The guard laughs and, without committing one way or the other, says "Lord Kerrigan used to caution his men 'Unless you're willing to pay for it later, never drink with a dwarf and never sleep with a ...'," he stops abruptly as he notices Yin. "Ummm, why don't you go directly to the gatehouse to the inner bailey. That way you don't need to run into anyone you don't want to."
"Much obliged," Orlan grins at the guard's half-stated joke, "Manfred? Yin? Let's be waitin' in the bailey 'til we hear back on Kerrigan's availability..."
The guard laughs and, without committing one way or the other, says "Lord Kerrigan used to caution his men 'Unless you're willing to pay for it later, never drink with a dwarf and never sleep with a ...'," he stops abruptly as he notices Yin. "Ummm, why don't you go directly to the gatehouse to the inner bailey. That way you don't need to run into anyone you don't want to.""Much obliged," Orlan grins at the guard's half-stated joke, "Manfred? Yin? Let's be waitin' in the bailey 'til we hear back on Kerrigan's availability..."
Travelling to the inner gatehouse gives you more of a chance to look at the keep during the daytime. One notable thing about the population of the keep are that many of the families -- particularly the storekeeps, smiths, stable owners, etc. consist of what appear to be Korvosan men and Shoanti women. There are a great number of Korvosan/Shoanti children in the keep.
Well sitting in the inner gatehouse awaiting entrance to the inner bailey, a Shoanti man you recognize as Falcon Warchild passes you. Recognizing you and knowing that his father, Lord Kerrigan, had some concerns that you were in some way involved in the attack, he brings you directly to the Keep's fortress where Lord Kerrigan's residence is.
Here you wait. Far below the floor of the fortress, you hear a gong ringing.
About 12 minutes later, Lord Kerrigan passes through the room. Over his left shoulder is a large stone sculpture of a snakeheaded warrior devouring a human infant. In his right hand is a longsword, dripping in green puss. He is bleeding, scarred, dirty, smiling, and completely oblivious to your presence.
"Father," says Falcon Warchild to get his attention.
Kerrigan is startled but attempts to regain composure "Oh... hello ... welcome back ... You're here to see me? ... One moment, let me get cleaned up ... we had ... ummm ... we had a problem with some spiders in the wine cellar. I think we got them all."
With that he disappears into a side chamber.
"One moment, let me get cleaned up...we had...ummm...we had a problem with some spiders in the wine cellar. I think we got them all."
"Hunh! We can certainly relate," Orlan replies, "Fought a rather big one up on the mountain ourselves, right Manfred?" He looks at the warrior with a confident grin.
When Kerrigan returns, slightly cleaned up but still smelling of something evil and rank, he smiles and says "You lived. Did you find your cousin? I guess that rescue party I sent was unnecessary?"
When Kerrigan returns, slightly cleaned up but still smelling of something evil and rank, he smiles and says "You lived. Did you find your cousin? I guess that rescue party I sent was unnecessary?"
"Rescue party?" Orlan doesn't even feign a lack of suspicion, "I'd hardly call them that. I found muh cousin, alright. Lots o' trouble too on that mountain, but nothin' we couldn't handle. And then yer Captain Badder showed up and made a show of arrestin' some elflin' named Rellios who'd been helpin' us. Implied his actions had yer support as well."
"And he went on ta suggest we had somethin' ta do with sendin' a bunch o' cannibals down river ta attack yer keep," Orlan continues, "Which o'course, we did no such thing. We merely told their shaman...an old acquaintance o' yers, I believe...that yuh still held reign over yer keep in these parts. And o'course, we told 'em they couldn't be sittin' at the foot o' the Foehammer Spires feedin' off any traveler what wandered by."
"So don't be thinkin' it's our fault they showed up at yer doorstep," he finishes, "And we're not about ta hand over muh cousin's elflin' retainer without a better understandin' o' the charges facin' 'im. Muh cousin and I plan on rebuilding the Spires and settlin' in the mountains, so we'd hoped ta maintain peaceful relations with yer people. So I'm a bit concerned ta have ta deal with these matters at such a time...but it's best we get'em settled now as opposed ta later."
Orlan then eyes Lord Kerrigan for any unusual reaction his words might evoke in him.
"Falcon, send for Captain Badder," snaps Kerrigan before adding "Please."
