The One True Game: According to Hoyle, and Others

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 80 – Thunderday, Azer 12th, CY 81]

In the morning Father Ben helped the team prepare for their journey. Lord Ratcliffe was with them at the gates as they loaded up all the horses. Having learned of their departure only that morning he ordered a guardian to travel along with them. The dirty red-bearded dwarf shambled over and introduced himself again as “Cyrus... The Black.” The group nodded with half smiles and gave the dwarf a horse. He was to ride with Kayla and Igor to the west. It was then Ben discovered the travelers would split up temporarily. Most would go with Dram whose father lived in Hamfast to the south, while Kayla and Igor went to buy supplies in Hommlet to the west. Both were on Dram’s map and the two roads eventually led to Holmfaust Kayla’s home. Everyone waved goodbye and the two teams walked their horses down the winding hill as one. It was only then Ben realized Mirel was not around to see them off.

At the bottom of the Keep’s ramp Kayla, Igor and Cyrus split off waving back to the others. Dram took lead for the southbound crew. Pax, Darius, Dalin, and Ormand the Redd followed beind. The day’s journey was slow going, so Dram started asking Pax where he was from. The huge man interested him. Pax was easily seven feet tall and perhaps twice the weight of Dram who was considered large by most. Perhaps it was envy which spurred him as he was now only the second strongest in the group. Pax bellowed out simple answers in his deep voice as his horse struggled to carry him. “I am originally from the Keep, but I had just returned from my outpost when Darius hired me.”
“Ahh...” Dram paused. “How in Thor’s name did you get so... BIG?”
Pax smiled, “I don’t know. I don’t even exercise”

Dalin thought back on his conversation with the slaves. He had learned only yesterday about Cyrus’s involvement at the Chaos caves. He wondered why no one had thought to ask the dwarf of his actions there. What intrigued Dalin however, was one of the slaves. When he heard the name Reynaldo last eve he had nearly spit up his wine. Tracking down the slaves was simple as they were still held under the protection of the watchguard. To Dalin, Reynaldo looked the picture of a knight even in rags. Dalin offered him his plate armor. He apologized to Ronaldo about the scratches. The former slave stopped him. “No. I am Reynaldo…not Ronaldo. You say it wrong. And I am not from this Claris of which you speak. I am REYNALDO!” He beat on his chest. Dalin thought it was simply best to agree and back away. Perhaps he was wrong.

By mid afternoon a tower was sighted down the trail. “Hail on the road!”
“Hail in the tower!” called back Darius. Two youths came forward with spears in hand. They jumped to attention when they recognized Captain Darius. Introductions were made all around and the team settled into the small tower. Outpost Bayer was a great deal more comfortable than Xavier ever was. Dalin suspected the other twenty-four were too. The tower militia brushed down their horses and prepared what food they had. The team simply let them run around while they tried to impress Darius. They decided to camp in Bayer for the night. No one knew how far Hamfast was and the map had no measurements. In the evening, Dalin introduced some of Outpost Bear’s soldiers to dicing. He won ten coppers before sleep got the better of him.

Cyrus was pleased simply not to have to walk. It had been many a year since he owned a horse. He was determined not to sell his newly won dagger for coin just yet. Of the two he traveled with the bug-eyed man looked dull enough, but the woman in robes had a refined look about her. Not to mention a rather large purse on her belt. He did not think it wise to ask where they were headed, but he did inquire when he had to give back the horse.
“Oh? Never. It is yours to keep” the woman responded.
Cyrus peed himself a little when he heard her. “By Gods I’ve found me the Motherload!” he thought to himself.

 

[howandwhy99]

The hours passed slowly. Getting bored out of his skull just riding along Cyrus tried counting the trees along the roadside. Before long he realized he was sleeping. He could hear the clip clop of the horses’ feet and also a man’s voice.
“Something we ought to consider getting is a cask of Dargon's Breath...or two... maybe something stronger if it's available. If we don't have explosives it seems like the next best thing.”
Cyrus’s eyes popped open. “Ya don’t happen to have any with ya right now, do ya?”
The man’s eyes cut back to the dwarf, but then he smiled toothily. “Nay. We jus’ needin’ ta be tallyin’ our order.”
Then the woman asked Cyrus to ride point a few yards up ahead. He had a feeling it was more of an order then a request. Looking around he lamented the fact there were no more trees about. The three had exited the forest while he slept.

By dinnertime Cyrus had built up quite an appetite. The hand of luck was smiling on him though as a small village appeared around the bend. To his right some massive building was being constructed out of stone. “Poor job of it”, he thought. Other buildings were wooden and scattered about amidst several trees. The road curved toward their center. As the trio passed the locals, some of them gave Cyrus the Evil Eye. He had seen it before in Margrave, but it seemed to be more popular of late. Cyrus reached a split in the road and halted. He knew of the Inn on his right. A square wooden sign showing a buxom and smiling girl holding a flagon of beer stood beside it.
“The Welcome Wench. Looks t’ be the only place in town.”
The others stopped too. “You reserve us three rooms while I-gore and I make our purchases. Then stay until we return” said the woman.
Cyrus nodded. Then she gave him four gold pieces, far more than he needed. He did his best to keep a straight face.

