Percival Lawson and Laurel are at their Apothecary/Love Nest. Percival doesn't have time for the frivolity of a carnival. He is much too busy studying the plague brought forth by Isandrea's Basin. He and Laurel do both however volunteer to bring their poultices and potions to the Carnival site to assist the wounded.
Later in the Duck, Silas says to Hecktor, "Can I see that belt of yours for a moment? Ah yes I thought so, excellent craftsmanship. I think I can see how the spell was imprinted." He hands the belt back saying, "Remember when we first met Vade? I snuck a look at a folio he had open on a desk. I could read it but it didn't make any sense at the time. Now though I think I can kind of see what it was on about. I may be able to copy the belt for Michael if he's interested."
When Lucanor returns he comes walking out of the shadows around a corner.
"So everyone safe at their house as well?"
"Savram and his father maybe missing, but if they're missing together they'll be okay. Vade is mucking with things best left unmucked, but I do believe he'd fight like a terror to protect his son," He tells Gilmork, "Kreeds are fine, according to their servant. I thought about talking to the man about what happened, but it occurred to me Silas has a better knack for people than I do. Best he try to mitigate the man's hate, not that I'm sure anyone can. You think folks would respect a fence or sign saying not to chop down those new saplings? Until we can get a powerful remove curse on em, best I can do is water em and get em sunlight, or maybe transplant them."
Another thought, "Where should we go next? The Duck to catch up with the others?"
Hecktor had handed over the belt for Silas' inspection.
"Yes i remember, that grumpy man. Copying this for Michael might pull a faint smile on his face."
"I'd think they wouldn't cut them down, they still have the faces of people in them and people won't soon forget the horrors that happened tonight. If we can't remove the curse though we'd might have to make a sign to ward people off in the future."
Gilmork looks up as Lucanor mentions the Duck.
"I haven't been there, but it sounds like it's a known pub in Falcon's Hollow. It might be a good idea to catch up and report any findings of missing townsfolk and such."
"I forget you haven't been there before. I'm not attached to it, but sometimes it feels like Hecktor and Silas live there," He leads Gilmork to the Duck and opens the door to see if the bard and fighter are in.
From their table, Hecktor and Silas would have great view on who enters the inn. Seeing Lucanor and Gilmork come in, he raises his hand.
"Over here."
When they are seated.....
"What have you heard at the carnival and around town?"
Lucanor pulls a seat out and slides on in, "Not sure where to start. Apparently the drinking tent is now full of saplings...saplings that used to be men judging by the look of horror on the face like impressions in the wood. Most of the youngun's that I try to look after appear to be accounted for, but the Vades aren't in. The Sheriff knows about things and is missing some men. I'm not sure we've got a full tally yet."
Silas catches the eye of a waitress and orders some food for everyone. That done he sits down and shows Lucanor and Gilmork the weapons saying, "Quinn's widow gave us these. I'm not sure what the crossbow does exactly but the swords are special. They only work as a pair, and give their wielder virtual ambidexterity. This one is called whisper and can silence things and this one is called shadow and it can go invisible. They seem too good to sell so I was wondering if Lucanor might want to wield them. He's a much better swordsman than me after all."
"Standard training for the church in longswords," He waves off the praise. "Afraid I wouldn't be very good with short swords."
"Unless one of our real warriors wants them, I'd be for either selling them and using the coin for good cause, or finding some good man to hand them," Lucanor answers earnestly. "Just let's not let them fall into the hands of Kreed or one of his lackeys. IF what is said about them having anti-fae properties is true, he's the last we want armed." He considers, "And I'd prefer they stay out of Bloodeye's mits too, now that I think of it."
"I 2nd the motion not selling them here. Sell the swords in Absalom or Almas."
Silas thinks for a moment before saying, "Perhaps a trip to Almas is in order. Should be able to find a responsible buyer there. Well assuming of course that the er fuss had died down." Silas shares a meaningful glance with Hecktor.
