To anybody watching him, nothing would change.
The three koblins had their orders. But even as they stood like an approaching army at the gates of Murkmire, none of the koblins made a move.
Hal looked at the faint shimmer in the air indicating the full strength of the Manatree’s shielding. It felt welcoming. And though he knew the Manatree only struck at those monsters of evil hearts, he still worried. He could not help it.
Would the koblins be repelled by the shield? Or even worse, would they be killed? Was he inadvertently asking them to march to their deaths?
Hal motioned for Buffrix. “Can you see the Manatree’s barrier?”
The koblin nodded. “Buffrix eye-peek bright-sphere from life-tree. Life-tree bright-sphere hurt no-belongers. Kobbies belong. But… only one way to eye-peek!”
Before Hal could stop him, the little koblin sprinted toward the open gates with its guards looking on nervously. Hal spotted Qalmor among them, speaking to each of them. Their eyes met and the Captain gave the familiar elven form of Hal a nod.
Trust him, Hal reminded himself. Hal had touched the Manatree and felt its essence within the depths of Murkmire. He felt certain that it would not harm the kind-hearted koblins.
With his long strides, Hal could have caught Buffrix and stopped him but to do so would have been treating him like a child. And even with Qalmor at the gate, the other guards would see it. It would set a precedent for treating them that Hal did not want. They deserved respect, not to be treated like wayward children or worse.
Buffrix barreled through the barrier without so much as the slightest resistance. He turned around and hopped up and down, excitedly waving his mittened hands in the air for the other koblins to come through.
They did, albeit reluctantly. The whole procession took so long that Hal worried his Shifting Mask disguise would drop. Each of the koblins felt it was absolutely essential that they hug or touch Hal in some way as they left.
Finally, it was Sparkspox, Prowlox, and Slyrix’s turn. They went last, ensuring that any stragglers were wrangled up and no koblin was missing. Three times now Lootlox had tried to stay behind with Hal.
“Be safe,” Hal told them. “And be good.”
Each of them gave him a goofy salute much like Buffrix did and they marched off. But not before they got a good five-second-long hug in each. To which Hal gladly reciprocated. Lootlox ran up to him then, her façade of petulance breaking down into full-on neediness.
The littlest koblin hugged him and Hal lifted her up into the air to give her a proper hug. “You’re my little spy among the koblins,” he whispered to her. “You’ll make sure they stay good, won’t you Lootlox?”
Lootlox let out a stream of unintelligible words in her excitement and when Hal set her down she bounced and skipped back to the group.
It was amazing how quickly the weird little creatures endeared themselves to him.
To his surprise, Altres followed after them.
“You’re staying?” Hal asked. He didn’t mean to sound incredulous but he was a little surprised. Even after what he heard about how Altres had become attached to the little ones.
The tiefling grinned, showing pearly white fangs and spread his arms wide. “What can I say, I’m a lover, not a fighter.” He came up to Hal and gave him an unexpectedly tight embrace. “I’ll keep the little tikes in line,” he said afterward. “Don’t get me wrong, I trust you’ll get to where you’re going but somebody has to manage your interests here. I can’t very well let an entire district go unused.”
Hal nodded along. It made sense. He would miss Altres though.
He was glad he already added Altres to the list of people who could use the Dragon Suite, and he told the tiefling just that. At the very mention of the Dragon Suite, the tiefling’s eyes widened. He let out a low whistle. “I know you were coming up in the world, but wow. I’ll see that it gets used properly!”
With a final hearty handshake farewell, the two parted ways.
The guard kept them at the gate while his three representatives arranged the koblins in five orderly lines. Qalmor gave one last look in Hal’s direction as the three koblins approached him and then the Captain was leading the koblins into the city.
“Let’s go,” Hal said. More than a few of the hardy Rangers had misty eyes at the departure of the koblins.
Even Durvin, who Hal thought would hate the creatures purely on the merit of their race, made a loud sniffle after they had gone. “Durned pollen,” he grumbled loudly so that everybody could hear the excuse.
105
The dwarves welcomed them with a hearty lunch when they returned to Clan Bouldergut’s camp. Mira joined them as the groups introduced each other over the meal but Noth and Ashera were strangely absent.
Durvin split off to go see if the wares were ready as soon as they came into the camp proper. Before he left he gifted Hal with a set of clothes that weren’t filthy. Grateful for the change, Hal found somewhere private and swapped to the new outfit.
A simple heavy-duty shirt which left his forearms bare and a sturdy set of slacks replaced the worn and tattered gear he had been wearing for practically a week straight by that point. Hal strapped on his sword belt and with the others grabbed some food from the mess hall.
“Where were you guys?” Mira asked. There was a wild light to her eyes. More than there normally was, at least. “You told us to meet you back here.”
Hal scooped up the roast’s remains with a heel of crusty bread. Around his mouthful of food, he said, “We got held up. It took us nearly six hours to get from the camp to the gates with all the koblins.”
“Singing most of the way,” Angram added across from Hal with a nod toward the three koblins eating at the next table over. They were welcomed with opened arms by Durvin’s kindly bearded folk. While Buffrix, Lurklox, and Jabkix weren’t exactly singing anymore, they were humming the same tune.
