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Felicitas mumbles a few words and you can see Roghaz holding his ears and hissing in pain. The kobold with the red snout takes a step back and shoots a slingstone at Hans but the stone hits the floor next to him.
Ting shaken 1R
Kobold yellow
Kobold blue -5HP disabled
Roghaz purple -1HP dazed 1R
Kobold green defeated
Felicitas
Kobold red
Hans
Hans roars his approval as the boss kobold is stupefied by Felicitas.
"Wake up! Time to die!"
With a powerful, measured swing, he then attempts to decapitate the kobold.
Hans glances over his shoulder at the party's resident 'friendly' kobold.
"What do you think?"
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turning to Felicitas
"Nice jobs, Felicitas, 'at screamin' at em does it every time's wroight"
they must be so cold without feathers
ting looks around at the pathetic little lizards, back at Nighttail and then at Hans and Felicitas.
"Nighttail said 'ey's would leave, and as long as 'ey's bloody well leaves I sess we let' 'em, wroight"
he then goes to the corps of the dead leader and looks for anything of value and then begins searching the cave for anything of value.
Hans shrugs.
"Provided they gather their eggs, and leave the area, never to return, I don't have a problem with that."
After making sure that the kobolds leave, he moves to assist Ting-Tang with the search of the cavern.
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"They tell the truth, they are too stupid to think on their own." Nighttail says. Then she turns to the kobolds. "Time for you to choose a new leader and leave this place."
Ting and Hans search the body and the cavern. The leader carries two scrolls, a wand, a dagger, a cloak and two keys. The western section of the cave is Roaghaz's sleeping quarters. A large, soft pallet lies here, along with two locked chests.
Hans nods to the pile of equipment retrieved from the Kobold leader.
"Felicitas? Do you have any idea what any of these items are?"
As the kobolds are preparing to leave, a thought occurs to Hans.
"Oi, just a moment... Why *did* your tribe collapse that tower?"
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"It was a trap. Aeteperax commanded us to kill the wizard so Roaghaz sent some of us to dig under the tower and to lure the wizard into the tower."
Hans raises an eyebrow.
"...and whom, or what, is 'Aeteperax'? Other than someone in dire need of a nickname?"
"Lovely. So, we have a dragon in the area, and it seems to like to meddle... We should probably let the locals know about this..."
Gathering up what the party has discovered, Hans heads back to town.
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after ting takes the keys from Hans and opens the trunks...listening to Hans question the lizards...
a dragon, well that's biting off more that we can chew, good thing I have a craw
ting picks up whichever trunk Hans doesn't and toddles along behind him, whistling, following him to town. As they draw near
"So's we goin' ta talk ta tha Lady foist? Or's we gonna grab a pint or three? dudgeoneering is thoisty woik, wroight"
Hans grins at Ting-Tang.
"Right you are! I certainly wouldn't mind a pint or three... but before we do that, we should probably get our reward, so we can pay the bar tab."
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On your way back you collect whatever you left on your way into the caves. It's already dark outside, you spent the hole day killing kobolds and rats in smelly caves. You are glad you can breath fresh air again.
Finally you reach Belheim again and you meet Lady Origena at Devy Manor. "Welcome back. Did you drive off the kobolds?" she asks.
Hans nods.
"Yes, we drove off the kobolds, but in doing so, we uncovered something disturbing - apparently, they collapsed the tower on the orders of a dragon by the name of Aeteperax."
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"That's good news, thanks you very much for this favor." the woman says and prepares the bag with the dozen amethysts she promised you.
After a minute she continues "Aeteperax? Every child in Belhaim knows about this dragon, but he was slayn hundreds of years ago. Everyone in town knows the old legends of how Lady Tula slew a dragon. If word spreads that the kobolds were serving or even worshiping someone named Aeteperax, the citizens of Belhaim will grow nervous. There have always been rumors that the ancient dragon might not have been slain after all, but until now it was just rumors."
After thinking for some time she says "I believe that the matter of this new Lord Aeteperax, whether or not he exists, can wait. You have to know that we sent a raven to Hunclay's only living relative, a cousin in Yanmass. While you were in the quarry we received her answer. She doesn't seem all that distraught at his death, and has no interest in coming to Belhaim to claim his estate and belongings. Instead, she has requested that the I auction off all of Hunclay's property and possessions so that the proceeds can be sent to her. Which means somebody has to enter the place and explore the interiour to catalogue the conents of Hunclay's manor home. An enterprise that could entail considerable danger. Hunclay was something of a foul-tempered recluse, and word around town is that his manor was warded by magical traps and guarded by monsters. The fate of the kobold who burned to death on the manor's front porch has only added to locals' fears." The baroness takes a deep breath.
"Would you be interested in taking on another job for Belhaim?"
Hans turns to the others, and winks.
"Well? What do you think? Are you ready for some more death defying adventure?"
Almost as an after thought, he adds:
"Tomorrow morning, that is. We need time to rest, and carouse tonight!"
