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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Thausgt01 on 2025-07-01 06:18:43+00:00.
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Mission Log: Day 0027
Addendum 07
Bertrada makes it up to the foyer with admirable speed, reaching the flackaroo paddock in plenty of time to give Jatteo and the other three animals fresh portions of feed before the new visitors arrive. Koalkret plods into view, pulling the worn but still serviceable cart with the modified harness across her chest. Brozvum sits on the cart’s bench seat, briefly considering the surrounding trees as the cart moves. My cameras pick up a momentary arch to his eyebrow as he catches his first glimpse of ‘my weirdness’ in the form of the barn and paddock. At a guess, he can’t quite identify the actual materials composing the panels and planks defining the structure, but given the sight of the animals and their minder giving the newcomers mild glances (in the animals’ cases, briefly, before returning to their meals) he can guess the building’s function well enough.
That vanishes when he gets his first good look at the foyer. His eyes widen and his heavy jaw hangs open for a moment. Koalkret focuses on maneuvering the cart up to what I’m sure she considers a ‘polite distance’ from the paddock, shooting a questioning look Bertrada’s way. The Half-Elf gives a nod, waving at a space about 4 Koalkret-paces from the paddock fence that will also orient the cart straight into the foyer’s doors.
“I’m Bertrada,” she begins, then pauses, considering something in the middle distance. “I was from Kityrton,” she continues, after a moment. “…Came up this way with a few members of House Lignignory. Things have changed a bit since then. Welcome to Joachim’s…”
She pauses again, then shrugs. “…Well, Joachim’s no Dungeon,” she says, with a sort of ‘I really have no idea’ spread of her hands. “But whatever he decides to call the place, he apparently won’t turn away anyone who comes a-calling. So, again, welcome.”
Koalkret gives Bertrada a nod before shrugging off the harness, settling it on the tongue of the wagon before straightening up with audible popping sounds coming from her spine. I suppress a giggle as I realize that she kept her eyes on the roadway almost immediately in front of herself while she walked, and even when she pulled the cart into the clearing, still hasn’t actually seen the foyer.
Judging from Brozvum’s expression and the lack of anything coming out of his mouth, he’s still struggling to understand what the presence of all that glass around the foyer means, other than representing more money than he had ever imagined being held by one person in one place.
Koalkret turns in place to face Bertrada before introducing herself. “I’m Koalkret, daughter of Bronghal, of Clan Pilsnergrove,” she says, patting her chest. She waves at the cart. “That’s Brozvum, son of Kaadzonork, and also my uncle.”
Bertrada nods in response. “Welcome to you, too, sir. What brings you both out here?” She flicks her eyes in the direction of the roadway over which they arrived. “Nice enough path, but it’s only been recently cut,” she points out.
Koalkret waves again. “A pack of Fuin-Braetehl boys came haring through the area a few days ago, chasing after a gnome and and elf on the strangest cart any of the old folks had seen in all their moons,” she explains. “The gnome and the elf, they only stopped long enough to get some fresh water before rolling on through the village. The boys, though? They were on foot; weren’t gonna catch up with a cart runnin’ that smoothly any time soon. Had to stop, haggled for a night in the Haversham’s barn with a jacket and shirt as looked like they’d just come all the way up from the Capitol, and spun a tale about some new Dungeon but not a Dungeon out this way able to raise a castle overnight…”
The Half-Ork woman shrugged, but angled her head in uncle’s direction. “The old man lost most of a leg last year, and while Clan Pilsnergrove’s been having a good couple of years, we still ain’t built up the kind of funds as would let us pay the clerical fees for re-growin’ it. So, he heard the tale, along with how the boys swore that all this ‘Master Joachim’ would demand in payment was whatever old junk we could spare, and decided to try his luck.”
Bertrada displays an admirable knack for keeping a straight face, but Brozvum’s expression clearly taxes her stamina on the point.
