Hearing that a follower of Gozreh is here doesn't shock her. There is beautiful nature everywhere, and why wouldn't a druid of such a following not show up to scold them for building schools for children, encouraging trade, and helping tame these broken lands? Pelipe has met some very obstinately rude and intensely passionate Gozreh believers before, but she retains her composure to be accepting though. This was a place for all, as long as they worked together. She loves nature, and from where she is from, craves for more of it among the lifeless mountains so she is not opposed to preservation of this beautiful land.
"As a member of the council and Magister of Tamilyn, I myself am from Brevoy and I can say whatever your bloodline may be, it should not be a problem here with me. I cannot speak for the intentions of others. We seek harmony in this land and if you mirror that with those here in this city, we would welcome you and your flock. If you seek to cause problems and bring such hatred here, there are laws and consequences to such behaviors. We expect order, not this chaos you are seeing now."
She will gesture to the wildness of fey. Surely Ahto is about to restrain them from such wonton destruction and disrespect of others?
She will give a small chuckle at the ego of Hoot.
"Naturally, such a beautiful owl should be a couple of levels higher in status."
Pelipe has a humorous side, which despite her tired, worn-down mental state, somehow creeps out and shows the beauty of her smile.
Given the chaos around them from the fey, she looks to Ahto and quietly suggests:
"I was thinking that as many of our incoming citizenries are fey and wild in nature, it might do well to have a citizenship program so that they know what to expect, how best to behave amid our people, and a brief history of your lands, my lord."
Stayven gives a quizzical look to Ahto as he shakes his head, ”Never so much as heard the name. Who is she, a rival ruler or something of the like? I can assure you, all I serve is the public good.”
As Pelipe speaks of a desire to build an orderly land in harmony with nature he gives a broad smile, ”I must say that your dream for a kingdom in harmony with the land and it’s people is one that resonates with me quite deeply. I too hail from Brevoy, and it’s cutthroat politicking was a strong factor in driving me away from it.”
After another death stare from Hoot, Warren adds:
"Hoot says he will follow your king for now, but wants to know if you seriously considered creatures that did not walk on two feet or the fairy creatures which occupy these lands in positions of authority? He would like to know if you have a liaison with the natural creatures and if anyone but my inferior self can speak with animals?? And, Hoot would like to be Spymaster for now as he distrusts any spy network that does not include the creatures of the land. He claims your lack of knowledge about these people and places is a problem he can rectify. Hoot is skilled in many things, but diplomacy is not one of them. And, as his behavior is somewhat condescending and rude, I want to apologize for his actions for the next week."
The wise owl shrugs his wings and moves closer to Pelipe, seeming to look into Warren's mind.
The thoughts of this sad translator, though muddled, seem to indicate the females in this group seem to be the only ones that understand my proper station.
Hoot moves closer to Pelipe and then the ranger. He forms a single word in greeting to each of them. "Hoot!"
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"Do any of you speak the Sylvan tongue?" Ahto inquires of the newcomers. "Councilor Melisandre and a handful of First Citizens are doubtless doing their best to corral the chaotic inclination of the newcomers from the First World, but it appears to have escalated, no doubt at the behest of one self-proclaimed Fey Queen. If you can speak to them, and have any diplomatic skills, we would be most appreciative of any assistance you can render."
He looks to the group of new arrivals. "A stationary storm of sorts has positioned itself over the lake. We have casters trying to contain the damage, but it is clearly intended to garner our attention. Whether it is a herald or a ruse, we do not yet know. We have agents keeping watch on it."
Stayven nods, "That I do! I've treated with some of the fey before in my line of work. Capricious, certainly, but treat them with respect and they'll oft do the same. I'm not the most charming man you'll find, but a way with words pays off as a surveyor more often than you'd think."
Pelipe is smart enough to know this magical beast is one of intelligence. Its bearing and mind is not one to shirk aside, just as you wouldn't a sphinx. Pelipe bows her head in honor of the mighty hooting Hoot displayed. The bow isn't low, such as would be given to King Ahto, but as one would give to an honored elder. She answers the question:
"I do not have the druidic powers to speak with animals in general, but I do have the ability to commune with birds specifically, so yes, I can understand Hoot if I were to prepare the spell. I will have to do so. I also am able to take the form of animals as a spellcaster, as I have just done not long ago when I flew into the clouds over the lake just moments ago." She then answers his other question. "If we had met as intelligent a being as Hoot seems to be, I am certain Lord Ahto would gauge his worth just as any other. If Hoot proves himself a faithful servant to the King, the Council, and the people of Tamyln, he is most certainly of the opportunity to take up a position of rank as far as my vote will be concerned."
