Adds some more text, clarifies stoneshod travelers a bit

dinneratwestgate.txt

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 Chief had two tables set, one smaller where he could sit with Calvin and Brother Kab, and a longer one for Calvin's yaks, along with a few dwarrows Chief trusted.
 And Brother Jod, who Chief didn't trust with diplomacy.
 His chefs had managed to accommodate their odd guests, with some well-preserved silage they had found stored in a larder, supplemented by some fresh clover, thin shavings of a well-mineraled salt crystal (which Chief felt a pang of regret sharing) and some raw sugar beets (which Chief felt a pang of regret leaving raw, rather than in a delicious soup).
+Chief hoped the language barrier wouldn't be too bad.
+There were a few others who spoke the Open Tongue.
 
 Calvin and his yaks entered in, led by Kab.
 The President looked wore formal coat, and Chief wished he had a better outfit than his nice jacket and clean boots.
@@ -36,14 +38,21 @@ Calvin nodded, and spoke between slow bites.
 	I know that Galvarelli and Mountberg have been isolated from each other, but I hope to convince them that we have a common enemy.
 	So again, I hope you will be able to help us reach them.
 
-―I wish you luck, Calvin.
-	But, I fear that help from Mountberg is unlikely.
+―What do you mean by an attack on the Meadowlark?
+
+Kab gave Chief a quizzical look.
+―The Meadowlark is what the Beasts call their Great Voice, he explained to Kab in Border.
+
+―It started as a minor curiosity, a couple months ago, Calvin said.
+	Yaks hearing indistinct whispers through the night, yaks with no history of hallucinations.
+	But our hospitals saw more and more cases, of people unable to sleep.
+	We isolated the source of the voices to the hair, not like the actual voice of the Meadowlark.
+	Consultation with experts in the Meadowlark said it seemed to be no normal disease.
+
+―I wish you luck, Calvin, but I fear that help from Mountberg is unlikely.
 	You see, Mountberg has largely closed itself off from the rest of the world, even from Border dwarrows like us.
 	Other Border towns would likely be happy to help, but apart from a handful of Pathbreakers there's not a lot we can actually do.
-
-The yak named Vaughan began to speak, but Chief pushed on.
-
-―I do think we can offer you another form of help, however.
+	I do think we can offer you another form of help, however.
 	As I mentioned earlier, Westgate is close to the Temple of the Rock.
 	There's a mountain goat there, who I believe is considered quite knowledgeable by your people.
 	Along with some of the more learned dwarrows in the area.
@@ -52,7 +61,7 @@ The yak named Vaughan began to speak, but Chief pushed on.
 Calvin kept his eyes low, thinking for a moment before answering.
 
 ―Speaking to an Elder would likely help.
-	At least as long as there's no chance of our dealing with Mountberg.
+	At least as long as there's no chance of our dealing with Mountberg, we have nothing to lose.
 	I don't know whether we have a lot of time available to us.
 	Is the journey far?
 
@@ -60,25 +69,46 @@ Calvin kept his eyes low, thinking for a moment before answering.
 	Recently though, we've been closing them more often when they're not in use.
 	But opening it again would not take long.
 	You might actually be one of the rare yaks to witness a Pathbreaking.
-	Going through the Path would be quite short.
+	Going through the Path would be quick.
 	We could have you at the Temple tonight if we started immediately after dinner.
 
 ―Would they be willing to grant us an audience with such short notice?
 
-―Ah of course Calvin, the Elder is a mountain goat stuck indoors and the dwarrow templars will have nothing better to do.
-	Eat up, and we can get to work.
+―Ah, of course.
+	Calvin, the Elder is a mountain goat stuck indoors and the dwarrow templars will have nothing better to do.
+	There's more as well.
+	This Elder has been warning us about a Curse of some kind.
+	He was sick for a little while, couldn't say how, but recovered.
+	Sent a message to the Border towns that if any sick Beasts came through, to send them to him for healing.
+	Not sure if it's related, but it was a couple months ago.
+	Timing lines up.
+	Anyway, I'm sure he'll have more to say.
+	Eat up, and we can get to work after.
 	
-The remainder of the dinner went smoothly, with Brother Kab ready to chat to Chief about travel plans in Border.
+
+The remainder of the dinner went smoothly, with Brother Kab there to chat to Chief about travel plans in Border.
 Calvin, meanwhile, seemed to withdraw into himself a bit.
 Chief looked at the other table.
 Brother Jod looked uncomfortable, but Sister Omig seemed captivated by the yak guards.
 Particularly the very tall one Chief had kept his eye on.
 
-Chief excused himself from his table and walked over to Jod and Omig.
+Chief excused himself from his table and pulled Jod and Omig aside.
 ―Both of you, he said in Border.
 	We'll be heading out to the Temple after dinner.
 	Will you both be ready for that?
 
-―Of course, Chief, Omig said, almost as soon as Jod denied it.
+Omig nodded enthusiastically.
+Jod looked more skeptical.
+―Chief, are you absolutely sure we want to help them?
+	I know, the Helm is a symbol of the Compact, whatever.
+	But seriously, we have no idea who they are.
+	We don't even know if they are who they claim.
+	He could have stolen the Helm and learned some Dwarrowtongue.
+	God knows whether their kind even lock up their treasures, or just put it out in some field.
 
-―No Chief, 
+―Jod! I can't have you disrespecting our guests like that.
+	We should honour the Compact, but more than that, we should help them because they're asking for help.
+	Besides, between you and Omig their warriors shouldn't be too much trouble if it comes to it, right?
+
+Jod nodded.
+The poor bastard would always fall for flattery.

stoneshodtravelers.txt

@@ -3,11 +3,15 @@ Even Stoneshod travelers occasionally made the pilgrimage.
 Unheard of in Chief's village, however, was eight great Stoneshod warriors, one wearing dwarrow treasure, seemingly unaware of the Rock entirely.
 Brother Kab stubbornly insisted that this was indeed the situation waiting in the village entrance hall, so Chief reluctantly made his way up to meet them.
 
-―I believe believe the leader is called kala pini, or something like it, Kab said as they walked. I don't speak the Open Tongue well enough to understand him.
+―I believe the leader is called kala pini, or something like it, Kab said as they walked. Jod doesn't speak the Open Tongue well enough to understand them.
+	I'd have stayed with them, but he insisted.
+	Said he needed to keep an eye on them.
 
-― The one who speaks Border?
+―Kab, you need to assert yourself more.
+	Anyway, so Jod was able to talk to their a bit in Border?
+	That's an odd language for one of the Stoneshod.
 
-― No, that's the thing. Proper Dwarrowspeak, too pure for me to follow. None of them speak Border though, which is why none of us have gotten through to them.
+― No, that's the thing. Proper Dwarrowspeak, too pure for Jod to follow. None of them speak Border though, which is why none of us have gotten through to them.
 
 ― And the dwarrow treasure?