Post by Jarovbees on Jun 14, 2019 19:41:06 GMT
Solstice had been settled in Waterdeep for several weeks now, working hard to make the home she shared with Toby into a less empty and more welcoming place for them both. It was a work in progress; many of the items in Toby's childhood home had been sold or taken away, and there was no getting them back. Even so, she did her best to fill it up again, all the while consulting making sure to consult with her half-orc charge for anything major. Since his mother's death was relatively recent, she wanted to be sensitive and not just completely upend the entire look of the inside of the house unless that's what he wanted.
As it turned out, he was open to some new ideas, with a touch here or there to remind him of his late parent. Her favorite flowers grew in the small rooftop garden, and Solstice agreed to the quilts and braided rugs she had kept. Past that, they worked on adding their own touches. The rooms all received a fresh coat of paint, one after another; Solstice reasoned that they might as well do it before more furniture arrived, right? That was how she discovered Toby had a fondness for seafoam green to match her own, and she plotted to encourage his preferences the more they managed to fill out his bedroom...which was now his mother's old bedroom. Solstice was reluctant to claim it given what it meant to the boy, so she suggested he take the room instead, a suggestion happily accepted. She would end up claiming the what was the sewing room in times past, which had enough light and space to suit her just fine. Toby's old room remained empty, and they decided to postpone any plans about it until inspiration struck. There were more rooms to deal with, after all, they didn't have to rush on everything.
All in all, Solstice thought her new abode was shaping up rather nicely. It had a very different atmosphere than her quarters in the Summer Court, less ethereal beauty and more homey touches, but she found it suited her just fine. Besides, it was more than worthwhile to see Toby begin to heal and learn to thrive again. It might have been possible somewhere else, but the firbolg privately thought it would have been much more difficult. Thank the gods everything worked out the way it had.
Still, though, the house was missing something important and after a while, Solstice thought she knew what that might be. Toby needed companionship, for those times when she wasn't around due to the nature of her work. Her calling as a paladin didn't stop just because she had become a guardian, and though the boy seemed to understand that, she didn't want him to be lonely in her absence. So, it was time to acquire a canine companion.
Since the house was located in the Castle Ward and mere blocks away from the Market, her first thought was to inquire there. It was mid-morning when she had the chance to step outside and toward the largest open area within the city. Full of merchant carts and stalls day and night, it was typically the best place to find nearly any item for a good price. However, the merchant at her first stop (a stall selling mainly sweet rolls, and a few other baked goods) looked at her a bit strangely when she first inquired.
"Buying a dog, here? Well...the market's for trade goods and whatnot, you won't have much luck here unless you're into strays. But if you're willing to go beyond the city walls, try Undercliff."
"Undercliff?"
"It's just east of the walls, a community mostly focused on farming and animal husbandry and the like. In fact, try the Greenbriar Farm. I think they breed dogs for guarding nobles and use as mounts for halflings. It'll cost you, but you seem like the kind that can pay." The dwarf woman gestured at Solstice's armor, and the much larger firbolg chuckled.
"That's fair, I can afford it."
"Oh! That should be near the Snobeedle Orchard and Meadery, run by the Snobeedle family. Halflings, but they have a drinking hall and shop that's sized for larger folk, and you can pick your own fruit when it's in season. I heartily recommend it."
Solstice raised her eyebrows at that and nodded. "I just might, if there's time! And I'll take a box of half a dozen, please."
That was how the firbolg woman found herself departing the city past the River Gate, heading into the rural community beyond. Upon being surrounded by verdant fields of grass and bright sky overhead, Solstice straightened and smiled, already feeling a bit renewed by the view. Before her was a crossroads with a simple wooden signpost. It pointed down the road she’d come down, saying Waterdeep, with a path to the left saying ‘Stoutfellow Farm’ and a path to the right saying ‘Snobeedle Orchard and Meadery’. In the distance behind the sign, she could see another farm being worked on, with thick stone walls surrounding it. Interesting, but not her destination. With the knowledge presented, Solstice headed down the path to the right.
The simpler folk of Undercliff -farmers and craftsman and the like- weren’t quite as unflappable as the typical Waterdhavian and the sight of a large, blue-skinned woman (friendly thought she was) approaching definitely caused some stares and murmuring, and a one or two instances passive-aggressive swerving to avoid meeting her path. Solstice herself couldn’t be bothered about the actions of a few folk; she had a task in mind and wasn’t going to waste a moment of the day on something not worth her time.
It didn’t take too long to find a beautifully-carved sign for the Greenbriar Farm at the crossroads, and Solstice breathed in the country air appreciatively as she followed the path. The scent of blooming plants was far more pervasive than the window gardens of Waterdeep’s city streets could provide, and did a lot more to drown out the scent of horse-dung that was as unavoidable here as everywhere else.
“And a fine day to you, friends. Keep up the good work.” Solstice knew anyone seeing her speak to flowers would think her more than a little batty, but it was a gift of her firbolg heritage that allowed plants and beasts to understand her speech. They didn’t respond as she did, of course, not would Solstice expect such, but that was fine. That they were acknowledged and appreciated was the important part.
The farmhouse ahead was a sprawling structure with a wrap-around porch that Solstice would love to spend an afternoon relaxing on, if invited. She smiled to see it in good repair, obviously well-loved by the inhabitants, and the scent of cooling pies on a windowsill reignited her appetite all over again. Hopefully the Greenbriars were generous hosts, especially for customers.
Noting the bell right beside the door (which had another, smaller door within it), Solstice rang it and paused to listen. Following the sound, she heard a dog barking from inside as well as the patter of feet approaching. “Just a minute, just a minute….” The smaller door opened, and a halfling man with greying hair and some truly impressive sideburns peered outside. His light brown eyes squinted behind those thick glasses, then widened as he stared up...and up at the woman at least twice his height smiling down at him.
Making allowances for his temporary muteness (and hoping to stave off another round of ‘gods, you’re big’), Solstice spoke up first. “A good afternoon to you, sir! I heard your farm sells dogs and want to see about filling my home with at least one. Is this a good time to inquire, or should I return at a later date?”
That seemed to snap the halfling man out of his shock, and he shook his head, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel before offering one to shake...which she did, after taking a moment to kneel so that they could see eye-to-eye more easily. “Merric Greenbriar, at your service. And yes, we sell mastiffs, best you’ll find in Undercliff. Normally, we take reservations for litters, so those we have are most likely spoken for already. I’m sorry, but you can try talking to Nelly and she can put in your reservation, for a small fee.”
