Herm adds another gash to the werewolf's flesh and steps out of reach. Jominda reduces the number of unsmoldered feathers again, leaving the bird badly wounded.
The eagle dives down and rolls on the grass of the clearing, trying to put out the fire.
The werewolves, including the leader spoit out curses at Herm, but can't do nothing, due to a lack of ranged weapons. Two of them start the trip downstairs.
The leader takes out a vial, and downs the liquid.
Herm Flies down to where Yilgwi is hoping to find a spot to land. "Their leader if formable but I feel that together we can take him down. He is wounded. I could use some of your healing magic as well." Herm says
"Lad, I'll need me holy symbol for that. Thisamet is strict with his recipies."
Jominda comes flying down. "What does that symbol look like?" she inquires.
"A beautiful cornucopia! Stuffed with food!"
"I have never sen a symbol like that before." Herm says putting his sword away and drawing the wand of healing.
Jominda downs one of her extracts.
"Looks like it became stale." she mutters to herself.
"I don't have any cornopia. But Kendra has really tasty sandwiches. Maybe you could use that? I definitely see them as heavenly."
"What do you want here." an angry voice calls down from above. "This is a feud between weres and you are none. Why do you interfere?!"
"We come to avenge our own fallen who you attacked at the Hunting Lodge, we come to stop the unlawful change of leadership and prevent those demon wolves from taking over." Herm shouts up
"What do you know of werewolf laws! And the demon wolves aren't here. You can follow them to Feldgrau."
"We know that we were attacked and then sent a vision to come here to find something."[/b Herm answers. [b]"The Demon wolves will be coming here to seek to usurp the crown."
"You're helping them a great deal, if you kill me!"
"Who are you then?" Herm shouts back up a bit of confusion in his voice.
"I'm Marthus Mordrinacht! Leader of the Silverhides and rightful new Packlord!"
"I am Herm Dunlaven, Paladin of Iomedae" Herm says walking back up the wall.
"A do-gooder, a follower of Her Stick-in-the-butt-ness. That explains a lot."
"Now you need to decide if you fight all werewolves at once, or if you take sides to prevent the greater evil of the Demon Wolves."
"What is your choice?" Marthus replies.
'Do you wish to Parley?" Herm says back gritting his teeth a the name the Werewolf calls his goddess
"I want you off my back and if you take care of those stupid demon vwolves on the way, you're most welcome. Tell me what you need fo rthat, and I'll give it to you!" Marthus shouts down from the tower.
"Evil demon wolves sounds a lot worse, honestly."
"First we want that you give Yilgwi's stuff back!" Jominda demands.
Yilgwi nods vigorously. "That's me. Priest of Thisamet, Yilgwi Hearthfire!"
"Who is this Thisamet? Never heard of him!" Marthus calls back. "You're a dwarf, why don't you follow Thorag? Is that Thisamet the dwarven thief god?"
"Ah, great Thisamet! The Blithe Spirit! God of feasts, celebrations, and holidays! For a chef like myself, who better to give prayers?"
"A cook? That's not trustworthy. I want that paladin to swear an oath. Then you can have your stuff back." the wolf offers.
"Sir, I said 'Chef,' not 'cook.' But both can be trusted as our lives depend on sustaining and giving joy to the lives of others! We are those who must be worthy of trust!"
"That I will leave you be? We need to get to the top of this tower, I cannot swear an Oath unless you allow us to get there." Herm says
"Sure, come up." Marthus replies. "But draw a wepaon up here and you're dead."
Herm looks at the rest of his companions to see if they are in agreement.
"We can take him anyway, if he is lying. Your oath allows for that right?" Jominda suggests.
Yilgwi nods even more.
"Leaving him alone, doesn't mean to leave this place alone. this place isn't called stairs o fthe moon because wolves are howling here." Kendra voices her opinion.
With herm having still a moment flying left, Jominda and Herm help the others climb the dangerous stairs. As the heroic group reaches the top of the tower, they face the leader Marthus Mordrinacht and three of his Silverhides. The wolves warily watch the intruders. Weapons are sheathed, but the teeth and claws are ready.
"Now follower of the upright Iomedae and who else you brought to fight for her case. Swear by your deity that you won't fight me or my tribe and I'll tell you all you need or want to know, to get rid of the Demon Wolves. And your dwarf will get his pants and the cooking stuff back."
"Lets say we meet in the Middle, you return his pants and gear but not his Holy Symbol yet. I agree then the rest if returned?" Herm counter offers. Both is weapons put away but within easy reach, shield still on his arm.
