The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Hmmm... yep, you're right on both counts. 

Silent sizes up the leader again. I still say we take everything he's got, though. Weapons, armour, coin, the works. He can enjoy a trip back to town naked, unless one of these gentlemen wants to donate their clothes to the cause. 

Yeah, and bear in mind, no actual crime has been committed, the man replies, seeming to be a bit more relaxed now the imminent threat of death is gone and willing to risk a terrible pun.  Husseldorf property, destroyed by Husseldorf hands.  You know.  Rich folk stuff.  

Just, don't embarrass him publicly.  Take the gold, but not his clothes, that's my advice.  Enough that he'll want to forget about this.  Not so much that he'll want to pay someone to take revenge on you.  Because he can, you know. 

Magnum is fine with this. He goes to grab his coin and a ring, making sure not to grab a gold one. He'll leave the other items to Silent if he wants them. 

Silent scratches his chin for a few moments deep in thought before helping himself to whatever weapons are on the man, leaving his armour and clothing untouched. 

You, he points to the man who made the pun. I got my eye on you, yeah? One step outta line and we won't be going for knockouts next time. 

He'll leave the cave with Magnum heading back to Tember's house. 

Magnum suggests a quick pace.

As they head back to their employer they take care to avoid the Snare at the cave mouth. 

The three exchange glances, but are keeping well back and away from you.  The human seems about to say something as you go, and then thinks better of it.  The halfling is tending to the bear's wounds.  The half-elf looks ready to burst out laughing; he gives you a small salute as you are headed out.

You walk back to town, back to the house of Tember Husseldorf, and you stand in his office.  He stands to greet you and invites you to sit.  You have something for me, I hope?

Phinan Husseldorf was responsible for damaging the grain silos.  We encountered him and a team of his, with a bear oddly enough.  They admitted to the deed, and were left unharmed in a cave not far from here.

Magnum presents the ring to Tember as evidence.

We understand this is probably not the outcome you were hoping for.

Tember takes the ring and examines it.  Then you see a broad grin cross his face.  Quite the opposite, my metal friend. I said I had a good feeling about you.  This is excellent work, excellent.  And you took this ring, not his signet ring.  That means he can deny it, to everyone except me.  Excellent.  Well, you earned your reward, and I hope you don't mind me advising  you to get out of town.  Phinan can be a little hotheaded, but he'll calm down.  It's all just... family business.  You know?  

Magnum pauses for a moment, thinking back to Deastok.  Family business is always complicated.  Yes, I think I understand.

Magnum collects the reward.  (OOC:  Out of curiosity, how much did we get off of Phinan?)

Silent is scratching his head, completely bewildered by this turn of events. You're, uh... happy that the bloke who ruined your silos can deny it to everybody? Am I missin' something? 

I think he's happy that Phinan can't deny it to him, which if I'm not mistaken, means he has some leverage he can use.  Also, I suspect that Phinan wasn't trying to harm Husseldorf's property at all.  That this was some sort of larger game he was playing at.  Or this situation is even more complicated than I thought.

A... larger game. Damn good thing we didn't bring him here then, eh? Silent chuckles. 

A larger game indeed.  Please don't take offense, gentlemen, Phinas was only one of a number of possibilities and... well, I won't share any more.  Knowledge of such things can be a bad thing.  Suffice to say, I am pleased with your work.  If you are ever in town again, do come and see me.

Tember gives you your 100 gold as payment.  You also took 60 gold and 20 silver from the sleeping form of Phinas, so you have made a tidy profit from the Husseldorf family.  If you don't have other questions, you are shown out of the house; it's now late evening, I believe.

(OOC: Is that apiece or one lump sum?) Magnum thanks Tember and goes to leave.

Silent remains very slow on the uptake but takes the money happily and leaves with Magnum. 

That's a lump sum, as I recall.  100 gold total.

You step outside into the streets of Trostenwald.  What would you like to do next?

Magnum splits the money evenly. Sixty gold and ten silver apiece. He then suggests rest for the two of them. 

Silent agrees heartily. You know, for a second back there I really thought we were both goners. Ha! Ha-ha! Ha... yeah, we should get some sleep. 

We took a couple solid hits, but we are nothing if not durable. You were thinking of getting some splint mail right? I wonder if we can take care of that before we leave.