Inside the house, down below, Lem is still reading, and the ice is slowly melting.

As the reunion winds down, Yokini looks around and sees only Lem and Raddunth. She walks over to Lem. "Where are the others, Lemmy? And what happened to the dragon? I'd like to take my mom and sister to Zashier's farm to see the others. I guess he went upstairs? Where are we, exactly?"

"Now, now, now, let's take it easy. I can only maybe two things at once." Zashier said, keeping it cool, as much as the elephantine man could at any moment while getting to his knees. "But, uh, in order, as it would be fair. So, why am I here? To find you guys, or more specifically the Agusto siblings. Unless you meant on the grounds, then it's because of some gnome kidnappings. Secondly, am I responsible for this mess?" He glances around the whole and general debris left in the dragon's wake. "Naw man. That'd be the dragon that did that one, not that I can blame him, what with the lack of fingies-..." He starts to waggle his finger, but thankfully catches himself in time, realizing waggling fingers at guards to be a bad idea.

"Also not my dragon, but I would admit, that it'd be pretty cool to have Dragon friend. Provided of course it didn't go causing so much property damage, bit of an oversight on its part, all things considered." He manages to get out as much by the time they get up to him, still with his hands raised and as patient as ever. "But yea man. Sounds kind of weird I know, and that's prolly a lot coming from me, given m general physique 'n all. But I tell'en ya straight that Kamroth's been organizing a whole mess of trouble, as I understand it, ranging from stealing from hard working traveling merchants to kidnapping of both humanoid and dragonkin, if you can believe." He said casually. "But sure man. Don't mean to cause much a fuss. If somebody would like to take my weapons first, we can more or less be our way, I do suppose. Oh! But be mindful checking my bag, as there are scorpions in there."

The guards just look at you quizzically, not quite understanding, trying to take it all in. When you mention scorpions in your bag, the all take a half step backwards...

Looking at their garments, you can tell all of these guards are on the low end of the totem pole, and none of them can quite make a decision about what to do you with you. No one wants to check your bag.

Finally, one of them pulls you to your feet, and gives you a nudge to move forward.

About that time, the Agusto siblings come running around the corner, and they are superior officers to those here. They see whats happening, and say "Whats going on here? Zashier, why do you look like you are under arrest?"

"Dragon went upstairs, fast, with kobold. Others followed. Might want to check on them on the way out. We're in Armos Kamroth's large home, in town. Used to be fancy, really a disaster now. Farm makes sense, farm's nice, farm's got the other gnomes. You all deserve some time to process and catch up." Lem, still very absorbed in the book, looks up with an awkward Lem smile.

"Radish and I can hold down the fort here. This book's fascinating! I'll watch over this pile of slushy valuables and grab what I can and be right behind you. If you see a town guard on your way to the farm, tell them to tell Lt. Plank, or Scrub, or Toggle, that Lemmy wants to talk to them when he has a chance. We'll have to tell the guard at some point about all this."

Thistle is about to abandon her post to go tell the others, when the new guards show up. Undecided, she stays to see if Zashier's fate changes. If she sees anyone else coming up, she'll warn them to hold on a sec while things play out outside.

"Oh, hey Bibi. Hey Romeo." Zashier replied, much to the former's exasperation over the kid name and eliciting a small smirk out of the latter, prior to snapping back a soldier minded facade. Despite such reaction, Zashier still smiled, understanding the more duty minded elder brother of the trio. That, and Bibi knew well to expect it, being the baby of the trio in terms of age, and with a habit at times of being a little mischevious. "Guess Big Sal's asleep, huh? But uh, yea man,  seems I found myself in a bit of a fine pickle here. Not that anyone has officially said I'm under arrest, so much as I am to come with them to explain the situation, more or less. Which to put as succinctly as someone of my nature can, boils down to my helping out this dwarven fellow get his stuff back from some kobolds led to this whole big dragon plot Mr. Amros, who is still alive but unconcious, cooked up to kind of but not really become a dragon... I think."