The downstairs interior to the Wench had quite a few people in it for the sun being up. Cyrus counted seven not including a serving wench and potboy.
“Bring me some ale!” he bellowed to the tall rotund man behind the counter. “Somethin’ I won’t spit back up.”
The serving wench seated him and started listing off all the brands and styles they had while the rest of the room looked on. Cyrus interrupted her.
“What’ve ya got that’s dwarven?”
“There is no dwarven ale or mead as the roads south have brigands who…”
”If it ain’t Dwarven, it’s CRAP!” Cyrus said loudly. The serving woman flinched away from him.
“Bring me some ale anyways. What can I get fer four gold?” he said slapping his coins on the table. The bartender offered him fifty drinks of fine ale.
“Start pourin’.”

One of the other customers approached and sat at Cyrus’s table. A lean, younger man he looked out of place with all the County troops gone to the Front. He introduced himself as Elmo and asked about what Cyrus was doing in Hommlet. “Just passin’ through”, he said. Cyrus did not feel much like talking, but the other man seemed not to notice. He talked up the little town and introduced the others in the room too: Ostler the fat barkeep, Spoon-wah in nondescript clothes, Turko and Zert in furs and armor, Danny, boy but almost a man, and someone else in a farmer’s get up. Cyrus pretended to pay attention and asked for more ale. He was enjoying the fun of drinking the Inn under. It had been many a day since he had gorged himself so.

Elmo went on about how traffic was slow due to bandits on the road. He seemed pretty interested on whether or not Cyrus had met with any. The Spugnoir fellow asked if he was an adventurer. Cyrus told him he was simply a dwarven warrior like in the stories. The funny man offered him a contract to go exploring in a run down estate out of town, “to find the lost gold there. And treasures beyond your imagination. Jewels. Weapons. Books.” A few of the others in the room took notice; the two in furs especially.
“Books?” Cyrus looked dubiously at the thin Spoonwa, “that’s not treasure.”
“What about a book that contained every word in the entire language? What of that, hmm?” said Spoonwah.
Cyrus gulped down the rest of his ale, “that would be the longest book ever written. And a damn waste to carry with gold around.”

 

[howandwhy99]

Cyrus asked if anything actually interesting happened in Hamlet. Then he remembered he was to be on the look out for one or two people who were dangerous. Elmo told him a list of folks who had come and gone through town recently. Cyrus was well into his cups by then though. All he could remember was to tell the man and woman that their “Zerkle” had arrived the day before. By the time he dutifully finished off his fiftieth ale he was feeling fairly warm. So ignoring the others he moved closers to the fire pit and closed his eyes for a short nap.

Kayla and Igor doubled back once the dwarf entered the Inn. Igor had picked out the general store and the main reason they had split off from the others was to purchase supplies there. At least it was one of the main reasons. There was no sign, only full sacks of grain and some large wooden barrels stacked outside the door to mark the building’s purpose. Inside a wide variety of wares were set out on the floor and on shelves. It was more than Mouse had ever displayed. Haggling with the man behind the counter, a jovial fellow named Gremag, was difficult. In the end they purchased several weeks worth of cured rations for the whole team and a massive vat of lamp oil. Gremag watched as Igor declined his help with the vat and placed every item in his pack instead. Once finished Kayla and Igor split up to deal with private matters. They walked off in opposite directions as the sun set.

“Here cleric, cleric, cleric. Heeeeeere cleric.” Igor stumbled though the warren of building blocks near the unfinished temple to the northeast of town. The structure was by far the largest in Hommlet and still not complete. Ahead over a dozen elderly workers still toiled in dusk’s light while setting stone and mortar. Igor felt a tap on one shoulder. “Ack! Me bad spot.” He turned and saw a priest behind him and straightened back up. “Just an ol’cookin’ injury.” After explaining how he worked for Lord Ratcliffe in Margrave Keep “as ‘s personal chef” Igor managed to convince the cleric to sell him some healing potions, one then and one in the morning. The Father prattled on a bit and Igor’s training kicked in. He made sure to listen to every detail. Other than his name, Father John, there was not much to learn. Building was slow, but completion was within sight. Only now the priest worried the Old Faith was making a comeback. When full darkness fell Igor took his leave, but decided not to head to the Inn quite yet.

Circling around a thick grove of trees the Hommletites apparently kept well tended in the center of town, Kayla saw the sun setting on a small stone tower atop a low rounded hill. It was the place she had been told to look for. Climbing up the hillside she saw a door open in the tower above. Two men exited, one as if in a dream. “Rufus?” she called out. The one in armor waved her forward with a smile.

