The Sheriff listens to the hired guard's tale with skepticism in his eyes. He nods and confers with his informant for several long minutes before returning. "Alright, you are not being detained at this time."
He assembles his some of his deputees to escort Gibbs and his contraband to Cassomir. As they get ready he walks to Kuvan. "You asked about Hunclay? No one knows him too well. He's a selfish, mean-spirited hermit. Best advice I can give you is stay away from him. I can't pin anything on him directly, but I know he is trouble."
The law moves the caravan and Gibbs out. One of the two deputies left behind, a young woman named Letha Mulle asks the would-be caravan guards if they had already been paid. Hearing they haven't she tells them, "Well, that's not great for you. All of his assets are now considered seized by the state under Taldan law. You lot might be stuck here for a few days or weeks until another caravan comes through. Even then, there is no guarantee they'll hire on new folks. Let me show you to The Wise Piper. I will let Talia know what is going on. I'm sure she will give you a discount on some rooms."
The deputy walks everyone through the town of Belhaim. It seems quaint and rustic, with most homes and businesses built in an old Taldor architectural styles. Three buildings on the other side of Rogue Creek, toward the eastern most edge of town are notably different. One is the tiny castle of the Baroness Devy, the ruler of the town and surrounding lands. Another is a dark and foreboding squat manor with a curious room built on the roof. The last is a nearly toppled stone tower with jagged stones reaching up into the blue sky of the later afternoon.
The Wise Piper Inn, Belhaim's sole inn, is a warm and inviting place. Deputy Mulle approaches a pretty woman in her early 30s and explains the situation. The young woman sighs, rolls her eyes and keeps a general look of empathy on her face as the situation is explained. She approaches everyone to say, "I will give you three nights, room and board, compliments of the house. The Sherrif means well, but he doesn't always think. Now, come and sit! I have some fresh bread and cheese we will bring out right away!"
Talia works hard to make sure the first impression of Belhaim is of her and the inn and not the Sheriff. She brings a simple wine in a flagon and a pitcher of beer along with your meal.
Outside the world darkens some as dusk arrives. The meal is simple, but tastes amazing. After all that time on the road, fresh food goes a long way. Just as most have eaten their fill, a deep and loud rumble like thunder shakes the walls and windows of the Inn. Other patrons look up in surprise and a few rush outside. Someone in the distance cries out, "It fell! The Witch Tower fell!"
Xylas is a bit disgruntled about not receiving any pay. It's only right that folks should be paid for their work, but he's put in good spirits by the kindness of the hostess and the bustle of the inn. He's considering starting a round of drinking songs when the rumble is felt. "The Witch Tower fell," he repeats. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Talia bites her lip in response to the half-elf's query. "I guess. The place is not exactly safe. Children have gotten hurt going there on dares. It is all that remains of the original Castle Tula. The town's founder, Lady Tula Belhaim, built it after being granted noble status for her work slaying dragons for the Empire during The Dragon Plague. Her final kill was a great wyrm named Aeteperax in the Dragonfen, just outside of where the town stands today."
She blushes. "Sorry. Miss Bassy tutored me when I was a little girl. Anyway, it seems like a good thing, but it makes one wonder, 'why? Why now? How?'"
She calls out to the busboy to get back to work and stop gawking out the window. "That old goat Hunclay wanted it torn down. He used to say it ruined his view."
Bumolin had privately decided to spend the night in the woods to think about his mistake in trusting Gibbs. But he changed his plans after hearing Talias offer. It would have been rude to refuse this generous offer. The delicious smell from the kitchen might also have had something to do with it. So he ordered Abon to wait outside: "stay here - and no fighting when you see another boar running around free. We are guests here. Don't cause any trouble and I be along to bring you something to eat soon."
He spent the evening mostly listening to other people and eating quietly. When the commotion starts he is in the process of emptying his bowl for the second time. He looks up and listens to the conversation between the half elf and Talia. Then he stands up. "We should go and see if someone got hurt. Especially when it could be that children play there."
Then he stands up. "We should go and see if someone got hurt. Especially when it could be that children play there."
"I sure hope not! Let's see if anyone needs help!" Xylas grabs his gear and heads out.
Thorfinn sets down his ale mug, wipes his mouth with his sleeve, and follows the healer. "Bare is brotherless back, it's said."