Turning back to you he says "I haven't had a time to hear from Badder. From what I understand they arrived late last night. As for this elf, I know nothing about it. I certainly not have ordered his arrest and I am the law in this keep."
"The cannibals ... I don't know what to make of them. One of the men who attacked us ... when we washed off that paint reminded me of a soldier I commanded long ago ... One that I lost at an earlier fort near the gorge ... along with 40 other men. Is it possible that one of my men lived?" Kerrigan breaks off for a moment and then continues "I don't remember the faces of all the soldiers I've commanded but I remember the ones who died because of me."
"I sent Badder and his men to see if there were more of those savages. They look to be the same kind that attacked my 40 men over 20 years ago. I thought that they might have been up in the spires and that you might have been taken by them."
"As for your claiming of the spires ... Are you saying that you can defend that land? Before I agree to respect your claim to it, you would need to convince me I won't be attacked from forces living in that vicinity. Are you doing that?"
Yin has remained quite quiet since arriving at the Keep, seemingly having a lot on her mind. She throws a few curious glances about at seeing so many Shoanti women but says nothing. Seeing Falcon brings a brief, bright grin to her face but it soon fades away as she settles to listen to Orlan speak with Lord Kerrigan.
At Kerrigan's words she looks up and shakes her head a little. "As I see it the people of the Spires would have more to fear of your men than vice-versa. The group you sent out also killed a group of poor souls that were ill that we had saved from the clutches of a vampire"
"They killed some of your people?!" asks Lord Kerrigan surprised.
"That or someone else took their arrows for the express purpose of randomly killing a bunch of sick people" Yin replies with a sad shrug.
"Badder will have to answer for this," says Kerrigan.
"I wouldn't exactly be callin' 'em our people," Orlan concedes, "Just a bunch o' goblinkin, orcs, a bugbear, and maybe a few human men or such. Victims o' a vampire goblin what sought ta make his home in muh ancestors' spire. But we cleaned him an' his followers out o' there. We intend ta reclaim an' defend the rest o' the Spires, too, Kerrigan."
He waves the lord closer in order to converse more quietly with him.
"Muh cousin, Klyndak, has been crowned king again by the powers that be in the Spires. I've brought some trade goods here ta yer keep in order ta secure more supplies for our garrison there. And I'll be sendin' a message back to our kin, urgin' more ta come with all haste. There's work ta be done aplenty, that's fer sure. But we aim ta resettle the Spires and that'll be makin' us neighbors and allies against anythin' with a desire to cause trouble in these lands. An' that may well start with yer Captain Badder as far as I'm concerned..."
Kerrigan asks a few questions and gets details on the adventure the spires, etc.
Snapping his fingers as he recalls something, he has one of his personal guard bring in a strip of leather. On the leather in dark ash is an image of the spires: "This I took from an ancient relief I found. The relief has been sold to a collector but look here ... these are your spires, aren't they?"
Around the spires are a flight of eagles with sword wielding warriors on their backs. "Closest I can tell, the relief was 4000 years old."
After a long discussion--some serious, some light--a soldier returns and talks to Falcon who summons Lord Kerrigan into a hushed conversation.
Kerrigan returns with a grave look on his face. "Orlan, Yin, Manfred, ... we have a problem. Badder has been found murdered in his quarters."
Kerrigan returns with a grave look on his face. "Orlan, Yin, Manfred, ... we have a problem. Badder has been found murdered in his quarters."
"Hunh..." Orlan mutters, somewhat surprised, "Well, I do recall him sayin' somethin' about others hirin' or payin' 'im ta find the elflin'...and since they don't seem ta be affiliated with yuh...maybe they had somethin' ta do with his death, bein' displeased an' all with the outcome?"
Yin sits in silence for a moment, biting her tongue to stop herself saying 'good riddance'. "How'd he die?" She questions curiously once her instinct to celebrate at the ending of such an unpleasant man has ended.
Lord Kerrigan ignores Yin's question for now.
Falcon Warchild "You arrived at the Keep this morning. Correct? ... And you have no allies within the Keep?"
Lord Kerrigan interjects, "Falcon, Orlan's a dwarf. ... I have yet to meet a dwarf who knew his way around a bottle of poison. ... The dwarves I know would rather drink their enemies to death, no offense."
Then, to you "You'll have to excuse my son. He is in charge of security within the Keep. He will need to determine who killed Badder. If poison weren't involved I'd suspect it to be a fight between soldiers but ... Perhaps, Orlan, this is about this elf fellow you mentioned."
