05. The Courting of Fire

The time after the incident at Valhingen Graveyard is spent in a variation of ways. Pierce manages to finally complete his new weapon, Chitkree starts to take up training with a former Black Fist member as he attempts to learn ways to further master his fighting, while Zrukz almost ends up in trouble with the Welcomers as he tries to learn more about the secretive thieves guild.

Once again the party is a few members short as Aramil & Vess decides to travel on from the city, while Augustine pauses his adventuring and instead chooses to devote more time as a member of the Quiet Faithful of Lysander.

One day, you go on an early evening walk through Phlan. Cool, early evening-air blows through a narrow street. The streets are bustling with famished laborers out for a meal, vendors hawking their wares, and grimy sailors looking for moorage at barstools. The evening's peace is broken by a burly Black Fist guard who pushes himself through the rabble and drives a nail through a sheet of parchment with a stout hammer, affixing it to a sign post. In bold, black print it says "Wanted for Thievery Most Cunning."

Looking at the sign post, you see other posters of a similar nature. The most recent addition details the crimes of a man named Spernik including theft, breaching the peace, rendering aid to the enemies of Phlan among other lesser offences. There is also a caricature of a young, male human. He appears to have protruding rat-like ears and beady eyes, although you're not sure about how much of that could be attributed to artistic license. The sign reads, "Reward Promised by the Lord Sage of Phlan" and bears an official-looking seal.

Davin, you keep a watchful eye on the crowd as you move through it, however no one seems to be standing out to you as being suspicious. You move to Scholar's Square where Mantor's Library is located. Sun-bleached colonnades frame the austere facade of the library. A solitary bench sits next to a tranquil pond at the fore of the property in the center of the square. The grounds are well manicured and festooned with blooming flowers and other local flora. Despite the hour being perhaps on the late side, you're almost immediately greeted upon entering the building by a older male half-elf who introduces himself as the Lord Sage, "How may I be of assistance?"

Davin, as you make your way over to the Lord Sage, you do notice that the goblin's...friend? A strange four-armed being, is following you silently.

Meanwhile, Zrukz, Pierce & Donkog, you make it over to the Laughing Goblin and some of the regulars greet Zrukz very warmly as you are known for your chaotic exuberance that is sure to liven up an evening. The bartender, Imizar, and the waiter, "Fat" Mar, nods in acknowledgment as you enter, although both look fairly busy as the place is full of dining patrons.

Zrukz, you dramatically retell your story about the Valhingen grave robbers, but it has probably lost a bit of its lustre by the sheer amount of times it’s already been retold in this place over the past week. It at least doesn’t command quite the attention you hoped for and definitely doesn’t bring forth anyone willing to trade a thieves tale back to you. You do see an unknown hobgoblin who beckons you to his table.

Chitkree, the Lord Sage grows more serious as you mention the name Spernik. "Ah yes, a matter most grave. Spernik and his partner, Tibeem, were hired as scribes at the library about four months ago. They were skilled at their jobs, but not exceptional. Two days ago, they were caught sneaking out of my offices and when I questioned what they were doing there, they fled. I summoned the Black Fist and they gave chase. Spernik escaped, but Tibeem was caught and taken to Stojanow Gate...although not before slaying a Black Fist guard.". The Lord Sage sighs deeply, he's obviously troubled by the whole scenario. "I searched Spernik & Tibeem's room and found two rare tomes that had previously been stored in my personal library. When the books were taken back to be filed, two clever forgeries were already on the shelf in their place. Upon comparing the original tomes to the forged copies, each contained subtle factual inaccuracies; it seems that the two scribes intentionally changed the content of the forgeries. The books were found packed in a large haversack along with other equipment typically associated with an extended expedition; extra clothes, rope, food and water, etc.

I believe that Spernik may have stolen and stashed away other books, so if you plan to kill him they may be lost forever. I'm willing to offer 50 gp to bring the thief to justice and an additional 100 gp for the safe return of any other books or tomes that were stolen from the library."

Chitkree & Davin, the Lord Sage nods and motions for you to follow him. "I'll take you to their room. They mostly kept to themselves, we have many scribes who come and go. You should be able to get to see Tibeem, I went to see him in his cell, but he refused to say anything to me. Maybe, you'll have better luck.".

You walk through the Scribe's Hall. Rows of writing tables and high stools are arranged around the perimeter of the room. The din of quills scratching parchment fills the room as scribes work at their desks, though two are notably empty. The Lord Sage identifies the desks as being assigned to Spernik and Tibeem. "Feel free to talk to the scribes as well. Maybe they know something of value, although I haven't learned much information from them. The two forged books are called The History of the North & Lex Geographica. The original The History of the North had a chapter referencing the Circle of Scale, a sect of druids that sought to enslave dragons. This chapter was missing from the forgery. The original Lex Geographica contained an entry referring to a circle of standing stones located in the Dragonspine Mountains, at which a group of dragon-worshipping druids once resided. This entry was missing from the forgery.".

He leads you to a small room furnished with a bunk bed, a narrow desk, and two small dressers. "We left the room untouched, the books were found in the haversack". He motions towards the haversack on the desk. It contains equipment which you would typically associate with an extended expedition; extra clothes, rope,food and water, etc.

Chitkree, you explore the room and by one of the dressers, you find a false panel. In the compartment behind it, you find two sets of black and purple clothing, each emblazoned with the livery of a low-ranking member of the Cult of the Dragon. An outfit you recognise from some of the cultists you fought on the ship on the Moonsea.

