The nameless servant, while polite, seemed all business – confident, professional, and in control. He was following whatever protocol he had been trained to do.

It's hard to tell how long you wait in this dark, silent cell, but it's not quite a short rest. 

Then Thornwell appears, suddenly, silently, out of the shadows. Maybe it's the light, but she seems taller, older, redder, and does not look happy to see you.

"Why are you back here? Why did you bring those two unconscious men here? What happened?" she asks in a commanding voice.

Gerrard:

”My apologies, Councilor, for the intrusion.  We learned some interesting things from these two and felt ill-equipped to deal with them on our own.  One is an evil spirit of some kind who inhabits our friend’s body, and the other is a simple fisherman who seems to be overcome by a powerful being and explode in power—either could be clues in the lantern slayings, and we hoped you and yours could learn more from them alive,” says Gerrard.

He looks to Qivys and adds, “We have some magic that has also given us glimpses into the setup of Mister Dory’s warehouse for the lair of something that likes a hot and wet environment, perhaps this Aboleth we have been finding drawings of.”

Almost as an afterthought, he adds, “Oh yes, and there were cultists summoning fiendish simians that slaughtered the watch members and would have continued into the populace if we had not intervened.”

"You assaulted two associates of Dory's – a High Councilmember - and brought them to my front door. Were you followed? Would you even know?" she asks furiously without waiting for a response. "I requested discretion, or did you not care to listen to that part of my instructions? Now we have a mess to clean up."

"Hort is no 'simple fisherman.' He is from an ancient order of protection. He has worked for monarchs, powerful nobles. He is no common criminal. He is from Dory's inner circle. This is going to be a difficult fix."

"The pink-haired one is rubbish – some worm busy crawling his way into the clutches of power. You're correct in that it is fundamentally a mechanical parasitic spirit inhabiting a convenient vessel – an abomination. It should likely be put to death forthwith. However I sense a twist, a knot – you are harboring here a problematic kobold." She narrows her eyes at Thwack. "Why did you assault this pink-haired Dory trash? What are you keeping from me? What is your connection to that leeching entity inhabiting this soon-to-be-exterminated host? How is this kobold connected to that abhorrent pairing? Tell me everything or you will not leave this room alive."

Gerrard:

His composure changing nearly instantly from gentle geniality to an unreadable mask, Gerrard steps in front of Thwack protectively.  "I do not respond well to threats," says the young noble sternly, "towards me or those under my protection.  If you wish answers to your questions, you will treat us with respect.  If you wish to maintain our working relationship, you will retract your threat and apologize.  Choose wisely."

Thwack 

Thwack jumps from his curled-up position at the speaking of his name. "Me no problemonomatic. Me fix problem. Terry say find keys, I find keys. Bernard say go open stable, you no have stable. Not my fault" he begins listing his meagre accomplishments, conveniently omitting his failures. It is then that his royal companion steps in front. Gerrards tone stops thwacks words in his throat. "Gerrard..."

Thornwell takes a constricted breath and sighs quietly. "It is I who feels threatened here. This..." she waves her hands around vaguely, "...this is a threat to my house. You have connections to an alien, mechanical entity inhabiting an associate of Mr. Dory. If we are to work together, you must not hold back this information. I will not be undermined. Meanwhile, we wait and see if Dory's eyes have followed two dying minions to my doorstep."

Gerrard:

Nodding, Gerrard says, “An improvement.  I will take that as speaking respectfully.  Let me speak plainly.”

”Then man you refer to as ‘pink-haired Dory trash” was recently a good friend and member of our adventuring group named Kei.  We lost him when we went through the portal and were thrown forward in time and beneath the waves,”  he starts.

”We rescued Master Thwack here on an island as we traveled, and he has been good to us in addition to showing some mystical connection to the missing Kei—of what exact nature, we are unsure,”  Gerrard continues.

