for some business across the river, but I have an order in for a satiance potion. Normally, Gaia makes those for me -- her healer's shop is not far from mine -- but she's been busy ... elsewhere lately. 
For the potion I need estherberries. Big purple things that grow together with blackberries. If you want to, you can go pick estherberries for me. They are very tasty so eat all you want -- there's a lot of them if you only know where to look, but I'll tell you where the best are found around here. 
 
What I want is a full napkin of estherberries, more if you can carry it. Bring it back to me when you can find me and I'll give you a sticky caramel for your trouble. 
 
You interested in doing that?"

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Post by **fireniko1** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:59 am

(OOC: Er, okay.) 
 
A sticky caramel for a whole napkin full of estherberries? 
 
Waaaiiit a minute here. She may be a little kid, but she was a really smart little kid, and a whole bunch of berries for one sticky caramel seemed really cheap. 
 
"What's a 'satti-ence' potion?" she asked.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:37 pm

"It's a potion you can drink when you're very hungry" said the troll. "Some warriors use it when they need to fight for a long time. There are many ingredients, one of which are the estherberries."

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Profiles: <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... >Blackback </a>, <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... </div>

Post by **fireniko1** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:57 am

Nashu's eyes narrowed speculatively. She had seen her mother do that whenever she was talking to shady...or cheap... dealers. She flicked her tail back and forth, her ears switching, as she carefully structured her side of the argument. 
 
"What about a basket-full, for a full meal?" she asked. "A meal including meat. And bread." 
 
The was the clincher, that she have something substantial to eat instead of just berries. Plus her parents always insisted that she eat full meals. She crossed her arms and leaned back to wait for Blackbacks answer, watching him with keen eyes.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:19 am

Blackback cocked his head hiding his amused look. Most creatures in this forest didn't know the art of haggling. To meet one that did -- and so young too -- brought a smile to the merchant troll. He tapped one of his long tusks, a clear sign he was thinking. Clearly she hadn't eaten estherberries if she thought she'd manage a full meal after that. There was a reason the large red berries was used for satiance potions. But he liked her spirit and a trade offer was a trade offer no matter how young the client. Very well. 
 
"For a basket full of cleaned estherberries -- no leaves or canes with them, you hear! -- I'll gladly let you sit at my hearth tonight, young Nashu." said Blackback with a grave businesslike face. "My troll stew is well known in these parts, as is the bread I carry in my stores. If you seek me out when you have the berries I'll share both with you."

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Post by **fireniko1** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:58 am

Nashu’s eyes brightened at the thought of hot stew and bread. 
 
“I even have a basket!” she said, and swung the plain brown pack off her shoulders and dug out the empty wicker container that had once held food and water containers, but was now sadly bare. 
 
It was about two feet across, and flexible, easily foldable. 
 
“Is this big enough?” she asked sweetly.

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:10 pm

"Yep, that's good enough," Blackback smiled. "It's a deal then. Here's how to get to a good estherberry spot: Follow the river south " - he pointed - "until you come upon a large rock that looks strangely like a large ear. At that rock you turn right and head straight into the forest for a few dozen steps. There is a little pond in there, and around it you'll find plenty of estherberries. 
Got all that? Good." 
 
Blackback put his large hat back on top of his scraggy head. "Havta go, kid. I'll see you at my hearth tonight then." 
 
The troll nodded encouragingly to the child and walked off, whistling to himself. 
 
 
------------- 
OOC: Nahu's now a member of the Village. Welcome! I'll put Nashu down in the inhabitants list among the children. 
As it turned out, the night came with the Plague and the War of the Hivemind. In the current timeline (outside the joining threads), it's early morning by now, and Blackback is not to be found around the village for the moment. Maybe they'll meet later, if so their deal still stands (even though Blackback might have forgotten it in the meantime with all the excitement.) <img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/V ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> 


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Profiles: <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... >Blackback </a>, <a href="http://p082.ezboard.com/funicornsvision ... </div>

Post by **fireniko1** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:20 pm

(Oh, thank you! Heh, I'll have her go berry picking, and maybe some can join her. She and Blackback will meet and have supper together, no?)

<hr /> 
 
<img src="http://shuppo.free.fr/oldies/meeting-neko.jpg" style="height:300;width:300;"/>

Post by **Griatch** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:38 pm

OOC: Maybe not right away with everything going on, but the plot is drawing to a close, and when Blackback next have time to sit down and have supper by his place, Niko is welcome. <img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/V ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> 

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Wandering the forest (Nashu-joining)

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