Pinmaster Plinney

Up there, in that Citadel, the fabled oil is waiting. Bestow it upon this fine pinmaster, and your blade shall sing louder yet.

Hornet

I will find the oil, pinmaster. Keep your skills sharp.

Hornet

Your skills are impressive. My needle sings from your care. But I must ask, can the blade be honed further?

You seek further sharpening? Further than Plinney does provide? Impertinence! But... Maybe? But... No...

Hornet

You hesitate? Then it is possible? Are you incapable? Should I seek others within the kingdom?

Wait! Yes. Seek not others, but an oil, fabled and fine. With it the Citadel once brought gleaming edge and point to its pins.

Though the Citadel’s pinmasters are long past, some small store of that miraculous elixir may remain within its halls.

Were even a meagre drop pilfered, and gifted upon Plinney, your blade could shine brighter still...

Just know, dear friend, the veiled bugs would be oh so unkind to the thief who’d claim that fine prize for themself.

Lost within that fortress above, the fabled oil of my profession... Such sharpness one could achieve...

But, oh! ‘Tis an awful thing. Too cruel, the many stabbing pins you’d face in its seeking.

Sharpen Needle?

That blade! By claw! My finest work by far. Pharloom may ail, but across its morbid dim, your needle will shine bright.

Hornet

I will find the oil, pinmaster. My needle has seen much use in this cruel kingdom, and I suspect many more battles are due. I will value your further skills upon my blade.

It is a dangerous wish you accept of this poor pinmaster. I welly hope this one’s professional desire does not cost you your life.

And now! This pinmaster must work! Let the sharpening begin!

Bonva! It is done, brave warrior. By my expert claw, your strange blade has received some fast-sharp shine. It shall cut cleaner than ever before.

Hornet

Your efforts provide great aid, pinmaster. You have my thanks.

By claw! Are you then our saviour in the shell? Standing so calm and cool on entrance to Plinney’s bellhome!

Hornet

What clue, sir, tells of my part in your town’s liberation?

Why your blade, fierce warrior! Any fine pinmaster would detect the sign of deadly work upon that needle’s edge.

T’was a vile curse that struck here. No simple bug, nor basic pin could have granted our release. No!

That blade though, so expertly clutched in claw. That could welly have met the task. It was you who cut us free, yes?

Hornet

I’ll grant you’ve sharp sight, pinmaster, and your saving is fortuitous. This blade that restored your town would now benefit from your service.

Welly, yes! I’ve a busy backlog of pins to tend, but your gracious heroism decrees that unique weapon receives my care this very moment! What’s say I take a look?

Done, it is! Marvel of Pharloom! See how it gleams, your long, fine blade. Havast! That the pins of our land all once held such shine. So much we have lost...

Hornet

This is fine service, pinmaster. It has been a long age since I have seen my needle such. I had not remembered the finesse of its forging.

Welly, ho! It is certain! Yours is a blade of finer make than most, one of few that could bear even more sharpening.

If ever upon your long road more oil is acquired, seek my service with haste! Who knows what form we could find deeper within your weapon’s sharpened steel!

Hornet

It is fortune to see you returned, pinmaster. The roads between here and that deep woods’ grave crawl with violent foes. I had concerns for your safety.

Brave warrior, my hero! T’was indeed a fearful scramble home, but safe I now am! And a warmly pleasure to see you too, for the world has darkened indeed!

In such times, the task for a pinmaster is clear, to polish and sharpen and refine, suchly that the glimmer of your blade may pierce through the encroaching murk!

That blade! By claw! It is done. Sharper than this pinmaster would have believed achievable. Shining pale and clear.

Bonva! Stranger, you have granted my wish, and more. Your blade is accomplishment to match those of great pinmasters past.

Pharloom may ail, but throughout its morbid dim, your needle will shine bright.

Hornet

Stay alert on your journey home, pinmaster. If you encounter other bugs upon the road, I advise you avoid them as you are able.