Inside the tower was an expertly decorated abode designed to suit both men’s sensibilities. After introductions and pleasantries were made the conversation became more esoteric. Rufus posited a divine exculpation of mystic energies, but not arcane listing off their contrafibularities in support. Kayla listened attentively. She was back in her element of choice. Time slipped by unnoticed until the witching hour. Feeling drowsy Kayla nevertheless remembered to show the red, powdery, chalk of the Godnail to the two men. Neither knew what to make of it, but offered some potions and a scroll in exchange for a small portion. Warily they collected a pinch in a steel vial without touching it. More was promised in the future for another scroll which had not been on hand. Goodbyes were said as the night was already half passed. “Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t Burné.” Kayla said.

She left and walked with a torch back toward the Inn. In the starlight she saw a skulking figure move out of the shadows. It giggled gleefully. “Igor?”
“At your service m’lady.” Igor bowed in the torchlight. The two entered into the Welcome Wench and spotted their dwarven guardian asleep upon the floor. Rousing the innkeeper they finally found a place to rest for the night.

 

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 81 – Fastday, Azer 12th, CY 81]

At the crack of dawn the team at Outpost Bayer loaded up their horses and began the ride to Hamfast. After only a few hours of riding Dram began to recognize the woods around him. As he had grown up in Hamfast he knew a little of the Greenwillow Forest surrounding the village. As they traveled closer and closer, Dram realized he had neither seen nor heard any residents along the way. He quieted the other four as they ate their noonday meal. When the team came to the edge of the wooded town center it looked completely deserted. They decided to dismount and approach silently on foot. Dram led Dalin and Darius, while Ormand and Pax stayed behind with the horses.

The three ducked between the trees and homes. Dram spotted a large wooden pen with at least thirty or so people in it. They crept over and whistled to those inside. The prisoners in the pen were all older men of the town. Upon seeing Dram oneee started hollering, but other men quickly quieted him. Everyone held their breath and waited. Nothing happened. Then one man approached the wall near the team. He whispered to them to crouch down and make themselves harder to see. His name was Sam. Bit by bit he explained how the town had been taken over by goblins and how they were using the villagers to dig tunnels below and forge weapons above. During the day the goblins slept in the houses to hid from the sunlight. But they had other traitorous humans routinely checking the pen.

Dram searched through the prisoners’ faces, but could not find his father. Sam said he was still in the constable’s jail because of a debt owed to the town. “What? Where’s the mayor?” Dram asked incredulously. Another prisoner explained how the mayor and sheriff had actually been working with the goblins. So were some of the other townsfolk. After seeing the rest of the town chained, whipped, and made into slaves the mayor helped lead a revolt along with some of the other original sympathizers. Unfortunately, they failed. Now every human was watched more closely by the goblins. “What happened to the mayor and the others?” asked Darius. Sam stayed quiet and no one else responded.

Darius attempted to coax out the truth. Sam and a few of the prisoners admitted to having initially joined with the goblins. Then someone forced the mayor forward from in back of the prisoners. Frightened, he explained that the goblins were originally brought in to help create weapons for the war effort. The County desperately needed as many weapons as possible and the goblins worked for practically nothing. Only now, the goblins had taken over Hamfast. No one bothered to explain why troops from Margrave had not come to free the town yet. Sam said that no visitors ever came through, but large wagonloads of weapons were still carted out westwards towards Harling. From another prisoner, Darius learned the humans below ground were kept inside tunnels between the different houses. The humans were forced to dig these tunnels all over beneath the town.

Darius pulled his two companions back to the horses and collected Ormand the Redd and Pax. He stressed the need to be as quiet as possible. He, Pax, and Dalin removed their plate armor. Dram told the others he was leaving to go find his father. Dalin offered to help, but Dram ran off circling around to the far side of town. The other four snuck back to the prisoners’ pen. Dram ran until he was outside what he knew to be the sheriff’s home. Looking in a window he saw his father tied up inside. The building looked empty otherwise. Dram pried open the door and entered. His father stared at him in disbelief. Dram removed the gag. “Dad!” “Son!”

 

[howandwhy99]

As the two gruff men tried to hold back the tears Dram recounted what he had learned from the prisoners outside. His father confirmed the story. He also knew of much larger and hairier goblins in the tunnels below ground. They had arrived after the town was taken over. He also explained how the Skunraker Brothers were working with the goblins and had previously paid off the mayor and sheriff to allow the creatures into Hamfast. Then he cursed them for joining with the goblins after the creatures took over. With grim determination Dram pulled out his coin pouch and counted out the debt his father still owed. He left the pouch on a table in the room. Dram’s father said he had finished the armor he had been working on so long. But the buyer had never come to collect. Dram moved to leave, but his father refused to go. “I have to collect the armor. I can’t go without it.” Knowing how stubborn his father could be Dram gave in. He scouted outside first and then followed his dad to the Hammersmith family forge. See background for full story

Motioning to help, the two strained with all their might and shifted the large forge anvil to one side. In a small compartment below Dram’s father pulled out a light metal box. In it was a fine mesh of chainmail armor made of something like burnished silver. He asked Dram to put the armor on. It was now his gift to his son. Dram took off his leathers and put on the chain. He gleamed like young warrior-king. The armor was incredibly light and did not scratch him at all. His father explained that it was deceptively tough and would keep him safe. Dram pulled his leather armor back on over it and could hardly feel the fine chainmail underneath. It was difficult to tell he even had it on. At last they left to join the others and escape.

