[13:50] You make your way to the hillside caverns, their darkness as always clearly cut against the white rock of the sheer cliff. [13:50] "Well... here we are." [13:51]  * Hidden_Glimmer takes a deep breath "Yep... now we just need some light" [13:51] !roll 1d20 [13:51] 19 == 19 [13:51]  * Arrant turns to Hidden "I wish I would've brought some charcoal. We could've marked our way, so we don't get lost." [13:51] == DuskieAfk has changed nick to Duskie [13:52] Her horn lights up in a bright, blue light, filling the cold cavern with it. "Alright, let's call him, shall we?" [13:52]  * Arrant nods "Right." [13:52]  * Arrant takes a deep breath [13:52] "HEY! IRON HOOF! YOU IN THERE?" [13:52]  * Hidden_Glimmer flinches at the loud scream, bringing an even louder echo [13:53] You wait a few moments before a rumble and the sound of heavy movement announces the approach of the burly minotaur warrior, his axe brandished as always. [13:53] == Grease_Lightning [~Bacon@193.47.81.9] has joined #fourcannon-woods [13:54]  * Arrant greets him brightly with an even brighter smile "Hey Iron Hoof!" [13:54] "I hope you don't mind, but I brought someone along with me." He gestures toward Glimmer. [13:54] (We just heard him approaching...) [13:54]  * Iron_Hoof rounds the final corner and smiles at the sight "Arrant! Good to see you, and you brought company." [13:54]  * Arrant nods "I hope thats alright!" [13:55] [well, I read to fast! Sue me] [13:55] "Hey Iron Hood, long time not seen!" She greets him with a hug, like always [13:55] "You still remember me, right?" [13:55] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4yy9GmXTiQ) [13:55]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles "Course I do, I'm good with faces, Hidden." [13:56]  * Iron_Hoof returns the embrace with a soft hug and pet [13:56] "So, what can I do for you two today?" [13:56] "Just dropped by to say hi, and maybe hear another one of your stories, if thats alright!" He beams. [13:57]  * Hidden_Glimmer smiles over both ears "Yeah. He told me your last one and it was amazing!" [13:57]  * Iron_Hoof 's eyes widen in surprise "Really now? That old little tale? I have MUCH grander stories to tell!" [13:58]  * Arrant eyes brighten up "REALLY?!" [13:58]  * Arrant grins from ear to ear. [13:59]  * Hidden_Glimmer jumps a little in anticipation, but calms down after realizing where they're are "Maybe we should get into your cave first? Staying here is... not the best idea if i remember..." [13:59]  * Iron_Hoof gets up "Why of course! Come along, it's more comfortable in my cave." [13:59]  * Arrant cheers, grinning. "What are we waiting for? Lets go!" He says, eagerly. [13:59]  * Hidden_Glimmer happily trots after iron hoof [14:00]  * Arrant follows Iron Hoof, with pep in his step. [14:00] You follow the minotaur throught the labyrinthine tunnels, trying to keep pace with his mighty strides. [14:01]  * Hidden_Glimmer tries to remember the route he took through the caves on her way [14:01]  * Arrant giggles following the minotaur [14:02] Finally entering the massive cavern, you follow the old minotaur to his home. [14:03] Only now do you really notice how...old he is. He has many battle scares and his bones creek often. [14:04] Finally he settles down in his simple home and you find... 3 chairs in pony size! They seem hand crafted and weren't here before [14:04]  * Arrant looks around at the caves and then looks at Iron Hoof, taking a silent note of the scars and creaks. [14:05] "You made those chairs Hoof?" [14:05] "Take a seat, I'll see if I have something to eat." [14:05]  * Arrant takes a polite seat "Come on Glim." [14:05]  * Iron_Hoof looks to the chairs and smiles "Yea! I get so many pony visitors, I found it impolite to have them sit on the floor the whole time." [14:05] "That was very nice of you! Thanks Iron!" He smiles. [14:05] "Huh. Nice chairs." She takes her place on one of them "Where'd you get them from? The old mercenary camp?" [14:06] (GOd, sorry, overread you arrant) [14:06] [Its alright] [14:06]  * Iron_Hoof rumages through his stuff a little off [14:06] "Yea, I collected some wood and nails and got to work, they aren't perfect, I hope they hold." [14:07] They really aren't very sturdy, but they'll do and beat the floor anyday. [14:07] "Damnit...Only meat..." [14:07] "They're ok, Iron Hoof. Can't complain, really." She leans back in them, getting more comfortable [14:07]  * Iron_Hoof mumbles as he looks through his stores [14:08]  * Arrant sits silently, and waits patiently [14:08] "I really need to go foraging later..." [14:08]  * Iron_Hoof then sighs and gets back over." [14:08] "I'm sorry, it seems I can't offer you anything...I've been slacking on foraging recently." [14:08] "Its alright." He smiles. "I had a big breakfast anyways!" He chuckles. [14:09]  * Iron_Hoof sits down on his oversized bed, getting comfortable. [14:09] "It's ok, we've just eaten on our way here. But thanks for your