Old Kellar nods. "I'll spread the word. There's not much rebellion here, to be truthful. All the hotheads went to fight at Albridge. The people left here are just those who want to get on with their lives. But any one of them will fight to oust the Iron Circle. They just need leadership and the opportunity."
Alesia nods to RL's awkward bow. She is neither condescending nor amused and seems to simply accept the respect he is offering.
Old Kellar talks with Alesia a while, passing on his news. There is still a snitch in town, but no one knows who. But there is not much going on now that can be told to the Iron Circle. But the guards seem to know when someone is trying to smuggle out their families, or just up and leaving with their worldly goods.
After a while Alesia rises. "Time to go before too many people arise and see a grey-cloaked figure leaving Old Kellar's house. I suggest you all head back too. I'll take my report back to Xander and meet you in Albridge in a couple of days with some suggestions about how we can get you inside Harken Keep."
With a brief nod to the others, and a smile and touch on the arm for Vakiel, Alesia opens the door, looks out towards the other houses, then dashes from sight.
Later that day while Augustin was busy doing some light work in the town, mostly with construction, driving a cart of wood to a build site or helping turn clay into bricks. While working he’s thinking about what the team needs and what steps can be taken to facilitate their next action. The paladin hates that everyone is out and he can’t protect them and tries not to think about that too much.
When walking back to his room at the Mallard Inn, Augustin notices two tall dragonborn in armour trying to talk to locals. The locals don't seem to be much help, and one of them notices Augustin approaching and gratefully points at you while saying something. The two dragonborn turn to look at Augustin and walk towards him. They seem very much like soldiers in their manner and bearing. Each wears splint armour and carries a longsword and shield.
"I am hengot Alikax of Dythan's Legion," one silver scaled dragonborn says, his accent thick. "This is baka Talroc," he indicated the dragonborn with bronze scales. Augustin guessed that "hengot" and "baka" were ranks. "We would like to ask you some questions. If you would help us, we would be grateful."
Augustin has heard of Dythan's Legion. Wielding arms and armor from a bygone era, these dragonborn legionnaires scour Arkhosian ruins for relics of their lost heritage. Augustin remembers his uncle the Baron saying that Dythan's Legion has little patience for treasure hunters. Stand in its way, and your bones will litter the ruins for some future explorer to excavate. The Legion is led by Legatus Dythan, a charismatic idealist who seeks to raise Arkhosia from the ashes.
Augustin nods and invites the dragonborn to continue.
"Some weeks ago at the start of Midsummer, two comrades of Dythan's Legion came this way following a map they had acquired. The map showed the location of Arkohsian ruins, which you may know we claim as our own, somewhere in the Harken Forest. But they have not returned or sent word. The people here say you are delvers and that you have travelled over much of Harkenwold. I was wondering if you had seen two dragonborn, more lightly armoured than we are, in the area or in your travels?"
Augustin indicates he has not, and after some more questions and answers Augustin finds out the following:
The two missing dragonborn scouts sent word they had bought the map from a trader in Fallcrest. They sent word that they were heading to the Harken Forest to investigate its veracity, then would report back in person.
Harken Forest is much too big to search, even if all of Dythan's Legion were to be engaged in the task.
If the fate of the dragonborn scouts becomes known to Augustin, would he send word to the Dythan's Legion representative in Fallcrest? Any messenger will be paid.
Augustin agreed and warned them about the Iron Circle in Harken. The dragonborn were aware of the Iron Circle and did not want to be involved in a conflict with them (although Augustin got the impression the dragonborn of Dythan's Legion had no fear of the Iron Circle) although needed to enter Harken village to enquire about their missing comrades.
They thanked Augustin for his cooperation and went on their way.
Grimbald, RL, Esa, and Vakiel leave Old Kellar's house and, careful to avoid being seen, run into the nearby woods and start their return journey to Albridge.
They are avoiding the road and head cross country, eventually coming onto the path that heads to the ruined village of Marl.
It is about two hours to midday, when the party see a strange sight. Three pixies fly across the path, accompanied by a scared looking shepherd boy and some sheep, all bobbing in the air a few feet off the ground. The shepherd boy is frantically trying to follow the pixies by grabbing any fence post, small tree or bush, or anything he can reach to pull himself along. The sheep, being too dull to really understand the concept of moving in three dimensions, bob haphazardly throughout the area, occasionally bumping into each other.
The boy spies the party and calls out for help. The pixies stop and stare and the party, annoyed looks on their faces.
The pixies still look annoyed. They ignore RL and address Esa in the Sylvan language.
"Do not interfere. This is a matter of eye and tooth!" says a male pixie.
Esa, of course, knows well the fey concept of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth - most cultures do. Fey just call it "eye and tooth" and more than any other race or culture adhere to it with a fanaticism.
Vakiel continues to be indifferent but polite to Alesia, shaking his head when she departs thinking he is old enough to be her grandfather.
Knowing better than to meddle with Fae unless necessary, he will also leave Esa to do the talking but will take a flanking position to RL on the other side of the group ... Just in case
The pixies still look annoyed. They ignore RL and address Esa in the Sylvan language.
