Wrexim - "Ahh, a sparkle of intelligence, mmm!" he replies with a smile. "The Deepking was good once. Well, good as a Duergar king could be, but he was fair anyway, mmm...rumor has it he's gone mad. In my line of work, I've seen many afflicted with varying degrees of madness, mmm...That one there is another victim of the madness and is likely doomed to his insanity, mmm..." He moves closer to Rowland as if to whisper in his ear. "Save the Deepking and he will surely aid you. Kill the Deepking and the city of Gracklstugh will be drowned in chaos. I've heard you have a Cleric in your group, yes, mmm? Be sure he sees the Deepking's madness. I suspect he'll know what to do, mmm..." And with that, he leaves Rowland to mull over the secrets whispered this night.
Led by the House Guard, Hemeth, Gremryl, Leon and Mikey make their way through the manse. Rowland joins them and they enter into yet another great hall, this one appears to be suited well for receiving nobility. There are elegant conversational pieces around the room from distinctly different artists possibly from across myriad interesting places of the world.
Waiting in the great hall, Captain Errde Blackskull stands tall, for a Duergar, and with her is a small cadre of Elite Stone Guards. Hemeth makes the first move. Hemeth - “Captain Blackskull. Holderhek manse welcomes you. I’ll get right to the point. Our adventures have accomplished the task you’ve set them upon. They’ve captured Droki. He’s being brought up now. I trust you’ll hold up your end of the deal and provide safe passage out of the city?” He asks.
The Captain of the mighty Stone Guard cracks a smile beneath her guarded facade. Captain Blackskull - “Very well. These adventurers have my protection for three days. Beyond that I cannot spare my men to babysit them. Now where is Droki?” She says sternly.
Hemeth crosses his arms but returns a smile, much broader than hers, yet there is restraint. Hemeth - “Ahh. As inpatient as ever. You weren’t always like this, Errde. Alas, the price of strength is often at a high cost, eh? Still, you have my thanks for the protection of your renowned guard. Our adventurers long to return to their home on the surface. Three days will be plenty to make arrangements for their journey to the surface routes.” As he finishes, Two burly House Guards carrying Droki between them enter the room. Looking toward me Hemeth, and receiving a nod, they present the Derro to Captain Blackskull. With her index finger, she lifts up the chin of the captive and smiles. This time, she smiles enough to surprise those who can see, with a perfectly set dimple in her left cheek. Captain Blackskull - “Finally.” Then she leans closer to Droki’s ear and whispers something to him.
Whatever she said causes the Derro to soil himself.
Captain Blackskull - “Take him.” She says to her cadre. “In another life I would enjoy the comforts of the Holderhek manse...this, however unfortunate, is not that life. Are we finished then?” She asks mostly to Hemeth but also she looks towards the group.
While approaching the great hall, Rowland will quietly relay the events and information that transpired while interrogating Droki, ensuring to pass the bit regarding the Deepking needing to be healed.
“No, guard captain dude, we r not finished here. We have a few questions regarding r adventures in the depths that u may b able to help us with. But before we ask them, we ask that u submit yourself to a zone of truth spell. Surely an honorable dude like yourself would never dream of lying to trusted allies, and so such a spell should be no imposition.”
Hemeth - “Enough!” He turns to Mikey. “You will not disrespect the Captain of the Stone Guard in my house!” Seriously ruffled, Hemeth’s nostrils flare and his breath his hot.
As Hemeth says this, the House Guards and Elite Stone Guards raise their weapons and await the command of their respective leaders. There are 4 House Guards and 4 Elite Stone Guards.
Hemeth’s fury is tempered as he takes the note from Leon while staring hard at Mikey. Turning his eyes to the note, and reading it briefly, he looks up at Leon and nods in appreciation.
Hemeth - “Captain, it appears you’ve a rat in your ranks” he hands the note back to Leon and with a glance, Leon understands that it’s his note to give to the Captain.
Captain Blackskull carefully takes the note from Leon and nods, accepting the information unexpectedly given. She too briefly reads the note. Leon can tell that it strikes real anger inside of her and can almost hear the grinding of her perfectly straight teeth as she finishes the message.
Captain Blackskull - “You found this in the tunnels while chasing Droki, did you?” She asks.
The captain turns to her men and says something in Duergar with a heavy tone. They grunt loudly.
Captain Blackskull - “Thank you. This might well be the evidence I needed to root out that bastard...permanently.” She doesn’t smile, although Leon senses that there is sincerity in her gratitude. “You will receive a reward of equal value. I’ll have it delivered to Hemeth by days end.” She says calmly.
”Do we show her the note written in infernal about the deep king. Your father read it when we returned. He did not say much about it other than a demon is currupting the deep kings. I know she is close to the king. I don’t know how it will affect her.”
Rowland will ensure Droki is bound and then carry him back upstairs to his quarters and get some sleep.
Led by the House Guard, Hemeth, Gremryl, Leon and Mikey make their way through the manse. Rowland joins them and they enter into yet another great hall, this one appears to be suited well for receiving nobility. There are elegant conversational pieces around the room from distinctly different artists possibly from across myriad interesting places of the world.