The halfling spoke kindly, and sensing her disappointment, rushed to help alleviate it with some hope for the future. Solstice responded with a grateful smile and nod, taking the news in stride. She couldn’t blame them for not accommodating her immediately and if this visit was the foundation for a future purchase, then it wasn’t wasted at all.
“It’s quite alright. I understand, you’re in-demand and with good reason. Thank you, I’ll gladly speak with Nelly if she’s available….?”
“Ah, yes, at the kennels. In the back and to your left, the barking should guide you right to them.. And when you’re done, let me know. I can at least see you off with a slice of our triple berry pie, for your trouble.”
“An offer I gladly accept, that smells heavenly.”
“Thank you, thank you.” The halfling man beamed, then glanced back and to her apologetically. “I should get back inside, or the rest might burn. When you’re ready, just ring the bell again.”
“Will do!” Solstice nodded cheerfully, then turned as the door closed and did as instructed, finding her way around the farmhouse to the back. It was a lovely area, with both sunshine and shade in abundance thanks to the large trees nearby, one of which sported a wooden swing. Mindful of the toys strewn about and not wanting to upset children or puppies by trampling their favorites, she weaved her way around them and toward the barking; as predicted, she hardly needed further instruction on where to go from there.
The sound of barking soon reached her ears, and she headed toward it to find a large enclosure surrounding a smaller but no less cared-for building, where a couple of adult mastiffs were napping in the sun. Solstice ached to pet them, but they seemed so content that it would be cruel to disrupt their rest. Maybe later? Not finding any two-legged soul in sight, she raised her hand to knock on the door(similarly dual-sized), just as the smaller portion swung open and a young halfling woman with curly chestnut-brown hair held back by a bandana barrelled right into Solstice’s leg with a muffled yelp.
“Oof--!”
“Ah, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to block your path. Are you alright?” Solstice stepped back and kneeled down to meet the startled halfling woman’s gaze. Dazed for a moment and then surprised the next, Nelly nodded mutely for a moment before she snapped out of it and glanced around frantically before looking up to the firbolg.
“I’m fine, but this isn’t a good time. I can’t--wait, have you seen any puppies outside the fence? Any at all?”
Brow furrowing, Solstice shook her head. “No, I’ve not seen any yet--”
Nelly let out a loud sigh and her hands balled up into fists. “Damn it! I just found a loose boarding in the fence and those little hellions must’ve crawled through. Three of them, just big enough to get into trouble. Now I have to find them and fix that fence and--”
Solstice had never seen such energy (and hand-talking) from a small person, and though normally it would be amazing to watch, she felt sorry for the frantic halfling woman. Before she worked herself into a tizzy, the firbolg cut her off. “Nelly, right? They can’t have gone too far, if it just happened. Let me help, I can see farther and I’ve a way with animals.”
Nelly paused and nodded; whatever questions she had about the woman who just arrived could wait. Finding the puppies was priority number one. “I won’t say no, most of my help is at the market and I won’t see them for hours. The timing of it all--!”
Solstice nodded sympathetically, and stood up, brushing herself off. “We’ll cover more ground if we separate, aye? Which direction do you want me to take?”
The halfling woman paused to glance around, then gestured to her left. “That way, toward the Snobeedles’. They better not be making mischief in the orchard, the last thing we need is to make enemies of our neighbors. If you can manage to get them out before anyone takes notice, I’ll be grateful.
Oh, and here--”
Whirling around, back through the door, Nelly thrust a small bag into Solstice’s large hands. “I hate rewarding bad behavior, but if that’s the only way to get them out, do it. I don’t want them running further off.”
“Soon enough they’ll be old enough to be someone else’s problem, right?” Solstice chuckled and nodded. “I understand, and it’ll be a last resort.”
“Thank you, truly. We can talk after we find them.” Nelly responded with a small smile, then strode toward the farmhouse. “Cade! Get your tools and repair the fence while I have a look around….”
Solstice watched the three-foot-tall force of nature depart, then glanced eastward in the direction Nelly had indicated. “Snobeedle land, eh? Let’s have a look, then.” She glanced over to the napping dogs, but they did nothing more than stretch. Oh, well.
The firbolg woman kept her bag of treats in hand as she crossed the lush grass of the yard, suspecting that it would feel lovely under bare feet. If that’s why these halflings hadn’t bothered with shoes, she couldn’t blame them. Suspecting that the puppies would enjoy it as well, she quickened her pace a little and looked for signs of passage. Tracking wasn’t exactly her forte, but she hoped a paw-print here or there might reveal a direction taken.
At first, that effort yielded little help, as those she had found were much larger, obviously from the adults of the breed rather than their pups. Solstice sighed, wishing she had paid a little more attention to the tracking advice of her mentor in the Summer Court. Back then, she had wondered if it was truly necessary to be proficient at such a skill when there were so many others which caught her interest instead. Normally, the firbolg paladin didn’t begrudge her decisions and focus on what-ifs but in that moment, she would have traded her knowledge of birdpipes or court etiquette for a chance to find those sweet creatures before they came to mischief or, worse, harm.
Following the yard to its end, Solstice spotted the road ahead and spotted the sign for the Snobeedle Orchard and Meadery with an arrow pointing in the proper direction. Even so, she took a moment to peer at the ground for some sign of their passage before continuing. The thick grass was trampled in parts, but another animal could have done that, for all she knew. Crouching down, Solstice narrowed her eyes and scanned the ground. She almost didn’t find anything, but--there! Standing up and heading over for a better look, the firbolg grinned. Bent grass blades and this time some small but distinct paw prints. She couldn’t be sure it was all of them, but this was definitely a good sign.
The road grew a bit busier as Solstice approached, carts and carriages arriving and departing the mead hall/gift shop up ahead, surrounded by a truly expansive orchard. The closer she drew to the area, the more she could see that it was a rather upscale enterprise, visited by those with coin to spare. Paces away from the mead hall was a bandstand, clean and fully furnished, as well as long tables placed nearby, and a smooth, raised floor for dancing. Nothing was taking place there yet, but given that workers were bringing out chairs and decorations, she suspected that was only a matter of time. Which made finding the pups all the more urgent; doing so in the middle of a festival would be significantly more trying than otherwise. Either that, or the pups would draw attention with their chaos and Solstice suspected that Nelly was right to avoid the wrath of her neighbors. Any family with money to throw around like this wasn’t going to appreciate a stain on their reputation.