Yin raises her eyebrows at Falcon's words, quite amazed, she had a habit of being blunt but that was something special. "We arrived this morning and I call very few people my allies." She replies bluntly
Giving a sigh she smiles weakly at Lord Kerrigan's words. "It could indeed relate to the person paying for the capture of Rellios. People who pay for such things rarely tolerate failure, especially those who let slip that they were being paid"
Seeing Yin look at him and being reprimanded by his father in the middle of his investigation, Falcon looks aside. Looking at his father, not the party, he says: "I have to ask. If they are not in any way connected with this then they might be of some use ... both to us and to their friend."
Sir Manfred replies; "On my honor as a Knight, neither I, Sir Manfred VonFalkenburg nor Yintara Fireweaver nor Lord Orlan had anything to do with that mans death. I swear that to be so." He seems very certain.
Sir Manfred replies; "On my honor as a Knight, neither I, Sir Manfred VonFalkenburg nor Yintara Fireweaver nor Lord Orlan had anything to do with that mans death. I swear that to be so." He seems very certain.
Kerrigan seems amused by Manfred. "There's someone I would like to introduce you to while you are in the Keep. Remind me, Falcon, to introduce him to Kornelius."
Sir Manfred replies; "On my honor as a Knight, neither I, Sir Manfred VonFalkenburg nor Yintara Fireweaver nor Lord Orlan had anything to do with that mans death. I swear that to be so." He seems very certain.
"Good. ... While 'Lord' Orlan is doing business in the Keep, would you be able to help me? Perhaps we can help catch the murderer and help your friend..."
Yin gives a small grin at Manfred's words before focusing on Falcon once more. "Alright then, let's get investigating" She agrees brightly, inviting herself along to help despite the fact Falcon was talking to Manfred.
"Of course. Any help I am able to give I will do to aid the cause of Justice."
Hearing Yin invite herself along, he starts to speak, intending to lecture her about propriety, protocol and decorum; but he decides to hold his tongue. He was perfectly aware that if forbidden to go, she would follow anyway. At least this way he could keep an eye on her.
"So," says Falcon "Why don't we share what we know. ... Unless you need to get settled in first? You're welcome to stay here in the inner fortress with father and I. Or, there's the Sirap's hotel."
"I'm as settled as I'll get. All I need is to know where I need to go to rest when the day is over and I'm good" Yin replies with a bright grin
"So," says Falcon "Why don't we share what we know. ... Unless you need to get settled in first? You're welcome to stay here in the inner fortress with father and I. Or, there's the Sirap's hotel."
"I don't rightly recall what we do be knowin'..." Orlan ponders, "But I'd be happy ta let Manfred and Yin here aid yer efforts to catch this murderer. I may add muh own attention ta the problem once I've secured the things muh cousin sent me here ta do."
"As fer our stay, I'm inclined to visit Sirap," he explains, "If'n these murderers found their way inta the inner fortress to do in this Captain Badder, they'd be havin' access ta us as well, assumin' they know we're here. So might as well mix with the reg'lar customers down at Sirap's and keep up appearances as it were..."
"Well ... then perhaps if Orlan could keep his ears open well he goes about his business... This is really a new one for me. Most of the crimes we have in the Keep involve two men and two swords and take place in front of a crowd...," says Falcon, hesitantly.
"We had some trouble with bandits on the road to the Keep last fall and this spring. We suspected but couldn't prove that one of our guards was feeding them information on which merchant wagons to waylay. We did manage to dispose of those bandits though."
"Yin, Manfred, do you have any suggestions about how we could find this murderer?"
"Ah, this is not truly something that I have trained for. Perhaps get a healer to examine the body? What say you Yin?"
"A healer examining te body would be good. Maybe I could help, I know a little about poisons, there was a chapter on them in my favourite alchemy book" She mentions with a small shrug "I could perhaps try to assertain if it's a local substance or not."
"Now, Orlan, let's let my son and your colleagues pursue this. Your cousin is king now, is he? What is it with you dwarves and your kingdoms?" before you can answer he raises a hand to wave away any objections you might make. "Don't take offense. I would welcome a dwarven kingdom at the end of that river. The Keep could greatly benefitted from any trade or produce in that direction."
