Nashkel Mine

Stella purses her lips and nods. She was probably right.
She nods and smiles. It's a bit forced, but she does appreciate the assurance.
Stella blinks and giggles. "Must have been."
She holds her tome to her chest and purses her lips, glancing towards the others. "We'll see. I'm starting to think I have a bit to learn from them. But I'll certainly try."
She giggles again and reaches out for a quick hug for her friend. "Seeing you was delightful. Thanks for everything! And good luck with, um...whatever it is you'll be doing." She pulls her book back to her chest and waves her fingers in farewell.

---

"It?" Stella asks incredulously, tilting her head towards Dieter. "It sounds like she, she emphasizes, tucking some hair behind her ear, "really was just here for the mines, yes. As for me, I'm sticking with Aiwë and Sheemish at the very least. I would like to help Minsc, though. I hope it's not too late..." she says, looking towards the rising sun.

First Rift and Kay, and...whatever the weapon called itself. Not Bert. That was the zombie...Anyway... she thinks. Then Wirrow, and now Calliope...They sure had a lot of people moving in and out of their group. It was probably for the best, with assassins after them and all. She wondered who would be next to leave. Imoen? Runeson? Dieter?

Stella clutches her tome to her chest and turning back to Dieter.

"Would you be willing to come help save a 'witch' from some gnolls?" she asks the young warrior. Her eye-stars were a sprinkled mix of a hopeful green and uncertain blue.

Dieter throws his hands up in the air. "What? They seemed very confused on their own identity I thought "it" was neutral enough. I guess I’ll miss her". Dieter pauses and looks over the party "If that’s where the team is off to next I am duty bound to follow"

"Well, she says 'we', which is plural, so if anything, it would be 'they'. 'It' is for, like...an object or a...monster?" She shrugs. "Grammar in Common aside, I guess I'm not sure what it's like being an eladrin of her kind either."
Stella nods. "I guess, in that case, I better see what the others think..."

"We’ll Stella that seems pretty closed minded of you to assume such things" Dieter shrugs with a smirk feinting seriousness

"Bye Callie!" Aiwë hollers to the air. "Tell Flureth I say 'Hi!'" She isn't sure where the elusive girl has gone, but she's confident she's within the range of her considerable voice. She slings an arm around Stella. A silent 'I'm here.'

"Dieter. Maybe just stop."

Bardolan makes no effort to keep his conversation with the mayor private. He asks many of the same questions the party did, and Ghastkill responds with the same answers. The officer keeps his composure during the interrogation, though it's obviously a strain to do so.

"This will break the townsfolk's hearts," Bardolan murmurs as his soldiers take Ghastkill away. "As though times weren't hard enough. A betrayal such as this..." He takes off his gauntlets and tucks them behind his belt. "Although if Brage still lives, perhaps he can be healed of that madness. Finding him will be a task, though."

"Speaking of tasks, it hardly seems that this... conspiracy concerns only Nashkel. I have no authority to pursue this in the territory of Baldur's Gate, but I will keep eyes and ears open for anything suspicious south of the border."

The major's professional demeanor slips for a moment as he sighs wearily, but a moment later it's back to business. "As the commanding officer of Nashkel's garrison, I thank you all for what you've done today. Such bravery and skill aren't easily come by. Should you ever wish for a steadier line of work than adventuring, I encourage you to come to Amn. The army could use your talents."

He waits a moment to answer any further questions, then makes his way back to town.

hmm I’d rather continue on as a public contractor rather than Amn’s own private death squad. Our talents aren’t very compatible with the rank and file an army needs

"Thank you Major. We will be returning to town to recoup, collect our payment, and be moving on"

Stella glances towards Mayor Ghastkill, then addresses Bardolan. "Does Brage look anything like this or this?" she asks, trapping out a constellation in the air that materializes into Xzar and Montaron. "We came across these men in the wilderness on our way here."

The Mayor denied knowing them, but perhaps one of them really was his brother gone mad. Given their connections, they were probably just other madmen, but it didn't hurt to ask.

"Understood. May Helm watch over you on your journeys."
The major gives the images a careful look. "No, I've never seen these men before. They look like trouble, though. We'll keep an eye out for them."