The Lady Devy seems a bit perturbed at this lack of formality.
So, are you saying that Hunclay himself hired the kobolds and then died below the tower? Where did you come by that information?
Rurik sighs at the disjointed reports the Baroness is given. Yessee M'lady, when we first went down there, we found a number o beasties, includin a minor devil. After negotiatin a few traps and what not, we came ta a number o collapsed tunnels, which likely was the cause o the tower tumbling down. 'aff buried was an older wizardly lookin man we assume ta be Hunclay. Ee had this here key ring wit a silver an a brass key. Sum Kobolds attacked us as we look further, an we managed ta capture a few of'm. After a bit o pursuadin, Theys told us that the elder gentleman had hired'em ta bring the tower down. If'n he getting caught in the collapse was an accident, ere backstabbing, I dunno. The rotund man looks to the other, non-pyromanical types, to see if they have anything else to add.
Lady Devy takes the key and studies it. Yes, this belonged to Hunclay. Kobolds you say. This seems...troubling. she ponders yuou all for a long moment and then calls out Arnholde! Bring the purse. and a few moments later her son arrives with a large bulging purse.
This is for services rendered, and I have an offer of further employment for you. The Kobolds. I know they have a lair somewhere nearby. They've obviously decided to cause trouble for Belhaim and that cannot stand. Drive them off and I'll reward you greatly for your service to Belhaim and the Devy family.
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"Hey! You guys were right!" Kara declares as she gazes with unadulterated avarice at the bulging coinpurse. _I_ wanted to hunt the kobolds down, kill them all with fire, and then burn their houses down around them, eradicating their presence and any clue that they had ever been.
But NOW we're getting paid for it!
You guys rock."
Aye, back after them, then.
"Odd as it is to say, I think it's worth mentioning that the Kobolds are just people who took a job, from a Human, no less. I think they'd likely be willing to work with your people if given half a chance, or at the very least be willing to leave your people alone."
"But, as you will it, let's go murder a bunch of sentient beings who just took the wrong job."
Without waiting for response, Kartoss leaves the room.
Rurik huffs after Kartoss, sweat immediately matting down his hair from the effort. Lad, she jess said drive'm off. You added the killin yerself. If them we let go told their tale, we may be able ta convince them ta head a few days travels further off err risk less compashonate folk take the job ta kill'm dead. Heck, affer they move on, we kin let the little lady hav'er fun an really sell the act.
They are evil, any way ya look at it.
Looking down at Kara, Davin smiles.
"See, I told you there would be a pay-off. Now lets just keep your burning down to a minimum and maybe we can earn another pouch of gold!"
Watching Kartoss leave after his outburst, Davin shakes his head.
"Something is bothering that fella. He has been touchy for awhile now."
With no response to his words, Rurik shrugs and returns to the group. Aye, I could do wit a good meal and ta check if they took mah suggestions on brewcraft.
Once the group joins him outside, Kartoss will say "So, I assume there are a bunch of soon to be dead or homeless Kobolds near here?"
Kartoss will accept his share of the pay, pocketing it without comment.
Hey, before we go kobold huntin', is there any place I can get a healin' potion?
Anyone like to join me in buying a healin' potion?
Hack heads off to the closest purveyor of potions.
Davin looks down at the halfling lass and asks, "So how about it hot stuff. Want to go shopping?"
Rurik returns to the inn they had been staying at, both to check on the stills, and enjoy a bit more of the luxuries of civilization than he has been underground.
Rurik returns to the Wise Piper, the small inn where you've been staying. Rurik is told upon arrival that the rooms have been paid for the week by Lady Devy, as have all meals and three drinks per person per day. The innkeeper, a middle aged woman named Talia Orem, is almost fawning over Rurik. She tells him, while serving him her best beer That wizard Hunclay always spooked me. I heard he worships devils and collects evil books!
Davin, Kara, c'mon.
Hack crosses the street to Xemne's Tonics. He confidently walks in and approaches the nearest shopkeep.
I am lookin' for a healing draught. Ya have any for sale?
