Maeve looks around for an unconscious guard to try first, not really wanting to go with the witch if she can help it. Finding one, she ties him down and props him up, speaking in Skald to him.
The witch's raven flies around the hall before perching on a high rafter, squawking angrily but doing little more. Helva cannot break Heng's pin, so she can only sit still and fume while she is bound and gagged. She screams through her gag when Heng mentions killing her raven. Maeve's prisoner is similarly enjoying his captivity, and only spits at Maeve in response to her questions. The thralls peer into the main hall nervously, trying to see what happened.
"..." Maeve takes the spittle in her face remarkably well and replies in a very calm voice.
With a false sweetness, she looks up and over at Heng. "Could you please come over here a second?"
Malnival shakes his head when killing the raven is mentioned. "The raven is no real threat if we control the woman.
The elf makes his way into the room the witch came from.
Perception:
The room to the south is a bedroom, dominated almost entirely by a massive feather bed, with only a little space on each side for chests of clothes and personal items. The room beyond is a small storeroom, with valuables stored in chests or hung from the rafters.
*
The warrior continues to glare at Maeve, and remains defiant when Heng walks over, but he gives the half-orc an appraising look. Finally, he says bitterly, "Jeg vet ikke hvor Ulf eller sverd er på. Asvig tok ham bort dager siden, men sa ikke hvor."
"huh, no sword, no Ulfen guide. Maeve, hope you're wrangling something out of that clown. There's nothing obvious here."
Maeve smiles a bit in response.
Turning to Heng after casually knocking the man back out (not really trusting her own tying job apparently) she sighs. "Well, thanks anyway, but all I got is that they're not here and the dead man didn't say where he took them."
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Heng tilts his head questioningly not certain what just ocurred between Maeve and the raider. He shrugs and motions to the thralls and the witch.
"Sometimes servants hear more than their masters intend. Why don't you try them? They are likely more friendly. Otherwise, the cheiftain's consort may perhaps be better able to answer our questions and she might be persuaded to talk if she does not care to see her crow cooked. There were many times when I was starving in the Tusk Mountains that I wondered how they might taste," he states matter of factly. "I am certain Harlan could make it palatable."
"Ooh, I bet Harlan makes a mean 1-crow pie."
Helva stares daggers at Heng.
"That's a good idea Heng. I've never eaten crow. Well I have figurativly of course, but not for real. Although I never understood the expression eating crow if you weren't actually eating crow."
Harlan turns to the tied up woman.
"I bet you must like crow, you have one with you. Is that your familiar, or just spare rations if you run out of children? Now, I don't want to brag, but Parity is right, I know the recipe to crow pie. There's also humble crow, shepherds pie (which doesn't have crow but it could probably be modified), and crow and mushroom stew, and potted crow. There's something I've heard of called coconut crow, but I don't know what a coconut is, and there's another dish called buffalo wings, which is actually crow legs, and why would you call them buffalo wings since buffaloes don't have wings, unless people feel better about eating imaginary buffalo wings instead of crow legs?"
After this Harlan takes a deep breath.
"So, will you please please please tell us what we want to know, or I'll probably go crazy trying to decide how to cook your crow and then I'll have to eat to feel better, and you don't want that."
"Say, do you even speak Common? I'm not sure Maeve can translate all of that as fast as I can talk. I guess I should've asked that first."
Helva's expression slowly changes from one of defiance to resignation under Harlan's verbal assault. She shakes her head back and forth, making a pleading noise. When (if) you remove her gag, she says in accented Taldan, "Please, no. If you leave us be and go avay, I vill tell vhat I know."
"Release your thralls also. No harm should come to them. Then tell us why your husband sent your men to attack us."
"I don't know, exactly vhere they are," Helva replies. "But this feast vas in the honor of Snorri Stone-eye, Asvig's liege lord, who died this veek. Vhen he took Ulf avay, he said 'he'd soon be joining Stone-eye'. He took the Tian svord at the same time."
