We wanted to reconnaissance the graveyard area in anticipation of possibly getting what we needed from Matron Autti’s coffin. The plan was to attempt to do the job in 2 days on the 4th, when the Arena games were in action. Most likely the guards would be patrolling the coliseum most of the time and traffic on the streets should be lessened. It was about 6:15 when we went out in the evening air and took a good look at the area.
A former dividing wall butted up against the northwest corner of the gateway, cordoning off the Lord’s District from the Mercantile district. There were some larger Demesne that were in the area, but the walls on these palatial homes were 20’ tall and obscured easy sight of the graveyard. There was a lamplighter who came around and lit the street lamps, the spacing between them were 80 or more feet apart. Traffic really bled off after sunset and the guards that were in the area were larger groups and came around exactly once in the hour plus we were casually taking note. The gate to the graveyard was locked and it seemed that no one stayed on premises but we could not be 100% sure. Mapping it out we then made our way back to Third Breech and went to sleep.
The next day we spent in the Common room until Hogni Rockhome showed up, looking to take the party to the Rockhome Demesne to speak with his Brother, the Lord. Grendel and Hogni chatted up a bunch as the group made their way to the Lord’s District and then up to the 3rd Demesne. It was a sizable estate, the manor house was “L” shaped with a few 3rd story rooms. It seemed well guarded and the interior was tastefully decorated but designed and built to make a dwarven visitor feel comfortable. Halls and doors and arches were a bit lower, chairs and counters and desks were cut down as well.
At the end of the main hall was a double set of stairs going up to the second floor and beneath them was a large audience chamber where Lord Dunthar and 2 other dwarves sat. An older male, Sorli, well into his 3rd century or more, was on one side and a younger female (still over 2 centuries), Kridi, very austere looking and sporting a symbol to Odin was on the other. Dunthar dismissed his brother, Hogni, who left feeling a bit put out. Then had the door shut and asked the party to sit.
The former Gorokian noble went on to tell the group of his families coming here. In his younger days his family participated in the Randari war and it was the attack here that had the Rockhomes break ties with Gorok, moving their entire fortune and staff here. They have since spent the last century plus making the people of Stivil’s life better.
They wanted us to sign on to help take care of this Grue problem. Seems they had conversations with Jessie and her people and did some inquiries about us, learning a bit of our past. They identified Connal as having an evil bent but Dunthar said that was a good thing. “Friendly as an open bear trap”.
The rate? 10,000 commons or 1,000 nobles to EACH of us for dispatching the 2 grues and confirming if any offspring were there, they were taken care of. No time frame, but it should be the top or 2nd thing on the group’s plate. The offer lasted until the group left the room and then it would not be offered again. If someone dies, do we get their share as well? No. Can we go and do other things? Yes…but within reason, as long as hunting the grues here is the main focus.
And for that Sorli produced a contract (via magic) and Kridi a silver pin. They wanted us to sign in blood – a testament that we would do the job and not say we would and then disappear. We wanted some time to talk it out and they gave us a quarter of a glass (15 minutes), leaving the room themselves and allowing us to talk it out.
We went over our thoughts and the driving piece from Eoghan was that he was going to do it. And Connal was like if we’re going to do it, let’s get paid. But Dizzy didn’t like the blood magic aspect and wanted to try without that. So when they came back in and we talked, Lord Dunthar Rockhome was not swaying from the contract. Signatures don’t hold up, blood does. And if you’re going to say you’re going to do it, then you’ll do it. Some harsh words were bandied about and Dizzy got up to leave but the door was locked. “Let me go.”
“If you leave, then that’s it. This is a limited time offer. If not you, then we’ll find another adventuring group.” Dizzy tried to say the rest of the group could do it but that was not the way the deal was going to be given – it’s for this 6 of the Vanguards or not at all. Tensions were rising. It was Eoghan getting up to say that he was going to do it anyway but without the need of blood magic that had Lord Rockhome let the group go. So comments about Sifians typically being selfish was uttered and we left. Outside we wandered to the Mercantile district and Grendel was wondering what the hell happened?
Shaking it out, Dizzy seemed to have a dislike for it and would not budge, and Eoghan didn’t want to be beholden to the lord and blood magic. Grendel, Connal, and Gryg were ok with it (the contract had no mystery language or loopholes – straight up) and Wilhelm was concerned about what exactly a Grue was and once explained, was happy we were not committed to doing the job. “But we are,” Eoghan said, “we are going after them. Just on our terms is all.”
“Yeah, 1,000 nobles less,” Connal muttered.
We shopped for a bit for some blankets and a shirt and then went back to Third Breech and rested again The next day was Arena day and after breakfast went to the arena where we each paid a common to get in and got a clay chit which would allow us the chance to reenter if need be. We watched an hour or so of the games and then left, heading to the graveyard, just to check it out. It was open, and one of the gravedigger apprentices was there – Gulmund and the other two were out. Street was pretty much empty and we could hear the roar of the crowd from the Coliseum.
The young man was Horace and he remembered the party from a few days ago. At 19 he was on duty until after lunch when his boss would return and he could have a chance to go to the Arena. Dizzy wandered off to “pay his respects” while we kept Horace engaged, actually giving him one of our clay chits to save the young man a common (he makes 6 per day). He was a young wife of 17, and they’ve been together for a year. Hopes to have a family soon but Freya hasn’t blessed them yet.
It was here that Eoghan took the rabbit Jessie out and Horace seemed to be fascinated with the hare. They talked about kids and families and allowed Connal and Wilhelm to wander away. Dizzy meanwhile had hidden by the mausoleum and using his picks, worked the lock free. He was inside and when the monk and druid arrived, they joined him within.
Daring, the group wanted to remove the front area of the stone work from the coffin and for that, Wilhelm called to Frey to soften stone, turning the entire face to clay – it did sage the entire rack a bit, but it was exactly what we needed. Using some fishing line, we slit the entire front free, lowering the seal and now clay stone to the floor. A Bull’s strength spell on Connal made it easier for us to pull the coffin free and once it was down. Dizzy worked the clamps off with his thief’s tools and we popped it open.
The mummified remains of the Matron were there. He withdrew the earring from her ear and placed the necklace he bought over her chest. Then they reversed everything they did, closing the coffin, replacing the clamps, lifting it back in place, and then pressing the clay front and seals back. It wouldn’t stand up to serious scrutiny, but the hope was the clay would eventually harden again and long before anyone had a reason to come in here and look around.
We sealed the mausoleum back up and made our way to the front where Horace was feeling like this night would be lucky with his young wife to conceive and Eoghan was fully supporting him. We all left, wished him well ,and by 1:30 PM, were back at Third Breech, Dizzy holding the matched set of earrings in his pouch and eyes narrowed, contemplating the next stage he wanted to take.
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