Montumazin 19, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

It was tight fit but there was room for everyone to spend the night in the bandit’s honeycomb-like hideout. Small comforts make a big difference when you’re traveling cross-country. Sadly they had no clue who built it or why. I spent a good deal of time examining the layout for any indications of what this complex may have been intended for but didn’t find much of anything – I hate a mystery and the longer I’m out here the more of them I seem to encounter. As the party was preparing to head out I sought out the bandit-priest whose name I was told, was Damrow.

“Still captured huh? Shouldn’t your god have saved you by now?”

“You made the same joke yesterday.”

“I’m workshopping it. Obviously back in civilization you’d be hung for your crimes, but if we turn you over to the dwarfs what do you think they’ll do with you?”

“I don’t know, dwarfen jurisprudence isn’t something I know much about. We never attacked them, just the caravan after the deal was made so it’s hard to say how much they’d care. Dwarfs are lawful folk though so I doubt they’d just let us go. I bet they’d just turn us over to whatever human authority was closest.”

“Hanging then?”

“Probably.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“Well I try to take things one day at a time. I’ve faced the noose before and I’m still here – you never know what could happen. Why do you ask?”

“I’m thinking about letting you go.”

“Do tell.”

“Well not you personally, you’d be kept as a hostage to make sure your friends don’t come back for revenge, but what’s left of your little band here. We already have a bunch of prisoners – we don’t need more people to watch. Plus I don’t really care about your crimes.”

“Now that sounds like a solid plan.”

“I was hoping in return you’d show us to the sky-portal.”

The deal was struck and the remaining bandits, minus Damrow, were turned loose. There was a bit of grumbling about that from the soldiers but I was able to make them see why it was a good idea. It only took us a few hours to reach the entrance to the dwarfen underworld – which was basically just a hole in the ground. I was expecting something more substantial – dwarfs are supposed to be these great stonecrafters, where was the majestic edifice?

We waited several hours before a party of dwarfs emerged – just about the time I was considering sending someone down there. I explained to them that we were the great heroes who stopped the bandits that were attacking their trading partners and that since said trading partners had been taken over by Vieland the annual caravan probably wasn’t coming anyway. Some more dwarfs came out and I explained the same thing again. And then again to some more dwarfs. And then a fourth time. Aside from the fact that some of them had brown hair and some had black they all looked more or less identical to me. I think I saw one with red hair for a minute but he disappeared back into the hole quickly.

It was enormously tedious, but essentially what I was expecting – dwarfs are a stodgy lot. They said they would return to their holdfast to discuss and return in the morning. I asked them if I could engage in some trade. They were not interested in allowing me into their home but they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make some money so an awkward “relay” shopping plan was enacted. I was able to unload all my unwanted items as well as the gemstones. As annoying as it was to work through intermediaries what was worse was having to conduct my business in front of everyone. I did my best to keep things quiet but people were aware that some significant money was being passed. I’m starting to get some strange looks, but there’s nothing for it now.

I’m not great at reading dwarf facial expressions, which is something of a misnomer, but when I showed them the spear they clearly reacted in some way. And that was the end of that – trading done and they disappeared into their hole.

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 39,858 gold

XP: 80,428

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (tan), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, Spear of Piercing Thunder, Handy Haversack

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, antitoxin (9), smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3)

Revenge List: Duke Eaglevane, ~~Piltis Swine~~, Rince Electrum, ~~watchman Gridley~~, ~~White-Muzzle the worg~~, Percy Ringle the butler , Alice Kinsey , “~~Patch~~”, Heroes of the Lost Sword, Claire Conrad, ~~Erist priest of Strider~~, Riselda owner of the Sage Mirror, Eedraxis, ~~Skin-Taker tribe~~, Kartak, Królewna & Bonifacja Trading Company, Hurmont Family, Androni Titus, Greasy dreadlocks woman, Lodestone Security, Kellgale Nickoslander, Beltian Kruin the Splithog Pauper, The King of Spiders, Auraluna Domiel, ~~mother Hurk~~, ~~Mazzmus Parmalee,~~ Helgan van Tankerstrum, Lightdancer, Bonder Greysmith, Pegwhistle Proudfoot, Lumbfoot Sheepskin

Montumazin 18, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

The plan is for the main body of the group to stay and “rest” while the tracker, the two warriors, Haya and I figure out where the shapechanger came from and what it was doing. I told Marsh that he was in charge while I was gone and furthermore that if I wasn’t back by lunch that he should come rescue me – no matter what. I think he thought I was joking.

The tracker wasn’t much to look at – I thought the soldiers had all armed themselves but all he had was a walking stick. Seemed a bit long in the tooth to be soldiering as well. I must have missed his name because I swear I thought they said he was called “Princess”. The two fighters looked so similar that I couldn’t always tell them apart – even though one of them was a woman. I hadn’t even noticed before on account of her hair was so short and she had the frame of a plow-horse. They were both even wearing the same green cape. Where the Hells did they get capes out here? When I asked if they were related they looked at me like I was crazy. There’s an old heroic tale about the Princess and the Twins – somehow I don’t think this is what it looked like.