"Sure thing, madame. What can we do for you? Maybe you can come over for dinner and tell us what you need to be done. And sweeten the deal by taking the tab. No worries Ting and me do not eat much and I adher to a strict don´t drink before fights policy."
With a charming smile the young bard takes Ting and Hans under the arm and walks toward the inn.
"Right then. Sounds like a plan to me!"
Hans bows awkwardly to Lady Origena, and then takes his leave.
Once outside, he slaps Ting-Tang on the back in a comradely fashion.
"Come on, let's grab a bite to eat. I've worked up quite an appetite fighting kobolds!"
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walking arm in arm with Feicitas, then being slapped on the back by Hans, My friends are so great!
Ting quickly bows to the lady, as he walks from the room enjoying the camaraderie with friends, he toddles behind them going toward the Inn.
"you's is bloody well wroight, quite an appetite, but loik miss Felicitas pointed outs, I don't eat much" smiling "I prefers ta drinks ma calories any hows. So's this wizardy fella's house, we's picked tha lock on tha front door once alreadies, wroight?"
Taking note of the Baroness' arrival, Hans moves over, and bows.
"May we join you?"
Hans waits for the others to seat themselves, and then takes a seat.
"Now, you mention that Aeteperax was a dragon from old legend, slain by a Lady Tula, but that some believe he was never actually killed, or if he was, that he somehow 'came back'... Perhaps you could go into a bit more detail about the tales?"
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The baroness smiles at Hans. "Of course you may join. Please sit down." She waits for Felicitas and Ting to join as well. After you ordered food and drinks she starts with the Belhaim history lesson.
"You are right, this is what the legends tell us. During the years between 3660 and 3672 AR, the region endured an explosion of violent and bloody depredations by no fewer than three dozen different dragons. Among those affected by the attacks was a young woman named Tula Belhaim, who lost her family when a black dragon named Aeteperax destroyed her hometown of Nazilli on the southern edge of the Verduran Forest. She would go on to become a great hero, and the mercenary company she founded - the Slayers of Nazilli - defeated more dragons than any other group in those days. Her final triumph was slaying Aeteperax in the heart of a swampland deep in the part of the Verduran Forest known today as Dragonfen."
Meanwhile Taria serves the ordered drinks and the baroness takes a sip from her tea before she continues.
"For her service, the Taldan emperor awarded Tula the title of Baroness and the stewardship of the Verduran Fork region, including all of Dragonfen. Her legions of admirers soon founded a town bearing her name, its buildings built of limestone quarried nearby."
Hans listens attentively, nodding here and there to show that he is following the Baroness' conversation thread.
"So she was given stewardship of this area? Does that mean that you are her descendent?"
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"No, I'm not. A lot happened since then. For example the Iroran sect settled down and built a monastary near Belhaim. In 3676 AR, as Belhaim was still finding its place in the world, a band of lroran priests presented themselves before the Baroness ofBelhaim and asked her permission to build a monastery east of the town, overlooking Dragonfen. Lady Tula graciously granted their wish, and soon thereafter, the monks built a fine monastery on the far side of the swamp. The Iroran sect grew and prospered in this setting along with Belhaim, and over the years developed strong ties to the town. Lady Tula married one of her fellow Slayers, Arturic Canteclure and built a castle atop one of the town's hills. The couple had four children, but each one died of accident or misadventure before the age of 9, leaving Tula and her husband with no heirs."
Taria serves the food, the baroness ordered peppergrass soup and grilled trout with parsley-potatoes. "Enjoy your meal!"
While you are eating a couple enteres the inn. You know the woman, it's one of the slaves you rescued in the kobolds cave. She spots you and whispers something to her companion.
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ting, drinking his ale in a most bird like fashion, dips his beak into the flagon drawing a portion of ale into his beak, then lifts his beak over his head and slurps down the frothy dark liquid. It is at once both noisy and humorous.
As Taria serves the food you notice ting ordered the roast beef with a side of roast beef, both the main course and side dish are rare. He uses a knife and fork to cut and eat the meat, but when he thinks no one is looking he will just peck at it with his beak and gobble it down.
as he sees the woman they released from the cave's enter the establishment he waves and calls out.
"Oy, 'ello, how are ya's?"
"My apologies for assuming. I am sorry to hear that Lady Tula's bloodline ended prematurely; what happened to the castle? I don't remember seeing one in the area."
When the monks are mentioned, Hans looks intrigued.
"An Iroran sect you say? How peculiar; I would have thought this was a little far north for a monastery dedicated to the 'Master of Masters'. I wonder what drove them this far out?"
Hans' mouth waters when the food arrives, and he tucks into it with obvious gusto.
"This is a *lot* better than trail rations!"
Upon spotting the former slave, Hans smiles, and waves her over.
"It's good to see you under better circumstances! Are you settling back into life here, after your harrowing ordeal?"
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The woman and her companion get to your table. "I'm still a bit weak, but I'm feeling better." the woman answers.
