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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3384497" data-attributes="member: 11760">Her hands full, Hazel throws The Cat & The Fiddle's door open wide with a solid kick, ducking inside before the door can slam back on her. She gives the tables a quick glance without stopping; her quarry isn't seated there. Striding past the bar, she calls out to Milos."I need some strong backs. Ragglus Chaplin? The constable? Smithy Glangirn? And a cart, maybe a wagon, long enough for a paladin." As she disappears up the stairs, her voice floats down to him. "And parchment and ink!"She carries Bufer into the bedroom across the hall from the parlor and settles him into the oversized bed, stripping her bloody cloak from the gnome's small body and tossing it around her shoulders. Her arms and face are numb, though whether it's from the cold trek back to town or her fear for Bufer, she can't say.As Hazel deposits Bufer on the bed, she feels a gentle tug on her elbow. Turning, she looks down to find the gnome minstrel Heda Littlelark looking up at her with large eyes."Is he dead?"Beyond her, Hazel can see another of the inn's rooms open; Heda has clearly come back to town to get a jump-start on performing in the springtime various festivals.Hazel blinks rapidly to clear her gaze; a thin smile on her lips."No, not dead," Hazel whispers hoarsely. "He went in my place."The ranger fidgets a moment, thinking."I need ... Rags first. Can't leave them out there alone." She stares down at Bufer. "Wit's End second. Bring Master Barennackle. He'll fix you right up, I know it."Heda's not sure who Hazel is speaking to, but she looks down at the younger gnome's face and nods."OK. The master will know what to do."Hazel hears the gnome pull on her cloak, lace up her heavy boots and lock the room she's staying at in the inn. Heda all but tumbles down the stairs, yells something unintelligible to Milos and then the front door slams and she's gone.* * *Ragglus sits on the lower steps outside Maidensbridge Chapel, in what could only be called quiet contemplation (his serious face offset by an odd belch or a rumbling fart, disturbing more than one visitor as they pass in or out of the chapel). He could have sworn he'd seen Hazel rushing about in the direction of The Cat & The Fiddle, but he wasn't in the mood to follow or test Milos' patience.* * *Heda's departure registers in the back of Hazel's mind; she'll have to thank the minstrel later for the kindness."Help's on the way, Bufer." Hazel quickly checks his wounds to make sure nothing has re-opened on the trip into town. Reluctant to let him out of her sight, she backs step by step toward the door. "I need to get help for Emus now, Bufer, but I'll get somebody to sit with you until the cleric arrives."She darts down the stairs, her brow furrowing in confusion as she realizes that the tavern owner has not assembled a collection of strapping young men to help. She stops at the bar, her words tumbling out in a rush."Well have you seen them? Rags, at least? I was sure he'd be in here. Never mind the parchment, though, Heda's taking care of it. Can Ella or Jana sit with Bufer upstairs until she gets back?"Hazel sags heavily on the bar; her hands leave bloody smears on the surface. Milos seems unmoved by Bufer's plight, but he makes eye contact with his wife and nods toward the stairs. Jana thumps up the steps, and a moment later, Hazel hears the sound of a chair scraping across the floor in the room she placed Bufer."Threw Rags out," is all of Milos' explanation as to the location of the rescue party he was asked to assemble."Thank you." Hazel stalks out without another word.If I were a frequently drunk, lecherous sod banned from the tavern, where would I be?She ignores the looks from the people she passes; if they aren't stronger than she is or toting a cart, they're useless to her. As she crosses in front of Kramer's General Store, she catches sight of the slumped figure on the chapel steps. "Rags!" She calls, crossing to him and stopping at the bottom of the chapel stairs. "C'mon, I need your muscle."As he smirks, Hazel hastily corrects herself."I mean, your arms, for carrying. Not me, for Emus, he's hurt.""Saw hm this mornin'," Ragglus rises slowly, chuckling. "What'd he go an' do, trip on his beard?""Took on a pack of kobolds to save Bufer's life. I'll explain on the way. But we need to hurry. I don't know how bad he's hurt or if there are more kobolds coming." She turns and sets off at a run, Ragglus close behind. Hazel gasps out the story as they go.Ragglus stays quiet, and when they arrive at the scene of the carnage, he stays focused on why he was brought here, even though ever fiber of his being wants to rip the head off whatever idiot decided to do this second expedition without him. They had clearly paid for their bad decisions with blood, and then some. Executing sound judgment he knew he'd never get credit for, Ragglus switches into good soldier mode and does what's been requested of him, kneeling to lift Emus into his arms.With Bufer and Emus in relatively good hands, Hazel silently approaches Emmerson's body and examines his wounds.How did everything go so wrong?</blockquote>

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