[Brenelo can change an object's color at a distance. Prota has bright green wool for trade.] 

"Oh, that's gorgeous," I say of the wool. "It's a lovely market, there's so much stuff here."

Prota compliments Brenelo's work and the Clan Pratchett market. 

"Oh, that's gorgeous," you say of the wool. "It's a lovely market, there's so much stuff here."

Step 107

Brenelo accepts the compliment with boisterous cheer. He's also happy to talk about the virtues of the Clan Pratchett market. (This conversation can be elided somewhat. Prota may be learning a bit more about Brenelo, but the plot seems to have stalled. If Prota wants to ask Brenelo anything about politics, a gentle prompt to do so may help move things along. If Prota decides not to continue the conversation or ask further questions, the conversation with Brenelo can wrap up.) Brenelo, showing a bit more shrewdness than he usually lets on, remarks that Prota likely didn't drop by just to praise the virtues of the Pratchworks. This may accompany a knowing glance towards Glint, who frequently comes to Brenelo for news and rumors. Brenelo may act bubbly and foolish sometimes, but he does know quite a bit about people and politics. 

What does Brenelo get out of this? For one thing, he enjoys gossip. He also earns goodwill and the occasional favor, and Glint often has stories to swap as well - stories which Brenelo will happily repeat, though not particularly faithfully, to dazzle customers and potential political supporters. Brenelo knows how useful it can be to be friends with powerful magic-wielders, and goodwill from them is often more useful to him than a few more coins. 

Brenelo probably has a corny catchphrase he repeats for his dyeing business. 

"Naturally! I always say, my colors are to dye for!" Brenelo laughs and winks. Beside you, Glint rolls his eyes with a sigh. "And you can't beat the Pratchworks for variety, no indeed! Every tool or trinket gree of blue." Brenelo continues in this vein for a bit, expounding upon the virtues of the Pratch. Eventually, though, he directs an unusually piercing glance towards you and your uncle, his hat now a somber navy blue. "...but I doubt you were drawn all this way merely by my delightful signage. Is there something else I can do for you?" 

Brenelo's hat is now dark blue. 

"News and tips," I say, shrugging. "Uncle Glint thought you'd be a good place for those."

Prota asks for news and tips. The topic is not specified. 

"News and tips," you say, shrugging. "Uncle Glint thought you'd be a good place for those."

Step 108

"News and tips" are both very broad categories. Prota did not specify a topic of interest. Brenelo will cheerfully spout rumors when prompted, but without a specific area of interest, the rumors may be of limited value to Prota. (Still, this is an opportunity for open-ended worldbuilding.) What are some of the most salient rumors or tips that might occur to Brenelo? He knows Prota is on pilgrimage, so he'll assume Prota wants advice about getting to and from the Blue safely and quickly. He's made the trip before, but spends most of his time now with the clan. Possible news topics: exodus from Adwell, oddly-behaved animals, missing travelers near the Llerwood, increased exports from Bluward and Greward in preparation for migration, a flashy new magic someone supposedly received, a false rumor about Bluward alchemists discovering immortality again, Pratch council debates about migrating sooner or later. Does this world produce any circulating magazines or newspapers? Paper-making is hard, and although magic can make up the difference somewhat, magics that allow duplication or similar mass-production abilities are in high demand. [A few books and rare periodicals produced mainly in the floating gree cities might be available this far bluse.] For tips, Brenelo might recommend a small but dense booklet called the Scrounger's Almanac sold in the Pratchworks. Other migrant-advice books of varying quality: Gree Trash, Bluse Treasure; Belhazzar's Guide To Migrant Finds! (Worldbuilding implication is that those living bluse often come across items thrown out or left behind by greefolk, some of which might still have value.) Of necessity, however, such tools are of limited value to those nearest the Blue. Middlefolk tend to pick the most valuable objects first, meaning that what reaches the Blue is typically garbage. Other tips, some ill-considered: Buy low, sell high; livestock are valuable if you can keep and feed them; don't trust strange carriages; don't fall for hoof polish scams. Brenelo may be relaying some of his own regrets, here. 

(The prompt should make it clear to the Player that they will need to be more specific if they want something beyond chatty ramblings of dubious value.) Glint will occasionally interject with comments, perhaps about the immortality rumor. 

"Oh, aye," nods Brenelo affably. "Well, the migration from Adwell's been on everyone's mind lately. Plenty of would-be profiteers looking to benefit, but a fish in the net's worth two in the stream, eh?" He winks. "Oh, and did you hear a Bluward alchemist invented an elixir of immortality?" 

"Yeah, those alchemists have sure been busy," deadpans your uncle. "That's the third one this year." 

