Drexon nods his understanding to the Grand Mason and watches him leave. On remembering where the Lords would have gone, Drexon decides to go and get Lady Zelena first, and as he turns around he sees Karm disappear and become the four babies which in turn become gems.
"Damn", he says. "I had hoped that was some way of him healing himself. I guess that is another mystery we need to try and solve".
With that he wanders back to the family room and does the special knock he agreed with Lady Zelena.
After a bit of a shuffle, the door to the family room swings slightly ajar. Zelena slides outside with a little difficulty. Her legs are still limp.
"It is finished, then?" Zelena asks. She looks around and grimaces when she sees a couple of the dead gold-cloaked turncoats strewn about the inner courtyard and corridor. "Did you catch any of them? How many casualties are we looking at? You will have to help me up as I still can't feel my legs."
"It is over yes", Drexon replies whilst helping Lady Zelena to stand and walk. "I cannot say to the losses amongst the guards, but your father and uncle are safe. We should go get them from the mausoleum".
As they walk he fills her in a little more, "It seems Fenton Guilleman and your mother were in allegiance, until Fenton double crossed her. He wanted to remove the mayor and all of House Clarent in some sort of coup, including it turned out Lady Leillana".
"From what I've seen, the guards who were killed were my mother's retinue," Zelena says in relief. "The estate staff are probably alright at the staff quarter. Hopefully."
"Is she... Is my mother still alive?" Zelena asks hesitantly. Her eyes are a little bit red-rimmed, but she is keeping herself together quite well. "Is Mayor Ute and the other guests safe?"
She lets out a heavy and stuttering sigh as Drexon helps her to the grand room. "I don't understand why Fenton did this." She voices out loud. "He seems to be a learned and charming man when I spoke to him. On the other hand, I suppose I can understand my mother's involvement. She is a proud and jealous woman. Popularity is everything for her. She used to be the most sought after woman in the city before she married my father, you know? Her fame had fallen since then. I guess I also didn't help matter by trying to emulate some of her better sides. I ended up appearing better than her in the eye of the public."
Cob slips the Karm-gem into his pouch. He’ll have to ponder more about it later. He says a silent goodbye to the wizard and then turns his attention back to the room.
”I can’t help but feel like these people will end up causing the problem that sent us back here in the first place.” Cob says.
He moves over to where Drexon and Eremoz are, following their lead and dealing with these people. Cob on his own would be happy to be done with all of them and be back on the road to look for the missing kids.
"I really don't know about your mother, a lot of the captives escaped and she might be one of them", Drexon replies to Lady Zelena. "I would wager if she did escape, but might not be in a hurry to be found".
He doesn't venture an opinion about Fenton's motives, he simply looks about to see if the Rangers had arrived like the Grand Mason suggested, and started taking people into custody.
"Are we able to get through the garden to the mausoleum?", he asks Lady Zelena.
He tries to keep himself busy so as not to have to think about the loss of Karm.
As Drexon and Zelena make their way to the grand room, they hear a commotion at the front door of the manor. A purple-haired halfling garbed in the moss-green cloak of the Rangers is berating another green-haired one.
"You must be drunk again to be caught off guard like this, sister. As the commander of the city guard, you should have sensed that there is something wrong from the beginning."
"Well, you weren't even here. Just deal with this while the medics are looking for an antidote. That damn Guilleman won't see the light of day after this. Just get in. The Clarent's new security guards seem capable. If they weren't employed already, I would poach them into my ranks."
"Not if I have anything to say about it. I could use some new blood in the conclave."
Drexon will recognize the purple-haired halfling as the ranger investigating the warehouse district when the group first arrived in Mantagard. She seems to be high in rank, most probably the First Ranger of the conclave here. With her are a plethora of similarly cloaked men and women, helping the fleeing guests. One of the rangers handcuffed Hotis Garaton with bluish metal manacles as the Grand Mason had a rather furious row with the Mayor. Curse words may have been thrown about by the Mayor while the Grand Mason remains silent, offering only a few words in between. Another half a dozen rangers also can be seen dragging the two guards who surrendered.
