Emberhaven

A recounting of the Gloomhaven conflict

as it took place in the lands of Pyre

Part 1

The Jekserah Saga

Chapter 1

Our prospects start looking up

"Why did we come to this crap hole of a town again?" Malachite growled, slamming his empty tankard to the table. I looked up from my own drink, untouched, to regard him and raised an eyebrow. He was a draig and so anyone that didn't know him would find the amount of teeth he was displaying rather unnerving but I wasn't worried. We had been traveling together for some time so I knew that while he could be short tempered at times he didn't mean anyone any harm. As long as they didn't look at him funny or anything like that. "Remind me," he went on, switching mugs with me. "It was your idea, wasn't it?"

I sighed, watching him down my ale. Normally I didn't need to eat or drink, magic itself sustained me, but sitting at a table with nothing in front of you was sure to draw suspicion we didn't need. So we always ordered two of everything, and he simply had my portion as well as his own. He didn't seem to mind, but it did add to our expenses. Money was a problem, the funds I had made selling my latest creations, small figurines sculpted with magic, was running out. In fact we barely had enough for the drinks, so it looked like he was going to go hungry tonight. I guess he could go hunt something up, there are enough wooded areas around town. Tomorrow we'll look around for more raw material, any sort of shiny rock will do, or find other work. "Yes, I've already explained I thought this town was called Groomshaven, not Gloomhaven, when we decided to come here. That satyr that suggested the place seemed to be mispronouncing it deliberately to mislead me. But really, one place is as good as another isn't it?"

"You really thought you would find a husband around here? How's that working out for you?"

"Yes, well, when you're as old as I am you begin to have thoughts of settling down," I sniffed. "This seemed as good a place as any to start looking." As if anyone would get past my rather unsettling appearance and get to know the real me. Of course I can't remain in one place for too long, because of the curse, but a traveler like myself would be perfect. Can't be that hard to find a guy that enjoys seeing the world, can it?

"Seems to me you should just look a little closer to home."

I blinked at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Am I supposed to date my sisters or something?

"Nothing!" he hurriedly assured me, turning away. "How old are you, anyway?" he asked, changing the subject. "You never would tell me."

"Never ask a lady her age." I followed his gaze, there was a scrawny looking possum person at the bar chatting with the bartender, a "remnant" or "robot" as they used to be called standing in the corner, and a few others scattered about the place. Mostly humans, like myself, though I doubt they would think so. All in all not a lot of prospects. The place itself was clean enough, a scattering of tables and chairs and a server checking on everyone to see how they were doing. There was no fire in the fireplace, and the windows were open, letting in a not exactly warm breeze from outside. Not the best place I had stayed, and not the worst either. But maybe it is time to be moving on? Am I going to find what I'm looking for- He slammed his mug down again and jerked his hand back as it shattered in his hand. "Oh for crying out loud!" he muttered, shaking a piece of pottery out of his scales. "They just don't make things sturdy enough!"

"You're not supposed to be slamming them down though," I gently chided, "my colossal, winged friend." My eyes flicked to the bartender who was now eyeing us and sighed. "Move over," I told Malachite, standing and shoving him. He didn't really go anywhere, but got up on his own.

"Orchid, are you sure?" he asked. "Even in a town like this..."

I shook my head. Even he's paranoid about the Mages' Guild coming after me. Maybe I made them seem more powerful than they really are, but it doesn't hurt to be careful. I've always charged for magic when I had to, there's no reason I'm in their sights. "The guild won't mind, it was my cup after all. I don't have to charge the place for the spell. You broke it, you bought it, as the saying goes." After all, if I did have to charge someone for the spell it would no doubt be far more than a stupid mug like this was worth! But I haven't done too much repair magic lately and I need to keep my hand in it so… Magical energies sprang up around the cup as I focused my efforts on it. Seconds later it flowed together and was good as new. Even with the magical "drag" of maintaining my disguise spell- I currently looked like a rabbit type beastkin- by empowering the spell with ambient mana I was more than good enough to repair a shattered cup.

