[3.5E] Heretic's Bane Icewind Dale

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise keeps bhis post at the mouth of the cave while his companions loot the bodies; he's not entirely comfortable with that part of combat, so he's thankful for being allowed to simply guard the cave for the time being.

He closes his eyes once everyone has congregated by the cave mouth, his eyes flashing visibly behind his eyelids. He then opens them, the faint blue glow having faded away, and then gives Lythe a bemused little grin. "Perhaps we should have looted the corpses of our fallen enemies, mm? I never thought to do it before..."

He listens silently to the conversation, bowing with a flourish as he and his companion are introduced. He gives the dwarf with the glowing blue eyes a meaningly look for a few moments, then nods at him, his own eyes flashing green in slight amusement.

[bchilders]

Magnum finds a spot in the cave do pray to Clangeddin, both thanks for protection and strength to prevail and also for further strength to continue to pursue this Cold God. When he returns he feels filled with new power and vigor and is beaming as he comes in bellowing, "A good day for dwarvenkin, death fer those who opposed us and life for all yer fellow comrades. Today the Cold God shivers in fear instead o' tha chills."

[Diarmuid]

[ooc] You described the little bunkers, Bundok would have checked them out...not sure if the treasure includes anything from there or if there would be any additional information to glean from inside the bunkers, papers tunnels leading elsewhere, etc. [/ooc]

Bundok squints an eye at the little gnome going to town on the dead ogres and giants. He knows why he takes his trophies, but that little bugger...yuck. Shaking away the visual of a gnome almost shoulder deep in an ogre mage's chest cavity he peruses the battle field and gathers what else he can.

He nods approvingly at the pile of spoils and nudges a few things with the toe of his boot to get a bit of a better look at them.

He greets the duergar respectfully, but just so at first. Respect only gained from having walked and embraced Tolrin, one of the finest dwarves Bundok has ever known. Once his gray cousin starts spinning his tale, his heart softens a bit and he can almost understand being outside the dwarven fold and yearning to be back inside it.

Years of prejudice are hard to overcome though, and the duergar's mysterious entourage of unnamed gray brethren fit the stereotype to a tee. So again, with respect, albeit a little more than originally, he salutes Thordek as the greys head back into the cave. He cant help but wondering if Tolrin had told them what was in the cave and what they would be saving, if it would have made a difference to start with...

"Aye. dun worry about all t'at now. Just pick up some junk and lug anythin that's magic or worth somethin, and don' stink too bad o' ogre or frosty."

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

As Kelith helps finish up the gathering of the loot he also chimes in, "Aye, I think the split should happen back at town."

As the dwarves emerge from the cave, he gives a nod at the mention of his name and a respectful glance at all the dwarves as they are introduced.

As they move back into the cave for their "interrogation" he turns toward the group "So i'm guessing we wait for whatever information can be found then we report back to town?"

[ArmanMadero]

Arman gathered with everyone else near the spoiles and eyes a few things, and nodded his head in satisfaction. All in all, a nice scuffle.

Noises coming from the cave made the announcement of the Duergar before they showed themselves. Arman stayed reserved about meeting more dwarves. As an elf, dwarves were not the highest on the list of those he would generally hang around with. But then again, he was hired to. Gold was gold.

He nodded his head when Tolrin introduced him, but did little else.

The coming days were going to be interesting to say the least.

[Katasi]

Arum nods and begins to grab a bunch off loot to carry back to town. "Shall we get going then?" He asks.

[ArmanMadero]

Seeing Arum starting to gather things, Arman went over to the pile and started helping.

"I think that is a good idea. Questions need to be answered and I would rather do that in a warm inn or home, rather than in a cold dark wet cave."

Arman looked to Tolrin and grinned.

"Not that there is anything wrong with cold dark wet caves."

[mshady]

Tolrin flashes Kelith a sardonic half smile and chuckles in response to the man’s question.