"Now, you are here to buy or sell? There is a merchant's guild and a market. You can sell to any of the store owners in small amounts without consulting the guild but to get guild prices you must become a guild member. The same fee allows you to set up a blanket or a shop in the open market ... though for a shop you will need permission from Sirap Hilltown who is in charge of lots for stalls."
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Aye, yuh can be helpin' me send a message on behalf of King Klyndak back to Janderhoff fer me," Orlan concedes, "We be wantin' ta urge more o' our kin ta come an' see the Spires fer themselves...ta resettle the place...an' o'course ta reopen the mines an' the smithies an' such so we can be tradin' again, both here at the Keep an' back home with the tradesmiths o' Janderhoff an' so on."
"With that in mind," he continues, "Obviously I be here ta both buy an' sell. I brought with me some trade goods ta develop enough funds ta then turn around an' buy more supplies fer King Klyndak an' any new arrivers from Janderhoff. I suspect I'll be needin' ta reclaim the horses an' some sure-footed mules fer carryin' such stuff back ta the Spires. An' we be needin' a bit o' specialized equipment fer repairs an' construction. Food ta be feedin' ourselves. An' so on..."
"If'n it be takin' a membership in yer guild ta effect such trade, then I reckon I'll go see Master Hilltown," he finishes, "Though in the interests o' fosterin' new trade relations with King Klyndak an' the Spires, I be wonderin' if you might have a word with him on our behalf...perhaps so he can be waivin' the membership fee...and once he has a look at our tradegoods fer understandin' our treasury an' such, o'course. I don't anticipate openin' a business or stall in the Keep proper just yet. But maybe in time we'll cross that bridge, an' likely after we build it on a fair trade policy 'tween our two seats o' government."
"Is there anything I can do for you?""Aye, yuh can be helpin' me send a message on behalf of King Klyndak back to Janderhoff fer me," Orlan concedes, "We be wantin' ta urge more o' our kin ta come an' see the Spires fer themselves...ta resettle the place...an' o'course ta reopen the mines an' the smithies an' such so we can be tradin' again, both here at the Keep an' back home with the tradesmiths o' Janderhoff an' so on."
"With that in mind," he continues, "Obviously I be here ta both buy an' sell. I brought with me some trade goods ta develop enough funds ta then turn around an' buy more supplies fer King Klyndak an' any new arrivers from Janderhoff. I suspect I'll be needin' ta reclaim the horses an' some sure-footed mules fer carryin' such stuff back ta the Spires. An' we be needin' a bit o' specialized equipment fer repairs an' construction. Food ta be feedin' ourselves. An' so on..."
"If'n it be takin' a membership in yer guild ta effect such trade, then I reckon I'll go see Master Hilltown," he finishes, "Though in the interests o' fosterin' new trade relations with King Klyndak an' the Spires, I be wonderin' if you might have a word with him on our behalf...perhaps so he can be waivin' the membership fee...and once he has a look at our tradegoods fer understandin' our treasury an' such, o'course. I don't anticipate openin' a business or stall in the Keep proper just yet. But maybe in time we'll cross that bridge, an' likely after we build it on a fair trade policy 'tween our two seats o' government."
"We have a dispatch heading to Kaer Maga the end of this week. We could send a letter with it. I would be willing to instruct my rider to look for Janderhoff bound riders in Kaer Maga if you wish ... I will take care of any expense in this regard."
"Those primitives who attacked us did ride a couple of your draft horses back. They are yours for the taking."
"Specialized equipment may need to be specially made ... we have a smithy if need be."
"As for the merchants guild, I wish Hilltown were in charge of that but it is run by an offshoot of a guild from Kaer Maga. I have little influence with that lot. The best I could do would be to give you a letter of introduction to their guild president, Wain Sarpis. I'll do that now."
"Ah, this is not truly something that I have trained for. Perhaps get a healer to examine the body? What say you Yin?"
"You have been trained as a fighting man ... Would it be dishonourable if I asked you to join the third watch, temporarily, and try to gather any hints or rumours from Badder's colleagues?"
"A healer examining te body would be good. Maybe I could help, I know a little about poisons, there was a chapter on them in my favourite alchemy book" She mentions with a small shrug "I could perhaps try to assertain if it's a local substance or not."
"If you could come with me, Yin, and look at Badder's quarters ... As captain of the Third Watch, he had a private room but to access it one would have to walk past the bunks of the soldiers under his command or climb through the second story window! Frankly, it is a bit of a mystery to me."