"Do not interfere. This is a matter of eye and tooth!" says a male pixie.
Esa, of course, knows well the fey concept of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth - most cultures do. Fey just call it "eye and tooth" and more than any other race or culture adhere to it with a fanaticism.
Esa forces a smile. "No one has said anything about interferring. I was merely curious as to what brings you here. It has been a long time since I have seen other pixies."
The pixie who takes the lead introduces himself as Colivren. Esa quickly realises he is a stickler for rules and conservatism (for fey values), the others - a female pixie named Aerwolph, and a younger male pixie called Eerith - probably have different motivations for following the rule of eye and tooth in this situation.
"We live in Harken Forest in a small clan closeby," says Colivren. "That small wood there," he points to a wood about a half a mile across in the distance, "had our favourite toadstool ring."
Esa knows a toadstool ring can be a major component for creating a portal to the feywild.
"That stupid human allowed his sheep into the wood, it's not even their normal grazing ground." Colivren looks irritably at a sheep trying to run in midair, bleating helplessly.
"The sheep ate some of the fungi and trampled the ring to bits. So, in accordance with the rule of eye and tooth, we are going to his house and flatten it."
"Or at least smash it up!" exclaims Aerwolph. Esa can see what this pixie's motivation is. She likes to smash things.
"And we cast levitate on him and the sheep that were nearby. We couldn't get all of them," added Eerith. The young pixie immediately looked to see how his comment was received by the two older pixies.
Colivren nodded. "Now we will leave you to see justice is satisfied. You are a pixie, you understand what is happening here."
"I didn't do anything!" wailed the shepherd boy. He was young, dark-haired, and had tears in his eyes. "My family will die in the cold without a house to live in!" He flailed around, trying to right himself without avail and ended up upside down, a sack tied to his belt flipped the other way, bobbing beside his chest.
Esa nods knowingly. "I understand your reaction. The boy has made a foolish mistake, and as a result of that, something dear to you was taken. But might I offer some wisdom? Humans are vengeful beings. If you destroy that house, they will come to take more from you. The whole village will come to seek revenge, some may even try to kill you. While your lives are not mine to fret over, it will undoubtable become my problem when the village then calls upon my party to dispose of you and your home. I can't have that."
She motions to the boy. "He must pay retributions, I understand that. His family, however, did not wrong you. What can he offer you to repay his debt?"
Esa pulls them out, showing the pixies, ignoring the boy. "These seem dear to him. Otherwise why would he hide their existance? Esa drops the bag, and begins casting Detect Magic. If the pan pipes don't ping as anything special, she will say "He's a poor sheep herder, it's not like he'll be able to afford to replace them any time soon, either."
Grimbald, unable to understand Sylvan, is wondering why Esa is stealing a poor sheep herder's lunch and musical instrument, but it curious to see where this is going.
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Old Kellar nods. "I'll spread the word. There's not much rebellion here, to be truthful. All the hotheads went to fight at Albridge. The people left here are just those who want to get on with their lives. But any one of them will fight to oust the Iron Circle. They just need leadership and the opportunity."
Alesia nods to RL's awkward bow. She is neither condescending nor amused and seems to simply accept the respect he is offering.
Old Kellar talks with Alesia a while, passing on his news. There is still a snitch in town, but no one knows who. But there is not much going on now that can be told to the Iron Circle. But the guards seem to know when someone is trying to smuggle out their families, or just up and leaving with their worldly goods.
After a while Alesia rises. "Time to go before too many people arise and see a grey-cloaked figure leaving Old Kellar's house. I suggest you all head back too. I'll take my report back to Xander and meet you in Albridge in a couple of days with some suggestions about how we can get you inside Harken Keep."
With a brief nod to the others, and a smile and touch on the arm for Vakiel, Alesia opens the door, looks out towards the other houses, then dashes from sight.
Grimbald stuffs the map down his breaches and leaves a rabbit for Old Keller
RL turns to the other party members present. Do we want to try to identify the snitch here or not worry about it?
"Let's head back to Aldbridge, we can sort the snitch out later"
Augustin nods and invites the dragonborn to continue.
"Some weeks ago at the start of Midsummer, two comrades of Dythan's Legion came this way following a map they had acquired. The map showed the location of Arkohsian ruins, which you may know we claim as our own, somewhere in the Harken Forest. But they have not returned or sent word. The people here say you are delvers and that you have travelled over much of Harkenwold. I was wondering if you had seen two dragonborn, more lightly armoured than we are, in the area or in your travels?"
Augustin indicates he has not, and after some more questions and answers Augustin finds out the following:
The two missing dragonborn scouts sent word they had bought the map from a trader in Fallcrest. They sent word that they were heading to the Harken Forest to investigate its veracity, then would report back in person.
Harken Forest is much too big to search, even if all of Dythan's Legion were to be engaged in the task.
If the fate of the dragonborn scouts becomes known to Augustin, would he send word to the Dythan's Legion representative in Fallcrest? Any messenger will be paid.
