Trollhaven
Like many towns in Sylvania, Trollhaven has a central 'downtown' area with flagstone and cobbled roads and decent (if old) buildings, while fields and farms spread out onto higher ground. The buildings themselves have lots of stone gargoyles - all depicting trolls, which look a bit like saggy-skinned, spiny Skeeks. There are other troll statues scattered about, as if to ward off evil (or lunch, depending on one's constitution). The river docks are the town's main source of trade.

While seemingly larger than Stonebarrow, there aren't particularly more buildings.. they're just bigger, since the inhabitants are generally larger. There are Skreeks, Khattas, Humans, Rhians and a lot of Korvs (which seem to populate the attics). There is also a distinctive odor to the place, despite it being further from the swamp. This may have to do with the open sewers - unlike Stonebarrow, there isn't any indoor plumbing it seems. There is a much larger boarding tavern though, and cheaper and more seedy establishments near the docks.

There are also uniformed guardsmen with pikes. They give Dr. Fether's wagon (and the mare herself) a good looking over.. but don't stop them or demand to see the cargo. "Well, here we be, glorious ghastly gruesome Trollhaven, where there's a bar fight every night and not much else for entertainment," Tarr claims.

Aviri looks around, trying not to breathe too deeply, at the town. "Even worse than Stonebarrow," he says to himself at a volume that wouldn't indicate it was only to himself.

Linyala wrinkles her nose. "I can't say I find the smell of the place appealin'. Think we kin catch the ferry 'afore it stops runnin' fer the night?"

"Ah, looking for a barge?" Tarr asks. "They don't run at night, but you might be able to book passage and sleep on it instead of in town if'n you prefer."

"Or you could stay with us," Tarr offers. "Doc and I got a little stable here.."

Lin looks around at her companions and glances pointedly at her pack. "Either sounds good t'me. Thanks!"

"Other end o' town," the Korv notes. "Near the docks. Rent is cheap, and we can sell off this batch of elixir to the boatmen."

"We're used to sleeping on barges," Trilup agrees. "Although not on a river. Not many currents in the swamp.."

Aviri starts. "We're? Speak for yourself. I like sleeping on solid ground. Or in it."

"That settles it then!" Lin chirps. "Me'n Tril kin stay on the barge so's the cappin doesn't "ferget" we already bought our tickets an you kin find a hole in the ground. They sure smell... Distinktive 'round here."

The lapi casts a glance at the streets. "Only hole I'll find is one several miles upwind," he says. "Though I'm good for a barn."

"Alright.. so.. I guess we go to your stable or whatever first then?" Trilup asks Tarr. "We need to know where Aviri will be."

Dr. Fether draws the wagon through town. Lots of people here wear hats it seems, just so they can pull the brims down over their eyes. While there are a few Kavi about, they seem to mostly stick to the alleys. "Do you folks know how the town got its name?" Tarr asks.

"Nah.. sort of," Tarr says. "Back at the end of the last war, the place was invaded by zombies. They'd lost their master or whatever, and were just wandering around causing problems. Then one night a horde of Trolls just popped up outta nowhere and ate them all. So.. Trolls is good luck here."

"Seems ... convenient," Aviri mutters. Louder, he says, "Nobody knows how the trolls got here? Where they came from?"

"Trols eat zombies?" Lin asks in wonder, "Doesn't that make them tuen inta zombies?"

"Nope.. they just appeared, ate the zombies, and disappeared," Tarr says. "Of course, it's not like anyone was gonna go out there and watch them to see where they went."

Dr. Fether snorts, and Tarr chuckles. "You don't get turned into a zombie from eat'n 'em. Trolls eat dead things. They're ghouls and such. Nobody knows if Trolls are alive or undead themselves though."

"Think we'll get ta meet a troll before we leave?" Lin asks, "Now I wanna ask if they're undead or not. D'ya think they'd answer? They don't eat 'quavi do they?"

Aviri remains quiet, with a slight frown on his face, and looks as if he's trying to think while being interrupted every time he inhales.

