The following morning, we rise in the dragon’s cave and survey our loot. Rhun puts on the Ring of Hiding and Rem’e takes the Ring of Lore. Liadan takes the Wand of Lightning. Rhun and Liadan hold on to the three arcane and divine scrolls.
We decide to head back to the original gold mine to see how things are going. We get there easily within a day. The foreman and guard sergeant give us a quick welcome. The camp is closing up for the winter. We’re invited to stay; the guard sergeant says that they would always welcome us traveling back with them.
The foreman knows we returned the strongbox from Sarbanius’s carriage to Cronen. He says, “Yes! I can’t believe that happened – you saved that dwarf; and I’m so glad the gold wasn’t lost. That would have been terrible for the mine and for Amber.” Ariza asks, “Have you had any other troubles since?” “No, after a few drunken dares, we walled the tomb back up.” Rem’e notes, “That was good managerial decision.”
We relax for the next day and a half. Ariza practices dagger throwing using a leaf on a tree as a target. Rem’e entertains the miners with his ocarina playing in the evening. Liadan scribes another scroll: Magic Missile. Ariza makes a smoke stick. Rem’e restocks his bullet supply. Rem’e plays his music, helping the workers speed along, and they share their whisky.
The dawn comes and the wagons are packed, and it’s an easy trip back. The soldiers tell us that it was a quiet season after we cleaned things out. The occasional hobgoblins stopped by, but only a few injuries and no deaths.
Liadan asked if they were up to date with what was happening at the bluff. They hear things regularly. There was some curiosity about what was happening, but they’re excited to stop in the bluff and head on to Amber. “Can’t wait to get back to lady so and so and the house of ill repute, ” etc.
We get back to Basilisk Bluff. Things are shutting down for the winter. The harvest festival is well over. Firewood is chopped and the town is sleepy.
We make a calculated decision to speak with Cronen. Our hope is to help restore things to order, and by going to him first we can show our respect.
The soldiers are drilling; Lexera’s hammer is heard in the distance; the townsfolk are carrying firewood. The barkeeper goes and finds Cronen for us.
Cronen has dark circles under his eyes, but otherwise looks good. Ariza describes our experience in the cave and explains our interest securing exclusive rights to the cave so we can gather the salt peter. “We think it’s in the best interest that it not be public – there’s an Urgathoan tomb in there, and that may not be safe.” Cronen explains that he can sell those rights. Normally it would be 100 gold coins for prospecting rights, but it sounds like you already cleared it out?”
Rem’e explains the adventure, the dragon, and compliments Lexera’s fine handiwork that helped Ariza take down the dragon. We want to be above board with Cronen. Rhun asks if there is anything we can help with in Amber. Cronen demurs. We exchange our respects, asking Cronen if there is any way we can help him. Cronen says he’s honored, but is ok for now.
Liadan sees Gemma and asks what she wants to do, and Gemma says, “I have many cousins here, but I want to go with you!”. Liadan and Gemma go to see Habistaw and find him passed out drunk. Gemma notes conspiratorially, “he’s been like this for two days.” Liadan asks if anything happened, she says “I don’t think so, he’s just been acting bored.” She’s been hiding the bottles but he always seems to find them…
Liadan noses about. She finds some half-eaten food under a cot, and then notices a spell book. Liadan asks Gemma, “Have you perused his spellbook?” Gemma notes, “No – he says that bad things will happen if someone opens the pages.” They decide to check in with him in the morning before they leave.
We have a good meal, a bit of a party – the miners, a trickle of farmers. Habistaw does come down looking a wind blown and hungover and asks for some plain toasted bread. We speak with him, and Habistaw says, “I guess you guys are going too.” Ariza notes, “You don’t have to stay.” “I do for now.” He asks the bartender for a whisky – the bartender says “No.” Habistaw looks haggard.
Before we go, we gather some potions of healing from Stephano. He has only one cure moderate wounds that we can purchase. Dessa is there too — she looks a lot like Cronen: a little worse for wear. We find that she’s a little tense; we’re uncertain if she’s tense from us. We sense that she’s been here a lot talking to Stephano. Liadan says, “It’s good to see you. I’m sure it’s been a difficult time. How is your family faring?” “It’s not been easy.” Stephano notes that they know who’s gossiping. He echos Cronen, “Hope that after the winter season things will return to a normal peace.” Ariza and Rhun express their respect much as we did for Cronen.
We know that Tuxel is staying in Basilisk Bluff, which is a little unusual. In the morning Liadan purchases scroll of Fox’s Cunning and Cat’s Grace.
We have an uneventful trip back to Amber. After our time in the outback, Amber’s bustle is welcome. Ariza in particular is less grumpy. We arrive in the morning.
We have some breakfast and decide to sell our valuables and then deposit our money in the Church of Abidar. We head to the Witty Lion Arms to get rooms (the Witty Lion Arms is on the town square near the Pipe and Pint). The town is a little bit quieter with winter setting in. Gemma sticks by Liadan’s side. Ariza and Liadan decide to go see Kiff where they’ll sell our stuff and check in; Rem’e and Rhun decide to go to the Church of Abidar and then visit Ruth. Rhun also wants to visit with the Church of Sarenrae. Gemma stays behind at the Witty Lion, and suggest that she could investigate finding a house to rent (or buy).
Kiff the finder greets Ariza and Liadan, “Haza! Ariza, my friend! You saved my friend Tsarbanius.” He notes that he wants to speak to Ariza in private. “No offense my handsome elf, but there are some things that must be discussed discreetly.” Ariza says, “We have quite a few interesting things…” She shows him the treasures. He’s excited and loves it. They show him the figurines, and he loses it – so excited. He starts trying to imitate the poses. He calls some help down, and a big lug of a guy comes down, and Kiff starts trying to imitate the poses. “How’s this?? What do you think Ariza – does it look like this?” Liadan and Ariza continue to sell all the stuff. Ariza sets up a time the following night to meet with Kiff.