He scratched the top of his nogging with his trunk on that final point. "He's got like a book or somethin' that kind of spells it all out in the basement. Real mess down there, and kind of nippy. Would not recommend going down there without a coat, as I learned too late."

(Found some decent art to represent the two(Bireal to the left, Romero to the right):)

Bireal says to the other guards Put your weapons away. Zashier is no threat. 

To Zashier Take us in. Lets see if we can verify this story.

Back to the guards. You all stay here and make sure no one comes in until we come back out. Romero and I will take care of this.

Again to Zashier Hard to find good recruits these days. They want to measure their "swords" and swing them around, and ask questions never"

Yokini gives Lemmy a sweet smile as he turns his attention back to the book. She's used to this Lem. It doesn't offend or bother her. She takes a few steps closer, kisses the pads of her bare fingers, and pats the top of his bald head before walking back to her family. "I guess we're in town now, so we'll need to walk out to the farm to find the others. How are you two feeling? Are you up to making the short trek? I'd offer you a ride, but I sent Gomol — my mule — with Maylene. If you're too tired to walk, I could go get her and bring her back for you."

Seen Zashier coming back, peaceful like, Thistle will climb down to the main entry, standing in the open, unthreatening hands wide, and greet him when he comes in. "Hey Zashier. That was fast! Evening, guards, my name is Thistle, just working with Zashier here to retrieve some stolen property."

"Well, that's not entirely true. They asked a bunch of a question, if I recall correctly, which for once I think I do. Though in fairness, the question they asked had some particularly complicated context to sort out." Zashier replied, giving one of the unfamiliar guards a thumbs, showing at least there was no hard feelings. As they are making their way inside, Zashier at least started to inform them of the lead up to the investigation, including word about men pretending to be guards on the road nearby, when Thistle throws him off.

"Heya Miss Thistle. Didn't think you'd still be up here, all things consider, but good that you here. As you can probably more succinctly explain things as we go." Zashier says to her, then looks to Romero. "It's okay. She's good people. Might even someone you want in the guard, assuming this whole mess doesn't end with us imprisoned for a while." He chuckled while continuing on for the basement.

Thistle just takes charge, not giving the guardsfolk time to decide they shouldn't trust her. "Good you're here. Turns out this Amros Kamroth... have I got his name right? Well, he was lunatic dragon cultist, performing ritual sacrifice in hopes of becoming a dragon himself. His whole family was, for generations, if what Lem tells about the diary is right. On top of that, he was in league with kobolds to provide him with prisoners to kill. We have a team down there, and some captives, so don't get bent out of shape when we get there. We just need you to document and understand we're doing a service, not responsible. Oh, and did Zashier mentioned we have this guy, alive, along with several of his cultists?"

(Lem is just reading and waiting for the treasure to melt. He will try to speed things along by casting fire bolts at the stone next to the treasure to try to heat it up enough to melt it faster using conduction - trying to find a part of the stone floor that is already black so it wouldn’t show any scorch marks.)

Downstairs, In response Yokini’s concern, your family says they should be ok to walk for a bit, but its obvious they are not at 100%.

Now, as for Zashier and Thistle.

Zashier makes his way back into the house, accompanied by Bireal and Romero, the other guards are still outside - their pride hurt a bit from being put in their place, but no lasting hard feelings from what you can tell.

As you go, you explain to them some of the story thus far. At the mention of the some Tiefling gang members pretending to be guards and extorting travelers, Romero starts seething.

Romero says “See sis, I told you. The reports are true. Those tieflings are at it again, but now they have taken it too far!”

Bireal responds “One quandary at a time brother. Zashier, continue your tale” - She is still not fully sold on your story, but is willing to listen at least.

As you walk back through the house, the guards also take notice of the state of decay everything seems to be in, which is odd for a respected lord of the land.

Coming into the entryway, you see Thistle who announces her presence, and takes over the story. As you tell of the kobolds, the cultists, and their eyes get bigger with wonder. Walking through, you show them the desctruction the dragon did as it came through the house, the secret entrance and hidden stairway, and when you say they are still alive, they get downright excited.