"Ain't been no Trolls seen here since that day, 'cept the statues of course," Tarr notes.

The road gets a bit rougher once they pass the Zombie's Head Tavern and reach the riverfront district. The buildings here don't even have paint on them, and not many sport windows. There are warehouses, bars and less savory places, along with food sold from carts. Fether keeps going until they reach the livestock area, where Rughrats are penned in. There's a barn-like building, which Fether pulls into. Stalls are large and enclosed, with big, heavy doors on them. Fether's actually is a double, so there's room for the wagon as well as living space.

Trilup asks, "Do Rhians take baths and stuff? I mean.. I'm sure Dr. Fether keeps clean, but what about the others who stay here?"

"Beats me," Tarr says. "Everything smells the same after awhile, unless you light up a good cigar to cover it. But since everyone uses buckets for water and buckets for all the rest..."

"We kin just throw Aviri in tha river if'n he smells bad in the mornin'." Lin whispers to Trilup. "S'a nice barn an thanks ta both of yu fer the ride out here. Let's get after those tickets fer the riverboat before it gets too late though."

Once the wagon is secured, Dr. Fether picks up a large wooden bucket, and heads back out of the barn.. probably to get water. "I'll take ye to where the boatmen hang out," Tarr offers.

Aviri follows Tarr, casting knowing glances to Lin. "Yes, thanks for the ride," he says. "Will I owe money for board?"

Aviri looks confused. "Can't paint," he says. He ruffles the fur on his arm. "Don't need to style hair or fur. I can clean, though. It'd be like using pumice, right?"

"That should be good enough," Tarr says. "Just brush Fether and she'll let you sleep on her head if you want."

Aviri nods. "I'll do my best," he says, his nose wrinkling in preparation for getting closer to town.

There's a long line of barges moored to the dock. They come in various sizes, and some are multi-hull ones even, linked together. Each one has a flag.. either white or green.. to tell which direction its going on the river. "You want a greenie if yer going south," Tarr notes. Most of the cargo on the barges is hidden under tarps, and there are armed guards on each one as well. "Got any preference to size or crew?" the Korv asks.

"Only the big ones have cabins," Trilup points out. "They don't look like our barges much."

"S'long as theyre headin south an have room fer three." Lin chirps, "An s'long as they're not the type ta throw us overboard as soon as we're away from shore. Not that it'd bother me an Tril but it might put 'Viri off his feed."

Tarr leads them further up the line, closer to the taverns where the better berths can be found. One of the barge looks more like a proper riverboat.. it's even got paddle-wheels on the sides and a big cabin in the middle. And paint, even if it is just white paint. "This be more the passenger and expensive goods sort. Spices, wine, booze and such."

Lin churrs at the sight of the riverboat. "It's even got those paddley wheels! Aviri, Kin we go on that one?" She asks, looking up at Aviri with those wide and hopeful otter eyes.

The lapi shrugs and looks down at the otter. "Yes?" he says, as if dipping a toe into water of unknown temperature.

"Ho, the Saucy Salmon," Tarr calls out to the boat. There are lights on in the cabin, and a feline head pops out of one of the windows. "Yar? Whatcher want, old crow?" he calls back.

"These fine youngsters are looking for passage south, to.. uh.." Tarr turns to the others and asks, "Where you actually be looking to dock at downstream?"

Lin appears to be glowing over getting to ride in a boat with "paddley wheels" as she called them. "Ta Bog Bend." She chirps.

"Bog Bend," Tarr calls to the boat. "Tha's two days... or so," the Khatta calls back, and leans out further to get a better look at the group from Stonebarrow. "Pretty small though.. No cargo wi' em?"

"It's just us," Aviri calls back. He adjusts his satchel on his shoulder to indicate they do have their bags.

Up and over the gangplank they go.. to the rear (or fore.. both ends look the same) deck. The Khatta emerges from the cabin, and unhooks some things from the outer wall. Soon an arm is swung out, with pulleys and suspended baskets.. a rather large scale. "Lessee if you can all fit together in the basket. Pretend yer a barrel," the boatman requests, pointing to one of the wooden baskets.

