Visitors

     They'd cleaned themselves and their armor. After collecting the dropped bags, they did the daily morning chores. Afterwards, they began harvesting the ripened vegetables, working from the woodline toward the tiered hill where there was a stone stairway that lead to the back door beneath the kitchen. This would force future looters to move further into the field or relegate themselves to unripe vegetables. They'd probably settle for the unripe vegetables, especially the ones that had been there before. When the sun was low and colors began streaking across the sky, The door bell could be heard sounding across the whole valley. Glam nodded to Van, confident he would finish up the milking on his own. Van was hoping this meant dinner would be ready by the time he finished evening chores. 

     He was not to be disappointed, as later that eve a wondrous scent met him as he opened the door. At the table sat two ladies, a plump older woman and a younger woman of the local human stock. As Van entered the younger lady frowned at him, but the older plump lady greeted him with a smile. "You must be Van!" she said warmly in common trade language. She had olive green skin and her hair too, was green, but of a brighter hue, more like grass, but graying at the temples. Her eyes were large with amber pupils. She was actually quite lovely, and somehow the crows feet and laugh lines actually added to her beauty.

     The younger woman was of a more conventional beauty. Long near white blonde hair tied in a topknot with sides hanging down to frame a not unattractive face. However it was ruined by its sternness, large light green eyes and dark, healthy skin notwithstanding. She simply nodded curtly. Glam had never said a thing about common courtesies, so Van did his best, executing a stiff bow. "Awe, look at you, so gallant!" ejected the shorter woman, rushing forward and enveloping  him a hug.

     At dinner that eve Glam introduced the two ladies. The friendlier of the two, was Jenna, a dryanni. The dryanni were a rare branch of intelligent mobile plant people. They were not a particularly sturdy race, and extremely sensitive to light and temperature. She didn't eat much, despite her size. Van was baffled at how a plant person could be overweight and have signs of age. The unpleasant human woman was Igfreed. 

     Early the next morning when Van entered the great hall he saw Jenna already hard at work in the kitchen heating racks of vegetables and boiling fruits. She had jars laid out and it was obvious she was preserving the farms bounty. She spotted him as he headed toward the stairs and called out to him, "Igfreed is doing the milking while we're here, and will make the butter and cheeses! Come, I have breakfast for you!" As good a cook as Glam was, Van thought Jenna had him beat. the stew was perfectly spiced and had ample meat, he decided.

     Once outside he saw Glam already at work on the terraces, harvesting something. Glam called to him, "start where we left off yesterday! I've seen no sign of scouts this morning." Van did as he was told, and soon caught some movement out of his peripheral. Looking, he saw Igfreed with a lantern and heading back towards the house. She had a covered pail. cream, no doubt. Van had been missing coffee since his arrival and cream was a pleasant reminder of it. This was one more reason it would be a relief to leave the milking to someone else.

     Similar days passed as days got shorter and cooler. There were a few more minor raids, and Glam began to worry his friends wouldn't be there when the main attack would come. He begin coaching Van on combat, showed him exercises and drills, as well as giving him a few hours each day to practice and work on his negative energy manipulation. Luckily, after about a week had passed, the promised help arrived.

     One was a human woman who looked to be in her early 40's, petite but muscled slightly, and seemingly lightly armored. It turned out she had masterwork armor that protected near as good as the set Van had. She was armed with thin saber and stiletto in her off hand. In appearance she wore tight canvas pants with plates, and quilted gambeson, both shades of grey with a hint of blue. Van thought her drab regalia contrasted with her choice of weapons, expecting a sort colorful renaissance motif for a fencing style.

      The other was a Vash Elf, a type of elf from a previous wave than the current. He, too wore light armor, but seemed mostly unarmed save for a large shield and dagger. He was tall and handsome, with pale skin and hair with large green eyes. his pack was large, and most noticeable was his animal companion, a sort Van had not seen yet.  

     It looked mostly similar in size and shape of a Polar Bear but had elephantine ears. It had a much more prominent tail, however, short and thick in proportion with a mace like ball and two spikes protruding from the sides. The tips looked hollow and Van guessed they were venomous. It had stringy brown fur, almost like hair, and tusks. It had the personality that you may be familiar with if you've had interactions with boxers, those beloved canines. 

     Introductions were hastily made when Van came in for dinner after nightfall. The lady fencer was Eloin, who had soulful brown eyes and black hair. She had a slightly Asiatic look to Van, and he was somewhat relieved to finally meet an adult human who didn't tower over him. As it turned out, she was not in her 40's, but in her mid 60's. She carried herbal teas to treat her aches and pains acquired from a long life of adventure.

     The Vash Elf was named Ansanlyn, and his furry partner was called Sonno. Ansanlyn was a surgeon and all around expert in all things healing. he too wore drab colors, browns and greens. he was lean and fit, suited to carrying his heavy pack. He would win Van over that evening. Waking at around midnight something in the air seemed familiar to Van. Since his arrival he discovered it was common there for people to wake up for a while at night, splitting their sleep in two. He inhaled deeply as he opened the door to the great room, and that's when it hit him. There was something very similar to the scent of coffee. 

     Ansanlyn was sitting at the table with Eloin, both with steaming cups. Igreed sat further down the table sulking over her nightly regular, warm milk with honey. Glam was also coming out of his room as Jenna emerged from the kitchen with a platter of flatbreads and butter.

     Van slowly approached the table. Eloin was drinking tea, as usual. Glam would enjoy his beer which had gotten better with the arrival of Jenna who had taken over household duties. However, sure enough, in the cup of Ansanlyn, was a coffee like substance. Seeing Vans eyes glowing slightly in the dim candle light, gazing intently at his mug, Ansanlyn asked him, "Would you like to try some?"

     Without hesitation, before Ansanlyn had completely finished, Van interrupted him with an ecstatic "Yes please!" Ansanlyn removed a canister from his pack and approached the stove, on which sat something like a moka pot. As it turned out Ansanlyn had an assortment of different blends of roasted and ground roots of varying coffee-like flavors. He explained it was similar to a drink he grew up with, but was unable to replicate it completely.