Orlan is given a letter of introduction to Wain Sarpis, the merchant guild's president.
The merchant's guild hall is close to the stables and the market place.
"You have been trained as a fighting man ... Would it be dishonourable if I asked you to join the third watch, temporarily, and try to gather any hints or rumours from Badder's colleagues?"
"Yes of course Sir Falcon. It would be an honor. Who would I be reporting to?"
"Officially, it will have to be Chiron, Badder's replacement -- unless my father does something unexpected (which is to be expected of him). Any rumours you hear, report to me or Lady Yin ... I mean Yin," says Falcon having allowed Manfred's sense of rank and propriety to influence him.
"Yintarah shall we go now to see the room where Badder was killed?"
With a slight smile Yin takes Falcon's arm and walks alongside him. "Sounds suitably planlike"
Falcon leaves with Yin.
Manfred is invited to relax for a while in the main fort, a fairly private space occupied by Kerrigan, his guards, Falcon, and a few servants. The door that Kerrigan indicated earlier goes to the wine cellar is expressed as "best left closed ... in case there are any more ... umm ... spiders lurking down there". Other than that he is free to explore.
Each room is decorated with small stone sculptures. None of which Manfred can place but all of which look strangely familiar.
Lord Kerrigan is very interested in making sure that Lord Orlan is comfortable and sees him as an ally. To that end, he has a letter of introduction written and gives Orlan any information he needs about the keep.
Lord Kerrigan is very interested in making sure that Lord Orlan is comfortable and sees him as an ally. To that end, he has a letter of introduction written and gives Orlan any information he needs about the keep.
"Yer hospitality be much appreciated," Orlan says as he accepts the letter, "I believe I'll be seekin' out this Wain Sarpis fella and see what opportunities aboud fer trade in these parts. It be good to focus on somethin' a bit less violent than the adventures we faced upon the Spires."
With that, Orlan leaves Manfred and Yin to focus on the mystery of Badder's death and any remaining threat to Rellios. He exits the inner fortress and heads into the market...
As Klyndak heads towards the merchant guild's townhouse, he passes a corpulant well-dressed man on the streets. The man is whistling to himself as he looks over a some scribbles on a wax tablet.
Wanting to have Manfred brought in at another time and be introduced as a new guard, Falcon bids him goodbye and takes Yin to the room where the murder occurred.
This involves walking through the quarters of the Third Watch. Several guards are gathered around and talking while others are attempting to get some sleep.
Falcon greets them and asks "Have you stayed out of the room? ... Yes? ... We'll talk to you later."
As Yin walks by, some mumble about the "mage probably being some kind of investigator". If only they knew.
When you enter the room, Badder is lying in bed as if asleep. He is fully dressed, even wearing his armour. Blood pools on the bed from a small wound under his left arm.
While waiting, Sir Manfred sighs an puts away his surcoat, his new plate armor, and covers his shield; then he dons his old chainmail and looks at himself it a mirror. This should do, he thinks.
Silently Yin moves closer to the bed and kneels beside it, examining the wound as best she can without moving the body if possible, if not she doesn't mind moving the left arm to see the wound.
Silently Yin moves closer to the bed and kneels beside it, examining the wound as best she can without moving the body if possible, if not she doesn't mind moving the left arm to see the wound.
While attempting to move Badder's left arm, you notice his fingers have a purplish inky tinge and an acidic smell.
The wound itself has a trace of greenish-brown pulp around it.
You don't recognize whatever is on his hand, but you recognize the leafy pulp as Sassone leaf residue.
That combined with an extraordinarily well-placed dagger is what finished off Badder.
"Certainly a skilled assasination by the looks of things" Yin comments with a frown "but why?" Shaking her head a little she turns to face Falcon "Any ideas where someone might obtain Sassone leaf? It's a longshot as chances are someone this skilled already had the poison but it's worth chasing.."
"Certainly a skilled assasination by the looks of things" Yin comments with a frown "but why?" Shaking her head a little she turns to face Falcon "Any ideas where someone might obtain Sassone leaf? It's a longshot as chances are someone this skilled already had the poison but it's worth chasing.."
"I'm afraid I don't know much about plants ... the person to ask would be Larjen Widebottom. He's Sirap Hilltown's son-in-law and can usually be found at the inn."