“Oh, them two goblins we captured? Shame we weren’t closer to home, could put’em to work in the mines or something. They’ll lemme know if they be having something. Pity about the ogre, nay have many o’those.”
He waves his hand dismissively and glances back at the ridgeline, obviously nervous about lingering too long before he recognizes the inevitable look of confusion on both Kelith’s face and everyone that overheard him.

“Ah, right… how’s that work, aye? Well…” The dwarf sucks air through his teeth as he debates an explanation that wouldn’t give too much away. “Can I just be leav’n that to a kind o’magic for now and be leaving it at that? Tis one reason the two o’us had to meet, to sort ‘hat all out.”

Tolrin turns and watches Duervar finish his bloody work of mounting the monster’s heads on the lances for a long moment and back into the cave and frowns. It’s clearly barbaric, but Duervar seems to have no more qualms about it then one might have over moving a box around. Tolrin’s momentary curiosity about the matter is more an inspection of the work then blanching at what he ordered.
“I wonder if he can get that last one on? Oh, that works, hit it with a club. Tad messy though. Good lad, Duergar!” Tolrin shrugs, appreciating the practicality of Duervar’s actions before continuing, more talking to himself than responding to Kelith directly – a kind of absent-minded exposition the dwarf was (in)famous for.

“Well, as I was saying…and prolly why someone just gone done tried to kill us, so we didn’t meet. Someone ‘ho obviously wanted it done badly, paid well and nay wanted to show their face in the doin’ of it. Yet someone that snow wench nay cared to risk her life for nor ‘er best and prolly work’n on her own. I wonder if their precious Cold One knew? This one’s gonna be a lot of unraveling fer what I fear’s a damn simple answer.” The dwarf grinds his foot into the broken ground beneath his feet, stamping out his own frustration.
“Bugger’em, that’s bloody smart. But who and if so, who? And why now and who’d they want? Me? Thordek? More ‘han enough force to kill us all, damn good thing they tried to do it ‘n the cheap and ‘hey came in bite sizes…” Grumbling, Tolrin continues his soliloquy mentally as he tries to work things out in a manner not unlike someone trying to chew on a tough piece of meat.

Some of the party continues to guard the area while the rest bag the impressive amount of treasure up and distribute the weight as evenly as they can, but it is still a considerable weight. The four lances, now adorned with the heads of the various foes, lean against the cave wall. Bundok wanders back to the fortifications, accompanied by Arum after a brief discussion between the two. Dropping down into the once covered trenches, they soon discover that the tunnels indeed include 2 passages going southward. They conclude with a long passage going east and west where the ogres hiding. Behind these earthworks is a rather spacious series of rooms of very unusual construction. Rather than earthen walls, sheets of what are clearly lead sheets have been nailed roughly into the wall. This rather leaves Bundok confused, but Arum would have an idea what these are far. A communal sleeping area for what four giants is over to one side of the main chamber and full of dirty furs and a stench. Piled by two of the fur beds are heavy bags full of gold, cheap gems and various junk, weighing about 10 lbs apiece. On the other side of the chamber is an area for the ogres. A dead ogre is pushed towards the back of the chamber and covered with blankets, apparently a victim of close quarters, a bad temper and a very large sword through its heart. The ogre area is otherwise messy and without anything worth taking and probably dangerous to touch simply due to the sanitation. Salted meat is piled into one corner with a tarp over it. The entire place, while underground, is none the less rather chill and the only heat would have come from body heat. Frost signals every breath.
This main chamber leads to two more. One, oddly enough, is a rough hewn table with chairs large enough for a normal humanoid with a side room full of cots with fresh straw. To the north of this meeting room is another room; what is clearly a bed room. An empty trunk sits at the foot of the bed and the bed itself has an actual straw mattress. A change of woman’s clothes are found in a bag tossed carelessly to the side of the mattress and appear to be priestly vestments, although they are unadorned. Bundok rifles through the bag until he finds a small leather satchel and a small pouch of gems. Bundok and Arum open the satchel together, revealing a folded map of the immediate area of the Spine of the World. Several cave entrances are noted accompanied by symbols neither can read.
A note also falls out of the satchel. In unusually square looking draconic, Arum realizes it simply states “The meeting will be as planned. Please prepare a reception. Expect escort.” With no other rooms to search and anything of value collected, the two climb out of the earthworks with some degree of difficulty and make their way back to the group as they make final preparations to leave.