Haya proved to be quite annoying. He rambled on and on about all the different alchemical magic he could do now that he had his formula book back. The tracker proved to be even more annoying though on account of he didn’t seem to be much of a tracker. He poked around with his stick and went so far as to sniff the air but I never got much sense that we were following and kind of trail. I was about to confront him about it when we heard the thundering of hooves – four men on horses. I hoped for half a second they weren’t charging at us until they drew their sabers.

I took one off their horse with my crossbow and Haya tossed a bottle at another that frozen him solid on the spot – it was quite something. He fell to the ground and shattered, not into a million pieces, more like into four or five pieces. Hot blood was steaming on his frozen flesh. The Twins stepped up and met the charge of the other two – which is pretty brave/stupid for people on foot to do against cavalry unless you have a spear or the like. I don’t claim to be a warrior of any sort but one thing I’ve learned is that fighting while mounted has more to do with your riding ability than your fighting ability. I think these two would have been well served to dismount, although maybe they’re crummy fighters too.

The fighting was over quickly, with one horseman alive but injured. A bit of light questioning revealed that these were bandits.

“Bandits? What on earth is there out here worth stealing?!”

On earth, nothing much, under the earth quite a bit it turns out. We happen to be in the area of a dwarfen sky-passage, which is what it sounds like. These folk stake out the area at a certain time of year and wait for the caravan from Carmin and Raster that rendezvouses with the dwarfs and buys all for their steel and silver. They saw us out here and their leader, the shapeshifter, decided to infiltrate and see what our business was – even though we were coming from the opposite direction they thought we might be the caravan coming to collect the dwarf goods.

“Do you use a codeword or passphrase or something?”

“Why would we? We all know each other.”

“Your leader charges forms right? How do you know whoever wanders up is him?”

“He can read minds so it’s easy.”

Interesting, I assumed that was just bold talk. Apparently I live in a world with mind-reading shapeshifters. Nothing terrifying about that in the least. I turned away from the wounded bandit to my companions.

“Alright, old man, you take these horses back to the others.”

“I’m forty-two!”

“Whatever just go. When you get there tell Marsh to get half his men and head this way – they should run into hostiles so tell them to be prepared.”

“What about him?” asked one of the Twins, pointed to the wounded man.

They were shocked when I said to kill him. Two soldiers and a slaver and they’re squeamish about finishing him off, even though they just killed three men in combat? It makes no sense. Since they were being babies I shot him in the throat with my Bracelet. Twice actually, the first time he was just gurgling. The looks they gave me, like I had just done some vile. Why is it that the practical people are the ones that catch all the guff? Doesn’t seem right.

Even without our so-called tracker it was easy enough to follow the hoof-prints back to the bandit lair. It was quite a set up – stairs cut into the side of rocky outcropping going up a good fifty feet to a doorway. With two archer-nests on either side. Surely they didn’t build this just for a once a year caravan raid did they? But where did it come from? Did the dwarfs make this? Where did they keep the horses?

I used my Cap and Haya used a potion – we disguised ourselves as two of the bandits we had just killed, badly wounded. The Twins hid nearby while we staggered up, leaning heavily on each other like men on the verge of death. We called out pitifully for help as we approached the stairs – my performance was spot on but Haya was pretty bad, eventually I elbowed him to shut up and he took the hint and pretended to keel over, too hurt to go any farther. Men peeked out of the archer-nests and I waved at them weakly.

“We were attacked by soldiers. They took Nawa and Tarj but there are only ten of them – hurry and you can catch them!”

After some commotion and shouting the door at the top of the stairs opened and maybe twenty men rushed out. After a brief conversation where I gave them some phony instructions the bulk of them ran off – no more horses I guess. One of the ones left was wearing brown robes and took my hand gently.

“Let me help you my son.”

He did some magic rigmarole and I felt a surge of energy run through my body – it was very pleasant. He frowned –

“That’s odd, your wounds aren’t closing.”

“Maybe your god doesn’t love you anymore.”

“What?!”

At that point the Twins came out of hiding and Haya sprang to his feet with what I assume was some kind of deadly vial ready to throw. The two archers had come down to help but the others looked like non-fighting types. They looked ready to go for their bows but I convinced them that today was not a good day to die. We secured them in a lower cave where they had kept the horses – which had a winch that carried supplies up to the rest of the complex. It was quite a set-up indeed. I regarded the robed man.

“So what are you? A bandit priest of some kind?”

“Something like that.”

“That’s all I get? Usually you religious types never stop talking. Don’t you want to try to convert me to your bandit god?”

All he did was shrug. A few hours later half a dozen bandits, several of them wounded, came running back towards the lair – where I with my crossbow and the Twins with stolen bows were waiting to welcome them. After a couple shots they threw down their weapons and asked for quarter. A few minutes later Marsh and a company of his men showed up hot on their heels – looking only slightly the worse for whatever skirmish they had with the bandits. We rounded all the captives together and his men started looking through the rocky-hideout for weapons and supplies.

“You’re quite the operator Ela.”

“I have my moments.”

“What’s next?”

“Next we go see some dwarfs.”

