Tuckborough

An open cobblestone square bustling with people and sounds, a sensible spot for
the heart of Tookland. The town is a busy one, with an abundance of residences
and shops. There is a path up a hill to the southwest and another leads
southwards to a more rural district. An old tree stands in the northwest corner
of the square, and there are several postings upon it. A comfortable wooden
bench sits next to the tree, where hobbits often sit to relax.
Contents:
The Whetmarrow Pipeweed Wagon
Donation Box
Shirefolk Wagon
Big Old Tree
Obvious exits:
 Mill leads to Mill on the Hill.
 Bakery-shop leads to Fluffy's Bakery Shoppe.
 Lucky Tucky Inn leads to Lucky-Tucky Inn.
 Pipe Shop leads to The Wood and Weed.
 East leads to Stock Road, Outside Tuckborough.
 South leads to Farm Yard.

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RL (Arizona) time is Tue Dec 18 13:37:20 2001 (+time).
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IC time is about 12 Noon (lunch time) on Wednesday Afteryule (January) 27, 1425
S.R.
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IC Weather Conditions
The sky is grey and gloomy, and hovers ominously over the Shire. A cutting wind
blows from the northeast on this Afteryule/Frery day.
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Fordogrim comes strolling up the road.
Fordogrim has arrived.

Fordogrim

Before you is quite possibly the smallest adult hobbit that you have ever seen.
If it weren't for the remarkably thick hair on his toes, you would be tempted to
think that he is some other creature entirely. But a hobbit he is, as the
twinkle in his brown eyes and his masses of curly, reddish-brown hair clearly
attest. The girth of his belly and his rosy cheeks would seem to indicate that
he is well-fed and prosperous, but his clothes tell a slightly different story.
His coarse blue breeches, quite out of fashion now, have been patched several
times with material of almost, but not quite, the same colour. His sturdy brown
jacket is in better repair, but the sleeves have been rolled up at the cuffs and
it hangs about his shoulders slightly. Beneath the jacket is an immaculately
clean white shirt that may once have been respectable, but now shows sign of
travel. About his neck is a fine silver chain with a perfect blue jool.


An incredibly small hobbit comes hurrying into the square blowing on his hands
to keep them warm. He pauses at the sight of the inn, looks up the road he is
travelling, and then back to the inn. He wavers. . .

Omfast comes jogging down the road from the other direction. The wind cuts
through the street, carrying some dry snow from the trees. Omfast's cloak
gets caught between his legs, and he stumbles, practically stumbling into the
little hobbit standing there. Omfast wipes his eyes, sniffs, and says through
his scarf, "Uh, hullo dere! Didn't see you dere wid the wind blowing like dat!"

Fordogrim eyes the lad, smiling. "Nothing done, lad, nothing done. You should be
more careful." He helps steady the boy on his feet. "Where are you running to in
this wind with such a cold? Shouldn't you be at your studies or working with
your master?"

Omfast says, his voice still muffled by the scarf and his nose glowing red,
"Well yed, but it is lunch time now! No use to stay outdide longer dan
nedessary. De Storm tore down da roof of our sapling shed, godda fix id today
wid the wind still blowing."

Ka'Lae arrives from the northeast.
Ka'Lae has arrived.

Fordogrim says, "Well, if it's lunch your after, why don't we step into the Inn
and have a bite together? I was on my way back to Budge Ford, but a slight pause
won't put me out too much.

Fordogrim says, "It's as cold as a Wind from the Barrows, and twice as freezing!"

Having finished a delicious lunch within the Lucky Tucky Inn, Wisteria exits
that fine establishment and pulls the hood of her verdant green woolen cloak
over the rope of her braided dark hair. Finding the wind biting and cold, she
tightens her cloak about her, and goes to approach Omfast and Fordogrim. "Quite
the chill day! Good day, the both of you."

Omfast says, "Yed, leds go in. Ids too cold." Just as he is about to turn, the
door opens. Omfast jumps and lets go of his cap. His his cap is torn off by the
wind. He jumps, but misses it. After a few quick steps he bends and picks it up.
The scarf has come off now. "Hah! Got it!" As he gets up, he looks up into the
eyes of Ka'Lae. He freezes, cap in his hand, scarf blowing in the wind. "Uhh...
Hello there..."