Hal conceded the point with a nod the elf’s way. “There was no way we’d make the journey safely in the dead of night. It also gave the Rangers plenty of time to break down the camp and be ready to move.”
“I thought maybe we’d be leaving this morning, is all,” Mira said, her eyes darted around. She flicked her violet gaze to Hal’s mostly finished meal. “You’re done eating, right? Good.” Without waiting for Hal’s reply, she yanked him off the bench and hauled him out of the converted barrow the dwarves used for a mess hall.
“Mira, what the heck’s going on?” Hal asked, shrugging off her grip and following the lanky elf’s quick pace. Once she ducked into their mildly private quarters, Hal understood.
There he found Ashera pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head. Across from her was Noth looking mildly confused. Which was nothing compared to the confused and terrified expression of the gagged gnome bound to a chair between the two women.
With those bushy white mutton chops and that bald pate, Hal easily recognized Rondo.
At least now he knew why Noth and Ashera weren’t around.
“So,” Mira said, shifting her weight from foot to foot. “I may have kidnapped Rondo.”
“Mira… why?” He looked at Noth. “Did you help her do this?”
Shamelessly she nodded. Ashera groaned.
“How do you fit into all this?” he asked the Sin Keeper.
“I don’t,” she answered. “Not really. I came back into our rooms to grab something – and to check on Vorax – then I heard the muffled screams.” Ashera motioned to Rondo.
Hal came forward and knelt in front of the chair Rondo was tied to. “I’m going to take the gag off now,” Hal said. “Try not to scream. All right?”
The little gnome frantically nodded then went very still when Hal undid the knot behind the man’s head. He went about untying him from the chair and stepped back. “T-thank you,” he said in a shaky voice.
“Could somebody explain how anybody thought this was a good idea?” Hal asked. It felt like he was chaperoning a bunch of
kids.
“Well, Noth and I thought it would-” She stopped when Rondo raised a tiny beringed hand.
“Allow me,” he said, fishing around in his vest pocket for a pair of pince-nez glasses and fixing them onto his large nose. He cleared his throat and chafed his wrists. “These two ladies came into my shop and as I have an old friendship with Mira, we struck up a pleasant conversation. Eventually, she suggested that I come with her and a group of people to forge off into the unknown.
“I politely declined and told her that my adventuring days were behind me. Now, Mira has always been impulsive. For all the years I’ve known her that has been her one steadfast trait. So it came as a very great surprise when it was not her, but her quiet friend that promptly conked me atop my noggin.”
Rondo glared over at Noth who blushed and tried to hide the embarrassment with a scowl.
“When I came to,” Rondo continued. “I was in a small dark place. I feared for my life, thinking maybe I was buried somewhere in a coffin – always a great fear of mine y’know – and after enough screaming and banging Ashera over there came to my rescue.
“Which caused a great hullaballoo when Mira came back into the room bringing tall dark and psychotic with her. I was still bound and gagged so, Mira, in her infinite wisdom saw fit to bind me to a chair and try to explain why I was kidnapped from my home and place of business.”
Rondo’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the glowing mark on Hal’s exposed forearm. In the rush of everything that happened, he didn’t think he would have to hide it. Not surrounded by the dwarves as he was and in the middle of eating.
“As I said, Mira is impulsive but sweet. She tried to convince me to stay even though she very well knew that what she had done was wrong.”
“I told him we had a Founder!” Mira blurted out as if she could somehow steal the coming reveal from Rondo and make it less painful.
Hal hung his head. “You didn’t.”
“She did,” Rondo said. He motioned to Hal’s mark. “And to be quite frank, until I saw the mark on your own arm for myself I didn’t quite believe her.” The little gnome swallowed hard. “And now I realize I am at your mercy, good sir. I know well enough what Rinbast does to anybody found with that mark. And I know precisely how dangerous I am now that I have this knowledge.”
Hal raised a brow at him. “You’re awfully calm for knowing so much.”
Rondo merely spread his arms wide and shrugged. “I am an old gnome with many years of adventuring under my belt. It was always my fondest wish to retire as an instructor or merchant that would help out the next generation of adventurers.
“Where I saw greed as the motivation for many others, mine was borne out of a desire to help. I am a practical man, sir-”
Hal put up a hand to stop him. “Call me Hal.”
The gnome bobbed his head. “As I was saying, Hal. I am a practical man. To leave me here without knowing my loyalties is to point a knife at your back. I know what you are now and I have heard the rumblings of a search for one such as you. With a misplaced word I could have those who seek you out hot on your trail.”
“Are you threatening me?” Hal asked, keeping his voice as calm and level as possible.
“No, merely pointing out the situation as it stands.” Though he spoke without a tremor in his voice, he was practically drenched in sweat. Beads of moisture glistened on the bald crown of his head, showing Hal just how frightened he was.
“The other option is you take me with you but then I’m a prisoner and you must bind me, feed me, keep watch over me, it is an exhausting process that I do not doubt you would wish to avoid.”
“There is always a third option,” Hal said. He didn’t mean for it to come across as threatening but the way Rondo shrunk away from him nearly made Hal laugh out loud.