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 80,428

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (rust), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, Manual of Quickness of Action, Bracer of Fire Resistance (10), Spear of Piercing Thunder, Handy Haversack, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Cloak of Resistance +2 (2), Headband of vast intelligence +2 (2), Ring of Feather Falling, Spectacles of Keen Sight

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Montumazin 17, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

My first theory was that the shapechanger was part of the Królewna & Bonifacja crew. I talked to Ollie extensively and was convinced that wasn’t the case. My next theory was that he was a plant among the slaves associated with Haya and friends but I sussed him out too and rejected that. I downed my last potion for a little extra charm and told everyone as we traveled today I was going to be taking a “census” of everyone and where they were from and who they knew and so on and so forth – assuming there isn’t a network of shapeshifers all working together (which with my luck there probably is) I should be able to figure out if we have any “extras” floating around. It was tedious work but by mid-day I was convinced that we had just the people that were supposed to be here. With the caveats that none of us are supposed to be here of course.

This brought me very little peace of mind. Where did it come from? And what was it up to? As we were setting up camp I held council with Haya and Marsh. I asked them if there were any kind of settlements around here – with the river there has to be fishermen or something right? Haya had no clue but Marsh claimed to have a good understanding of the area and he wasn’t aware of any inhabitation on the Needle. He checked with some of his scouts and they confirmed the same thing – more or less, there’s always random homesteaders and whatnot that have wandered into any territory like this.

I told them I was concerned that where that creature may have come from but wasn’t sure what to do about it. I asked for their advice. Of which they had precisely zero. I guess that’s why they’re a sergeant and a low level flunky for slavers. I decided to engage Ollie. He’s clearly an evil backstabbing bastard but he seems pretty sharp. I had him brought into my wagon, which was once his wagon.

“Pretend you’re me for a moment.”

“With pleasure.”

“Gross. What would you do about this creature that attacked me, er you in this case.”

“I’d let Ollie and his friends go.”

“Be serious.”

“Why?”

“For one we’re in this together. I can guarantee you that if I don’t make it neither will you. Besides which we have a long road ahead of us, metaphorically, taking down your beloved employers. We might as well start building a rapport now.”

“Seriously I don’t know as there’s much you can do. Keep an eye out, what else is there?”

“That’s not very satisfying.”

“Life seldom is.”

“You can say that again.”

“Life seldom is.”

“Hilarious.”

I sent him away and sought out Marsh again, telling him that he should inform his men of what’s going on so that they could better protect us. Not long afterwards he came back and said that one of his men who’s a “pretty good tracker” said that he had found some strange tracks where it seemed like someone had walked into the camp the day before my tussle with the shapechanger. But that he hadn’t thought anything of it at the time. I had to take a few deep breaths before I spoke.

“Alright sarge, how about from now on we operate under the assumption that there’s nothing odd that I don’t want to know about? Let’s start doing reports and stuff, you military people are all about reports right?”

“You got it boss.”

“And bring me this tracker and your two best fighters.”

He scuttled off and I grabbed Haya’s formula book and found him where he was under light guard. I tossed it to him.

“Okay buddy, you’re up.”

He was delighted to get his book back “What’s going on?”

“We’re going on a little sidetrek.”

His eyes lit up like a Halfling at a feast “An adventure?”

“Gods I hope not.”

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 78,403

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Montumazin 16, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

Laden with stolen, wait that sounds bad, let’s say liberated – laden with liberated supplies we had an easy day of travel. Easy enough that I had time to think about how much I hate it out here in the wild. When’s the last time I slept in a bed? Had a bath? Ate a decent meal? Drank some good wine? I can’t even remember. Not to mention I have a ton of loot I need to unload. How long is the journey to Malgareth going to be? Weeks? Feeling that time stretch out before me makes me feel nauseated. You know things have taken a turn when I’m pining for the dubious comforts of Graltontown.

We came into sight of the Needle River late in the afternoon and decided to set up camp there. Some of us did anyway, Wiremu and his men were intent on crossing the river and continuing towards (for them) friendly territory. There was a whole big production between the soldiers of both sides, typical “in another context we’d be friends, you saved my life but if we meet on the battlefield” stuff. Yawn. Marsh and Wiremu did a thing where they exchanged weapons – you know the ones that are actually mine and I was nice enough to give them. It was all very touching if you’re into macho masculine bullshit I’m sure.

Much to my displease Argo and the rest of the adventurers crossed the river with them – haring after some treasure or whatnot they think is up that way. They’re nothing if not consistent. I tried to talk them out of it but of course they didn’t listen. That’s probably for the best though, although we may miss their murder power before this journey is over having them around in Malgareth would probably be asking for trouble.

I watched Argo and the Vieland soldiers disappear into the distance and then resolved to start making the rounds with my traveling party. Got to keep morale up after all, plus I need some new lackeys, there may be some good candidates right here. For the most part they’re just people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but everyone has a story to tell – even if it’s a boring one – and I was happy to listen. And I’m not above listening to a little flattery – I did save them all from slavery you know. I mentally earmarked a couple for further discussion. One fellow with the most peculiar eyes – they weren’t all white like a blind man but seemed to be colorless – didn’t seem to mind much to be out here. I think he was happy to escape village life and his wife. Another fellow seemed surprisingly well-educated and charismatic for someone that claimed to be a scythe-sharpener. Is that even a job? I’ll find out.

As I was making my way through the camp there’s one fellow that I spotted nearby several times. With the Królewna & Bonifacja guards (they were disarmed but not constrained in any way) there are still over a hundred people in this band, but I have a pretty good eye for faces and I would swear that I hadn’t seen this fellow before. Doesn’t seem likely that we’ve picked up a stray though. I tried to get near him, it was almost like he was avoiding me – but casually. Eventually I outflanked him and as he turned around I was right there to confront him.

