We found Pax where we left her, in the infirmary.  While she was healing the gnomes, she had heard widely varying opinions about Burrow Warden Kargien.  The most negative of these came from Jalless, the infirmary chief.

 

“She kept saying Kargien obviously wants the crown for himself but she thinks he’s unworthy of the honor.”  Pax explained.  “But then there’s this other healer named Pingtu who seems to think Kargien walks on water.”

 

I didn’t know what to think.  Kargien was my father’s contact with the Blingdenstone expedition, and he was the one who had asked my father to find the ruby blade.  I wanted more than ever to talk to Talabrina Duskryn. 

 

Ultimately, we decided to keep it a secret that we had found the crown in the House Center, for now.  What really cemented our resolve was meeting the man himself.  Kargien, who was dressed immaculately and wore a necklace adorned with an outsized emerald, strode into the infirmary and greeted us obsequiously.

 

.“My friends, I am so glad that fortune saw fit to sweep you here to our shores.  I’ve just conversed with Briddick and he told me that as soon as you heard about our difficulty with the orcs you were chomping at the bit to rid us of their infestation.  How is that progressing?”

 

“The upper caverns seem to be clear of orcs.”  Grizzlegar told him.  “We searched them several times to make sure.”

 

“Excellent. Now I don’t know if you’ve heard, but part of the objective of this expedition, dare I say the most important part, was, and is, to retrieve the Crown of the Kings of Blingdenstone.  For generations our Deep Gnome Kings ruled from the House Center Cavern.  But a vile and evil presence has taken up residence there and I have yet to find anyone with the courage to assail the walls of that once proud structure.”

 

“We can search it for you.”  Said Grizzlegar.

 

“Excellent, and you will let me know what you find?”

 

“Sure thing.”

 

As soon as Kargien was gone, Jalless could no longer hold her tongue.

 

“Now do you see what I was saying?  That man is an unmitigated glory seeker.”

 

“He’s a @#$$%$%!”  Said Jerro.

 

“I can’t argue with that.”  Said Jalless.  “If you do find the crown, I beg you, do not let Kargien know.  Pingtu, the other healer that Pax spoke of, has been trying to awaken the Speaking Stones since we arrived.  Of course, he thinks they will speak the name of Kargien.  But I think he’s in for a big surprise when the Stones reveal the true heir of Blingdenstone.”

 

“And who do you think that is?”  I asked her.

 

“I’d rather not say.”  I could tell she did have someone in mind.

 

“Do you know anything about this Ogremoch’s Bane?”  Grizzlegar must had been wanting to bring this up for sometime.

 

“Ah, did Henkala offer you her usual stash of treasure?”  Jalless asked with a twinkle in her eye.

 

As an answer, Grizzle just smiled.

 

“Well, I’ll tell you if you’re going up against the Bane, you will need the help of the pechs.  Henkala’s right about that.  Confirmed Jalless.  “They can create a ward to protect you from the dust cloud that is  Ogremoch’s Bane.  But if you’re going to court the pechs, you might try to look a little less warlike,”

 

We all looked at her puzzled.

 

“Here, take these gunnysacks and hide your weapons in them and I might add to that your armor.”

 

While Grizzlegar, Pax and Jerro were making ready to leave, Jalless pulled me aside.

 

“Take care that your barbarian friend doesn’t get you killed.”  She said as she helped me stow my weapons and armor.  “And if you succeed in staying alive, I know another bard by the name of Gurmadden who could use your help.  He’s been trying to awaken the Singing Stones. 

 

“And is that as important as waking the Speaking Stones?”

 

“Maybe not, but I figure only another bard like yourself could appreciate that.”

 

I knew what she meant.

 

 

As it turned out, we never had to use the pech’s help, even though they agreed to give it to us (All they really wanted was and audience with Kargien and to be left alone in they’re section of the caverns).  Grizzle had chosen to actually talk to the Bane and the story he unfolded painted the Deep Gnomes in a bad light.

 

According to the Bane the gnomes had enslaved his brother, Entermoch’s Boon and the other lesser elementals to help them in their mining endeavors.  If this was true I only hoped that it was Kargien’s doing.  But at the very least the Deep Gnomes were turning a blind eye to slavery and as far as Grizzle was concerned he was going to put a stop to it.

