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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3453373" data-attributes="member: 11760">Bufer tells his story as quickly and plainly as he can, starting with watching Heda play for the dark-skinned stranger drinking the strange tea, and ending with the constable's own appearance at their table following the standoff in the graveyard. Bufer barely manages to control his impatience when Bridger asks him to slow down, or repeat key points of the story."Had 'im trussed up like a prize hog," Bufer repeats. "And Khenemet-Apep's exact words were 'When the attack comes on Maidensbridge, you must kill Tucker Gallaway.' I don't know anything about wizarding, sir, but if he'd been a cleric, I'd sa he was laying some kind of quest on him. ...""... No, goin' to Middleborough, the zone of truth, that was all his idea," Bufer replies to another question. "Khenemet-Apep's, I mean. But when Kem started to go along with it, he seemed to back off a bit, tried to sell me some song and dance about he and Kem bein' in on some secret mission together to save Maidensbridge from the 'Tiamat faction.' Tried to bring me in on it, too. Seemed like he was actually tryin' to give Kem an out, but then Renraw called it crap to his face, and Apep went back to his original story. I don't mind tellin' ya, sir, it all made my head hurt. ...""... Nah, like I said, Leach didn' have anythin' to do with any of this. He done showed up after I'd untied Renraw, and we were leaving the boneyard t'come find you. I asked him to gather as many of the town's -- well, roughnecks, for lack of a better word -- just in case things went south when push came to shove, and we needed some muscle to help contain the situation. I don't why Apep mentioned him, maybe to get him outta the way when this Tiamat faction attacks? I dunno. ...""... Near as I can tell," Bufer sighs, after having recited his story for the third time, "The only reason Apep and Kem both want to go to Middleborough so badly is 'cause they wanna be elsewhere when the hammer comes down. It ain't gonna be nothin' at all for a wizard with Apep's power to get free once he's on the road -- even I know a spell or two I could use while bound an' gagged, if I had to. To me, that says the attack's comin' pretty damn soon. ...""... Now, if'n that's settled," Bufer says, settling his sackcloth robe around him, "I'd appreciate hearin' yer orders, sir. I may not be a citizen of the empire, but Maidensbridge's been as much a home to me as Wit's End's ever been, and some of its folk are closer to me than kin. I'll defend her with my dying breath if need be, although you'll forgive me if'n I hope it don't come to that."The constable's face is hidden in the shadows, in the corner of the upstairs hallway."No, unfortunately, you're wrong about Leach. I know for a fact that he's given intelligence to the kobolds before. Which lends credibility to what Khenemet-Apep said about Kem, too, to my mind. And that means this is all partially my fault for letting it get this far instead of telling the sheriff what I knew."He turns his back on Bufer and marches heavily down the stairs, his wooden leg thumping loudly with each step."Take care of my town for me."Bufer blinks, then rushes down the stairs, past the constable, then stops and turns to face him, standing directly in Bridger's path."Beggin' yer pardon, sir," he says harshly, nostrils flaring, "But if I'm to stay behind and help engineer the safety of y'all's town, I'll ask ye to return the favor: I want some assurance that Kem and Leach will be treated fairly, within reason, and will be subject to a fair and equitable trial, as you folk measure these things, if things should come to that. The Glutton take Khenemet-Apep for all I care, but Leach and Kem ..."Bufer trails off, then sighs and continues."The Leach boy ain't right, sir. You know that for a fact. And Kem, yes, he's a goat's ass, but he's our goat's ass. I don't think he'd willingly ... The boy was trussed up for a reason, sir. Maybe neither you nor I can wrap our heads around it, but the fact remains: Apep felt he had to truss the boy up and feed him some magical command for a reason. That don't sound like an accomplice to me."Look. if a gnome's to be judged by the company he keeps, then I got plenty to be judged by, I ain't denyin' that. But if the reverse is also true: If a man's to be measured by the quality of those that call him friend, then I hope y'all will take my character into account when you judge Renraw and Katadid. And Master Barennackle don't teach just any fool, sir. I don't hoodwink easy."* * *"I turned myself in so that you might live, cretin," Renraw snarls at Tucker. "Don't make me regret it.""No, I saw how effectively you fought those skeletons," Tucker scoffs. "My safety has nothing to do with you turning yourself in. This is just the end result of you trying to be too clever for your own good; you may not believe it, but you have friends in this town, despite your best efforts."Instead of trying to be all sneaky, maybe you should ask for help when you need it."The sound of Ward Bridger clumping unevenly down the steps is distinct, even above the hectic din of the bar."And trust me, you need it," Tucker finishes. "For what it's worth, Seedcounter, I'll say that nothing bad will happen to you or Kat without full proof. This may end badly, but it won't be simply because of heresay."The constable spares the gnome cleric one last look."My god is the Daybringer. It's my abundance of mercy that has Leach in this mess. Now, keep this town safe in my absence, if your word is worth anything."And with that, he's gone, barking an order to have the prisoners loaded up into the cart for transportation to the highest authorities in the barony on charges of treason.</blockquote>

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