“Must really smell in there, if she hasn’t been able to come out in… how long?”  Virro muses to himself, sitting at the table.  He observes the conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Ardour, noting that they haven’t seen her in ages, he wonders exactly how long it has been since they have seen their daughter.  Virro nibbles on an unpecked portion of cake and watches the conversation, waiting for a moment of quiet in the conversation.  At that time he awkwardly interjects “You know, your daughter was quite an actress on our adventure.  She is so talented, at so many things.”  Virro stands and bows toward Archie, saying “My Lady Duke…..” and grins.  He tries to bring up her good points in front of her parents.  

Archie's parents stare at her in almost incomprehension as she confesses her situation.  You can tell from their faces it is hard for them to process, "What do you mean, an automaton?  What is that?  Can't you just take it off, so what if it falls apart."  he frowns as he tries to understand.

Mrs. Ardour is still trying to split her attention between her daughter and this awful chicken on the table, and as Roo attempts to intimate her, she makes the 'clutching her pearls' move, "Well I never!" Her finger comes out and she is about to scold Roo on manners when what he says at the end registers and her face goes pale as she turns back to Archie.  "What... what is he talking about Archaea?" her voice lowers to almost a whisper as she stares at her daughter. 

As Roo continues to explain, the Ardours just stare at their daughter, her dad grabbing a chair for his wife to sit in so she doesn't faint.  As Virro compliment's Archie's acting skills, Mr. Ardour nods almost mechanically, "She always was talented in so many things.." but neither can take their eyes off their daughter and Mrs. Ardour starts to cry.

Wilfred leans over to Reed, "It looks to me as though you all have your hands full with Archie and Candlekeep.  I think I'll go check in on Bertie and help her out.  You chaps head on ahead, I'll catch up when I can."  He holds up his new glaive, "I think Salakar and my new friend here need to become acquainted, what do you think?" and he smiles.

"what, I? No, no Corlith, you said you were worried and that the other thing thought I couldn't survive outside of it, not that it is actively killing me!... I... This was a bad idea."

Archie looks around not sure what to do with herself, suddenly even more aware of herself, videos words pass through her without really having the intended effect of lightening the mood, which is brought down even more by Archie's mother now bawling. She turns to her dad instead.

"It was stupid of me, I got in the suit thinking it would be fine, I didn't know, I didn't realise... We're going to fix it, I promise, we're going to fix it, these guys are helping me and we have a plan... Dad.. mum, please I'm sorry" 

Corlith just looks at Archie and gives her a slight shrug, not wanting to say what he really thinks about the situation, but happy that he had not said anything that was not true. Instead he turns to Wilfred, "Good idea, the sooner we get to Candlekeep the better. I'll head out with you and look to procure that transport whilst you head to Bertie's".

He turns to Mr and Mrs Ardour about to say something, but thinks better of it and instead turns to the others, "Shall we give them some privacy? Fisk, grab your things, you're coming too".

With that he gathers his pack and heads out the workshop onto the street.

Reed salutes Wilfred.

"Happy hunting," Reed says. "If you think of it, Virro might like a souvenir too."

He looks over at Fisk.

"How were you going to get back to Candlekeep? Do spies have a budget? A big carriage with horses maybe?" Reed asks as he gathers his things and heads outside with the others.

He steps outside but then immediately comes back in.

"All of you out too," Reed says as he points to several empty spots of air in the room. "Give them some privacy."

Reed waves goodbye to Archie's parents and heads outside.

Reya walks out with the rest, and as they hit the road, she asks, "I thought we were going to go to Zodge's office first thing in the morning?  Figure it best to get that out of the way first?"  She also says her farewell to Wilfred and wishes him luck and hopes to see him back with them soon.  Then back to the others, "The purse he owes you should help pay for whatever carriage you're looking for."

Fisk looks at the halfling, "Well I had a ride into town on a carriage yes, but that was just a ride...I don't have a carriage by any means.  Us Candlekeep folk do not have budgets, we get by as we can."

Back in the shop, Archie's Dad looks at her with somber eyes, "You have a plan?  What is it?  And tell me, why can't you just take it off?  I really don't understand."  He wraps his arms around his wife as he asks his questions.

"With Wilfred dealing with the Bertie problem, we might as well go wake Captain Zodge up," Reed says. "I think we should ask for carriage fare in addition to what he owes us."

He leans against the shop wall as they wait for Archie.

"Do you think he wears pajamas?" Reed asks. "Something with little flaming fists all over it?"