 

We found the cavern where the Boon was being held and knocked down the pillar’s that were holding him.  He and the lesser elementals were freed.  Ogremoch’s Bane would trouble the Deep Gnomes no more, but would they think the cost was too high? We at least knew we had done the right thing.

 

We were being followed.

 

Actually we had been followed by someone the whole time we were here in Blingdenstone.  She had been skulking in the shadows of the House Center and in the Orc Caverns and now Entermoch’s Cavern.  But this time I had her in my sights and I knew who she was:  Talabrina Duskryn.

 

“Talabrina!”  I shouted.  She turned and looked at me from across the cavern.  “Why have you been following us?  I’ve wanted to talk to you this whole time.  Your sister Leore is free!”  She blinked absently as if this meant nothing to her and then she vanished.  I didn’t understand.

 

We found Henkala at her magic shop and Grizzle was able to talk her into giving us the bundle of treasure even though we had freed the Boon instead of destroying the Bane.  As we parted company with her, she met my gaze for the briefest of seconds and an unease came over me that I couldn’t put my finger on.

 

I was finally able to seek out Gurmadden, the bard Jalless had told me about.  I found him to be a perfectly delightful person and I would have liked to talk to him a lot longer but I could tell Grizzle and the others were getting restless, so I asked how we could help him.

 

“I need six more singing crystals to complete the array.  Unfortunately, these type of crystals can only be found in the Wormwrithings.  It’s a very dangerous place where kobals have been entering and exiting the city.”

 

That was all Grizzlegar needed to hear. He was itching for a fight after not getting one with the Bane.

 

“Kobols?  Is that all he told you about?”

 

We all had to laugh.  Our guide, Miglin had the same guttural delivery as Grizzle.  We secretly wondered if Grizzlegar had found his long lost father.

 

“Here everyone take a pick you’re going to need it.”  Miglin instructed.  “Kobols, if only that was the worst thing we have to worry about.  What about the purple worms that gave the Wormwrithings their name?  I tell ya bub, if you hear a low rumbling sound you better run like the wind”   And we all burst out laughing except for Grizzle and Miglin.  Miglin didn’t know what was so funny,

 

We found six singing crystals in no time and at Miglin’s urging we helped him seal off the passage the kobols had been using to enter and exit the city.  Along the way we ran into several kobol traps (one of which I playfully tried to get Grizzle to walk into but he wasn’t buying ). 

 

I was sad to have to say good bye to Miglin but happy to see Gurmadden  again.  This time Pintu was with him.  It seems our reputation was growing among the Deep Gnomes.  Now it was the healer’s turn to ask for our help.

 

Gurmadden quickly fit the crystals into the array and the stones obligingly started to sing for him.  The sound was quite like a glass harp.  It was beautiful.

 

After the impromptu concert, Pintu showed us a list of gems he needed to perform the Speaking Stone ceremony.  We realized that we had come across every gem he needed somewhere in the city; they would be easy to round up but one stone in particular was going to cause a problem.

 

“Great the only emerald we saw here was around Kargien’s neck.”  Grizzlegar grumbled.  And the only way he was likely to part with it was if we turned over the crown to him.  “Wait I have an idea.”  Grizzle fumbled through his knapsack until he came across the amulet we had found in the House Center.  “Now all I need is a chest that looks like it might be big enongh to hold a crown.  We’ll tell him we think we found the crown locked in this chest and we need his emerald to unlock it.”  It was at least part of a plan.

 

We knew where we could find Kargien.  He was meeting with the pechs.

 

“Excellent.  This day just keeps getting better and better.”  Kargien intoned as he slipped off the necklace and handed it to me.

With a little slight of hand I was able to make it look like I was giving the gem to Grizzle when I was actually slipping it in my pocket.  Grizzlegar pretended to unlock the chest and flipped it open.

 

Kargien’s eye went wide and he grabbed the necklace out of the chest.

 

“The Sunnis Amulet!  You’ve found it!  This is almost better than the crown!  Do you realize with this I will have complete control of  Ogremoch’s Bane!  He will keep the lesser elementals in check and our mining statistics will augment ten fold, a hundred fold!

 

He rushed out of the cavern holding the amulet above his head.  The pech’s who had been listening to this just shook their heads and disappeared into the walls of the cavern.

 

“Well we know where Kargien’s headed.”  I said.

 

“Yeah, the Ogremoch Cavern.”  Said Grizzle

 

“We don’t have much time we need to get this emerald back to Pingtu now!”