“So,” Tolrin asks, now appearing more focused. “What’d ye two tunnel rats find? Been near half an hour, we best be push’n out and soon. What’s it look like in there?”

Lythe fidgets and watches the discussion, listening intently and clearly curious while Raltise watches the valley unmovingly. The rest have their gear ready and loot stowed. Duergar has the heads and lances wrapped in a tarp with a rope around them so he can drag them along.

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise looks down at the fidgetting. earth elemental, and grins a little bit. He places his hand atop her head, and then seems to focus on some point in space a few yards away... suddenly, his eyes, as well as Lythe's eyes and the 'veins' of crystal running through her body, flash a brilliant blue for a moment, which soon fades to a dull glow. Raltise then promptly starts sliding along the ground, backwards, not seeming to put much effort in moving at all. He shrugs his shoulders. "Gotta keep her entertained."

Spoiler

Show

Manifest skate on both Ralts and Lythe... mainly to stop her from being bored and nervous.

[bchilders]

Magnum loads himself down with loot to carry back to town and looks around at the group, each carrying their share and more and bringing those heads on lances he says out loud, "We'll make quite a sight fer those town folk comin' in like this, aye." He ends his statement laughing as he imagine the faces of the villagers as they pass.

[mshady]

"Aye lad, we will." Tolrin rumbles. "I'm gonna walk straight through town 'ith us carry'n those heads. Straight to the head o'the bloody Stone Council and get me some answer 'bout what's going on between them people and these Cold Ones. Hundlestone be the only 'ay by land to the North. One way 'r another, I'm here to make sure it be secure and hold that pass open. After that, we talk 'ith the Patriarch I be think'n."

[Katasi]

Arum takes what he can carry of the gold and gems found in the underground rooms and drags them out to the pile of loot outside that eeryone is baging up. He then goes oer to Tolrin with the not, shows it ot him, and says "In case you can't read this, it says 'The meeting will be as planned. Please prepare a reception. Expect escort.'"

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

{{OOC: I'm waiting on Tolrin's response to the letter we found before i post. Just in case he thinks we should investigate or something to that extent.}}

[bchilders]

Magnum moves in to see what was found in the tunnels and wonders what Tolrins take is on who tried to have us killed.

[mshady]

Tolrin stops and listens to Arum, his head cocked and he listens intently to the short note.
“That note, repeat it again”, he snaps, obviously caught by surprise by the note. Stepping towards Arum and removing his metal gauntlet with his other hand, he takes the note and reads it over. He snorts and taps the note with his square, stubby finger. After a minute of reading it over and over again, he folds it up and places it in his satchel.
“Ye did well find’n this, you two. So they gots themselves a barracks up there, eh? Good place to lay an ambush from, but a little too permanent don’t ye think? Be a damn convenient place to meet someone. Anything there make ye ‘hink it was warded ‘gainst scrying?” Tolrin looks between the two and Arum nods.

“Meet’n place than. And I bet it be to meet ‘ith whomever comes up to this tomb, which as far ‘s I know be the thrice damned Hundlestone Council. No wonder them guards nay wanted us com’n up here. Real question be who left that note. Who in the hells leaves a note in draconic like that? Who knew I’d be comin’ here to meet with Sonnlinor Thordek? None o’ye did. None o’the Forgemark did. The Patriarch did and a couple o’others in the family. So… not my end. Must be on Thordeks… unless this all be through some magicked means. A note in draconic’d make a wee more sense, odd writ’n though…”

Tolrin paces around for a moment as the last o’the gear and treasure is packed away.