Darius had asked the prisoners to prepare for travel. But Dalin waited to open the pen door as long as he could to give Dram some time. The lock was made from steel, but the gate and pen walls were made of wood and easy enough to cut. When they finally saw Dram running toward them with his father Dalin cut open the door and started leading the prisoners out in single file. Shouts rang out from the adjoining house. Three men ran outside and straight into the awaiting Pax and Ormond. It was the sheriff and two of his lackeys. None were armed. “Not a word or you will all die” Pax threatened. The three snapped shut their mouths. Dram ran back to the sheriff’s house while the team tied up their ‘new’ prisoners. Dalin led the freed men out of town. Darius tore off some of the sheriff’s clothing and gagged him and his deputees. When Dram returned he tossed a large pouch of coins in the constable’s lap. “The debt is paid. Gil Hammersmith is free.”

The five heroes counted themselves lucky as they mounted up and escorted the escapees north. The pace was very slow. Dram introduced his father, Gil Hammersmith, to his friends. After an hour Darius ordered the men to keep heading north until they reached Outpost Bear. He hastily scribed a note and handed it to Sam to give to the outpost commander. He told them to seek out Father Ben once they arrived at the Keep. Dram’s father decided to ride south with his son and they made a makeshift saddle for him on a packhorse. Feeling confident they turned toward Holmfaust and the rest of the team.

 

[howandwhy99]

Posting for Saturday

Exhausted from the long ride and events in Hamfast Darius directed the hauling of supplies to Inn’s sleeping quarters upstairs. When Kayla’s whereabouts were explained to him he started hiking to the Wizard’s tower just outside town. Some of the team followed along. Darius ordered Pax back to guard the horses. At the tower the crowd of visitors huddled in a downstairs sitting room. Kayla made introductions again. Catching the old man’s attentions Darius launched into an explanation of everything that had happened since their team had first met and started exploring Outpost Xavier and Quesquaton below. It took some time to tell as he included the details about Elion (now a rat), Marevak (his lost Elven brother), the fire, the disappearance of Lady Devereaux, the team’s new titles at the Keep, Father Ben’s absence, and the petitioning of the dwarven troops. While he did not remember every detail he did explain their tardiness due to Hamfast’s goblin infestation.

By the time Darius had finished it was late evening and pitch black outside. Balorn was lost in thought about what he had just heard. Realizing they were in the presence of a powerful wizard the other members started asking him to examine some of the items they had found during their adventures. Waving his arms about and murmuring under his breath, Balorn examined each of the items in turn. A few were magical, but he was especially taken with Darius’s ornamental dagger, which had been found in Zelligar’s quarters. When they finally left for the evening Kayla accompanied them to the Inn. At the door her mentor handed her two books on magic to read during her journeys.

All along the walk back Darius could not help but think he had missed a number of important details in his retelling. At the stables he spied Pax and Ormand the Redd up in the loft. They were taking turns watching the horses for the night. The others were already headed upstairs to sleep. Darius saw Cyrus snoozing near the bar drenched in ale like a drowned rat. “Wait! Kayla. What did you do with the rat?”
“I gave it to Balorn. He is going to try and return Elion to his normal form.” She answered.
“But didn’t you say you were contacted by Elion in the forest?” Kayla nodded. “Couldn’t that message have been real? What if that rat is a spy? Or possibly even Barth?”
Kayla’s eyes went wide with realization. Shouting and pounding on doors the entire team started assembling in ragtag fashion.

Darius reached the tower door first. He pulled on the handle, but it would not budge. Kayla was behind him and whispered something. The door flung open. Darius quickly searched inside. Finding the sitting room empty he crashed through the opposite downstairs door. Beyond was a bizarre conflagration of glasswork, shelves, and jars. Kayla was bounding up the stairs already behind him. As quick as ever Dram shot into the tower. “Upstairs!” Darius called to him. The large man stomped up as Darius followed. At the top landing was an open doorframe but within it was a plane of stars. It was like nothing Darius had ever seen before. The stars moved as if he were flying into them. Kayla was nowhere to be found.