 

With the gems now assembled and placed Pingtu told us he only needed the ancient cache of Drow weapons that had been found in the caverns on the first day of the expedition to complete the ceremony.  He told us Fendrick, the supply manager had them stowed away.

 

Fendrick was only too happy to help us, but when he left to get the weapons we heard him cry out.  We rushed to find several kobols and Talabrina Duskryn, raiding the supply closet.  A fight ensued.  We prevailed, and Talabrina lay dying on the floor.  But it wasn’t Talabrina  at all.  The woman lying on the floor was Henkala Shadowsong!

 

“I shouldn’t have trusted him…” Was her last words.

 

We didn’t have time to puzzle over them.  Fendrick gave us the cache along with the final page of the journal with the placement of the weapons for the ceremony.  I realized the Ruby Dagger that my father had sent me to find should have been part of the cache.  Things were starting to make sense.  Kargien had had my father find the blade so he could try to stop Pingtu from completing the ceremony because it might reveal he was not the true heir of Blingdenstone.  I still wanted to take the dagger to my father but I gave it to Pingtu so could mend it and use it in the ceremony.

 

 

                                                *******

 

“The true heir of Blingdenstone is Gurmadden, Bard of Blingdenstone!”  Rumbled the Speaking Stones.

 

I was thrilled even though I had just met him I felt Gurmadden would be a great King..

 

Suddenly Talabrina (the real Talabrina) appeared before us holding Kargien by the collar.  She had an amazing story to unfold.

The first part of my plan was falling into place.  I had been able to heal all three of our guards and send them into a fitful sleep, using techniques I remembered from my time at the Temple.  I quietly locked them in the makeshift cell we had spent the better part of the night in.  I wanted to discuss the rest of my plan with Grizzlegar and Pax, away from Malador, Sirak, and Jerro.  While the other three were sorting through their personal effects I quietly pulled the gnome and the cleric aside.

 

“I think our best bet would be to go back and try to talk to the ranger.  He’s looking for adventurers to go on some kind of mission; anything to get us off this island.”  I whispered.

 

“But he’s with those Yellow Cloak goons.  He’s evil.”  Protested Pax.

 

“Yes but he lives by a code; like Leore.”

 

“You sure about that bub?”

 

“Well I’m hoping.  I healed the guards, in case their friends of his. And he’s wearing a Sea Captain’s badge, so I thought I might appeal to him as one mariner to another.”

 

“That’s asking a lot after how Jerro acted.”  Said Grizzlegar.  “I doubt this ranger’s going to want to have anything to do with us.”

 

“Yes I know.”  I said.  “That’s why we’re going to have to come up with something to deal with Jerro.  Did you prepare a sleep spell today?”

 

“Yes I did but I already used it on one of the guards.”  Said Pax.

 

“Hey guys!”  We all turned around startled.  The wizard was standing right behind us.  “We think we just heard a noise outside.”  Jerro indicated Malador and Sirak, who were standing at the window..

 

“I think I can just make out two shadows.”  Said Malador.

 

“Looks like a man and a woman.”  Put in the goblin.

 

I didn’t have time to feel relieved over the fact that Jerro hadn’t seemed to have overheard our conversation.  Grizzlegar was pointing me in the direction of the side window where I might have a better vantage point.  I was shocked to see that it was the ranger outside and he was with another figure who did indeed seem to be a woman but her face was covered by her hood.  Then I heard her voice and knew who she was.

 

“I told you that I wouldn’t go with you unless we at least tried to rescue my friend.”  It was Menolly!

 

“I hope you know how far I’m already sticking out my neck for you.”  The ranger was saying.  “There’s no way the Yellow Cloaks could ignore the barrage of insults that wizard was hurling at Lloth.”

 

“And that’s why I have to try to get Gerard and his friends off the island before they end up sacrifices to the Spider Queen.”

 

“I can’t believe I’m helping you.”

 

“Menolly?”

 

She came up to the window.  “Gerard?  You’re free?”

 

“Just barely.  What are you doing here?”

 

“I’m on a requisition mission for my father.  But my sloop was blown here by the storm.  I was lucky.  It looked much worse on the South side of the island.”

 

“Tell me about it.  The ship we were on was cracked in two.”

 

“Sorry to interrupt this little reunion, but is this a rescue or what?”  Grizzlegar wanted to know.

 

A few minutes later we were all standing outside in the alley.