When Zelena reaches the grand room, she gasps at the sight of the arcane scorch mark on the wall and the dead bodies of the older Guilleman and the guard leader of her mother's retinue. She looks around for her mother and finds the Clarent matriarch still drowsily sitting on the floor. Dvark is kneeling in the middle of the room, looking worse for wear with Cob hovering beside him. Eremoz still has Fenton in his grasp, waiting for the rangers or the others to decide upon his fate. The charming and scholarly man in blue is missing. She puts the sight out of her mind as Drexon helps her reach the door leading to the back garden.
"It should be easy enough to open the door, but we'll have to search for them," Zelena says. As she touches the frame of the door, red sigils briefly glow along the frame before the door swings slightly ajar. "There is a chance that my father and uncle are also affected by the poison and cannot move themselves."
As soon as Zelena and Drexon pass through the threshold, Drexon begins to feel a sudden cold pervades his body. He feels as if a hundred pairs of eyes are watching his every move. The feeling recedes when Zelena murmurs under her breath almost inaudibly, "I welcome you into the sanctuary of the Clarent ancestors."
Finding David and Daven doesn't take long. David is standing with Daven leaning heavily on him. It appears that David is unaffected by the poison while Daven has lost feeling in his lower limbs, just like Zelena.
"Daughter, you're alive," Daven breathes in relief. "It's your mother. I didn't expect her to employ such violent means just to regain her father's wealth." Beside him, David clears his throat and looks up to the sky. Daven reddens sheepishly. "Uh, well, David did tell me that this is coming sooner rather than later, but I'm reluctant to believe him. For all her faults, Leillana is still my wife despite our recent distant relationship. I have to see the good in her. How many died? I saw Julian Guilleman stabbed by his own brother and Leillana's guards subduing the manor guards before David dragged me to safety."
"I hid myself in the family room with the help of Mr Drexon," Zelena replies. "It is best you see it for yourself or let Mr Drexon explain, father."
{{After a little bit of catching up, you all find yourself back in the grand room. The threat is over and help has come. What's next? You still have Fenton there with you in Eremoz's grasp. The time is around noon.}}
"You are leaving, Dvark?", Drexon says sounding shocked when he approaches Dvark and Cob after explaining to the Clarent Lords what had happened. "Karm is gone and you are going as well?", he asks, before realising the rangers still hadn't taken Fenton off Eremoz.
"Actually hold on, I have some questions for Fenton here", he says to Dvark, once again trying to keep busy. The emotions of others drew him like to a moth to a flame, but feeling his own emotions was not a comfortable sensation.
As he moves to address Fenton, he subtly reaches out into his mind, first reading surface thoughts, but prepared to go deeper if necessary.
"The Grand Mason says you are merely a pawn in a grander game", he says to Fenton. "So tell me who controls you. Why did you attempt this coup? Who was set benefit beyond yourself?".
(OOC: Uses 1 sorcery point for subtle meta magic. Starts off with surface thoughts, but will pry deeper before the end of the spell)
"It's because of his death and my own condition," Dvark replies. There is a hint of worry and reluctance to go in his eyes. "The Dusk Weaver, she knew we were not from this time the moment Karm died. She whispered in my ears and told me to come to her temple in Druigg. That's in the Ralerean Union, just across the sea in the Root Anvil. I wish it did not have to be like this, but maybe she will offer an answer to my condition and to the creature we've seen. I will be in contact. Maybe, I can stay for a few more hours. This fight has been exhausting and nerve-wracking."
Drexon, as you probe Fenton's mind, you find a barrier that you easily bypass. It is flimsy enough that the wizard doesn't feel anything, but you know that his mind has been touched by something aberrant because your own mind has a similar scent and texture.
"He told you that, huh? I knew he was a traitor all along," Fenton says with a grumble. He goes quiet for a long moment before he says, "They are called the Residuum. I might as well tell you because I'm sure assassins are being deployed to deal with my failure. The Residuum is... shall I say... a syndicate. They are a group of revolutionaries who want more for this world than what the Heavenly Court had made and given." You can see the fanatic fervour in Fenton's eyes. His grin widens, almost manic. "Their goal is to elevate the people of Sabitah. To make each of them gods of their own making. To see the arrogant dragged down from their pedestal and throne. To flip the wheel of destiny so those who are at the bottom of the rung can finally bring down those in power."
