Inconnu performs a spell to identify magic auras upon the old dwarven relics, but the only one that displays such a radiance is one of the two gold wedding rings. He identifies the band, which bears an inscription on the inside, as a Ring of Protection.
The rest of the treasures - the silver chalice, the electrum death mask, the gold necklace, the silver tiara, the other gold wedding ring, and the plate armor - are not magical. He also opens the jewelry box, revealing ten red gems. Seven of them are spinels, but the other three stones are flawless rubies.
These gemstones are mined on the Plateau of Leng and used as currency by that dream-like realm's sinister denizens. As they travel the planes, they barter these rubies for goods, slaves, or assistance in their inscrutable schemes. Possession of these rubies is seen as suspicious and even shameful by those who understand their origin, as they mark the owner as someone willing to deal with enigmatic foes of light and life.
"Fascinating.", Micheo murmurs as he gazes over the various items.
Joanne looks over the gems and jewelery
"All these items hasta be worth something to someone?"
”A good value worth of items to bring back. The death mask, along with physical proof of our victories and helping the goodly fey should be enough.”
'She was wearing that fancy crown. Maybe we give them that?'
"We've done some good here. Hopefully scamp is still full after his last feeding."
The climb back towards the surface is less eventful, though no less arduous. The rocky slope towards the watery cave, despite the runoff leaving it quite slick, is rife with handholds to steady your climb. Likewise, although the hempen rope you suspended down the waterfall shaft has swollen with absorbed spray, it allows for a simple climb with the rock face to steady yourselves.
Back in the upper tunnels, you frighten a number of lizards and many-legged insects, but you do not encounter Scamp again. However, each skittering, tittering sound that faintly wafts down from the spidery side tunnels leaves you worried he might suddenly bound out and devour your armor - thus hastening your steps onward.
It is an unwelcome reunion when you return to the odoriferous slope leading back up to the guarded gate to the basement of the tower. Having practiced your spelunking on this expedition, and offering support to one another, you are able to scale the foul, slick surface and return to the sturdy wooden door and barbican leading back to Adamas.
'Hey, open up! We've made our way back' Dugan shouts while pounding on the door and gasping for breath. 'Hells of a climb' He casts back to his companions.
Inconnu holds his shield above his head in case one of the soldiers above releases some friendly fire.
"At least it's more honest than the holdings of the Lumber Consortium. Now we've vindicated Ulark we'll be able to help bring justice back to Falcon's Hollow."
"That would not be difficult. The Lumber Consortium appear corrupt to their core.", Micheo adds as the group awaits a response.
You hear the faint wooden groan as the shutter slides open behind one of the arrow slits looking out from the stone walls girding the gate. Through the narrow aperture, you can glimpse the severe, hawkish face of Lieutenant Garibaldi.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you back inside," he states in a low, impassive voice. "Even if the commander hatched this 'penance' for you, it does not change the fact that you are all party to a murder. If we treat such crimes with leniency, then Andoran will slide into the same terrible chaos as Galt. I'm sorry, but you must face punishment for your crime."
Inconnu is genuinely taken back for a moment. After a moment he gathers himself. "You can't be serious. If you feel the need to object to your commander that's one thing but you're engaging in some very cold blooded logic there. How will it turn out for you if she hears about what you're doing? Let us out and we'll speak no more about it."
”And think about it. I murdered a cold blooded criminal who had blood on his hands. I went outside the law because, in the heat of the moment, my sense of justice called out for it. And I turned myself in, here, where there is the law. If you go behind your commander’s back, and kill us out of your sense of justice...then you are a murderer just like me.”
Dugan throws his arms in the air in exasperation. 'Underground rivers, metal eating cockroaches, fish people, dead things come to life and now this dolt.' He grumbles. Then, louder 'Look, fella, we had a deal. There's no honor in this.'
Micheo adds:
"You speak of law, and take the law into your own hands? For what you do is worse than the crime you would condemn us for. What you plan is cold-blooded murder."
The lieutenant sighs heavily.