"I could yes with all of us up there, I cannot break a promise like that once I make it though"
"I got here one paladin, two girls, and a dwarf without pants. First you agree, then he gets his stuff." Marthus replies.
"Why not leave our furry friend here in peace." Kendra adresses Herm. "I'm sure we find the Demon wolves on our own. If they go for Feldgrau, as our talky friend told, then they are after the Whispering Way."
Turning to Marthus she continues. "We know you visited the Lodge. Shall I add two and two for you and your companions? I don't think you have much to tell, and some dwarven backpack might not be worth the hassle." Kendra comments.
"Or the 'pack leader to be' makes an accurate assessment of his situation and decides to make us a much more generous offer. But let me explain - from what I can tell, you lost your only ally with the red wolves gone. How many others do you have against you? The Vollensag? The Demonwolves? How many more are there. Haven't seen any of the Prince's Wolves yet."
"It is only one flight straight to the edge of the clearing by one of 'the girls' to tell the Vollensags that you sit here alone with three of your tribe. How long would it take for them to come here and take you apart?" Kendra asks with a not amused expression on her face.
She let's the words sink in before she continues. "I want all the stuff of our dwarven friend. I want free access to all parts of this tower to study it. And of course all the answers you offered - just in case I missed something. And you start with handing ALL of Yilgwi's stuff over as a sign of good will."
"And once we're all done here with all the investigations we deem necessary to go after the Whispering Way, we'll get out of your hair. And leave to Feldgrau and mop up what's left of the quarrel between them and the Demon Wolves. In exchange you get the promise of the whole group, including our honored paladin of Iomedae to leave you and your tribe be - this time. And if you're lucky, our paths never cross again."
Kendra musters the werewolf leader with a stern look. All business and no fun.
Jominda's Jaw drops and she gawks astonished at Kendra. But she quickly braces herself and tries to look similarly serious as Kendra does.
She fingers the vials in her pocket and readies to get into the air, should the negotiations go wrong.
Marthus tenses with anger. The clenching of teeth and all his muscles slightly shaking give it away. The other wolves are also tense. But for other reasons. Their eyes switch between Marthus, the stern woman and the edge of the clearing.
A few moments that feel like forever pass.
"Sounds resonable." Marthus presses through his teeth. "Get the cooks bag." he barks at one of his wolves.
The wolf leaves to the floor below the top to fetch the backpack. Taking several stairs at once he is back quickly and drops it at Yilgwi's feet. The armor is tied to it.
As the were is back in line Marthus stares daggers at Herm. "Your turn."
Herm goes tense as well, his right hand shifting over the pommel of his long sword....
As Herm watches the Werewolf regard Kendra and respect her Herm does his job. "I promise on my Honor as a Paladin of Iomedae that I will leave you be and will not break this pledge." Herm says holding his hand out for the wolf to shake.
Marthus doesn't take the hand. "Then it is settled. Don't take too long, or the Whispering Way might have moved on from Feldgrau." He turn away to let his gaze wander over the clearing.
The other weres are still not comfortable.
"Would you follow me downstairs?" Kendra asks her companions.
When they leave the wolves to mull over the new situation and are out of earshot Kendra explains [smaller]"Have you felt that? There is powerful magic built into the tower. I didn't dare to check what exactly it is. It has to be overwhelming. I need to study this. I can't let this opportunity slip!"
"And we still don't know why the Whispering Way worked with the weres. They wanted something. They are collecting special ingredients for something since Ravengro. And if the Demon Wolves are after them now, then not all weres are willing to part with it."
"What do you say how we continue?"
"Tasty sammiches?" Jominda suggests.
"We can finish this town yes, you seem to feel a connection and if you wish to explore some more then I won't stop you." Herm says once they are out of ear shot.
Yilgwi gleefully gets dressed and kitted up. "Er, a little help here," he says, indicating his full plate armor.
Herm moves to help his smaller friend with his armor. "Do you find this protects you well?' Herm asks
"I do! It's enchanted, you know! These wolfmans would never have captured me if I didn't have to take it off to ...you know ...poo."
"I see, well maybe just parts next time so you aren't without some protection. Why did you lose your Holy symbol?" Herm asks
"There seems to be a painting or soemthing of a butterfly on the temple floor here." Herm points down
"They took it."
Once all the steel is placed on the dwarf Jominda comments "Now you don't look like a chef at all anymore. Or do you cook in full plate?"