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'well this is confusing,' Sariel shakes his head, not fully realizing why Khaz left. "Our first oath is to the people of the village, I just wanted Rhoddam's wise council. He believes it is to dangerous for one, so we should all go. Then return to help the ghost."
Sariel scratches his head, then prepares to leave. Turning he calls loudly down the hallway after Khaz
"My begirthed companion here speaks wise and most honourous words. We must return from these, most hospitably enjoyable, environs with the upmost haste and sense of import; for the lives of others you understand. Rashness must never be the driver of man. Animalism, barbarism indeed, is the heinous direction that that leads. I shall accompany the returning party with all my manifest proclivity, the ingredients shall be returned, the town saved; and all to the glory of the Astounding Avogadro and his companions most gracious."
"Aye. I'd not be at my ease wanderin' these halls knowin' that people were dyin' waitin' on us to get back, s'truth. I'm with all of you. We need to go back to Falcon's Hollow." He looks down the tunnel Khaz took for a moment, then turns back to the group.
"Let's go save some folks."
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"I...blast it! Arguin' morals with a fookin' paladin is jus' wastin' time. Fine. The livin' be the forgefather's creations too, an' an oath be an oath. I won't let ye all bleed out. I'll....I'll fookin' go with ye." It was very clear from his tone of voice that he was anything but happy.
The group rushes back to town and arrives in the middle of the night. The town is dark and there is little to no activity. You rush to Laurel's house and knock on her door. After a few minutes, she opens the door. She has obviously been asleep for a few hours. When she sees you, her eyes turn from sleepy to excited. "Thank the gods! Do you have them?!" She swings the door wide open to let you in, not even concerned that she is in her nightgown.
'Oh my' Seeing the woman in her nightgown, Sariel, blushes and turns away. "Yes Ma'am we have gotten all the ingredients, how may we help you now?" Holding the 'rat's tail' out with one hand while he resists the urge to cover his eyes with the other.
Khaz crossed his arms, and nervously drummed his fingers on his arms. He kept absentmindedly looking down at the ring on his finger.
"Good. Bloody well good. We did our job, the town be saved. Now, iffin' ye all dunnae mind, we must be off." He then looked up and saw Laurel in her nightgown. Fighting the urge to blush he looked away, muttering something about Torag and being given a quest.
Avogadro twirls, deftly removing his jacket and, with a lunge, draping it around Laurel's shoulders.
"We have what you require my dear, let all the town rejoice for Avogadro the astounding and his companions have assuredly saved the hour, the day, nay the very world."
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Whilst Laurel takes the group in and begins examining the ingredients they collected, Arun relates the story of their travels. He make sure to mention in particular the witch's hut and the voracious cauldron, seeking Laurel's assurance that the tale will be told around the village for the future safety of all. Further, he relates the finding of the hawk signet ring on the body of someone who had fallen victim to the two dragon-like lizards.
Showing it to Laurel, he asks if she might have any idea to whom it belongs. Is the hawk image in any way related to 'Falcon's Hollow', perhaps?
Laurel blushes at the men's attention, but seems to enjoy it. She brushes her bangs back and smiles coyly at Sariel. After a little bit, she forgets you are even in the room though as she starts working on the remedy. She does acknowledge Arun as he shares the tales. "You guys might want to get some sleep. I will have this ready in the morning."
You guys head to the inn and get some good rest. By the time you wake up, the town is already all abuzz with stories of your heroics. You have a good breakfast and head over to Laurel's place. She is gone and you track her down going from house to house. She tells you that the remedy already seems to be helping.
Sheriff Baleson finds you. "You guys are heroes. I can not thank you enough for what you did for the people here. Stay as long as you want. There is a group leaving in about a week if you are interested in traveling to Phaendar. There is a large market festival there in a week and a half. Several of the town folks here will be taking their wares there to sell them. Maybe you could protect the caravan?"
Grumpily Khaz shakes his head. "I thank ye for yer words. But me god has spoken to me. There be a thief to catch. A defiler. I put the lives o' these townsfolk o'er...o'er me oath to track down yon thief! An' who knows where he may be?" He looked around dejectedly. "The caravan job be a good one. But I'm goin' back to the mines. The beasties in the depths may well have eaten the thief. It's me only clue an' I'll die before I walk away on an oath."
'She smiled at me.' Seeing Lauren smile, Sariel smiles back, and quickly turns away, waiting patiently for instructions outside the cottage. Once Laurel tells them it's safe to go to bed, he heads to the Inn.
