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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Radiating Gnome" data-source="post: 41870" data-attributes="member: 150">We're the Goonies!We’re the GooniesIt didn’t take long – there was still dank, acrid smoke from the burned Ogre Mage in the air, when the Baron started trying to convince the party to leave town.  He made it clear that he was in an awkward place – he arranged a quick feast in their honor, which was a meager celebration at best, and was pointedly not attended by the Baron’s family.  Apparently the Baroness, broken jaw and all, was refusing to be in the presence of the party, especially “that homicidal dwarf”, and insisted that the Baron execute the party.  The baron just thanked the party for saving his city, then asked them to leave and never return.  And he hoped they would understand.Pah kept asking for a bath. "I feel dirty."Uri smirked.  "That kind of dirty don't wash off."Pah glowered at Uri.   While eating in the uncomfortable quiet of the feast, the party had a small delivery – a messenger arrived with a note from Solen, who begged that they wrap things up and make their way to Dyvers as soon as possible.  He had tracked down those who had stolen the pistols and things had become complicated.  He needed them there right away.So they set out, and made their way without incident to Dyvers, this time passing through the city gates without incident.  Finding the inn where Solen had indicated he could be found, they waited until he returned at the end of the day.  He was pleased to see them.  But he quickly got down to business.The situation was complicated.  It turned out that the two men who had stolen Pah’s old pistols from her room were in the employ of the Magister of Dyvers herself, and had delivered the weapons to her before Solen could catch up with them.  She was preparing to deliver the powder and weapons to her court alchemist, who would try to reverse-engineer them, when Solen arrived and tried to recover the items.  He explained that he had never intended for his gunpowder to fall into the hands of a kingdom – any kingdom – and shift the balance of power in the lands.  The Magister was not about to return the powder to Solen, but did see the value in having it’s creator on hand to make the powder for her.  After days and nights of negotiation and debate, Solen and the Magister hammered out an agreement.  Solen would oversee the creation of a unit of 20 soldiers who would be trained to use Solen’s black powder weapons.  The would be provided with special uniforms, be attached to the Dyvers Free Army, and be called the Dyvers Dragoons.  Solen described a very complex political situation – the Magister’s council of advisors was in turmoil, and the Dragon Cult was growing in power and influence, even though Sear’s resources were no longer at their disposal.  The high priest of the Dragon Cult in Dyvers now held a position on the council.  Solen saw this as a dubious sign.  The heroes agreed.Solen, stalling desperately as the members of the elite unit were selected from the DFA, managed to hold back four positions for the Heroes of Spittlemarch.  He wasn’t sure how much longer he could have held onto those positions, so he was glad to have the party arrive when they did. The group was not exactly thrilled.  “I don’t want to wear anything with a dragon on it,” said Pah.  (the tabards that made up the Dragoon’s uniforms were purple with a dragon head silhouette).“We’re called the what?” asked Uri.“The Dyvers Dragoons.”Pah had a sudden flash.  “We’re the goonies!” No one shared her excitement.Without much further discussion, Solen gathered his things and led the group to the barracks that had been appropriated for the Dragoons.  On the way he explained the basics of the unit.  There were sixteen others in the unit, led by a Captain Nikolai and Lieutenant Alexi.  The two officers had been training already and were overseeing the training of the rest of the men.  There was a group of four practicing shooting and loading as the party entered the compound.  Solen introduced the party to Nikolai, the captain of the Dragoons, who was training the other soldiers.  Nikolai was clearly not impressed with the group, and made it clear that he was not happy that these four  . . . irregulars . . . were occupying a position in the Dragoons that could have been use by proper soldiers.  Solen showed the heroes to their part of the barracks, and let them get settled in for a few minutes.  Pah spent her time trying to accessorize her uniform tabard – a knot here, a tuck here, a bit of jewelry there – anything to make it look a bit prettied.  She did her best, but was still frustrated with the uniform.  The others shuffled around a bit, while Minimonk complained about not being a member of the dragoons (no space had been held for him, he Solen did not know Uri had picked up a follower).  Solen organized a big dinner to welcome the heroes into the dragoons and let everyone get to know each other. It was a stiff affair, something that made Irk very uncomfortable, and the Captain’s distain finally got to him.  Before long the two were squaring off in the training ground for a fistfight.  It was a pretty brutal slugfest, but the dwarf’s stony build saw him through, an eventually Nikolai was stretched out on the ground.  Some of the men, excited to have the heroes of Spittlemarch in their unit cheered a little, but most were uncomfortable with the whole situation.The executive officer, Lieutenant Alexei, pulled the heroes aside and had a talk with them in the kitchen over a few beers.  They had a long talk, and figured out a few things:  Things would be a little rocky with the Captain, after having beat him up in front of the men; Alexei was a devotee of the Dragon Cult, as were unnamed members of the unit but not Nikolai, and that while the heroes played their cards close to their chests, they might have more to worry about from Alexei than from Nikolai.  Alexei was of the opinion that the gunpowder should be used more widely.After a few too many with Alexei, the group shuffled to their bunks and sacked out.Next time:  And now for something a bit unusual</blockquote>

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