“So… what now? I’d be tempted to wait ‘nd see who shows up but we may just get attacked ‘gain and likely no one will as Hundlestone certainly knows we left. I reckon I should let Clinkscales know, but do I just tell’em we were ambushed and march home or tell’em and ask’em to seize the Stone Council and hold’em till we get back? They didn’t really know where we be going so much, so its nay like they were lett’n us walk to our deaths. Be stupid with all the dwarves in the town or com’n. But they obviously ‘ave some sort o’arrangement with these Aurilites. So they be victims or partners? Any thoughts, lads? What do ye think we should do?”

[bchilders]

"I've oft'n been accus'd of tryin too much to see the good in folk, but a part of me wants the say it's these damn cold ones tah blame. What defense they got to refuse demands from the like of what we just ran in to?" Magnum says then waits for the responses of the others before saying any more.

[Diarmuid]

Bundok

After reporting the findings of the barracks with Arum, the unkempt dwarf got rather quiet and just grabbed some bags of booty to carry back to town. The mystics were sortin out something about dragons and scrying and he knew he wouldnt be able to follow the conversation anyway, and didnt bother.

He watched bemusedly as Raltise and his walking pile o' stones skated around. The little rock thing was ugly, and stranger'n most things he'd seen, but then again he'd just watched one of the best dwarves he'd ever known talking pleasantly with a grey, so was Bundok to judge.

[mshady]

Tolrin shrugs in response to what Magnum says.

“An old dwarf’s temper’s something difficult to cool when his fire’s up. I needs to remember that while that’s prolly the most important town north o’Shadowdale or Daggerford, she still be a little town. I suppose having Clinkscales sack the place till we gets back and can put some questions to’em may be a bit… hasty.” Tolrin clears his throat and shrugs, almost sheepishly, although it’s hard to tell in his fine plate mail. “So aye… they might’ve had an arrangement with these damned ice lickers but aye, what alternative they be having? We may be able to keep Luskan’s wandering eye at bay, but winter itself?”

Tolrin snorts as Duervar walks him with the grizzly pikes on his shoulders while Tolrin regards them for a moment and looks contemplative for a moment and begins talking out loud.

“Question here be how deep an arrangement this be? Greedy as these ice lickers be, what does Hundlestone have to limit that greed? Maybe that can be the Patriarchate. Battlehammer didn’t help. Couldn’t help. We might.
My jobs to make sure the caravan route stays open, nay just for our good, but all the Ten Towns. No more. No less. If the place be too weak to stand on its own, we can reinforce it or even take it if need be.
If it can stand, that’s fine. But what I can nay afford be uncertainty… not knowing if these frost faeries can just close the road whenever they want. It’s like walking around wearing a noose for us! Back home, back underground, that’s how we’d deal with this. Axes. Spikes. Walls. Put our own lad in charge, knock some more heads and you’d have certainty. Although I sure put the lie to that method! Hah! Hmmm.”

Tolrin paces for the better part of the moment in thought, put only after producing a fine looking cigar and puffing on it as he mutters to himself. Finally, he returns to his waiting escort.
“Alright, I have it.” Tolrin declares and pauses for effect before the weary group, almost theatrically. “I’ll inform Clinkscales o’what happened. He’ll carry the message to the Stone Council and request they meet us at the Goblin’s Groin upon our return to discuss the attack and the mutual concern. The last caravan’ll be here in two days time. You all will have the time to get ready, split the loot and so on while I do that dry diplomatic stuff my cousin keeps insisting I do. Some o’ye will still pull escort duty, seeing as someone’s in an assassination mood lately.

So assume we work someth’n out with Hundlestone to keep the pass open that involves protecting the place rather ‘han owning the place. That’ll mean the snow flakes’ll try to assert they can still open and close the pass when ‘hey want to, meaning they’ll be goin’ after the full caravan. That caravan’s ‘bout 300 to 500 strong, including the escort and well… everyone’s armed on them things. If they want to show ‘hey can close the pass or at least make it damn dangerous… they’re gonna have to bring enough force to deal with all that. Which means today was just a taste of what’s coming for the rest o’the week.”

Tolrin stops for breath and smiles, but it’s a very grim smile.