“Hello good sir. And what’s your name?”

I know a thing or two about liars, and a thing or two about lies as well – he was good, but I’m better. His story was a bit too on the button. He was telling me exactly what I wanted to hear as well, which is always worthy of suspicion. After a moment he stopped in mid-sentence.

“Not buying it huh?”

“What gave me away?”

“I can read your mind.”

“That must be quite useful.”

“You have no idea.”

I was about to say something else when his arm stretched out impossibly long and he caught me by the throat. No one was around of course so I was on my own. As he made to drag me behind a wagon I aimed my bracelet at his face and launched a dart directly into his cheek. There was no blood, it stuck into him like clay, but it clearly caused him pain because he staggered back in shock. As I scrambled to my feet his hands turned into wicked claws – not like the claws of a beast but more like something you would craft out of metal. I flipped a wolf out of my Bag of Tricks and as they grappled I clobbered him in the head with a Magic Stone from my Pouch – his head deformed like it was made out of gelatin and then sprung back into shape.

The creature formed one hand into a massive mace-like appending and crushed the wolf into the dirt as I retrieved my crossbow. He sprang at me with the oddest high-pitched noise I have ever heard and I loosed a bolt into its chest – which coursed with magic energy and sent it flopping to the ground. It’s disguised melted away and what was left was something vaguely humanoid that looked like grey wax halfway melted.

“What the Hells is this now ?!”

My initial thought was to scream my heart out, get everyone over here to see this – but I quickly decided that was not a good idea at all. All you need is one shapeshifting killer to send people into a panic – people are funny like that. I wasn’t thrilled about touching it but I dragged it away and hid the body anyway – its flesh felt like warm custard – and then got Haya and Marsh. Marsh had no clue and Haya helpfully identified it as a shapechanger.

“Yeah, thanks, I hadn’t noticed that. Let me ask you this, is there any horrible creature from folklore that isn’t real? Seriously, how is anyone still alive with all this shit running around?”

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 79,203

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Eagle’s Splendor

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Behind the curtain – Got a random encounter with a doppleganger. I wonder what a doppleganger was doing out on the plains in the middle of nowhere.

Montumazin 15, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

I waited until it was good and dark before I used my Boots to transport myself out of my chains. Several of Wiremu’s men seemed like they were about to start talking or something else stupid but I was able to silence them with a finger to my lips. Wiremu himself was dead asleep even though he was in manacles and once again in dire straits. My grandmother used to tell me that some minds are too small to be bothered with worry. I put a hand over his mouth and woke him up with a whisper – telling him that I would be back and not to worry. He nodded his understanding but I shudder to think what mischief he’s going to get up to left on his own.

I used my Cap to assume the appearance of Ollie and headed out of the camp. The guards on duty seemed a little confused but they didn’t challenge me. Now all I had to do was find my way back to the rest of the group in the dark overland – no problem right? I scanned the horizon looking for lights and quickly established that they were smart enough not to have any campfires this close to a potential enemy. Which was going to make it difficult for me to locate them – why is it that people only make the right decisions when it serves to make my life harder? I must be the unluckiest woman in the world.

I was cursing that fact under my breath when I heard the growling. I dropped flat just as the spotted lion pounced out of the darkness, just barely missing taking my head off in an instant. You have got to be kidding me! I snatched out my Bag of Tricks and produced a jungle cat that charged into the larger animal and instantly started getting mauled. As the two great cats (one much greater than the other) rolled and clawed and snarled at each other I drank my potion of Jump and leapt into a nearby tree – not much of a tree but something. As the cats continue to tear at each other I took up my crossbow but quickly found that I couldn’t balance in the tree and shoot at the same time. I downed my potion of Spider Climb for more stability just as the spotted lion ripped the jungle cat nearly in half.

I tagged it with a crossbow shot as it charged and leapt at the tree – thankfully lions aren’t great climbers, not so thankfully it hit the tree with such a force that it cracked along the trunk and started listing badly. I definitely would have been thrown without the Spider Climb. Clambering up as high as I could, I put another bolt in the spotted lion as it snarled and smashed into the tree – sending it toppling over. I managed to gather myself and leap to another tree, just barely catching a hold, there is no way I could have done that without the magic from the potion. I was able to hit the lion twice more with my crossbow before it was able to locate me. As it charged again I went into my bag of Tricks and came out with a boar. It charged the lion and sliced it across the belly with it tusks before the great beast bore it to the ground and started tearing into it with all four claws.

The boar jabbed with its tusks one more time before the spotted lion cracked it like a walnut. The beast had been shot half a dozen times and was covered with claw, bite, and tusk marks, but it was still raring to go. As it charged the tree, which appeared to be the only one around capable of bearing even my slight frame, I lined up a shot and hammered it right in the skull. But even this didn’t stop it, merely sent it skidding to the side for a moment. As it gathered itself to leap and rip me to shreds, out of where appeared Argo, taking it down with one swing of his greataxe.

“When you make a shot like that aren’t you supposed to make a quip? ‘Smile you toothy bastard!’ or something like that?”

I leapt to the ground, nimble as a elfen squirrel “What would be the point of that?”

The big man shrugged “It’s traditional. I heard a commotion and figured you were involved somehow. Good thing I came to look.”

