07-10-2018, 03:36 PM
"Of course these are well made as well."
Trying his restraints once more, the intricate knots preventing him from achieving the correct angle to release himself with his techniques. It was clear that he was safely their prisoner now, otherwise they would have just slit his throat in his sleep. Hardly reassuring but a prisoner is still in the same category as the rest of the living, so that was something. Probably wasn't the greatest idea to sleep here. In fact, it almost didn't feel like his idea at all. So confusing.
He must have been snoring loudly because the fact he was awake was beginning to be discussed down the hall, from what he could hear.
"Well, I suppose we better go give our regards to the chef."
One voice commented while the others laughed raucously. This was reassuring, they seemed at least well humored.
Torchlight flared into the room as the first of the group walked in. It was a short and hearty-looking humanoid. Bearded and covered in leather and furs. The others were similar looking and totaled at three, following behind with weapons already drawn.
"Alright... I assume you can understand that you are an intruder here."
Setsu nodded affirmative, smiling and making sure to hold the gaze of each dwarf, briefly.
"...and, despite the food you left out for us, have forced us to take you prisoner."
Setsu nodded affirmative again. All this made sense to him.
"Ok... Well, we don't really have much desire to carry you to a dungeon given that we just ate. So if you have some way to verify that you are not an agent of Zul'gurand, the Kingdom or Coruscant, that'd be greatly appreciated."
Setsu tilted his head to the side, clearly curious.
"I can't say I'm an agent of anything other than myself. Especially, given that I don't know what these things you listed are."
He paused, eyeing the Omnillium orb in one of the Dwarves behind the one in charge's hands.
"That orb there is perhaps the only proof I could offer that I'm not from here. I traveled directly from the Fountain with that orb there to where we are now. Since arriving in this world I've not seen a soul. You four are the first living creatures I've seen."
He said, just feet from the spike trap that could have killed a less wary traveler. The Dwarves exchanged glances and the one carrying the orb stared into it, mesmerized. They didn't have many options here, clearly each one had overeaten and no one among them seemed to offer a way that could more easily verify the stranger's story. So they shrugged and nodded to one another. It was time to simply follow protocol.
"Listen stranger, I've no interest in any more stories than need be heard, and since we don't know you we can't verify anything. So I'll just put it to you straight. We of the mountain city of Dwarfholm don't suffer fools, and stumbling around in our game traps is very foolish. We Dwarves have an open door policy to you sorts of travelers, however, this situation is the sort of thing one must be cautious of. You unknowingly cooked a good meal for my men and I, we don't wish you harm, but we cannot allow you to go further into the mountain."
Setsu followed this train of thought, nodding throughtout. This definitely sounded better than being put back up on the slide into the spikes or having his head caved by a hammer.
"Here's what is gonna happen. We're gonna walk you out of another entry to our tunnel network, blindfolded. We'll return your belongings and send you on your way."
Setsu spoke, beginning to feel some measure of hope. "How wonderfully reasonable you are! I sincerely appreciate it and I hope you did enj- hey! Hmm!!"
The dwarves had shoved a rag in his mouth, followed by a black bag and rope over his head.
- -
Sometime later Setsu was tossed out into the snow, restraints and bag and all. He heard his board and the orb land next to him.
"If you'd like to return to Dwarfholm for any reason, we, the Dwarven citizenry, will require you to demonstrate a degree of fealty to our kind and our Monarch. That means we will need to see a chunk of Cobalt, a Wompa hide and, if you think you can manage it, a Troll tusk. Assuming you can manage this, you will be welcomed in. Good luck, if you choose to proceed, and stay warm."
A fluttering of material could be heard and another object landed next to Setsu. The cloth bag over his head began to dampen as the sounds of his former captors disappeared.
Struggling to break free he managed to draw his hands far enough apart to activate Oniyuri, tearing the rope apart that bound his legs and arms. Removing the bag from his head, Setsu's eyes were greeted with more darkness. It had become evening, of course, having slept through the day. The other object turned out to be a heavy cloak that would have to work as a blanket.
He wasn't sure he would survive this night inside a shallow cave and had no option to yet return to the Dwarven tunnels, which supposedly led to a city. He could take the chance and hope for a better welcoming party, but it made more sense to stay active at night so as to be able to comfortably and safely sleep in the daytime. His best bet it seemed at radically improving his lot here was to do as he had been instructed by the Dwarf.
"Well, I guess it's time to find a Wampatroll or whatever."
Setsu said to himself, hoping he could remember exactly what he was supposed to collect.
