Curiosity did what, now?

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold's research cave is coming along nicely, after her previous adventure - the floor carefully flattened (by teleporting stone out) and softened (by teleporting sand in); the permanent portals to Deva and the cavern's exit, currently closed to anyone who doesn't know the passwords, but marked off, with spaces set aside for several more portals; her experimenting supplies tucked away behind further portals in her workspace; a small cache set up for her new translation necklace and any other magical items she might happen to find in her travels.

And, now, another portal, leading to another new world. She double-checks that she has her traveling gear - translation necklace, teleporting ring, twine - completes the spell, and peers through.

Comments

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk continues following.

Eventually there's another fork, and another white stone.

[last_one_out]

It's much less of a surprise the second time.

And - if this were Inlaith, there wouldn't be a hope in this or any other world that he'd fail to notice the trail markers after the third stone. So on the second one, Elarron pauses to figure out which way he came and then picks the other branch of the path.

"You're right, the forest is nice at night," he comments.

[lurkingkobold]

This gets a grin. Then after a moment, Dusk suggests, "lake?", pointing off in the direction the last two turns have taken them.

[last_one_out]

He smiles. "Sure, all right."

Lakeward they go.

[lurkingkobold]

It's a bit of a hike - this would go much faster if he was also mounted - but eventually there is a lake, and quite a nice one, with a broad sandy beach and the scent of a few night-blooming bushes hanging in the air. Out over the lake, bats chase the last of the evening's mosquitoes.

[last_one_out]

...Elarron likes the lake. He smiles when he sees it.

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk grins, but stays quiet and waits to see what he's going to do.

[last_one_out]

Stand still and admire the lake for half a minute or so, apparently. It is a nice lake, and he likes it. And there is something very simple and calming about not doing anything but admire a pretty lake.

Then he turns to Dusk and says, "It seems like I'm right about this place being easier to find my way around at night. I don't think I'd get lost trying to find my way back to the village by myself if we got separated."

[lurkingkobold]

She nods. "Want privacy?"

Was that a little quick? That might have been a little quick. ...oh well. It's not too dangerous if he gets suspicious.

[last_one_out]

Well, that's... a convenient offer. Hm.

But he smiles, and says, "Yeah, I think so. Thanks for showing me the lake. It's really nice."

[lurkingkobold]

"Okay."

And off she goes.

[last_one_out]

He returns to watching the beautiful lake until he can't hear Dusk anymore, and then waits a little longer, and then goes exploring in the forest, in the area between the lake and the place where the elves found him. When he is confident both that he has some genuine knowledge of this forest to show for his efforts and that no one is watching him, then he uses the kobold's teleportation ring.

[lurkingkobold]

And here is the clearing. It's currently empty.

[last_one_out]

Elarron considers his options, and then he puts the elven magic objects down and curls up a short distance away from them and has a nap. If he goes back to the elven village in the morning - and it's looking likely that he will - he might as well be as rested as possible, and he expects he can sleep lightly enough not to have to worry about being snuck up on in this declared-moderately-safe meeting spot.

[lurkingkobold]

After about half an hour, a fox turns up to sniff at him, but runs off as soon as he stirs.

Another hour passes, uneventfully, before the kobold appears. She assesses the situation, then quietly starts building a small campfire across the clearing from Elarron, taking reasonable care to avoid waking him up.

[last_one_out]

And yet, she's been there for not much more than ten seconds when he sits up and looks at her.

"Hello again."

[lurkingkobold]

She startles a little, but regains her composure quickly. "Hi. Any luck?"

[last_one_out]

He shrugs slightly. "I learned a lot about elves. You were right that the tigerfolk hurt a tree and that's why the elves are after them. I wish I'd known more about the situation going in, because from what I told them they assumed that it was a tigerfolk trap that brought me to this world, and now they think catching the tigerfolk will help me. They were mostly very nice to me. Didn't like that I wouldn't tell them what my magic ring did, though. I'm not sure if I can do anything about them being after the tigerfolk, but I'd like to go back at least once anyway so I can return some of their things."

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold nods, and takes a minute to consider this information. "If the elves are trying to trap the tigerfolk, that might actually help - if I get to a trapped one before the elves do, I can get them out, and they'll probably listen to me once I've helped them - I can't get them out of the elves' range entirely, but I have a pretty good idea now of where they are and aren't looking, so I can give them a good head start if they'll let me teleport them."

[last_one_out]

"Yeah. One of them gave me their trap password, but she might get in trouble for sharing it if the tigerfolk immediately find out what it is, so it's good that you have another way to rescue trapped tigerfolk."

[lurkingkobold]

"Holy crap."

[last_one_out]

"Hm?"

[lurkingkobold]

"You got their trap password? That'll hobble them for months, replacing everything, if it gets out. That's... I'm sorry, I'm not explaining well. It's not unusual, really, that they're trapping tigerfolk - these ones will have a rougher time of it than most, I'm sure, but even when there isn't some particular reason for them to want to catch them, the trapped ones don't exactly get to go home afterward. If I had that to share... not only would it be lives saved directly, but it might be the diplomatic breakthrough I've been looking for - and if I can get the tigerfolk to be strategic about it, and get a few tribes on board... wow. Just. Wow. Their actual trap password? Are you sure?"

[last_one_out]

"She demonstrated it on a trap - I can get out of them without it, actually, but I did get to try the password and it did seem to work. I'd rather Dusk not get in trouble for giving it to me, but if there's a way around that, I'll happily pass it on to you."

[lurkingkobold]

"I mean, I couldn't start tomorrow even if I wanted to; this tribe of tigerfolk isn't going to want to stick around once they have a choice about it, for sure. ... Be careful about who you trust, too. Elves are dangerous."