Fenton lets out a long sigh and shakes his head in disappointment. "Mantagard is the perfect place to start," he continues. "When I propose this plan to them, they are ecstatic. Mantagard is a small-scale model of what is currently happening in the Verdant Trammel. If Mantagard can be taken, it would be easy to bring our revolution to the rest of the Verdant Trammel. Well, as you can see, this is a failure." His grin becomes more sinister as a dry chuckle escapes his lips. You briefly see the sight of a tall elf with a sharp face discussing something with Fenton and Hotis crosses Fenton's mind. "I see that people can only be made to understand. They don't want to understand, but they can be made to understand. I suppose this is the plan all along and they only indulge me. I see that now."
{{Now that Drexon mentioned emotion, I want him to make a Wisdom saving throw.}}
Drexon listens carefully, putting the emotional distraction to the back of his mind.
"And who exactly is your contact in the Residuum? How can they be found?", he asks, and if he doesn't get an answer and can't read Fenton's thoughts clearly enough, he will push into his mind to try and extract the information.
Fenton remains quiet and ponderous. He shakes his head and says, "Finding them is not a good idea. I've seen what you're capable of. You've lost one and you are just about to lose another. You cannot face them with only three."
Drexon, you push deeper against the shroud around Fenton's mind and find a break in the shroud. You scour through his memories before you reach the memories you've seen about him, Hotis, and the unknown elven man. You see Fenton, Hotis, and an elven man sitting around a round tea table. A chess set is on the table and it appears that the elven man is playing against Fenton and the wizard is losing badly.
You smell something, a scent attached to the memory. It is such a visceral scent that you cannot help but remain in that memory, scrutinizing it and combing every object in that very scene. It reminds you of rotten paper and just a hint of coffee. In fact, it reminds you of the scent you smell whenever you walk into a library--any library.
"Your strategy is flawed," you hear the elven man drawls. "You are too brash and arrogant. I mated you five steps ago, but I chose to prolong your suffering to make you see sense. It appears the folly of youth is stronger than common sense. All you have to do is take one of my bishops and you will have recovered decently. Yet, you insist on being this bold. Still, the Residuum will require such boldness soon."
"I do not bring him here to join," Hotis says sternly. "He requires guidance and mentorship, something I cannot impart on my own. His mind has been touched by an aberrant creature and such damage has twisted his psyche such that arcane magic is beyond him."
"Oh, he will do well under my tutelage," the elven man says. You can see a glint of satisfaction in his eyes as if every puzzle piece had fallen in the right places. A smirk blooms on his face before you are pushed out of the memory and back to reality.
Eremoz gives a nod of understanding to Dvark. “I hope you find what you need.“
He flags down the First Ranger. He waits until Drexon is finished talking with him before abruptly dragging Fenton to the Rangers. He doesn’t apply any unnecessary pressure or pain to the hold, but he makes sure to walk quickly and give Fenton no warning of their joint movements.
He mutters just loud enough for Fenton to hear.
Cheating at cards, cheating at taking power, and nothing to show for it. You are lucky that we are kind.
He finishes just as they arrive to the Rangers. “Please, take him.”
Drexon merely smiles at Fenton, "You have no idea what we three are truly capable of, but your concern is appreciated. Thank you for all the information. Perhaps our paths will cross again". With that he nods to Eremoz to indicate he is done.
"You know Cob, I think you are right. Time to get paid and get out of here", he says to his companion.
He then looks around for Lord David and waves him over, hoping to conclude their business.
The First Ranger shares a few more words with a few people before she moves toward the group with a couple of rangers and city guards behind her. She grimaces when she sees the damage to the room and the dead bodies.
"Is that two dead?" The First Ranger asks when she notices two of the gold-cloaked guards still on the ground.
"Asleep," Dvark replies.