Trying his restraints once more, the intricate knots preventing him from achieving the correct angle to release himself with his techniques. It was clear that he was safely their prisoner now, otherwise they would have just slit his throat in his sleep. Hardly reassuring but a prisoner is still in the same category as the rest of the living, so that was something. Probably wasn't the greatest idea to sleep here. In fact, it almost didn't feel like his idea at all. So confusing.
He must have been snoring loudly because the fact he was awake was beginning to be discussed down the hall, from what he could hear.
"Well, I suppose we better go give our regards to the chef."
One voice commented while the others laughed raucously. This was reassuring, they seemed at least well humored.
Torchlight flared into the room as the first of the group walked in. It was a short and hearty-looking humanoid. Bearded and covered in leather and furs. The others were similar looking and totaled at three, following behind with weapons already drawn.
"Alright... I assume you can understand that you are an intruder here."
Setsu nodded affirmative, smiling and making sure to hold the gaze of each dwarf, briefly.
"...and, despite the food you left out for us, have forced us to take you prisoner."
Setsu nodded affirmative again. All this made sense to him.
"Ok... Well, we don't really have much desire to carry you to a dungeon given that we just ate. So if you have some way to verify that you are not an agent of Zul'gurand, the Kingdom or Coruscant, that'd be greatly appreciated."
Setsu tilted his head to the side, clearly curious.
"I can't say I'm an agent of anything other than myself. Especially, given that I don't know what these things you listed are."
He paused, eyeing the Omnillium orb in one of the Dwarves behind the one in charge's hands.
"That orb there is perhaps the only proof I could offer that I'm not from here. I traveled directly from the Fountain with that orb there to where we are now. Since arriving in this world I've not seen a soul. You four are the first living creatures I've seen."
He said, just feet from the spike trap that could have killed a less wary traveler. The Dwarves exchanged glances and the one carrying the orb stared into it, mesmerized. They didn't have many options here, clearly each one had overeaten and no one among them seemed to offer a way that could more easily verify the stranger's story. So they shrugged and nodded to one another. It was time to simply follow protocol.
"Listen stranger, I've no interest in any more stories than need be heard, and since we don't know you we can't verify anything. So I'll just put it to you straight. We of the mountain city of Dwarfholm don't suffer fools, and stumbling around in our game traps is very foolish. We Dwarves have an open door policy to you sorts of travelers, however, this situation is the sort of thing one must be cautious of. You unknowingly cooked a good meal for my men and I, we don't wish you harm, but we cannot allow you to go further into the mountain."
Setsu followed this train of thought, nodding throughtout. This definitely sounded better than being put back up on the slide into the spikes or having his head caved by a hammer.
"Here's what is gonna happen. We're gonna walk you out of another entry to our tunnel network, blindfolded. We'll return your belongings and send you on your way."
Setsu spoke, beginning to feel some measure of hope. "How wonderfully reasonable you are! I sincerely appreciate it and I hope you did enj- hey! Hmm!!"
The dwarves had shoved a rag in his mouth, followed by a black bag and rope over his head.
- -
Sometime later Setsu was tossed out into the snow, restraints and bag and all. He heard his board and the orb land next to him.
"If you'd like to return to Dwarfholm for any reason, we, the Dwarven citizenry, will require you to demonstrate a degree of fealty to our kind and our Monarch. That means we will need to see a chunk of Cobalt, a Wompa hide and, if you think you can manage it, a Troll tusk. Assuming you can manage this, you will be welcomed in. Good luck, if you choose to proceed, and stay warm."
A fluttering of material could be heard and another object landed next to Setsu. The cloth bag over his head began to dampen as the sounds of his former captors disappeared.
Struggling to break free he managed to draw his hands far enough apart to activate Oniyuri, tearing the rope apart that bound his legs and arms. Removing the bag from his head, Setsu's eyes were greeted with more darkness. It had become evening, of course, having slept through the day. The other object turned out to be a heavy cloak that would have to work as a blanket.
He wasn't sure he would survive this night inside a shallow cave and had no option to yet return to the Dwarven tunnels, which supposedly led to a city. He could take the chance and hope for a better welcoming party, but it made more sense to stay active at night so as to be able to comfortably and safely sleep in the daytime. His best bet it seemed at radically improving his lot here was to do as he had been instructed by the Dwarf.
"Well, I guess it's time to find a Wampatroll or whatever."
Setsu said to himself, hoping he could remember exactly what he was supposed to collect.