"No sightings.  We have eyes on his family, but he hasn't made contact.  We're watching Humantown as you are, I'm sure.  No trace of Sirrot in The Flats either.  The magician who disappeared with him at the ritual hasn't turned up either."

"But all is not lost.  We have a seer.  If the Calaquende is still in the stronghold the seer will lead us to him."

Homkern looks skeptically at that last assertion.




"Hmmmmm," He spends a little longer looking over Holly and Ragnar than you're comfortable with.  "Very well, then."


"One other thing, Captain," Forsoli says, pointing to Ragnar.  "That is clearly my family's axe.  Could you have him return it?"


OOC: As safe as she'd be in jail, I'd like to have Holly there to meet Dunmeal, and probably along for the theft of the portal key plate too.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:19, Wed 16 Oct 2019.

Mord snorted at the comparison of himself to the dwarf leader, and snorted even more loudly at the demon-killing when an elder said to do so.  He considered what the

A thick thumb rose.  "First, unless the guardsmen have been the ones skulking after us, they were trailing, and cowardly waiting until I was separated from the rest of you.  They attacked as soon as I was away.  Mord fears no one.

"Second, they attacked without notice when you called for the guard.  If the guard were called against me, I would welcome them - and if they helped the ambushers, all the more for Mord the Mighty to enlighten with steel.  Mord likes a challenge.

"Third, Mord doesn't use the coward's weapon of poison, like the cowards did to you before baring steel.  Mord is no dwarven coward.

"Fourth, Mord doesn't threaten to continue the activity at the same time they are running away, but his kind sure did.  Mord's words are not lip service.

"Fifth, Captain, he didn't just suggest taking her away for a murdering, he yelled it in the market air that he would finish killing her.  And his cowardly fleeing dwarves threatened to continue the cowardly attacks.  And now the leader wants an axe back.  I'd expect that you, Captain, would feel some offence at the blood cleanup if I gave it back to him, so I'd suggest Ragnar keep it.

"My cousin is frankly too soft-hearted, especially of this wretch.  His people stalked her, cowardly waited until I was out of sight, attacked with poison when she called for the guard to resolve the issue peacefully, threatened to finish her, and threatened to continue until they succeeded.  Then healing him, then suggesting leniency. Beh.

"Now I don't pretend to know the gods, captain - they're a different land that Mord's air.  Like Ragnar said, I can't see Moridin not looking after his people, nor the Nature Father doing something unnatural.  A dwarf poisoned to death by someone, is brought back to life at the family's beseeching.  Then Mr. For-sorry and his band of assassins tries to poison and kill the person who has the ability to bring that poisoned dwarf back.  Makes a Triplefang think, doesn't it?

"And all this delay and issue that is slowing our travel to save the dwarven and Triplefang lands from the undead aand goblin armies.  You have good folk in this city, and we still respect the dwarven folk, and are still trying to safe your people as well as ours.  But little pukes like this..."  Mord shook his head with derision in his eyes when he looked at Forsoli, but words could not be found.

"Talk about disappointing, cowardice."

Holly listened to more words from Mord than he had ever deigned to put together in conversation unless it was a retelling of one of his many victories, especially to someone outside of the Clan. She felt proud of his words, even as they bashed her current plans to reconcile a potential threat to their group and there mission. When Mord had finished, she placed a gentle hand on his arm, feeling the muscles rippling and ready to act.

“Mord, let us not worry ourselves. Captain, you are aware of the Clans ways, at least in part. When we are attacked openly, we fight, and the winner takes anything left on bodies at the end. I chose to leave no bodies, in the hope some people might recognise that act. Forsoli was dead without my help. We took what was rightfully ours at that point. Now , I am sure that if Forsoli wants it back he can fight Mord for it, as Mord took the prize. A battle without blood money requirements would be acceptable. It would add an entertaining, if very short, moment for Festival.”

Turning to Forsoli, Holly adds, “Forsoli, if you want your axe back, you will need to take it back from Mord. It has been claimed as treasure from combat. To what House should we return your body to if you take up this stupidly? I know you are no coward, but know you cannot win.”

Homkern listens to Forsoli, Mord, and Holly.  He doesn't spend much time considering their various claims before responding.



"This lies somewhere between mild coincidence and a vast leap of logic.  Forsoli's hunters are not in any way suspects in Sirrot's death."



Homkern smiles.

"I have been aware of the nuances of your clan laws, since before your grandparents.  You are in a Dwarven stronghold now.  Those rules do not apply here."

"However..."

"I find it fitting that you suffer some loss in addition to your scars for this attack as a reminder.  It may not be traditional justice, but Ragnar Triplefang may keep your family's axe.  You or a champion from your house or family may challenge Mord Triplefang in the arena for its return if you wish."