”We saw Kei in this town and tracked him down, hoping to figure out what had happened to him, but he seemed to not know us and was avoiding us.  He was hanging out with this other fellow and when we confronted him he attacked us.  We defended ourselves against him and this goon, knocking them both out, but not without seeing a strange power erupting from this Hort fellow that seemed of occult origin,” Gerrard relates.

”Thanks to Master Qivys’ talents we were able to read the surface thoughts of the inhabitant of Kei’s body and learn of its malicious nature, as well as some clues about the warehouse.  Hort had little on his mind other than fishing, and we were reluctant to push too deep due to the strange cultish power buried within.  We had no idea he was an associate of Mister Dory, and only knew Kei’s possessor had seen the inside of the warehouse,” he explains.

Looking at the Councillor, Gerrard says, “We brought Kei here so that the being inhabiting his body could be extracted and destroyed, and maybe—just maybe—Thwack’s mystical relationship with Kei’s spirit might draw him back into his body, reintegrating and reviving our friend.  As far as Hort, we had no reason to know him or suspect his relationship to Mister Dory—he was just an associate who got caught up in the scuffle and has a weird cult like power.  We took precautions bringing them here, putting them in a cart and covering them with the pelt.”

”I apologize for the mess—we did not know of the connections of these men and hoped you might both be able to help us reintegrate Kei and maybe learn something from the entity within him who has been inside the warehouse,” Gerrard says.

Gesturing to his numerous bleeding wounds, Gerrard concludes by saying, “But it seems the politics are too constraining for you to continue to help us get to the bottom of this rot pervading the Styes…Indeed, it seems this city was once at least palatable, but it has descended into rot and decay, with many in abject poverty or being ripped apart by clawed sea creatures.  While the nobility has been hiding in their fortified buildings and going along to get along, your city has gone to sh*t.  Without us as your allies being willing to risk our lives to fight for the people here, it will likely just continue to get worse until it collapses under the weight of its own corruption.”

Boko's face becomes more and more grim, and it is easier and easier to see her fight down rage as the woman speaks. Her blue-tinted skin becomes purple. She is about to speak up, when Gerard begins his response. She calms a bit, but only a bit.

"It is a good thing for you that he spoke first, and not me. Do not threaten us again. We have faced vampires, horrors of the deep, ancient dragons, and armies. To name a few. I do not have time for idle threats, or people who get in the way of those who wish to fix utter catastrophes, and rebalance malicious horror and neglect. I am convinced Dory is much worse than a corrupt politician, but in fact something horrifying and in fact poisoning and murdering people in this city. I would not be surprised if his warehouse was the source of much of the rot and awfulness this place suffers from. When we are ready, I will take you up on your offer to have the militia look the other way while I -- we -- go and, as you said, 'administer justice' and rid this town of Dory. If you had anything to help on this endeavor, and could stop threatening us, I would appreciate it." As she speaks, Bokos tattoos pulse and flicker with her hearatbeat.

Thornwell silently stares at Gerrard without blinking while he speaks, listening carefully to and weighing his every word, as still as a snake. 

Then she turns and squints at Boko as she listens to her, equally intensely, and finally nods.

"Go. Administer that justice. Today or tonight. I will take care of the guards. Do not return to this place. When you are done, you will go to that shopkeeper, Melody, whom you have met. I will give instructions from there."

"The kobold will stay with me, as will the unconscious men. Any other remaining evidence, like that cart, will be destroyed. The kobold will be returned soon enough."

"Time may be short. We can argue about the state of this city later."

She glances at the locked door, which springs open. It reveals not the steps up to the courtyard, but a dark tunnel, lit with candles.

"Go. Finish the mission. Do not return to this place." 

Gerrard:

”Agreed—if Master Thwack is amenable and wishes to stay to try and help restore Master Kei,” says Gerrard, “Though if Master Thwack is harmed in any way, you can be assured we will meet again.”