"Sounds good. What else have you two found on your end?" he says curiously, "And, well, anyone yet talled up the dead and missing?"
Hecktor nods with a casual sign of it'll be alright.
"You've got your talent in disguising too don't you?"
After visiting Quinn's widow we went to Percival & Laurel. They're busy with researching the plague still, but they'll help out with the injured from the fair."
After visiting Quinn's widow we went to Percival & Laurel. They're busy with researching the plague still, but they'll help out with the injured from the fair."
"Good. Good folks like them and the lady are signs we're not the only ones trying to help in this town. Helps me hold onto my faith," Though he does look perplexed anew at something before moving on, "Though I admit it, I keep hoping Bloodeye didn't fare too well with the fae either. Iomedae forgive me."
After dinner, Silas tells the assembled company, "Gents I hear that there's to be a Mayor elected come the spring. I know Baleson was planning on retiring as Sheriff but I think he'd make a good Mayor, the town's folk could trust him. What do you think?"
Lucanor nods at the suggestion, "He seems a good man, certainly better than the alternatives. If the Lumber Consortium continues its grip on this town, things will never improve."
"Agreed, the sheriff is a decent man and cares more than any of the "officials" i've seen here."
Gilmork looks at the others with wonder about their trust in the man they call Baleson and shrugs himself.
"I don't know the man, but I think I can trust your judgment on this. If he's not part of the Lumber Consortium he can't be a bad guy."
Silas smiles and says, "I'm glad you all agree. I'll er tell Baleson he's volunteered tomorrow! We'll also have to make sure Gared gets the Sheriff job too. With those two in charge maybe, just maybe, the town can get back on track. I think they're our only hope they can prevent a stupid war with the fae, I dread to think what would happen if the consortium went after them hammer and tongs..."
"Which leaves the matter of Kreed and the halfling. I wouldn't put it past them to sabotage an election to stay in power.
The latter of which i have business with, personal business that's not yet concluded."
Hecktor pauses, but weighs off his friends can know.
"I originally came here on a mission as one of two bodyguards to a diplomat. The mission was to be a mission of trade and fair improvement for Falcon's Hollow.
The other bodyguard and the diplomat......were the two bodies we found back at the tree with the lizards. We were attacked during the night by hired forces.
These forces were part of the most merciless group of mercs you can hire in Almas. We found one the 1st time we went into the monastary. Which left 1 unaccounted for. Now a while back while in Almas, i heard a certain halfling had hired mercs from Almas and had sent them towards here. I had promised my employer the head of the one responsible for this."
"You've got my help if you need it, Hecktor," Lucanor nods
Gilmork glances at Hecktor through his mask and listens quietly to the conversation going back and forth.
"I guess this story unfolded before I got close to Falcon´s Hollow. So the Lumber Consortium is even more eager to keep its grasp on this place. I´m not sure how I could contribute to help you, but I´d like to see this town back in harmony with its surroundings again. That includes getting better men in power."
"Likewise of course from me to any of you."
Which reminds me, i still have that special brandy i save for "special occasions". I do believe the carnival would count as one."
He calls the innkeeper for a few small cups.
"This is pretty strong but good stuff, so you might feel something if you're not careful."
"You know, I'll have a snort," Lucanor takes a glass, and raises it, "To the Falcon's Hollow that SHOULD be." Then he takes a shot.
Silas sits back and laughs, "Hells Hecktor, you know what happened last time you passed that stuff around! Still what a day we've had, I do believe Syntira will haunt my dreams for for months."
In a quiet voice he continues, "So will some of the other stuff." Suppressing a shudder, he says, "I can't believe the eye of rapture was so strong. That ice carving contest will haunt me till the day I die. Yeah let's have some brandy. Mine's a double. To absent friends..."
Gilmork takes a glass, toasts with the others, but then leaves it standing for obvious reasons.
"I hear you Silas, both are sure to trouble me as well. To new friends and the Falcon's Hollow that should be."
