>>6111647“In the East sits <span class="mu-b">SPLIT TEETH:</span> a vast wilderness of fungal forests and fetid fens… and deeper within sleeps <span class="mu-b">SYSSKA: Mother of A Thousand Young.</span> Her children stalk those unlucky enough to wander too deep into the woods, but hardier folk manage to thrive. I certainly wouldn’t mind the solitude, but…” Shrugging, Oti continues his explanation.
“You’ve already met some envoys of the people to the West. The land’s called The Bite for several reasons, none of them good.”
Why not?
“It’s Skog country, first and foremost,” The Chytree explains, making no attempt to conceal his contempt in front of your Skog companion, “The whole frozen hellhole is ruled by a Skog Warlord known as <span class="mu-b">KHODRA</span>-”
“They say he’s killed more people himself than everyone in Zoral combined!” Mutters Volka in a tone teetering between fear and reverence.
“You can imagine his hospitality.” Smirks Oti. “Everyone living in The Bite follows a simple rule: ‘what’s yours is Khodra’s.’”
So then this treaty-
“Is something they came up with once the light disappeared, yes.” The sorcerer interrupts, clearly not as enthused about world history as you are, “To each their own, and nothing more, or else. And therein lies why Crossroads is so appealing: it has its share of cutthroats and cowards, yes, but it’s also safe from the ambitions of those so-called ‘Lords’.”
“Some say they were responsible for the whole ‘light going away’ thing too!” TT adds as if telling a ghost story! “Or it’s punishment for their ill deeds in the past!”
“Yes, storytellers never fail to break new ground in stupidity.” Replies Oti in a dry tone. “Back on the subject of my debt: Suutz was the only sailor dumb enough to poke around in the South, so his fees grew to be a bit… <span class="mu-i">substantial</span>.”
“An fer’ good reason!” Snarls the sea dog from the back of the caravan! “I hope ye’ be rememberin’ what I done fer ye’ when ye be handin’ me over to the damned Bellcounters!”
Seems like quite a debt if you’ve been doing this for a while, you remark with a probing stare!
“Relax, this was my first and last time dabbling in slave trading. The old fool only contacted me because his previous mage…” The chytree turns towards his ex-partner with a quizzical look in his eyes, “What did you say happened to him again?”
“Les’ just say he didn’t be farin’ as well as ye did against them Skogs I hired when e’ got inter a disagreement wivem…” Groans Salty Suutz as the memory replays in his head, “Knew I shouldnae hired from the bottom of the barrel…”
“Yes, it didn’t seem like a good idea to cut and run with them around… But if you still have doubts about my character, consider this:” Oti concludes with a smile in his voice, “If it was any other mage, they would have disintegrated you all ages ago! How lucky you are!”
>CONTD. 