Fordogrim hardly knows where to look. The antics of the hobbit boy distracts him
from the entrance of the two newcomers, but as the boy grabs his hat he sees,
first the hobbit lass coming toward him and he starts to bow.

Walking in formt he direction of the Great Smails is Ka'Lae. Some of the rumors
ont he street might say that she has cured Pippin's ailment and he is getting
much better, but not up and about yet. She has her head ducked down low as she
moves towards the Inn, where she is staying. S he looks over to Omfast and
grins. "Hello, Omfast..."

Fordogrim then sees the tall human, and freezes. He tries to look nonchalanet

Such simple pleasures in even a friendly greeting... totally shattered as
Wisteria freezes in the midst of a curtsey. She straightens, and hides her mouth
behind a chubby hand. "Oh my..." She whispers, lavender eyes wide and curious.

Ka'Lae looks to the three gawking hobbits and sighs softly as she shakes her
head. She lowers her head, more so she will not hit her head on the door frame,
and presses by Omfast. She mutters to him as she passes into the Inn. "thank
you..." She states something in a strange language as she moves deeper inside.

Fordogrim returns his attention to the hobbit lass. "Hello, miss. It's a
pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Fordogrim Bolger . ." but his eyes
follow the tall human. . .

Omfast looks up and says, "Ahh... The mysterious visitor from The Outside...
Hello there. We were just about to have some lunch. Would you, ah, care to join
us? Some tea perhaps?" He tries to smile. The wind blows cold and Omfast wipes
tears from his eyes. "The wind is too cold to stay outside just talking. Shall
we go in? Oh, and what was your name again?"

Fordogrim turns to the other two hobbits and nods toward the door of the inn.
"Shall we?" And he moves inside, after the retreating form of the human.

Ka'Lae goes north into the Lucky Tucky Inn.
Ka'Lae has left.

Fordogrim goes north into the Lucky Tucky Inn.
Fordogrim has left.

Wisteria goes north into the Lucky Tucky Inn.
Wisteria has left.

You enter the Lucky Tucky Inn looking for food and merriment.

Lucky-Tucky Inn

Behold the Lucky Tucky Inn: finest in ale and merriment in all of Tookland! The
inn has a cozy feel to it-- many paintings adorn the wooden walls as well as a
rather large map of the Westfarthing. Behind the rustic oak bar stands quite a
small hobbit, Brant Thudder, keeping busy cleaning glass and serving drinks and
such.

The inn holds many distinguishing features. In the center of the spacious room
is a spring wood dance floor, kept clean at all times. The bar is usually busy,
various hobbits chatting and drinking jovially. Round tables are spread
throughout the room with orange tablecloths and baskets of assorted crackers on
each table. A few barrels of Ol' Toby Pipeweed can be seen to the side of the
bar, and the tavern's patrons merrily fill the air with its sweet smoking aroma.
Towards the back wall of the establishment a small stage rises above the tavern
floor, a perfect place for small side acts and musical performances. Next to the
bar there is a small door that leads outside to the back yard.
Contents:
Wisteria
Fordogrim
Ka'Lae
Malbo
Ale Keg
Brant Thudder
Obvious exits:
Back Door and Out
A silver plaque is mounted on the wall behind the bar. "The winner of the
November Baking Contest is Panadrin Took!"

Wisteria continues to stare, then gives herself a bit of a shake and recovers to
answer Fordogrim's greeting. Dipping into a little curtsey, she does her best to
summon up a smile past all that curiosity and say, "The pleasure's all mine, Mr.
Bolger. I'm Wisteria Hornblower." Shivering at the wind, she pulls her cloak
closer about her and glances back at the safety of the inn. "Perhaps you'd join
me for something warm to drink, Mr. Bolger?"

Fordogrim bows again to Wisteria as he listens to her lovely greeting as they
walk through the door together. "Something warm would be just about the perfect
thing, miss."

Ka'Lae glances back and moves to a table. This on has been doctored so Ka'Lae
can sit on it as it has blocks under each leg. There is also a big person chair
there as well. She sits downa nd sighs softly. She places a covered basket on
the table and pulls out a loaf og fresh steaming bread. Her gaze looks tot he
server. "Hot water please..."

Omfast nods and waves over Fordogrim's head as he passes Ms. Hornblower, "Hello
there. I believe we haven't met before. The name's Omfast, Omfast Cotton.
Pleased to meet you." He looks up at the huge towering woman coming up behind
him and walks on past. Once inside, he starts taking off cloak and scarf, and
hangs it all on a peg. "Ah!" he calls, "Lunchtime!!"