The captain nods and moves on to his next judgement.

"You are all free to leave," he says, holding up his hand before the Triplefang can object.  "Meister Volker will meet with the houses to determine what will be done about the Calaquende threat.  Until then you," he says to Forolsi.  "And your compatriots will do NOTHING.  Understand?  Any of you or your hunters who return here under similar circumstances will be bound into slavery."

"I expect both the hunters and the Triplefang to share any information you discover about Sirrot with the city guard before you act upon it, or there will be severe consequences."

"Now go."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:03, Mon 28 Oct 2019.

After leaving the guard station you eventually meet up with Adiel and Ros.  Comparing notes you find that you have but one last lead on the acrobat Biendra.  A fire-eater by the name of The Great Golban might know where to find her.  He works at a local rugworks.  You are quickly running out of time, so you head there directly.  You find the bulky performer at the rugworks as you'd hoped.  He does know the acrobat you're looking for, but can only provide you with leads that you've already chased down to dead ends.  You have to concede that you just weren't able to find Biendra.  You're not sure how Dunmeal will take the news.

"We'll have to modify the plan," offers Adiel.  "We have more than talents enough to replace a small acrobat."


Is there anything else you'd like to do (other than sleeping and recovering spells.  Maybe Holly would like to heal herself for example.) before meeting up with Dunmeal and Oscaronius tomorrow?

Also, I'd like to get Sirrot into the action.  He could go meet with his sister early or go along with the party to the meeting with Dunmeal.  Either of these will require stealth, disguise, and possibly magic.

During the whole conversation with the guards Sunna is seemingly deep in thoughts, only paying as much attention as needed.

She is disapointed that their last chance of finding Beindra also turns out to be a dead end.
"Maybe we'll have a chance of finding here directly before the meeting." It doesn't sound convincing at all.

"Or I'll try to do her part", Ros suggests with a broad grin.

"Are you flexible enough?" Mord inquired innocently, but couldn't hold back the grin at his bantering jest to Ros, pretending to duck from incoming response.  "In seriousness, between Ros' stealth, Adiel and Sunna's knowledge and magicks, and Holly's owl-forming, and Rak's small size, we should be able to sneak through whatever things need sneakin'.

The barbarian grinned, cracking his knuckles.  "And, if not... then we Mord our way through the doors or walls. It's really a win-win."

Leaving the Captain with the agreement that, “The triplefang will share any information with the Guard on Sirrot before we do anything with that information.” Knowing it was only a small lie helped in that cause.

Trusting that the truce would hold and that things would b3 quiet for a day perhaps, letting the others lead them away, Holly again considered the consequences of her actions.

Holly, Mord, Sunna, and Ragnar return to Hillis' Inn for the night.  On their arrival they spot two city guards watching the Inn intently.


Adiel and Ros split off when the coast is clear to return to the rented house where Sirrot has been hiding.
Against Adiel's strong recommendation, Sirrot insists on joining the group to meet Dunmeal the next day.

"The entire stronghold is looking for you, Sirrot!  You need to stay hidden."

Sirrot shakes his head.

"I know there is danger, but I also know the streets and shadows better than any of you.  I can lead you along the safest path, slipping from place to place unseen.  Trust me."

Adiel regards the elf dubiously.  The disguise he has crafted is a half-measure at best.  It wont hold up to any real scrutiny.  There is so much to lose and so little to gain.  It simply does not make sound strategy.  On the other hand, Sirrot does play a central role in powerful events that appear on the surface to by unrelated but just might have some connection.  Was it not divine providence that brought him back this way at this time?  Perhaps Sirrot was somehow pivotal in their quest for the portal key and journey to Yggdrasil.

"Please, I..."

"Alright," Adiel says much to Sirrot's surprise.  "But you must hang back with Ros and I.  We will watch the meeting from a safe distance.  It's of the utmost importance not to jeopardized the meeting.  If you are discovered along the way Ros can create a distraction and I can turn you invisible again long enough for you to escape."

The next day Ragnar is peering out one of the smaller windows on the front wall of the Inn.

"They're still out there," Ragnar says about the city guards.  "I don't feel right, you know, leading the guard right to Dunmeal and Oscaronius.  What should we do?"

Sirrot asks "is there any way of casting an image of an elf over someone else? The guards might chase them, leaving us free to leave."

Adiel nods.

"I could make myself look like you.  It would be very convincing.  However, like you, I'm intrigued by this meeting with Dunmeal.  I'd prefer not to be off stirring up the guards and hunters instead.  Additionally, there would be no one around to turn you invisible if you were discovered."