 

“So how do you propose to get us off the island little lady?”  And Pax gave the gnome a healthy cuff to the back of his head.

 

“My sloop isn’t big enough for all of us but Jarsif.”  And she indicated the ranger.  “Has agreed to let us use his boat.”

 

“I never said that.”  Protested the ranger.  “And if you think I’m taking this wizard anywhere…”

 

“I’m certainly not scared of your Spider Queen.”  Postured Jerro.  “I’ll have you know that we just killed three vampires and we freed another one from a sarcophagus she had been trapped in for hundreds of years.  I would say that that qualifies us to fight a mere insect.”

 

For some reason that none of us understood, (with the possible exception of Menolly; something in her eyes as we traded looks told me this) Jarsif’s demeanor completely changed in an instant.

 

“Well, what are we waiting for let’s go people!  My ship is this way!”  He took off and we had a hard time keeping up with him as he almost ran to the docks. 

 

Suddenly, he stopped short and threw up his hand to slow our momentum, then pointed in the direction of  four burly men who were standing guard in front of the gangplank of what must have been his vessel.  They hadn’t seen us yet.

 

“Now what?”  Asked Pax.

 

“I can cast Sleep.”  Said Jerro.  But only on two of them.

 

“Let me try something.”  I said and stumbled out in front of the gangplank, pretending to be drunk.  “Hi Guysh.  Howsh it hangin’ tonite?”

 

To my surprise, Malador and Sirak joined me in taunting the guards.  All three of us took off and I glimpsed one of the men giving chase.  That’s all we needed.  Now Jerro could cast Sleep on two of them and Grizzlegar could easily take out the other one.

 

“You guys get that boat off the island now!”  I yelled back.  “I’ll catch up with you as soon as I can.”

 

“Find my sloop Gerard!”  Menolly cried.  “Look in your pocket!”

 

And that’s the last I saw of her (for a long time anyway).  Something seemed to always pull us apart.  This time it was my boneheaded heroics.  But they paid off.  As soon as we turned the corner, we went in three different directions.  Then we doubled back and were able to surround the guard and take him out.

 

“Nice going Tarmikos.”

 

“Could you please just call me Gerard?!”

 

“Oh all right.  I suppose we can call a truce.”  Conceded Malador.  “We do have at least one thing in common; we both miss Captain Trovebane.  I miss him so much, Listen, I know your lady friend said her sloop was small, but surely it couldn’t fit in your pocket.”

 

“No, but this could.”  Somehow Menolly had slipped a letter in my pocket without me noticing and it had a map to the sloop.  My lady was stealthy and prepared for any contingency.

 

After we safely stowed the guards body, we left Rocky Harbor following the map.  We hugged the coastline, keeping to the shadows, until we came to the extreme Northeast end of the island.  We continued following the coast until we came to what was marked on the map as Haunted Bay.  This was where Menolly said we would find her sloop.  I noticed that she had marked a trail from Haunted Bay to a canyon on the West side of the island.  Had she already been there, or had she planned to go there and something or someone stopped her?  There no way of knowing until I saw her again.

 

 

We found the sloop and were finally able to plot a course off this dreadful island.  Malador and Sirak slept while I somehow steered the boat and read Menolly’s letter at the same time.

 

 

Gerard,

 

If you’re reading this it means we were separated yet again.  You need to not worry about finding me just yet and get back to Thunder Rift as soon as possible.  Brother Shortankard at the Temple of Kord sent me a letter last week.  Revlis has applied as a Paladin candidate.  You need to go to the Temple.  Not to talk him out of it, just to support him in whatever he decides to do.

 

How could I refuse?

 

 

 

From the Journal of Menolly the Magnificent Bard of Melinir

 

 

 

Jarsif found me in the castle.  Luckily I had already found what I was looking for, well part of it anyway, and now I knew where I had to go to find the rest.  It was on the island of  Mantol-Derith and I had to find the drow  Talabrina Duskryn. 

 

“What are you doing here?!” The ranger demanded.

 

“I was blown here in the storm night before last so I decided to spend the night in the castle.” 

 

That was at least partially true.  I had been aiming for the west side of the island and this canyon where the castle was situated.  But the storm had forced me to make land in a small bay on the eastside.  I had spent the entire day yesterday trekking across the middle of the island.  It was a good thing I had a map.

 

“You do realize this castle belonged to a vampire?”

