[IC] Death & Taxes (Session 4)

Hildar takes the fluid and begins to examine it....

Nekurr looks very serious at the guard, almost as if having deep thougths about something highly complex. "Naaah, the mayor told you to keep an eye on us. We're going to hunt night birds and you're not creeping out"

Nekuur looks at the scared villager "Come on! It's going to be a night to rememeber. Don't you want to have a story to tell your grandchildren?

The guard gives Nekurr a sheepish grin. "Look, I don't want to die tonight. Even if these Night Creepers ain't real, don't mean there ain't more out there that are! But if you can get Skeeter to tell you where to go, I'll escort you as far as I can, I guess... What do you propose we do with these three, though? I hate to see them left alone, especially injured..."

"Or maybe just a wife..."

Hildar is lost in thought for a few moments and then shakes himself and looks at Zymph "Tell me Mr Zymph, what do you really know about spiders? For someone who claims to be ignorant of such creatures you seem to be familiar enough to extract this from the creatures and as you are well aware this..." he gestures at the man with one of the vials full of a blue liquid "...is no sedative."

"You said it yourself, egghead. The purple one's the sedative. Blue one's the antidote." He furrows his brow in a look fo confusion. "And I ain't got no idea what you mean 'bout extracting it from spiders. The weaver gave it to us in case we had an accident with the purple stuff. So, we headed to the party or not? We're burnin' moonlight, folks."

Hildar stares at the man for a moment but then gives a frustrated huff before turning to the guard "Is there somewhere we can move them to nearby or would the mayors residence be best?"

The guard looks around. "The manor's closest... Mayor Wayland probably keeps some healing herbs somewhere in there." He points back toward the direction Tronus and Bruv came from and continues. "The Galbernost place ain't too far. Just t'other side of the field. But they're probably dreaming of Nature's Lady by now. It's pretty late..."

"So lets send a runner or two to look for herbs in the manor. If we find something that works we can escort them someplace after explaining the situation and them being tied up for their safety."

Tronus is again reminded of the blue vials in the mayor's pantry; perhaps another item worth bringing along. Meanwhile, Zymph bursts out laughing. "You expect Paisley and Mirulda will tell you anything different? The poison should work its way outta'em in less'n an hour. They'll tell you no different that I 'bout the hoedown."

"What we do with them" Nekurr considers "Give them the blue spider goo!". He smiles. He has no clue what it is, but if Skeeter is lying, that will be fun. "Yes eggelf, I don't trust boatman here, he ... he ..." Nekurr looses track of what he was saying for a moment. "Yeah, boats. Don't trust them." He suddently looks very confused. "Paisley and Mirulda? Are those spiders? Why are you taking blue drinks from the evil spider lady?"

"Even for him this is odd... you people are eating spider shite? I'm hoping it's shite and not something else... " Tronus mutters frowning, "We do need to come to a head before this all goes sideways though..." he adds eyeing the sickle in his hand.

Zymph doesn't offer any resistance as you force him to the manor. Tronus and Bruv are able to hoist the two costumed women over their shoulders and carry their bodies—now known to be sleeping—to the mayor's place.

A quick search of the place reveals that both the mayor and his brother are missing, their chambers empty. The most secure spot to tie up the two women seems to be the wooden posts holding up the balcony at the top of the stairs, and with a couple of coils of rope, Nekurr sees that it's done. As the Half-Catfolk works, he says something about wishing you all knew whether the villagers were hiding some dark secret about their Founder's Festival. One of the two captives stirs, as if in a dream, and mutters, "Which villagers, dear?" Nekurr tries to determine if the woman has awakened, but she seems to be sound asleep.

Tronus returns to the pantry and finds the blue vials where he left them. The mayor seems to have two vials of the antidote, along with a bundle of healing herbs. A second bundle of herbs hangs over the fire in the kitchen. There's no sign of the purple poison anywhere, though.

With the village guard nervously seated on a high-backed chair, Zymph grins. "Away we go, ladies and gentlemen."

"Not so fast, Nera search the women please. Zymph this way and strip. Or I can help you. Don't want you falling on another vial of poison... I mean sedative cus we'll have to leave you on the path to your fates." Tronus states, "Also when we get back I expect them to still be detained Sir." he adds directed to the guard.