hospitality" [14:10] "So, you wanted me to continue my story?" [14:10]  * Iron_Hoof looks to Hidden [14:10] "I presume Arrant told you about where we were?" [14:10]  * Arrant nods, and looks on, eagerly, with wide eyes, and a big smile. [14:11]  * Hidden_Glimmer nods "Yes, he told me everything. He was very excited about it, so i figured i'd join this time." [14:11]  * Iron_Hoof smiles, feeling really appreciated for the first time in many, many years. [14:11] "Well then, I should tell you a little about my best friend." [14:11]  * Iron_Hoof regains his story teller voice as he begins. [14:12] "After that fateful hit on the pyromancer...it was...weird." [14:12] "Suddenly everything was...quiet." [14:12] "So eerily quiet, as if time had stood still." [14:12]  * Arrant listens eagerly [14:12]  * Iron_Hoof remiscens of that weird event [14:12] [Imma make some popcorn, you want some?] [14:13] "I had just killed a pony, a living, breathing, thinking pony." [14:13]  * Hidden_Glimmer gets comfortable, pointing her ears at him (Sure) [14:13] "And you know how I feel?" [14:13] "How?" [14:13]  * Iron_Hoof looks directly down to the two [14:13] "It made me feel like for the first time in my life, I had made a difference." [14:14] "I saw the huddled villagers slowly come from their hiding places, to see ME, Iron Hoof, the dumb farm hand, to have saved them." [14:14]  * Iron_Hoof looks to the celing [14:15] "It was so...odd. Me? I could actually MEAN something?" [14:15]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs [14:15] "And then that unicorn walked up to me." [14:16]  * Iron_Hoof pauses to think [14:16] "That was before he got that scar..." [14:17] "Which scar?" [14:17]  * Iron_Hoof frowns "Late in our adventuring career he was hurt..." [14:17]  * Iron_Hoof grimaces harshsly [14:17] "So...very bad." [14:18] "That was...part of why we...broke apart." [14:18]  * Iron_Hoof shakes his head [14:18] "Oh... i'm sorry." [14:18] "Anyhow, he came up to me." [14:18] [/me offers glim some popcorn] [14:18] "I hardly knew him, he was some kind of traveling mage, had family in the town or so." [14:18] (/me happily takes some popcorn) [14:19] "Grey coat, silver mane, very oddly dull color combination." [14:19] "His name was Ashen Logic, a name that I feel doesn't do him justice." [14:19]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles [14:20]  * Arrant continues to listen, with the widest grin on his face. [14:20] "You see, he was the 'logic scientist' type." [14:20] "Like what was his name? Able Tome?" [14:20] "Must come with the coat color." [14:20]  * Arrant chuckles and turns to Glim "Sounds like Able, alright." [14:20]  * Hidden_Glimmer nods "Exatly" [14:20]  * Iron_Hoof laughs again [14:20] "But he wasn't at all, actually!" [14:21] "Once I got to know him, he turned out to be actually a really bubbly, eccentric guy." [14:21] "He just had some really bad experiences when he was young, and was sort of isolated." [14:22]  * Iron_Hoof 's grin grows wider as he remembers his oldest friend [14:22] "Oh man, we had so many good times around the camp fire." [14:22] "No one would EVER believe Mr 'Cold, hard facts' would be such an enthusiast for cooking." [14:23] "Let me tell you, he loved his cooking." [14:23]  * Iron_Hoof grins as he points to the two listeners [14:23] "Here's a tip from a veteran: Always have a cook in your group." [14:23]  * Iron_Hoof laughs loudly. [14:23]  * Hidden_Glimmer takes a mental note [14:23] "It keeps the morale high." [14:24]  * Arrant grins as he listens to Iron talk and tell his story. [14:24]  * Iron_Hoof continues to forget to tell the actual story and instead talks about this 'Ashen Logic' fellow. [14:24] "He...really was the one that kept the group together." [14:25] "You wouldn't think, you'd think his cold rationality would tear us apart, if everything." [14:25] *if anything [14:25]  * Iron_Hoof shakes his head slowly [14:25] "I dunno if it's a pony thing, but rationality always came second to one thing: His friends, his adventuring group." [14:26]  * Arrant nods, and smiles. [14:26] "I'd never leave anyone behind, if I can." [14:26]  * Arrant goes back to listening. [14:26] "You see you two, we took adventuring very seriously." [14:26] "This was our hobby, job and life." [14:27] "And to an extent..." [14:27]  * Iron_Hoof pauses [14:27] "Our family." [14:27] "We were all outcasts." [14:27] "And suddenly, we had...others like us." [14:28]  * Iron_Hoof smiles softly, looking to the ground [14:28] "The adventurer's life, isn't it grand?" [14:29] "It sure sounds grand... Going out, exploring new places, seeing new sight, finding treasure, and with your closest friends no less?" [14:29] "It sounds fantastic!" [14:29]  * Iron_Hoof nods a little "It has it's glories, and it has it's depths." [14:30]  * Hidden_Glimmer knows those depths just too welll [14:30] "Let me be perfectly hnoest with you..." [14:30] "I am a broken man." [14:30]  * Arrant