[NR] Meeting The Locals - Chapter 763

William, the greymuzzle rabbitkin who goes by Old Liam, grumbles at the lady. “You saw that last group just as clearly as I. The less we knew about them the better and this town as a whole was happy to see them skedaddle.”

The rabbitkin in the house laughs, “Just a bunch of broody teens. If we had said there was some fell beast across the way, they would’a been out of our hair lickety split. Don’t try to trick these young’ins. I’ve been married to you nigh on sixty years now and you’re just a softy at heart! Only took so long to send them on their way cause you had to wrap a quest up for them so their overinflated egos could accept it.”

Old Liam groans, “Marry! Why can’t you let me keep my image for these folks?”

Marry laughs, “Well maybe if I knew their damn names so I could greet them properly for a cup of tea?”

Old Liam sighs, “So, since my wife over there kindly reminded me of my manners. How might I address you folks?”

Rosha curtsies, “Call me Rosha!”

Courtney sighs, “Courtney, if you please.”

And lastly, Jason, “I’m Jason, and this young lady”, he points to Lily on his shoulder, “Is Lily who might actually count as royalty of a sort. She’s a companion I picked up while in the rabbit plains located next to Shine fish if you know the place or maybe more recognizable, the Spire Wastelands.”

Old Liam’s eyes widen by the smallest of margins. “Well now, you might not be wrong about that.” He turns to his house, “Hey Marry! Bring out a few sprigs of the good chawing grass for this little lady here. Seems she’s from the rabbit circle.”

He turns back to the group, “Don’t know about royalty, but a kit like that from over thar? Hmm, no reason not to show our best hospitality. Us Lago types, the rabbits and hares, kin and folk, owe that place a lot. While I wouldn’t call it bigotry–”

From the house Marry shouts, “Some of it is!”

Liam continues, “–though yes, some of it is. Smaller prey animals can have it tough, even among others of small size or who aren’t eating meat. And us rabbits? Well now, if the old tales aren’t misleading is? Hmm, well, we didn’t have the best of times.

“Even now, we’re best known for our numbers and how easily we take to various powers. Have a fire-saturated area? Likely, there are some fiery rabbits nibbling on whatever grows there and feeding the rest of the food chain.

“Now, in these modern times? Not so bad as the stories say. Whatever happened over yonder with the rabbit circle. Well, that event has given us lagomorphs some extra social standing. No one rightly knows the full truth, but rumors pin it on some rabbit managing to break into a higher level than would be expected.

“Anyway, since then we’ve at least gotten a decent shake at life and rabbits from the circle have been known to grow in power more than those from other locations. Even after a couple generations, though beyond that it goes back to baseline.

“Not that people have managed to spread things too much. Whatever might have happened in the past, it is well known now that the rabbit circle has a guardian! Idiots who try and poach themselves some rabbits to improve a training field don’t tend to survive all that long.”

They had been walking slowly, but at this point they reached the porch. Old Liam gestures to a round table with a bunch of chairs around it. Though none of the chairs really match. All in different designs and levels of quality. “Have a seat! Don’t worry, they’re all decent and will hold you.”

Marry comes out of the house with a glass jar full of tea and ice, which is surrounded by five glasses of said tea, all neatly arranged on top of a ceramic tray. She sets the tray down on the table, “Now don’t be shy. Everyone says I make the finest sweet tea in the area, even behind my back, so there must be something to it.”

She then pulls a small handful of grass sprigs out of her apron pocket. “And for the fine little lady, here’s a small snack! That river over yonder isn’t the most magical, but on occasion some of the grass will pick it up and we managed to harvest some recently. Doesn’t have any effect except the magic keeps the stalks fresh and tasty!”

Jason sits down and pops open Lily’s carrier. “That’s kind of you. I know even if it doesn’t do anything, being magic means they’re worth something.”

Marry waves him off, “Don’t you worry. While we could earn a few extra coins, no one here bothers. There isn’t a high-level rancher nearby to purchase the stuff and even if the stalks will keep some. That effect don’t extend far enough to actually get where it would be worth the effort. We mostly keep it to nibble on.

“Or as this old buck likes to do. Chew on it like some farmer stereotype. Which is doubly such since we are rabbitkin. Not that we rightly can eat grass for the most part, mind you! We’re kin, not folk. Eating too much grass won’t agree with us none too kindly.”

Old Liam rolls his eyes, “Marry, they don’t need to hear that! Sides, Rosha there likely already knows it. If only cause the System would’a warned her.”

Marry shrugs, “That’s neither here nor there. I’m just chattering and whatnot. Never quite know what travellers will and won’t know, you know?”

Old Liam sighs, “Fair ‘nough. Though speaking of what they know. Now that you’ve tried it, you all must know how good my wife’s tea is, right?”

The three all nod their heads. The sun tea is quite good with just enough sweetener to accent the more subtle flavors imparted by the long, but gentle brew time in the sun.