Boko stays outside of visual range but listens to the conversation, fighting off sleep on her feet. She is glad to hear Peri and Gerrard come to an agreement. She steps forward and reports what she found with the jackal tracks going north along the coast. "They do not seem related. And yet another mystery for yet another time. I myself can do little tonight. I will do all I can after some sleep and in the morning." She will look for a place to fall asleep, and will go along if the others insist on checking with tower and horses, but she is fine to curl up somewhere, anywhere.

Perii:

Boko's sudden reappearance startles Peri. But with her returned and Gerrard talked out of his suicidal plan they're able to begin the slog back to the Tower, and then finally to the Goat. Peri is bone-weary, but Boko looks like she’s nearly out on her feet. When she mentions looking for a place to sleep he responds, “Slim pickings with the town so full for the invasion. But there’s my room.” It occurs to him for the first time in a long while that Boko is an attractive woman, and his offer might not have sounded like simple hospitality. He feels the heat as his face blushes intensely. He hopes it’s too dark for the others to notice. “I meant my bed. You can sleep there.” Gods, get it together! “Alone, I mean! I’ll sleep with Kei -- in his room, not -- Gotta be sure his mind’s right.” Aye, and who’s gonna check on your mind, boyo?

Qivys stops in his tracks hearing Gerrard wants to rush off in the night to find some children in the Dreadwood. He listens to the exchange and rejoins Gerrard.
"If'n yer gonna report ta Farbern I'm comin' with." he states. "I ain't gonna let that charlatan try an' twist it so ya feel guilty fer doin' their job an' try an get ya ta go chasin' shadows in those woods.If'n he wants our help he's gonna halfta pay for it, more than what we been gettin'." 
Qivys glares a bit at the assembled town folk but when Gerrard departs to talk to Farbern, Qivys will accompany him. 

Gerrard:

With a wry smile, Gerrard hands the paper over to Qivys after they have headed off to the tower, saying, “Witness our salary, Master Qivys, and the show of appreciation from the town of Saltmarsh.”

(feel free to look at the spoiler from before)

Qivys reads the note.

"HA!" he exclaims. "Tha only thing citizenship give ya, besides tha right ta open a business within the town and get taxed till yer poor, is it gives them tha power ta conscript ya at their whim. They ain't gonna give ya a seat at the big table..." Qivys pauses a moment. "Well, they might give one ta you cause yer already a noble but tha rest of us will be nothin' more than lapdogs they can call on. Well that ain't gonna dig right, so ta speak. There needs ta be a better compensation than citizenship an' monster invested beach front." 

Qivys walks along with Gerrard, thinking. 

Peri:

Peri follows the exchange with some confusion. "Gerrard's a citizen now? I thought he already was a citizen?"

Gerrard:

Gerrard passes the ?deed? to Peri, saying, “It would seem there is some confusion within the town council as to whom the cottages at Crabbers Cove are leased to…I thought Brother Fiercehammer had already secured the appropriate paperwork.  Oh, and a bit of a parochial assumption that you are my servants, not my friends and comrades.”

More seriously, he adds, “As to the matter of citizenship, that may actually be helpful if my mother wishes to exert some kind of conscription from Seaton…but I doubt it.  Still, I think they are trying to do right by us with their limited resources, even if it is a bit muddled.”

The young guard's eyes widen at the sight of the coins. "Yes, sir," she say breathlessly, then departs at a trot.

Where to:
- The Council Hall?
- The Wicker Goat?
- Hoolwatch Tower?
- Elsewhere?

Everyone should make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion.

Qivys Con Save: 6

"I think yer a bit too soft on 'em." Qivys remarks to Gerrard's statement. "Ya want tha best for folks but they ain't wantin' anythin' but what's best fer them." 

Gerrard:

(I think going to the Hoolwatch tower with the guard to se Farbern)

Constitution Save:  26

”Probably true,” replies Gerrard, “I tend to try and believe the best of people—it has gotten me into trouble in the past, but it has also brought me new friends…”

Peri:

As Peri reads the note, amusement turns to incredulity, then to anger. He rereads it, knuckles popping as his grip tightens. He feels the heat rising from his neck to his scalp, until the tips of his ears feels like they must be smoldering. As he feels a slight tremble in his arms, he realizes his fury is about to spill over. With a supreme effort of will he lowers the note and closes his eyes. They couldn’t have meant it this way. You’re tired and you’re gettin’ all bent outta shape over some clumsy wordin’. Deep breaths; find your calm. Slow your heart. Relax your jaw, then your neck, work all the way down to your hands. Okay, now read it again, this time knowin’ they weren’t tryin’ to insult you all. As calm as he can make himself -- though in truth the snow in his hair appears to be literally steaming -- he reads slowly through the letter. 

And this time there’s no denying it: this was a deliberate snub. Of course the wealthy buffoons would assume Gerrard was the leader and the rest of them his servants; that’s all these rich fools knew: masters and servants. The crap about gratitude and citizenship, even though he had no desire to ever join this blighted town, was probably meant to be taken as an honor. And it costs those twits nothin’. But “granting” them a lease on the cottages -- cottages no one wanted, little more than wrecks until they’d invested coin and sweat into making them habitable, down in the cursed stretch of sand plagued by vampires and werewolves -- when they already had a lease? That was a slap in the face. It sort of implied they could revoke their generosity at any time, since they’d effectively done just that with Dwal’s lease.

But the real insult, the spit right in their faces, was that last line. These humble dwellings will serve as a fitting reward for your bravery and dedication to our town.

