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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3433054" data-attributes="member: 11760">"Feel free to untie Mister Kem here," Khenemet-Apep says coolly, smiling at Bufer. "I will be more than happy to discuss everything that occurred today with the baron and sheriff, if he wishes to. I'll be more than happy to tell the authorities everything I know."As for you, little gnome, the kobolds have mentioned you to me. You do have a knack for wandering into the bear's cave, don't you? Go ahead and untie him while we talk. I'd like the rope back when you're finished with it, please."The wizard sits down on a tombstone and pulls out a rather bedraggled cigarette out of his sleeve. He says a word and it lights. He puffs it as he watches Bufer.Bufer grins widely, then actually reddens at the mention of the kobolds, and his distinction among them. Given that the only distinction kobolds usually bother to make of gnomes is between live and dead -- and even then, only grudgingly -- he figures must speak to just how much of an impact he must have had on them."Well, I am a Potentloins after all, sir, with all that implies," Bufer says. "And as my great-great-grandfather's third nephew by marriage was fond of saying, we didn't get the name by having soft, squiggly bits that crawled back up inside at the first sign of trouble, if you'll pardon the imagery. Allow me to assure you -- and if you could pass this on to your neighbors, I'd be right obliged -- that the 'rescue' attempt and assault on the party that, er, accompanied me was not my idea, an' had I known it was comin', I would have told 'em to bugger off. I had every intention of honoring our bargain with the priestess of Tiamat right to the end, as I believe she d-- OW!"Grimacing, Bufer rubs the sore spot on the side of his head where an impatient Renraw has elbowed him. He glances up at the young wizard, who glares down at him over his oily gag with bulging eyes, jerking his head frantically towards the rope binding his hands."Oh right," Bufer says, immediately seizing the knots at Renraw's wrists. "Sorry. Er, you said you could explain why Mister Kem here is trussed up like a prize hog?""Oh, I think Mister Kem should share his story first." Khenemet-Apep looks at the still-gagged younger wizard. "And if there's any doubt about the story, we can certainly go find someone at Middleborough Chapel to place us in a zone of truth."Only if our stories disagree, of course."As soon as his hands are free, Renraw disgustedly yanks out his gag and hurls it at Khenemet-Apep's face."Bufer, there's no time for games. If you heard what he's ordered me to do, you know the most important part. I'll be happy to tell you how it got to this point. But you've no reason to trust me, so I'm taking his suggestion. I only want to tell my story inside a zone of truth. He may have a way to counteract the effects of the zone, but I do not. You will know what I say is true.""Good. Then it's agreed." Khenemet-Apep stands up, pocketing his rag. "I chose to try and talk him out of the agreement he'd made with the Tiamat faction of the kobolds, and to tell him the only way out of his deal was to make sure that faction did not remain in control, with its plans of genocide. But I will be perfectly happy to air the rest of this in front of the sheriff inside a zone of truth, so they can hear exactly what he planned on doing and with whom he agreed to do it. There's an excellent tree just outside the cathedral, perfect for a hanging afterwards."Renraw rubs at his wrists where his bonds were and scowls at the older wizard."You know what you just saw, Bufer. I'm not saying anything until I'm inside that zone and protected."Bufer glances from one wizard to the other, his frown deepening by the moment. Even as he does, he mentally files the phrase 'Tiamat faction' away for future reference; he wasn't aware the kobolds on Green Mountain even had factions."All right," he says after a long moment's consideration, "let's take a walk, us three -- sorry, 'us four' -- an' go find the Constable. I done think I seen and heard enough to swear out warrants against both of ya, at least until we get this settled. We'll all tell our stories, and leave it to him to decide what happens next, and who goes where. Since both you fine gentlemen want oh-so-badly to get to the bottom of this, I'm sure you'll oblige."Bufer wrinkles his nose at the irony of the situation: Just under an hour ago, he'd been lecturing Emmerson about clinging too tightly to the precepts of order. Now here he was, effectively binding two men by law.Garl has a funny sense of humor sometimes.Shaking his head, Bufer heaves a heavy sigh, and gestures for the two wizards to precede him out of the graveyard, back towards the center of town."Garl save me from the machinations of wizards," he mutters under his breath.</blockquote>

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