Bireal says “Finally, some excitement! Fallcrest was getting a little too boring for me. Zashier, you know me, I need some excitement! I was considering putting in a transfer up North, or even to a bigger city, but I may stick around a bit longer.”

Romero pipes up “She’s always grumbling about more excitement. We have the gang issues, but its not that its boring, its peaceful, which I think is kind of nice (an obvious jab at his sister, though all in good fun)”

You get to the bottom of the stairs, and spread out before the group is the carnage of a fight, the tied up (unconscious) prisoners, a huddle of gnomes, a barbarian with very few clothes on, and a dwarf huddled in a corner next to a slowly melting ice block.

There are some introductions, and the rest of the story unfolds. They are not going to arrest any of you, but they do take down your statements, as well as the eyewitness accounts of the gnomes. Romero goes back out to get the other guards, who come down and carry out the unconscious prisoners, under Romers’s supervision. Bireal takes the diary and any other evidence you had, then tells you all: “Not that I am suspicious of you at all, but ,you know, don’t leave town for a few days until we get to the bottom of this. Why don’t all of you, and the prisoners you rescued, get some rest, and then come up to Moonstone Keep tomorrow afternoon sometime. Lord Markelhay will have some questions, but I am sure with the statements you have and the evidence here, there shouldn’t be any more trouble. Zashier, try to quit being in the wrong place at the wrong time, alright? I may not always be there to pull you out by your trunk (and she gives you a wink, and pats your trunk). See you all tomorrow. Make sure you bring that treasure with you. I am not sticking around while it melts. Zashier, Thistle, you’re in charge (she eyes Lem, knowing the stories of dwarves and their obsession with shiny things).

She heads off up the stairs, following the other guards.

"We'll probably spend the night at Zashier's farm, if that's all right," Thistle notes to Bireal. "The rest of the gnome's family are supposed to go there, and we'd like to reunite them."

Quote from djsteele888 >>

... a barbarian with very few clothes on...

It is fur shorts, boots, and an open vest in horrendous style, but the clothes are still well-tailored.

there is no denying the quality of the clothing...but there is also no denying the amount of skin visible either...

Lem nods semi-familiarly at Romero and Bireal once they get his attention. "Oh. Hello. Been a while. You're both looking plumper and happier than last time I saw you. Think we'd just crossed back through Shreek Pass and no one had eaten a warm meal for a few weeks. You know that really wasn't my fault. And yes, I won't leave town. I do live here." (They probably have barely seen him, since he rarely left the book repository.)

Once they leave, Lem tells the rest of the party that he's happy to stay here while the ice melts. "We did leave that kobold back there, and they might come back to make off with the... evidence. Someone's gotta keep watch. I'll do it. Not much of a conversationalist, and I want Yokini to have time with her family."

Thistle looks back and forth between Lem and the rest of the group. "Well, I can stay with Lem, there's a lot of treasure here, so we won't be able to move it all. Someone should stay yo help guard it until you all get back tomorrow." She seems a little torn, though it is not clear why.

Truth be told, Zashier was just happy to be around his old compatriots, and it showed in the brightest and warmest smile on his face. For despite his often getting into one sort of trouble or another, the group didn't often get to meet, what with Sal working the wall, and the rest dealing Uppercrust the majority of the time. Which is why instead of answering the charge that he and Thistle would be with a nod, he instead at least tried to scoop the duo in a massive hug.

"While I do apologize for all the ruckus, of which there's been quite a bit, being able to be around you guys again makes it just that more worth it." He chuckles. "And I do believe this goes without saying, but I'll say it anyways. You two can count on me! I'll be staying here as well, making sure there's no more trouble, as I am want to do." The former volunteer then sets the two down, only to put his hands on their shoulder and add, "Do say Howdy to Sal for me when ya see'm, and though this seems silly of me of all people to say, stay safe out there."

He pats the duo one last time, and then at least tries to ruffle Bireal's hair for good measure prior to them taking their leave.