Virro snickers and giggles, almost convulsing as he hears Reed, drinking some juice.  “Stop, just stop!  You’re going to make it come out of my nose!” He says to Reed with a laugh.  “Let’s go find out!”  He makes ready to leave, putting on his pack and straightening his nondescript shield with dark cloth tied onto it.  

Archie gives Corlith a nod and as people start leaving she calls after them, "don't be too long! I'll be here."

Once she is alone with her parents she addresses the questions like a scolded child. "With Thell gone, I need to find another artificer that can look at the systems in this thing from the outside..." She answers, looking at the floor, "it had begun to fuse with my body the moment I put it on, but by the tine I realised it was too late, it's a part of my body now, it sees through my eyes, feels through my senses and it hurts... All the time it hurts... I'm sorry, I was curious, and this time I don't know how to fix it, that's why I need those guys, they care, they're here and Thell isn't..." At this point Archie has joined her mother in the sobbing, and sits down slumped in a chair her head in her hands.

Reed hears Archie tell them not to be too long and that she'll be there when they get back. And then he hears the crying.

"They might be awhile," Reed says. "Guess we can deal with Zodge without Archie."

He begins retracing their steps to go in search of the captain to get there money.

"Maybe we should keep our eyes open for a carriage that wants to leave town too."

"Agreed, let's go get paid and then see if there is a regular carriage heading to Candlekeep. If not we can charter one", Corlith agrees and starts to head towards the Flaming Fist office. Looking to Reya he asks, "I thought you were avoiding the Flaming Fists?". Nodding towards Fisk he adds, "Perhaps you can stay outside and keep an eye on him?".

"Yeah, I just figured I'd be alright since no one recognized me at the Blushing Mermaid.  But sure, I can hang outside with Fisk.  Though I don't think he needs an eye on him, I don't know why you guys mistrust him so much, he seems fine to me."  Reya shrugs but goes along with the plan as they make it to the Flaming Fist's office building.

There are a couple of Fist officers leaving the building as you all head up, Reya takes Fisk over to the side of the building and finds an area to wait as the rest of you enter the building.  Corlith, Virro, Reed and Roo find Zodge impeccably dressed and pouring over his desk that is a mess of papers and other random bits or things.  He looks up as you enter.

Leaning back in his chair he looks at you all for a beat and then sighs, "Well, a deal is a deal.  I have the 1200 gold I owe you, though where are the other two?  Ah, nevermind, I don't really care."  He shakes his head and holds out his hand.  "Badges please and I'll hand over your gold."  He holds a large bag in his other hand.

"It's up to you. Those in the Blushing Mermaid were off duty, and there were only a handful", Corlith replies to Reya and shrugs. When she mentions Fisk seeming fine, he gives her a look before replying, "If you don't mind, we'll stick to our own judgements. Your track record in that regard is not exactly exemplary".

Turning to Virro as they walk, "If I might ask, if you are to show your prizes to Zodge again, can it be after we have the payment? Preferably after I have left".

When Zodge addresses them, Corlith pulls out his badge (and perhaps Wilfred's and Archie's) and places them in Zodge's hand.

"I will admit I wasn't aware this was one assignment and done, but I will not argue", he says. "Did you send men to the Vanthampur Estate? Have they reported back yet?", he asks as he waits for the bag to be handed over, most likely to Reed. He keeps an eye on Virro to make sure he doesn't have his own bag at the ready.

Reed fishes around in his pouch and then in the bag of holding, then finally in his pack before he finally finds the Flaming Fist badge.

He shines it on his trousers leg before placing it on the desk.

"All done, and really very limited collateral damage when you consider what was going on." Reed says with a smile. 

Reed looks at the bag, eyeing up the size of it to see if it makes sense.

"It would have been easier if you had it lined up in nice little piles so we could count it quickly. This might take some time now." Reed says as he pulls up a chair, getting ready to count what's in the bag.

"How have you been?" he asks as he begins counting.

Roo looks around the office at the mess on the multiple tables as Reed gets to work counting and Corlith is negotiating the situation. 

"I should hope you sent men out there last night."  Roo says, very flat and matter-of-fact.  "We did an awful lot of work for you featherless to have pissed it all away with inaction, buck."  

Reya's mouth drops open as Corlith admonishes her judgement in character.  Just as he is about to step inside, she asks, "Are you referring to my current company of you gentlemen?  Is there something I should know?"

Zodge nods as he collects all the badges and hands over the bag to Reed as the halfling brings over a chair.  He raises an eyebrow as he does, unsure of what Reed is about to do.  "One assignment for now, we may be in need of your services again soon.  But I can't have non-deputized officers running around with badges willy nilly with no direction, can I?"  