 

I did.

 

“No, I didn’t.”  I told him.

 

“You’re going to have to come with me I’m afraid.”

 

As he led me outside I got the distinct impression that HE was looking for something, or someone.  There was a coach in the courtyard hitched to a four horse rig.  Inside the coach were three men dressed in yellow cloaks with sunburst on the capes.

 

“Is everything prepared for the celebration and ceremony tonight?”  Asked one of the Yellow Cloaks.

 

“Everything for the celebration is ready at The Pixxie and Linx.”  Said the ranger, subserviently.

 

“And who is this morsel?”  Asked another Yellow Cloak.

 

“Menolly of Melinir at your service.  My father is Captain Commander Malek.”  I said with all the charm I could muster.

 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean any offence by that remark.”

 

“And I didn’t take any.”  I told him.

 

“What was she doing at the castle?”  Asked the Yellow Cloak who hadn’t spoken until now.

 

“I’m on a mission for my father at the request of Burrow Warden Kargien of the Blingdenstone expedition.”  I knew I was taking a gamble.  If they respected my father I was hoping they would give as much respect to his associates.

 

“Yes I’d heard that the gnomes were trying to reclaim the old city.  Hopefully we can establish trade with them if everything goes well.”

 

My gamble had paid off.  Or so it seemed.

 

“And how’s that mission of yours coming Jarsif?”  Asked the first Yellow Cloak.

 

“I’m still waiting for adventurers to sign up.”  Admitted the ranger.

 

“I’ll put the word out for you at the celebration.”

 

“Thank you Sir.”

 

At the inn, Jarsif stuck stubbornly to my side.  Suddenly he grabbed my arm and pushed me into the corner.

 

“Unhand me Sir!”  I protested.

 

“Sorry, I just had to get your attention.”

 

“Well, you have it.”

 

“You need to get off this island as soon as you can.”

 

“Believe me, that was my intention.”

 

“They’ve been cordial to you so far, but they’re still looking for people for the ceremony.”

 

“People?”  I asked.

 

“Sacrifices.”  He whispered.  “To Lloth.”

 

Despite my best efforts, I felt my knees go weak and I sat down in the nearest chair.

 

“You stay right there.  I’ll go to the bar and get you some water.”

 

I couldn’t believe I’d let myself behave like such a green girl.  I noticed for no particular reason that the bard on stage was singing a song I knew very well.  I was about to start singing along when I heard one of the Yellow Cloaks I’d met in the coach saying:

 

“Yes, that ranger at the bar is looking for adventurers, I’m sure he’d take you on.”

 

And then I heard another familiar voice.

 

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.”

 

It was Gerard! 

 

His companion was a female Kordian cleric.  They joined Jarsif at the bar and the cleric was addressing him.  Then an elfin wizard joined them; Jarsif was answering the cleric.  Suddenly the elf yelled Drow!, and stormed out of the inn.   The next thing I knew Gerard and the cleric were also leaving the inn with a gnome of all things.

 

Jarsif came back to the table and handed me a glass of water.

 

“Well, it looks like you’re off the hook.”  He said.

 

“What?”  I asked.

 

“Those characters at the bar just volunteered themselves as the sacrifices the Yellow Cloaks have been looking for.”

 

“No!”  I protested.

 

The music had stopped and now everyone was filing out into the courtyard.

 

“You have to help me save my friend!”

 

“And why would I do that?”

 

“I promise I’ll let you take me anywhere you like just help me save my friend.”

 

I knew this wasn’t very persuasive but for some reason Jarsif took pity on me.

 

“Alright I’ll do it.”

 

I quickly took the map from my pocket and scribbled a note to Gerard on the back, then followed Jarsif out into the courtyard.

 

                                                            *******

 

“Is that a good idea?”  Grizzlegar was saying, (we had made all our introductions in the alley) as we watched one of the men guarding Jarsif’s ship chase after Gerard, Malador and Sirak.

 

“He’ll be alright.  He’s very resourceful.”  I told the gnome.  “Jerro, you said something about casting Sleep?”  I prompted the wizard.  Two of the remaining guards slumped to the gangplank and Grizzlegar and Pax smashed the other one.

 

We ran up the gangplank, Jarsif pulled it in and then cast off. 