"I've never heard that saying."

"Of course you have!" I held it up to look for any imperfections. By the Allfather I was good! Not a scratch. "Tomorrow I'll use my divination spell, even with just yes or no answers I'm sure I can find someone that would hire us. Or be told it's time to-"

"Excuse me," said a voice from behind me. Malachite's hand fell to the sword at his side, (mostly worn for show as he tended to use his claws they were just as good) and I set the cup down and turned. A dark elf was standing there, and my eyes widened. She was wearing more gold than I had ever seen in any one place. Especially in this town. How did she- I looked past her, and up, to see two minotaurs standing there looking threatening. Oh, that's how. "May I see that?" she asked, gesturing to the cup. I shrugged and handed it over.

"This was well done," she announced, looking at it for a moment. "Did I hear you say you were looking for work?"

"As it happens, we are looking for work," I told her. "Do you require the services of a mage?" At least I don't have to ask if she can afford me.

"I am interested in anyone that can find and retrieve my stolen property," she told me, handing the mug back. "If you know spells that could aid an adventuring party in such a task you are welcome to hear my offer at least."

"I know a variety of spells," I told her, with some modesty. Not quite fifty yet, buying magic out in the world is expensive. But it's my tendency to get obsessed with studying that got me into my predicament in the first place. I do miss my library at home, and my sisters, but until this curse is broken… "Both utility and for combat. Of course I leave most combat up to my bodyguard here," I gestured to Malachite, "but I can hold my own if it comes to that."

"Splendid!" she cried, clapping her hands together. "A genuine magic user! I'm starting to have hope again! I see the two others that responded to my work notice are here, I will go collect them and we can see if a deal can be struck."

Other two? In here? "Very well," I told her. With a nod she turned and to my surprise, gestured to the metal figure in the corner of the room. It "came to" and headed her way, but she was already headed towards the bar. She greeted the beastfolk boy that was sitting there who hopped down off the stool and followed her. Those two? You have got to be kidding me. I threw some copper on the table as Malachite got up. He and the minotaurs sized each other up, and I noticed the two were hunched over a bit in order to fit in here. Nevertheless they were still a bit taller than my scaly friend. We could probably take them, but I doubt there would be a need to. He won't start anything. "Okay, Malachite?" I asked.

"Sure, sure," he replied, taking his hand off his sword. "No problem on my end."

We headed to the back room and again the two had to squish themselves to get past the doorframe, and took up positions on either side of the dark elf. "Introductions are in order," she decided. "I am Jekserah, are any of you known to the others, by any chance?"

We looked around, shaking our heads.

"Very well, perhaps you would all like to introduce yourselves?"

I shrugged. "I'm Orchid Spellweaver, scholar of magic." Though I'm sure the distinction is lost on this lot. Maybe Jekserah knows what that means though. I did a quick Sun spell, no more than a cantrip to make a point of light appear above my upraised fingers. Hardly bigger than a candle flame but it at least proved my credentials.

"I'm Malachite, her bodyguard. So don't go getting any funny ideas." His clawed hands flexed back and forth.

"Beep boop beep," said the remnant, waving their arms stiffly in the air. "Funny ideas does not compute."

We stared at them a moment.

"Oh, come on!" they protested, now talking normally. "A quip like that would have them rolling in the aisles back in the day. You guys need to lighten up."

"Sure," Jekserah agreed dubiously. "The sturdiness of remnants is well known to me, but can you handle yourself in a fight?"

"Judge me by my exterior, do you?" They raised and arm and it changed before my very eyes. Something about it screamed "weapon" and the end of it started to glow. "Nothing can stand up to this little baby right here," they claimed, patting it. "The problem is having a body to loot after somebody gets hit with it, to be honest. Despite what the old video games might want you to believe, you can't loot someone's entire inventory if you've turned them into a pile of ashes."