"We don't want to bother you while eating, but I want to thank you for saveing my daughter's life. My name is Isadorer Malak. If you have time, come to the my farm to collect your reward." the man on her side says.
Hans nods to the man.
"Of course, I am sure that we would be delighted to drop-by, and see how she are going; I am only sorry that we did not get there sooner, but if it is any consolation, we insisted on going to clear the kobolds out as soon as we heard about them."
He then smiles at the woman.
"I wish you a speedy recovery!"
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as ting is stuffing roast beef in his beak he asks,
"didn't I hear's also someone's was 'avin' a problem wit wolves? We's could look inta 'at whiles we wander about tha farmlands."
he stops talking and swallows the meat, then taking a slurp from his flagon he continues
"Moight be interestin ta take a looks see at tha Monk's 'ouse afters we clear tha trapssies out of tha wizardy fella's house."
ruffling his feathers a little ting stops talking for a moment and tilts his head, looking like he is trying to remember something, then he blurts out.
"did anybodies fig're outs what tha big green and black thingies were in tha second trunk? Porsonally I tink they's poker chips from a casino fer giants, I's heard o' them, up in tha north, could be's 'at little lizardy leader 'ad a gambling problem like me uncle Bukka."
looking around the table for a consensus he nods his head and finishes with
"wroight?"
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"Thank you!" the woman answers and they leave the inn.
Before continuing with history lesson Lady suggests "I've never seen something like this but it looks like it's from a large animal. You can ask Pinebash. He knows a lot about animals and nature. You find him in the pharmacy."
Then she turns to Hans again to continue the story "Rule of Belhaim fell to distant relations of Arturic's, the Canteclures. In 4500 AR, Baron Sarvo Canteclure, a vicious lord who imprisoned subjects for the slightest infraction, joined an ill-advised rebellion against the Grand Prince, and his family and the castle were destroyed in retaliation. Upheaval was not limited to the town of Belhaim that year, though. A month prior to the razing of Castle Tula, the ruin you know as the Witch Tower, the monks of the Monastery of Saint Kyerixus vanished mysteriously and their home fell into ruin. Nobody knows why they came here and what happened to them."
People in the inn come and go and from time to time the Baroness nods to greet somebody. Taria serves a dessert, home-made apple pie and honey cookies with nuts.
"Back in Belhaim, a man named Sir Arkold Devy was awarded the Barony of Belhaim for his role in helping to put down the seditious Canteclures. His descendants have ruled for the past 2 centuries. During this time, a few memorable events touched the region - most notably the earthquake that left the town relatively unharmed, but caused the town's quarry to flood. With access to the quarry's fine limestone lost, Belhairn's fortunes slowly receded."
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seditio, sedittin, sedioous, must mean the bad guys
ting tries to listen to the details of the story but when desert is served he is clearly distracted, he takes a cookie in each claw and starts to peck the nuts out of them, switching claws with each peck, counting under his breath
onesies, twosies, threesies, I love me some nuts,
Ting listens to the duchess for a moment then he starts again
where's were I onesies, twosies...
trying to pay attention, but ting is not able to resist being distracted by the cookies.
Hans nods.
"Fair enough. We will pay Pinebash a visit in the morning."
He then turns to the others.
"It might actually be prudent to do some shopping in the morning, as well."
When the Baroness finishes her recounting of the town's history, Hans smiles.
"Thank-you for giving us a bit more of the town's background. It certainly helps to put everything into perspective. I must admit, I am curious as to why the monks appeared, and just as suddenly disappeared, but that may be a mystery best left to another day; we have more pressing business at present, after all."
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"As you are talking aout pressing business, that reminds me about the reason why I wanted to talk to you tonight. I already told you about the auction and that I need somebody to clean the wizard's home. Exploring Hunclay's manor and identifying any unusual or magical items there while simultaneously deactivating traps and dealing with any monstrous guardians seem to be tasks tailor-made for adventurers, after all. Of course I will award you with 5,000 gp under the premise that you won't take anything with you. You are welcome to take part in the auction afterwards. Hunclay's cousin didn't put a time limit on her request, and you are free to do tackle the assignment whenever and at whatever speed you wish. What do you say?" she asks while taking out some sheets of paper from her bag.
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heck yes
Ting nods his head vigorously and dribbling cookie crumbs says
" tisky-tasks tailor-made's fer adventurers, 'at be our speciality, wroight."
thinking for a moment, he continues, forgetting he's speaking to a Duchess as he winks and says,
"An don't you's worry 'at pretty little ead of your'n's. We's woun't touch anyt'ing we's not supposen to."
Felicitas quickly nods. It seems an interesting job to do!
"That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Since there isn't a time limit, we might take a day or two to re-supply, and check-in on the people that we rescued, before tacking the wizard's home."
Hans chuckles.
"After all, we will need a bit of time to recover from this excellent meal," he says, with a twinkle in his eye.