“Yes, that means they’ll want to keep Hundlestone itself in play. The best way to do that and avoid the caravan fight for them’ll be to cause problems in town or try ‘nd kill us in the meantime. Nevermind whom just hired ‘hem to try ‘nd kill us just now and leaves notes in draconic…”

{General Knowledge – Draconic is the language for arcane magic as well as actual dragons.}

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise listens silently, keeping one eye on Lythe to make sure she doesn't go floating off a cliff while the adults are talking. "Mm... I guess I won't be getting to that monestary any time soon, then. Oh well."

[ArmanMadero]

Arman listened to all the conversations going on, and thought about what it all meant. Holding the Stone Council seemed somewhat reasonable, but what if they were just as blind? Arman shook his head. It didn't seem possible.

Someone was a traitor. Or misguided. And for what? Money? Power? Glory? All the things a being would want to achieve their own ends of mayhem.

And who or what was the being? Was it the whole Stone Council, or a few of it? One of it? The writing in Draconic certainly was odd, but not uncommon. Most mages and sorcerors could understand the language, along with dragons and those of dragon descent. The words itself told the story. It was short and to the point. Whoever wrote it, might not be expecting them back.

Arman smiled a grim smile. So who would try to not act surprised when they finally arrived back in town? How deep did this all run?

"Tolrin, what exactly may the Stone Council have to do with this? It seems to me that they would want the passage to remain open as well. Who controls the passage itself? Is it owned by all who pass through? Or does Hundlestone take that responsibility? Or Bryn Shander?"

Arman rubbed the back of his neck with his rght hand, deep in thought.

"Would the stone council have enough power to hire those who attacked us today? And for what purpose? What would they have against increasing trade, reagardless if it is through the underdark? I would think that they would like to have year round travelers, how ever many there would be, to bring further trade to Icewind Dale and Hundlestone. And who is Frostmaiden Livius speaking of when she mentioned the Stone Councils protector? What are we up against?"

"I'm thinking that whoever sent this "reception" for us, may not be expecting us back in town. Who else tried to stop this from happening besides the guards? Anyone particular come to mind from the Council perhaps?"

[bchilders]

Magnum listens intently as those around him speak, wishing he had more skills in politics and intrigue. His god blessed him with a heart for a fight but he seemed somewhat out of his element in these talks of trade and treason. He appreciates Arman quick assesment of the situation and probing questions and waits to hear what response Tolrin might give.

[mshady]

Taking a last look at the battlefield, Tolrin continues to puff on his cigar. He snaps his fingers twice and summons the big mountain lion over to him, whereupon it affectionately nuzzles him. Leaning down and speaking to it quietly, he pets the big cat and rummages around in his satchel and gives it a chunk of smoked meat. The cat purrs and he bids it farewell before touching his holy symbol and speaking the command words once again. With the meat chunk in its mouth, the lion sits on its haunches for a moment before becoming opaque and then transparent before disappearing into a cloud of blue and white smoke that drifts away in the wind. Tolrin excuses himself for a moment and performs some kind of spell before returning, declaring he has sent a message ahead about what happened and his instructions. Returning, he listens to Armans questions and thinks for a moment.

"Good questions. What's the Stone Council have to do with this, or someone on it, as in trying to kill us? Maybe nothing. The Council hires alot o'adventurers, so mercenaries aren't somethin' unusual for'em. A few even work for me too." Tolrin laughs at that.

"I'd prefer they did though, make things easier. But it makes no sense, as ye point out. No, I 'hink Hundlesone came to terms with the the Aurilites when they came knock'n. Paying a protection fee, and to pay it, they're charg'n outrageous tariffs to all the caravans that come through and that's kill'n the Ten Towns. So, we have to end that. But if we do and the Aurilites can't extort Hundlestone, they could attack'em directly. Or, they could demand anyone using the pass pay'em directly or they'll wipe'em out. O'course, they'll need to actually wipe one out first to make that a real threat. No one controls the pass, except maybe the Aurilites, which is why we're concerned. It's a right damn mess."