Augustin agreed and warned them about the Iron Circle in Harken. The dragonborn were aware of the Iron Circle and did not want to be involved in a conflict with them (although Augustin got the impression the dragonborn of Dythan's Legion had no fear of the Iron Circle) although needed to enter Harken village to enquire about their missing comrades.
They thanked Augustin for his cooperation and went on their way.
Grimbald, RL, Esa, and Vakiel leave Old Kellar's house and, careful to avoid being seen, run into the nearby woods and start their return journey to Albridge.
They are avoiding the road and head cross country, eventually coming onto the path that heads to the ruined village of Marl.
It is about two hours to midday, when the party see a strange sight. Three pixies fly across the path, accompanied by a scared looking shepherd boy and some sheep, all bobbing in the air a few feet off the ground. The shepherd boy is frantically trying to follow the pixies by grabbing any fence post, small tree or bush, or anything he can reach to pull himself along. The sheep, being too dull to really understand the concept of moving in three dimensions, bob haphazardly throughout the area, occasionally bumping into each other.
The boy spies the party and calls out for help. The pixies stop and stare and the party, annoyed looks on their faces.
Actions?
RL asks Esa, are these friends or relatives of yours?
He will move over to try to get in front of them and offer a bow.
Good day Fair pixies, I have seen many things of late but this surely seems to take the cake. What are you doing with this boy and sheep please?
Esa will call out to the pixies. and fly towards them.
The pixies still look annoyed. They ignore RL and address Esa in the Sylvan language.
"Do not interfere. This is a matter of eye and tooth!" says a male pixie.
Esa, of course, knows well the fey concept of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth - most cultures do. Fey just call it "eye and tooth" and more than any other race or culture adhere to it with a fanaticism.
RL will shrug his shoulders at the pixies lack of manners, step back and start playing his pan flute while keeping an eye on things.
Esa can sort this out.
Vakiel continues to be indifferent but polite to Alesia, shaking his head when she departs thinking he is old enough to be her grandfather.
Knowing better than to meddle with Fae unless necessary, he will also leave Esa to do the talking but will take a flanking position to RL on the other side of the group ... Just in case
Esa forces a smile. "No one has said anything about interferring. I was merely curious as to what brings you here. It has been a long time since I have seen other pixies."
The pixie who takes the lead introduces himself as Colivren. Esa quickly realises he is a stickler for rules and conservatism (for fey values), the others - a female pixie named Aerwolph, and a younger male pixie called Eerith - probably have different motivations for following the rule of eye and tooth in this situation.
"We live in Harken Forest in a small clan closeby," says Colivren. "That small wood there," he points to a wood about a half a mile across in the distance, "had our favourite toadstool ring."
Esa knows a toadstool ring can be a major component for creating a portal to the feywild.
"That stupid human allowed his sheep into the wood, it's not even their normal grazing ground." Colivren looks irritably at a sheep trying to run in midair, bleating helplessly.
"The sheep ate some of the fungi and trampled the ring to bits. So, in accordance with the rule of eye and tooth, we are going to his house and flatten it."
"Or at least smash it up!" exclaims Aerwolph. Esa can see what this pixie's motivation is. She likes to smash things.
"And we cast levitate on him and the sheep that were nearby. We couldn't get all of them," added Eerith. The young pixie immediately looked to see how his comment was received by the two older pixies.
Colivren nodded. "Now we will leave you to see justice is satisfied. You are a pixie, you understand what is happening here."
"I didn't do anything!" wailed the shepherd boy. He was young, dark-haired, and had tears in his eyes. "My family will die in the cold without a house to live in!" He flailed around, trying to right himself without avail and ended up upside down, a sack tied to his belt flipped the other way, bobbing beside his chest.
Esa nods knowingly. "I understand your reaction. The boy has made a foolish mistake, and as a result of that, something dear to you was taken. But might I offer some wisdom? Humans are vengeful beings. If you destroy that house, they will come to take more from you. The whole village will come to seek revenge, some may even try to kill you. While your lives are not mine to fret over, it will undoubtable become my problem when the village then calls upon my party to dispose of you and your home. I can't have that."
She motions to the boy. "He must pay retributions, I understand that. His family, however, did not wrong you. What can he offer you to repay his debt?"
Colivren considers.
"There is wisdom in what you say. But the rule of eye and tooth must be upheld." He eyes the boy bobbing upside down. "What's in your bag, human boy?"
"Nothing!" says the boy, far too quickly. He must have realised it sounded suspicious. "Just my lunch and a few bits and pieces."
Esa will Mage Hand the bag from the boy, opening it and peering inside.
Inside is his lunch - cheese and bread - but also a set of pan pipes, similar to what RL is playing right now.
Esa pulls them out, showing the pixies, ignoring the boy. "These seem dear to him. Otherwise why would he hide their existance?
Esa drops the bag, and begins casting Detect Magic. If the pan pipes don't ping as anything special, she will say "He's a poor sheep herder, it's not like he'll be able to afford to replace them any time soon, either."
Grimbald, unable to understand Sylvan, is wondering why Esa is stealing a poor sheep herder's lunch and musical instrument, but it curious to see where this is going.