Amed rubs his hands together, then begins to use his musclar arms to help move debris out of the way.
Nicenzia steps up to take control of the fire fighting, to ensure they save the treasure. "Over here folks focus the water on this path. Let's save what can still be saved. But your backs into it." she says showing a little of the mean she used to be told when directed.
"Potions! Hopefully there are healing potions in the box." she rushes to the fire to try to find a way to get to the box.
She tries to jump into the fire trying to get the box.
Springing into action ( some of you literally ) you all quickly move, douse, spot, leap and remove the large chest from danger. Getting away from the husk of the building. The chest was certainly not light, but between Swen and Tushes efforts it was easy to carry it free. You find the chest unlocked and open it.
There are several vials of a light red almost pink liquid, A small leather coin pouch that clinks like it holds coins. Two leatherbound sketchbooks lay along the bottom of the chest along with about a half dozen loose gemstones that appear to have fallen out of another open coin purse.
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"So do we return to the Silver Shield base now or what?"
"Excellent!" Amed chimed in. "And since they are 'small folk', I don't forsee any issues carrying any injured."
"Sounds like a solid plan." Ramona agrees.
Tush will spellcraft the potions to see what they are. She also peeks at the sketch books.
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They are indeed three simple cure light wounds potions.
The first couple of sketches you skim through are of simple things, a bird on the roof of the barn, A horse getting startled and rearing up. It really is fine quality sketches. Little portraits begin to sprinkle in after those however. Then about 20 pages of hands. in different angles and poses.
The second sketchbook's first page reads.
"If i catch you boys in my sketch books again their will be trouble! like grounded for a month with no allowance trouble! This goes double for you Klank!"
A strange warning indeed. a few pages in, there is a list of ten numbers sequentially, each one has something beside it, elf in the woods, two orcs sparring, Queen with her knight. and so forth,Those series of sketches were not for children. Just before you closed the book the edge of a second slip of paper caught your eye, and it was another note from you assume the same person as the first.
"You are the best Krinklestein, Sales for the new edition of Absolon's Gentlemans Finest have never been highr. Boss says your debt is almost gone, but to sweeten the arrangement he sent you a bonus in gemstones. We have a list of what we want drawn next. Don't worry, your Da is fine."
While Tush takes a peek in the sketch books, The young gnome reaches for two of the potions tentively and if no one stops him he rushes back for the barn. Carefully he gives one to the dwarf to drink, and between the two of them they manage to give the other to the unconcious inn owner... after ripping the bolt out of his shoulder. He wakes up screaming in pain for a second before the magic of the potion takes hold.
"Oh my my Mhat? Where? The Hobgoblins?"
He begins looking about the barn frantically.
Following the gnome back to the barn, Ramona watches as he revives the others. "It's all right, they're gone now. Did you catch sigh o' how this all started?"
She slams the sketch books closed. "He's being blackmailed. His father is being held by someone. We have to help him." She tucks the letters and the books away.
She goes running over when she hears Krinks cry out. "Are you all right? I was so worried about you. You looked horrible."
"Those things are bad for your health Swen, now a glass of red is much more beneficial for you. And it taste better than those plants you are burning there." Nicenzia says as see joins Swen outside the barn. "Mind if I keep you company?"
"I'll skip the tobacco and just enjoy your companionship. And I know the tavern got brunt down, to bad we can't have a look in the cellar to see if anything survived. But I think it would be to risky at this stage, despite it would just be another item on the list of things bad for us eh.?" she says taking her waterskin out. "Remind me to fill one of these with wine, when we have the time."
"You're thinkin' they blackmailed him over what's in those books?" Ramona asks.
Krink's eyes widen when he sees Tush and he cant help but blush a little over her concern.
"Oh Dont you worry about me My lady, I'm made of stern stuff. Those hobgoblins are lucky they caught me off guard is all."
He boasted. He began trying to rise when his nephew rushed over and basically hug tackled him back down.
"th..th..the inn's go...go..gone. Fire!"
He began and Krinks sudden good mood immediately went back down.
"Oh dear."
He muttered finally managing to sit up only to bury his slightly dirty face into his hands.
