Chapter 2: Trolloc's Bollocks Report

General Summary

As Talo and the masked adventurer were purchasing equipment, learning languages, and generally grabbing life by the tail; Marius was nestled softly in his bed counting little Aiel sheep. We didn't know where he came from, and we may not know where his journey will take him. Who was this strange adventurer who, so nakedly and unashamed, brought our adventurers together? We may never know....   What we do know is that the masked adventurer is intently focusing on learning words. It would seem at this point, with how quickly he's learning words, that he simply hadn't had the opportunity before. While Talo Momoe purchases his spear, speaks with townspeople, and meets with another group of adventurers, the masked adventurer watches. Studies. Motionless and cold, like a snake analyzing a sound in the dark. Then, suddenly, a flicker in the dark. The snake, with lightning speed, uncoils and launches into the cold mist to seize hold of the opportunity! "UGHNNNNNNN! UHH! UH! YOUUUUUUUU!" Okay, perhaps his speech is more akin to a sloth seizing hold of its own scrotum, but he seized nonetheless! Talo had met with Hearth League to ask for information for the bounty he had taken from The Slaughtered Hog, "Trollocs Bollocks!", which was a standard attempt by the guild's headmaster, Lan Mandragoran, to enlist new adventurers to thin out the scattered trolloc encampments south of the Mountains of Dhoom. These trollocs are lost and confused, and have become increasingly vicious with their raids as it seems humanity has started to close in around them. What sparked a reaction from our little handy was Talo showing Orinthea, Evadne, and Gareth a scribbling he made of an insignia he was searching for. He has great Toh to fulfill in regards to it and it seems the least likely, and least desirable person of all, is the one who actually knows something about it. I suppose that's for the best, as the masked adventurer seems intent on following Talo around like a lost puppy.   They learn from Gareth that there are scattered remnants of trollocs spread east to west all along the southern base of the mountains of dhoom. They are thicker within the mountains themselves, and even thicker the farther you proceed to, and into, the blight. When Talo mentions wandering into the blight as a cherry-intact adventurer, Gareth cautions him strongly against it (probably primarily because he would likely be the one who would be chosen to go attempt to rescue them or find their remains in the event that they didn't return by their stated timeline to the guild. By the light if something can go wrong, it will, with Gareth's luck!). With that in mind, our adventurers pick up some water satchels and various supplies and head along their way.   As they walk, driven probably by his own selfish mission, Talo begins to attempt to talk to the masked adventurer. He seems to be gaining momentum with learning words. Within a day's walk, Talo was able to communicate his own name, to which the masked adventurer immediately reciprocated his own. Thorne Sindweller. Well that's a start! It may not be much of one, but it's a start by the light!   As they stood looking down, Talo kept repeating, "TROLLOC. TROOOOOLLLLOCCCCCCHHHHHHHUHUHUH. TRAHHHHHHLLLLLUUUUHHHHHGGGGCKKKK" until finally, Thorne repeats excitedly, " TROLLOC! TROLLOC!" in a very deep, gutteral, and unnerving voice. He then displays the size and shape of a trolloc with his hands. It brings a little smile to Talo's face as he has never considered himself a tutor, but it reminds him of all the lessons passed down from his clansmen. The smile fades as he watches Thorne start crawling around on all fours scurrying frantically and moaning "ugghhhhh". W-....what the? Then Thorne points to another track. Ah, I see. Darkhound. "Durkhunnddd" Thorne repeats. And thusly do we find the group headed west, off their northerly bearing, following tracks through the brambles. Between the 2 of them, they are very adept at tracking. However, not good enough. One must remember when tracking, to also look up occasionally. They hear a sudden "cooing" as a figure lands in front of them and they're beset by a darkhound, trollocs, and a dreaded draghkar. It was a close call, one who's end saw Talo give his last effort before the draghkar embraced him by using his willpower and momentum to thrust his spear straight through the draghkar's creppy rosebud lips. Crushing his pointed fangs and splattering brain matter out the back onto the battlefield. Thorne says nothing and simply starts collecting fur clumps for his strange ritual. Talo couldn't help but feel a little too much like Thorne than he cared to admit as he neutered the trollocs once again.   At this point, Talo is able to communicate well enough with Thorne and trusts him well enough that, halfway through the night, he sets Thorne out to keep watch while Talo rests and recovers his injuries. It turned out to be a bit of a mistake, as thorne was too fixated on his ritual to notice yet another darkhound and several trollocs closing in around them. With their wounds barely recovered, the power-wrought spear that melts darkhounds, and the know-how they've accrued from their last few fights, they were able to survive even being taken by surprise. HUZZAH! Talo says, as they dispatch one last bear-shaped trolloc by frantic knife stabs to the face. "What a strange man" Thorne probably thinks as he watches Talo frantically stabbing at a dead and motionless trolloc's face with his knife.   To be continued.....