Cordia breathed a little easier as they sheltered at Talia's inn. When the pitcher of beer was brought to the table, she filled her mug and happily drank it in one hearty swig. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and smiled - the beer taking away some of the concern she felt earlier when the sheriff and deputies stopped the caravan. She poured herself another beer and looked eagerly at the flagon of wine when a loud rumbling shook the walls of the inn and a crier outside announced the witch tower had fallen. Cordia sighed. What misfortune has already befallen us in this sleepy town. Hearing that children had gotten hurt there in the past, Cordia remembered her lost friends and she felt a twinge of pain in her heart.
"We should go and see if someone got hurt. Especially when it could be that children play there."
Cordia nodded in agreement. "Let's hope no children were hurt or killed..." downing the second mug of beer before picking up her gear from the floor and following the others' lead.
Bumolin follows right after Xylas. Outside he whistles between his teeth to call Abon to his side.
Roxy grabs her things and sets off with the others.
Townsfolk fill the streets, their evening meals interrupted by the incident with the dilapidated tower. All are staring out at the plume some dust that rises in a tall and thick column into the skyline. The general tone of various snippets of conversation seems to match Talia's words: it might be a good thing if it means kids will stop playing near the dangerous structure, but is it done falling? How and why did it fall?
Already the citizens of Belhaim are coming up with theories and trading rumors regarding the collapse. As the group moves east along Canteclure Road they overhear reports that there were dozens of kobold in the ruins.
Once they have crossed the bridge over Rogue Creek, the former caravan guards can see the stubby remains of the Witch Tower through the clearing haze of dust. Deputy Letha Mulle stands at the site scratching her head. Near her is another junior deputy, Varyl Hodd. He stands with his hands on his hips chewing on a piece of straw. When someone shouts out they should ask Hunclay what he knows the deputies snap out of their confusion long enough to argue over who should undertake the task.
After shooting Evens and Odds, Hodd swears and walks to the other side of a hill to bang on the Hermit wizard's door.
He returns a few moments later. "Got another kobold. I think," He tells Mulle curtly. "That makes three, and tells me I shouldn't touch nothing of Hunclay's."
A woman wearing an exquisite, but slightly out-of-fashion noble's gown arrives on the scene. Mulle and Hodd both look more panicked at the woman's arrival. She confers with the two deputies for a few moments before scanning the crowd.
Spotting the visitors to Belhaim, and taking note that they look armed and competent, she swallows hard and walks slowly over.
"Today's your lucky day. Mulle and Hodd here can't handle this without the Sheriff to hold their hands, and I want to know what happened here. You seem to be a capable bunch. If you go in there and look through the rubble-find out what happened and why there are kobolds in my town-I'll pay the lot of you 600 gold pieces. While you're looking around in the ruins, keep an eye out for any signs of our local eccentric, Hunclay. It seems somewhat suspicious to me that he's not answering his door. Let me know what you find."
Roxy's eyes light up at the sound of money. "Sure! We're be exploring the ruins! We're great at exploring ruins!"
Bumolin nods. "I'll gladly help. But you don't need to pay me. We experienced generous hospitality here even if the circumstances of our arrival have been rather suspicious. Let me do this for you as a sign of my gratitude!"
Xylas scratches his head. "Kobolds? What are those? Truth be told, I'd 'a' volunteered to help get rid of those things if they're causing trouble, but I'm not going to turn my nose up at a donation. Are you the town leader?" he asks the woman.
"So just to be sure, only this Hunclay is missing? We heard that sometimes kids play around the ruins and we just want to make sure everyone is accounted for."
"She is." A young man with a perfect mustache and hair says in a firm voice as he arrives just behind the older woman. This man also wears more regal attire. The purple tunic looks to be made of silk from Tian. "My mother can sometimes forget her manners. May I present to you the Baroness Origena Devy of Belhaim. I am her only son. Arnholde. And that is an excellent point. I will have Letha make sure the word gets out to report any missing persons immediately to ensure everyone is accounted for.
"You should not apologize on my behalf, Arnie." The young Baron bristles at the diminutive of his name. She admits, "I do like to take care of problems quickly, I admit. I prefer things to return to their normal, peaceful state. I will leave Deputy Hodd to keep the site clear. Please report to me as soon as you have something to report." Both she and her son return to their home just south of the collapse. Hodd looks a little frustrated until Mulle tells him she will fetch coffee from Talia's.
Cordia inwardly groaned at hearing there were kobolds in town, hiding in the witch tower? She could speak their tongue, yet it was another threat waiting among the ruins.
Upon the baroness' offer of six hundred gold pieces, Cordia's eyes lit up, and she answered, "We accept your generous offer of coin and thank you, my lady. We'll do what we can to discover what's happened to the wizard and why the kobolds are in your town. Hopefully the children are all safely accounted for."