And still no pups in sight, as of yet, though Solstice remained optimistic.. At least there were people she could ask, and pups were always hungry, weren’t they? Maybe they were drawn to the place in hopes of food and belly rubs. One could hope, at least. As Solstice walked, she kept an eye out for more paw prints, though the carriages and foot traffic would soon make it difficult to track them further. Seeing a few prints further off of the same size was encouraging even as they were soon interrupted.
The drinking hall was elegant and spacious as Solstice entered it and had a look around; the counters gleamed with polish, and painted portraits of what she could only assume were the illustrious members of the Snobeedle family adorned the walls, along with other works of fine art. As the dwarf merchant had mentioned, there was a variety of size in terms of tables and booths, some for smaller folk and some more geared to those of her own size. It was a welcome prospect, and Solstice noted it for later, but she wasn’t about to forget her initial purpose.
“I’m telling you, Gregor, it’s pointless. At this point, she’s just throwing away her coin--”
Striding up to the counter where a couple of halflings were drying some newly-washed glasses, the firbolg turned on the charm with a warm smile and merrier voice. “A good day to you fine folk. Can I borrow a moment of your time for some questions?”
The young halfling woman, bright curls held back by a ribbon, piped up with an often-recited response. “Mugs of ale are eight copper. A bottle of our famous Snobeedle vintage is fifteen gold. You can also take home a small brass pin that shows our family crest; that’s thirty gold. You can even pick your own grapes in the month of Highsun for a small fee of four silver. And finally, an inn stay is 6 gold per night, per person.”
“Thank you, that’s good to know and I’ll gladly take advantage of all this wonderful place has to offer soon. But I actually have another question, and I’m hoping for a discreet answer.” She lowered her voice as the halflings looked at each other, curious. “I’m looking for a three little mastiff pups that embarked on a great escape sometime recently. Did you see any wander over here?”
The halfling man frowned and crossed his arms. “I’ve been inside all morning, haven’t seen anything, but have a look around...and the sooner you find them, the better. We don’t need loose pups causing mischief around here...and Blossom will have our heads if they do.”
Solstice nodded sympathetically. “I’ll be quick and discreet as I’m able, which is more than you’d think from looking at me.”
The halfling woman looked her over and tilted her head, thoughtful. “You’ve the look of an adventurer about you, with that armor. Are you here about the reward offered, too?”
That got the firbolg’s attention and she perked up instantly, taking note. “Reward--?”
The question was barely voiced before an older halfling woman, silver streaks in her dark hair and sporting a poofy white shirt along with several silver rings, entered with the air of someone who was indisputably in charge. The other two halflings straightened instantly, further cementing that impression. “Velra, do you know where Porrim went off to? She was to handle the decorations for the festival, and they’re not all in place!”
“I’ll go find her--”
“No, no, we need more glasses and we always get a little busier soon enough, I’m not taking either of you from the hall. I’ll find her myself.” Blossom huffed, then paused and peered up at the firbolg, with surprise, curiosity and a sudden surge of hope that Solstice couldn’t ignore even with her own task at hand.
“You’re here about the notice, then?”
“I--yes, of course.” Well, she was now. Solstice took note of the way Gregor and Velra shook their heads, not to mention anything about loose pups afoot.
“Five hundred dragons, for information leading to the safe return of my son, Dasher. He’s been absent for weeks and gods know what’s happened to him in that time!” Blossom rung her hands and sighed plopping into a chair for a moment, provoking a sympathetic nod from Solstice, who couldn’t refrain from adding one more cause to her growing list. The ample reward was nothing to sneeze at, either, but the mother’s expression of distress made her heart ache.
“What can you tell me about him and his habits? Did he say where he tends to go, or what he does within the city? Anything at all might help me find him sooner than later.” Solstice noticed movement out of the corner of an eye, but didn’t dare move her gaze away from the Snobeedle matriarch at this moment.
Blossom let out a heavy sigh, as the other halflings gave her space, finding reasons to keep occupied further off. “Dasher loves to go into the city, among the common people, and pretend he has nothing to do with us. He has this obsession with being ‘of the people’, as though we didn’t have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps to get where we are! And I remember my roots, let me tell you--”
Solstice’s heart sank as that movement proved to be one wiggly mastiff pup, sniffing around and scarfing up scraps from the floor. Fortunately, Blossom was facing the wrong direction and had yet to notice, but where had the others gotten off to? If one was here, it was a certainty that the others had made it this far as well. “Of course, I’ve no doubt. Ah, where might he usually be found in the city?”
Blossom looked over to the halfling pair, just in time to avoid seeing the pup gnaw on a table leg. Solstice tried not to wince. “What was that place you told me about before, that all-halfling hostel?”
Gregor piped up, a little strained as he had taken notice of the pup as well. “That would be the ‘Hole in the Wall’.”
Blossom sighed again, shaking her head. “I hope it’s homier than it sounds. Most halflings aim for comfort, but those city folks tend to skim on what’s important in order to save space. But it changes nothing,, I just want Dasher returned safe and sound. Do that, and you’ll have the reward and my undying gratitude. And with friends such as mine, that’s nothing to shun, believe me.”
“I’m certain, ma’am. Thank you for your time, I’ll see what I can do--”
“Oh, please, sooner than later. Goodness knows what trouble he’s gotten into by now.”
Gregor cleared his throat, gesturing behind him. “I just heard the delivery cart arrive, ma’am, you’d better sign for our order.”
“Can’t you--no, right, I need you both here. Very well--” Blossom pushed herself off the chair and rushed out the door without a look back, prompting a sigh of relief from both Gregor and Solstice.
“Thank you--”
“Don’t thank me, just get it out of here before she returns.” Gregor gestured frantically, and Solstice needed no other encouragement to approach the pup. She knew it could understand her, and shook the bag of treats in her hand. “Over here, little one! I’ve treats to give you, but only if you come quickly.”
The pup perked up and bounded over, allowing Solstice to scoop up the wiggling bundle of curiosity in her hand. She would have ignored the rest of the world to cuddle and coo over the sweet thing, but Gregor looked about to explode from sheer stress, so she promptly strode toward the set of doors at the opposite end.
