Ramblings from the RaspFollow

A Warning Tale

As all of you Real People will know our Elders are very fond of talking about Citizenship and Duty. However they know that there is little to be learned from pouncing on thin air and so they ensure that both they and many of the guards and trainers have useful duties for us youngsters to perform. So it was that I was bouncing around the Shadeweaver Thicket with my faithful warder and my friend the Shaman. We were seeking out the skeletal brigands to earn another piece of armour but naturally keeping an eye out for tradeable goods on the way.

Gradually I noticed a strange almost furless person doing much the same thing. As we worked closer he hailed me and I could see that while almost as big as a real person he was entirely furless apart from his head and face. Still we were taught to be polite to everyone and so I answered his hails and he asked me if I had and rockhopper hides for sale. As it happened we had been lucky and I had several.

I asked what price he was offering and he responded by peering closely at me as if examining all my armour. This was odd but I told myself that perhaps these tailless folk had had to find other ways of communicating and bore the scrutiny in silence. I was taken aback when he said "I was going to offer you something but you're twinked". This word shocked me. As I understand it implies the recipient of undeserved gifts whereas all I wore was cloth and ghulam armour and the ulak of polished steel I had bought with the proceeds of our last trip to the big market in Shadowhaven - the one they call "the Bazaar".

I wondered what "gift" he had had in mind in return for our hard-won hides? Glass beads for the natives? Eventually he offered me a price so niggardly that I was taken aback and told him I would rather wait and take my chances in the bazaar (where I later sold them for 5 times his offer).


So let this warn you my fellow younglings - beware the traders who visit your hunting grounds with cheap gifts and low prices. Know the worth of what you are hunting and do not be cheated.

I must add that I had earlier had perfectly good dealings with another furless one who bought my Shadeling Silk. They paid a fair price and saved me a trip. Their fur - what little they had - was on their feet but I am not sure if the position of the fur on these strange people is any indicator of their intent. Be polite - but wary.

I am very glad to hear your tale (tail?) of warning. Be advised however that the ones with fur on their feet may also be impolite, especially they that call themselves "droods" or "dr00ds" and think they are /_33+ folk.
On the other hand if they are too rude they do make a nice stew or roast. Hail any passing ogre for a good recipe.