Thwack 

A lot of what is said flies over Thwack's head. The tone of his companions, however, does not. He adds a growl where appropriate in hopes of emphasising the words his friends speak. When his name gets thrown around, his head begins to swivel. First looking at Gerrard, then at Thornwell, then back to Gerrard. 

His mouth agape, Thwack questions Gerrard's suggestion. "You...you want me to stay Bernard? Me think you start to like me. Now not sure." He begins to sulk. After a few moments he turns to Thornwell. "I come if Terry come." is all he says as he steps to her side.

Gerrard:

Resolved, Gerrard goes over and stand next to Thwack, putting a hand on his shoulder.  “Then I will stand as hostage as well until such time as Councilor Thornwell releases us,” says Gerrard.

”Mistress Alcor, Master Qivys, Captain Fenwader, please go and formulate an infiltration plan for the warehouse.  Our goal should be to destroy the Aboleth if indeed that is the creature behind this mess.  If we are favored by the gods, perhaps Mister Dory is mind controlled and will become a grateful ally once he is free,” he continues, adding, “Master Thwack and I will join you as soon as we are able.”

”I hesitate to ask you to risk your lives again for what seems like an ungrateful or indifferent populace, but as for me, I must continue while there is hope they may yet be saved,” he concludes, falling silent.

"You wish to stay here? Noble, but foolish. Gallantry is not something we may be able to afford right now. Nevertheless, I am tired of negotiating. Go. Or stay. I don't care. The door is open, but it will close again in a few minutes. Kobold, take my hand." She extends her hand to Thwack. 

Does Thwack want to take her hand?

Who wants to exit the black room into the candle-lit tunnel? Who wants to stay behind?

Welcome to Level 11. Update your sheets accordingly.

Thwack 

Thwack flinches slightly when Gerrard touches his shoulder as though expecting violence. However, the reassuring grip of Gerrard's hand and the noble's words offer him comfort. "You stay with I?" He looks up at Gerrard with doe eyes. He then looks at Thornwell. "Bernard my friend again. You want me go then he come too." He stands resolute and unmoving, waiting for Thornwell's reaction.

"Fools," sighs Thornwell, shaking her head. "Very well. You have a choice. You may all leave here freely and never return. I will keep the Guard off you for 24 hours. You will receive no further favors from my house. The two prisoners are mine. You never brought them here; you have no knowledge of them, nor of me. If you try to return here, or speak of my house to anyone, you will be executed."

"Alternately, you may stay. I require the private study of the kobold in my facility. You will not interfere. You will not snoop, nor stray. I require one hour, perhaps two. If you are lying about the kobold, his life is forfeit, as are yours. If you are being truthful, I will learn more about the spirits inhabiting the forms of the kobold and the pink-haired mercenary and see if a restoration is possible."

Gerrard:

”You seem to expect lies and liars, Councilor, though that is not surprising given the state of this city.  I will accompany you to your study and ensure you, too, are being truthful in your intentions towards my friend Thwack,” responds Gerrard.

Thwack 

"Study what kobold? You have other kobold. Can me meet him?" Thwack enquires, oblivious to the real meaning of Thornwell's words. When Gerrard insists on joining them it seems to trigger Thwack's understanding. "Yip! You want study me?" he gulps. "Bernard? You not let lady hurt me, yes?"

Gerrard:

”I believe, despite her threats, she means to help us,” says Gerrard to Thwack, “And I will do my best to protect you.”

"I have no intention of injuring this kobold, although I cannot promise that should a restoration be possible, that it will be painless," responds Thornwell. "You and your companions may accompany me to the Hall of Shadows, but only the kobold and I may enter the Summoning Chamber. You have my word that I will not hurt him, unless he does something to break my trust."

Thwack 

Thwack looks intently at Gerrard. The noblemans words give the tiny kobold the reassurance he needs. He steps towards Thornwell. "We go now. But Gerrard is come for you if you lying."