He finally sees what Reed is doing and he stands up, "Now you don't need to count that gold right in front of me!  Of course it is all there, now put that back in the bag or I'll take it back, thank you!"

"What?  No I didn't send men out to the estate last night, they are heading out already this morning.  From what you told me last night you lot did a might fine job clearing them all out."  He gives Roo a look that says he doesn't need the attitude, then back to the rest, "Anything else?  Cause I have a busy morning to attend to."

As Zodge is attempting to conclude the business with you, your meeting is interrupted by the arrival of several Flaming Fist soldiers clad in plate armor.  They all squeeze into Captain Zodge's office with the four of you and from behind this wall of swords and steel steps an armored woman with a white cloak and graying hair.  She stares you all down and demands, “Are these the maniacs who’ve stirred up every nest of rats in this gods-forsaken city?”

“Commander Portyr!” says Zodge. “I was told you wouldn’t be in Baldur’s Gate for at least another tenday.”  Not looking him, but continuing to size the four of you up, she responds, “That’s what the city’s government wanted you to think, captain,” she replies. Finally she smiles and says, “I trust you’ve been adequately compensated?”

Roo's head bobs side to side as he listens to Zodge.  Then he ruffles his feathers and shrugs.  

"Buck buh...I don't normally give my enemies all night to right themselves before I make sure they can't hurt my family anymore, but perhaps that's not how you featherless do things.  It would sure explain a lot."  He says as he watches Reed count the money.  He starts to say something, but then more featherless curs burst into the office and some old man calls them maniacs and then makes sure they've been adequately compensated.  "To be clear, sir, my comrade is making sure that all the money is there.  I care little for it myself as I don't understand the concept of exchanging something that is practically useless for goods...but this sort of thing is not for my kind to understand I imagine.  Makes about as much sense as all these false idols that are bringing about all this trouble, buck.  Ah, but to answer your question; no, we're not all here."  

"I was referring to your insistence that Thavius Kreeg was a great and good man, despite so much evidence to the contrary", Corlith replies to Rey as they walk.

"I guess Satiir was missing for weeks, one more night in that hole doesn't hurt much", Corlith says nodding along with Roo's assessment before replying to Zodge as he mentions not bothering to send men last night. "I am sure she won't hold it against you, not that she will hear from us that you sat on the news of her whereabouts".

He doesn't much care about the counting of the coin, but would happily wait for Reed if he is determined to do it.

As the newcomers in all their armour step into the office, for a brief moment he is concerned that Zodge has been stalling until he gets the manpower to arrest them, but seeing Zodge more uncomfortable than he is at the appearance of Commander Portyr makes him relax.

"Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire, Commander Portyr. In truth given the remit of our assignment, and where it eventually led, we might have reason to take issue. But I believe the favour of the Flaming Fist should make up for that. I do not believe Zodge had any clue how high up this went mind", he responds to the newcomer. "Speaking of the favour of the Fists, I would request that is extended to my family who live in the city, should they need it".

Virro nods to Corlith as the walks, saying merely “Sure, sure.  No problem.”  He seems quick to agree.  When they arrive in Zodge’s office, he hands over his badge and reaches into his pocket, laying a solitary finger on Zodge’s desk.  He clears his throat and looks up at him and then away.  He looks to Reed as he is counting the coin, waiting with his hands in his pockets, periodically raising up on his tip toes, then back down, rocking up and back.  His eyes dart around the room.  He looks at his shield a moment, then makes a couple of small rips in the fabric, then straightening it up.  He stands quiet as the coin is being counted.  

When Commander Portyr arrives and asks her question, he can’t help but blurt out, “Yes, we’ve received our coin, but there was also a bonus for every finger removed from a cultist and I removed one from every cultist we handled down there it was quite a bag but he didn’t want to honor that, shortchanged if you ask me we did a lot of work you see saved you folks a lot of grief and our funds are likely short that amount I brought in two big pouches of fingers and some thumbs but he didn’t want to take it.”  He looks down at the finger on the desk then to the ground.  

Reed smiles at the newcomers but doesn't stop counting. He's managing to do it quite quickly and he's almost done.

"Yes, there were quite a few rats," Reed says as he keeps counting, "and some of them were even friendly."

He continues to count with one hand, and reaches into a pouch with his other to fish out some food to share with Slobberchops.

"But we haven't seen many rats since we've adopted this flying cat." Reed says.

Then he nods along as Virro explains about the fingers.

"He did get them without very much blood too. And kept them cold last night so they wouldn't be smelly."

And with that he finishes the count and sweeps all of the coin into the bag of holding.