The Ulfen looks quite interested at the prospect of payment for mayhem. "Ha! Creeping kobolds, cunning crafters; soon I'll smite the sons of serpents!"
Head filled with dreams of martial glory, Thorfinn fails to pick up on what's in front of him.
Xylas watched the Baroness and her son depart and shrugs, "Well, guess that's settled. But seriously, what are kobolds? Are they anything like goblins?"
He turns to Hodd, "Can we have a look at one you found?"
"Don't know much about Goblins. But Kobolds sometimes burrowed into our tunnels back home and once even stole one of my pigs. They are a bloody nuicance. A bit like small lizards on two legs but sometimes dangerously clever. Xylas was the name, wasn't it? You had to face goblins before?"
Bumolin also watches the baroness and her son leave. "Do you understand why she thinks this Hunclay could be found in the ruined tower?"
"Xylas was the name, wasn't it? You had to face goblins before?"
"That's right, Bumolin. Well, mostly just heard stories about them from some of the travelers at my father's inn, but from what I heard, they were just about everywhere."
"Talia said something about Hunclay just as we were leaving. Called him an old goat. What can you tell us about him, Hodd?"
While he may be more at home in the wilds with boars, Buomin can't help but notice that the Baroness seems to have complex emotions tied to the Witch Tower. There is a sadness in her eyes when she speaks of the Tower, and her gaze lingers on it for a few moments before she departs.
Hodd swishes the straw he is chewing from one side of his mouth to the other. "'Old goat' sounds about right. He ain't the sort to come out playing pranks on Jestercap day. Only time he leaves that place of his is to complain about something. Usually the Tower. Sheriff Benhovy has his eye on him. He does get strange visitors from time to time, but mostly he is a recluse. Came to town a few years back with a load of money to build his house. Used laborers from Cassomir for most of it." Hodd finds a large, flat rock to turn into a chair and takes a seat. "Garden variety weirdo. Every town has one."
An enormous heap of cracked stone and splintered wood from the tower lies in a low mound here, tumbled partially down the hill to the southeast. The mound of rubble forms a natural ramp that leads up to the now-exposed second floor of the tower above.
Thorfinn grins and scrambles up the rubble. "Come on! I will help you if you need it."
He turns to Hodd, "Can we have a look at one you found?"
Xylas carefully picks his way up the rubble talus slope after the northerner.
Roxy happily hops up the ruins,
He turns to Hodd, "Can we have a look at one you found?"
Xylas carefully picks his way up the rubble talus slope after the northerner.
"Well, according to Letha, there are two in the rubble. She said you can see them looking into the hole in the floor up there. The one I saw on Hunclay's doorstep...it's a crispy critter. I can't be sure it actually is one of 'em." Hodd tells Xylas.
Open to the sky a bove, this exposed upper floor contains only some smashed furniture and a sprinkling of rubble. A trap door is set in the floor against the northwest wall.
The tower's large ground floor has mostly collapsed under the rubble, but along the western portion of the room a section remains clear of debris. An iron trap door set in the floor is directly below a companion door in the ceiling above. Shattered wooden furniture lies scattered around the corpses of two small, green-scaled creatures.
Bumolin still looks thoughtfully in the direction the baroness went. But when the others start climbing the mound he shruggs it off for the moment, says his farewells to Hodd and follows the others climbing slowly and carefully.
After climbing a few meters he turns around looking at Abon, who tries to follow him. He ponders if the mound seems climbable for a boar or if he should order his companion to wait for him here.
Climbing was never something she was ever really good at it, however Cordia scrambled up the rubble and was relieved when she made it up and didn't slip back down in front of her companions.
"I'll be looking for traps with these two doors. No one touch them until I'm done," she told her companions.
Cordia's gaze settled on the iron trap door on the floor and looked it over carefully for any sign of trap. She then repeated the inspection of the companion door in the ceiling above.
Grumbling under his breath, the Ulfen stands aside for Cordia.
While he's waiting for Cordia, Xylas takes a closer look at the dead little scaly things.
Bumolin climbs back down to Abon and tries to calm him down "Alright, you can come. But take it slow. You are no goat!"
"From this vantage, it doesn't look like there's anything dangerous at either trapdoor. To get a better idea, I'd need to go down and check that trapdoor from close range. Still, I suggest we all be careful as we move around this broken place. As to the kobolds, they are certainly dead."
Xylas pulls a length of fine silk rope from his pack. "Well, how 'bout we get in there and see what's up? ...or down as the case may be."
He drops one end through the trapdoor and secures the other end of the rope.
Thorfinn looks expectantly at the others. "I go first?"