Fordogrim places his hand on Omfast's shoulder and asks, "How well do you know
that human maiden, my boy?" He turns to Wisteria and says, "Ive already met her,
and I'm afraid it was a bit of a muddle, for me at any rate. I'd like to make
sure that she holds no grudges" and his eyes drift to the knife at the human's
waist. "Do you know much about her?" he whispers to the pretty young hobbit lass.

Wisteria pulls back her hood and deftly unclasps the silver fastenings of her
cloak, hanging it among others on a peg. A few dark wisps of hair float about
her rosy cheeks, but she seems to lose more and more of her nervousness with
Omfast and Fordogrim's apparent nonchalance. "Brant, dear, three ales and a
cider, seedcakes for..." She glances at the Big Person, "Five." Placing payment
in the other Hobbit's hand, she brings the 'two-Hobbit' serving of seedcakes and
the ale over to Ka'Lae's table, with the air of a silent apology. Quite rude to
stare after all. She then bustles back to a table. To Fordogrim, she shakes her
head, "First time I've seen her..."

Ka'Lae looks over as s he sees that she gets a tankard of Ale with her glass of
hot water. She looks over at the seed cakes and then glances about to see who
sent these things to her. She nods over to the trio of hobbits as she assume it
is one of them. She then pulls out a small redd ball with several herbs inside.
She drops it into her hot water and dunks it several times as she starts to make
her own tea.

Fordogrim looks at the ale that awaits him in front of the tall human. Then he
looks at the human. He looks back to the ale. He casts something of a despairing
glance at Wisteria, smiles with sick gratitude and then, as though he were in a
race, rushes over to the table, grabs the ale, smiles and bows to the human in
one quick motion, and moves back to his place beside Wisteria. "Whew" he says,
as though he has just braved a monster's den. And with one slow, steady, pull he
drinks off the ale.

Omfast grins, "Thank you very much, Ms. Hornblower, thank you very much indeed!"
and as we walks around the two other hobbits to get to his chair he whispers, "I
don't know her at all, but I know her temper sure enough..." He grabs a
hobbit-sized chair at the other end of the table and takes a seat. As Brant
comes with the ale and the ale, he orders some sausages, baked taters and some
more bread to go along with that.

Wisteria graciously accepts the thanks with a pleased, warm smile that dimples
her cheeks, and she seats herself with the other Hobbits, skirts rustling. Her
voice lilts in a whispered hush as she looks over at Omfast, "I do hope that
temper isn't as big as the rest of her." She flickers her lavender gaze to the
human sitting alone, and rubs her feet together silently, while taking a drink
from her cider. "What brings her here, do you think?"

Fordogrim says, "Well, when I met her, she was tending to young Master Pippin.
She claimed to be a Healer.

Ka'Lae blinks at the blind panic that Forfogrin just exhibited and shakes her
head with a light sigh. She stands up (as much as she can here), and takes out
another loaf of bread from her basket. She walks over tot he table witht he
three hobbits and places it in the middle. She states softly. 'I made this
myself. I hope you like it." She then turns and goes back to her table. The odor
of a very fresh herbal bread wafts up tot he three at the table.

Fordogrim stands, moves away from the table, and makes quite an elegant and
formal bow to the human. "Thank you very much, Ma'am. I wish I could offer you
something in return, but as all I've got is myself, that will have to do.
Fordogrim Bolger at the service of you and your family." And he looks at the
loaf with open, unashamed, hobbitish greed.

Wisteria places a hand over her heart at the gesture, and, eyes a-twinkle,
watches the human woman return to her table. "Many thanks, miss. My, but does it
smell lovely." She sets to cutting up the bread, giving each Hobbit a healthy
piece.

Omfast says, "Thank you very much, Madam! I have always wondered what people eat
outside of the shire!" He continues in a lower voice to the young miss at his
side, "Heh, she's big indeed. She seemed to take offense easily, but perhaps it
is also my own fault... Anyway, I tried to excuse myself, but she wouldn't have
it." He takes the bread with a smile and winks at Fordogrim. "I didn't think
they had decent food at all in the wilderness. I wonder how they do it."

Fordogrim is too busy eating to do anything but nod and say, "marumph da fruud.
Heeuuur dat!"