“You’ve caused a lot of worry, my wee friend! You’re lucky I caught you when I did.” Solstice chuckled and lifted up the squirming puppy once the door was closed, taking note of its eager whines. “You’ll get your treats, don’t worry. But you have to stay with me until we leave, eh? No wandering off. And I know you’ll forget that before I even set you down, so--”
Opening her satchel, Solstice moved it over her chest and gently slipped the pup inside, keeping the top open. She stroked its furry head as it peeped out, shamelessly making kissing noises despite whoever may be watching when it licked her fingers. “That’s a good pup, you settle in and try to be quiet. But if you hear your siblings, you speak up, alright? Now….”
Solstice took note of its collar, then paused to seek Mielikki’s guidance. A simple spell could locate a collar like the first, if it was within a thousand feet. Hopefully the pups hadn’t strayed too far from each other, because there was a lot of ground to cover otherwise. To her relief, she could sense the nearby dog collars. One was much closer than the other, within about fifty feet, so she headed in that direction first. “Why couldn’t you three stick together, hm? What happened to that teamwork?”
Ignoring the responding whine from the horribly and unjustly imprisoned puppy, she walked down the path leading to a storehouse in the back and smiled as the pup squirmed and started barking. “Good, thank you. Hush, now.”
Noting that the door was open with a sigh, Solstice glanced back and entered quickly, hoping that no one had heard them. All was quiet for a moment, but then she heard a soft, plaintive whine from the direction where she sensed the collar. Passing shelves of linens and silverware, the firbolg soon discovered what had attracted her wayward target; food.
The young pup was stretched out on the pantry ground, whimpering by a cheese wheel which was no longer intact, little puppy teethmarks all throughout. Other foodstuffs were knocked over, and Solstice had no doubt that it had invaded those, as well. Sighing, she bent down by the overstuffed puppy. “Tsk, you poor thing. It’s your own fault, you know, but I’ll not have you suffer for all that. Here….”
Concentrating, she channeled her divine energy into the small canine, purging the food poisoning with one touch. The pup’s whimpering ceased and though it still appeared sluggish thanks to amount ingested, it wagged its tail at Solstice and didn’t protest as she scooped it up. “Now, then, into the satchel with you. Take a nap, hm? You’ll feel better when you’ve had some rest.” The satchel strained a little with two pups in it now, and she could hear them sniffing the lining inside, no doubt catching the scent of the sweet rolls formerly within.
Now for the last one. Solstice quietly -or as quietly as she could, given her size and armor- exited the storehouse, the spell giving her the sense that the next puppy collar was further off...much further and probably off the Snobeedle property, if the direction was any indication. The firbolg frowned, on one hand grateful that it probably wasn’t pestering the Snobeedles, but on the other hand wondering just what it had gotten into, that it had strayed so far away from the others.
Reaching into the satchel to stroke the adorable bundles soothingly, she made her way back past the mead hall and down the driveway, frowning as she sensed that the collar’s location hadn’t changed. Had the pup worn it off, somehow?
The firbolg walked past the threshold of the property, heading back in the general direction she had come. Her spell lead her not quite back onto the Greenbriar property, instead down a hill and toward the sound of rushing water. Solstice tensed when she caught sight of the creek; it didn’t seem deep enough to drown in, but she couldn’t let her guard down. Approaching the location of the collar, she sighed and scooped it up from where it lay, trampled under puppy paws.
“Well, so much for that. Come now, settle down you two.” Solstice gave in broke off a piece of a treat, just a small one, for the pup who wasn’t suffering from too much food in one little belly. The latter pup whined, but she ignored it as best she could. It couldn’t be doing the poor thing a kindness to fill its belly even further.
She attempted to follow the tracks, though as tracking wasn’t her area of expertise, she soon lost sight of any signs of passage past the banks of the creek. It was some comfort that the last she had seen weren’t heading toward the water, but away from it, in the general direction of the Greenbriar property. The first pup captured, perhaps catching the scent of their sibling, squirmed and barked eagerly, only calming down when Solstice stroked its head. She kept an eye out for the last pup on the way, but as it turned out there was no need for a sharp eye this time.
The stench hit her like a wall, and Solstice gagged, eyes watering as she knew immediately what produced it; a skunk. She glanced around frantically, prepared to head in the opposite direction of wherever it was, but said skunk was nowhere in sight. Instead, Nelly herself was gagging as she hauled a squirming pup back to the enclosure with a strength that belied her slight frame.
“Disgusting! You just had to go and piss off a skunk, didn’t you? You little hellion. Ugh, now I’m going to waste an afternoon purging that vileness from you and everything you’ve touched. Don’t cry, it’s your own damn fault--oh, there you are!” Nelly perked up and noted Solstice’s squirming satchel with relief. “Bring them inside, please? I have to deal with this one, and I don’t want them rubbing up against him and getting that stench on themselves, too. Just hand them over to Cade, he’ll deal with them.”
“Understood.” Solstice smiled but Nelly missed it as she hauled the pup around to the back of the building, grumbling all the while. Inside, Cade -a halfling boy with curly blond hair- took the pups off her hands. “Don’t feed that one for a while, it ate too much. The other is fine, just a little tired now.”
Cade chuckled. “Good, maybe that will give us a few minutes’ peace. I’ll keep them inside until the fence is finished, at least the opening is too small for the adults to get through. Nelly will want to talk to you, I’m sure.”
Nodding as he waved her off, Solstice departed the kennel house and went around to the back, where Nelly was filling a tub while a certain very stinky pup was leashed and whining, knowing the bath that was to come.
“Ah, sorry I couldn’t get to him in time. I’d hoped they would stick together.”
“Eh, it’s not your fault. It’s mine, for not realizing it sooner. But thank you for finding the other two, I really appreciate it.” She paused, nodding her thanks again as Solstice filled the tub with the last bucket easily, while the halfling woman caught her breath.
“You came here for a pup, didn’t you? Technically, they’re all spoken for and you have to reserve litters in advance. But….” She sighed and unleashed the pup, catching hold of him before he could dart off again. Only when it was immersed in the soapy waters did she speak up once more. “...there is one, a runt of the litter. She’s small, started off a bit sickly and she still needs some care. I don’t have a lot of time to give her, thanks to the others, and the owners...well, they want big healthy guard dogs. I don’t think they’re going to be interested in her. I know it’s a poor thank you, but if you’d give her a home, I’ll cut the price.”