Dram and Darius hurled themselves into the star field. Both bounced back. Pain jolted through their bodies when the touched it. Dalin climbed the stairs behind them. Below the rest of the team was trying to squeeze their way into the tower. “What in Thor’s name are we doing!?” shouted out Dram.
“We need to save Balorn!” Darius shouted back. “The rat is not Elion. Grrr... We need to get through that door!” He pointed to the stars. Dalin tried hurling himself through and disappeared. Ormand the Redd and Pax climbed up the stairs at the same time. Darius leapt forward and closed his eyes. He was not shocked this time. Somehow he shook off the magic and tumbled to his feet on the far side. Raising his hammer high he saw Balorn, Kayla, and Dalin standing around a stinking pile of goo in the center of the room. It was much larger than the rat Darius remembered. The rest of the room had bookshelves in every wall. More books were piled in shelves and on podiums as well.

Balorn dismissed the star field behind him. When those in the hall entered, he explained how the rat creature had not been Elion as they suspected. Balorn called it a ‘shapechanger’. He had neglected to tell them about hearing rumors of shapechanger activity of late in Margrave County. The story of Barth and the Dragon before now confirmed their meddlings. He luckily dispatched the rat before it could cause any harm. Balorn explained how the creatures were also much like rats: where there was one, more would surely be nearby. With the commotion over he handed a few more books to Kayla. These were all about shapechangers and shifters of all stripes. Then he led them out his tower. Below Balorn noticed the door to his lab broken down and glared in frustration. After everyone exited he closed the front door without a word of parting.

 

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 82 – Holyday, Azer 14th, CY 81]
– [DAY 83 – Sunday, Azer 15th, CY 81]

The following Holyday was spent traveling on horseback on the road to Harling. None of them had ever been to the capital of Margrave before much less a full on city. The traffic on the road was heavy with wagons and walkers. Some others were on horseback too and twice riders cantered past at a quick pace. Igor guessed these were messengers either for the militia or perhaps the nobility. More than a few faces stared at Cyrus and Darius. As dwarves they stuck out in the community of mostly humans. By the end of the day the team had reached the outskirts of the city. Houses and farmlands edged up against the road, but were mostly scattered. Igor and Dram tried to find lodging in one of them, but without luck. The team bedded down for the evening along the roadside near a fallow field. Watches were kept, but practically no one passed by during the night.

Igor spoke with Kayla during their watch. She had not yet received word from the Circle of Mages in town. Balorn had written a letter of introduction for her and explained how she could contact the advisors. Igor confessed he had not heard word from any of his contacts either. No one along the road seemed to recognize his signs or be willing to. Kayla worried about the dwarven hatred as they entered into the city. The assassins at the Keep knew their faces. Barth, Turko, and Zert might have fled to the anonymity of the city. Igor volunteered to disguise everyone, so they might ride openly which was easier than trying to hide the horses. Kayla agreed.

In the morning Kayla spoke to Darius and he announced the plan and need for disguises. Igor surprised the others by having an especially deft touch at disguise work and helped them all with their efforts. Dram’s father Gil was disguised too at Dram’s insistence. He said the word of his father’s freedom had not yet spread, but his crimes might have. Cyrus begged off a disguise. “Been ‘round humans near most m’ life. So I don’t care what they think.” Igor backed him up in this. Few if any knew of Cyrus’s guardian role for the party, so he was allowed to operate openly.

The group rode their horses for several hours as the city grew around them. At first the houses grew to a single line on both sides of the road, then an Inn was seen. After awhile the homes stretched two rows deep and continued to grow from there. Small shops and businesses were seen hawking their wares. Igor saw nothing unusual, but on a couple of occasions they were heckled for riding with two dwarves. In mid-afternoon they crested a final rise in the road and saw the outer wall of the city proper before them. Guards were posted to either side of the road’s entryway to the interior city. As they approached they realized that none of the traffic through the gate was being stopped. However, the team decided not to chance entering with the dwarves. Looking inside the gates the tangled mass of streets and single story homes had grown to fill every space. Instead they decided to split up and meet back in front of the gate square just before nightfall. Kayla made everyone promise not to drink while in the city. “The secret of our trip must be kept.” They nodded in agreement, even Cyrus.

Splitting off with his Father and Ormand the Redd, Dram complied with Kayla's request and made a conscious effort to avoid drinking establishments. (He was not as hardy as Cyrus of the 50 Ales!). He made certain to fully cover his new chainmail under his disguise and to hide the golden arrow he won in the archery contest during the Midsummer fest contests. He did his best to hide his quiver under his cloak too and disguised his unstrung bow as a walking stick (the bowstring was pocketed but ready). His dagger was hidden but handy. Hammer, spear and longsword went into Igor's sack. The same set up went for Ormand the Redd too. Dram's father, Gil Hammersmith, was still looking pretty weak and bedraggled and wasn't armed or armored. Dram, Ormand and Gil, when asked, were pilgrims passing through Harling on their way to the little-known "Shrine of the Purple Raven". They had taken a vow of silence during their trip. Dram asked Kayla to draw up a note stating as much so that it may be presented to any overly curious cityfolk. If they were forced into a speaking situation, Dram appointed his father as spokesman since he knew the least (and Dram hadn't filled him in yet on all the recent details of his life).