The First Ranger gestures toward the two sleeping guards and the rangers and city guards begin apprehending them. She approaches the group, particularly Fenton, with a scowl on her face. "Mr Fenton Guilleman," she sneers. Her fingers pop with how tight she clutches her fist and reins in her impulse to not just punch the living day out of Fenton. "I would read you your rights, but I have thirty people outside baying for your blood. No amount of bribe will keep you out of prison." She pulls out a blue manacle and fastens it around Fenton's wrist before the manacle flares with white runes. It appears to be a magic-suppressing manacle.
"Thank you, gentlemen, for your service," The First Ranger says as she leaves with Fenton. "If you need any help, visit the Mantagard Conclave's headquarters not far from here. It's the least we can do for your role in saving the mayor and preventing a violent coup."
David drags a couple of chairs for Daven and Zelena as the healers from the city guards and the Rangers Conclave swarm the estate to heal the poisoned guests. He sees the group huddling and walks up to them.
"It has been a rush of a morning, but I assume you are leaving?" David asks. "You have done your job well. Much of it is a surprise that we failed to mitigate, but everything ended well enough. Some reparation will have to be given to the dead guests, but that is not something you have to worry about. Let's go to a private room so we can conclude our business."
David leads you to an office of some sort near the sunroom. It appears to be his office, filled with oddities, staff schedules, a few housekeeping equipment, and a large ledger detailing the estate's finances. There is a desk near the back of the room facing the door. David crouches under the desk and stands back up holding five pouches of money.
"As per the contract, 50 copper per person with the chance to discuss additional reward, especially now that you lost one of your own," David says. "I cannot find your friend, so I assume he perished during the fight. Regardless, 250 copper total for your group with an additional 50 copper for a job well done. We can also call for a coach for your next journey to any place you want." He snaps his fingers and bends back down to grab something. From under the desk, he pulls a thin cylinder about an arms-length tall. "Almost forget. A gift from Lady Zelena. You have not noticed it, but she has a mean streak to those who slighted her. It never really manifested this far, but I think being nearly murdered by her own mother causes it to show itself. She thinks this will be the perfect punishment for her mother. Inside this cylinder is a precious map bestowed to the Pedrov heir or heiress. It leads to an artefact of House Pedrov, a maul by the name Gigantomachia. I notice that one of you prefers the maul, so I think this is a perfect parting gift. It was hidden in a location shown on the map during the time the Illuminated Papacy was banished from Mantagard. It should be worth checking. I heard it was crafted by the Giants and imbued with some of their strength and power. Any more information, you will have to take a look at the map."
"I think we are fairly eager to be on our way, although the offer of a coach does reduce the need for speed somewhat", Drexon replies and takes his portion of the copper. "We did indeed lose one of our own", he adds with a little bit of anger bleeding through in his tone.
"The gift from Lady Zelena is most welcome, but I was wondering about the opportunity to discuss something additional. I do have a request, but it is of a personal nature. Perhaps I can get a few minutes of your time in private before we leave?".
"Yes, very well," David nods at Drexon's request. He looks at the others and offers them a nod. "If you like, we can provide some food so you can take some rest before departure. The staff will freshly cook it, so you don't have to worry about the poisoned food served previously."
When the others leave, he will turn to Drexon, "What can I help you with?"
Cob and Eremoz, looking at the map, you both notice that it shows a valley of some sort south of Mantagard. There are not a lot of landmark on it, only a scale and five named places: Mantagard at the upper center of the map, the Gorginite Forest filling the west and south west of the map, the Silverpeak Mountain on the far bottom of the map, a point somewhere in the Gorginite Forest labeled Adamas, and a point at the border between the Gorginite Forest and the Silverpeak Mountain called Runestone. The point of the Runestone is circled with a neatly written script saying "Monster slayer, K'thul's Bane, Gigantomachia".
Drexon nods his understanding to the Grand Mason and watches him leave. On remembering where the Lords would have gone, Drexon decides to go and get Lady Zelena first, and as he turns around he sees Karm disappear and become the four babies which in turn become gems.
"Damn", he says. "I had hoped that was some way of him healing himself. I guess that is another mystery we need to try and solve".
With that he wanders back to the family room and does the special knock he agreed with Lady Zelena.
After a bit of a shuffle, the door to the family room swings slightly ajar. Zelena slides outside with a little difficulty. Her legs are still limp.