The bread does have a strong herbal taste to it, but it does blend well with the
bread. Ka'Lae sits down as she catches part of the conversation. Her eyes rest
on Omfast and then to Fordogrin. "No, I expect nothing in return and as for my
temper. It is hard to hold it when people throw out insults at you contantally."
She takes out the reed ball with herbs out of her glass and dribbles some honey
in it and stirs it.

Wisteria takes an experimental nibble, and her eyes light up with delight. "This
is a treat! Temper or no, this is quite good." She takes a larger bite, eyeing
the human as she speaks. Following that with a gulp of cider, she wiggles her
toes with pleasure at the warmth in the room.

At this, Frodogrim visibly bristles, and he pulls himself up to his rather
unimpressive height. "Insults, ma'am? Insults?? My old mother would have my hide
if she so much as thought that I'd insulted a stranger, so I never have!! What
insults would you be meaning, eh?" He begins to puff. . .
Malbo has disconnected.

Omfast shrinks in his seat with every sentence being spoken. He stares into his
glass and drinks, nibbles at the bread, and mumbles some "Hmmb. Hmmdmp." He
munches and drinks more ale.

Wisteria places a hand on Fordogrim's elbow, "Now, now, Mr. Bolger, no need to
get all in a flap..." She glances worriedly to Omfast, as if he could be willed
into action by the intensity of her gaze.

Ka'Lae brings up her glass of hernal tea to her nose and takes in the armomatic
aroma of it before taking a brief sip. She places her glass down and pulls out
her long knive, that looks like a hsort sword or dagger to a hobbit. The slices
some of her bread that she has for herself off as she regards Fordogrim. "Saying
I looks like a hidious creature that is rumor to be an evil plauge on the lands
to the east would be an insult." She than spreads some honey butter on her bread
with her knife and takes a small bite.

Wisteria flushes at the sound of that, and makes a slight noise. "Oh, well!" is
all she has to say to that, as she sits down to move onto a seedcake. "Haven't
heard of anything like -that-..." She sips at her cider and glances askance to
Fordogrim.

Fordogrim stands, puffing some more, but calming himself down thanks to
Wisteria's hand on his elbow. "I knows how you can think that I may have said
some such thing, ma'am, but as I tried to explain at the time we first met, it
wasn't me as called you an. . ." he sees the look in the human's face, "one of
those, it was someone else in the room. And as my mother always said I shouldn't
speak ill of them as isn't there, I won't say who it was. But it wasn't me and
it wasn't Master Pippin, either, so I'm not insulting anyone else as is
important to us all."

Omfast shoots a surprised glance in the direction of the woman and sits up a
bit. He looks out of the window while chewing. After a while he looks back
again, a faint smile on his lips, and says, after Fordogrim has finished, "I
heard you helped Master Pippin recover or something, Madam? Is it true, how does
he?"

Ka'Lae wipes off her blade and resheathes it as she looks to the the trio of
Hobbits. "He is doing much better. I was able to save his life. Someone wanted
the Thain's son dead, he is lucky I was able to diagnose it. I have my theroy on
who did the act, but I will not say who till I can prove it..." She takes
another bite of her bread and then washes it down with a sip of her tea. The ale
and seed cakes on her table are untouched as of yet.

Fordogrim sits again, apparently deflated by the human's blunt manner, and turns
to Wisteria. "Well, I've known all sorts of the Big Folk in my day, but this is
a first for me, and I'm not afraid to say it." He eats another piece of bread.
"But she makes a good loaf, there's no doubt, and that means she can't be all
bad."

Wisteria nips at her lower lip a moment, and her dark brows arching at the news,
"How dreadful. I'm so glad Master Pippin's on the up-and-up. My sincerest
gratitude for your hard work, ma'am." She lowers her voice after a good drink of
her cider to those at the table, "I agree, Mr. Bolger."

Omfast winces as he hears Fordogrim speak. He looks at the other table, the
untouched seed cakes and the woman. The untouched ale. Slowly he raises his
eyebrows. He turns towards Fordogrim and Wisteria, still silent, eyes wide open.
Just at this moment, Brant starts bringing some of the extra stuff Omfast
ordered. Sausages. Taters. More bread.

