Ash 94, Year 120 AoS¤
After wandering around in circles for the last few days the landscape was becoming dizzying for Moop and her sister. The palm bushes and large succulents, combined with the bright light, open air, savannah, vast sky, and warm temperature-- it was such a culture shock that everything was becoming too much for them. They had been arguing in Kaedic, the gnomish language.
“Oh,”
Said Joop as they rode onwards through the arid tropical landscape,
“You think because you’re the Seeker that me, just a menial Gatherer, can’t help decide and navigate?”
Moop’s face was getting red as she said through her teeth,
“I think, sister, that perhaps with my enhanced knowledge and specialty in navigation-- well….. Listen, you don’t see me telling YOU how to collect water and hunt do ya?”
Joop put her finger out to silence her sister.
“NO! But I do see you taking my advice in one ear and out the other. It says on that map that a river is nearby! I’m telling you, where there is water there is life, let’s head to the river and follow it downstream. We are bound to find something, anything. If I see another aloe plant I am going to vomit. If we’re lost anyway what’s the harm? C’mon Moop seriously, you are so stubborn.”
Moop rolled her eyes and looked at her twin, who wasn’t looking at her but had her eyes directed on the landscape they roamed in.
Moop was riding her red pony, Daze, and Joop pulling the wagon with their things on her white pony, Comit. They were on some kind of animal path or possibly an actual road, but it wasn’t marked on the map. Moop threw back her head and laughed, it was dry and strained.
“Stubborn? You would know, you haven’t put down this conversation once. But since I’m so great, I’ll be the bigger person this time. Just like last time too. Let’s head to the river.”
~~~
Dabbing her sweating forehead with some of her scented vinegar she realised yet again they were lost. The river was nowhere in sight, it would seem she had been reading her map upside down. At a canter the ponies were tired. They saw on the plains a grove of palms and what looked to be a pond, the reflection from the sun cast the waters glow against the surrounding bush. Joop had said nothing, clearly angry that they were lost yet again, until now when she said with a chiding cough,
“A good enough place to stop.”
Taking their ponies up the overgrown path to the oasis they spotted an older man with a large white beard, wearing an oversized, brown pointy hat and drab brown clothes. He had with him a creature that looked to be a cross between a racoon and a dog. Leaned against his shoulder was a large red, patchwork pouch on a stick. As they approached he gave them a single nod and tipped his hat, remaining seated on his rock. They both gave him a wary look, Joop nodded in return and Moop did not. Hopping down from her pony she flexed her robotic arms, twisting and turning her body to release the pain in her back. Joop was already gathering water, with both their heads half turned to the man they set about their business. The man did not stir, didn’t hail them, instead he brought out a pipe and chewed on the end before packing green tobacco in its hole and lighting it with his finger. Moop raised an eyebrow, a brazen thing he had done-- to show himself so nonchalantly as a mage.
Seated on the ground around twenty feet away from the man Moop had half an eye on him and half an eye on the map. She was twisting and turning it in her mechanical hands, clearly confused. Her face was becoming red and her brow was pushed together. Finally she let out a huge huff and bit her lip back from letting out a scream. Instead, she growled under her breath.
“Fuck this.”
After standing up and dusting off herself from the dirty ground she marched over to the wizard.
The bearded man didn’t look her way, his eyes were closed as if he was meditating. All three feet and nine inches of her stood there imposing on his figure yet still he did not stir. Moop’s eyes became as wide as saucers in her indignation. How rude he was to ignore her! Reaching out a robotic arm she jammed her finger into his shoulder.
“Pardon me good sir, I do have a question or two for you-- if ya can spare the time.”
This came out of her mouth in accented common language. The wizard opened his eyes lazily and said,
“Hmmm?”
Smoke poured from his lips and nose. He took his time responding, the air was still as she waited for his response. The weird creature, on a leash, looked up at her and made begging motions with its hands. As she took a breath to repeat herself he finally answered in a low, slow tone.
“Ahhh, yes. The gnome children. What would you ask of Hygge, child?”
Moop looked gobsmacked. Never had she felt so insulted.
“I regret to inform you, sir, that I am indeed not a child, but a fully grown, fully capable adult woman. I would like to be addressed as such, in fact--”
The wizard’s eyes went closed again and he folded his arms, holding the pipe between his teeth as smoke poured from him like a chimney. He looked sage-like as he interrupted her.
“Forsooth, so capable as to ask a stranger for…. Directions?”
Moop stammered for a moment before putting a hand to her face, she turned her head slightly to look behind and saw Joop standing watch with her hands on her hips. She would expect Moop to be kind if they were to get to Genteven.
“Actually, yes. I was hoping you would know the way to Genteven. We have been lost for some days.”
Eyes rolling to the back of his head he let out a huge cough, ashes exploding from the top of his pipe. The racoon-like creature beside him jumped back away against its leash and chittered. When his fit was over he looked at her with red eyes and said,
“Funny story, I’m actually lost myself!”
The gnome woman was losing hope. Feeling the heat rise to her face in anger she let out a deep breath from the very bottom of her chest.
“I’m sorry for bothering you.”
She said with eyes turned down and a burning well of anger in her middle. As the dark skinned woman turned to leave the man said,
“Maybe we can help each other out. You said you were capable, well so am I. Or I was until I was robbed about a day’s walk south. Bandits you see, I thought I was finally free of the Badlands but it would seem that even here in Lyonesse that ruffians walk about. Here is the caveat. You get me my weapons and horse back, I will pay you and set you straight on your way.”
Her twin’s voice came from behind her, hazy and honey coated as usual,
“Thank you, as well, my sister here makes maps. Perhaps she can make you one to help you on your journey? Rather than having to memorize ours--”
Moop cut her short,
“For a price you see.”
The old man laughed, then put his hand to his chin to consider.
“Indeed, I could use map. You can draw me one up now?”
Moop nodded then added,
“Yes, I can copy from my map onto another scroll from my map maker’s kit. We will also accept your offer to retrieve your weapons and your horse. What do they look like?”
Introductions were finally made as Moop got started on the map. He was Hygge, his creature was named Bearkiller, and his horse was named Cleave. The women went through the trouble of introducing themselves as well as the horses, then Moop got started on the map. It was easy, copying from one map to the next. She took her time and made it a point to cross reference the map of Darvin she already had. The first thing she did was create the key and draw in the cardinal directions. This would take up some space but she could make it work. The next thing she did was double check and create an area to represent the scale. The existing map was scaled by leagues and days both. Grouping these together seemed to fix the problem she was having with her existing map. By adding in these first few features at the very bottom she would make sure that the map was upright instead of upside down like she kept reading her own.
It crossed her mind to keep this map and give him the defective one, whoever back in Dagrun created that thing needed throttled, but she would do her work instead and be proud of making an impressive map.