That was a “fitting reward,” was it? “Humble dwellings?” Not a token of appreciation, but a fitting reward. Meaning they were even-stevens. Apparently infiltrating an enemy stronghold, risking their necks on a mission these pampered jackanapes wouldn’t dream of doing for themselves, was only worth a couple of derelict old cabins. After overcoming their stupidity to forge an alliance with the lizardfolk. After taking care of a smuggling ring their own guard was either too corrupt or too incompetent to handle. That wasn’t worth a whole ship, no -- not even the ship they had seized, outnumbered and with none of the “intelligence” necessary before these fops would move. We’ll take that ship, thank you very much! But here’s a couple of busted-up shacks you can fix up for us! You’re welcome!

He found his feet carrying him forward, seemingly on their own volition. He had no idea where they were taking him until he saw the Council Hall. He strode toward the doors, steam fairly billowing from his hair and shoulders, pluming from his nostrils like dragon smoke.

((I'll pause here for a moment, to give everyone else a chance to react as well. CON Save: 16))

Boko CON save: 20

The druid is finding it hard to follow the discussion but she glances at the note. “I do not want citizenship, and it seems these domiciles are not much of a boon to give again. I can sleep most anywhere. And would like to do so soon. A warning, I often sleep in direwolf form. I find it helps me better rest. But remind me of this tower and our purpose there?”

She stops by the woman who has lost her child. “I cannot imagine your pain. This town, since I was abducted by one dolorous force and pulled left and right by others over the last few days, has left me with little reserves. I would not blame you for going into the woods right now and hunting your child and their ostensible captor. But it is folly to hunt a vampire in the dark and cold with no path to follow, no preparation, and we can help you tomorrow at dawn, hopefully with more information. At least I will do so. Even if it is folly. Saltmarsh is so laughably far out of balance that it risks taking the world with it. This requires people to step up and set things right. People like you. What is your name? I am Boko. Come help us tell the tale, gain resources and information, and rest.”

She is happy to move along. She pata Peri gently on the shoulder as they walk, wordlessly offering comfort and empathizing.  

Kei 

CON save 14

Gerrard:

”The Hoolwatch Tower is where the constable and guards are, as well as being where the horses are kept, Mistress Boko.  I hope to give our report and secure horses for the rest of you to make our journey more swift in the morning, then go to sleep while this determined mother researches the location of the vampire’s castle using the coins I gave her.  Hopefully, it will all come together in the morning and we will leave at dawn, on horses, with a map to the likely location of the kidnapped children,” replies Gerrard.

As Peri begins to divert towards the council chambers, Gerrard gently says, “Though it is on behalf of the council, the letter is directly from Farbern.  It may be better to take it up directly with him first before involving the council, and we need to go to report what we have found about this vampire in any case.”  

Thinking a moment, he adds, “Knowing Brother Fiercehammer, he may have relinquished his lease on the cottages when he left, so they may indeed be available for the council to grant to us.  Normally I would add never to assume malice when ignorance or carelessness can suffice, but I must agree with you that the section about humble dwellings being a good match to the caliber of our heroics on Saltmarsh’s behalf seems like an intentional slight.”

…If Peri seems intent on confronting the council…

Gerrard smiles sadly and says, “You must do what you think is best, of course, Master Fenwader.  But let me give you this warning.  I have been around the politics of Seaton long enough to guess what is going on here…Part of the council wants to reward us, and part does not.  The part that wants to reward us had the votes, but the other part managed to sneak in some barbs.  By storming in and making a fuss, we play right into the hands of the insulters and appear ungrateful to the rewarders.”

Kei 

Perhaps it's delirium,  perhaps his twisted sense of humour. Whichever, he can't help but laugh at the whole scene as Gerrard speaks of servants. "My Lord!" Kei bows deeply in a flourish. His laughter increases as he watches Peri's blood pressure reveal itself upon his face. Never had he seen a halfling reach such a hue of red. When Peri storms off at the speed of a warship under full sail he can't help but follow. "This should be grand". His laughter barely subsiding when they reach the Council chambers.

"My name is Manorna," replies the knife-wielding mother. "I can't wait until morning. If I'm not back by then, come find me."

The party walks back into the darkened town through the swirling snow. The young guard is long gone, spurred to action by Gerrard's coin. The parent posse splits off and heads up the side street by The Dwarven Anvil. The Council Hall is just ahead and still occupied; a clerk can be seen within, tending the lights. Hoolwatch Tower is still another ten minutes walk ahead.

As they walk Boko asks Kei what Bela said to him, and what he remembers. She asks what he now thinks about Bela. She understands the mother’s desire to go but she does not approve, and wonders if they will end up having to scuffle with her the same way they had to scuffle with Kei. 

Peri:

Peri rounds on Gerrard. "Politics be damned! All five of 'em affixed their names to that declaration, so all five of 'em agreed to the insult! You think three of 'em wanted to reward us? Well then those three thought givin' us what we already have was good enough, and more than balanced out the bile!" He turns back toward the Council Hall, still ranting to/at Gerrard. "The dwarf's right: you bend over backward to see the best of these weasels. Maybe cuz they're you're class? Well not me, not anymore! The lizards deserved some leeway, cuz they were gettin' stiffed; these rats are the ones doin' the stiffin'." 

His instinct is to Eldritch Blast the doors off their hinges, but he retains just enough sense to instead just throw them open. He stomps down the aisle like a 3' tall thunderhead, pushing aside anyone getting between him and the space in front of the Council's seats. Glaring at the Council members present he demands, "Why?! What have we done for you to spit in our faces like this?! And more important, how in the Nine Hells did you think you were gonna get away with it?!"