Ahh. ‘Tis your choice, warrior. If you’re choosing different in times ahead, Plinney shall be here to provide eager aid.

Bonva, traveller! You have the oil! Will you allow me to work wonder upon your blade?

Welly, nay? Certainly you make the safer choice. Better to keep one’s shell intact.

Welly, done! What miracle to work again upon steel so fine. Few pins left in Pharloom could attain such a sheen!

You must tell me, traveller, wherever did you come upon so splendid a weapon?

Hornet

The blade was a gift, given by a noble tribe of my homeland. They forged the strongest steel, though it was rarely seen beyond their hive.

Hornet

That tribe has now long passed, and with them the secrets to their craft.

Ahhh. If they are gone, it’s a rarer piece than would be guessed! But what grand luck for this humble pinmaster to have worked with such a weapon!

Welly, nay? You hold the precious oil for yourself? For what purpose do you deny a pinmaster their work? There is only I alive to work with such a wondrous substance!

Welly now! You have the oil, traveller! Allow me to bring about a shine bright as none before!

If ever upon your long road more oil is acquired, seek my service with haste! Who knows what form we could find deeper within your blade’s sharpened steel!

By claw! Who is this bold warrior, standing so calm and cool on entrance to Plinney’s bellhome!

Hornet

Merely a traveller, sir, though one whose blade could benefit from your service.

Your blade! Of course, fierce warrior! Any fine pinmaster would detect the sign of deadly work upon that needle’s edge.

If your weapon sharpened would see our lands that much safer, then honour decrees it receives my care this very moment! What’s say I take a look?

Ahh... how welly romantic t’would’ve been, had the lost pilgrims struck me down beside her grave, to lie together forever as the world crumbles all ‘round...

But fortune has claimed otherwise! And perhaps ‘tis best for this humble pinmaster to continue his trade a little longer. These uncertain times will bring much new work, I should think!

Hornet

I have more oil, pinmaster. Its acquisition was no small task, but if it aids my blade, those challenges will be well rewarded.

Even more oil? What preposterous luck! That unseen gift, in quantity unheard, discovered by a single bug!

Would you pass the oil, traveller, and perhaps a few rosaries for the ongoing effort? Allow this pinmaster to again work wonder upon your blade?

Welly’o! What a fearful fright you’ve saved poor Plinney from! Such a delight, at longest last, to see that fine needle dance and sing!

Hornet

Again, pinmaster, I must ask your skilled service. I bring another gland of oil.

Oil, so much! This bug is past surprise! It is time methinks, to see your blade’s work finished! To bring about a shine bright as none before!

Welly now! Why wait? Would you have me begin, traveller?

Hornet

These are deadly roads to wander, pinmaster, especially with the black soaked threads tearing the lands apart.

Hornet

Your greatest chance for safety lies in Bellhart, with your fellows. You can protect one another, and perhaps in time rebuild.

Oh yes, of course! T’was not Plinney’s wish to abandon his dear bellfriends, but with the world now ending, I had to come and say one last farewell to my sweet Melatolla.

I should be returning though, quite rightly. Our town will be needing a pinmaster’s fine work now more than ever!

Would you pass the oil, traveller, and perhaps a few rosaries for their ongoing effort? Allow this pinmaster to again work wonder upon your blade?

Tarano! We shall work, now as never. What joy you grant this humble artisan, traveller. Let us seek that shine thought lost within these lands...

Welly, ho! That oil! You have it! That rare substance, hoarded close by the Citadel. Few are the pinmasters of our age that ever chanced to work its wonders.

Would you see it, traveller? The finest work of this fair pinmaster and your blade sharper still! Pass me the oil, and we can commence!

Welly, yay? Reconsider my offer? Your blade would gleam at my fine skill!

Hornet

Pinmaster, I have acquired oil with which my needle may see further sharpening.

Bonva! What wonder? What wish? To steal a gift so fine. Few are the pinmasters of our age who ever worked with such a substance.