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]

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."

[last_one_out]

"I don't have to trust her to like her. She reminds me of one of my brothers."

[lurkingkobold]

...uh, okay then. "Are you sure you want to go home? I can look for a better world for you, if you'd rather."

[last_one_out]

...Elarron bursts out laughing.

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold doesn't join him, but does relax a little.

[last_one_out]

"Yes, I'm sure I want to go home. I love my family, I don't want to run off to a strange world and abandon them forever."

[lurkingkobold]

"All right."

She thinks back through the conversation.

"I'd like to learn that password before you go back. And... if you wake up that easily, it's probably safe for you to sleep in the elves' village, but I have a bed made up for you if you'd rather sleep someplace else. I need to go to bed soon myself, but I can set up a portal there to take you back to the elves when you're ready - I'd rather not leave any magic out here in the open, though. And we should make plans for when to meet again - I'll check in here when I get a chance, but I'm going to be pretty busy keeping an eye on the tigerfolk."

[last_one_out]

"I told the elves I was going to be wandering the forest all night, but I wouldn't mind the chance to get some more sleep before I go back. And sure, I'll teach you the password. It goes like this—" Whistle.

[lurkingkobold]

Kobolds aren't really built for whistling. She can hum the tune, though. "Close enough - I can teach it, that's the important bit."

[last_one_out]

"All right. So how should we set up our next meeting? You're the one with all the fancy transport magic - and it would probably be a really bad idea for me to carry any more magic than I've got back into the elf village."

[lurkingkobold]

She nods. "I can add more spells to the ring without them noticing, so long as it's all teleportation, but yes. Do you have any idea when you'll be able to get away again?"

[last_one_out]

"For as long as they still think I need to be guarded while everyone sleeps, I'm going to be spending my nights outside the village, so I'll definitely be able to come back sometime after sundown. Probably earlier than I did tonight - Dusk wanted to come with me to make sure I didn't get lost, but then she went off to do something as soon as I said I was fine."

[lurkingkobold]

"Okay, I can be here then." She taps her leg while she thinks. "I'm going to go back to the Bazaar tomorrow and see what it'll take to get another translation necklace; if there's anything you need or want I can look into it while I'm there, they have all sorts of things."