IX

"So, what're we gonna do tonight, kids? Slay a dragon? Save a pumpkin patch from goblins? Slaughter gibblerings? Sorry, Rach. Save a princess?"

"That sounds nice. Can we?"

"A princess? Is she ho– no hitting! Honest! Is she honest?"

"Hmph."

"Princesses are prissy, Jamie-o. Pumpkin patches are better; they've got farmers, and where there's farmers…"

"Farmwives?"

"Farmer's daughters, kid. Learn from it."

"Steve!"

"Sorry Rach. Fact o' life. But you could be friends with her. Think of how Immy could have a new playmate."

"Hmm… maybe…"

"Pass the dip, J. Good man. Now, where's our DM got to? Yo! DM! I'm gonna peek behind your screen–"

"Thank you, Steve. That'll do."

"Works every time."

"Did he just wink?"

"He wasn't winking at yo– both of us! I don't want to sit next to Rach any more."

"Sure thing, kid. But you know she'll just kick you under the table, right?"

"Damnit."

"Yup! S'what Immy would do, and will do if Vhalyn ain't nice."

"What's got you so chipper tonight, Steve?"

"This an' that, that an' this. Are we gaming or what? Let's roll!"

—

"You approach the town with some trepidation. It's dark now, but you have your party with you. Laurel the paladin, the nobleman you saved from the bear. Sendai and her wounded companion, Delgod; Alexander, their dead is carried on a stretcher–"

"Won't that attract the bears?"

"Stop chewin' so loud, Jamie. And if any bears come, you can show off to Laurel."

"Oh yeah."

"The town is bathed in darkness, but through the trees, you see the torches of the patrolling guards flicker. Candlelight glows warm from within the windowed tavern and inn, but the houses are dark. The temple, as always, is lit."

"Were there?"

"Were there what?"

"Any bears?"

"Oh. Uh, no."

"Okay then…"

"Aw, don't be such a grouch, J. Hey, I bet there was a wolf."

"A wolf? Sure, why not."

"How come she gets a wolf?"

"'Cause it's a winter wolf, silly. The shopkeep in Nashkel told us about them. So we killed it and kept its pelt, and now Immy has a nice warm cloak."

"Hey, don't look at me DM."

"And boots, and gloves, and…"

"Immy will have to get the pelt cured and made into that..."

"Immy knows a spell, right? Or Branwen? Dynaheir?"

"Why are you helping Im?"

"Because Vhalyn killed the wolf. With uh, Immy's help."

"Oh okay. Yeah. That's exactly what happened. Vhalyn stabbed the wolf in the mouth, after it um… lemme see…"

"Carrots are good, Rach."

"…Hm. Oh, thanks, Steve! Breath attack. What's a breath attack? Anyway, Im dodges that, so Vhalyn can stab it. And then someone uses a spell. Delgod can. He's a caster, isn't he? So now Immy can have new shoes and doesn't need to buy them from Sendai."

"All right, all right."

"And she gets a bonus against cold, right? Says right here."

"Heh."

"All right, fine. Have your winter cloak."

"And gloves, and boots?"

"Yes, you can have those too."

"Yay! Immy gets to be warm and snugly and…"

"What about me?"

"You get to impress Laurel. You saved her from getting bit, remember?"

"I did? Oh! Yeah, that's right."

"Sendai too. You were magnificent."

"I was, wasn't I?"

"Heh."

"Guys, the town?"

"Sendai was impressed, wasn't she? Laurel too?"

"Little impresses Sendai."

"Aw, c'mon…"

"Yeah, be nice. He saved her."

"Ain't teamwork great?"

"Quiet, you. And yes, Sendai – her lips don't move, but the ghost of surprised, then pleased, considering smile touches her gaze. But then it's gone. Laurel nods, and you think you see something thoughtful as she turns away."

"So Immy's nice an' warm now, Rach? She'll need it for the mines. Hope you've got some good socks and–"

"And what, Steve?"

"Uh… vest. Rach."

"Are you sure that's what you meant?"

"Yeah, as long as Im's kitted out warmly, you'll be fine. Gets draughty in the mines, don't you know?"

"The nobleman is not one for skulking in shadow, nor is Laurel and they break through the bushy path leading from the fields towards the town. Underfoot, the road that cuts through Nashkel seems hard and dry; few caravans have used it as of late."

"Hey, DM."

"Yes Jamie?"

"I don't want Sendai and Laurel to leave. Can they stay?"

"Sendai is an Amnish merchant, and Laurel is a paladin. Both have reasons to go."

"Yeah, but Branwen has no reason to stay either. Neither does Dynaheir. We saved Sendai from Vax and Dal, or whatever they were called."

