Questions

Forthunn -- Dunland <>

Enclosed by stone walls twice the height of men is the fortified town of Forthunn -- home to the largest number of Stag Clansmen in Dunland. A broad marketplace stands in the middle of the town, just inside the gates, and nearly every day dozens of farmers arrive to sell their produce and exchange the latest news. Surrounding the market are the more permanent buildings -- most of them made of wooden planking, some with mortared cobblestones, all with roofs of thatch -- that house various shops, taverns, homes, and storage sheds.

During the day, the market is full of Stag men and women going about their business sounds of livestock can be heard and the occasional cart, drawn by ox or pony, rumbles across the cobblestone paving. At night, sounds of merriment can often be heard from the local tavern, though much of the town lies in silence and is lit only by furtive candlelight or the brighter flame of torches near the town and keep gates.

Obvious exits:

Wooden Door leads to Staggering Hunter Alehouse <>.

Northwest leads to Dunland <>.

East leads to Northlands - Dunland <>.

Town Gate leads to Rickety Bridge to Forthunn - Dunland <>.

Keep Gate leads to Entrance Hall -- Stag Keep <>.

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Dunland Time and Weather Forecast

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Real Time is: Tue Dec 09 10:37:06 2008

IC weather is: Wind: calm - Clouds: clear

IC Moon is: Not visible

IC time is: Mid Afternoon

IC date is: Hevensday, Day 23 of August in the year 3045.

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A hazy afternoon sun slants down on Forthunn and its surroundings, casting tent-shadows against the high stone walls. The camp that is home to the Kierkgard refugees is filled with domestic activity: a woman stands by the cookfire tearing handfuls of leaves into the simmering stew-pot, a man tacks a new sole onto a pair of boots, a group of children dart between the tents laughing in what looks to be a game of chase.

Brev sits apart from the rest, a whetstone in his hand, his head bent as he sharpens a knife - seemingly not his own, for that still hangs belted at his side.P

Finnian approaches Brev, moving to sit down near him with a quiet sigh and a wipe of the sweat from his brow. \"It be hot today.\" He mutters, watching the other man quietly. Tavish\'s shirt shows dampness of sweat from recent rigorous activity, and dust clings to him. \"Brev.. aye?\" He asks after a moment.

\"Mmm,\" is all the response Brev gives at first, still busy sliding the whetstone over the blade. Then he halts, turning the knife to catch the light, and tests gingerly with a thumb. \"It\'ll do,\" he announces, then looks up. \"Aye. Were you needing a knife sharpened too?\" He squints at Finnian. \"You\'re the fellow who gave his dinner to that ... whatever he was.\"

[Finnian(#23897)] \"The singer.\" Finn supplies. \"I suppose. He didn\'t be doing so much singing, though.\" He pulls out his own knife, the tool considerably worn. The blade is chipped in a couple places, but has recently been sharpened. \"I think it be okay, still.\" He says.

Tavish is quiet for a long stretch, then asks, \"Where did you be going that day? One minute you were listenin\' to the singer, the next you were gone.\"

Brev snorts at those first words. \"Singer, maybe. I\'ll warrant he was more than he seemed.\" He sets the blade, which has the shape of a simple carving knife, down by his feet and turns the whetstone over in his hands. \"Had things to do, that was all,\" he supplies in answer to the query. \"Why - did I miss anything?\"

[Finnian(#23897)] \"I be finding it strange is all.. A man who seemed so interested in what was being said, suddenly slips away when people be the most distracted.\" Finnian observes in a mild tone, glancing over at Brev to watch his reaction.

Brev\'s obvious reaction is a shrug, the untidy mess of dark curls doing a good job of hiding whatever may be going on behind his eyes. \"Thought folk should know what he\'d said,\" he claims equally mildly. \"It\'s a fine tale ... but I wouldn\'t be too keen to turn up at Creatrach with some rusty mailcoat if I were you.\" He gives Finnian a suspicious look. \"Bear, weren\'t you?\"

Finnian slides his knife back into it\'s tired leather sheath and shifts to stretch one leg out. \"Was, for what that be worth.\" He looks over at Brev again, his brows drawing together in suspicion. \"But you not be saying where you went off to.\" Tavish points out quietly, a challenging look in his eye.

Brev snorts. \"Here,\" he responds flatly. \"Thought Carac\'s folks should know.\" He returns the challenging look with one of his own. \"Expecting me to disappear into thin air? Unlike others round here, I make no claim to be a ghost.\" His lips twist at that last statement.

[Finnian(#23897)] \"Ghosts?\" Finnian asks with a lifted brow. \"Who be talking of ghosts?\" The man asks, dropping his other line of questioning easily enough. \"I don\'t be thinking people will disappear unless folks decide to start eating one another.\"

\"That Hawk fellow,\" Brev answers with a scowl. \"Halen.\" The words may be terse, but the set look on his face speaks volumes.

[Finnian(#23897)] \"That the one that brought the group in that night, claiming to be a dead man?\" Finnian asks, a sour expression taking over his face. He smacks at a bug that bites him on the arm. \"I don\'t know that I be liking all these Hawk coming in.\"

Brev places the whetstone back in the pouch at his belt, and lifts the carving knife he\'d set down. \"It\'s not the clan I have problems with,\" he says through set teeth. \"Just the man. No idea who he is, but who he wants to be ... that bothers me.\"

[Finnian(#23897)] \"I don\'t be liking so many in one clan in charge. They be speaking of freedom and change, but already they be grouping together and telling others they better be liking it or leave.\" Finnian shakes his head, \"Don\'t much matter to me in the long run as long as I be getting my revenge on the Bear, but.. I be wondering what will come of this in the end.\"

\"Better make it start mattering,\" Brev states harshly as he gets to his feet. \"Else you, and me, and everyone else not of /his/ kind will wake up one day with a sword at their throat, like my f-\" He breaks off, the muscle jumping in his cheek. \"Halen had no honour, none!\"

[Finnian(#23897)] Finn\'s eyes follow Brev as he stands, his gaze steady on the man. If he notices the emotional reaction he gives no indication. Instead he only speaks softly. \"That be my concern, aye. Might be we both need to be watching these Hawks.\"

\"Might be,\" Brev agrees evenly. \"/His/ Hawks, at any rate. Might be we\'re not the only ones who should be watching our backs.\" A shadow flits across his features, and he lifts a hand to push irritably at his face. By the time his hand falls he wears only a mild scowl. \"I\'d best be getting this back else there\'ll be no meat in the pot tonight. See you around.\" Calmer now, he moves off.