“Yes, yes, thank you for saving me, I’m ever so grateful, etcetera, etcetera. Let’s get back to the others.”

“How did things go at the trading post?”

“How do things ever go?”

“That bad huh?”

On the way back I realized that I had been thinking about this situation all wrong – they didn’t have us out-armed, we had them out-manned. And nighttime is the perfect time for making people think they’re surrounded by a superior force without realizing that said force is mostly holding sticks rather than spears. It took some convincing, I don’t know why people can’t just blindly follow my commands without thinking about it, but I rallied the “troops” and we returned to the trader camp immediately. It wasn’t hard to bluff the guards into laying down arms in the least – I mean they were outnumbered four to one. They weren’t so happy once they saw their attackers were mostly unarmed but it was too late then.

Ollie and a few other leadership types came out to see what the ruckus was and found their men captured and me starting to unlock all the Vieland soldiers. Ollie took off his glasses and put them in his pocket.

“Well, I clearly underestimated you.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it, men see a pretty face and they don’t think much beyond that.”

“Hmm, you’re not really my type.”

“Do you want to get shot in the groin or why would you make a statement like that?”

“Not particularly, I’m just saying.”

“Well don’t. Are we going to have a problem here or are you going to give up easily?”

He bowed in a courtly manner “You have me at a disadvantage madam, I place myself completely at your mercy.”

Sadly Ollie and his friends didn’t have much other than weapons and armor, which were distributed amongst the freed slaves. The exception being his spectacles which were magic rather than practical, these of course I took for myself. We took over the camp and had a bit of a celebratory feast. I took the opportunity to talk to Ollie alone.

“So what happened to the gold?”

“I have it hidden of course and you’ll need me alive to find it.”

“Of course, sadly for you I don’t care about the gold so much. What do I care about is bringing down Królewna & Bonifacja.”

“Why’s that?”

“I bought one of their products and it was only okay. Therefore they have to be destroyed.”

“Harsh but fair. As a high ranking employee of theirs I can name all sorts of names. Treason and slave-trading is just the tip of the iceberg. And I will gladly testify to as much right up until the point their assassins have me killed.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Wiremu wanted to take his men east to Raster and Carmin, and after some thought I decided that was the best course of action. Having a bunch of Vieland soldiers in the mix would just confuse things. Marsh and Argo and the rest of us will travel with them until we hit the Needle River, follow it north to the Compass, and then west back to Malgareth. Then I get my reward for destroying Korrok’s gem and bring down one of the biggest merchant guilds in the kingdom. Should be a piece of cake.

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 78,403

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Eagle’s Splendor

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Behind the curtain – I always think that crossbows have x3 critical and am disappointed when I remember they don’t. I wonder if there’s any “plausible” reason why it’s different from a bow. Ela hit level 9 , taking another level of Master Spy – Glib Lie and Mask Alignment are pretty good so my previous regret is unregreted but that’s it, she’ll be going back to rogue/phantom thief after this. She took Extra Rogue Talent as her feat, and vigilante social talent Beast Speech as that talent due to Phantom Thief.

Montumazin 14, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

A few hours before dawn the spotted lions went silent. Everyone was near a state of panic, assuming that an attack was imminent. But none came. When the sunrise came the lions were nowhere to be seen. Everyone looked dog-tired and worn down to the bone. Missing a night of sleep isn’t the best, but more than anything it was the constant fear that had drained people of their energy. A continuous state of near panic can take your wind away more than anything. And once again even though I was as tired and frightened as everyone else it was up to me to get their spirits up and keep them moving. Just once I’d like to have someone else to lean on for strength while I took a moment for myself. I guess that’s the burden of being the strongest – there’s no one to shoulder the burden for you.

Eventually we saw a couple lions in the distance eyeballing us but they seemed to have abandoned stalking us. Still no one relaxed, jumping at every noise and expecting a lion to leap out at us at any moment. As exhausted as everyone was we pushed on without stopping and late in the day we spied the ruins of Gribyr. The Królewna & Bonifacja camp there was little more than a dozen wagons and half again as many temporary shelters but that was still far more than I had been expecting. I had Elgin and Davarro brought before me.

“This seems like a bit much just to provide stale bread and cheap wine to slaves – what’s the story?”

Turns out that Raster and Camin, known to some as “the Twins”, the cities to the east on the Compass river have gone over to Vieland, and Królewna & Bonifacja set up this waystation to funnel supplies to the Vieland military, the deal with the gnolls was just someone’s side action. It’s the time honored tradition of merchants playing both sides. Also known as treason. I’ve got K&B dead to rights if I can figure out a way to navigate this situation. Wiremu seemed to be legitimately just as shocked by this turn of events as anyone, I suppose as a lowly solider you don’t get clued in to these kind of things.

I questioned Haya, Elgin, and Davarro intensely but none of them seemed to know who was behind the stolen payroll.

“So when the gnolls came to collect the slaves what was supposed to happen next?”

Haya said that he had already been paid for the job and he had been hired by Kohm. Elgin and Davarro said that they got their orders from the quartermaster in camp, named Jalten, but they had no reason to believe that he was behind the scam – he was just the one that was in charge of the supplies. What a mess. Without a lot of options I decided to do something I rarely do – tell the truth. I turned over a dozen scenarios in my mind but this seemed to be the best move. As long as the person in charge of the camp isn’t the one selling Vieland soldiers into slavery we have a chance.