"It is finished, then?" Zelena asks. She looks around and grimaces when she sees a couple of the dead gold-cloaked turncoats strewn about the inner courtyard and corridor. "Did you catch any of them? How many casualties are we looking at? You will have to help me up as I still can't feel my legs."
"It is over yes", Drexon replies whilst helping Lady Zelena to stand and walk. "I cannot say to the losses amongst the guards, but your father and uncle are safe. We should go get them from the mausoleum".
As they walk he fills her in a little more, "It seems Fenton Guilleman and your mother were in allegiance, until Fenton double crossed her. He wanted to remove the mayor and all of House Clarent in some sort of coup, including it turned out Lady Leillana".
"From what I've seen, the guards who were killed were my mother's retinue," Zelena says in relief. "The estate staff are probably alright at the staff quarter. Hopefully."
"Is she... Is my mother still alive?" Zelena asks hesitantly. Her eyes are a little bit red-rimmed, but she is keeping herself together quite well. "Is Mayor Ute and the other guests safe?"
She lets out a heavy and stuttering sigh as Drexon helps her to the grand room. "I don't understand why Fenton did this." She voices out loud. "He seems to be a learned and charming man when I spoke to him. On the other hand, I suppose I can understand my mother's involvement. She is a proud and jealous woman. Popularity is everything for her. She used to be the most sought after woman in the city before she married my father, you know? Her fame had fallen since then. I guess I also didn't help matter by trying to emulate some of her better sides. I ended up appearing better than her in the eye of the public."
Cob slips the Karm-gem into his pouch. He’ll have to ponder more about it later. He says a silent goodbye to the wizard and then turns his attention back to the room.
”I can’t help but feel like these people will end up causing the problem that sent us back here in the first place.” Cob says.
He moves over to where Drexon and Eremoz are, following their lead and dealing with these people. Cob on his own would be happy to be done with all of them and be back on the road to look for the missing kids.
"I really don't know about your mother, a lot of the captives escaped and she might be one of them", Drexon replies to Lady Zelena. "I would wager if she did escape, but might not be in a hurry to be found".
He doesn't venture an opinion about Fenton's motives, he simply looks about to see if the Rangers had arrived like the Grand Mason suggested, and started taking people into custody.
"Are we able to get through the garden to the mausoleum?", he asks Lady Zelena.
He tries to keep himself busy so as not to have to think about the loss of Karm.
As Drexon and Zelena make their way to the grand room, they hear a commotion at the front door of the manor. A purple-haired halfling garbed in the moss-green cloak of the Rangers is berating another green-haired one.
"You must be drunk again to be caught off guard like this, sister. As the commander of the city guard, you should have sensed that there is something wrong from the beginning."
"Well, you weren't even here. Just deal with this while the medics are looking for an antidote. That damn Guilleman won't see the light of day after this. Just get in. The Clarent's new security guards seem capable. If they weren't employed already, I would poach them into my ranks."
"Not if I have anything to say about it. I could use some new blood in the conclave."
Drexon will recognize the purple-haired halfling as the ranger investigating the warehouse district when the group first arrived in Mantagard. She seems to be high in rank, most probably the First Ranger of the conclave here. With her are a plethora of similarly cloaked men and women, helping the fleeing guests. One of the rangers handcuffed Hotis Garaton with bluish metal manacles as the Grand Mason had a rather furious row with the Mayor. Curse words may have been thrown about by the Mayor while the Grand Mason remains silent, offering only a few words in between. Another half a dozen rangers also can be seen dragging the two guards who surrendered.
When Zelena reaches the grand room, she gasps at the sight of the arcane scorch mark on the wall and the dead bodies of the older Guilleman and the guard leader of her mother's retinue. She looks around for her mother and finds the Clarent matriarch still drowsily sitting on the floor. Dvark is kneeling in the middle of the room, looking worse for wear with Cob hovering beside him. Eremoz still has Fenton in his grasp, waiting for the rangers or the others to decide upon his fate. The charming and scholarly man in blue is missing. She puts the sight out of her mind as Drexon helps her reach the door leading to the back garden.