"We saved some things." She hands him the contents of the box. Maybe this will help."[/b]
She waits for a couple of seconds. "Speaking of help? Do you need some?" she points to the sketch books.
Ramona simply looks on nonplussed. Clearly Tush was a bit too distracted to hear her question.
Aurelain also looks ready to help. Blackmail! he whispers the word like a curse.
Tush steps away and gives Ramona the notes. "I know he's being blackmailed. See."
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Swen takes a long drag on her cigarette and saves the other for later. After an exhale she confesses to Nicenzia, "The innkeeps got jewels up the wazoo. He's rich. If we can get them to safety, maybe we can get him to pay us something nice. But I doubt our friends will go along with it." A pained look crosses her face as she takes one more drag and snuffs out the cigarette. "We should get going."
Ramona flips through the sketchbook, letting out a low whistle as she peruses the racier pieces. "Damn! That's some Damn fine detail." she comments, with a raised eyebrow. "You're one hell of an artist. So instead of paying you like you deserve for work like this, the bastards are holding someone ransom while you work for them?"
The scarlet colored gnome (from embaressment it appeared to be) managed to finally get to his feet and motion out of the barn. He paused and nodded to the Dwarf.
"Salvage what you can on the cart will you Durbin, Im gonna talk with these folk for a moment."
The dwarf merely nodded, pulling off the unneeded bandages now that the magic potion had taken care of most of the burns. Outside and out of earshot The gnome started to reach for the sketchbook Ramona was glancing through but stopped and shoved his hands in his pocket.
"Thank you mam. I started off doing scenery as a lad, going place to place with my father and his kin. They had a bit of travelling show. It fell apart and he took to drinking and gambling. Things were okay mostly, though finally he got in deep with some dangerous moneylenders down in Cheliax."
He paused and noticed the two smoking and for a moment his lips trembled.
"I was desperate to do what i could to keep things afloat, did a lot of work for them I wouldnt be proud of, in the end on of them found my sketchbooks while pawing through my things waiting for me. Paid me a small sum of money to draw some things of a local magistrix as petty revenge for something that happened to their business. I thought i was getting the family clear of problems, then i found out they had taken my father to a nearby gambling den."
His shoulders slumped.
"I tried to get us all out of there first chance i got, but my Da wouldnt leave, found himself a troublemaker of a girl who kept him roped in the troubles. I barely managed to sneak out with my nephews here about ten years back. Four years ago, well they somehow found me here. Hired a couple of big thugs to explain to me that they had my father, and that I owed them still. Its been okay mostly, just sitting out here in the middle of nowhere really, working on their requests. I've given up on saving my father, if hes really still alive even. I havent tried to move on anywhere else becuase i didnt see the point. If they found me here, they could find me anywhere I guess."
He grew silent for a moment then looked over toward the ramshackle burning remains of what had been ...his inn. He almost looked like he was going to break down for a moment, but he managed to just catch himself and take a deep breath.
"I had thought perhaps it was them last night tromping up, I had stepped outside to try and cut off any problems for my nephews when a whole troop of hobgoblins marched up. Their leader, the hugest creature ive ever seen outside an ogre started angrily talking to an orc. Whatever the orc said didnt make the hobgoblin too happy so he lifted him up by the throat, stabbed him with wicked looking knife, then through him at me. I barely managed to get out of the way when one of the others shot me. I dont remember much after that, I mean, The last thing i could recall was one of them said something... "Turash Mak" i think, and the leader jerked his head around and spat out some harsh words... I saw two of them move forward with torches and then if all went black."
Aurelain looks both concerned and confused. So, what do we do now? We still need to turn in this little bobble I have around my neck too.
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Catching half of the innkeeper's story, and not even trying to hide the fact that she doesn't care, Swen informs the gnome, "We've got business back in Macridi first. If you wanna hire us to take revenge on the hobgoblins, or to rescue your Pa or whatever, you're gonna have to speak to our boss, Colewin. Either way, we really need to get moving."
Tush gives Swen a glare when she mentions money, "Come back with us. We might find work for you with the Shields. Who knows we might need a good bartender and innkeeper. He might be able to help with you problem."
"We need to tell someone about the hobgoblins anyway. You were a witness."