Solstice was silent for a moment, but it wasn’t out of hesitation. A small, sickly unwanted pup in need of a home? How could she refuse? Toby would agree with her that she needed them...and they had a house big enough for one more. “She sounds perfect.”
As it turned out, he was open to some new ideas, with a touch here or there to remind him of his late parent. Her favorite flowers grew in the small rooftop garden, and Solstice agreed to the quilts and braided rugs she had kept. Past that, they worked on adding their own touches. The rooms all received a fresh coat of paint, one after another; Solstice reasoned that they might as well do it before more furniture arrived, right? That was how she discovered Toby had a fondness for seafoam green to match her own, and she plotted to encourage his preferences the more they managed to fill out his bedroom...which was now his mother's old bedroom. Solstice was reluctant to claim it given what it meant to the boy, so she suggested he take the room instead, a suggestion happily accepted. She would end up claiming the what was the sewing room in times past, which had enough light and space to suit her just fine. Toby's old room remained empty, and they decided to postpone any plans about it until inspiration struck. There were more rooms to deal with, after all, they didn't have to rush on everything.
All in all, Solstice thought her new abode was shaping up rather nicely. It had a very different atmosphere than her quarters in the Summer Court, less ethereal beauty and more homey touches, but she found it suited her just fine. Besides, it was more than worthwhile to see Toby begin to heal and learn to thrive again. It might have been possible somewhere else, but the firbolg privately thought it would have been much more difficult. Thank the gods everything worked out the way it had.
Still, though, the house was missing something important and after a while, Solstice thought she knew what that might be. Toby needed companionship, for those times when she wasn't around due to the nature of her work. Her calling as a paladin didn't stop just because she had become a guardian, and though the boy seemed to understand that, she didn't want him to be lonely in her absence. So, it was time to acquire a canine companion.
Since the house was located in the Castle Ward and mere blocks away from the Market, her first thought was to inquire there. It was mid-morning when she had the chance to step outside and toward the largest open area within the city. Full of merchant carts and stalls day and night, it was typically the best place to find nearly any item for a good price. However, the merchant at her first stop (a stall selling mainly sweet rolls, and a few other baked goods) looked at her a bit strangely when she first inquired.
"Buying a dog, here? Well...the market's for trade goods and whatnot, you won't have much luck here unless you're into strays. But if you're willing to go beyond the city walls, try Undercliff."
"Undercliff?"
"It's just east of the walls, a community mostly focused on farming and animal husbandry and the like. In fact, try the Greenbriar Farm. I think they breed dogs for guarding nobles and use as mounts for halflings. It'll cost you, but you seem like the kind that can pay." The dwarf woman gestured at Solstice's armor, and the much larger firbolg chuckled.
"That's fair, I can afford it."
"Oh! That should be near the Snobeedle Orchard and Meadery, run by the Snobeedle family. Halflings, but they have a drinking hall and shop that's sized for larger folk, and you can pick your own fruit when it's in season. I heartily recommend it."
Solstice raised her eyebrows at that and nodded. "I just might, if there's time! And I'll take a box of half a dozen, please."
That was how the firbolg woman found herself departing the city past the River Gate, heading into the rural community beyond. Upon being surrounded by verdant fields of grass and bright sky overhead, Solstice straightened and smiled, already feeling a bit renewed by the view. Before her was a crossroads with a simple wooden signpost. It pointed down the road she’d come down, saying Waterdeep, with a path to the left saying ‘Stoutfellow Farm’ and a path to the right saying ‘Snobeedle Orchard and Meadery’. In the distance behind the sign, she could see another farm being worked on, with thick stone walls surrounding it. Interesting, but not her destination. With the knowledge presented, Solstice headed down the path to the right.
The simpler folk of Undercliff -farmers and craftsman and the like- weren’t quite as unflappable as the typical Waterdhavian and the sight of a large, blue-skinned woman (friendly thought she was) approaching definitely caused some stares and murmuring, and a one or two instances passive-aggressive swerving to avoid meeting her path. Solstice herself couldn’t be bothered about the actions of a few folk; she had a task in mind and wasn’t going to waste a moment of the day on something not worth her time.
It didn’t take too long to find a beautifully-carved sign for the Greenbriar Farm at the crossroads, and Solstice breathed in the country air appreciatively as she followed the path. The scent of blooming plants was far more pervasive than the window gardens of Waterdeep’s city streets could provide, and did a lot more to drown out the scent of horse-dung that was as unavoidable here as everywhere else.
“And a fine day to you, friends. Keep up the good work.” Solstice knew anyone seeing her speak to flowers would think her more than a little batty, but it was a gift of her firbolg heritage that allowed plants and beasts to understand her speech. They didn’t respond as she did, of course, not would Solstice expect such, but that was fine. That they were acknowledged and appreciated was the important part.
The farmhouse ahead was a sprawling structure with a wrap-around porch that Solstice would love to spend an afternoon relaxing on, if invited. She smiled to see it in good repair, obviously well-loved by the inhabitants, and the scent of cooling pies on a windowsill reignited her appetite all over again. Hopefully the Greenbriars were generous hosts, especially for customers.
Noting the bell right beside the door (which had another, smaller door within it), Solstice rang it and paused to listen. Following the sound, she heard a dog barking from inside as well as the patter of feet approaching. “Just a minute, just a minute….” The smaller door opened, and a halfling man with greying hair and some truly impressive sideburns peered outside. His light brown eyes squinted behind those thick glasses, then widened as he stared up...and up at the woman at least twice his height smiling down at him.
Making allowances for his temporary muteness (and hoping to stave off another round of ‘gods, you’re big’), Solstice spoke up first. “A good afternoon to you, sir! I heard your farm sells dogs and want to see about filling my home with at least one. Is this a good time to inquire, or should I return at a later date?”
That seemed to snap the halfling man out of his shock, and he shook his head, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel before offering one to shake...which she did, after taking a moment to kneel so that they could see eye-to-eye more easily. “Merric Greenbriar, at your service. And yes, we sell mastiffs, best you’ll find in Undercliff. Normally, we take reservations for litters, so those we have are most likely spoken for already. I’m sorry, but you can try talking to Nelly and she can put in your reservation, for a small fee.”
The halfling spoke kindly, and sensing her disappointment, rushed to help alleviate it with some hope for the future. Solstice responded with a grateful smile and nod, taking the news in stride. She couldn’t blame them for not accommodating her immediately and if this visit was the foundation for a future purchase, then it wasn’t wasted at all.
“It’s quite alright. I understand, you’re in-demand and with good reason. Thank you, I’ll gladly speak with Nelly if she’s available….?”
“Ah, yes, at the kennels. In the back and to your left, the barking should guide you right to them.. And when you’re done, let me know. I can at least see you off with a slice of our triple berry pie, for your trouble.”
“An offer I gladly accept, that smells heavenly.”
“Thank you, thank you.” The halfling man beamed, then glanced back and to her apologetically. “I should get back inside, or the rest might burn. When you’re ready, just ring the bell again.”
“Will do!” Solstice nodded cheerfully, then turned as the door closed and did as instructed, finding her way around the farmhouse to the back. It was a lovely area, with both sunshine and shade in abundance thanks to the large trees nearby, one of which sported a wooden swing. Mindful of the toys strewn about and not wanting to upset children or puppies by trampling their favorites, she weaved her way around them and toward the barking; as predicted, she hardly needed further instruction on where to go from there.
The sound of barking soon reached her ears, and she headed toward it to find a large enclosure surrounding a smaller but no less cared-for building, where a couple of adult mastiffs were napping in the sun. Solstice ached to pet them, but they seemed so content that it would be cruel to disrupt their rest. Maybe later? Not finding any two-legged soul in sight, she raised her hand to knock on the door(similarly dual-sized), just as the smaller portion swung open and a young halfling woman with curly chestnut-brown hair held back by a bandana barrelled right into Solstice’s leg with a muffled yelp.
“Oof--!”
“Ah, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to block your path. Are you alright?” Solstice stepped back and kneeled down to meet the startled halfling woman’s gaze. Dazed for a moment and then surprised the next, Nelly nodded mutely for a moment before she snapped out of it and glanced around frantically before looking up to the firbolg.
“I’m fine, but this isn’t a good time. I can’t--wait, have you seen any puppies outside the fence? Any at all?”
Brow furrowing, Solstice shook her head. “No, I’ve not seen any yet--”
Nelly let out a loud sigh and her hands balled up into fists. “Damn it! I just found a loose boarding in the fence and those little hellions must’ve crawled through. Three of them, just big enough to get into trouble. Now I have to find them and fix that fence and--”
Solstice had never seen such energy (and hand-talking) from a small person, and though normally it would be amazing to watch, she felt sorry for the frantic halfling woman. Before she worked herself into a tizzy, the firbolg cut her off. “Nelly, right? They can’t have gone too far, if it just happened. Let me help, I can see farther and I’ve a way with animals.”
Nelly paused and nodded; whatever questions she had about the woman who just arrived could wait. Finding the puppies was priority number one. “I won’t say no, most of my help is at the market and I won’t see them for hours. The timing of it all--!”
Solstice nodded sympathetically, and stood up, brushing herself off. “We’ll cover more ground if we separate, aye? Which direction do you want me to take?”
The halfling woman paused to glance around, then gestured to her left. “That way, toward the Snobeedles’. They better not be making mischief in the orchard, the last thing we need is to make enemies of our neighbors. If you can manage to get them out before anyone takes notice, I’ll be grateful.
Oh, and here--”
Whirling around, back through the door, Nelly thrust a small bag into Solstice’s large hands. “I hate rewarding bad behavior, but if that’s the only way to get them out, do it. I don’t want them running further off.”
“Soon enough they’ll be old enough to be someone else’s problem, right?” Solstice chuckled and nodded. “I understand, and it’ll be a last resort.”
“Thank you, truly. We can talk after we find them.” Nelly responded with a small smile, then strode toward the farmhouse. “Cade! Get your tools and repair the fence while I have a look around….”
Solstice watched the three-foot-tall force of nature depart, then glanced eastward in the direction Nelly had indicated. “Snobeedle land, eh? Let’s have a look, then.” She glanced over to the napping dogs, but they did nothing more than stretch. Oh, well.
The firbolg woman kept her bag of treats in hand as she crossed the lush grass of the yard, suspecting that it would feel lovely under bare feet. If that’s why these halflings hadn’t bothered with shoes, she couldn’t blame them. Suspecting that the puppies would enjoy it as well, she quickened her pace a little and looked for signs of passage. Tracking wasn’t exactly her forte, but she hoped a paw-print here or there might reveal a direction taken.
At first, that effort yielded little help, as those she had found were much larger, obviously from the adults of the breed rather than their pups. Solstice sighed, wishing she had paid a little more attention to the tracking advice of her mentor in the Summer Court. Back then, she had wondered if it was truly necessary to be proficient at such a skill when there were so many others which caught her interest instead. Normally, the firbolg paladin didn’t begrudge her decisions and focus on what-ifs but in that moment, she would have traded her knowledge of birdpipes or court etiquette for a chance to find those sweet creatures before they came to mischief or, worse, harm.
Following the yard to its end, Solstice spotted the road ahead and spotted the sign for the Snobeedle Orchard and Meadery with an arrow pointing in the proper direction. Even so, she took a moment to peer at the ground for some sign of their passage before continuing. The thick grass was trampled in parts, but another animal could have done that, for all she knew. Crouching down, Solstice narrowed her eyes and scanned the ground. She almost didn’t find anything, but--there! Standing up and heading over for a better look, the firbolg grinned. Bent grass blades and this time some small but distinct paw prints. She couldn’t be sure it was all of them, but this was definitely a good sign.
The road grew a bit busier as Solstice approached, carts and carriages arriving and departing the mead hall/gift shop up ahead, surrounded by a truly expansive orchard. The closer she drew to the area, the more she could see that it was a rather upscale enterprise, visited by those with coin to spare. Paces away from the mead hall was a bandstand, clean and fully furnished, as well as long tables placed nearby, and a smooth, raised floor for dancing. Nothing was taking place there yet, but given that workers were bringing out chairs and decorations, she suspected that was only a matter of time. Which made finding the pups all the more urgent; doing so in the middle of a festival would be significantly more trying than otherwise. Either that, or the pups would draw attention with their chaos and Solstice suspected that Nelly was right to avoid the wrath of her neighbors. Any family with money to throw around like this wasn’t going to appreciate a stain on their reputation.
And still no pups in sight, as of yet, though Solstice remained optimistic.. At least there were people she could ask, and pups were always hungry, weren’t they? Maybe they were drawn to the place in hopes of food and belly rubs. One could hope, at least. As Solstice walked, she kept an eye out for more paw prints, though the carriages and foot traffic would soon make it difficult to track them further. Seeing a few prints further off of the same size was encouraging even as they were soon interrupted.
The drinking hall was elegant and spacious as Solstice entered it and had a look around; the counters gleamed with polish, and painted portraits of what she could only assume were the illustrious members of the Snobeedle family adorned the walls, along with other works of fine art. As the dwarf merchant had mentioned, there was a variety of size in terms of tables and booths, some for smaller folk and some more geared to those of her own size. It was a welcome prospect, and Solstice noted it for later, but she wasn’t about to forget her initial purpose.
“I’m telling you, Gregor, it’s pointless. At this point, she’s just throwing away her coin--”
Striding up to the counter where a couple of halflings were drying some newly-washed glasses, the firbolg turned on the charm with a warm smile and merrier voice. “A good day to you fine folk. Can I borrow a moment of your time for some questions?”
The young halfling woman, bright curls held back by a ribbon, piped up with an often-recited response. “Mugs of ale are eight copper. A bottle of our famous Snobeedle vintage is fifteen gold. You can also take home a small brass pin that shows our family crest; that’s thirty gold. You can even pick your own grapes in the month of Highsun for a small fee of four silver. And finally, an inn stay is 6 gold per night, per person.”
“Thank you, that’s good to know and I’ll gladly take advantage of all this wonderful place has to offer soon. But I actually have another question, and I’m hoping for a discreet answer.” She lowered her voice as the halflings looked at each other, curious. “I’m looking for a three little mastiff pups that embarked on a great escape sometime recently. Did you see any wander over here?”
The halfling man frowned and crossed his arms. “I’ve been inside all morning, haven’t seen anything, but have a look around...and the sooner you find them, the better. We don’t need loose pups causing mischief around here...and Blossom will have our heads if they do.”
Solstice nodded sympathetically. “I’ll be quick and discreet as I’m able, which is more than you’d think from looking at me.”
The halfling woman looked her over and tilted her head, thoughtful. “You’ve the look of an adventurer about you, with that armor. Are you here about the reward offered, too?”
That got the firbolg’s attention and she perked up instantly, taking note. “Reward--?”
The question was barely voiced before an older halfling woman, silver streaks in her dark hair and sporting a poofy white shirt along with several silver rings, entered with the air of someone who was indisputably in charge. The other two halflings straightened instantly, further cementing that impression. “Velra, do you know where Porrim went off to? She was to handle the decorations for the festival, and they’re not all in place!”
“I’ll go find her--”
“No, no, we need more glasses and we always get a little busier soon enough, I’m not taking either of you from the hall. I’ll find her myself.” Blossom huffed, then paused and peered up at the firbolg, with surprise, curiosity and a sudden surge of hope that Solstice couldn’t ignore even with her own task at hand.
“You’re here about the notice, then?”
“I--yes, of course.” Well, she was now. Solstice took note of the way Gregor and Velra shook their heads, not to mention anything about loose pups afoot.
“Five hundred dragons, for information leading to the safe return of my son, Dasher. He’s been absent for weeks and gods know what’s happened to him in that time!” Blossom rung her hands and sighed plopping into a chair for a moment, provoking a sympathetic nod from Solstice, who couldn’t refrain from adding one more cause to her growing list. The ample reward was nothing to sneeze at, either, but the mother’s expression of distress made her heart ache.
“What can you tell me about him and his habits? Did he say where he tends to go, or what he does within the city? Anything at all might help me find him sooner than later.” Solstice noticed movement out of the corner of an eye, but didn’t dare move her gaze away from the Snobeedle matriarch at this moment.
Blossom let out a heavy sigh, as the other halflings gave her space, finding reasons to keep occupied further off. “Dasher loves to go into the city, among the common people, and pretend he has nothing to do with us. He has this obsession with being ‘of the people’, as though we didn’t have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps to get where we are! And I remember my roots, let me tell you--”
Solstice’s heart sank as that movement proved to be one wiggly mastiff pup, sniffing around and scarfing up scraps from the floor. Fortunately, Blossom was facing the wrong direction and had yet to notice, but where had the others gotten off to? If one was here, it was a certainty that the others had made it this far as well. “Of course, I’ve no doubt. Ah, where might he usually be found in the city?”
Blossom looked over to the halfling pair, just in time to avoid seeing the pup gnaw on a table leg. Solstice tried not to wince. “What was that place you told me about before, that all-halfling hostel?”
Gregor piped up, a little strained as he had taken notice of the pup as well. “That would be the ‘Hole in the Wall’.”
Blossom sighed again, shaking her head. “I hope it’s homier than it sounds. Most halflings aim for comfort, but those city folks tend to skim on what’s important in order to save space. But it changes nothing,, I just want Dasher returned safe and sound. Do that, and you’ll have the reward and my undying gratitude. And with friends such as mine, that’s nothing to shun, believe me.”
“I’m certain, ma’am. Thank you for your time, I’ll see what I can do--”
“Oh, please, sooner than later. Goodness knows what trouble he’s gotten into by now.”
Gregor cleared his throat, gesturing behind him. “I just heard the delivery cart arrive, ma’am, you’d better sign for our order.”
“Can’t you--no, right, I need you both here. Very well--” Blossom pushed herself off the chair and rushed out the door without a look back, prompting a sigh of relief from both Gregor and Solstice.
“Thank you--”
“Don’t thank me, just get it out of here before she returns.” Gregor gestured frantically, and Solstice needed no other encouragement to approach the pup. She knew it could understand her, and shook the bag of treats in her hand. “Over here, little one! I’ve treats to give you, but only if you come quickly.”
The pup perked up and bounded over, allowing Solstice to scoop up the wiggling bundle of curiosity in her hand. She would have ignored the rest of the world to cuddle and coo over the sweet thing, but Gregor looked about to explode from sheer stress, so she promptly strode toward the set of doors at the opposite end.