Rem’e and Rhun find the office of the assistant to the mayor is closed until further notice. Ruth is not there. We ask a few passing servants, but they just grunt and go on their way. Rem’e looks through the window and sees that Ruth’s desk is clean. Nothing in the in box or out box.
We visit the bank and deposit a whole bunch of money. The clerks eyes grow wide and immediately calls over a guard to ensure that we’re protected. Rem’e makes it clear that his colleagues have access to this.
We head to the Church of Sarenrae. They seem to be doing fine. Things are clean and taken care of. Rem’e denies saying, “Hey V’Rod, Rhun cleaned his taint!”. Rhun speaks to Vosa Goldenrod – asks about how things are going and asks in on Renalda and Telamro. She says they’re going to get married soon. They work with the church of Abidar – they help the poor… it’s been a little easier lately; fewer newcomers entering town. “The priest Typus Hahn of the Church of Asmodeus are doing very well – they are doing better than we are. They are also working with the Church of Abadar.” “Any problems?”, asks Rhun. She acknowledges reluctantly that the Asmodeans fallow the rule of law.
Rem’e heads to the Pipe and Pint and finds Turlu the barkeep who has a sling on his arm. Rhun follows along. Rem’e pulls out the wedding ring that we recovered from the ruffians at the farmhouse. He looks at it in amazement, and we tell him (in abreviated form) how we got it. (See Kaino’s letter of warning).
Rem’e asks for Kaino. She comes down, dressed fully in a little-house-on-the-prairie dress (which Rem’e finds a little disappointing). “I’m so glad you’ve returned and you’re safe! And you disposed of those ruffians!” Rem’e notes, “Well, I received your missive.” “Perhaps we could meet with some other halflings in town.” We remember the halflings, the Bluehearts, we helped before leaving Amber.
The next day goes quietly. We gather up three more potions of cure moderate wounds. Each of us carries one, and Rem’e carries the extra (we now have five). Gemma is actively looking for a house but has not found one yet. In the evening, Ariza goes to meet Kiff. (Liadan let’s Rem’e and Rhun know that she’s done this.)
It’s closing time for the shop. Kiff invites Ariza in and locks the door behind her, pulls the shade, and pours her a small cordial. He leads her to the back of the shop. It is cluttered – all manner of interesting goods hanging around. At the back is a small table where Tsarbanius sits. “Ah! Ariza – so glad to see that you’ve followed our invitation.”
Kiff and Tsarbanius begin with some small talk, but then Kiff says to Ariza, “You and your friends have done some impressive work, and Kiff and Tsarbanius would like to invite you to join a larger society. The Penumbra Society – we handle security, and our clients tend to be very impressed. There are fees involved and confidentiality is a must, but we think you’d make a good member.”
Ariza asks, “You only reach to the local community?” She’s a little disappointed. “But, she says – I have been getting a little bit bored, and would be interested in seeing what more adventuring I could find.”
Tsarbanius slaps his hand on the table, and suggests that if she’d like to demonstrate her sincerity that there is some information gathering they’d like her to do. “Across the river there are several of the noble estates – among the vineyards – the Lao family has acquired some arcane knowledge. We don’t know quite what it is, but we know Sir Paso Lao has contacts in New Albion and has acquired some sort of device that would be of great service to members of our society – and could be quite lucrative if we knew the secret of their making. We believe there is a metal box hidden in the wall behind pictures in the upper chambers of his home – in his bedroom. We’d like you to infiltrate his home, and provide us information, and perhaps liberate the item if it is there.”
“How does payment work?”
“30% of the take is given to the finder; other treasure along the way is yours to take. And now we have a wonderful opportunity for you and your friends to go. Apparently Sir Lao is getting married … to a commoner no less. We can arrange invitations for you and your friends to attend. I must warn you, Sir Lao is a peculiar individual – very quirky. The wedding is in three days.”
Ariza asks about the estate. Kiff tells her the shape of things, including that there will certainly be some gaurds. She asks if Lao created the object. Kiff tells her that the object came from New Albion. Kiff and Tsarbanius only received partial information about the device itself. Lao himself is an adept at the arcane. Ariza asks what she can tell her friends. Kiff requests that she not mention the society, but otherwise, “mention what you wish.”
Ariza heads back, casing the town along the way. The town is much quieter than previously. Some members of the watch are walking about. Over breakfast the following morning, she tells us about the job – she tells us that she has a message to deliver to Mr. Lao and that we have party invites to the wedding. She suggests that we should have fun.
Rem’e gets a minor hunch that Ariza’s not telling us everything. Gemma has not yet found us a house. She has no opinion of the Paso or Ruth.
Over the next few days we learn that the house of Lao is one of the ruling nobility, quite well-to-do with holdings all through the region. Sir Lao himself is very active in the area – his thumb is in pies everywhere. Sir Lao is in his sixties. We find that the woman he is marrying, also human, is a bit older also – Ruth Pargeter!
We learn that Ruth was running the assistant mayor’s office in Wu’s absence very well. The courtship was short, and she stopped working shortly after his offer of marriage. We know we need to get a wedding present, and Ariza knows she can get something excellent from Kiff. Rhun finds from Vosa that the chief justice, Nallia Wu, from the Church of Abidar will conduct the ceremony. We dress adventurer-shic, except for Rhun who dons his best clerical robes, and we prepare to go to the wedding.