Gilmork slowly moves his glass towards Silas.
"Take my glass Silas, I'll won't be drinking it now anyway."
"Yes....those were surely one of the most grim things i've seen done to folks. But for now the hollow's cooled down a bit."
"Bad choice of words there Hecktor, considering what we've seen." says Gilmork grimacing behind his mask.
"Better to say it has calmed down or that the tension is eased a little bit for now."
"Hm?......Ah, pardon, no meant offense."
"I still remember that dwarven undead in chains of smoke and fire... the carnival has competition for room in my own nightmares, not that either was good for my sleep. Sometimes I'd swear this town is cursed, but some of the folks here are ...well, incredibly resilient."
The drink hits hard, "Whew... " He coughs and chokes and sets it down, "Okay, clearly it's been too long since I've had real booze. Either that, or you've slipped some sort of varnish in my glass. If I go blind, you're paying for the spell to restore my sight, Hecktor."
The tall guy starts laughing.
"No..haha...don't worry about that. A good cough and light headedness at most if it doesn't go down well is all."
Sprawled on the floor, Silas cracks one eye open. Big mistake! Urk! Is that a marching band in my head? Uh oh, the room is spinning...
Silas groggily picks himself up, "Urh, gods what is that taste?!" He breathes in and wrinkles his nose with distaste, thinking 'Did something die here?'. Bleary eyed he views the wreckage of what appears to be cheap, nasty, flea infested inn room, 'Was there a battle in here?'
Near by there's a powerfully built armored but disheveled hulk of a man slumped on the floor. Gingerly Silas prods the man with his foot, who promptly rolls over and starts snoring, evidently still alive. "Hecktor! Why are you wearing a wig?", Silas stumbles slightly and sees himself refracted by the wreckage of a broken mirror, "Hells! Why am *I* wearing a wig?! And who the heck are they?"
Stepping over the sleeping forms of several sleeping women, Silas stumbles towards the painfully bright window and peers outside and groans, "Oh no! HECKTOR! What in Desna's name are we doing in ALMAS!?"
Hecktor wakes up. But he's next to his bed.
"Whoa now, what are you worried about. Your hair's always been that long. Rub your eyes again my friend, she is "Muscle Betty", the strong lady bouncer from The Adventurer's Relief brothel. She came here with you, Betty has the reputation of being VERY reserved and having a thing for armour. I said it ok to try it on, but she's not, even for me, the lightest to pick up and removing the outfit from a sleeping woman isn't exactly my etiquette. ^^"
"Dude, how did we get here!? And what was that dream about about Michael settling down as a lord?! And hells what happened to Gilmork and Lucanor!"
"Those details will come back to me in an hour or so. I'm accustomed to Almas' alcohol to avoid a heavy hangover, but it always needs a little time to sort out finer details."
Turning away from the window, Silas mutters, "Did you say the Adventurer's Relief? I thought you where banned from there or something."
Silas stoops to check the other sleeping figure and his eyes go wide, "Uhhhh Hecktor! Isn't that Barron what's his face's daughter? The one with the private army who owns half of Almas. The one whose bankers who tried to kill me last year..."
"Banned? Come on....there are things and people i do and do not attack. The other patron started the fight i tried to hold off. We were lucky he had plenty of coin to pay for the damage."
He takes a look at one of the women in the bed.
"Good GRIEF man!....She's the daughter of Larck Ludlum, he's the biggest crimelord. I remember, you won a wager with his bankers, they were none too pleased with that."
"That and the song linking them with Fr Grimshaw, ill gotten gains, a donkey and a ditch... I'm sure they've forgotten by now. OK, ok, ok, they haven't forgotten and yes I probably am still a bit tipsy. Anyway look these two are sound asleep, what say we leave some money to pay for all the repairs and we get out of here before things get any more complicated. Oh and Hecktor if I ever say 'mine's a double' again you have my permission to shoot me."
"No, i'll just knock you out at most."