Episode 11: New Friends, And Old

[EvilGenius]

The PCs are currently at Pef's gathering their belongings and retainers (Alizar). For ease, we'll say that everyone is able to take a Short Rest to help recover from the fierce combats in town.

After resting and preparing, the PCs leave their rooms, you suppose for the last time. You walk the short hallway into the common room, where you see Owan, from Shining Justice, sitting at his customary table next to the hearth. Owan looks at you, his gaze unfriendly and appraising. Next to him you see Elaidha, the herbalist, a disappointed look on her open face. She quickly averts her gaze from you, shaking her head slightly as she absently takes a sip from a delicate glass.

At the bar you see Deputies Dunaric and Archibald, who awkwardly and abruptly cease talking to Julia Mather's, Pef's daughter. Though Julia has been very friendly to you for your entire stay, she looks at you uncertainly now, plainly disturbed by whatever the Deputies were telling her.

Dunaric and Archibald straighten up and give you a curt nod. "I don't expect we'll have any trouble from you on your way out of town, right", says Dunaric. Without waiting for an answer, he continues, "still an all, we'll escort you to the East Gate, just outside here."

You all file out of Pef's, down the sidewalk into the street where just a few hours ago, Deputy Archibald warned you of the fire, enlisting your help as heroes. You turn toward the nearby Eastern Gate, heads held high, when you hear shouting from behind you.

"Deputy! Stop right there! You lot! Hold a moment!"

You look back toward the shouting, ready for a fight if need be. You see a small group hustling down the street toward you. Some of you recognize Councilor Lemend. Leading the small group hurrying toward you is a well dressed, bespectacled man in late middle age. "Just a moment, friends, I'd like a word!"

The well dressed man pauses slightly to hurry along the slower members of his group. In addition to Councilor Lemend, the missing girl's father, you see a positively ancient looking human man being helped along by a beautiful young woman. "Come now, let's not keep our friends waiting. Hup hup!"

The well dressed man turns back to you, striding the close the distance. He is wearing finely tailored, dark blue trousers and what looks to be a yellow silk shirt, under a fine blue cloak. He sticks out his hand to the nearest member of the group, Onarra, taking her hand in both of his and shaking it emphatically.

"I am Councilor Bernard Haupt. I believe you know Councilor Lemend, and this worthy gentleman providing a rear guard, is Senior Councilor Wetis, and his LOV-ely young wife, Alanna." Councilor Haupt turns back to the PCs. "I'm SO glad I caught you before you left town! Naasty business in the jail but I FULLY agree with your actions!" Councilor Haupt leans in sharply, punctuating his words with an outstretched finger. "Those two were DANGEROUS!! CLEARR-ly couldn't be contained in our humble jail, not even by such an honorable man as the Constable."

Haupt places a comforting hand on Onarra's shoulder, gently shaking his head. "And make no mistake, the Constable IS an honorable man, to the benefit of us all. But in this, I fear his unshakable probity has led him to an unfortunate decision. One that, I hasten to add, the Council and I vehemently DISagree with!!"

Haupt stands up straight as a spear and puffs out his chest a bit. "It is the unANIMOUS decision of the Council that you are hereby NOT banished from our fair town!" The man's finger punches the air emphatically at that. "In fact, I com-MEND your quick and decisive actions in defense of Farweald against the likes of those ... ne'er-do-wells! I would be HONORED if you would accept lodging in my home, the Grandwood." Haupt practically preens, "you MAY have seen it, once or twice, as you meandered about town. There's pl-EN-ty of room for all of you, of course!"

[EvilGenius]

Councilor Lemend steps forward and tugs at Councilor Haupt's sleeve. "Bern, what about my daughter? How are we going to find out any more information about her now?"

Councilor Haupt pats Lemend's hand, "now Lemend. Those two ruffians weren't going to give up any more information and CLEARLY could have resisted anything that you or I could have threatened them with, right? We now know that she left voluntarily, so there's noooo reason to suspect that she's come to any harm. Besides, maybe these fine heroes will find more clues to her whereabouts, hmm?"