flattens his ears. [14:30]  * Iron_Hoof sighs as he looks over his arms [14:31] "My closest family...most of them dead or crippled." [14:31] "My own body, hardly functional." [14:31] "I..." [14:31]  * Iron_Hoof leans back against the wall [14:31] "But you know? It's part of growing older." [14:31]  * Arrant stays silent and thinks hard on the words "growing older" [14:32]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs "People go, your body starts to hurt." [14:32] "Adventuring just...accelerates the process." [14:32] "Adventurers don't live long, I won't lie." [14:33]  * Iron_Hoof gestures to his cave [14:33]  * Arrant mumbles "Violent life ending violently, eh..." [14:33] "Just look at this, so many years of treasures and daring, and what do I have to show?" [14:34] "Well, you still have friends!" He says, cheerily. [14:34]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs [14:34] "That's kind of you Arrant." [14:34]  * Iron_Hoof shakes his head "Woaaah I went compltely of track." [14:34] "A... good feeling that you helped people who couldn't help themselves, maybe?" [14:34] "Sorry it's just...I spent many a night contemplating what an 'adventurer' is." [14:35] "Yes, the memories." [14:35]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles "Wouldn't trade them for all the riches in the world." [14:35]  * Arrant chuckles "It's alright, Iron! Like I said, we're your friends! Besides, I like hear all this! It's very interesting." [14:35] "And probably some good advice, too..." [14:36]  * Arrant nods at Glim [14:36]  * Iron_Hoof nods "Hell, I could teach you all quite some tricks of the trade." [14:36] "Right. Always have a cook along!" He grins, brightly. [14:36]  * Arrant turns to Iron and beams "Really?!" [14:36]  * Iron_Hoof bellows with laughter "Yes! Learn to cook! Your companions will thank you." [14:37] == Al_Dente has changed nick to Al_AFK [14:37]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs "Sure, why not really?" [14:37]  * Arrant smiles and thinks for a moment on this. [14:37] "I know tons of tricks and styles of fighting." [14:37]  * Iron_Hoof puts a hand to his face. [14:37] "Huh, we could even go bug hunting." [14:37] "Could you teach me some moves some time?" [14:38] "Well..." [14:38]  * Iron_Hoof looks to his mostly empty improvised-pantry-chest [14:38]  * Arrant grins and looks at the Minotaur, eagerly waiting an answer. [14:38] "I was going to head out to forage anyways..." [14:38]  * Iron_Hoof grins "Why not come along?" [14:38] "REALLY?!" He beams [14:38] "I can show you the tunnels, the fauna, some fighting tips." [14:39]  * Arrant hoof punches the air with his axe "OH YEAH!" [14:39]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles "Sure! I'll make sure you're safe and don't get into any trouble." [14:39] "Sure, sounds fantastic! I'll take everything i can learn." [14:39] "Hm, by the way, Arrant." [14:39] "?" [14:39] "Did you get to talk to Lucyne?" [14:40] "No, sorry. I didn't see her all weak." [14:40]  * Arrant turns to Glim "Did you?" [14:40] *week [14:40] "Huh? No, i havent seen her... well, since we fished her out of that chasm..." [14:40] "No, sicne we waked her up again... but still." [14:40]  * Arrant looks down at the ground, thinking. [14:41]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs "Just wanted to know if she was ok." [14:41] "Worry about that one sometimes." [14:41] "She probably is..." [14:41]  * Arrant flattens his ears and says to himself, mostly "...I hope." [14:41] "Hm, the chasm...yea." [14:41]  * Iron_Hoof thinks a little to himself. [14:41] "She's... more or less, after what i've heard..." [14:41] "Thinking about it, you ponies work great in groups." [14:42] "We work better when we're united." [14:42]  * Iron_Hoof beams down to the two "Why not invite some more friends? Make it a fun expedition! I'll show you were to get some sugary fluff to eat." [14:43]  * Arrant turns to Glim "What do you think?" [14:43] "Sugary fluff... like cotton candy?!" [14:44] "There are these mushrooms, if you break them open, they have this fiber inside that tastes just like cotton candy." [14:44]  * Iron_Hoof explains [14:44] "Can ponies eat them?" [14:44]  * Hidden_Glimmer beams "Oh, i'd love to eat that again... Sure, we can bring some of our friends over!" [14:44] "Of course, Ash would use them to sweeten food constantly." [14:45]  * Arrant beams "Alright!" He punches the air in excitement. "What are we waiting for!" [14:45]  * Iron_Hoof gets up, still smiling. [14:45] "Ok then, I'll guide you guys out." [14:46]  * Arrant sits up and nods "Lead the way!" [14:46]  * Hidden_Glimmer gets up, ready to follow iron hoof [14:48]  * Iron_Hoof waves the two off as they head back to town [14:48] [Ok, I gotta do some things before the adventure] [14:48] [I may be 10mins or so late] [14:48]  * Hidden_Glimmer waves back "See ya later, Hoof!" [14:49]  * Arrant waves back at Iron "See you later Iron! Take care!"