Waiting in the great hall, Captain Errde Blackskull stands tall, for a Duergar, and with her is a small cadre of Elite Stone Guards. Hemeth makes the first move.
Hemeth - “Captain Blackskull. Holderhek manse welcomes you. I’ll get right to the point. Our adventures have accomplished the task you’ve set them upon. They’ve captured Droki. He’s being brought up now. I trust you’ll hold up your end of the deal and provide safe passage out of the city?” He asks.
The Captain of the mighty Stone Guard cracks a smile beneath her guarded facade.
Captain Blackskull - “Very well. These adventurers have my protection for three days. Beyond that I cannot spare my men to babysit them. Now where is Droki?” She says sternly.
Hemeth crosses his arms but returns a smile, much broader than hers, yet there is restraint.
Hemeth - “Ahh. As inpatient as ever. You weren’t always like this, Errde. Alas, the price of strength is often at a high cost, eh? Still, you have my thanks for the protection of your renowned guard. Our adventurers long to return to their home on the surface. Three days will be plenty to make arrangements for their journey to the surface routes.” As he finishes, Two burly House Guards carrying Droki between them enter the room. Looking toward me Hemeth, and receiving a nod, they present the Derro to Captain Blackskull. With her index finger, she lifts up the chin of the captive and smiles. This time, she smiles enough to surprise those who can see, with a perfectly set dimple in her left cheek.
Captain Blackskull - “Finally.” Then she leans closer to Droki’s ear and whispers something to him.
Whatever she said causes the Derro to soil himself.
Captain Blackskull - “Take him.” She says to her cadre. “In another life I would enjoy the comforts of the Holderhek manse...this, however unfortunate, is not that life. Are we finished then?” She asks mostly to Hemeth but also she looks towards the group.
While approaching the great hall, Rowland will quietly relay the events and information that transpired while interrogating Droki, ensuring to pass the bit regarding the Deepking needing to be healed.
“No, guard captain dude, we r not finished here. We have a few questions regarding r adventures in the depths that u may b able to help us with. But before we ask them, we ask that u submit yourself to a zone of truth spell. Surely an honorable dude like yourself would never dream of lying to trusted allies, and so such a spell should be no imposition.”
Captain Blackskull - “Hemeth, you have a mutant turtle in your house. Shall I have my men exterminate it for you?” She frowns heavily.
“Better men than u have died trying, *****!”
Hemeth - “Enough!” He turns to Mikey. “You will not disrespect the Captain of the Stone Guard in my house!” Seriously ruffled, Hemeth’s nostrils flare and his breath his hot.
Leon steps forward and hand the note about one of the guards trying to kill Werz Saltbaron to Hemeth.
”My apologies for the turtle. She may want to read this sir. Maybe we can get something for the info?”
As Hemeth says this, the House Guards and Elite Stone Guards raise their weapons and await the command of their respective leaders. There are 4 House Guards and 4 Elite Stone Guards.
Hemeth’s fury is tempered as he takes the note from Leon while staring hard at Mikey. Turning his eyes to the note, and reading it briefly, he looks up at Leon and nods in appreciation.
Hemeth - “Captain, it appears you’ve a rat in your ranks” he hands the note back to Leon and with a glance, Leon understands that it’s his note to give to the Captain.
Captain Blackskull raises her hand to stand down her men. They lower their weapons. Hemeth does the same and his men also stand down.
Leon humbly walks forward and gives a slight head bow while handing the note towards the Captain.
”We recovered this from one of the alchemist working with Droki.”
Captain Blackskull carefully takes the note from Leon and nods, accepting the information unexpectedly given. She too briefly reads the note. Leon can tell that it strikes real anger inside of her and can almost hear the grinding of her perfectly straight teeth as she finishes the message.
Captain Blackskull - “You found this in the tunnels while chasing Droki, did you?” She asks.
“Yes Captain, in a lair underground where Droki and an alchemist were hiding out. I found it tucked away and hidden in a bookcase I believe.”
The captain turns to her men and says something in Duergar with a heavy tone. They grunt loudly.
Captain Blackskull - “Thank you. This might well be the evidence I needed to root out that bastard...permanently.” She doesn’t smile, although Leon senses that there is sincerity in her gratitude. “You will receive a reward of equal value. I’ll have it delivered to Hemeth by days end.” She says calmly.
“Thank you Captain. You are too kind.”
Leon turns around and faces Hemeth as he walks back. Leon points are his note as he mouths to Hemeth and slyly motions.
”Do we show her the other note?”
Hemeth returns a puzzled look.
Leon leans into Hemeth and whispers
”Do we show her the note written in infernal about the deep king. Your father read it when we returned. He did not say much about it other than a demon is currupting the deep kings. I know she is close to the king. I don’t know how it will affect her.”
Hemeth’s eyes narrow and he shakes his head slightly to signify that discussing this with the Captain may not serve their best interests.