Councilor Haupt turns back to the PCs. "Now, I don't want to hold you up any further, I imagine this is all a bit much to take in right now. If you agree, I'll have the Deputies here take your belongings up to the Grandwood for you. Oh, and I've left word with my man, Dendry Hawkins, that you are to be afforded our best rates at Haupt's Wonders. In fact, I've asked him to put something special aside for you. You can pick it up on your next visit.

Well! We still have a LOT of things to do, today! Not least of which is to figure out what we're going to do without a competent herbalist in town now. So I'll leave you to your business. Come up to the Grandwood anytime! I've instructed my housekeeper to let you in whenever you arrive!"

With that, Councilor Haupt turns and strides away, back toward Middle Market. Lemend looks uncertainly back at you, then reluctantly follows Haupt. Senior Councilor Wetis stays where he is, smiling a little vacantly at you, while his wife, Alanna, tries to get him to come away. He seems oblivious to her (and probably everything else).

[Jonkga]

Bannock waits until then council has fully departed, and then say to the deputies: "We will be taking our belonging out of town with us, so there is nothing to deliver to the Grandwood. Please let the Sherriff know we will check in with him when we return, prior to joining councilman Haupt at his home. If the Sherriff still wants us gone after we talk to him then, we will honor his wishes. Stay wary in our absence." He will then dismiss the deputies.

Bannock will proffer a bag of coins to Pef and cordially thank him for the lodging.

Bannock will ignore Shining Justice unless Goodberry is there, to whom he will bid adieu.

Bannock will then suggest the party gather all their chests, belongings, horses and wagons, taking those they liberated from the criminals if necessary, and head out of town.

[EvilGenius]

Bannock waits until then council has fully departed, and then say to the deputies: "We will be taking our belonging out of town with us, so there is nothing to deliver to the Grandwood. Please let the Sherriff know we will check in with him when we return, prior to joining councilman Haupt at his home. If the Sherriff still wants us gone after we talk to him then, we will honor his wishes. Stay wary in our absence." He will then dismiss the deputies.

Bannock will proffer a bag of coins to Pef and cordially thank him for the lodging.

Bannock will ignore Shining Justice unless Goodberry is there, to whom he will bid adieu.

Bannock will then suggest the party gather all their chests, belongings, horses and wagons, taking those they liberated from the criminals if necessary, and head out of town.

Pef isn't present but his daughter, Julia, is. She will take the payment graciously, though she still looks uncomfortable around you.

Dapple Goodberry is not present, just Owan and Elaidha.

Deputy Dunaric nods firmly and says he will relay your message to Constable Tierney. Archibald just looks around a little befuddled at everything that just happened, then he notices Senior Councilor Wetis and his wife, Alanna. Archibald walks over and gently takes Wetis by the shoulder and helps Alanna turn him back toward Middle Market and they begin to walk away.

After only a step or two, Wetis perks up and exclaims, 'Thunder and Tarnation! Don't sneak up on me like that, boy!' Wetis peers closer at Archibald. 'Eh! You're Mavi's boy, aintcha? She was a fine woman, your mother. We miss her terrible, we do. We NEED good people in town, here, what with all the fucking demons running around!"

Wetis takes a few more steps. "OH! Archie!! Did I ever tell you about the time that I was a hero in the Greyhawk Wars?!" Archibald and Alanna continue to help Wetis away. "It must have been, oohhh, 83? 84? I was but a wee lad, then ..." The trio continue down the road, patiently listening to Councilor Wetis recall his heroic youth.

[EvilGenius]

If everyone agrees to leaving town now and doesn't want to do anything else before leaving, we'll pick up the next game with that.
To make things easy, you can have one of Lonz's wagons, for your journey.

[erilar]

Jareth, arriving very late to the party (pun intended), wishes to roll Perception with regard to Councilman Haupt's offer. He wants to determine if the Councilman's intentions are genuine, or if the man has a hidden agenda.

Unfortunately, Jareth rolls a 1, with a total result of 9.

[EvilGenius]

He seemed pretty genuine.

[Hardcorhobbs]

Kage never really unpacked. He's ready to follow Bannock out of town.

[EvilGenius]

Hey, is anyone divvying up the loot you got from Lonz and Balrakas?