"I know you are right, but I can't sacrifice my principles," he speaks, unable to bring himself to look you in the eye through the arrow slit. "Cheliax, Taldor, Galt - they have all lost much by sacrificing their principles when it was convenient. Andoran, and all it stands for, cannot fall."
Inconnu's appeal to his role in the chain of command drives a wedge into the Eagle Knight's resolve, while Ulark and Micheo's additions, like verbal mallets, serve to drive that wedge further. Although the gate still does not yet open for you, you can tell that the lieutenant is less apt to keep it shut.
"Look, go to the commander if you must and make your case, we will wait here. If you turn us aside now and we are forced deep below you may never see us again except to haunt your dreams knowing who you hastily condemned."...assuming we don't just chop down the door in an hour or two.
”Agreed. Andoran stands for the rule of law. Committing the same crime that I did is not something that you want to do, to yourself or Andoran.”
"The commander is not here," Garibaldi clarifies. "While you were below, she set out with a contingent of troops bound for Falcon's Hollow."
Although it is disheartening to discover that your ally, Commander Odeber, is no longer present to come to your aid, invoking her name seems to further chip away at the lieutenant's resolve, as evidenced by subtle shifts in his expression. Suggesting that he is committing a "hasty condemnation" also serves to bring around the dogged lieutenant.
"If I were to release you...what would you do?" he asks, presenting the question almost as a challenge to justify your freedom.
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"Move to catch up with the commander. We know the lands around there and the people from it well, some of us more than others. A few are from the area. We've recently traveled the road their as well. No need for your friends and leader to deal with hazards of the road that can be avoided."
"Did you know a plague went through Falcon's Hollow, we risked great peril to gather the ingredients for a cure. Kreed and his men, the man that fell to Ulark's axe tried to take control of the cure on behalf of the lumber consortium. If you truly wish to find villains it's among their ranks you should look. It is just the latest in a list of vile deeds they perform at the edge of Andoran but careful to stifle any evidence or too much word of their treachery from getting out." Wondering if it's enough he presses the issue further.
"We delved into long abandoned ruins, fighting common threats like kobolds and dangerous evil creatures from other planes." He gestures towards Dugan "We recovered the armour an axe which were those of a dwarven hero called Glintaxe, now Dugan is the new Glintaxe allowing final rest upon finishing the famed warrior of his peoples final quest."
"We would go to Falcon's Hollow and make clear the crimes hidden in it's long shadows. We may not survive, some among the Lumber Consortium will no doubt flee but others? Others will try to take revenge on those who they see as having wronged them... better for daggers in the dark to target us than your friends?"
”I turned myself in to the commander. My companions subjected themselves to my punishment. When we say that we will join up with the commander, why would you not believe us? What have we done which would indicate otherwise?”
"From my companions, I have seen repeated bravery in the face of foes mundane and those truly vile. I would see us all on our way to face more evils, not waste away down here."
Lieutenant Garibaldi inhales through his nose and holds his breath, mulling a crucial moment in his service. Without breaking his stony expression or offering another word, he slams the shutter closed upon the arrow slit.
After an interminable silence, you hear the grind of metal upon stone, then the darkwood doors also groan open. Garibaldi stands there beside the doorguards and gestures for you to hastily enter the underground stronghold so they can seal the gate behind you.
Inconnu's more than happy to move out. "What time of day is it out there? It's hard to keep track when you're down their." He did his best to swallow his anger, he had told the man if he let them out he'd forget the matter and he'd stick by that.
Ulark followed, happy to be aware of that. He kept his mouth shut, feeling that opening it would be unlikely to lead to a better result than what they already had.
Dugan fumes silently, shooting a glare at the lieutenant as he walks by, but holding his tongue.
Micheo gives a wondering glance at the lieutenant but does not show anger as he passes.
"You were down there for several hours," Garibaldi confirms. "Night has fallen. In a few hours more, by morning, the commander and her detachment will arrive in Falcon's Hollow both to maintain order and investigate the late Gavel's accounts."
He pauses and offers another deep sigh through his nose.