Chitkree, the Lord Sage nods and agrees that he will look at those books as the most likely to have been stolen. "Although without knowing exactly what we’re looking for, it will take a while. I know quite a bit about everything or at least will have an idea of where to find it, what would you like to know about this cult?"

Chitkree & Davin, you head back to the Laughing Goblin and Chitkree quickly spots Pierce & Zrukz, who are sitting next to a hobgoblin that you haven't seen before.

"Fat" Mar sees Davin’s hand and walks over, "What would it be?"

Davin, Mar looks at you with a cocked eyebrow, but doesn't say anything as he nods and moments later returns with a mug of ale.

You finish your drinks before heading over to Stojanow Gate. The massive walls of Valjevo Castle tower above you. The massive iron-bound doors of Stojanow Gate are spread wide open as they have been for over one hundred years. From the top of the wall, bodies hang from thick rope; twisting slowly in the breeze while ravens peck away at the tastier morsels. Despite the time of the day, a long line of people are lined up at a desk where a bored looking guard thumbs through an enormous ledger.

Davin, the man in front looks a bit strangely at you, "Why it’s to report a crime of course! Someone stole my cat!"

Chitkree, the guard quickly looks up as the strange voice suddenly reverberates through his head. He does recognise you however, "What is it you want? I’m just recording the reports that all these *ahem* fine people are arriving with"

The guard chuckles, "Ah yes, Tibeem was it? I’m afraid he’s not very talkative at this point", he points upwards behind you and as you follow his direction, you see that he’s pointing at one of the dead bodies hanging from the gate. "As for his friend the fugitive, we heard of someone fitting his description travelling towards the Dragonspine Mountains. But that’s way out of our jurisdiction, ergo not really my problem". He reaches into a drawer in the desk and hands you a small piece of paper, "All he had on him was this". It just reads "Sheaf of
vellum (1), chalk dust (1lb sack), leather case"

Chitkree, the guard looks dumbfounded for a second before realising the mix up, "No, dummy. He literally only had this note. Don’t know why he had it, maybe a shopping list? Now can I please get on with this?", he motions towards the line of people who are getting steadily more impatient.

Davin, the man gets more animated as you show interest in his plight, "My little Scruffles is sort of grey, and black, and also a bit white and also maybe has a little bit of reddish brown fur. I for one think it’s my neighbour who took it! He’s been eying that cat the moment I brought it home. He told me to keep it away from him and his pet mice. But I know it’s a ruse and that he just wants it for himself!"

Davin, the man puts his forehead against yours and thanks you deeply.

Zrukz, absolutely. You know that Cockburn Groceries is the most likely place to get them and you go to buy the things on the list. As you do, the proprietor Ted Staslep gives you a funny look, "Huh, that’s the second time in a week that someone puts in that very specific order"

You decide to adjourn for the night and leave first thing in the morning. The trek towards the mountains takes you two uneventful days, but finally you reach the foothills around midday on the third. The rolling hills are peppered with large boulders, likely falling millennia ago from the mountains looming above. Finally, you reach a large clearing with a 60-foot wide circle of 20-foot tall stones standing in the middle. Dozens of recently made footprints in the dusty soil leads towards the middle of the circle.

Among the boulders ahead you all spot 8 incredibly poorly hidden kobolds. Tikcha, thanks to her much higher vantage point, spots an additional 4 winged kobolds.

As Davin finishes his spiel, you only hear the sound of a light breeze washing through the rocks before a croaking voice speaks in broken common, "Spernik not say nothing about more people going...". A scaled face peeks out from behind the rocks, "Spernik say, if anyone go here. You kill."

The kobolds step out and lower their daggers, seemingly happy with Davin and Zrukz’ explanations. However the winged kobolds screech, "No you idiots, we no trust weird persons! Kill them or Spernik gets mad!"

Chitkree, sensing the danger, you immediately rush forward and behead the nearest kobold before it has a chance to take up arms against you. The other kobolds screech in horror as they fumble to arm themselves again.

Pierce, you fire your pistol but the bullet digs itself into the standing stone next to the winged kobold as it and its brethren take to the sky. They all approach you in the air and two of them get close enough to drop rocks at Chitkree and Pierce. However both miss as they seem a bit disoriented by the sunlight.

Donkog, you send an arrow through the chest of one of the winged kobolds and yank it’s already dead corpse to the ground with a hard crunch.

Zrukz, you murmur your sleep spell, blow the sand in the direction of the three remaining winged kobolds and they immediately fall to the ground. They land hard and wakes up again, very injured, very confused and very angry.

Davin, your mocking spell really seems to hurt the kobold’s feelings, as well as its brain as blood starts to trickle from its eyes, like very gross looking tears.

The kobolds rush forward, although only two can make it into melee (one of which is the injured one). Both goes against Chitkree, but both miss.

Pierce, Davin's encouraging words magically reverberates in your head as you take aim on one of the winged kobolds. Just as it gets back to its feet, you fire the gun and the bullet goes straight through its throat, killing it dead before it hits the ground again.

Zrukz, you desperately send your spell over your shoulder as you retreat, and the already injured and very sad looking kobold dies as the chill touch hits it square in the chest, a look of embarrassment etched on its face.

The two remaining winged kobolds desperately lash out at Pierce with their daggers. You manage to swat on aside, but the other dagger punctures your upper arm.

Chitkree & Davin, you take care of the two remaining winged kobolds. Davin by whispering a strange melodic noise that causes one of them to collapse, while Chitkree tears the other one in half with his thorn whip.

Donkog shoots an arrow at one of the onrushing kobolds, but it whizzes over its head.

The 7 remaining kobolds descend on Chitkree, Pierce & Donkog, each getting hit once by their daggers.