Den pointedly looks at Roet, "he doesn't know what happened. Just leave it. It can't hurt and I'm sure sometime soon Avo will notice."
"Forget it, Avogadro. You're fine," soothes the druid as if nothing has happened.
Roet sheathes the weapon, looking around emotionless. He just pointed out to the group that one of them casts no shadow - like a vampire, or the gods know what else - and people don't actually seem to care.
He gives the Human Sorcerer a last look.
Then finally, in silence and seriousness, he grunts and goes his way. There were many, many things he didn't understand in this strange world.
Pip shrugs. "Whatever happened, it's probably fine. We're not dead, and if Hazry was even a bit as powerful as that whole spectacle seemed, then I'll be satisfied with that. Plus, it'll make for a hell of a story to tell later." The bad pun amuses him more than it perhaps should, given the gravity of the moment... but wasn't that the point?
"In any case, there's no sense in wasting good gold. I think it's time sit back, relax, and wait for the rest of traveling companions to come back from Faldamont with the rest of our payment!"
"But do you feel ok? We are only worried about you. You had a seizure back there. Please let us know if you feel bad."
The party emerges from the collapsed tower, where they entered, near to the wizard's house. It's early evening. Any camping and pack equipment they left behind has been removed, presumably by Talia.
Deputies Mulle and Hodd are still here, the former guarding the wizard's house and the latter kneeling by a couple of forms - maybe human or humanoid bodies - covered by blankets. He beckons the party over.
"So you've emerged. If you've finished down there, you need to go and see the baroness. There's a carriage waiting for you behind the house."
"Good evening gentlemen. Finished is a relative term is it not? What is occurring here anyway are these the kobolds from the ruin? Or has further tragedy befallen this benighted town?"
Hodd looks up at Avogadro: "Burglars. Old man Garron's heckling did you lot a favour, it seems. The house is covered in magical traps. These two individuals decided they wanted a shot at breaking in, tried the front door and - zap! It took out both of them, some kind of chain reaction running round the house; so we've been called back up to guard the place. You find the wizard?"
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Garekk steps forward somberly. "We found a great many things down there, which were not anticipated. We will have to speak with the Baroness, but a short answer is yes, we found him. After we speak with the baroness, I imagine she will put out what information she deems sufficient. Thank you for your warnings and your advice." With that, Garekk starts to head towards the carriage.
"Garekk - we need to see the Baroness at Devy Manor. She wanted a personal report like you thought."
Den and Draken prepare to head onwards, "well where is the Manor, friend Hodd?"
Hodd nods in the direction of the carriage: "Rather than me provide you with directions, if you and your pet ... well I'm not actually sure what that is ... get in the carriage, it'll take you to the manor."
"Yes, please, take us to the manor."
"Very well, I suppose if we must. Though if someone would be so kind as to deliver this to Talia at the inn..."
As he is speaking Avogadro takes out pen ink and paper and starts to write
To the everhelpful Miss Talia
Mister Pip and I have come up with a scheme most intriguing that may just serve to repay you, in part, for your constant kindness and the services you have rendered unto us.
The plan is as follows. Pip, a boy who's talents in song and verse bely his size, is going to, with my considerable aid of course, pen a production that, with your blessing, we shall debut in your delightful taverna. The subject of which is to be our recent, nay continuing, adventures. The hope is that, once word spreads of this estimable opening night, people will flock from far and wide to your humble inn. A considerable boost to your business no doubt.
We shall of course discuss thee matter further but I wished to lay the seed in your garden so as to speak.
Yours
Avogadro the Astounding
"And now I suppose we should be off.
The party enters the carriage, a similar-sized but far more upmarket version of the passenger carriage which formed part of Silas' trade caravan into town. There's not rule for all of them inside; the two half-orcs ride up front with the driver. Hodd rides alongside on his own horse.
The carriage takes the road west and down the hill, but before crossing the creek and down the hill, takes a fork south, past a large grey stone building and then running up to an imposing building, set by the side of the Verduran River. This is Devy Manor, current seat of the Baroness of Belhaim. To the north of the manor is an impressive stable building, with a paddock attached. Over the doors of the manor house itself, a gryphon and a dragon are ranged in opposition, the two components of the Devy family crest.
You are quickly shown into a meeting hall within the manor. At the back of the hall, seated on a large wooden chair, also adorned with the Devy Crest, is the Baroness. To her right is her son, Arnholde. To her left is an older man, with dark hair turning to grey, clad in a red tunic which bares, on its heart, the Devy sigil, made in black and yellow.
The Baroness rises. "Well met, adventurers," she says. "I believe you met my son Arnholde, albeit briefly. This -" she points to the man in the red tunic "- is my seneschal, the learned Sir Cymon."
Arnholde and Cymon both nod politely.
"What news, then? Did you find the wizard? Tell me what you managed to discover."
Arnon bows.
"We thank you for you taking the time to see us. I am afraid we have find the wizard, and he is dead. He died during a cave in. A cave in that caused the tower to collapse. But the worst news is that he caused the cave in, by employing kobolds to dig under the tower, looking for something."
"Seems like it was quite the tower," adds Pip, letting his usual apprehension for the nobility slip for a moment. Perhaps it was the prospect of (finally) being paid that loosened his tongue. "Or there used to be. A bit of a ruined mess, now. Full of dead wizards and kobolds and old dusty bones of forgotten prisoners. Seems the Canteclures that preceded your fine house couldn't even be bothered to take care of their captives and let lizards burrow into the wreckage of their home. Your lovely home and honorable welcome into this hall--far more than we deserve, surely--certainly proves the proper family holds Belhaim now." To his own surprise, Pipernortin manages to keep a straight face. Appeasing the arrogance of nobility required a certain social jockeying that just never sat right with the gnome.
Arnholde speaks. His tone is reasonably friendly. "I do hope it wasn't full of dead wizards. We were only looking for the one. We were aware the Canteclure's kept captives, or anyone who knows the history of this town would know. My ancestor freed all those we found when the castle was taken from the mad Baron. As for the kobolds, hm. Where did they come from? And what was Hunclay looking for, precisely?"
"I do not know for sure. Perhaps his home holds the key to that question, My Lady? However he must have brought the kobolds in from somewhere and I wonder where that is. To investigate that I would need to know something of the area and possible kobold sightings. It could be that the kobolds were in control of the wizard or their master was at the least."
Den scratches his beard and then finishes, "does Hunclay have any friends or family in town who may know more?"
Avogadro watches on, unusually content to let others talk for now.
The baroness frowns. "Unless you have an individual who is practised in the removal of magical traps, on a very large scale, I think it best to stay away from the wizard's house for now. We should concentrate on the kobolds. There's an encampment of them out by the disused quarry, which arrived a year or so ago. But I don't see how they would penetrate the tower."
"And could someone actually give me a longer narrative of what happened down there?"
"My lady baroness, if I may interject with my most humble take on how the matter unfolded.
After a long and tedious trek through a dreary, dusty and deserted underground jail we came upon a ghost, after some negotiation we were able to progress to a mechanism guarded by...
Are you really interested in all this? or shall I cut to the chase... I'll cut to the chase! Though I must tell you of the imp! There was an imp in one of the rooms we came across, something of a torture chamber it was, this nasty little creep attacked us and after a horrid scuffle I was able to bring the disagreeable sod to heel. Whereupon he told us of his old mistress and how if we could find a way of setting him free, he was trapped you see, he would provide us with some help with our task.
Anyway, more on that later. We pressed on using a password given to us by the imp, and eventually found ourselves looking down upon the body of the dearly departed Mr Hunclay.. I regret to report that dear Mr Arnon is correct in that regard, the man was crushed by his own tower. We pressed on once more, hoping to find ourselves in possession of more salient facts, knowing that your good self would be keen for truth.
We came upon some despicably rude kobolds in that cave and were immediately set upon by the ghastly creatures, one of them damn near killed me! needless to say I was once again indispensable in their eventual surrender. We sought to bring them back here, to talk to your good selves, but an unfortunate incident with the imp prevented their extraction. They did inform us before the unfortunate incident however that they had been hired by, and were indeed expecting payment from, the wizard in order that they bring down the tower, for it was apparently 'in the way'...with this knowledge safely stowed we returned to you with utmost haste. And here we are..."
With a flourish and a doffing of his hat, Avogadro bows.
Sir Cymon speaks. His tone is somewhat nervous, and his eyes move from side to side, almost to demonstrate that he is thinking while he is speaking.
"Well, sir, that seems like at least a longer narrative. However, I think we're no wiser on several of the subjects to hand. Firstly, how did the kobolds find their way into the tower, in sufficient numbers to upend it, without their first swarming through Belhaim - as they undoubtedly haven't. And secondly, where did they come from if not their encampment?"
He looks at the Baroness.
"Yes ...," she says, hesitantly. "In the absence of these kobold prisoners, this will be difficult to determine. Nevertheless, we have, at least, some answers and once I am satisfied that you have in truth investigated the caverns beneath the tower, I shall pay you. Do you have any evidence from your visit, apart from the dying words of these unfortunate kobolds?"
"The kobolds, once their tongues had been civilised, did mention a further tunnel bellow the tower that lead to their encampment, whether this is the quarry you spoke of a further outpost is our next line of enquiry.
Payment... Yes. Why the thought quite slipped my mind. We are your humble operatives m'lady.
Evidence? What did you have in mind, we are full of cuts and bruises, we have a couple of keys etc that corroborate our story, oh and these..."
Avogadro produces the teak box, complete with gems
"...we found these in a room near the body."
Arnholde eyes the teak box with interest. "Hmm, definitely Canteclure period." He looks up and smiles. "You ought to get that appraised. There are several collectors of artefacts from the period, including myself. But honour precludes me from putting a value on it. If you find a valuer, come back and I'll match their price."
The baroness nods. "Well, I said you would be paid, and I stand by my promise. Sir Cymon will ensure you receive the promised amount - 500 gold pieces as I remember, paid in full, as you leave. As for the kobolds, I'm fairly sure it is the group by the quarry. I've long been suspicious of them, but never had cause to do anything about it. That has now changed. If you can find further evidence that they're involved in this, and you'd also be willing to find a way of removing them from the area, I'll pay handsomely. I'll leave the method up to you. But my reward would be a dozen amethysts, each of them worth 100 gold pieces. Would you accept this task?"
"It sounds more than a fair wage, my lady, but I must confess that when last we met the kobolds they were decidedly less friendly than I'd have hoped... especially considering that they were supposedly being paid for fair work by the wizard Hunclay. In the interest of avoiding more senseless bloodshed, may we perhaps have a sign of good faith from you to the kobolds? I am sure that this was simply a misunderstanding between businessmen--with a bit of an accident sending it all toppling to ruin--but surely it can be resolved with a spot of diplomacy between the good Devys of Belhaim and its neighbors. The wizard's estate could pay whatever debt he incurred with the tribe, I'm sure?"
The way the baroness was talking, it sounded like she'd found the perfect excuse (and the perfect tools) to deal with the tribe. And while his last attempt to approach peaceably had gone so poorly, Pip was nothing if not a stubbornly free thinker. Seeing them all executed just didn't sit right, even if they were arguably, justifiably just angry little lizards that hated everyone else. Plus, there was that whole short-folk kinship going on, even if he hated to admit that.
The baroness frowns. "You speak of bloodshed but I have no intention of having the kobolds slaughtered. If you, for example, somehow deal with their chieftain, they'll move on. But I'll not countenance a situation where these creatures are still on our doorstep and intervening in our affairs. Let me know if you want the work, otherwise I will commission a full-on assault when the sheriff returns."
Nicely put Pip
Den looks down at his feet and thinks of his own father who spoke much like the Baron.
Hey Pater, she could be your sister! She doesn't want them slaughtered. She will get her sheriff to do an all out assault. She will not pay them to leave. Not worth talking to such as her. Just another blowhard noble sat in a castle spouting orders like a cockerel crowing.
"Your reparations thus far have been most generous, and I'm sure the sheriff will be a tired man when he returns from his, doubtlessly important, escapades away from your service. We shall be a more than reliable party in his stead, we shall see to thee matter."
Avogadro begins to turn then stays himself
"there is one further matter I would discuss with you, most generous baroness, though one who is as wise as you probably has these things well in hand. There is a most fashionable habit emerging amongst the gentlefolk of Oppara, that of patronage. A wise and up and coming noble house, being keen to spread word of their generosity and good taste far and wide, do sponsor the work of travelling artists..."
"Maybe not slaughter the kobolds. But make them leave. It is not wise to have them near a settlement."
"Ah, I can see how my words may have been misinterpreted," Pip quickly says, with an apologetic wave of his hands. Somehow he doubted that the Baroness was entirely honest about her intentions, but it would take a man braver than he to call her on it. Nor was he particularly keen to let any blowhard noble's pet of a sheriff take charge in the matter.
"I meant no offense, my lady, simply that a few assurances from those with more authority than ourselves would go to great lengths appeasing their chieftain and encouraging him and his tribe to move on beyond the reach of Belhaim. If we were to arrive at their home uninvited and without any promise of payment from their wizard ally's estate, I cannot imagine we would be invited in for tea and crumpets." Noblewomen liked crumpets, right? "If not an assurance from yourself, then perhaps the wizard's relations? Surely they would prefer to have his debts paid, rather than transferred to them?"
The Baroness stares at the bard. "I'm increasingly questioning, here, whether you actually do know what you're doing. I didn't expect them to provide you with tea and crumpets, I expect you, for this kind of money, to go and find a way of ejecting them. The priest had it right, it's not safe to have these things near the settlement. You do know the difference between good and evil? Perhaps you should attend your priest's temple a little. Perhaps you should spend a little time in Belhaim - we have several fine priests of Abadar and Shelyn here, and conversation seems to be of little else. Come back when you actually want the work."
She shakes her head. "Cymon, see these people out. We'll need a rethink. Get Deputy Hodd here and we'll arm the muster."
She glares briefly at the sorcerer. "And take this babbling idiot with you!"
Pipernortin stares right back at the Baroness, unflinching. Perhaps she was right--if anyone would be interested in seeing a debt paid proper, it would be the Bank of Abadar. The bard had once tried to take a loan out to pay his entrance fees into a different bardic 'college' in the alleyways of Cassomir, but they'd insisted he was an untrustworthy investment of their funds. He didn't understand then (and still didn't, really), but he knew they knew their money. Good and evil made no difference when a job was done and payment was agreed upon. It was that same unending struggle to earn a bit of coin that had gotten Pip into this whole mess.
Seeing no more sense in arguing with a noblewoman who clearly had no intention to pay the kobolds their rightful due, Pip simply shrugs and waits to leave.
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After watching the negotiations take such a turn for the worse, Garekk steps forward at last.
"My lady. I acknowledge we are an... eclectic... group. But we have, thus far, managed to solve many of the riddles of this problem. We will take it as our next quest to see to the removal of these kobolds, and will act with expediency."
With a deep bow, Garekk awaits confirmation from the Baroness before allowing himself to be led back outside.
Arnon bows and moves out with the others.
He gets near Pipernortin.
"While your concern for life if admirable, Kobolds are known as a treacherous and evil race. You should not think of them as friendly."
Avogadro, showman enough to know when an audience has turned... eventually, shuts up in the hope that Garekk's simple words would succeed where his eloquence had failed.
Another doolally noble... unable to appreciate a well formed conversation... shame.
Den follows with Draken with a broad smile under his beard. He can barely keep from laughing at the pompous Baroness and her lack of civility. As for the work being taken away, well Den rubs his hands together.
"Well said, Pip. And you Aaron. Now we solve the Baroness' problem and make sure that the evil kobolds leave Belhaim and its environs - since they face the sheriff's destruction. A good answer for all. Then back to prove to My Lady we can be trusted further. Perhaps a little money can be spent on equipment before we go. I, for one, think a longbow like Aaron's would sit nicely on my shoulder."
The Baroness calms somewhat. "Good. While I admire your pacificity, my friend gnome," she says, addressing Pip, "and I share your abhorrence for violence; yet these things are born evil, and threaten the lives and livelihoods of those whom I am sworn to protect. We live in a world of opposed forces, of good and evil, of law and chaos; not in one of nuance. It's part of what we are, and what confronts us. It is in the warp and in the weft, as the old saying goes. Therefore, I beg you: use whatever subtleties you have to rid us of this threat. Belhaim would be most grateful."
She pauses. "Sir Cymon, please pay these brave men."
Cymon grabs a nearby sack and approaches the party. There are, in all, five sacks of coins, each containing 100gp. "You can count them if you wish," he says.
Arnon bows.
"No need, we are sure is it complete. Thank you very much."
"most gracious m'lady"
Avogadro takes the proffered bag with a bow of thanks to Cymon.
Den and Draken takes their leave with a formal bow and a murmur of thanks.
The group takes its rewards and repairs outside, where the baroness' carriage is waiting to take them back to the inn. The carriage rolls northward, then west over the bridge over the creek, and into town, finally coming to a rest outside the inn, just before the gate.
Talia smiles as she comes outside to greet them. "Welcome, I hear you met the baroness. And perhaps you can tell me what actually happened beneath the tower now."
Avogadro is first to leap from the carriage, black cloth flapping behind him. He lands clumsily but croued the unfolds himself, billowing upwards
"Certainly, certainly and all in the best time, over some food perhaps! Did you get my message dear Talia?"
She smiles again. "Why yes I did, sir Avogadro. I think it's a splendid idea. Would it be possible to do it tomorrow, here at the tavern? We have some caravans due in, so the place should be fairly busy anyhow. It might be a chance for you to meet some of the good citizens of Belhaim. And listen to them while they buttonhole you about religion all night, of course. And we have had some ..." - she pulls a face - "... leavers, of course."
"Could we talk freely upstairs about everything we learnt or think?" asks Den when they head back in the carriage.
Den has Draken wrapped round his feet in the well of the carriage, squeezed up between Roet and Pip.