“So cousins, we have a small opportunity now to get to our meeting, and to pull off probably the most audacious theft in this towns history. How do we lose the guards first and foremost? I’d rather not set fire to the inn or have anything attack them directly. Any ideas?” Holly says as they contemplate their next actions.

Mord knuckled his chin in thought, hrmphing at the idea.  "I prefer to encounter troubles directly, but it might be rude to hurt the town guardsfolk.  I... can make sounds to draw away attention, if we were to sneak away then.

"Is there anything to help hide us?"

Sirrot asks "can you make me look like a dwarf, then?"

Adiel lets out a soft sigh and shakes his head.

"The illusion and transmutation only work on the harper singing them.  Believe me, I've tried casting it on others, but I just can't seem to get it to work the way invisibility does.  Magic is fickle."

"I'm sorry.  That would make things a lot simpler.  We'll just have to make do with this disguise and a healthy dose caution."

"I could try to make some of them fall asleep", Sunna says, "but I doubt that it'll work on all of them and that will lead to even more problems."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:37, Mon 11 Nov 2019.

Sirrot hesitates, then says "there may be another option. I discovered yesterday that I have a bit of magic now. And one thing I can do is transform an area of ground, making it sprout entangling plants and vines. And I can only do it once per day. Would that help?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:07, Mon 11 Nov 2019.

Adiel is at the rented house with Ros and Sirrot.  Sunna can't bounce idea off of him right now.

Ragnar reports seeing two city guards outside.  Sunna knows that her sleep spell has worked on two (or more) humans before, but it was only putting one dwarf to sleep at a time during the recent battle in the marketplace.

Holly, Mord, Sunna, and Ragnar are at Hillis' Inn.

"Mord, you mentioned noises. Something like the sound of trouble somewhere else?"
"Do they have a back door in here?"

---

"I like the idea of the guards chasing someone else", Ros says, "though I don't know how we could make that work."


OOC: Sorry, forgot that.
At least Ros can add her opinion as well ;)

Sirrot seems to be concentrating. His brow clears and he simply says "I called for a friend."

Mord nodded at Sunna's question.  "Yes, people yelling, shouting, things like that.  It's like how I made the box for us to hide in, but like you twist a blade like so for a gut strike, you ... hmmm.  I can do that type of image like we did before, as well, if we need something for cover.  Or... I wonder if I could create the image of a fire overtop rooftops.  That could be interesting.

"But if the guards are drawn away by sounds of trouble, then that should resolve the problem."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:37, Mon 18 Nov 2019.

Holly was worried by what Mord was describing, but they needed to get out of the inn without any followers.

“Ok, Mord thinks he can provide a distraction, and perhaps some hiding if we need to stop. Let’s get our stuff together for the day and get out of here.”

Adiel smiles.

"That's one of Holly's old tricks.  Works a treat, but she's usually out in the Triplefang grasslands, not deep underground, surrounded by stone."

He thinks back to when last the druid was in similar surroundings.  Probably the depths of the haunted tower just before he joined the party.

"I don't think the plants will sprout where there are none.  I've seen enough mosses and fungi around that it could work.  Just keep an eye out for plants of any kind before you try it."

Sirrot nods, humoring the sage.  He knew how the divine nature spells worked.  The strange arcane abilities were the ones new to his mind.  He tried to test one out.  Going to one of the two windows in the small house he throws open a shutter, being careful to stay to the side and out of sight.  He can feel something out there, something connected to him a little like his own Kurk, but less familiar.  It was something strange and new.  He called out to it.

Adiel and Ros watch for a while as little or nothing happens.  They both knew by now to expect the unusual.  Surely enough, the unusual occurs.  Like oil spilled into a stream a small bat flows silently through the open window to Sirrot.  The oddly dressed elf jumps a little, caught by surprise even more than his new friends.  What *is* this?  A mini Kurk?

It was time to get moving.  Adiel had described to area where the others would meet this Dunmeal fellow, and Sirrot offered to guide Adiel and Ros there, or at least close enough to watch over them and provide help if needed.  Sirrot knew just what to do.  Even in The Flats dwarves were full of hubris.  They would take the finer roads and paths as if the quality of the street could confer some air of quality upon them.  While none of the streets in The Flats was any sort of masterpiece worth putting your boots on, some were clearly worse than others.  That was how'd they'd travel, sticking to the shoddy paths all but ignored by the common dwarf.  Hiding in the dark did no good around dwarves, but staying quiet and out of sight would do wonders.

"Let's go," said the golden voiced elf, leading the humans and his newfound arcane bat to the meeting place.