Aviri obliges, automatically trying to find a corner of the basket. "Are we in danger of sinking the boat?" he asks.

Aviri gets a weird look, and rephrases. "Are you in danger of us sinking the boat? With extra weight?"

"We gotta know how much to charge you, see?" the boatman says. "And that depends on yer weight." Once everyone is snug in the basket, he starts filling the other one with various rocks, each with numbers on them. He keeps it up until the scales balance, then gets another basket and counts the numbers on the rocks as he passes them into it. "Eh, yer only 'bout half a barrel of oil's worth.."

"Prolly be about 20 shekels," the man says. "Not including food and water. That'd be extree."

"To Bog Bend," the cat says, then leans over the side of the railing and spits into the river. "Base cargo rate. Like I said, anything extra is.. extra. You all gonna bunk together, yeah? You should all fit in one hammock."

"Of course it'd be extra," the man says. "We ain't made out of hammocks after all. Only so many places you can hang 'em. Got a problem with fish breath?"

"I'd have to ask the cap'n," the cat notes, giving Aviri an odd look. "It is just the three of you, right?"

"Well, maybe we kin spread you all out a bit if the girls don't mind sharing with crew," the cat notes. "I'm Bosun Catbutt, by the by. What're yer handles?"

"I'm fine sleeping on the deck, too," Aviri notes, "if that helps. My name's Aviri Chalk."

"Chalk? Oh.. one of those.." the Bosun says, as if that explained everything. "Oggton.. now that's a proper river name." He returns the salute.

"I'm Trilup Oggton," the smallest otter notes. "Is it fun to sleep on the deck?"

"Well, usually a watch on the deck when we anchor at night," Catbutt notes. "Always someone awake, y'see. Don't want pirates or bandits or.. other things.. sneaking up on us."

"Ah," Aviri says. He looks at Trilup and says, "then I don't mind sharing a hammock with my companions."

"Sounds good. So we're leavin in the mornin'?" Lin asks Catbut and pokes Trilup. "Let's take a look around an come back before full dark."

"That'll simplify things," the Bosun notes and nods. "Cap'n like it when stuff is simple!"

"Think it's safe?" Trilup asks Lin, looking back at the rowdy dockside establishments.

"Yeah, we leave at dawn," the feline confirms. "Ain't you two gels a bit young to be out on the town? Or is that shady Korv yer chaperone?" He turns to Aviri and says, "Since you're the moneybag, you'll need to come talk to the cap and get everything squared away."

Lin considers the docks then takes off her pack and rummages for a few seconds. "How 'bout we leave our packs with Aviri?" She suggests and ties her bag of writing supplies to her belt.

"Might be a change in plans from that," Aviri tells Lin. "My name's Aviri," he says to Catbut jokingly. "Where to?"

"I don't think she needs a bunny pillow," Trilup notes. "I'd have heard something otherwise!"

"We'll stow yer stuff then, but be back before midnight if you can manage it," the Bosun tells the otters.

"I think we'll be sticking together tonight," Aviri says. He withdraws his pouch and counts out thirty coins, putting ten in his pocket and putting the pouch away. "Is the captain available to pay now, or could we come back after getting some supplies?"

The Bosun ducks back into the cabin, then returns. "Yeah, you can head out for a bit, just be back before he bunks down.. you have about four hours. He'll be easier to negotiate with after he's had his nightcap too."

"I'll talk to the doc," Tarr notes. "I gotta arrange to sell off that.. uh.. elixir.. but you know where to find us!"

"That we do," Aviri says. "Thanks for the ride, and we'll see you in ... less than four hours."

Lin nudges Trilup while echoing Aviri's thanks and whispers, "We're ditchin' him an gettin the next symbol as soon as we can. Ain't no way I'm missin' a day 'cause of ole fluffbutt there."