Davin looks down at Kara and shrugs
"Guess we will follow him..haha. For now anyway. Anything you wanted to look at?" he asks Kara
Kartoss will return to the inn, over his three drinks and slide them over to Hack with a nod, finish his meal, then go for a run before turning in for the night.
Rurik graciously accepts their best beer with a broad grin, and does his best to regale those in the inn with the tales from under the tower. He omits most of the injuries to the party, and those that make it in seem feeble and easily removed with Sarenrae's light. When Talia comments about Hunclay, Rurik's face darkens in despair, Now lass, It best be that we not be speaking ill of the dead. If'n he was doing those things, he'll not be doing it anymore. Asides, devil worship an evil books is not that kinda thing ta talk about on such occasion! There should be merriment and revelry! Now, a gold piece to anyone who wants ta go shot fer shot with me!
Kara, Davin and Hack head to Xemne's Tonics and find the owner, a gregarious exotic looking young woman named Xemne of Demgazi, hard at work with a mortar and pestle. She looks up and smiles. What can we help you with!
It's hard not to notice the iconography of Shelyn displayed prominently in the store. In fact, Xemne has a necklace displaying the plumage of a multicolored songbird.
The innkeep nods at Rurik and pours him another.
Ya have any potions of healing for sale?
The exotic woman smiles and says Of course! We have all manner of unguent and medicine. Say, what did you find at the bottom of the Tower? I bet it has something to do with the Old Monastery the monks who lived in the old monastery didn't vanish-they just wandered in to Dragonfen and died in some vile ritual. They're out there still, haunting the fen!
"What old monastery? Can you tell me where it is and its history?"
Most of what the Alchemist can tell you sounds suspiciously like happenstance and old wives tales. However, the gist of it is that not long after the town's founding a group of Irorian Monks founded the Monastery of Saint Kyerixus. A few hundred years later the monastery was abandoned, no one knows why, and now the place has a reputation for being haunted by ghosts and worse.
Davin looks to his comrades.
"Could be a perfect base for Kobolds. Maybe we should check this place out."
Turning back to the shop owner he ask if she can provide them with directions to this ruined monastery.
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Kara just asks for a single healing potion, and pays for it quietly.
While the old lady prattles on about spirits, Kara wanders the shop, idly gazing at the superstitious do-dads that lay about.
Though she tries to suppress the urge, she can't in good conscience leave without something sticking to her hands.
She honestly doesn't care what it is, just so long as she can tell her contact that she's not gone legit.
That would just be awkward.
Kara steals a random doodad worth GP
Vakase hurriedly ducks in to buy a healing potion.
"So I was wandering around and I ran into the undertaker from the Sunset House. We had the most fascinating conversation about death and I completely lost track of time."
"Where are we heading next?"
Hack places 50 gold on thd tsble and takes a Potion of Cure Wounds in return.
Thanks.
Do you want to go back down through the tower, or head towards the Kobolds camp overland?
(The Baroness knows approximately where the kobold camp is located, and you know which way the kobolds went when you let them go underneath the Tower)
Awaking after a good rest in an actual bed, Davin dresses and heads down to break his fast.
After a night of excessive drinking, Hack rises early and dunks his head into a barrel of cold water. He ties back his long hair, and checks his axe and armor.
I am ready.
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Kara literally flips a coin, and it lands on "Go to bed early to keep them guessing."
She greets the dawn and performs a kata designed to heighten and focus her powers of FIRE!
After all, she's gonna hear a lot of screaming today. From things she set on fire. You need to prepare for these things.
She literally bounces into the common room as Davin sits down.
"Hi there! We should go overland. So we can start them on fire from the greatest range.
Also, we should surround the village, but leave a small escape route. When they retreat to safety, we can close the trap!
Vae Victus!"
Once again, Kartoss walks into the Inn room in the early morning, clearly having been running or working out. He eats a modest repast and then says "Very well, I am ready to be off."
Rurik awakes with a start, his hair and beard matted at funny angles from sleeping wherever he fell from the nights festivities. Finding a bucket, he fills it with water and repeatedly dunks his head.
A bit more awake, he sets about his morning prayers and preparing for their mission.
Okay, if traveling overland I'll need two Survival checks. Anyone can make them and I'll treat assists as granting Advantage.