Bumolin finally reaches the top, Abon following him.
I'm sorry for the delay. What did you find up here? Is someone in trouble?
Abon starts suddenly to sniff the air and is getting visibly nervous because of the smell of the corpses. Bumolin notices and looks down.
Oh. Did you kill them? He asks looking mainly at Thorfinn.
The barbarian shakes his head as he pulls a torch from his pack. He lights it with a few practiced strikes of steel on flint, then tosses it down to the floor below.
"No trouble. Those must be the dead kobolds that the guards mentioned," Xylas explains to the late arrival. He finishes tying the rope to a table leg projecting from several large chunks of masonry and gives Thorfinn a nod. "I'll be right behind you."
The kobolds are very obviously dead. One has been nearly crushed flat by a portion of the ceiling while the second one's neck is turned impossibly around. Both were wearing simple leather armor and had spears, but one of the kobolds was holding pick axe when he died. A broken-handled shovel sits beside the other corpse. Anything else that might have been in this room when the tower sunk is unrecognizable.
The walls of the chamber below have buckled precariously in several places, and masonry and dirt are scattered across the floor-the collapse above plainly caused this structural damage. The dry-rotted frames of five simple beds lie against the north and south walls. To the southwest, the room broadens into a larger chamber. A rusted, grinning iron statue stands in an alcove in the north wall beteween the two wings of the room itself, and in the wall to the south is an old door.
===
Cordia sheathed her rapier so she could have both hands to hold the rope and climb down to the lower level, following behind Thorfinn and Xylas. Once down, she moved to the trap she had seen from above and inspected it more closely, nodding as if silently confirming something. Then aloud she said, "Getting a closer look at this hatch, I can see no ancient traps."
Xylas' interest is caught by the iron statue. He says a short prayer and the point of an arrow he has drawn glows for him to better inspect it. "Well, this seems an odd place for a statue. Not sure why he'd be grinning. Do you think those kobolds made it? I wonder if maybe their digging around under here might have something to do with the tower collapsing.
Thorfinn climbs down the rope, then lights a second torch from the first where it gutters on the floor. He makes his way to the door in the south wall and prepares to open it.
Once he leans in close with the magically lit arrow, Xylas discovers it isn't actually a statue at all. It is a torture and execution device known as an iron maiden. What looked at first like rust stains is actually ancient, dried blood. The bones of the iron maiden's final victim remain encased within.
Bumolin says to Abon: "Wait for me here!"
Then he follows the others down the rope.
As soon as Bumolin sees the beds in A4, he looks for signs of someone using this room recently.
Roxy lingers over the dead kobolds. "Poor guys" She checks their pockets.
"Well. That's pretty awful. I'll have some questions about the founders of the town once we're back at the inn. Maybe we should give the poor fellow a proper burial later," he says to no one in particular.
Abon snorts and whines but stays put for the moment. Pacing around the platform a few times before sitting at the edge with a huff.
Bumolin finds no sign of recent use, or anything else of interest, but it can be difficult to be sure of anything after the collapse.
Roxy lingers over the dead kobolds. "Poor guys" She checks their pockets.
Roxy finds little more than pocket change on the kobolds. If properly dug out their leather armor could be salvageable, but the rest of their gear is ruined from the collapse.
Xylas recovers his rope and then calls to the others."Hey, gather round for a moment. Given the implement of torture over there and the dead little kobolds, I'm thinking that things might get a little dangerous beyond that door there. So maybe we should circle up here and get ready."
"Now we've been working together with the caravan for a little bit of course, but it's a little less clear what our jobs are down here so maybe we should discuss what our talents are in regards to you know, exploring and fighting creatures and what not, seeing as we didn't get much of a challenge on the trip up to Belhaim."
"As you know, I'm probably better fighting with the bow rather than getting up close and personal, but I do have a club if it comes to it. And with Old Deadeye's help, I'll do my best to fix your wounds and you know, help out if you get tired or sick or frightened. Not that I expect any of you all would ever be frightened, but we got a saying in my home town, 'Without fear, there cannot be courage.' And honestly, I get a bit nervous being underground like this."
"I'm good at Singing!" Roxy interjects. "And also poking things with my rapier!" She draws her sword. "I can heal people too."
Thorfinn tries to look as though he respects the halfling-sized rapier in the bard's hand. "I come from the lands of snow and ice , where I learned the warrior's trade." He draws his greatsword. "This be not the battle-light I bore there, but well I wield it, and worthily." He smiles down at the halfling "I, too, sing in battle. I shall strike high, you shall strike low, and between us we will surely cut these craven cavern crawlers!"