"I like 'ooting bodies!" spoke up the beastfolk boy.

Yeah, don't we all kid?

"Very well. Your name?"

"Hanz." They put their hand back to normal.

"Nice to meet you. And you sir?"

"I'm Snarly, nice to meetcha! You two are awful quiet there, wha'ca names?" He stuck a hand out to the nearest minotaur who looked down at him like he was crazy. But after a moment he sort of stuck out some fingers and allowed them to be pumped up and down.

"I'm Freighttrain," he said.

"I'm Tannenbaum," said the other.

"Those are good, 'olid names, all 'ite. Maybe I'll be big as 'ou when I've grown up a bit!"

"Sure kid," said the one, not believing it for a second. "Eat your vegetables."

"With that out of the way," Jekserah told us, "your task is simple in execution if not exactly straightforward. As you may know, banditry in the area around the town is becoming more and more of a problem recently. The guard says it's not their problem unless it happens in the city limits, and this has emboldened thieves as of late. This has resulted in the theft of a delivery of mine bound for the city, and I want you four to track down those responsible and retrieve it."

From any number of bandits that might be in the area? I suppose once we get on the track of some I can just ask my magic if they're the right ones.

"What's the property?" Hanz asked.

"Any one of you could easily carry it," she replied. "Simply a collection of scrolls, three of them to be precise."

"More importantly, what's the compensation?" Malachite asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

"Ten moons apiece for the job. One now in case you need provisions and the like while you look, the other nine when the scrolls are returned to me."

"These must be some scrolls!"

We all looked a bit impressed, that was a fair amount of money to throw around for some information, but the guild couldn't say I was working for too little no matter how much magic I had to do in pursuit of the thieves. 40 silver coins? That worked out to be two suns, the gold coins only the ultra rich ever even saw in their lifetimes. Who was this lady, and how many people had already died for these scrolls? Clearly she would have hired a large force to protect them, if they were that valuable to her, right? But then, why hire a bunch of random strangers off the street to retrieve them? What's she hiding?

"They are of some importance to me, yes." She counted a few coins out of a pouch and handed them to us. I hadn't seen silver in some time, only copper. And nine more of these to come? That would set us up a little while!

"Too bad you don't have an internet anymore," Hanz lamented. "I mean scrolls. Ha! Wait, how elder are these scrolls?"

"The what?" she asked politely.

"Never mind."

"Do you mind if we read 'em?" Snarly asked.

"I doubt you would be able to," she replied. Don't be so sure, lady. "But I suppose the bandits would have broken the seals on them soon after they got away. I would not expect you to try and avert your eyes should they be sitting on a table or something like that. But I would request you not copy them."

"Of 'ource, of 'ource."

"You can give us a rough location as to where the robbery occurred?" I asked.

"The courier did get away with his life, so yes," she told me, sounding resigned. But because he didn't die defending the delivery or because she considers the scrolls more valuable than his life? I was handed a rough map after I stuck my hand out. "This will give you those details."

"Very well." I looked it over. "And this happened recently, I assume? We're not talking about two weeks ago or anything?" In that case they could be ashes by now.

"No, just two days ago."

"Fine." Looks like the east road into town. Not far from here.

"You want those responsible brought back here for justice or what?" Malachite asked.

"I don't care what happens to them, honestly, as long as my property is returned."

"Excellent."

I rolled my eyes. Malachite, we've talked about killing people haven't we? Think of your soul!

"Will there be anything else?" she asked.

We looked around the table. Seemed there were no more questions.

"Very well. Messengers will know where to find me if I'm not here when you get back. Good luck." She breezed out, followed by her two guards.

"So what's 'ur first 'ove?" asked Snarly. "Can you find 'em with magic or 'atever?"

"I will consult my magic to make sure it's even worthwhile to look," I told him. "Can it simply point to them? No."

"But we have a starting place?" Hanz asked.