You have unlocked Intimidation (Level 0).
While others would convince, you take a more direct approach. And by putting the fear of the Gods into an otherwise stalwart soul, you have embarked upon the ignoble art of getting your way by more direct means. Intimidation also allows you to quickly turn a combat situation in your favor by pacifying would-be assailants.
Your Intimidation has risen to Level 1.
+1% Intimidation success (+1%).
+1.25% Pacification chance (+1.25%).
“Y-yes there is. But I beg of you to consider a fourth option. A better option for all of us!” Rondo squeaked. When Hal didn’t say anything, he continued on.
“Murkmire has changed. The Guild used to be powerful. But every year the council makes subtle changes to the laws that weaken the Guild’s strength in the region. Fewer and fewer adventurer’s come through my doors and through the doors of the Guild.
“I can read the signs as well as anybody else. Each year I pay more in taxes and see less of these so-called improvements the council touts. The guard balloons in manpower and pay while the contracts for adventurers dry up. What I propose is you take me back into town - well-guarded of course! – and allow me to pack my things, close up shop and join you.
“I may not be able to swing a sword as well as I could in my younger days but I’ll be useful in other ways-”
Once more, Hal raised a hand to stop him. “Why the sudden change of heart? By your own admission, you just got through telling me that Mira tried to recruit you to come with us. And you turned her down.”
Taking a kerchief from his vest pocket the little gnome dabbed at his face and wiped his bald spot. “Well, yes. You have me there. But as I said, I am a practical man. And-”
“And the fear of death has caused you to rethink your priorities,” Hal finished for him. He sighed and shook his head. This was not how he wanted to do things.
Nobody should be coerced out of fear for their life to join him.
“No.” Hal said the word with such force that Rondo backpedaled into the chair and jumped when it made a loud scraping sound on the stone floor.
“A sword at somebody’s neck only works so long as that sword remains there,” Hal said. “I will not force you to come with us under that circumstance. We will make a final return to Murkmire later today. Once we do, you will be brought back to your home. What you choose to do after that is none of my concern, provided you tell nobody about us. I apologize for the rash actions of my companions. But I will not have you with us out of fear for your life.”
Hal motioned out the door to the mess hall. “There’s food if you’re hungry. Mira will stay with you and make sure nothing else happens until we’re ready to go. Isn’t that right, Mira?”
The Dragoon was at Rondo’s side in a flash, nodding her head exuberantly.
Your Intimidation has risen to Level 2.
+1% Intimidation success (+2%).
+1.25% Pacification chance (+2.50%).
Hal tried not to groan aloud. He was annoyed, not trying to be intimidating.
“B-but!” Rondo started to say.
Mira put a hand on Rondo’s shoulder and shook her head. “Let’s go get something to eat, huh?” As she guided the gnome out Mira shot an apologetic glance his way.
Hal was already walking up to Noth. Her icy façade crumbled the moment Hal looked to Ashera and said, “I need to speak to Noth. Alone.”
106
“What were you thinking Nothricient?”
Hearing her full name made the Reaper flinch. “I don’t know!” she cried. Her arms flung out. “I don’t understand any of these social rules you people have!
“She wanted him to come with us and I could see he wanted to go. He just needed an excuse, so I knocked him out and took him. Mira could have stopped me, you know.
“She could have put him back and tried to explain things. I doubt he would have called the guard on us. Besides, it all turned out okay in the end! I was only trying to help,” she finished the last sentence in a whisper.
Hal rubbed his temples and groaned. “No, Noth. It did not turn out okay.”
“But you said-”
“I know
what I said, Noth. But now I have to worry about being tracked down by Rinbast or that Archmage and whatever else is gunning for me. You do know I’m not immortal right? If you killed me I would be dead. There’s no Manaseed to revive me this time, even if it did work a second time.”
“Then just kill the gnome.”
“That would be the easier way out,” Hal agreed. “But it is not something I’m willing to do. I will not take one single step down that dark path if I can avoid it.” He dropped his voice so only Noth could hear, just in case anybody may be listening in. “You know what I am. Who I am. Maybe he also thought that wrapping up a loose end would be preferable.
“After all, if I manage to create a Sanctum that makes the world a better place and helps people and those like the koblins who are simply misunderstood, the ends justify the means, right?
“What’s one old gnome who has already seen the best years of his life compared to the freedom and lives of countless other people who have it worse off?”
Noth’s frown turned into one of sorrowful sympathy. “And so you will not do the pragmatic thing because you fear it will darken your soul. You fear turning into him.”
“Can you blame me?”
“No, never,” she finally said at length.
“Stay here,” Hal said. “I mean literally, do not leave this room until we leave for Murkmire. I don’t want Rondo to be even more terrified than he already is. If he doesn’t immediately go for the council or the Watch once he’s back at his shop I’ll be surprised.”
Hal was halfway out the door when he heard her call his name. He looked back at her, standing exactly in the same spot he told her to.
He was about to tell her that he wasn’t being literal when she took a few tentative steps forward. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I was only trying to help. I thought he would be useful to you. I am sorry.”
Beastborne- Mark of the Founder Page 83
