Haldmeer Grobaras, lord-mayor
Obtaining a meeting with the Lord-Mayor, Haldmeer Grobaras, was not as difficult as you had expected. Two guards had taken you to a small room where a clerk has filled out your request with a raised eyebrow, before disappearing into an antechamber. He had been quickly joined by an older man who had asked, quite bluntly, if you were serious about your claim to have brought an end to the murders, and YES, he had heard about the ruckus in the Shadow earlier in the day.
You were stripped of all weapons, even the hidden ones, even the really hidden ones that Jovik likes to secrete around his body. Everything (well, they did miss the small blade he carried in his boot, but that was more for cutting himself out of ropes if, say, he ever got taken prisoner - heaven forbid!), and taken along winding corridors in the great, monumental offices of the mayor.
Jokad held the list of names, a fresh copy lay back at Danth's orphanage, quickly scribed by an acolyte as the group had scraped the grime from their bodies and armour.
Haldmeer Grobaras was a plump man, with small eyes that darted intelligently, but also with an edge of nervousness to them. He was dressed in finery, and sat behind a large dark-wood desk. His hands were ever active, moving papers about, signing things, his eyes flicking over pages as he did so. Even when he wasn't moving, he somehow seemed to be moving.
He worked for a few moments, several scribes moving around him, carrying this or that for him to review. He rarely spoke to them, unless to clarify a point, and then once again his thin-tipped pen would scratch down on the page.
When he finished he looked up and smiled. His large face and jowls made the smile look small, but warm.
"Gentlemen! Please, be seated. I apologise for my business. It is always like this before trade day, but then things calm down again and we get into the politics. I prefer the trade work, to be honest. Anyway, you care little of that. You look like people of the road, happier in a tavern perhaps, than sitting listening to a fat man discuss treaties.
I have heard a little of your exploits. The old clocktower in the shadow lies in ruins. Well, it was already in ruins, of course, but now it is properly in ruins, with holes in the walls and corpses within. My men have been there already to take a look. Some strange sort of monster was within, a mishapen thing, an unnatural thing that has no place in this city. I have no report of upstairs, for the stairs are part destroyed, and my guards appeared a little reticent to make the leap. You, no doubt, have made that very leap several times today, for I understand you are the ones that rooted out whatever evil it was that dwelt within that building, and in the process believe you may have ended the murders in this fine city? "
When you tell your story, from the murders in Sandpoint, to the ghouls, the dead farmers, the ghast and the haunted house, the trail to Sandpoint, the sawmill, Justice Ironbriar, the cultists, some of whom you let go, and so on ... all the way to Xanesha, the snake demon thing. His face turns pale when you tell him of the list, and he seems keen to inspect it.
His face turns pallid, and his hands move to loosen the tie at his neck, as if he is finding it hard to breathe.
"Gentlemen, this is shocking. The names on the list are known to me - the victims. Some of these we kept quiet about, so as not to reveal all our clues to the murderer, and thus I know you are being honest. But I cannot imagine what ties these names and why I am on it. There, that name is a very high standing merchant lord in this city, a good friend of mine. That one there is a judge, a fellow of Ironbriars, and there a well regarded treasurer of the church of Pharasma, and that one is a senior tax collector, and that one a successful landlord.
I am shocked and disgusted, but also relieved. Clearly I owe you, and this city owes you, and some of the people on this list will want to repay you. First I need to speak with some people, track down Ironbriar and have him questioned and killed. Perhaps find these other cultists that escaped. There is much to be done, but please be certain that you will be very well rewarded for the bravery and commitment you have shown. I haev already heard of your exploits in Sandpoint, and now you are welcome heroes here too. Go out tonight, relax, enjoy yourselves, and trust that my morning I will have something for you."
OOC: Do you want to do the Ironbriar house raid today, or tomorrow, and do you want to notify the Mayor that you would like to do this to see if perhaps he will give permission. Let me know. His reward will be in the morning once he has organised it.