"And the nobleman?"

"Hey, it'll be okay, J. There are other merchants' daughters."

"But Vhalyn likes Sendai."

"Kid's right. Dynaheir is only attached to Branwen."

"Dynaheir has her own reasons."

"Oooh, spooky! Immy wants to know more."

"Immy doesn't know."

"Hey, doesn't Sendai need the mines clear for trade?"

"She's not an iron monger. She's a wealth merchant's daughter."

"What about Laurel? Ridding the mines of evil is a good cause."

"Yeah! Even a stuck in the mud paladin should see the sense in that."

"All right, if you can convince them, they can stay. What's your cha score? And diplomacy?"

"No fair; she's a merchant, she'll have hers maxed out."

"Yeah, but Vhalyn's a drow, remember? You keep saying how pretty he is."

"Vhalyn's not pretty!"

"You said it, kid."

"The mines…"

"Alexander needs to be buried, but the priest refuses to do so unless Delgod and Sendai agree to help. They're outraged, but he begins to smell. He's very smelly. Sendai wants to leave him there, but it'll hurt her reputation as a merchant. Ain't that right? That's what Immy thinks anyways. Lestways. Yeah."

"If it'll get you down the mines, fine. You agree to help the town?"

"Yup. For a reward, 'course. Little ole Immy still needs new shoes.

"…Hey, stop groaning at me!"

—

"After negotiations with Mayor Ghastkill, you've been allowed back into town, on the condition you all help with the mines. The nobleman you saved was very grateful, and has put in a good word for you, but unfortunately has no coin on him."

"What about a cheque?"

"A cheque, Rachel?"

"Don't Amnish have banks?"

"Not in Nashkel."

"Couldn't he magic the money?"

"Later, maybe. He can contact home to let him know he's safe. By the time you're back, he should have a reward."

"If he doesn't scarper."

"The town guard are watching him."

"Well, I guess… but if he does, Immy'll track him down! We didn't save him from no bear for nothing!"

"I thought you saved him because a bear was chasing him?"

"Well, yeah, but um… he'll just have to cough up, 'kay? 'Cause shoes are expensive."

"Okay. Now, the mines are a few hours away. You can reach them by mid-morning, if you rest. The miners set off a couple of hours before dawn, usually. You can smell them before you see them."

"What kind of mine is it?"

"One with tunnels."

"Vhalyn wanted to get a drink in the tavern first with Laurel and Sendai."

"Dynaheir and Branwen join him."

"Immy too."

"Guys…"

"Immy needs the reward money. Let's go."

"Right, thank you, Rach. The foreman is fat, with a grizzled face, and a missing tooth. His shirt has seen better days, and his britches are too tight."

"Eww…"

"Yeah, gross."

"Heh."

"There are dark rings around his eyes, and the light of disbelief only increases as he catches sigh of Vhalyn."

"But he'll let us through. The Mayor gave us his permission."

"Did we hear any rumours in the tavern? Vhalyn asked the barmaid."

"Yeah, they said demons were attacking the miners."

"Huh. Immy doesn't believe that."

"Why not?"

"Because she was talking with Delgod and Dyna, and they told her um… it's here somewhere… yeah! Gates use lots of magic, and Dyna's a powerful mage. Wytch. She'd have felt it, 'cause um, detect magic. Right there. Also, the priest would've used it."

"The mineshafts extend for miles below the surface. The rock blocks scrying beyond a certain point."

"Aw, now you're just making stuff up."

"Hey, DM."

"Yes Steve?"

"Are there railtracks here?"

"That's not funny."

"Y'know, for the mine carts."

"Hey, why would demons bother with an outpost as small as Nashkel? Immy wants to know."

"Yeah. Why would they?"

"You've been reading up on things, Rach."

"Yup! You betcha, sirree, I sure have."

"Will you please just enter the mines?"

"Nope! Immy smells a rat. Hey, lets go see if we can find any other entrances into the mines."

"Why not use this one? Vhalyn's not afraid of the dark, or of demons!"

"So we can sneak up and ambush the demons, silly. Immy knows these things."

"So does Vhalyn!"

"Heh."

"Wouldn't Branwen smell demons?"

"Dunno if 'smell's' the right word, Rach, but yeah. Sure. Why not?"

"It's not – okay, so you go search for other entrances?"

"Yup."

"Sendai doesn't like it."

"Yeah, but she's smart. She knows something doesn't add up, 'cause Immy told her so."

"Why would she listen to Immy?"

"Because Immy's a mage. And Delgod agrees. So does Branwen and Dyna. And Sendai won't disagree with all of them. Immy knows a rat when she smells one; she's had to sniff her nose shut for years around Vhalyn."