"It should be easy enough to open the door, but we'll have to search for them," Zelena says. As she touches the frame of the door, red sigils briefly glow along the frame before the door swings slightly ajar. "There is a chance that my father and uncle are also affected by the poison and cannot move themselves."
As soon as Zelena and Drexon pass through the threshold, Drexon begins to feel a sudden cold pervades his body. He feels as if a hundred pairs of eyes are watching his every move. The feeling recedes when Zelena murmurs under her breath almost inaudibly, "I welcome you into the sanctuary of the Clarent ancestors."
Finding David and Daven doesn't take long. David is standing with Daven leaning heavily on him. It appears that David is unaffected by the poison while Daven has lost feeling in his lower limbs, just like Zelena.
"Daughter, you're alive," Daven breathes in relief. "It's your mother. I didn't expect her to employ such violent means just to regain her father's wealth." Beside him, David clears his throat and looks up to the sky. Daven reddens sheepishly. "Uh, well, David did tell me that this is coming sooner rather than later, but I'm reluctant to believe him. For all her faults, Leillana is still my wife despite our recent distant relationship. I have to see the good in her. How many died? I saw Julian Guilleman stabbed by his own brother and Leillana's guards subduing the manor guards before David dragged me to safety."
"I hid myself in the family room with the help of Mr Drexon," Zelena replies. "It is best you see it for yourself or let Mr Drexon explain, father."
{{After a little bit of catching up, you all find yourself back in the grand room. The threat is over and help has come. What's next? You still have Fenton there with you in Eremoz's grasp. The time is around noon.}}
Cob lays a hand on Dvark's shoulder and offers what aid he can in getting the big orc up and moving.
"If you find a way back, don't leave without me," Cob says with a smile. "I'll be really angry."
He then joins up with Drexon and Eremoz when Drexon returns.
"Is this what all families are like?" Cob asks the pair. "I never met mine but maybe it's for the best."
Cob watches the clean up going on and just shakes his head.
"I'm all for collecting our pay and getting out of this town." Cob says. "This might just be the beginning."
He looks around again.
"And the thief never showed up either." Cob says with disappointment.
"You are leaving, Dvark?", Drexon says sounding shocked when he approaches Dvark and Cob after explaining to the Clarent Lords what had happened. "Karm is gone and you are going as well?", he asks, before realising the rangers still hadn't taken Fenton off Eremoz.
"Actually hold on, I have some questions for Fenton here", he says to Dvark, once again trying to keep busy. The emotions of others drew him like to a moth to a flame, but feeling his own emotions was not a comfortable sensation.
As he moves to address Fenton, he subtly reaches out into his mind, first reading surface thoughts, but prepared to go deeper if necessary.
"The Grand Mason says you are merely a pawn in a grander game", he says to Fenton. "So tell me who controls you. Why did you attempt this coup? Who was set benefit beyond yourself?".
(OOC: Uses 1 sorcery point for subtle meta magic. Starts off with surface thoughts, but will pry deeper before the end of the spell)
"It's because of his death and my own condition," Dvark replies. There is a hint of worry and reluctance to go in his eyes. "The Dusk Weaver, she knew we were not from this time the moment Karm died. She whispered in my ears and told me to come to her temple in Druigg. That's in the Ralerean Union, just across the sea in the Root Anvil. I wish it did not have to be like this, but maybe she will offer an answer to my condition and to the creature we've seen. I will be in contact. Maybe, I can stay for a few more hours. This fight has been exhausting and nerve-wracking."
Drexon, as you probe Fenton's mind, you find a barrier that you easily bypass. It is flimsy enough that the wizard doesn't feel anything, but you know that his mind has been touched by something aberrant because your own mind has a similar scent and texture.
"He told you that, huh? I knew he was a traitor all along," Fenton says with a grumble. He goes quiet for a long moment before he says, "They are called the Residuum. I might as well tell you because I'm sure assassins are being deployed to deal with my failure. The Residuum is... shall I say... a syndicate. They are a group of revolutionaries who want more for this world than what the Heavenly Court had made and given." You can see the fanatic fervour in Fenton's eyes. His grin widens, almost manic. "Their goal is to elevate the people of Sabitah. To make each of them gods of their own making. To see the arrogant dragged down from their pedestal and throne. To flip the wheel of destiny so those who are at the bottom of the rung can finally bring down those in power."