 

About thirty minutes later we were far out to sea.  So far I had let Jarsif chart our course. But I had come to the decision that I just couldn’t trust him.  And having just met the rest of the party, I wasn’t sure I could trust them either.  I was going to put them all to sleep, sail to Mantol-Derith, take care of my business there, and then decide what I wanted to do next.

 

I settled into a chair on the deck and started casting sleep.  I slowly looked around as everyone’s eyes began to droop.  And then my gaze fell on Jarsif.  He had a puzzled look on his face.  I realized too late that he was casting sleep on the entire party too.  All of us drifted into a deep sleep including Jarsif and me.

 

I woke to the sound of two voices arguing.

 

“I can’t believe you would bring them here.  Don’t you realize the infirmary is already filled to capacity from the orc attacks?”

 

“What was I supposed to do Jalless?’

 

“I don’t know Briddick, you were just lucky that Henkala let you set up cots outside her magic shop.”

 

I tried to look around without giving away that I was awake.  We appeared to be in a huge cavern.  As far as I could tell the rest of the party was still asleep, lying on cots outside a massive boulder that seemed to serve as some kind of building.  There were several passages that led out of the cavern.

 

A whistle sounded  and Jarsif sat bolt upright.

 

“Mistress?”  He intoned, leapt from his cot, and followed the sound into one of the passages.

 

Leaning on my arm, I could just make out a tall woman in a maroon dress standing at the other end of the passage.  As Jarsif came closer to the woman his form began to change.  He was revealed as an albino bugbear.  He and the woman disappeared from the passage.

 

The commotion had awoken the party.  I turned and looked for the first time at the people who had been arguing.  Both were gnomes.  One was an older gentleman and the other was a woman dressed as a nurse.

 

The older man had come up to Grizzlegar and was saying:

 

“Oh, I’m so glad you’re awake.  You probably don’t remember me, but I remembered you when we both lived in Ketapesh.  That’s why when I found your ship washed up on the beach I had the guides bring all of you through the defensive maze and into the city complex.”

 

Grizzlegar didn’t know what to say.  But as soon as he heard about the bloodied gnome patients, he was raring to cleanse the city of orcs.

 

I still had a few questions.  Like where were we?

 

“Why Blindenstone of course.”  Said Briddick, the older gnome.

 

“On the island of Mantol-Derith?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

So I was right where I had wanted to go all along.  It would seem that this was where Jarsif was headed also.  If we had known that, we could have saved ourselves so much trouble.

 

“Can we go fight orcs now?”  Grizzlegar wanted to know.

 

“Just one other thing.  Who was that tall woman in the passage just now?”  I asked.

 

“Oh, you don’t want to have anything to do with her deary.”  A female gnome of Briddick’s age had stepped into the cavern.  “That’s Talabrina Duskryn.  She’s a dangerous drow sorceress.

 

But that was the very person I was here to see.

 

“Can we go fight orcs now?”  Grizzlegar wanted to know.

 

“Not before I show you around my magic shop.  And forgive me for not introducing myself.  I’m Henkala Shadowsong, proprietor of The Phantasmal Glamors.”

 

Grizzlegar looked nonplused.  But he followed the rest of us into the magic shop.  My eye went straight to the ruby blade on one of the shelves.

 

“How much is that?”

 

At first Henkala didn’t want to sell it to me but at Grizzlegar’s strong urging she let me have it for 100 gp.  Now I had the hilt and the blade of the weapon my father was looking for.  My mission was all but over.

 

“Can we go fight orcs now?”  Grizzlegar wanted to know.

 

How could I say no to the gnome who had helped me procure the ruby blade?  And besides I still had the nagging feeling that I should at least try to talk to Talabrina Duskryn.  Just before we left the left the magic shop Jerro found a journal binder that had just one fragment of the journal in it.  Henkala let him have it for free.

 

As we were finally setting off to fight the orcs, Jalless came up to Pax and asked:

 

“I could help but notice you’re a Kordian cleric.  Could you stay and help me heal the patients in the infirmary?”

 

Pax agreed.

 

Over the next few hours Grizzlegar, Jerro and I fought all manner of creatures including fire beetles, gnome skeletons, stirges, zombies, and a megalomaniacal wight who was protecting the crown Burrow Warden Kargien was looking for (Kargien had proclaimed this to us on a placard posted in the House Center).  Not only that,we had also cleaned the city of 42 orcs and their two leaders plus we found another two fragments of the journal Jerro had picked up in the magic shop.  Not bad for a days work.