"Well, we don't know it isn't real, do we? The Twin Cities have certainly stepped up their trade, of late. They're loathe to leave the Wellspring, but the Blue marches on. I suspect we'll be seeing another wave of inexperienced migrants headed gree before the year's out. Poor souls.

"If it's advice you're after, Ordaron in the market sells some handy booklets. I, personally, recommend the Scrounger's Almanac. Came in a mite handy when I made my journey, yes indeed. Gree Trash, Blue Treasure is another underappreciated read. The things people throw away, tsk!" Brenelo leans forward. "My own advice, though? Buy low, sell high! Livestock are valuable if you can feed 'em and keep 'em. Don't trust strange carriages, the greefolk can be quite rude." He frowns slightly. "Oh, and don't buy hoof polish from men with beady eyes. It's a right scam." 

Brenelo seems quite happy to go on in this vein for some time. He mentions talk of oddly-behaved animals, disappearances in the Llerwood, and a new magic that can plow a field in moments and plant grains there to boot, and he intersperses it with tidbits from his - perhaps somewhat outdated - past travels. Occasionally he mentions how a given bit of news affects the Pratch's decision of when to migrate. Some want to avoid the looming troubles bluse and set, while others hope to take advantage of the surge in potential customers. You might be able to steer the conversation towards a specific topic if one catches your interest. 

[Middlefolk and blusefolk have some collected wisdom and small books about migration and scrounging greefolk artifacts. In the Pratch market, Ordaron sells several books and pamphlets.]

"We saw an oddly-behaved animal on our way here," I mention. "Attacking another party."

Prota brings up the gallowgale attack, though does not mention it by name. Prota is steering the topic towards the animal attacks, possibly with the goal of learning more about them. 

"We saw an oddly-behaved animal on our way here," you mention. "Attacking another party."

Step 109

As news and gossip fuel, this interests Brenelo greatly. He asks to hear more. Prota may also want to learn more about these creature attacks. What other sorts of animals have been infected? The attacks would be made mostly by mobile creatures, able to travel far from the Llerwood in a short time, and able to pose enough of a threat to be worth mentioning. Some odd behavior other than direct attacks may also be noticed. Birds and some small, quick mammals might get into fights along the side of the road, or pass by good food without pausing or landing. Nimue's Rot makes animals resilient and aggressive, and sustains them without regular nourishment, but their bodies decay. Confused carrion birds might try to feed on a zombie animal, only for it to start biting back. Afflicted creatures that might be seen include deer, wolves or coyotes, wild cats, boar, and birds. 

(It will help if the prompt drops some hints for the Player in addition to asking Prota for more information.) True to form, Brenelo speculates wildly about the nature of the animal, listing some creatures that have been seen behaving oddly, and maybe some that haven't. 

"Really?" inquires Brenelo. "Even farther gree than us? What type of creature was it? Wildcat? A lone wolf? Beaver? No - no - deer! Ah, do tell, do tell!" 

None. 

"It was a gallowgale! Uncle Glint took it down but it hurt somebody pretty bad first."

Prota replies to Brenelo's question, confirming the attacker was a gallowgale. 

You reply, "It was a gallowgale! Uncle Glint took it down but it hurt somebody pretty bad first."

Step 110

Glint nods confirmation of Prota's claim, since he was there. Brenelo wants to know all the juicy details about the attack. (A protracted back-and-forth with Prota merely reviewing past events would unduly stall plot progression. Ideally, the prompt should frame an opportunity for the Player to describe what Prota is willing to say and elide the extended Q&A. However, it is further helpful if Brenelo asks a question which makes the Player think; perhaps an implication they have not fully considered yet. What such implication might exist? After Brenelo has asked some more questions and gotten a clearer picture of the encounter, he might ask why the gallowgale went after the people instead of the draft animals. The real answer is that animals suffering Nimue's Rot prioritize human targets when they can, because the creator of the affliction finds it useful to afflict and control humans. [Li Voita Nimue can exert some control over the default priorities of afflicted creatures, even when they are far away. Their behavior can be programmed to a limited degree.] 

Can it be assumed that Prota describes the full details of the encounter? Not yet; there may be something Prota wishes to avoid discussing, or they might prefer to ask Brenelo more questions first. (Still, it is not necessary to push too hard on the skipping yet. The discussion only just started.) 

How does Brenelo respond to the specific comment? He asks an open-ended question or makes a comment that invites Prota to elaborate further, expressing fascination. He compliments Glint on his actions. 

"A gallowgale! My, that must have been a frightening experience. Good on you, Glint old boy - your uncle's a solid one to have around in a pinch, Emerald! Do say more, do say more, I simply must hear the tale." 

None.