'Hero's? Maybe Khaz or Jean-Pierre, Hearing the accolades Sariel blushes a little, tugging at his collar and clearing his throat. Hearing Khaz speak up, Sariel nods his head in agreement, "Helping guard your people as they travel would be a privilege, but Khaz is right. We have a thief to catch, and hopefully we can be back before the people leave."
Turning to Khaz he whispers "Since you helped us honor our oath I will help you honor yours. But I thought the tracks of the thief led out of the mines instead of deeper in. We should ask one of the guys who can track to go with us." Sariel then looked around the group to see who was going with them.
"Lad, thank ye. It pains me to say it, but I've nay got a head for this. Ye can see that. I'm glad to have ye by meside."
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As the weary group return to the inn for rest, Arun occupies himself with sorting out their accumulated loot with JP.
He reassures Khaz that he will stand by his side whatever he decides to do regards the vault, although it is clear from his skeptical look that he shares Sariel's belief that the thief left that place long before. Sincerely he tells Khaz "Whatever you decide, I'll support you, master dwarf. Unless your God decides this is something you need to do alone."
Once at the inn, before retiring, Arun heads to the bar for a well earned glass of refreshment, inviting any of the others to join him. He intended to ask at the bar about the curious ring the party found at the Druid's Grove, but his attention is distracted by the charms of an alluring dark-haired woman drinking alone at a table. Time passes, and when the others leave the bar, Arun is still deep in conversation with the woman, discussing matters both arcane and more intimate.
In the morning, despite his promises to the group, Arun is gone. His room has not been slept in, although his kit is still there. Enquiry at the bar reveals Arun left last night, closely embracing the mysterious stranger.
Later that morning, a hand-written note is delivered to the group by a messenger boy. It says: "Friends I cannot apologise enough but I must take leave of you for now at least. Last night I met someone who changed everything. Re-Zorzen has shown me so much, so much; she exposed hidden secrets to me I never imagined before. We were together through the night and when I woke this morning I realise nothing will ever be the same again. I digress; now she has left I need time to record my new-found insights. I intend to travel with the trade caravan to Phaendar at the end of the week. I would be gladdened if our paths continue together in that direction; if so, then you can hear in so much more detail during the journey what we did together last night. May the Gods favour your step until then, Arun"
Peculiarly, the letter is signed off with a 'x' ...
Fergal is mostly quiet as the group heads back to town, but he smiles brightly even as he blushes when they greet Laurel with word of their success.
When they return to the inn and settle at the bar, he looks around and says, "I feel like it was some kind of divine providence or fate that I met you when I did, s'truth. Not only have I made new friends and found new purpose, but I helped save lives and I can't begin to say how good that feels. Plus... I found Rusco here..."
He pauses for a moment, cuddling the fox, before he goes on.
"I'd be honored to continue travelin' with you, and help with Khaz's duty, or whatever else comes, sure enough."
He looks down, still stroking Rusco's fur gently.
Rhoddam meets the party in the inn late that evening. He walks over the Khaz "Master Dwarf, I went back and followed the tracks. They did indeed lead from the caverns. One set led to the river where you killed the hobgoblin. Other head toward the direction of Phaendar. That may be the direction your thieves went in..."
"Thank ye, lad. Truly. It makes sense too. They've got a decent sized market there. Good to sell the loot. Forgefather's blessin' upon ye."
Upon returning to the inn Avogadro cannot be drawn from the bar. The snippets of conversation the rest catch make it clear he it recounting the tale of their journey to an audience of one, Talulah. The two of them spend the evening laughing and by the time the bar begins to empty the counter is covered in crude flowers in every colour. Avogadro unsteadily slaloms his way around chairs and tables to where the remains of the group are sitting.
"Gentlemen. Most lovely and splediferous friends, wonderful people. I am in love. But enough about me, let us talk of the future! My future! I have tried my hand at the guarding of caravanserai, the road is a cruel mistress, and I am not suited to cruelty. The most majestic, divine, muse of muses, Talulah..."
Following the eccentric waft of his hands leads to the barkeep a look of what can only be apprehension and regret on her face.
"... she cannot release me to the wider world just yet. She is a possessive type. I am to remain here. Our cover is that I am to entertain the riffraff in return for my lodging free of all capital charge. But the truth is self evident for all but the most clouded, deluded of minds. She is besotted. And so, though I am fully cognizant that it may break the spirit within each of you. This is goodbye."
That said he embraces each party member still present, sways to the stairway and unsteadily ascends.