Fenton lets out a long sigh and shakes his head in disappointment. "Mantagard is the perfect place to start," he continues. "When I propose this plan to them, they are ecstatic. Mantagard is a small-scale model of what is currently happening in the Verdant Trammel. If Mantagard can be taken, it would be easy to bring our revolution to the rest of the Verdant Trammel. Well, as you can see, this is a failure." His grin becomes more sinister as a dry chuckle escapes his lips. You briefly see the sight of a tall elf with a sharp face discussing something with Fenton and Hotis crosses Fenton's mind. "I see that people can only be made to understand. They don't want to understand, but they can be made to understand. I suppose this is the plan all along and they only indulge me. I see that now."
{{Now that Drexon mentioned emotion, I want him to make a Wisdom saving throw.}}
Drexon listens carefully, putting the emotional distraction to the back of his mind.
"And who exactly is your contact in the Residuum? How can they be found?", he asks, and if he doesn't get an answer and can't read Fenton's thoughts clearly enough, he will push into his mind to try and extract the information.
Fenton remains quiet and ponderous. He shakes his head and says, "Finding them is not a good idea. I've seen what you're capable of. You've lost one and you are just about to lose another. You cannot face them with only three."
Drexon, you push deeper against the shroud around Fenton's mind and find a break in the shroud. You scour through his memories before you reach the memories you've seen about him, Hotis, and the unknown elven man. You see Fenton, Hotis, and an elven man sitting around a round tea table. A chess set is on the table and it appears that the elven man is playing against Fenton and the wizard is losing badly.
You smell something, a scent attached to the memory. It is such a visceral scent that you cannot help but remain in that memory, scrutinizing it and combing every object in that very scene. It reminds you of rotten paper and just a hint of coffee. In fact, it reminds you of the scent you smell whenever you walk into a library--any library.
"Your strategy is flawed," you hear the elven man drawls. "You are too brash and arrogant. I mated you five steps ago, but I chose to prolong your suffering to make you see sense. It appears the folly of youth is stronger than common sense. All you have to do is take one of my bishops and you will have recovered decently. Yet, you insist on being this bold. Still, the Residuum will require such boldness soon."
"I do not bring him here to join," Hotis says sternly. "He requires guidance and mentorship, something I cannot impart on my own. His mind has been touched by an aberrant creature and such damage has twisted his psyche such that arcane magic is beyond him."
"Oh, he will do well under my tutelage," the elven man says. You can see a glint of satisfaction in his eyes as if every puzzle piece had fallen in the right places. A smirk blooms on his face before you are pushed out of the memory and back to reality.
Eremoz gives a nod of understanding to Dvark. “I hope you find what you need.“
He flags down the First Ranger. He waits until Drexon is finished talking with him before abruptly dragging Fenton to the Rangers. He doesn’t apply any unnecessary pressure or pain to the hold, but he makes sure to walk quickly and give Fenton no warning of their joint movements.
He mutters just loud enough for Fenton to hear.
Cheating at cards, cheating at taking power, and nothing to show for it. You are lucky that we are kind.
He finishes just as they arrive to the Rangers. “Please, take him.”
Drexon merely smiles at Fenton, "You have no idea what we three are truly capable of, but your concern is appreciated. Thank you for all the information. Perhaps our paths will cross again". With that he nods to Eremoz to indicate he is done.
"You know Cob, I think you are right. Time to get paid and get out of here", he says to his companion.
He then looks around for Lord David and waves him over, hoping to conclude their business.
The First Ranger shares a few more words with a few people before she moves toward the group with a couple of rangers and city guards behind her. She grimaces when she sees the damage to the room and the dead bodies.
"Is that two dead?" The First Ranger asks when she notices two of the gold-cloaked guards still on the ground.
"Asleep," Dvark replies.