I went with Wiremu and the Vieland soldiers into the ruins of Gribyr while the rest of the group stayed at a distance. Our arrival caused quite a commotion, said commotion included a startling number of armed men from the camp. This wasn’t a situation for fighting anyway, but it’s never good when you see how heavily out-armed you are. Wiremu and I were taken to a wigwam of sorts where the commander of this outpost was seated cross-legged reading a book – he had spectacles and everything. He had a small, tidy beard, very closed cropped hair and wore and odd blue greatcoat. He was very amiable and told us to call him “Ollie”.

He listened very closely as Wiremu told him his tale about being taken prisoner by mercenaries after a battle and ending up in a slave pen. I realized that our new friend Ollie wasn’t asking any questions and I tried to take control of the conversation and steer it in a new direction but Wiremu didn’t pick up on it. He earnestly told Ollie that someone in his camp was acting against Vieland and they needed to be smoked out before they damaged Królewna & Bonifacja’s arrangement with the Vieland military. I was finally able to jump in.

“Actually we don’t really know what happened. No one knows for sure that Królewna & Bonifacja are involved, that’s just a theory that people gravitated to. Could be anyone for all we know.”

Wiremu frowned “What are you talking about, you . . .”

“Don’t listen to my friend here, he’s been through a lot lately, he’s not thinking straight. Honestly what probably happened here is some local lord made a deal with the gnolls, it was Vieland soldiers that were captured and a Vieland paywagon that was stolen – it makes sense that it would be someone worried about the Vieland army right?”

Wiremu grew more confused “But you said . . .”

“I said a lot of things, we all did, it’s just talk. Once you’ve rested up and had a good meal I’m sure this will all make more sense.”

Ollie smile faintly “Nice try.”

I smiled back at him “Look we’re willing to play ball here, there’s no reason we can’t all come out of this just fine right?”

That’s when the merchant guards came in with weapons drawn to take us away. Honesty is the best policy my ass.

Ollie shrugged apologetically “Sorry, I feel like we could have been great friends.”

I put my hand on his knee “There’s no reason we still can’t is there?”

At his gesture one of the guards pulled me to my feet and dragged me away. Wiremu looked at me, still perplexed, as we were dragged outside where his men were all on their knees with their hands behind their heads under the watchful eye of the K&B men at arms.

“What’s going on?”

I sighed “You’re not very smart are you Wiremu?”

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 70,403

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Spider Climb, Potion of Eagle’s Splendor, Potion of Jump

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill

Montumazin 13, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

I had thought that killing a lion (or two in this case) would make the others back off. I’ve been wrong before. I’m not sure I’ve ever been this wrong. As light broke we saw no fewer than a dozen spotted lions watching us from afar. They seemed to have a pretty good idea what range you can have good chance of hitting with a crossbow and they stayed just outside that range. How smart are these things? They’re just animals right? I sought out Durian to see what he knew about these beasts but it became clear his weird vague threats about them were just adventurer bullshit. Next I went to Barjin to see what magic could do to magic us out of this scenario – the answer of course was nothing. Sometimes I really hate magic, it only seems to work when it’s used against you.

The group was very reluctant to get moving that, which is understandable, but after a rousing speech I was able to get the motivated to hit the “road”. After all the lions are either going to attack or they won’t, and it doesn’t really matter where it happens if it happens– the safest thing we can do is get to where we’re going. I also fibbed a little about how much we had in the way of supplies. The gist of the message wasn’t exactly if you’re going to die anyway you might as well keep going but there was some subtext of that nature.

The spotted lions shadowed us all day. People’s nerves were clearly getting more and more frayed as the day wore on – they became convinced that the lions would attack that night, despite my best efforts to explain to them that spotted lions actually don’t see as well at night as other great cats and are mostly daylight hunters. It could be true as far as I know. The good news is everyone was so preoccupied by the deadly animals stalking us that they didn’t seem to notice that we should have reached the Spur Hills today and did not. We stopped early in the day to set up our “fortifications” and I had Elgin and Devarro explain to me where they thought we were – with Argo standing by with axe in hand. I’m starting to have my suspicions about these two but I believed them when they said they thought we just got off course and are south of the hills and we could reach Gribyr with a slight course correction.

Haya asked for his formula book saying that he could help us if the lions attacked, and I was tempted, but it was too risky – he needs to survive to finger Królewna & Bonifacja in a court of law. I can’t have him getting mixed up in a deadly battle. I also thought about trying to use my Ring but ultimately decided that was more on the suicidal side of the fence rather than just the deadly risky side.

The lions didn’t attack that night, but they did spend all night roaring and generally making a nuisance of themselves. It almost seemed like they were doing it on purpose to deprive us of sleep but that can’t be true. They’re just animals. Right? Very few people got any sleep.

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 70,403

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (rust), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +1 Falchion, +1 Greatclub, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, Manual of Quickness of Action, Bracer of Fire Resistance (10), Spear of Piercing Thunder, Handy Haversack, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Cloak of Resistance +2 (2), Headband of vast intelligence +2 (2), Ring of Feather Falling

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Spider Climb, Potion of Eagle’s Splendor, Potion of Jump

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill

Montumazin 12, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

When I woke up this morning there was a lot of murmuring in our makeshift camp. It turns out that someone was missing – and assumed eaten by spotted lions. For a moment I considered convincing people that they had just deserted us and headed back to the “safety” of Sluice but I decided it would be better to treat this as an object lesson. After a solemn ceremony for the fallen I gathered everyone around and addressed them from the bed of the supply wagon.