Koalkret doesn’t quite catch it; I chalk it up to her slightly overestimating her own energy reserves. “Anyway,” she continues, pausing to wipe off her forehead as she speaks. “…Uncle Brozvum cashed in a few favors from the other Pilsnergrove elders to let him come out and see for himself…”
At the sound of the Half-Ork’s strangled coughing, she turns to look at him, giving a momentary headshake. “Oh, what’s got you all worked up now…?” she begins, before finally turning to get her first good look at whatever has left her uncle speechless.
Even with digital recordings, I’ll never be able to forget the progression of expressions on the Half-Ork woman’s face as she turns to behold the foyer, with mild amusement sliding into near shock as her own jaw loosens to hang open, staring. Frankly, it’s been the most notable reaction out of any of my visitors, and I’m still human enough to preen a bit at the attention…
“Oh, come now,” Bertrada says, after a moment, her tone remaining dry. “The building ain’t all that impressive. Hardly much more than a detached meetin’ room with a couple o’ tables and benches, though I’ll wager that the pair of you’ll appreciate the oubliette and the water-fountain after your long trip.”
Brozvum moves like a man half in a dream as he maneuvers himself out of the cart and arranges the crutch under his arm. “How… how…?” he asks, limping forward to stand next to his niece.
“You see it too, uncle…? All that glass, just… there…?” Koalkret murmurs. He can only nod.
“All right, it might take little while for this to get boring,” Bertrada finally says. “… But I reckon it pushes the boundaries of good hospitality to let the joke get too stale.” She gives Jatteo a pat on the flanks before letting herself out of the paddock and closing it behind her. “Your cart’ll be safe enough whilst you two refresh yourselves a bit,” she continues, moving to stand just ahead of the gaping pair. “Let’s get you inside so you can speak with Joachim in a bit more detail.”
And with that, she makes her leisurely way toward the front door.
Addendum 08
Fortunately, the newest guests manage to take their cues from the ‘local’ regarding opening the glass doors. It helps that Bertrada points out the doors’ thickness, though she stops short of actually trying to damage the stuff as part of a demonstration of what ‘tempered and nano-reinforced’ glass actually means.
After visiting the restrooms and sucking down quite a lot of cool water from the fountain, the Half-Orks seem refreshed enough to handle talking with me directly. So, I activate the foyer’s concierge-screen, and wave to them.
“Hello, Koalkret, Brozvum! It’s nice to meet you face to face, so to speak!”
“Uh… You’re Joachim?” Koalkret says, a hesitant note in her voice.
“I am.” I animate the avatar waving a hand in a lazy circle while glancing around the vicnity. “I think it would be poor manners to insist that we start discussing your needs and how I can fulfill them immediately.”
The two Half-Orks give stunned nods, not quite synchronized.
“We’ve got a couple of options, then. If you’d like to rest a bit, I think we can find a spare room somewhere. I’ve recently added a few to my supply, expecting to house a few more people than actually stayed around. You may have met a small group of them on your way here?”
Koalkret nods, a thoughtful look in her eyes. “When we passed their cart heading in the other direction, we figured we must be getting close,” she answers.
I nod. “True enough. So, resting for a while remains an option, as does a bath or a shower. Alternately, if you’re interested in some food, we have a small eatery nearby.” I wave in Bertrada’s direction. “The cooking staff is made up of some of Bertrada’s traveling colleagues. They’re all quite good at what they do, but they’re still getting used to the kitchen layout. So while the food will be plentiful and tasty, it won’t necessarily be as interesting as we’ll eventually be able to provide…”
Koalkret releases a jaw-cracking yawn. “I could do with a bath and a nap, Uncle,” she says.
Brozvum sighs, but nods. “I’ll not stand between you and your rest, Koalkret,” he says. “You did most of the work and certainly deserve it.”
She smiles at him. “And you’ll want to stuff your face and wash the road-dust out of your throat, of course.”
He chuckles back, nodding.
“Well, before I show you, Koalkret, to your room, and you, Brozvum, to the restaurant, there’s one more surprise I have for you, and I hope it will be a reasonably pleasant one.”
“Just how many more surprises can you hold, Master Joachim?”
Bertrada lets loose a snicker as she shakes her head. “You have absolutely no idea…” is all she says, before leading the pair to the elevator lobby…
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