Kayla and Darius found a street vendor hawking sightseeing tours of the city and decided to join. Two other people were to walk with them, but left when they saw Darius. The hawker led them around the Outer City pointing out interesting sites. The two tried to pry out more information and rumors from the man. This was not too hard, but he refused to converse with the dwarf no matter what. In fact, Darius noticed no one spoke a word to him and avoided his gaze whenever possible.

On the other hand, Kayla learned quite a few interesting pieces of information. It seemed trade within County Margrave was booming. It was better than any had ever remembered it. Apparently a group called “The Skun Brothers” was buying up all the ore anyone could provide. Darius growled at this, but decided not to say anything. Kayla tried prying into deeper secrets with a few gold. She did not think much of the result though. Their guide seemed to think bad storms had ruined the year’s crops because the Gods were angry and trying to scare all of Margrave. Many were returning to the Old Faith because of it. To Kayla it sounded like another false superstition. When the tour came to an end, Kayla did her best to hide Darius inside a small, easy-to-miss tavern and inn. It was a little ways from the gate square, but rooms were cheap and the bar dingy. Afterwards, she went looking for Igor.

 

[howandwhy99]

Dram, his father, and Ormand, walked around the Outer City trying to keep their bearings the entire time. It was easy to get lost even outside the city walls it seemed. Dram risked short snatches of conversation with his father when no one was looking. Trailing behind suspicious characters the trio attempted to listen in on conversations. Two brutish and burly looking men made a good target. Their talk was getting dull when all of a sudden one mentioned, “the slaves from Hamfest show some promise for a good price.” Dram’s father nearly choked when he overheard. Dram had to grab him and pull him away before he did something rash. He told Ormand the Redd to track the two, but he came back a short while later with a bloodied nose. Dram laughed heartily when he saw and helped bandage the wound.

Ditching his original disguise, Igor dressed as an aging tanner. His eyes were sharp and he knew several of the signs to look for as he walked through the streets. Entering the Inner City he stayed close to the surrounding wall as the warren of paths and alleys was impossible to follow otherwise. A few lead coins steered him in the direction of a counting house. Behind the back a man smoking a scandalously carved piped glanced at him. Igor made contact. Bartering coins one by one he picked up the local scuttlebutt about the city. He even learned of some contact points for different guilds. Then the man blabbered something he obviously thought was safe to mention. He had just heard “the ore quality and weapons being made for the war effort are a front for the Black Market.” Igor chuckled at how nothing was truly secret in the sewers. He killed the man quickly so he would not let out a scream. Leaving the body with a specific mark upon it, he could only hope it would teach whomever the man’s informant was to keep their mouth shut.

Dalin had different plans in mind. He took his horse and turned back down the road from whence they had come. It took three silver, but he finally obtained a sensible enough map for directions to Clares and the Lady of Clares’ estate. As Dalin rushed down the road alone his mind drifted back to a time when he had spoken with Father Hetrack about the armor.

Father Hetrick: "The 3 rings are the heraldry of Sir Ronaldo of Clares now deceased. The Chalice symbols place him in the Order of the Chalice. A smaller sect of the Order of the Crown."

"They believe in virtue above all else. The Order of the Crown holds allegiance to the Church only in matters that deal with the nobility. In all other matters they follow the tenets of the nobles. Some times this leads to disagreements between the Church and the nobles."

"But since most of the Church comes from the nobility... well lets just say it is family squabbling."

Since the time he had heard Hedrach’s words he had worn the armor whenever possible. Even as fancy as it was, he was proud to show it off. A full two-hour ride later winding around the plots of many large estates, the manor of Ronaldo came into view. Dalin stripped off the false hair and teeth Igor had loaned him. He washed and polished the plate armor filigree a bit too trying to look his best. He had no appointment, but was led in to meet the Lady Clares straight away. To his surprise she was actually quite young and very beautiful. Dalin did his best to act proper, but he did not really know how noblemen acted. He did learn more about Ronaldo. Apparently he had left no heirs. Upon her wish, he recounted some of the tales of his adventures embellishing a little where appropriate.

Then she asked him to stand and pose in the armor of her late husband for her. He apologized for the filigree being somewhat marred. To his surprise the Lady then gifted it to him. “Use it to honor my late husband.” They sat and talked for a while more. Dalin learned more about Clares and the armor he wore. Her Ladyship asked him more about his future travels and if he had news about the war. He admitted he did not know anything having been at Keep Margrave so long. She asked if he had ever met the cruel dwarf Darius when staying at the Keep. She had heard he was using Lord Radcliffe as a puppet. Dalin gulped. According to Lady Clares all the nobles were abuzz about the depraved Darius’s attempt to overthrow Margrave using the armies of the dwarves. It was at that point when Dalin excused himself saying he had to return to the city before nightfall. He was pushing his horse so hard during the run back that he nearly forgot to don his disguise again.

 

[howandwhy99]

Cyrus mused. The K-la woman had told everyone to go find rumors. Then she told them not to drink. But she had dressed up the others in silly costumes. In retrospect he decided the rules were not meant for him. He was not part of their group. “I’m their guardian, ain’t I?” he said aloud. He decided to go find a pub. Four hours later and he was being thrown out of his tenth pub for the evening. Apparently people in Harling had some sore feelings towards dwarves, especially one by the name of Darius. He did not know the poor slob, but he felt sorry for him already. After being booted out of an eleventh, Cyrus crawled over to an alleyway with a bottle of ale he had managed to grab on the way out. Night had fallen by that point, but he did not much care. No one snuck up on a dwarf in the dark.

It was then he heard some familiar voices through a window behind him. Cyrus climbed atop a couple of crates to better listen. Inside was a tavern he had yet to visit. The voices were the same as he had had heard on the ride south.

(I-gore)”…remove all the leaders, manufacture a threat to deal with and county margrave will be begging for competent leaders to help them fore the “enemy” takes them over, then give the hired enemy a quarter of the kingdom as payment. It’s just speculation on my part though, someone else could easily be inside the county now plotting the same thing, with a small mercenary force to "help" him "fight" the "enemy".”

(K-la) “The only theories I had so far concerned the war already going on. Someone interested in making sure it went their way. I was thinking that perhaps we were only still alive because they were hoping we would find whatever it was Elian was talking about in Quasqueton (if it's in the caves or something). Whatever it is, it seems to be something everyone wants. And it must not be the dust because I asked Elian about it. If that were what it was we would know. I think that may be part of the point behind…”

CRASH!! A cat screeched. Cyrus had lost his balance and fallen to the alley’s dirt floor. He cursed noticing his bottle of ale had broken. Not wanting to be found out he took off at a drunken run back into the pub he had crawled out of. Tossing down a drink he spotted on a table he kept on running and dove out a window into another alley. Cyrus knew the breaks. He did not bother turning around while he ran. He just hoped the man and woman had not seen him. It took a little while, but he finally found some of the group he was protecting near the city gate.

Late in the evening Kayla, discreetly as possible, approached each of the party members and told them, "I managed to secure what is believed to be a safe place to stay for the evening." She gave each of them directions to the house and continued, "Please meet me there later, I need to talk to everyone. Oh & please be sure to keep up your disguises & keep as low a profile as possible. And by all means, when you come to the house please be sure that no one is following you."

Kayla brought Darius to the abandoned townhouse early. She told him of a slander which was ripe throughout the city. Apparently Darius was thought of as cruel and greedy. She had heard a dozen variations herself. All said that he, Darius, was really in charge of the Keep. She had yet to hear anything about his arrival in Harling, but she had sent Igor out to learn more. She thought it best they went back to the Keep however and abdicated their positions like Father Ben. Darius urgently wanted to leave, but not this way. Before he got a chance to answer Kayla however, Dram, his father, and Ormand walked in. For being late evening Dram seemed very wide-awake. Most of the remainder of the team trickled in during the next hour. Only Igor and Dalin were missing.

 

[howandwhy99]

Diaglo: There were two rooms on the main floor (a cooking/eating area and a main parlor/ sleeping area) the house had a loft above with more bedding and access to the roof too.

Kayla: "I've found out that the dust from the stone that Daruis smashed can be harmful if it remains on you. Apparently it taints any mortal who touches it with a residue that begins to affect them with a foul taint the longer it stays on them. I was advised that we should clean ourselves with an acid to make sure that none of it is left. I asked Igor to look into securing an acid weak enough, or that could be diluted enough, for us to be able to handle it without serious harm. "

Darius looked at Kayla quizzically. "You mean this substance is evil? Even now, smashed and destroyed, this... powder... can actually do us harm? I will do as you ask, and wash my hammer, in case any lingers."

Kayla: "Apparently so. The suggestion was also made of cutting hair to make it easier to wash, or even removing it entirely if you'd rather, but if you think you can wash it thoroughly without doing that, then I wouldn't worry too much about that."

Darius: "You are certain this place is safe?"

Kayla: "As safe as anywhere else we might go, to the best of my knowledge. I've been told that we should be fairly safe here, or at least in no more danger than anywhere else. That's the best I can say."

Dram: “Sister Kayla, if I may be so bold as to inquire, what is your source of information and how can we rest assured that the advice being provided is sound? The false Elian rat appeared to provide sound information as well.”

Kayla: “My information comes from one of the members of the council of mages. All indications, and I have confirmed this with other sources, are that he is not a member of the guild here. He has other sources that are his own. I don't know who his sources are, but I believe it to be creditable information. If you have reason to believe otherwise or to doubt then please do share.”

Darius: "Where do you propose we go from here?"