“Alright folks, I hate to be a bugaboo here, but can we have a gentlemen’s agreement not to wander away from the group, at night especially, while we’re in the territory of murderous two ton beasts?”

I can’t believe I had to do yet. And yet somehow it’s eminently believable – it’s amazing the things people won’t do without precise instructions. People talk about turkeys drowning when it rains because they look up? That’s an old wives tales – because it actually happens to people. As the group started getting ready to move I gathered my leadership council and presented my idea of trying to kill one of the lions. They weren’t enthused. Which is just like adventurers – they’re murderous savages right up until you need them to be murderous savages.

“What’s the problem, I thought you military types loved going on the offensive.”

Marsh answered “Two crossbows and a sling aren’t going to cut it against a spotted lion. If we try that the lion’s going to charge and we’ll be in real trouble.”

“You’re forgetting about Barjin!” At the sound of his name the disheveled wizard looked up, wild-eyed. “We’ve got a mage, the same firepower as a whole battalion of archers right?”

Barjin looked around as if for help “Um . . .”

“Exactly! We take some potshots at a lion when there’s no others around, it charges us and then ZAP! ZAM! ZOOM! Barjin fries it with a magical bolt of magicalness or transforms it into a sexy lady or something.” I clapped him on the back “Right Barjin ?”

He licked his lips “Well . . .”

“Precisely!” I gave him a companionable shake “He’s raring to have a crack at these dire beasts. Good man, good man! We take out one lion and then the rest of them know not to mess with us. Show them who’s on the top of the food chain.”

They were dubious, but the day I can’t convince some dubious adventurers to risk their lives for little to no gain is the day I poison everyone in their sleep and forge on alone.

In my defense the plan was working great at first.

When we stopped for a mid-day rest we saw a lone spotted lion eyeballing us from a mere hundred yards away. We scanned the area thoroughly and saw no others lions about. Strangely it turned out the best shot of the group wasn’t one of the soldiers or adventurers but one of the civilians – a woman from Travar with a long braid. She had terrible split ends and a about a million flyaways. I signaled to her and she came to my aside, along with half a dozen others who that fashioned slings, as well as the man of the hour Barjin and the rest of the adventurers.

Braids and I both missed on our first shot but it got the lion’s attention – for a split second of awful anticipation we wondered, would it run off or charge?

It let out a roar and charged. Even with several dozen bodies between me and it I was pretty frightened. I’ve been in horrible situations like this a few times since my downfall, I wonder when you stop being terrified. A spotted lion can cover a hundred years with a quickness you wouldn’t believe. But when a spotted lion is bearing down on you you shoot with a quickness you wouldn’t believe also. It was hit several times when Barjin blasted it with fire – and that sent it scrambling away. It was too late though. It was in the “killzone” and we peppered it with stones and bolts until it stopped moving.

At this point I heard the screams. The roar had summoned a second lion and it was rampaging through the procession – the soldiers rushing into its path (even mostly being unarmed) while everyone else stumbled and staggered away. Argo and Arlonni did the bulk of the work slaying it, but not before it killed three people outright and injured several more. There was some recrimination about my decisions but I was able to paper over it pretty easily, and we halted for the day out of respect for the fallen. As we had another solemn ceremony I considered the arithmetic – four people for two spotted lions? That’s a trade you’d make happily if you were the immoral sort.

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 70,403

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (rust), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +1 Falchion, +1 Greatclub, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, Manual of Quickness of Action, Bracer of Fire Resistance (10), Spear of Piercing Thunder, Handy Haversack, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Cloak of Resistance +2 (2), Headband of vast intelligence +2 (2), Ring of Feather Falling

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Spider Climb, Potion of Eagle’s Splendor, Potion of Jump

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill

Montumazin 11, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

or being recently enslaved most of folk setting out from Sluice are in pretty good shape. Traveling across the plains and out of the heart of the Scarlands anyone was welcome to ride in the supply wagon for a spell to get some rest but few did. I of course was riding up front with Elgin the teamster – I suppose there’s an upside to being a savior after all. The good thing about traveling with a group of this size is that most beasts and other dangers are going to steer clear of you. The bad thing is that if something decides to take on this many people it’s because that something isn’t worried about taking on more than a hundred people.

A few hours after dawn someone spied a spotted lion watching us from afar. Throughout the course of day people saw another and another and another. It’s hard to be quite sure because it’s difficult to identify one spotted lion from another but in the end everyone was pretty sure there were at least a dozen of them. They never got close but they shadowed us all day, watching us from afar. When I asked my advisory council (Argo, Marsh, Wiremu, Arlonni & Molly) how concerned we should be about this the answer turned out to be very. Twelve is a huge pack for spotted lions, we appear to be traveling right through their territory, and unlike their smaller cousins spotted lions are not afraid of people in the slightest. I asked Elgin and Davarro (the other teamster) what the Hells the deal was but they claimed they had never seen any lions on this route. I’m starting to wonder if those two are cleverer than they seem.

