09-04-05

Characters involved: Udat & Taye.

Salamandastron: Entryway

Udat is casting a slow, almost wary glance backwards towards the platform's edge, eyes glinting in the lower light as he surveys the beach just outside. Snorting some of the finer grains of sand from his nose, the newt looks back towards the mountain's passageway, rapping out an 'announcement of arrival' against the stone wall with his staff, tail twitching slowly behind him.

The sentries, one of which is Taye, have started down the stairs from the sentry room long before Udat's rap of greeting, having spied the small creature from their vantage point. Coming out into the tunnel and standing in way of Udat's path into the mountain by nature of it being a closed-in tunnel, their spear-butts rap the stone floor echoingly as they nod. Taye is the one who speaks. "Evenin'."

"Good evening as well." Udat sets his staff off to the side, turning a fair bit of his attention to brushing off the sand that's managed to accumulate in his clothing from the walk down the beach. "I was wondering, whom might I speak with in regards to business lost due to this mess concerning Halyard?"

Taye's brow wrinkles at the question. "Business lost, sah?" He allows his hold on his spear to relax, leaning it against his shoulder.

Udat says, "Aye... My business is that of an apothecary. An herbalist. And, of course, I am sure you know that no single place provides the full range of ingredients needed for certain applications. Amongst the trading posts I frequent are Mapleleaf, Camp Willow...and up until recently, Halyard." His focus is caught by a rather annoying find: a tear in the shoulder of his outtermost cloak. After a thorough inspection, he snorts and continues. "I was curious if the mountain here might be able to provide a suitable...replacement outpost."

Taye's brow relaxes into understanding, and he gives a short nod. "I see, sah. Well, Halyard should be returnin' t' normal, just about now... Not all of the villagahs have returned, but a fair numbah of 'em have." He considers the question further, however, and glances over his shoulder at the other sentries. He jerks his head in a nod back up the tunnel. "S'pose you might speak t' Colonel Zoe about the mountain, though." One of the others turns and jogs up the tunnel into the mountain.

Udat watches as the assigned messenger jogs off. "I do appreciate your assistance in this matter. A healer is little more than a medic without the proper tools. And while a village may return in things such as populace over a short period of time, herbs and plants are far more delicate in nature, and require a fair bit of time before healthy crops can be re-established."

"Oh, aye. Of course, sah. It's no trouble." Taye nods politely and smiles, glancing back in the direction the runner has disappeared. "Shouldn't be too long, sah..." Pause. "I'm Private Taye, by the way. Glad to help ya."

Udat says, "Apothecary Udat Mordem. Well met." His tail twitches faintly again, and, satisfied he's picked the last bits of sand from his clothing, he retrieves his staff, leaning against it solidly. "It is strange...entering a mountain named after cousins of my own kind...and finding hares, if you don't mind my saying so. No offense meant, of course."

"None taken, sah, none taken." Grinning amiably, Taye nods his head - just as his ears twitch backwards at the sound of two sets of footpaws approaching. He looks around to see the Colonel and sentry approaching and, with a final nod to Udat, he returns to the stairs which lead to the sentry room, along with the others. With a final salute, they head up.