To Malnival's query, the witch shakes her head. "Asvig newer said vhy, but he was paid vell enough that questions veren't needed. The Rimerunners often hired him for vork. They ewen prowided the ship."
She seems reluctant about releasing her thralls.
"How did this Stone-eye die?"
Helva shrugs, "He vas wery old."
"Are the Rimerunners bannermen of Snorri Stone-eye as well? Where can we find them?"
"No, no... they are a merchant guild, from Kalsgard."
"Oh thank you miss. I have to be honest, I don't think I'd have liked the taste of crow."
Harlan beams as the woman gives up her secrets.
Helva shrugs again. "He did not say."
After a long pause, Helva adds, "You know all I know, you have your rewenge, and all our waluables... weregild is settled. Please untie me and go. I... now have a funeral to arrange."
"What do you say guys, let her go? Sounds like we have some good leads and we crippled the gang."
Harlan looks anxiously at Heng and Parity.
Just need to know where these Rimerunners are.
"But to answer your question, Harlan ... I'm ok with letting her go. Not too terribly concerned about a vengeance vendetta. And who is she gonna turn to if they're all dead?"
"We killed her husband and destroyed her power base, I am sure she will be fine with leaving us alone"
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Heng gathers what he can carry, "Wereguild she said. Well, if it will help stock the caravan, fine. Remember to wear an armband as we leave since I imagine the ward remains. I think we should each keep a band close at hand for now though it might be best to find someone discreet to melt the rest down into gold bars so as to not draw attention when we sell them."
Parity reaches down and picks up the platinum armband from Asvig, [b}"For nostalgia's sake ... take it out of my cut."[/b]
Leaving the carnage of the Longthews farmhouse behind, you plunge back into the cool night and start your way back to Kalsgard. With the armrings, the post guardians do not hinder your passage. Uksahkka emerges from the copse and intercepts you by the trail. Even in the deep night shadows, you can sense her dismay.
"You did not find Ulf? Or is he...?" she asks, nervous dread in her voice.
"He's not here ... but he may already be dead based on the information we got. Sounds like they at least intend to kill him. No idea how far along that process they are. We're gonna try and catch up to him before it happens if possible. Rimerunners: what do you know about them and where are they? We think they have him." Parity states callously.
Uksahkka looks perplexed, but she nods to Parity's question. "I've heard of the Rimerunner's Guild... they specialize in trade to and from Tian Xia. Ulf and I have dealt with them loosely on a few occasions. But they're merchants... why would they kidnap Ulf?"
Maeve looks down at the floor. [b]"...there's something more going on. But what? Obviously they have connections in the Tien lands...Do you know if they trade with Minkai specifically?"[b]
"Legitimate traders can also be an excellent cover for smuggling, human trafficking, counterfeiting and other illicitness." Parity ponders, "Or assassins?"
Maeve looks down at the floor. "...there's something more going on. But what? Obviously they have connections in the Tien lands...Do you know if they trade with Minkai specifically?"
Uksahkka shakes her head, "I do not know, but I don't know them very well. Maybe you can ask around in Kalsgard. I'm worried that Ulf angered them when he went freelance, but I cannot think they'd be able to coerce him into service... he's way to stubborn." She sighs and rubs her forehead.
"That makes sense, if these guys were hired by the Rimerunners then maybe they kidnapped your partner because they didn't want him helping us. Or they were hoping we'd come looking for him. We should probably be ready for a trap."
Only one way to find out!
By the time you return to Kalsgard, it is well after midnight, and the city gates are indeed closed and locked. You find a clear spot near the handful of other travelers and merchants camping outside, huddle up and wait for dawn. The gates open before the light of day, as a thick pea-soup fog settles over the city. When you finally get back to Sandru's caravan, you're exhuasted.
Can we afford to rest? If this guy's life is on the line, we probably should get moving, let alone ensure we beat any of the fleeing warriors to the punch if they choose to warn anyone.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm bushed. Maybe some coffee and then off to find Ulf?"
Good idea Harlan.