Ramona nods, handing the sketchbook back. "We've got a mission to complete first, but then I'm pretty sure whoever did this is next on our dance card." she says with a bit of bravado. "And we'll help you if we can."
"I think unless hired for this, it's the local guardsmens's duty to handle the hobgoblins. Let's get back to Macridi and see what our next assignment will be. Hopefully we can get a little time to recuperate before we are sent out again. I wouldn't mind a good long soak in one of the bathhouses back home." She says shaking some ash out of her hair.
"Macridi? that sounds as good as any place to restart, if I could manage im sure a tavern and inn there would make much more money. I wouldnt worry about helping me with my Da right now, Im sure the sort of money that would be needed for that is more than i could afford right now besides."
He paused and glanced back torwards the barn.
"Durbin's a good enough fellow, but i think the consortium my father owes money too employs him to keep tabs on me. Dont say nothing please, i like keeping my spies close if you will, and he genuinely is a decent chap."
He cleared his throat and spoke a bit louder now.
"Before we go maybe one of you bigger folk would uh... well I have a chest with some spare gold buried under the cart, Its yours to split for taking us to Macridi, i mean the roads there will undoubtibly be less safe with us on a cart slowing you down.I am afraid i have no cushion to offer you the best seat miss Tush, but the first seat on the cart is your choice."
He offered.
Aurelain shrugs and goes to retrieve the chest.
Amed smiles broadly as the suli helps the half-orc retrieve the gold.
"We'll keep your secret." Tush helps him along as they head back into town.
"The gold will make everyone happy. That's what we are out here for. To make money for jobs we've been sent on."
"If you're gonna have protection while on the road, you could do a lot worse than having us watch your back." Ramona says with a grin.
The trip back home was uneventful really, The monotany of the road eased but the drumming of dwarven bard and Krinks' nephews whom occasionally added their own random noises in time with the beat. Despite the wagon travelling with you, No bandits or dangerous creatures appeared to attack you.
Krink is pretty quiet for most of the two days travel back to Macridi, though if anyone seems to notice his brooding he's quick to smile and quip a joke. it was early afternoon when you reached the towns edge. Krink hopped off the cart and motioned to the side for you all.
"Thank you folk for helping me and the boys get here safely. I'm not sure what we will do, but I'll think of something. I know you have a job and business here in town, but when i do figure things out I will certainly send word."
After a moment he took a hold of Tush's hand and once more bent over it in a very ostentatious manner kissing the top of it.
"You madam are the very epitome of gnomish beauty. If ever you have need of anything in my power, you have but to ask. "
With that he moved back to the wagon and climbed back into the frontseat taking a hold of the reins and getting the horse and cart to move inward torwards the center of the town leaving you all to your own devices.
Amed smiles at the ardent show of affection between the gnomes.
Hmm. It appears Shelyn has brought these two together. I was thinking of giving Tush a try, the magus laughs to himself. But I'm not gonna try to sunder what The Eternal Rose has created. Good for you, Tush!
"Best of luck to you, Krink. In all matters may The Prophet increase your happiness."
Aurelain finger the overly valuable amulet at his throat and nods in agreement. I am surprised this think did not cause more trouble than it did. I am ready to part with it.
"Are you talking about the merchant or our boss when you refer to the slimeball?" Nicenzia asks Swen with a teasing grin.
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“Pshh,” Swen answers Nicenzia with a flippant wave of her hand as they make their way to the Bregingund Estate, “the boss is ok, I guess. Definitely not a slimeball. Nah, I’m talking about what’s his face, Bregin-whatever. Hey guys, are we gonna tell him about all the silver still left in the mine?”
"Good luck to you." she gives Krink a kiss on the cheek before she follows her fellows off into the city.
"Aurelain have you tried taking that thing off? It just snapped to your neck in a really weird way."
Hmm. the bloodrager muses. I have not. He tries removing the necklace.
The necklace comes off easily enough... though suddenly about a minute later... it magically disapears... then appears back on your neck Aurelain.
The necklace comes off easily enough... though suddenly about a minute later... it magically disapears... then appears back on your neck Aurelain.
"Oh no", groans Amed.