I handed them the map. "Yes, the map is crude but specific. If we follow the east road out of town we should see the site of the attack."

"We can maybe track them from there," they decided. "Are we leaving right away? Not much time until sundown."

"I think it can keep another night," I decided. "She didn't say we had to rush off, and if they're still in one piece now they will be tomorrow morning as well. Let's meet at the front gate in the morning. That way you can get any supplies you think you might need. Food and water, that sort of thing."

"Suits me," Hanz told us. "You organics certainly need a lot of that stuff. As for me? Time to go back to standing motionless in the corner. It's a crazy old world, isn't it?" He got up and headed out the door, singing something like "if I only had a heart."

"I'm gonna get 'nother smallbeer!" Snarly announced, following.

Are you sure you haven't already had enough? I wisely didn't say as he also slipped out.

"Are those two for real?" Malachite asked. "The machine is probably all right, but what's with the kid? I don't want to have to look after him too."

"What's this too business?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. "I can take care of myself. That's not to say I don't appreciate you being around of course. But I do admit I have my doubts about him. I hope he can handle himself but he does seem awfully young." But of course I can't compare myself to him, even if he's reached maturity for his species he's a fraction of my age. He won't even live to be my age. That makes him, and basically everyone else around here, seem a lot younger.

"I know you can, you just seem so fragile to me. I didn't mean anything by it, Orchid."

"Apology accepted." I am, after all, fairly fragile. Stupid curse!

"I guess time will tell. You heading back to the room?"

"Yeah. Work to do, now that we're officially hired. May as well get to it."

"Fine. I'll go get any supplies I might need. You want anything?"

I shook my head. He knew I didn't eat or drink but I did flip him my coin. "Just in case someone was listening and knows we have it. Don't spend it all in one place."

He grinned. "Thought you could take care of yourself?"

"Just get out of here!" I told him playfully. He grinned even wider and left.

I went back to the room we had rented and sat at the small table, lighting the candle there with a quick Mars spell. My disguise had vanished once I got back, the task the magic had been asked for satisfied. So once again my "disfigurement" was on full display, not that there was anyone but me there to see it. I purposefully didn't look in the mirror near the nightstand, I knew what I looked like. A human woman with oddly colored skin and crystalline "protrusions" all over my body. At least I could sit comfortably, they didn't cover my back or legs, but made up for it by crowning my scalp and arms.Oh, to grow even a single strand of hair. But no.Still, I now had my full concentration back and put all of it into some Jupiter magic, asking about the future. I would need to cast the spell every time for each answer, but there was no rush. I could take extra time and make sure I didn't miss part of the incantation. Magical energies sprang up around me as I started the first casting. "Are the three scrolls desired by Jekserah still intact?"

Yes

Ah, an excellent beginning. "Are the three scrolls desired by Jekserah more than a day away for our newly formed group?"

No

Very well. I don't know how fast Snarly can move, after all. But I do know I'm pretty slow, of course I've compensated for that."Are the three scrolls desired by Jekserah to the east of here?"

No.

Great. But they still exist so they must be somewhere. "Are the three scrolls desired by Jekserah to the north of here?"

Yes.

I guess we'll still head to the road, but we'll have to head north at some point. "Are the three scrolls desired by Jekserah guarded by more than one person?"

No.

"That's odd. That can't be right." I sat in thought for a moment. "Are the three scrolls desired by Jekserah currently guarded?"

No.

So they probably opened them up, saw they couldn't read them, and tossed them someplace. Great. So they're not specifically 'guarded' they're just in the hideout of the thieves. Considering 'near' to mean about fifty meters... "Are there more than five people near the three scrolls desired by Jekserah?"

Yes.

Ah hah. So we will have some complications getting them back. Malachite will be pleased. Okay. Well, we can head out tomorrow as they haven't been thrown in a fire or anything. It's worth going out after them. Better get some sleep, tomorrow could be a big day!