“You’ve caused a lot of worry, my wee friend! You’re lucky I caught you when I did.” Solstice chuckled and lifted up the squirming puppy once the door was closed, taking note of its eager whines. “You’ll get your treats, don’t worry. But you have to stay with me until we leave, eh? No wandering off. And I know you’ll forget that before I even set you down, so--”
Opening her satchel, Solstice moved it over her chest and gently slipped the pup inside, keeping the top open. She stroked its furry head as it peeped out, shamelessly making kissing noises despite whoever may be watching when it licked her fingers. “That’s a good pup, you settle in and try to be quiet. But if you hear your siblings, you speak up, alright? Now….”
Solstice took note of its collar, then paused to seek Mielikki’s guidance. A simple spell could locate a collar like the first, if it was within a thousand feet. Hopefully the pups hadn’t strayed too far from each other, because there was a lot of ground to cover otherwise. To her relief, she could sense the nearby dog collars. One was much closer than the other, within about fifty feet, so she headed in that direction first. “Why couldn’t you three stick together, hm? What happened to that teamwork?”
Ignoring the responding whine from the horribly and unjustly imprisoned puppy, she walked down the path leading to a storehouse in the back and smiled as the pup squirmed and started barking. “Good, thank you. Hush, now.”
Noting that the door was open with a sigh, Solstice glanced back and entered quickly, hoping that no one had heard them. All was quiet for a moment, but then she heard a soft, plaintive whine from the direction where she sensed the collar. Passing shelves of linens and silverware, the firbolg soon discovered what had attracted her wayward target; food.
The young pup was stretched out on the pantry ground, whimpering by a cheese wheel which was no longer intact, little puppy teethmarks all throughout. Other foodstuffs were knocked over, and Solstice had no doubt that it had invaded those, as well. Sighing, she bent down by the overstuffed puppy. “Tsk, you poor thing. It’s your own fault, you know, but I’ll not have you suffer for all that. Here….”
Concentrating, she channeled her divine energy into the small canine, purging the food poisoning with one touch. The pup’s whimpering ceased and though it still appeared sluggish thanks to amount ingested, it wagged its tail at Solstice and didn’t protest as she scooped it up. “Now, then, into the satchel with you. Take a nap, hm? You’ll feel better when you’ve had some rest.” The satchel strained a little with two pups in it now, and she could hear them sniffing the lining inside, no doubt catching the scent of the sweet rolls formerly within.
Now for the last one. Solstice quietly -or as quietly as she could, given her size and armor- exited the storehouse, the spell giving her the sense that the next puppy collar was further off...much further and probably off the Snobeedle property, if the direction was any indication. The firbolg frowned, on one hand grateful that it probably wasn’t pestering the Snobeedles, but on the other hand wondering just what it had gotten into, that it had strayed so far away from the others.
Reaching into the satchel to stroke the adorable bundles soothingly, she made her way back past the mead hall and down the driveway, frowning as she sensed that the collar’s location hadn’t changed. Had the pup worn it off, somehow?
The firbolg walked past the threshold of the property, heading back in the general direction she had come. Her spell lead her not quite back onto the Greenbriar property, instead down a hill and toward the sound of rushing water. Solstice tensed when she caught sight of the creek; it didn’t seem deep enough to drown in, but she couldn’t let her guard down. Approaching the location of the collar, she sighed and scooped it up from where it lay, trampled under puppy paws.
“Well, so much for that. Come now, settle down you two.” Solstice gave in broke off a piece of a treat, just a small one, for the pup who wasn’t suffering from too much food in one little belly. The latter pup whined, but she ignored it as best she could. It couldn’t be doing the poor thing a kindness to fill its belly even further.
She attempted to follow the tracks, though as tracking wasn’t her area of expertise, she soon lost sight of any signs of passage past the banks of the creek. It was some comfort that the last she had seen weren’t heading toward the water, but away from it, in the general direction of the Greenbriar property. The first pup captured, perhaps catching the scent of their sibling, squirmed and barked eagerly, only calming down when Solstice stroked its head. She kept an eye out for the last pup on the way, but as it turned out there was no need for a sharp eye this time.
The stench hit her like a wall, and Solstice gagged, eyes watering as she knew immediately what produced it; a skunk. She glanced around frantically, prepared to head in the opposite direction of wherever it was, but said skunk was nowhere in sight. Instead, Nelly herself was gagging as she hauled a squirming pup back to the enclosure with a strength that belied her slight frame.
“Disgusting! You just had to go and piss off a skunk, didn’t you? You little hellion. Ugh, now I’m going to waste an afternoon purging that vileness from you and everything you’ve touched. Don’t cry, it’s your own damn fault--oh, there you are!” Nelly perked up and noted Solstice’s squirming satchel with relief. “Bring them inside, please? I have to deal with this one, and I don’t want them rubbing up against him and getting that stench on themselves, too. Just hand them over to Cade, he’ll deal with them.”
“Understood.” Solstice smiled but Nelly missed it as she hauled the pup around to the back of the building, grumbling all the while. Inside, Cade -a halfling boy with curly blond hair- took the pups off her hands. “Don’t feed that one for a while, it ate too much. The other is fine, just a little tired now.”
Cade chuckled. “Good, maybe that will give us a few minutes’ peace. I’ll keep them inside until the fence is finished, at least the opening is too small for the adults to get through. Nelly will want to talk to you, I’m sure.”
Nodding as he waved her off, Solstice departed the kennel house and went around to the back, where Nelly was filling a tub while a certain very stinky pup was leashed and whining, knowing the bath that was to come.
“Ah, sorry I couldn’t get to him in time. I’d hoped they would stick together.”
“Eh, it’s not your fault. It’s mine, for not realizing it sooner. But thank you for finding the other two, I really appreciate it.” She paused, nodding her thanks again as Solstice filled the tub with the last bucket easily, while the halfling woman caught her breath.
“You came here for a pup, didn’t you? Technically, they’re all spoken for and you have to reserve litters in advance. But….” She sighed and unleashed the pup, catching hold of him before he could dart off again. Only when it was immersed in the soapy waters did she speak up once more. “...there is one, a runt of the litter. She’s small, started off a bit sickly and she still needs some care. I don’t have a lot of time to give her, thanks to the others, and the owners...well, they want big healthy guard dogs. I don’t think they’re going to be interested in her. I know it’s a poor thank you, but if you’d give her a home, I’ll cut the price.”
Solstice was silent for a moment, but it wasn’t out of hesitation. A small, sickly unwanted pup in need of a home? How could she refuse? Toby would agree with her that she needed them...and they had a house big enough for one more. “She sounds perfect.”