Packed up and ready to go, the battered party makes their way down the winding trail towards Hundlestone in the near constant twilight. They stop at the mines once again, and the guards are none too happy to see them. Tolrin is in no mood for more trouble and while the guards discuss how to deal with the visitors, he has Duervar unwrap the gruesomely adorned lances and lean them against the rock wall. Tolrin gestures at the lances and glares at the guards who return to their posts without further issue. After resting for an hour, the group continues onwards towards the town. When they arrive several hours later, there are few lights visible within the city to guide the way. The most prominent is a narrow stone tower in the center of the town that once belonged to a mage and now serves as more of a landlocked light house to guide travelers to Hundlestone.

As the group arrives at Hundlestone’s walls, they are met by Clinkscales. He is flanked by several dwarven soldiers, including several new arrivals mounted on fully barded war ponies. The dwarves of the group will recognize the subtle difference with these newcomers; they’re female. Members of the Valkyries of Berronar, they are most often tasked with escorting civilians on long travels or acting as a mobile reserve that charges into battle to rescue their male counter-parts. Ten paces from the other group, Tolrin orders his small escort to form a line of their own and for a moment, the two groups examine each other. Clinkscales first and then Tolrin walk away from their groups and meet in the center.

“So, can’t say I was surprised ye ran into trouble, Ambassador. Made it back with everyone too, I see?”, Clinkscales says, his tone beyond dry.
“My reputation precedes me, eh?” Tolrin smirks and Clinkscales does not respond to the remark.
“What all did ye run into out there?” Clinkscales ask. Tolrin gestures to Duervar, who again produces the trophies. Clinkscale’s eyes flick to the macabre trophies and grunts.
“The Council, they inside? Any problems with them?” Tolrin asks. Clinkscales says nothing but shakes his head.

“Good then. Let’s head inside.” Tolrin turns to his escort. “Bundok and Arum, I’ll need ye two to testify on what ye saw inside that encampment. After that, ye can all take yer rest while we sort this out a bit after that I reckon. Any questions before we head in?”

[Diarmuid]

Bundok

Bundok merely grunts his understanding and bobs his head, though he is glad Arum was going to be there with him. Hopefully Arum would do most of the talking and Bundok could simply agree with him.

He could see he was not the only one a little uncomfortable with the apparent political debacle they had become embroiled in.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Staying silent through the discussions, he gives a sigh of relief when he hears the group is to head back to town. After all, he was fatigued and low on healing, and figured the rest of the group was as well. He gives a quick once over on the all female group they meet in town and decides Clinkscales is not someone he cares to spend time with.

As Tolrin gives his last remarks to the group Kelith speaks up, "I'll be at the tavern, once things are settled in the council let me know; i'll be waiting."

{{So how are we going about the leveling up? Do i just wake up tomorrow and have my new spells or do i need to run them by you or what?}}

[mshady]

As a clarification, the group is staying together for the moment and the meeting is actually at the tavern/inn the group departed from originally.

In terms of leveling, you'll need to get a full night of sleep and a day to receive all of the benefits of leveling. For those arcane users amongst you, normal scribing time for your free spells apply. We should have a total of 3 days before the caravan departs, although something else may happen between now and then....

[Katasi]

Arum stays with the rest of the group, not talking much and ignoring everything going on around him as thoughts of the day whirl around in his head.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman walked home quietly, taking in the exchange between Clinkcscales and Tolrin when they all finally met. Upon hearing he would have the rest of the night off, Arman looked at Tolrin. "Tolrin, would you mind if I accompanied you, Arum, and Bundok to the meeting? I won't say anything that you don't want me to, or anything that would ruin anything you might have to say." Arman waited for Tolrin's answer. Not seeing one come out right away, he shrugged.

"As you know I am fairly new to this area. I would like to learn as much as I can about the land that I am in and the people also. I think that one of the best ways for me to do that, would be to sit in upon the councils hearings and talks with you as my guide." Arman smiled, awaiting an answer.

[mshady]

Tolrin nods to Arman as the party forms up, listening to him briefly and nodding.

