[KAUAI]The Rod of Seven Parts: Of Hexes and Gems

[CanadienneBacon]

Frane lowers his raised hammer and turns around to stare at Maelicent. Vaja frowns and purses her lips but makes no other move. "Vaja--" Frane starts but leaves off as Vaja shakes her head at her brother. "Yeah, I know Frane. And on top of everything. Gods!" Vaja throws her hands up to the heavens. "Why'd he have to haul off and die in our stable, of all places! The guard and the guild'll both have a field day with this, 'specially following right on the heels of the disturbance the other day." Vaja, looking upset and put out all at once, eyes Maelicent. "Who else knows aught of this?"

 

[Mista Collins]

"When the magic courses through you it fills your being with power. Mastering such arcane might is its own thrill. There is a rush like few others, as strong a feeling as when the bloodlust falls upon you in the heat of battle and all goes red.

"And the feeling of magic coursing through your body, when you know it comes from the God of Battle himself, intensifies that feeling tenfold."

 

[Ambrus]

Maelicent remains guarded while watching the curious exchange between the two giant-kin siblings. The goblin keeps a weary eye on the female as she turns her attention back towards him with her question. "Na... Nobody. I came right on in ere ta tell ya." Uncertain of which tact to take next the Gudwulf warrior continues helpfully. "And don't anybody else need ta hear nothin about it. I can keep im outta sight for tha day and get rid of im after dark with the rest of tha left over spider-bits. Nobody'll go lookin through that mess ta tell giant-kin parts from demon bits..." Growing animated, the goblin continues quickly. "Ell. Feed im ta tha cocks and there won't be nothin of im left by nightfall. I can cut em up right small and bring im in now if ya want."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Vaja eyes Maelicent with worry. "Meanin' no offense, goblin, but I'm thinkin' the Cockatrice don't need you hangin' around much longer just now. The Hostelrie Guild's already got their undies in a bunch just over the incident with Traven, and the Guard's threatening to shut us down permanently. I'm already lookin' at having to settle a feud 'tween the Guild and the Guard over whether the 'Trice gets to remain open for business, and the last thing we need on top of all that's a dead body and a goblin hangin' around. You been good to the 'Trice an' Frane and I allays remember a friend. Maybe ye got somewhere you could lay low for a while? I'm not sayin' yer not welcome in the future, just maybe not now is all. Probably better for you not to be seen 'round here too much more anyway, if you catch me drift. The law'll be looking around a good bit, as will the Guild, and somehow I don't think you want caught up in our mess. What of them others, Brakkus and that queer white-haired dwarf?"

Frane lays down his tools while Vaja and Maelicent talk and goes out back. Returning in half a minute, Frane comes over to Vaja and Maelicent, saying, "Ayup. Just as he says, dagger in the side. Vaja? River or drop him off at the Tower?" Vaja purses her lips, not best pleased. "He helped us defend the 'Trice. The Tower's probably the better option but the River'd mean less questions. I dunno. I guess we'll pay the carter in the morning when he comes out with his 'barrow to take him on up to Xylla." Vaja turns her attention back to Maelicent. "We got it from here, goblin. Frane an' I'll present Lewit's body tomorrow morning to the old man who comes 'round with his cart. He'll get a proper burial by cremation at the Tower of Xylla when they do their next mass round of burnings. It ain't fancy but it's the least we can do. Does he got any family you know of? If so, I guess we can pay to courier a letter to 'em, sayin' what became of their kin."

 

[Ambrus]

Maelicent listens to Vaja with mixed emotions, uncertain if he's been rebuffed or not. He finally decides that it doesn't really matter to him and so simply shrugs in response. "Aright. Them guys be hanging about tha Pig place. I be done all my work here. I'll go talk ta em later after I get the last of tha demon-bits outta your stables and off ta the smiths. Ya won't be seeing me around here afta that. Don't worry, it'll all be good." Maelicent shrugs. "I don't know nothin about im or his family. He don't tell me nothin. Two days he jus be sittin in tha corner and playin with his toys never bothered ta try helpin. Now he gone and get imself dead." The goblin sounds mildly disgusted by the whole affair. "If ya don't need no helpin then I'd best be goin." The Gudwulf warrior nods to both giant-kin and returns to the stable to collect his belonging.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Vaja nods and silently watches Maelicent leave out the kitchen door. The Gudwulf warrior gets the distinct impression from his interaction with the blond twins that while Vaja and Frane had their doubts about him when he first started coming around their taproom, by this late juncture they're almost sorry to see him go, Vaja in particular. Still, business is business, and from what Maelicent's seen, Vaja's got an acute sense for what constitutes good business; the woman has her human biases but mostly she's fair, and she's nearly always interested in making a profit, as long as it's square.

 

[Ambrus]

A few hours after Lewit's death, following a series of deliveries to the market district, Maelicent discreetly skulks into the Sniffing Pig to search for signs of his demon-slaying allies. Ducking beneath a hut-sized table, the Gudwulf warrior peers around the main taproom for familiar faces.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Time: noon. Everyone is in the common room of the Sniffling Pig.

 

[Ambrus]

Maelicent deftly darts beneath the party's table, taking up his usual position in the concealing shadows there. Assuming that none of his allies noticed his entrance, the Gudwulf warrior will prod Voadam's huge ankle with the but of his unstrung bow shaft to get his attention.

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gamad

Hmm… this is for you Chev
Gamad hands the divine scroll to the priest
Now, what do we have here … this is interesting
He says as he goes over the Transmutation spell ... and this striking spell is handy also and … Bah … what a useless spell … who will fall under my charming figure … a waste.
He turns to Voadam
Let me save those two, you can keep the last one for your new book … now I think it's a good time to gather and talk over a good cup of spirit.
He walks to his pack and pulls out his personal drinking mug, spits inside, clean it and leave the room.