Kayla: "Well as we spoke about before, I think we need to go to the keep & resign our positions, assuming capable replacements have been found. We also need to make sure Father Ben is safe & fill him in. We also need to make sure that he cleans himself well. Since it seemed to be affecting him when it was whole, I would hate to see what might happen to him now. For all we know it might be worse or quicker in his case. I have no idea. There is also the other matter we spoke of about the..." Seeing Dram's father is in the room Kayla stopped herself & said, "Perhaps it is best that we not get him involved in all of this. The less he knows the safer he is."

Dram explained to his father that he couldn't explain right then but that he and his friends were in trouble. The need for secrecy wes paramount. He told his father to speak to no one and to watch the building from the outside, looking for suspicious activity

Kayla: When Gil was no longer among the party she continued, "There is also the matter of the goblins." She looked right at Dram and sighed heavily, "Things aren't always as simple as they appear. There is more to the story about the goblins. They were brought in by an order from above. Someone- be it Margrave or Deveraux-saw the need for cheap labor. They made an offer to your father's competitor & he took it. In turn he employed cheap labor & provided weapons to the front. Eventually one of the more "civilized" tribe of goblins was allowed to take over completely. The idea being cheap weapons now & when the war is over we'll just kill them all & be done with that. The problem with that, beyond the obvious, is that it may also put the surrounding towns in danger. Who knows if they will decide to attack their neighbors or not."

Dram: "With all due respect, I don't give a rat's ass about Hamfast or the County Margrave for that matter. I have no love of goblins or any of their kind, but my home is lost to me. My home and family business destroyed, my father unjustly imprisoned, my forced conscription into an army to fight a war I don't understand. All of these things were achieved without the help of goblins. My service to the County ended months ago. I retain no rank in their army and I do not take their orders. We've been through much together and my allegiances lie solely with my friends and family. Goblins, Hamfast, Devereaux, Margrave all be damned. If we are to return whence we came, I say, "What's in it for me?”

Kayla: “My thoughts were of those who you may not have found to free & those living nearby who may suffer at the hands of the goblins and any who might wish to return. However none may fall with in the latter catergory. I have no personal stake in it & so if all of you would rather leave it be, then so be it. I am merely relaying information so that we as a whole may make a decision about what to do next as fully informed as possible”

Dram: “I understand Sister Kayla. Perhaps I spit my words out a bit too strongly but I've got a bitter taste in my mouth. I guess I would gain some small satisfaction in bringing down the rival smiths (the Scunraker Brothers). And the goblins, well..... Also, I agree, Father Ben should be warned if the dust poses a threat. Wouldn't mind having a "conversation" with Devereaux as well. For the time being, I will heed your advice and remain a silent pilgrim.”

Kayla: “The only thing about that is that we don't know what happened to Devereaux.”

Dram: “That is a problem indeed.”

At this point a much altered Igor entered. He was carrying 4 buckets of water, 2 in each hand. He was bald, his scraggly blonde locks no-where in sight. His skin was a bright red with a raw look to it, like someone who's either been out in the sun to long or been scrubbed hard with a brush. The air around him had a mildly sour smell. Amidst the talking and while trying not to draw attention to himself, he placed the buckets on the table, and took out a strong, although not entirely unpleasant, smelling bottle of clear liquid and put a little into each bucket swirling the bucket around a bit after each. He then took out a number of stiff brushes, the kind you might use to brush down a horse, and several bars of soap. He then went to stand off in a corner and watch the debate.

Kayla turned to Igor, "Thank you Igor." She then looked around "I guess we should get started? Who wants to go first?"

Dram was anxious to be cleansed but did not want to go first. He also was not willing to cut off his hair.

As she stood waiting for a response, Kayla's eyes glazed over for a moment & then suddenly she murmered,"Greenwillow..." She seemed to shake the far way gaze and then looked around and said, "Right before we found the rat I received a message that I believed to be from Elian telling me he was in Greenwillow. We found the rat that we thought was him, so we never followed up on it thinking it was a trap. Perhaps we should find out if those things can gain someone's memories without killing them. If so Elian might still be alive. If there's anyone left alive who would know the truth about the goblins & who might have sent out Barth, Elian would most likely be the one. It's at least something to think about."

The ‘Greenwillow’ stuff creeped out Dram. He was also taken aback by Igor's new look. "Uh, Sister Kayla, why don't you show us how it's done? You're probably more in need of cleansing than anyone else since you've handled it the most. The more I think about it, the less I think I actually ever touched the stuff. Can it contaminate us over space? What if someone inhaled it? By the way, what did you do with the remaining powder?"

Kayla "I don't know what happens if you inhale it. And as for being contaminated over space, I would think the only time that might have happened was when Darius originally smashed. I used some of the powder to barter for scrolls & potions. The man I was bartering with is making another scroll for me & will give it to me for some of the powder as well." Kayla then took ones of the brushes and scrubbed off her hands to show everyone else how to do it as Dram requested. Then said, "If you will excuse me I intend to wash out my clothing as well just in case." She then went to the other room to wash herself fully, including her hair & her clothes.