The First Ranger gestures toward the two sleeping guards and the rangers and city guards begin apprehending them. She approaches the group, particularly Fenton, with a scowl on her face. "Mr Fenton Guilleman," she sneers. Her fingers pop with how tight she clutches her fist and reins in her impulse to not just punch the living day out of Fenton. "I would read you your rights, but I have thirty people outside baying for your blood. No amount of bribe will keep you out of prison." She pulls out a blue manacle and fastens it around Fenton's wrist before the manacle flares with white runes. It appears to be a magic-suppressing manacle.
"Thank you, gentlemen, for your service," The First Ranger says as she leaves with Fenton. "If you need any help, visit the Mantagard Conclave's headquarters not far from here. It's the least we can do for your role in saving the mayor and preventing a violent coup."
David drags a couple of chairs for Daven and Zelena as the healers from the city guards and the Rangers Conclave swarm the estate to heal the poisoned guests. He sees the group huddling and walks up to them.
"It has been a rush of a morning, but I assume you are leaving?" David asks. "You have done your job well. Much of it is a surprise that we failed to mitigate, but everything ended well enough. Some reparation will have to be given to the dead guests, but that is not something you have to worry about. Let's go to a private room so we can conclude our business."
David leads you to an office of some sort near the sunroom. It appears to be his office, filled with oddities, staff schedules, a few housekeeping equipment, and a large ledger detailing the estate's finances. There is a desk near the back of the room facing the door. David crouches under the desk and stands back up holding five pouches of money.
"As per the contract, 50 copper per person with the chance to discuss additional reward, especially now that you lost one of your own," David says. "I cannot find your friend, so I assume he perished during the fight. Regardless, 250 copper total for your group with an additional 50 copper for a job well done. We can also call for a coach for your next journey to any place you want." He snaps his fingers and bends back down to grab something. From under the desk, he pulls a thin cylinder about an arms-length tall. "Almost forget. A gift from Lady Zelena. You have not noticed it, but she has a mean streak to those who slighted her. It never really manifested this far, but I think being nearly murdered by her own mother causes it to show itself. She thinks this will be the perfect punishment for her mother. Inside this cylinder is a precious map bestowed to the Pedrov heir or heiress. It leads to an artefact of House Pedrov, a maul by the name Gigantomachia. I notice that one of you prefers the maul, so I think this is a perfect parting gift. It was hidden in a location shown on the map during the time the Illuminated Papacy was banished from Mantagard. It should be worth checking. I heard it was crafted by the Giants and imbued with some of their strength and power. Any more information, you will have to take a look at the map."
"I think we are fairly eager to be on our way, although the offer of a coach does reduce the need for speed somewhat", Drexon replies and takes his portion of the copper. "We did indeed lose one of our own", he adds with a little bit of anger bleeding through in his tone.
"The gift from Lady Zelena is most welcome, but I was wondering about the opportunity to discuss something additional. I do have a request, but it is of a personal nature. Perhaps I can get a few minutes of your time in private before we leave?".
Cob nods quickly at the arrival of the coins and make sure that Dvark gets his share before he leaves.
Then as Drexon broaches more business, Cob opens up the map to take a closer look at it.
"Feel like upgrading?" he asks Eremoz as he tries to make sense of the map.
"Yes, very well," David nods at Drexon's request. He looks at the others and offers them a nod. "If you like, we can provide some food so you can take some rest before departure. The staff will freshly cook it, so you don't have to worry about the poisoned food served previously."
When the others leave, he will turn to Drexon, "What can I help you with?"
Cob and Eremoz, looking at the map, you both notice that it shows a valley of some sort south of Mantagard. There are not a lot of landmark on it, only a scale and five named places: Mantagard at the upper center of the map, the Gorginite Forest filling the west and south west of the map, the Silverpeak Mountain on the far bottom of the map, a point somewhere in the Gorginite Forest labeled Adamas, and a point at the border between the Gorginite Forest and the Silverpeak Mountain called Runestone. The point of the Runestone is circled with a neatly written script saying "Monster slayer, K'thul's Bane, Gigantomachia".
Is the valley to the south at all in a similar direction to the town we were headed to on the coast?
Saikhan is to the north of Mantagard, about a day and a half travel through swamp. The location of Runestone is 3 days walk south of Mantagard.