"As per the commander's orders, you are free to go," he states. "A word of caution, though. If you return to Falcon's Hollow, be wary of how others might react to a perceived lack of punishment for your deeds. This is especially so for the Consortium employees who maintain a misguided sense of loyalty to the Gavel."
"Understood. Good night to you, Garibaldi."
"Let's try to catch up. I had assumed the commander would give us some time. She's not taking it lightly I'll give her that."
Lieutenant Garibaldi remains reticent as he escorts you up from the levels beneath the Gleaming Tower. The awkward quiet is broken when you are released into the cool night air of the walled compound adjoining the tower. The songs of birds and crickets are overshadowed by the march of guards, the creak and groan of gear being repaired in the quartermaster's office, and the voices of off-duty soldiers staying awake into the night.
"The gate wardens will allow you to leave if you are ready," Garibaldi finally speaks. "The quartermaster can also provide some supplies if you are in need. He may also have some spare cots if you would prefer to wait for sunrise before setting out."
"I say we press on, see about acquiring some horses in town. With a smaller group and mounted we might be able to close the gap, or catch up with them."
”Agreed. We also should not push our luck here. The sooner we leave the safer we will be in regards to being arrested.”
"I agree. We will be well-served by leaving presently."
Without obstruction or ceremony, you are ushered through the gates of Adamas and back onto the dusty road. To the west, it leads straight back to Olfden. To the east, it hugs the Elberwick Rise and meanders to points unknown. The last vestiges of wan sunlight still paint the dusk sky with shades of orange, quickly fading into deeper hues of blue and purple. Despite an entire day spent in the caverns beneath Adamas, you find the vigor to press onward, if only to put distance between yourself and Lieutenant Garibaldi.
The road to Olfden is peaceful and quiet, other than the incessant songs of crickets and nightjars. Perhaps the sight of Commander Odeber leading a contingent of soldiers along this route earlier in the day scared away any lurking dangers. Regardless, you reach the walls of Olfden and reenter the large farming town.
"A pleasant journey. Perhaps we should rest in town."
"Agreed. It's too late to buy the horses I think. Let's rest for a little while and start preparing to leave in the morning."
'I could do with a hot meal. You think Thrum will set us up again?' Dugan asks, his mind wandering.
"I'd say you'll have to wait til near dawn for a hot meal Dugan. We might just have to settle for what we can get... we might just have to camp just outside the walls if no one will get up at this time." Inconnu yawns "Given the time we might just be best settling for that and having breakfast at an inn in the morning. Trudging around now might be a bit fruitless."
Feeling anxious over returning, Ulark nodded. ”I have to agree with Inconnu. I’ll start preparing camp, and we can look forward to a hot breakfast in the morning.”
You make camp within sight of the town's walls and towers so as to make any nocturnal dangers think twice before accosting you, lest they incur not just your wrath but that of the watch. Nevertheless, you periodically feel the eyes of the guard patrols upon you, likely wondering what your business entails. None of them venture forth to question you, though.
Dawn soon arrives, doing its best to dispel your lingering weariness. A thin coating of dew sits layered upon your bedrolls and keeps your hair sticking to your foreheads.
Inconnu tries to wipe some of the dew from his hair. "A hot breakfast then, horses. No need to catch a bloody cold and sniffle our way to Falcon's Hollow."
”Right.” Ulark took a deep breath, unsure of what to expect. ”Let’s go.”
"I'm just glad it was not cold enough for frost in the morning...."
Venturing back into Olfden proper, you stroll down the long, straight roads only to discover that the Thrumming Birch does not open before noon. A passing local notices you standing before the still-shuttered restaurant, guesses your plight, and recommends the Silver Bulette as an alternative.
"This early in the day, there shouldn't be any brawls. Hopefully," he adds.
Retracing your path, following the proffered directions, you find yourself standing before a sprawling, two-story inn and tavern. The hanging sign is a wooden cutout of an armor-plated beast, painted silver and detailed with a bite-shaped cutout upon the beast's belly. An off-white sheet of canvas is tacked up over the inside of a broken window along the first floor's facade.