“Oh aye, you’ll all be there. Quite possible I’ll need bodyguards after all, way things have been going.” The dwarf chuckles darkly to himself, clearly in a shifting mood but he is also completely serious. The entire dwarven party departs from the front of the main gates in a grim and purposeful manner. At the head of the column, Tolrin rides a white, barded, war pony while Clinkscales rides his fierce, heavily armored warpig. The rest of the dwarves march five abreast in a small, square formation behind them. The battle standards are displayed by the dwarf in the center and the two to the right of him and two to the left hold the lances aloft, displaying the heads of their enemies that had been taken. The dwarves closest to the center that are holding the lances are Hjalmar and Duervar. Behind them, two dwarves mark the time with large, bass drums at the edge of the formation while three more play an old dwarven battle song, the Heretic’s Bane accompanied by the voices of the other dwarves. The music and song has a very military and somewhat intimidating quality to it, conveying pride and bloody minded purpose. Circling over the town are several of the Valkyries, flying silently but low enough to be seen on their hippogriffs.

The guards on the wall, mainly humans and a few gnomes, watch the grisly display of the dwarves wide eyed and with some trepidation. While the Patriarchate dwarves were ostensibly allies to them, these dwarves were far more grim and disciplined than the good natured, if rowdy, Battlehammer dwarves from years past. The rumors about their purposes here kept people on edge and this march only reinforces that feeling. Anyone on the streets at this time of nights wisely closes the doors and clears the path to the tavern. The militia in town gathers and some of the meager detachments shadow the group as they march.

This all is exactly the message Tolrin intends. His intent was to unnerve the famously truculent Stone Council and convey the utmost seriousness of this forthcoming conversation. After the engagement today, the veteran diplomat wanted clear answers after the previous deceptions.

Within a few minutes, the dwarves arrive at the Goblin’s Groin tavern. It is ringed by some of the Hundlestone Militia who stand in a shield wall formation in front of the door. The commander of the Hundlestone Militia stands in front of the formation, armored in plate mail with a mace and shield. He stands calmly and raps his mace against his leg armor patiently, waiting for the approaching dwarves to stop. As the dwarves stop and the music ceases on Clinkscales’ signal, the commander steps forward slowly.
“Ambassador Tolrin Jilker!” he cries. “I demand to know the meaning of this! The Stone Council is here as you asked, yet you come bearing arms at the head of your soldiers. State your purpose in this! Are we not allies? Are we not your friends?”

Tolrin spurs his pony forward slightly, moving a few feet closer.
“Worry not, Captain Eugene. These dwarves, my friends, my brothers, my companions be here as an honor guard, and for my protection. Someone tried to kill us today. In the Spine, at the Tomb of Hundle Hurler of Hammers. We wish to… parlay about this matter as it concerns an apparent ally of yours. The Jilker Patriarchate wishes to discuss the matter.“

Tolrin’s voice booms out into the near darkness, his tone measured but imperious. The assembled militia murmur and Captain Eugene sighs deeply and nods, gesturing at the door.
“We should speak than” Captain Eugene says, gesturing at the door half-heartedly, the tension replaced by a certain resignation. “Do leave your army outside though. And your trophies.”
Tolrin nods dismounts, gesturing for the party to follow him in.

In a quiet tone, to no one in particular Tolrin mutters aloud “This should be most interesting, eh lads?”

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise doesn't really march along with the others in the formation - his body is shaped too differently for him to really keep in time with the dwarves. He doesn't join in the song, either, although he does murmur the words to himself; he knows the words, naturally, but he doesn't actually enjoy singing.

As they approach the wall, the archer takes his bow from his back. He doesn't do anything with it, but the threat is quite clear to anyone watching; he holds it like a fully trained professional, and not like someone who just picked a bow up for the first time.

When Tolrin and the others go inside, Raltise follows alongside Lythe, vaguely humming the song the dwarves had just been singing.

[Katasi]

Arum joins in the song witht he dwarves. When the talking begins he moves to Tolrin's left, a step behind him incase he is needed to give an acount of the scrying protection and other such things of what was found.