Lloria excused herself and left for the temple of Torm, as the others remonstrated with Rosten in Queron’s foyer. The halfling refused to back down, however, arguing that business was business and they were a mercenary company that should not be shedding blood for free. While the discussion was still going on, Bustable discreetly appeared and asked Darrow to come upstairs to see the Council Member in private. After a short time passed, Darrow and Bustable returned to the mansion’s entry, where his companions were still squabbling. Dermot flipped a weary salute Bustable's way and Darrow waved to the manservant as he headed out the door, telling the others he would fill them in when they got somewhere they could have a chat. They ended up at the Two Swords in the Bayside district, after some grim walking and irritated stomping along the way.
Darrow motioned to a table in the common room they could occupy, then shared with the others that Queron was not personally upset, but had indicated Rosten was no longer welcome in his house, having upset his daughter Janatha. The dwarf observed that she was a bit fragile and Aerikoth found the development unsurprising. Darrow said that most of their conversation, however, had to do with rumors Queron had been hearing about Ironhelm. Specifically, that the place was shut tighter than a duergar's lampshade – the dwarf’s words – and there might be a dragon flying about the clanhome. Aerikoth found this intriguing and mentioned he had visited the new leader of the Westgate mercenary guild, Varen Malavhan, who mentioned there had been discreet inquiries about dragon hunters for the Giant’s Run Mountains.
At this point, Rosten’s companions explained to him that during a previous expedition into the mountains, they had come across an abandoned dragon’s hoard, which Dermot admitted they had robbed; this met with the hin’s approval. Helrud, an exotic member of the Clan Ironhelm – as Aerikoth put it – had lead them to its secretive entrance. Darrow asserted, contradicting a suggestion from Dermot, that there was no way that the dwarves would give back the hoard, even if there were a dragon. Aerikoth advised them not to concern themselves at the moment with talk of a dragon, until they were there and could see it for themselves. The wizard also reminded them they had been invited to the coronation ceremony on the 15th of the month, which could play into the situation, given the previous politics involving a faction wishing to place Darrow on the throne as the “redeemer” of the clan. Darrow said he hoped that his support for the Prince would solidify his standing. Rosten for his part looked forward to getting some coin, if they were to stand against a dragon.
Their common business concluded, the companions decided to break, although not before Aerikoth had fished out a book with an intricate cover design and inquired if Rosten would be willing to take on a task for the wizard. Rosten looked at him suspiciously, until Aerikoth explained that he was impressed with the hin’s skill at disabling the locks in the crypts they were within recently, so wondered if Rosten would be able to open the lock on the book. Aerikoth further explained that it was a spell book from a neophyte necromancer who was a slave that the company had rescued. Rosten, curious, agreed to look it over and tinker with it. After sorting out additional rooms at the Two Swords, and Dermot checking in on Killian Gryphonhawk, the group decided to retire for the night.
Darrow motioned to a table in the common room they could occupy, then shared with the others that Queron was not personally upset, but had indicated Rosten was no longer welcome in his house, having upset his daughter Janatha. The dwarf observed that she was a bit fragile and Aerikoth found the development unsurprising. Darrow said that most of their conversation, however, had to do with rumors Queron had been hearing about Ironhelm. Specifically, that the place was shut tighter than a duergar's lampshade – the dwarf’s words – and there might be a dragon flying about the clanhome. Aerikoth found this intriguing and mentioned he had visited the new leader of the Westgate mercenary guild, Varen Malavhan, who mentioned there had been discreet inquiries about dragon hunters for the Giant’s Run Mountains.
At this point, Rosten’s companions explained to him that during a previous expedition into the mountains, they had come across an abandoned dragon’s hoard, which Dermot admitted they had robbed; this met with the hin’s approval. Helrud, an exotic member of the Clan Ironhelm – as Aerikoth put it – had lead them to its secretive entrance. Darrow asserted, contradicting a suggestion from Dermot, that there was no way that the dwarves would give back the hoard, even if there were a dragon. Aerikoth advised them not to concern themselves at the moment with talk of a dragon, until they were there and could see it for themselves. The wizard also reminded them they had been invited to the coronation ceremony on the 15th of the month, which could play into the situation, given the previous politics involving a faction wishing to place Darrow on the throne as the “redeemer” of the clan. Darrow said he hoped that his support for the Prince would solidify his standing. Rosten for his part looked forward to getting some coin, if they were to stand against a dragon.
Their common business concluded, the companions decided to break, although not before Aerikoth had fished out a book with an intricate cover design and inquired if Rosten would be willing to take on a task for the wizard. Rosten looked at him suspiciously, until Aerikoth explained that he was impressed with the hin’s skill at disabling the locks in the crypts they were within recently, so wondered if Rosten would be able to open the lock on the book. Aerikoth further explained that it was a spell book from a neophyte necromancer who was a slave that the company had rescued. Rosten, curious, agreed to look it over and tinker with it. After sorting out additional rooms at the Two Swords, and Dermot checking in on Killian Gryphonhawk, the group decided to retire for the night.