"Hey!"

"Okay, so you turn back. The foreman yells at you, threatening to send a message to Ghastkill."

"He can't spare the men."

"How do you figure, Steve?"

"Look at the guards. I count, what, four? They're running scared. There are a few miners on the surface, but they're scared too. They've barely eaten for days, barely slept. They all think they'll die, but they need the coin. They'd riot, but it'd do no good. Some of them run, but they've nowhere to go. Bandits infest the roads."

"…Thanks Steve."

"S'what you were gonna say."

"Fine, so it's an empty threat. Where do you start searching first?"

"Magic, for hidden tunnels and stuff. But let's ask the miners if there are any other paths or shafts first."

"Good idea, Rach. Hey, Jamie, go talk to that guard. Sendai will talk to the other one. Branwen and Dyna'll talk to the miners and foreman. Laurel'll stand guard."

"All right. After an hour, you learn there is another path through the cliffs."

"Cool! Let's go."

"Not so quick, Rach. Where's this path lead?"

"Down, towards the Cloudpeaks."

"Aren't there winter wolves in the mountains?"

"Yes Jamie."

"Great! Then Vhalyn can get a cloak too. Let's go!"

"Okay. So after an hour, you find a statue. She's beautiful, an elf."

"Ooh, what's she look like?"

"An elf."

"Is she hot?"

"He just said she was beautiful. Duh."

"Yeah, but is she hot?"

"She's a statue."

"What's she wearing?"

"Nothing, heh."

"Ew!"

"She's an elf, Rach."

"Yeah, well, you're not the DM."

"That isn't important."

"She is naked, isn't she! You're all gross!"

"No she isn't. She's in a dress. Of leaves."

"I don't believe you."

"I'm the DM. She's in a dress of leaves."

"Like, actual leaves?"

"What are you getting at Jamie?"

"She's a statue, right? Covered in leaves? I can lift them up–"

"No!"

"Behind you, there's a sound. It's a sculptor; you see his chisel flash against a green stone. It glints as the clouds part, revealing a ray of sunlight that pours through the jewel and scatters in a thousand directions."

"Oooh."

"What stone is it?"

"Emerald."

"Heh."

"He's dressed in blue, his cloth velvet, of finest cut, but rumpled; his chisel blurs faster than the eye can see. Lines wear down his face. He barely notices you."

"'What's your name? Heya, I'm Imoen.'"

"Rach! We're in disguise!"

"Whoops. 'I'm er, Iloec.'"

"Il-o-ec?"

"Yeah."

"Couldn't you have just said… I dunno… Clare?"

"I don't like Clare. It doesn't suit her."

"Iloec does?"

"Quit it, Jamie. You had Vhalyn."

"But he's a drow!"

"Iloec's like lilac, but she mispronounced it as a kid and it stuck."

"'Prism.'"

"Prism? He's a sculptor who carves jewels called 'Prism'?"

"Thank you, Steve."

"Just sayin'."

"It is a little silly."

"Yup. Can we take his emerald?"

"Jamie!"

"What, you want it too!"

"Yeah, but… we can't just steal them."

"Why not? We're rogues."

"Oh yeah. Um. But… they're for the statue."

"What if they bring it to life?"

"Guys?"

"Yeah, you're right. But what if she's nice? She's pretty."

"Huh. Oh! Yeah. A hot elf. Yeah, let's wait."

"Also, Laurel's here."

"Oh… yeah. Forgot about that. Um. Yeah, Prism'd better finish. Hey, I know. 'Those gems look awful valuable; we'll protect you while you work.'"

"Jamie! What are you doing? The mines!"

"Yeah, but it's art. 'Such art should be preserved.'"

"Who's gonna attack him?"

"Bandits."

"Like you?"

"Shut up. Sendai's a merchant. I bet her dad's got fine art."

"'I'm Greywolf.'"

"Who the f– I mean, who names themselves 'Greywolf'?"

"'There's a bounty on you, Prism!' The man is scarred, in black and brown studded leathers, his head is half shaven, and he has a black bladed sword that shimmers white-blue. It has a gold hilt."

"Seriously? We just got here. Laurel – she won't side with Greywolf, will she? Are bounties legal?"

"Um. Let me check. Steve, do you know?"

"Nope. Think so. Ask her."

"Oh yeah. Good idea. Hey, Laurel – I mean, 'Laurel's a paladin. She will uphold the law and so will we.'"

"'I have come to claim the bounty on Prism! You will not stand in my way.'"

"Uh, there are what, um… Delgod, Dyna, seven of us? He wants to stop us? He must have magic."

"And he's got great loot. We can use it to kill the demons in the mines. Let's get him."

"Heh."