When Worlds Collide . . .

Fertal 3

Then things get stranger, when we spot a humanoid white rabbit as large as ourselves. Being familiar with the story of "Alice in Wonderland" (a favorite of mine back when I had been a child), I almost feel a bit of disappointment when I see the rabbit is without a waistcoat and watch (on a golden chain). But then I feel my mouth fall open (if only a bit) when the crowning event of this farce comes running up behind the humanoid rabbit, only to come up short when the vexed rabbit gives off a shout and draws a dagger!

"Leave me the #$% alone, Alice!" the rabbit (a male from the voice), shouts. "There is no bloody rabbit hole I'll be leading ya to and you better well forget about asking for any more favors after that caterpillar incident! Still feel sick to my stomach from the smoke!"

"But you know that those dwarves are back there!" Alice (dressed as the young blonde girl I remember her in the storybook) protests. "I mean, there was going to be blood spilt between that those two set of dwarves, one talking about 'secular dwarfism' and the other screaming about some pagan deity they called 'Clangadin' or some such and I need . . . . ."

Later I and the others will find out that the native dwarves (why did it have to be dwarves in that village?) of this realm might believe in the existence of gods, they have no real NEED for them. Even look down upon others who seek aid in the divine with either pity or condescending contempt and THAT doesn't rest to well with some of the . . . . er . . .more religious minded "foreign" dwarves.

Speak about potential sparks, given the rather outspoken nature of your average dwarf!

As that is later, in the meantime we see that the look that the rabbit gives Alice broke no argument. Giving into the insults to anyone with even a trace of religious only to pout and storm off back to the village proper. Which has now, I see from our viewpoint, now happens to have two sets of rather angry dwarves being "escorted" out of town by the village (having apparently gotten tired of it all).

Joy, leave it to dwarves to leave potential venders in a nice and friendly mood to strangers . . . . !

"First Rapunzel and now Alice in Wonderland?" I mutter to myself as we all sigh and head on down.

I do hope that my brother and his love has enough funds to get something faster than walking.

Something more for my love than the dress she's wearing. Must admit that while she looks ravishing in it, it just . . . . doesn't work for long term journeys.

I finger the locket of hair that she'd made from the rope of hair she'd cut off. The one that she'd braided into a necklace for me to wear . . . .

Something that those of her land do for those they love, if you must know.

Yes, we probably could have hawked that pile of hair for money, but even this little bit has value (albeit not monetary) . . . .

.....

Hrmph, sorry. Mind kind of drifted with the warm thoughts... Wish I could be married so that. . . . er. . . . Back to business. . . at hand.

Now, we could perhaps try to sneak down and steal the things we need, but fortunately (though a bit inconvenient) I find all us elves here still have scruples. . . .

That's when some of the "independents" make an appearance not soon after we (somehow) manage to buy our needed equipment, looking for me and my brother! However, that's by the by since we are well away on horseback. . . . and as such are spared an IMMEDIATE problem (that is, until they catch up . . . . somehow) . . . .

That said, back at the village . . . . They gouged us, of course, but I somehow get a feeling that they were . . . . still trying to figure out just how to use regular gold and silver currency. Like their primary monetary system was base on something . . . . else like . . . . magic energy.

Now, I'm in my righful form and as such (as an elf) am much more comfortable around magic (being an elf and all) am not squeamish about magic (not like I'd been as human). However, the idea that magic being so . . . . Well, it's alien to me.

Meanwhile the Champions have managed to find their way to the tower where Artizza 3 was imprisoned. A mass of red hair lies on the ground beside it.

Artizza

"It smells like you," Fertal says after sniffing the pile of red hair at the base of this odd tower in the middle of nowhere. He's dismounted the horse we had bought from that twit Fred after one too many insults (even after we'd help them fight off those odd elfin folks with eyes like us proto Dark Elves).

Least he could have done us for the trouble he'd caused. . . .

Hey, don't look at me like that! We had only made the offer as a joke and hadn't expected them to JUMP at the offered price! I mean, it is stupid for them to take money for a faster means than foot. Especially when they can see somebody was after their group! But these folks aren’t the smartest candles in the chandelier and . . . we need something less conspicuous than Jarlath’s magic carpet!

Well, if they were stupid enough to sell them, we're not stupid enough to not buy the horses. Let the fools be on foot with those . . . hunters about. We'd warned them and after all those snide insults, I'm all for letting them to their own device . . .

Mind you, my smaller body is rather outsized by the nag, but even as uncomfortable as it is I much rather ride it than Jarlath’s magic carpet! Sheer torture that... Ah, but the thing here is that horses will draw less attention to the natives. We’re going to have enough problems as it is as we try to feel our path towards my fellow elves out there!

Wonder what the story was with the hair. My imagination takes a fancy to my favorite story of my love, Rapunzel with me up in the tower.....

.....

That had been one of the more interesting.....roleplaying sessions we’d had on our wedding night . . . . Right after I'd given him a locket of my hair to waer as a necklace to . . .

Hrmph, right.....

“Do you think we can use that as something to get something to sell,” Jarlath sighs, looking down into his rather depleted coin purse.

Maybe, but I and the others would have to drag it all the way to the next town to try....

1. And goodness knows where the next town is around here!
2. And goodness knows where the next town is around here! (Take two)

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