In a sweet, but authoritatively diplomatic voice, Pelipe speaks to Stayven:
"These here are bound by the laws of Tamlyn, being inside of it." she states, gesturing to those being chaotic. "They may not know the laws and feel as unrestrained as they may have felt elsewhere--if not more it seems. That cannot be. I would advise finding a leader of sorts for this chaotic behavior, likely someone directing others, or speak to other First World Citizens in an effort to create a unified voice against this behavior. You are not an enforcer of the law, you are a visitor. We are only asking that you implore their good reason and to avoid dealing with the consequences of the law. If they do not stop these behaviors, they are subject to lawful arrest."
She holds up her hands in a pleading manner. They are stained with dirt and salt from the field still, as is her outfit. She had to walk back, having given her horse for the purpose of wounded soldiers and the family they escorted.
"Please, I cannot express this enough--avoid all conflict for now. We are a community here. Advise them that if they wish to remain in Tamlyn, they must follow the same rules their fey-kin agreed to--that is to live side-by-side with their fellow mortal citizens. To not cause this chaotic behavior. That is all you must do." She smiles in a cute manner once more with curious eyes. "Is that acceptable?"
He nods to Pelipe, "I understand well. The fey are...not creatures to whom our conception of reason often applies. That said, all but the wildest of fey have at least some sort of code or, well, for lack of a better term a law that they follow. Most often when I have dealt with them, it's simply been a matter of convincing them to switch to a new law. That can either be as simple as asking, or it can be fiendishly difficult. Let us hope it is not the latter."
He clears his throat, unused to speaking at length in front of what is to him, royalty, "I understand too that I am a guest just as the fey are. It's fortunate that I am not vested with any ability to enforce the law, as indeed I have no desire to. That said, for those of you with the aforementioned power, you are free to accompany me if that is your desire. Certainly, the fey are more likely to respect the translator for a lawful sovereign that they can plainly see than a wanderer fresh off the trail."
"Hail friends!"
A blonde-haired paladin approaches the group riding on the back of an armored griffon. She's wearing silvery fullplate armor that shines brightly in the light. She and her mount wear matching silver necklaces with Abadar's insignia. "Excuse me, Ahto Ulrych?" She guides the griffon to stop and dismounts. "Paise the two-headed eagle. Abadar sent me here to meet you." She does a salute, placing a fisted hand over her heart.
She relaxes from the pose, introducing herself: "Tegan Ryker, at your service." Tegan places a hand on the griffon's mane but the gesture seems unnecessary as the animal appears well-trained.
"I worship the elder god Gozreh--Not a popular choice if you are from Brevoy. My father is unknown but supposedly important in Brevoy. I do not know if my bloodline is a problem, but I prefer not to be on the wrong side of any petty Brevan squabble."
He looks perplexed and scrunches his brow in thought: "Nyrissa and Sevenarches are unknown to me. I have studied maps, but perhaps not enough."
Warren seems to be lost in the gaze of his owl, who gives Warren an unblinking stare and Warren nods back in understanding. "Ahto thinks highly of you, and so I will equally put my trust in you woods-walker. This is my wise owl Hoot, who seems to be a smug one because he can mindlink with animals. I would like to ask for permission for my flock to join your great settlement."
Katrine smiles, offering an arrow-callused hand to Warren, and then to Stayven. "Katrine Thalian, Marshal of Tamlyn, and this is my companion Storm. It's a pleasure to meet you." This is the first time she's introduced herself as such. It's a strange feeling. To Hoot, she offers a respectful nod. "I've never met an owl such as yourself, sir Hoot. I don't currently have speak with animals prepared, but with a little advance notice I would love to talk some time."
"Do any of you speak the Sylvan tongue?" Ahto inquires of the newcomers. "Councilor Melisandre and a handful of First Citizens are doubtless doing their best to corral the chaotic inclination of the newcomers from the First World, but it appears to have escalated, no doubt at the behest of one self-proclaimed Fey Queen. If you can speak to them, and have any diplomatic skills, we would be most appreciative of any assistance you can render."
"I speak Sylvan, but I'm no diplomat. You'll probably be better off with Stayven as your translator." The very last thing Katrine wants is to inadvertently cause a diplomatic incident with her blunt speech and lack of subtlety.
"Hail friends!"
A blonde-haired paladin approaches the group riding on the back of an armored griffon. She's wearing silvery fullplate armor that shines brightly in the light. She and her mount wear matching silver necklaces with Abadar's insignia. "Excuse me, Ahto Ulrych?" She guides the griffon to stop and dismounts. "Paise the two-headed eagle. Abadar sent me here to meet you." She does a salute, placing a fisted hand over her heart.
She relaxes from the pose, introducing herself: "Tegan Ryker, at your service." Tegan places a hand on the griffon's mane but the gesture seems unnecessary as the animal appears well-trained.
Katrine's mismatched eyes go wide at the sight of the woman riding a griffon. Wow... I've heard of people training griffons as mounts, but this is the first time I've seen one. For an Abadaran, this Tegan must have extraordinary skill with animals. She steps forward and offers a hand once Ahto has had a chance to greet the new arrival. "Well met. I'm Katrine Thalian, Marshal of Tamlyn, and this is my companion Storm." While Storm remains obediently at her side, the wolfdog is obviously very interested in both Hoot and the griffon.
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"Welcome, Dame Tegan," Ahto says to the paladin. "Abadar has seen fit to intervene amidst all this anarchy, if he has sent you to us in such an hour as this. Indeed, he may have had a hand in the timely arrival of these two as well, or at least negotiated for their service with their respective patron deities. Would that I could offer you all more hospitable greetings, but perhaps once order is restored, you all shall dine with us as guests of the Council?" He looks to Pelipe, Katrine and the other Councilors present for any assent or objection they wish to make.
Pelipe offers a happy smile to Ahto at the thought of having dinner with the newcomers. It is clear she is agreeable to this, though tired. In mirror of Katrine's introduction, she will introduce herself.
"Stayven Vernikas, former Deputy Secretary of Wilderness Surveying of the Department of Maps and Charts of New Stetven; Tegan, faithful servant of Abadar; Warren Kingeagle and Hoot, you are all well met. You all no doubt know this to be Lord Ahto Ulrych. I am Pelipe Lightdriver, newly appointed Magister of the Council." If anyone else (among the NPCs) are there, she will introduce them too.
She gestures in the direction they must part for the moment.
"We will arrange to have dinner at the evening hour, if you would like to join us at that time. For now, we have a matter of state to go deal with if you will excuse us."
She will give a word of attention and patience to the family seeking justice against the menagerie owner. If Ahto wishes to permit them to come with, she isn't against it but would suggest the children remain behind.
The paladin looks over at the other two newcomers indicated by Ahto, as well as Katrine and Pelipe. She gives a nod of greeting.
She exchanges polite words, "I'd be honored to join you for a meal."
"We will arrange to have dinner at the evening hour, if you would like to join us at that time. For now, we have a matter of state to go deal with if you will excuse us."
"Until then." Tegan climbs back on her griffon to depart.
Warren smiles at the invitation.
"See you at dinner. Can Hoot have a very large stable or barn to nap in--he hates when we fly in the day?"
After Warren puts Hoot in a barn he tours the town. He bows to Tegan.
"Warren my lady. I am off to tour this new town, would you like to come? " He also waves his arm to Stayven as he leaves inviting him along with his arm. Then two eagles perch on each shoulder as leaves.
Stayven nods to Warren, ”Might as well, my thanks for the invitation.“
As he and Warren (and Tegan if she joins them) wander the streets of Horace, they’ll notice that Stayven is frequently scribbling in a notebook, making a simple annotated map of the city’s streets, marking down holes, quirks, and irregularities of the streets.
”Now if you two don’t mind me asking, what do you want here in Tamlyn? For myself, I’ve got a few main goals. I’d like to get some resources here, bring my family back in Brevoy to the kingdom once things are settled. Somewhat selfishly too, I’d like to try my hand and building the infrastructure of a kingdom from the ground up. My time in Brevoy was instructive in many ways, often in what not to do.“
"I would, Warren." Tegan guides the griffon with her legs. "I'd like to learn the lay of the town."
The paladin seems content to ride her mount along the roads. From her elevated vantage, she looks around, examining the various buildings while making niceties with Warren and Stayven.
"Hoot has a healthy coat. I can tell you take pride in keeping your beast."
"Building infrastructure? Do you favor any particular material? Wood? Stone?"
Stayven lets out a short, hearty laugh at Tegan's suggestion. He rolls up his sleeve to reveal his fairly slim and skinny arms, lacking much by way of muscle definition, "See these twigs I've got? I'm not much of a construction man myself. I'm a surveyor, a planner. My job's to decide what material to use and where. Stone's good for roadways, bridges you don't want goin' anywhere. Wood's better for smaller projects. Brick and mortar's best, but that'll be hard to come by out here."
Warren reflects and adds "I do want a place animals have more rights. I had to buy Hoot from a fancy menagerie owned by a Brevan noble. According to his former owner, his behaviour is even worse in captivity!"
Poor guy, I am like totally ripped--wait Tegan is pretty ripped too
He smiles at Tegan "You think Hoot lets me maintain his coat?? Only if I ask nice. Hoot is here to look for a mate, but I have told him it is unlikely we find one of his kind here. Hoot says since I am always wrong, he is sure one is here."
As the new arrivals walk and talk, they survey the frontier town of Horace. Beyond the castle that serves as the heart of the town, a barracks sits just to the north, housing the local militia. It's hard to gauge the militia's strength at a glance because the barracks is presently empty, with every able body out and about trying to contain the fey mischief, putting out fires both metaphorical and literal.
The southeastern corner of town is the most populated, hosting a few clusters of houses, shops, an inn, library, and even a dance hall.
A mill, tannery, and granary are scattered along the western edge of town, but the most curious building here is the smithy. Its design is nothing like the usual squat, utilitarian smithies you've seen in other settlements. It's fluted, airy architecture is more akin to a chapel. This makes a little more sense when you learn that the master smith ensconced there is a coarse elven man called Taured who has evidently been cast out from both Kyonin and Liberthane.
As the group wanders off, she hopes that they indeed will do what Stayven agreed to do and that it will help. Being one who speaks Sylvan, she kind of desires to go with them, but her place is by Ahto's side. With a nod to her group, she begins to head in the direction that they had last heard the menagerie owner was.
Katrine waves goodbye to the new arrivals, much as she would like to learn more about them. Especially the druid. But she, Ahto, and Pelipe have a fey menagerie owner to beat within an inch of his life lawfully punish for his crimes. "So, where can we find this menagerie owner?"
With the town surveyed, Stayven goes about trying to figure out just who exactly is the ringleader behind the fey pranking.
Stayven discovers the same name mentioned wherever he goes for answers: Nyrissa.
Fey courts from across the River Kingdoms, and even the First World, learned that this powerful Nymph Queen plans to announce her engagement and selected Tamlyn as the location for the announcement. Thus, the myriad fey have descended upon the frontier nation, with the chaos they sow being part of the "offerings" they plan to present Nyrissa to curry favor with the powerful fey.
...
The rulers of Tamlyn find the menagerie keeper right where he had previously established his displays, in an open patch of ground east of the library and dance hall.
Thankfully, this time he has no humanoids as exhibits in his menagerie. Instead, the sharply dressed, long-limbed fey is showing off his newest acquisition: a family of sad-looking thylacines pacing around a too-small gilded cage. It's almost a relief that Wonky is not here right now because she would be aghast at the blatantly incorrect information that the menagerie keeper is peddling about these creatures.
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Ahto strides purposefully towards the menagerie. He stops near the center of the display area and looks the keeper dead in the eye.
"This menagerie is closed. You will conduct no further business until you answer for the damages caused by the creatures you allowed to escape. You may come with us peacefully or you will placed in shackles. You are under arrest."
Pelipe readies herself in case this man rushes to the cage to set the thylacines free.
She further instructs:
"You will turn around, facing away from us, and go to your knees." If he complies, she will instruct, "Now cross your ankles over each other..." in a way, hindering himself. "Now put your hands at the lower of your back clasped." They can then bind his hands without worrying about him trying to run or fight.
If he does not comply, she will wait for Ahto to "inspire" him. This should make it easy to bind him. These are things she learned when criminals were caught by her father's guards.
It was obvious to Stayven that he couldn't do much personally to sway Nyrissa. With what Ahto asked him, this Nyrissa presented a serious problem to the kingdom as a whole.
Instead of trying to address the root of the problem, he does what he can to convince the worst actors among the fey to ease off on their troublemaking. Appealing to the code of hospitality, he argues Tamlyn will make an even better announcement location if it's hosts (the people of Tamlyn) are spared from the chaos they seek to spread.
Katrine draws a cold iron arrow from her quiver and casually sights down the shaft, as if checking it for flaws. She doesn't nock it to her bow, but the implied threat is clear. "I suggest you come peacefully."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why am I under arrest?" the menagerie keeper asks indignantly. "After all, a little bird told me that instead of recovering my jabberwocky and my slug, you up and stomped them. You destroyed my property! Are you just some vandals? Some cheats? Some thieves?"
He does not seem cowed by your accusations. He seems quite confident that he is in the right here - or at least he is confident that his fellow fey will see it that way.
...
Elsewhere, Stayven actually makes progress in quelling the fey mischief. If nothing else, he convinces a great many of them to suspend their dangerous performances and "offerings," persuading them that it would be in their best interest to save it all until Nyrissa actually arrives.
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"Spare us the feigned outraged. We were under no obligation to retrieve the beasts, alive or otherwise. You, on the other hand, knew they were dangerous. In fact, that criteria was essential for putting them on display. Since you knew they were dangerous, you were responsible for their containment, and any harm they caused upon escaping. No more posturing. Choose your next words carefully. Do you wish to settle this manner with a fine and banishment from Tamlyn's borders, or shall I pass a sentence more commensurate with the injuries and deaths you and your creatures caused?"
Ahto lingers on the last words, making sure their meaning is crystal clear to the menagerie owner.
The crafty owl moved around Horace. He reached his mind out to the creatures of note. The elder sparrow and leader of the squirrels. A good information network flowed from the bottom up. A special patch of clover, the location of bee hives, all were learned and traded as the owl built an economy based on information.
Ahto's lingering words send chills down her spine. Not in the way that the menagerie owner feels it, surely, but in a more positively inclined way.
"What sort of fine will he choose to lay on this man? This family almost died. They lost a large portion of their home and field. One other lost his life. What would that cost? I think he just wants to let him go right now. There is so much going on. If this were at another time, I'm sure he would have the man do something to repay the family for the house, either by building it himself, or paying for workers to do so. To fully make amends. Perhaps even planting their field for them? With all of this chaos though, it might be better to have one less fey here. Particularly one at the center of so many injuries. We may need every able body we have if this all escalates."
It is clear to her that there is no remorse in this fey. He almost seems glad they got loose. Given his lacking desire to take responsibility, and given the current chaos in the town, she begins wondering if this was intentional. Perhaps terrorism? Pelipe will look for tampering on the massive cages while keeping still where she is.
Katrine gives the menagerie owner a thoroughly unimpressed look. "If you didn't want your dangerous animals killed, you should have kept them contained. What did you think would happen when your jubjub bird ate someone? Death is permanent on the Material Plane, you know. First World rules don't apply here."
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Death is permanent on the Material Plane, you know. First World rules don't apply here."
"Well, that hardly sounds like my problem. That's entirely a you problem. In fact, it sounds like something you should go to some temple and complain to your gods about," the keeper says with a dismissive wave of his fingers, as though shooing an unruly child. "Seriously, I can't help it if you humans are shackled with flaws like mortality."
There is a sudden rustling from one of the pockets at his hip. A tiny creature akin to a dormouse, except possessing bright pink fur and a pair of twitching tails, emerges from the pocket. It scurries up the keeper's sleeve and emerges from the collar of his overcoat. The critter leans up and seems to whisper insistently in the menagerie keeper's ear.
"What is it...? What...? No, no, that can't be... Really? Really?" the keeper mutters as he listens to the critter, growing more agitated as he listens to its counsel.
"Ahem. Some new information has come to my attention, so I believe it may be wise to cooperate. What sort of fine did you have in mind?"
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"One commensurate to the damage your negligence has caused, as I have said," Ahto replies. "You will remand yourself to our custody until a full accounting of deaths, injuries and property damage has been assessed. The fines for deaths and injuries will be determined by the hardship caused to the families who depended on those individuals, as well as harm to the Kingdom caused by their absence or inability to fulfill their roles or duties. That total, along with the surrender of your menagerie, including the cages, will be the fine you will pay in exchange for your release. You will then from that day forth be banished from the borders of Tamlyn never to return, on pain of death."
This one has no respect for the law and thinks himself above us.
When the creature comes out of the fey's outfit, she observes it. After his change of mind, she is doubly curious. His surrender though is a positive thing.
"And your friend there, is not welcome to accompany you. It is time to part ways. Do as I've instructed and arrange yourself as ordered."
Katrine glowers at the menagerie keeper, still toying with her cold iron arrow. There isn't much else to say that Ahto hasn't already said. It's clear that the fey thinks himself above mortal law, which makes her very curious indeed about what the smaller fey said to change his mind.
"Oh. Well, that doesn't sound too bad," the keeper mumbles nervously. "It's just a house or two. What could it cost? Ten coins?"
However, when Ahto declares that his menagerie and cages will also be forfeit, the keeper visibly startles and grows angry. He is about to protest when his eyes stray to Burden where it's sheathed alongside the lord of Tamlyn. This seems to discourage further argument.
...
The dormouse-like fey creature was reminding the menagerie keeper that on the Material Plane, he is also mortal. The keeper was either ignorant or simply forgetful of the fact that fey are only undying in the First World. Once reminded of this, the keeper's defiant confidence quickly flees.
...
The smaller fey is probably not a familiar or patron, and its relationship with the menagerie keeper is probably that of business partners. You initially suspect that it may be some manner of malevolent fey, like a Matagot or Colo Colo. However, you ultimately settle upon the suspicion that it is a Souris, a type of fey pack rat that likes to steal small trinkets from the unwary and replace them with any number of random items, ranging from rocks and acorns to gold coins and gemstones.
...
Your best assessment is that this much smaller fey is some manner of Gerbie, a type of rodent-like fey that are known for fostering communication and goodwill between species.
When Pelipe speaks to the tiny, mousy fey in Sylvan, it sits up on its little haunches and wriggles its nose, considering her offer. Suddenly, like a released spring, it leaps from the menagerie keeper's shoulder and lands upon Pelipe's palm. It begins scurrying along her arm and torso, looking for a pocket or purse to nap inside.
"Sir, do you happen to have your keys on you?" she asks. If it is clear that he does, she will then make a point to ask, "You wouldn't happen to have a copy of these lying around would you?" If then the answer is no, she will detect magic to see if the cages were magically tampered with, as if by a knock spell at some time in the past. If not, she will then assure herself of what actually happened here and will point out the fact that these cages don't show signs of tampering--that the beasts were let loose by the owner.
As the little beast springs at her, she tenses and tries to catch it by the tail before he can dip into her pockets. She won't hold him up like she would a rat or other mindless vermin, but she will hold him in place so she can speak to him. In common, she states:
"If you choose to remain here, you are bound by the laws of this nation. If you are a Souris, as I suspect, if you are found to have stolen anything from anyone, especially me, you will be subject to the law. Agreed?"
If so, she will let him go to find a pocket in her newfound clothes. They are mostly empty. She will have to have this particular tiny fey report to Hoot. He would be most skilled at slipping into places.
"You are a witness to this owner's actions. Have you anything to say?" she asks the Souris.
Meanwhile, in Horace, Warren and Hoot offer their new friends an aerial tour of Horace. ” you gotta see it from the sky and we wanna try some of those mutagens to increase our lifting capacity!”
Katrine smirks as she listens to the tiny fey (a gerbie perhaps?) talk to the menagerie owner. Haha, not so smug about mortality now, are you? Watching arrogant people get taken down a peg is always a good time.
As Ahto starts examining the cage doors, Katrine and Storm fall into step behind him. Two pairs of eyes are always better than one.
Stayven chuckles at Warren's suggestion, "Well, I appreciate the offer, but my mutagen's specially tuned to how my body works. Besides, without a morning regimen of alchemical primers that most alchemists take, you'd end up doing nothing other than puking your guts up. Besides, I like to have my feet firmly on the ground as often as I can."
”Lets do some fishing!! ”
Warren heads to the lake.
When asked about his keys, the menagerie keeper reflexively pats his pockets, but he already has a sheepish look upon his face.
"Well, you see, the thing is that I misplaced my keys a day or two ago," he confesses.
"Now that I think about it," he adds, a sudden look of epiphany upon his face, "someone must have stolen them! Yes! They stole my keys and released my exhibits to embarrass me and hurt you! They are the ones who must be punished!"
As the keeper offers his new defense, Ahto and Katrine join Pelipe in examining the cages. They are garish contraptions made of brass and rare woods from the First World. Ahto and Katrine find no evidence of sabotage or picking upon the locks. Pelipe's efforts to scan the cages for traces of magic are foiled by the auras of magic radiated by even the occupied cages, indicating that they are enchanted to reinforce them against their occupants.
When Pelipe makes the offer of citizenship to the dormouse fey, it perks up. It's tails tense and its fur bristles ever so slightly. It quickly abandons its attempts to find a new nest among Pelipe's pockets and instead scampers off towards town.
Based upon the clues available, you are beginning to suspect that the Souris idly "traded" his companion's keys to someone who then used them to release the dangerous beasts. Now realizing that it has badly messed up, the Souris is probably now on a quest to recover and return the keys before it can be punished.
Stayven smiles at Warren's request, "Well, usually I go fishing for my dinner, but if we catch something good we can bring it to the castle as some sort of dinner gift."
He stops by a tavern, picking up a jug of some sort of hooch to take to the lakeside. A bit unfamiliar with the fish of Brevoy, he does his very best to catch some fish.
The afternoon goes by quite pleasantly, offering the hooch to Warren and Tegan, as well as a small wooden cup from his mess kit if either of them lack one of their own.
Warren takes some hefty pulls on the hooch jug and tries his luck.
Warren hefts both catches and admits Stayven's string of fish a little heavier.
"I buy whatever this stuff is next time!!"
Warren uses fishing as an excuse to take his shirt off and get some sun.
"We probably should let Hoot have some too."
Pelipe will watch the Souris change his mind and then begin to bound out.
"We may wish to jail him for now, but I suspect something else happened..." she whispers to Ahto with a hand on his arm. "I'll follow this one. Come find me when you can."
With that, she will move to secretly follow after the diminutive creature, hoping to catch a glimpse of the one who would be found truly guilty of this crime.
Katrine bites her lip, looking between Pelipe and Ahto. On the one hand, Pelipe might need her tracking skills. On the other hand, if the menagerie owner decides not to come quietly, Ahto could be in trouble. He's a skilled warrior, but he still doesn't have a cold iron weapon, and their encounter with Mather Nithra brought home how potent fey magic can be. They damned near lost the High Councilor in that fight.
Sorry, Pelipe. I'll catch up as soon as Ahto has this guy in cuffs.
The keeper acquiesces and comes along with Lord Ahto and company, although he sees this less as being arrested and more like playing along until he gets to avenge himself upon the real culprit.
Meanwhile, Pelipe tails the mousey fey. The creature seems to be leading her towards the tannery.
...
Down by the lakeshore, the newcomers find a dearth of sunlight but an abundance of wind and rainy spittle. As you approached Horace, you spotted dark skies to the south, but it wasn't until you were within the settlement and near the lake that you realized it was an unnaturally localized storm swirling upon the Tuskwater.
There is a sizeable congregation of worshipers, led by a stern-faced man with a shorn head in the robes of an ascetic priest, who appear to be combating the storm with their prayers. As farfetched as it may seem, their efforts are bearing fruit. Even though it seems like the gale winds and driving rain should have fallen upon the town, the worst of the storm is held at bay above the center of the lake.
On the upside, Stayven hooks a pike with his line, the fish having been driven into a feeding frenzy by the bizarre weather.