...and his name is Epix.
Our party has finally (after much tragedy) resurfaced in Diamond Lake with evidence of not only Smenk's involvement with a land-squatting, bodysnatching necromancer but also his involvement (with a certain Mssr. Dourstone) in catering to an evil cult determined to destroy Diamond Lake. Finally.
We've been on the run for 36 game days, which translates to (IIRC) a year of gameplay. In order to assure that we aren't jailed for (among other things) murder, theft, and arson, we presented the information to Sheriff Cubbin and intimated that it would be quite profitable for him to arrest the two mine managers.
In Diamond Lake, however, that sort of bribery is just unheard of. The Sheriff sent a deputy to have Smenk up his bribe, and ... well ... combat ensued. When the dust cleared, the half-gold dragon dwarf fighter Epix was the new sheriff, the rest of the party were his new deputies, and the other mine managers have sent some of their thugs to make sure the new regime isn't overthrown in the first night.
Now we've got to clean up the bad men in town, find a suitable replacement (most likely *shudder* Demon Boy) and help the Free City garrison clean up this (&@#%$(& Aspect that we think is going to erupt from beneath Dourstone's mines. All that, and investigate more of these darn worms in the swamps.
We aren't playing fantasy anymore; it's feeling more and more like a Noir Western with each game session. :)
Erik, James, thanks for the fun!
My players have it in their heads to try the same thing. They'd be happy to know that it went so well for you guys. :-)
Time to dust off the "Deadwood" DVDs...