Fordogrim addresses himself to the human again. "I have a bit of debt to pay the
Tooks, ma'am, and I'm glad to hear that you're on the trail of any as has done
them wrong. If you need the help of a sturdy hobbit as knows the lands between
here and Bree, just let me know. I don't pretend to be much help to someone such
as yourself, but, still, there's something to be said for an extra pair of hands
around when there's work to be done."

Fordogrim grabs Brant by the arm as he goes and orders another ale and the
largest pork pie that he can find in the larder. He asks Wisteria, "Would you
like anything else, Miss?"

Omfast adds, "Well, yes, now I am a gardener, perhaps I can be of help as
well... Uh... Watch out for suspicious people, and, uh, troublemakers..." his
voice trails off. He looks at the woman again, and back at the food. Slowly he
starts chopping a sausage appart and eats it, slowly and deliberately.
Wisteria shakes her head to the offer, and dimples at Fordogrim and Omfast,
"I've had lunch already, thankee, but another cider would be lovely." She
finishes off her seedcakes with the remainder of her cider, and then changes the
subject, "I've come here from Michel Delving on business, to sell my pipes. What
brings the rest of you about on this cold day?"

Ka'Lae nods her head as she takes another bite of her bread. She chews it and
then swallows before talking. She looks to Wisteria. "It is refreshing to see a
hobbit, outside the Great Smails, that is somewhat kind and grateful." She looks
to the other two male hobbit and grins with a bit of mirth in her eyes. She sips
her herbal tea and then regards Wisteria again. "Thank you for the ale and
cakes. I do not drink ale..except for special occasions, so if you or your
friends want it..I would not be offended."

Fordogrim begins to answer Wisteria but silences himself with Ka'Lae begins to
speak. He gazes longingly at the proferred ale.
Fordogrim, returning his gaze to Wisteria, says,

Omfast looks away from the ale, and finishes his lunch. Between sausages and
taters he answers Wisteria, "I started working the gardens of the Great Smials.
At the moment we're just fixing a shed which was damaged yesterday night in the
storm. That reminds, me actually. Time to go back to work." He grins, "Thus, I'm
affraid I won't be able to stay longer and enjoy the ale."

Wisteria dimples cheerily at Ka'Lae, "My mother would have it no other way,
ma'am. I'm Wisteria Hornblower, nice to make your acquaintance." She catches
Fordogrim's longing glance to the ale and nods briefly, welcoming him to go for
the drink. To Omfast, she says, "A pleasure, Omfast. Good day to you."

Ka'Lae glances to the rude little gardener and inclines her head. She motions
for Fordogrin to take the ale as she looks ot Wisteria. "My name is Ka'Lae
MacAlister. Tiss a pleasure to meet you." She takes another bite of her bread
and chews it delicately as she looks to the remaining pair of short folk.

Fordogrim turns to Omfast as he prepares to leave. "Well, it was good to make
your acquaintance my lad, and I'm sorry we didn't have much chance to talk
together. I apologise for my temper there -- my old father always said that my
mouth would get me into a scrape that my feet couldn't carry me from." He turns
to Wisteria. "And I'm particular sorry to you, too, Miss, as this lad's recalled
to my mind that I have some work to do away in Budge Ford for my uncle Slotho,
and the day's a-wasting." Finally, he looks to Ka'Lae. "I hope you take no more
offense for what's been said, ma'am, as I believe that there's nothing as can't
be overlooked between friends. And I'd like to think that any people as love the
Thain were friends!" He prepares to go.

Wisteria nods to Fordogrim, "You take care, now, Mr. Bolger, and mind the bad
weather." She smiles and offers him a wave, and in silence after works on her
fresh cup of cider and another slice of that herbal bread.

Omfast says, "It was a pleasure having lunch with you all. I wish you a pleasant
day, Ms. Hornblower, Ms. MacAlister." He gets up together with Fordogrim, "Let's
go then, Mr. Bolger."

Fordogrim goes to the door, turns about and gives the room one, final, deep bow
and with his arm around the young hobbit's shoulder, then walks out, leaving a
very little empty space in the door where he had been.

Ka'Lae watches the two hobbits make thier hastey exit. She does that to hobbit
here a lot lately. She guesses she still makes them uncomfortable. She then
looks to the pretty female hobbit. "So you are a pipe merchant?" She offers some
idle conversation as she nibbles on her buttered bread.

You leave the inn, taking in the fresh air of Tuckborough.