The question was raised if we should turn back – but if the lions are here that means that no more wagons will be coming through, if we headed back that would mean nearly half our rations would be gone in return for no progress. I made the call – we forge ahead. We made camp early and some of the woodsy types oversaw putting together a scrawny looking “wall” of brush that looked like it wouldn’t keep out a housecat. I wasn’t terribly relieved when I was told that it was less to keep the lions out than it was to lets us know if they charged in. We supplemented our paltry compliment of weapons with a few sharpened sticks that you could almost call spears and some branches that could be called clubs if you were feeling generous. It was going to be a nervous night.

Everyone tried to get some sleep as best they could (except those on watch) but we could hear the spotted lions roaming around outside the confines of our paltry barrier. Eventually I said to no one –

“I thought cats were supposed to be stealthy!”

Durian, the man in the red silks, who had been sharpening his curved sword all night – well past the point of weapon maintenance – answered.

“They can be silent as ghosts when they want to Ela.”

“What does that mean?”

“They want us to hear them.”

“Are they intelligent?!”

He shrugged “Not like us maybe. But their intention is to kill. And they will . . . . they will.”

“What do you know about it? You don’t seem like a naturalist sort.”

He got a faraway look in his eyes and then walked to the other side of the camp. I turned over angrily to try and get some sleep, muttering to myself.”

“Gods damned adventurers.”

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 70,003

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (rust), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +1 Falchion, +1 Greatclub, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, Manual of Quickness of Action, Bracer of Fire Resistance (10), Spear of Piercing Thunder, Handy Haversack, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Cloak of Resistance +2 (2), Headband of vast intelligence +2 (2), Ring of Feather Falling

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Spider Climb, Potion of Eagle’s Splendor, Potion of Jump

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill

Behind the curtain – Got an encounter today and rolled FOURTEEN dire lions.

Montumazin 10, Year 887 (New Imperial Calendar)

I’ve never been hailed as a hero before. It’s nice enough but it wears thin pretty quickly. I get it people, I saved you from a fate worse than death – enough already. There’s only so much fawning I can abide. Plus the boring stories about how they’re so happy they can get back to their dumb spouses and ugly children. Ugh. Besides which they aren’t fully saved yet – we’re in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention the fact that Argo and company weren’t pleased that lost treasure of the army wasn’t anywhere to be found (who could have guessed that would be the case?) so they could flip out and murder everyone at any moment.

There were several items on the agenda and since I need these people to bring down Królewna & Bonifacja I decided to take the bull by the testicles. No one seemed to mind much – in times of crisis most people are panting for someone to tell them what to do and save them from the terrible burden of free will. The first order of business was making sure that Haya and the two teamsters were in this for the long haul – a little bit of ass kissing, a little bit of flattery, and a little bit of charm – piece of cake.

After that it was convincing Argo and friends to stay with us instead of haring off after a treasure that was clearly long gone. The unslaved mob had a couple weapons from me, a couple that they took off Imrael, and a couple they took out of Haya’s camp (I had looted everything else when no one was paying attention) but that wouldn’t count for much – we’ll need some muscle if we were going to make it out. It wasn’t too hard to convince them – an appeal to vanity worked like a charm. Saving all these people? That gets you all kinds of good press – adventurers eat that up.

Then came the thorny bit. Out of the nearly six score people rescued more than two dozen of them were Vieland soldiers. Thankfully Sergeant Marsh was a practical sort – he wasn’t frothing at the mouth about taking them as POWs. Still the question was what to do with them. The Vieland troops had no officers to speak of but they decided amongst themselves to appoint a fellow by the name of Wiremu a Corporal or a Bravette or something – military people are like that, they need a chain of command to subvert in order to feel at ease. Wiremu’s suggestion was that they take their share of the supplies and strike off on their own to try and rejoin their army. I’m not exactly sure how much of a death march that would have been but since we only have four days worth of food it seems pretty death marchy. It’s the kind of plan soldiers come up with – honor, duty, flag, all that. I was able to talk him out of it by ensuring him that these were extraordinary circumstances and we all needed to work together, hostilities between nations aside.

Speaking of food, there was some talk about going on half rations and waiting for the next supply wagon to grab it as well. As per usual they were missing the big picture – if a wagon with supplies was coming every four days there must be a place they’re coming from not that far away. Thankfully we had two very cooperative teamsters/prisoners that filled us in on the details. Head northeast for three days, turn dead east at the Spur Hills, and in the ruins of Gribyr Królewna & Bonifacja had set up a little operations center for this slavery program.

We head there, take the supplies, and we should be good to go. Go where is a question no one could agree on but we’ll deal with that later. No sense in counting your chickens before they’re strangled after all. We (and by we I mean they) spent the bulk of the day scavenging the Sluice for anything of use but we did set out a few hours before sundown. We didn’t get far, but that wasn’t the point, the point was we were out of the city – away from the place where these people had been held captive. It was a little thing, but it made a difference.

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 70,003

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (rust), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +1 Falchion, +1 Greatclub, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, Manual of Quickness of Action, Bracer of Fire Resistance (10), Spear of Piercing Thunder, Handy Haversack, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Cloak of Resistance +2 (2), Headband of vast intelligence +2 (2), Ring of Feather Falling

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9), formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Spider Climb, Potion of Eagle’s Splendor, Potion of Jump

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill