Do the Crime Now and Apologize Later [Session 36]

<< Previous Session | Next Session >>

Current Situation

• The Trollmates finish with what business they have in the library, before talking with a few of the locals in Nightstone about the town's founder. Hopefully, they can finally uncover the source of Drezlin Nandar's secrets, and motives.
  

Session Summary

• Battle over, Dhann spends the next few minutes Sacred Flaming the piles of bones while the Trollmates discuss what to do next. As they talk, more voices come from downstairs. The town seems to know now, that something is definitely up. There are also more guards. No one seems to really be taking proper charge.
• Barret flips down to the first floor to help take charge of the situation while the other three, upstairs, finish one last sweep before vacating the library. The first guard he speaks to, Richard, asks if the dragon is coming back, and Barrett says he doesn't think so. Barrett asks to speak to his captain and Richard runs off to find him. The Monk also helps give the remaining guards things to do, like escort townspeople out of the library and to keep cleaning up and keeping an eye out for anything. "If anyone needs us, call out to us upstairs."
• Dhann tells Ely and Z of his concern that there may be a box of Shadow they haven't yet located, given what they found in the red room. Taking a moment, he focuses on the Glove, illuminating it slightly, and concentrates on it to see whether or not it may be able to "alert" him to the presence of Shadow nearby. Praying for any information, the amount of "nothing" he senses in response is surprising, but a welcome answer. He doesn't get any feeling that there may be Shadow the group has missed, and relays this information.
• Downstairs, Barrett sees four more guards approach and one of them is Haunlar Sidiri , a higher ranked guard in Nightstone. Barrett asks if they could patrol outside of the library through the night and she says that won't be an issue. Barrett then heads upstairs, climbing one of the loose chains.
• Barrett goes to look at the odd, poisonous plant in a pot near the poison room. Dhann also asks Barrett if he thinks they can reset the secret doors to the green room to hide it again from the naked eye. Barrett says he'll try, with Z's help, as the Bard figured out how to open the doors in the first place. But first, the books inside.
• Dhann approaches the book on the left in the green room and inspects the chains holding it in place. There are two chains with claw hands on the ends, on each cover, and one chain down the middle of the book to keep it affixed to the display. Barrett asks Dhann if they need to take it, and Dhann is adamant that he won't leave without it. Z helpfully dispels the magic holding the chains (imbued with enchantment magic) to the book, and it's immediately put into the Bag of Holding. The same process is repeated with the duplicate of the Per Historia Arcandor Materia in the center of the room.
• Now that Dhann has gotten a closer look at the Shadow experiment book:
  • It's fairly recent journaling, regarding various experiments with imbuing creatures with Shadow magic. It's fairly theoretical information, not an authority, but it's a solid find. There it no title on the front.
• Finished in the green room, Elyana goes to look at the plant to the west, by the poison room. It turns out it's a plant she's heard of before, but never seen:
  • Cowhage: a vinelike plant, with oval leaflets in groups of three, with hairy spikes. The plant also sprouts dull, purplish flowers. It normally has seeds that are produced in hairy pods, and both the pods and blossoms contain a poison that if concentrated, causes blindness.
• Ely takes a cutting of one of the leaves, putting it in one of her empty bottles. She then eldritch blasts the plant into oblivion.
• The Warlock picks up the two maps of the dragon skeleton, dig site, and assembly are taken and put into the Bag of Holding. The first map is a general map of the area, and the other is a more specified location with better details. Dhann also takes the book on Deldreg that was on display in the main area. It is mostly in Common, with bits in Draconic, and Giant.
• Leaving the library, Elyana shuts the door to the library and locks it behind the Trollmates, and keeps the key. Fog and mushrooms are still all around, but the area feels a bit lighter, bodily and emotionally sensed in everyone. Barrett asks for the name of the fallen guard, Torem Breck. Barrett speaks to two guards about him and their names are Allara Winterspell and Kalan Zam. Barrett gives them a platinum, apologizing for their loss, and says he hopes Torem's family is taken care of. The guards are appreciative and accept the coin.
• The Trollmates then head to Nightstone Keep. The staff makes sure the group is clearly taken care of and has everything they need, and they are all given guest rooms. The keep is two floors with a roof that can be walked on. Their rooms are on the second floor. Barrett asks if anything needs to be discussed before Mirt and Velrosa Nandar arrive in the morning, and it's at this time that Elyana expresses she'd prefer to not spend too much more time in Nightstone, as tomorrow, (the 10th) she has a meeting with Fala Lefaliir scheduled so that she can learn to brew nonalcoholic, enchanted moonshine. Ely also would lose an entire day of brewing, if she is gone from Trollskull Tavern. So, tomorrow morning is probably a fine time to finish up business in Nightstone before quickly heading back to Waterdeep.
• There's a bit of a talk about what to do, and some plans suggested are asking Melantha to accompany the group to Mirt's Hunting Lodge's that night, to expedite talking to Lady Nandar, or Ely disguising herself as Velrosa to try and convince the recordkeeper to give the Trollmates the information she has. "Do the crime now, and apologize for it later," The Warlock smirks.
• Outside, Elyana asks Melantha Xelbrin if she's interested in meeting with Lady Nandar tonight, as the group is a bit pressed for time. The woman glances at her husband, who nudges her, and they invite the group over to their house for tea, and for talking. Watching Lathan Xelbrin, Dhann and Ely get the sense that he's certainly shaken by what's happened tonight in Nightstone. The group accepts the invitation.
• Dhann reminds Barrett to not forget to let Mrs Rengar know what books they have, so Barrett takes the library key from Elyana to go and finish that business while Z, Ely, and Dhann follow the Xelbrin's to their house. Mrs Rengar is still somewhat flustered by all the goings on, but rallies herself and lets Barrett know that the group can keep the books they took as long as they need, and whenever they are done, whenever that is, they can return the tomes. They are on "extended loan." Barrett explicitly does not tell her what books are taken from the second floor, and while the Librarian seemed to know how many books exactly, and scrolls, Barrett had from the first floor, she doesn't seem to know anything about anything from the second. She also tells Barrett he can keep the five scrolls.
  • Magic Missile
  • Prestidigitation
  • Arcane Gate
  • Acid Arrow
  • Haste
• The Xelbrin home is modest, and the inside is warm, and comfortable. There's a lit fire in the hearth, and dinner in a pot cooking over it. It's mainly a one room home, a bit dusty, and in one corner is clearly where Melantha does most of her work. A desk is absolutely covered in papers and quill pens, books and notes. The group is seated around the table, and Lathan goes to prepare tea. A little something extra added to both his and his wife's tea, Melantha begins to give the group what she knows. Rillix watches from the rafters.
• She begins with the history of hers and Lady Nandar's friendship, and now the Nandars came to know the others in town, and how they pulled Nightstone together. Most of the people in town were specifically invited to live there. A bit more detail on the conflict with the The Elves of Ardeep, and how Drezlin made himself a bit too comfortable in hunting in the woods, causing the original disgruntlement. This makes up the history of Nightstone.
• What Melantha knows:
  • While the elves had made multiple threats, the attack in which Drezlin was killed was the first actual assault the elves had made on Nightstone. They had made raids on hunting parties, but never killed anyone before. Lady Nandar was always judgemental that Drezlin never asked the elves permission and the whole conflict was avoidable.
  • Drezlin doesn't seem to have gotten anyone's explicit permission or blessing to build Nightstone where he did - he simply did, and it happened.
    
  • They attacked the main drawbridge, and as soon as this was seen, the bridge was drawn up. As Nightstone, there wasn't much the elves could have done against the defenses.
  • Lady Nandar kept the arrow that slew her husband with her during the making of the truce, seeing it as a symbol of a mistake of hers, that she didn't make an end to the conflict sooner. The arrow is interred with Drezlin in the crypt. She carried the arrow with her until a truce was finalized.
    
  • Lady Nandar brought Mirt in to help with making the truce. He did the final brokering of the peace.
  • The negotiations for peace took several months. The elves seemed just as pleased with the truce as Lady Nandar did, and only seemed to be protecting what is theirs, rather than purely hostile.
    
  • The elves cordoned off a certain section of the forest for the people of Nightstone, and do not make an appearance unless the people of Nightstone venture outside of the allotted area.
  • In the entire time Melantha has lived there, nothing strange has ever happened with the Nightstone.
  • Yes, three wizards came to town asking about the Nightstone a little before his death. Lady Nandar told Melantha about them; she never met them herself. They met with Drezlin, and he gave them "some information," that led them out of town.
  • They came back at one point, after Drezlin was dead. During that visit, they spoke with Morak Ur'gray and Lady Nandar, and they visited a number of times overall. They seemed to be working for Drezlin and she doesn't know their names.
  • Their first visit was in 1490 or 1489 and seemed to be a scheduled meeting. The guards let them through without too much question, Drezlin seemed to be expecting them. They've visited about four or five times. The last time they visited was two or three months after Drezlin passed.
  • Melantha also hated the dragon's skeleton. No one thought it was a good idea. Originally Drezlin seemed to be secretive about it at the start, but after he completed the task, everyone knew about it, even if they didn't know if the dragon was finished being assembled or not.
    
  • Strange sounds and flashes in the library, and shadows flitting through town shortly before Drezlin’s death, but it wasn't until after the dragon was finally assembled, that things got very weird. Flashes late at night from the library windows, and people reporting the shadows, that was still happening, but then the fog, mushrooms, and bizarre dreams started a couple Tenday ago. The odd happenings happened mostly before he died, but the dreams, fog, and mushrooms have all been happening in the past couple of Tenday.
  • Everyone in town was having the strange dreams on how to get into the library, but no one wanted to, or was willing, to try. Melantha's own dreams were essentially about finding "untold treasures," in the form of knowledge, things she hadn't thought of since she was a girl.
  • Most people described something on the second floor, but something different for everyone. It was something each of them wanted to acquire, fame, treasure, etc. It was Melantha that suggested Lady Nandar take some time away from Nightstone to see if the dreams would stop. Velrosa's dreams were the most nightmarish and especially bad, and always about Drezlin. She never said, but Velrosa most likely was the first person to start having nightmares, and this was before the fog and mushrooms began to appear.
    
  • She has heard of Demiryn Lagustin and knows he's an ancient wizard. Drezlin has mentioned him before as a collector of "information or something." She made the note of his name, and status.
  • Drezlin was very well known in his previous circles, before Nightstone, and seemed to have some important friends. He had regular visitors. He met with most of these people in secret and didn't discuss details with anyone, even his wife.
  • There was a rumor at one time he was involved with a group collecting magical items, but this was before Lady Nandar. Once he met her "his whole world changed" but she doesn't know how much of this is true. Melantha suspects he had more secrets than one should have, but Lady Nandar was willing to look past this.
  • Before Nightstone, after they had begun courting, Melantha was introduced to Drezlin at one of those society gatherings and she remembers seeing an amulet that "one would relate with Cyric." After that function, he did not seem to have any further affiliations.
  • It's possible the affiliation was continued in secret, but she doesn't know. He never spoke with anyone about details of this, and no one else in town knows about the connection. Lady Nandar didn't even know.
    
  • Lady Nandar has mentioned Drezlin's had "a dark past" but never talked more about this. One of the conditions of their marriage and moving to found Nightstone was one of the ways to put all that behind him, or so it seemed.
  • Morak was closer to Drezlin than anyone as a friend and he may know more about these things, and know more about before Melantha or Lady Nandar both knew Drezlin.
  • Lady Nandar and Drezlin had both been married previously. Lady Nandar's husband was older than her and died, and seeming to be lonely, wanted to marry again and Drezlin was love at first sight.
    
  • Drezlin saved Morak's life seven years ago, even though they've been friends for much longer, more than thirty years ago. There was a conflict between orcs and dwarves, the orcs wanting to wipe out the dwarves. Drezlin pulled Morak from the battlefield. The War of Silver Marches, in 1485.
    
  • Lady Nandar was hit very hard by her husband's death, but overall she is doing well and turned her grief into resolution and has taken responsibility in taking care of Nightstone and the people there. She's become quite the leader and she's a very good one, at that.
  • Rillix adopted her and her husband about twenty five years ago, and he seems to be a Fey creature, and allows the Xelbrins to feed him. He appeared one day in the village she lived him, and once she gave him something to eat, he stuck around, and followed the Xelbrins to Nightstone.
  • Yes, Drezlin is in the family crypt. An aunt is also interred there, and he had her remains moved from the north. There are empty sarcophagi in there as well. To her knowledge, there are only those two remains.
  • In regards to the urn in the library: for some reason, Drezlin always collected such things, and that one was imported from the Moonshae Isles He had a fascination with burial rites and urns. It was a gift from Velrosa right after their wedding, actually.
  • The main reason he built Nightstone - according to Velrosa - is that he feared something from his past, and that the stone might somehow protect him from whatever the perceived threat was, or is. That's why it's in the center of town, and he believed it was important to his safety.
  • She has no idea why, or how, a piece came to be missing. Not even Drezlin seemed to know. It didn't seem to concern him so much as interest him.
• The Trollmates thank her for the tea, and express - seeing her concern - that they're there as friends of Lady Nandar and this information, and its source, won't reach Velrosa by their doings. Melantha seems reassured by this and Lathan pats her on the shoulder in support. Barrett says she shouldn't have any more bad dreams about the library and this also comes as a comfort. Dhann does ask her to let them know if the dreams continue.
  
• Heading to Nightstone Inn, there are a good number of townspeople inside, crowded around the bar. Stories about the dragon and sightings of it that day are flying from every mouth. Barrett flags down Morak and the group is immediately seated. He's immensely welcoming and offers anything the group wants, on the house. Everyone in the bar, trying to maintain the aura of minding their own business, is obviously trying to eavesdrop.
• What Morak knows:
  • He hated the dragon skeleton from the start. Drezlin was absolutely proud of it. Morak knew the chains were for more than show.
    
  • He was a dear friend, but Drezlin went through phases of being obsessed with magical items and creatures. Now, dragons. Five years ago? Wands. Even further back? Mythallar. And more and more and more.
  • The two of them met thirty or more years ago. "Friends since we were lads!" They fell out of touch, but Drezlin just showed up in the middle of the Silver Marches war, and Morak, felled by a substantial wound, was pulled and healed by Drezlin.
    
  • Drezlin asked Morak to live in Nightstone and Morak said absolutely. He was given the tavern as a gift from Drezlin, with the inn already built.
  • Barrett and Morak compare scars, with Morak remarking to the Monk, "Well, that doesn't look like an elven blade!"
  • For a while, called himself "the new group" that was looking for all the magic items, and he'd read about some group of wizards attempting the same, prior. He went on and on about taking on their mantle and trying the same. He was drunk one night and talking about it to Morak.
  • Some time between them falling out of touch, and Drezlin showing up on the battlefield, Drezlin met Lady Nandar and was "a changed man" to Morak. He was in love with her and told Morak he gave up all "his old things and ways" for her.
  • Drezlin had a little dabble in some worship of Cyric and nothing good could come of that. They actually had a bit of a falling out over this topic.
  • At one point, Morak was told by Drezlin that he made some sort of deal. That if anything happened to him, he'd be able to stay with Lady Nandar. Morak didn't press him on this. By this time, Drezlin wasn't doing any of "those risky things" anymore, and was madly in love. But - soon after they fell in love, he "made arrangements" to be with her "always." He said things like "together for always," and he'd "never leave her." It was more than devotions. He confided that he regretted the deal, and he was honestly nervous about it, and that's probably why he moved to Nightstone, to escape the deal, whatever it entailed. He never said any more on that topic.
  • Velrosa most likely didn't even know about the deal, or how bad Drezlin's past actually was. He most likely didn't tell her, not wanted to scare her away with details about his past.
  • After Elyana's Suggestion:
  • Drezlin was a follower of Cyric, absolutely. In all of his searching for items and things, he discovered Cyric and believed that the deity's role within the pantheon was one of power, because he threw caution to the wind to acquire power and Drezlin was attracted to this. Due to Drezlin's adoption of Cyric as his deity, he and Morak had their falling out. The friendship didn't end, but communication did, until Drezlin saved Morak's life. By this time, Drezlin seemed finished with Cyric.
    
  • Drezlin seemed more involved than anyone really should be, but Morak couldn't figure on his motives. It didn't seem out of devotion to Cyric or for any real religious reasoning. Maybe for the acquisition of power of some sort, that Cyric had and the other gods didn't. Morak isn't sure.
  • As far as Morak knows, Drezlin was not interred with any symbology of the Church or Cyric.
  • Drezlin had more amulets and trinkets than Morak could count, but the dwarf can't remember any with brains, or purple.
  • Morak doesn't know what became of Drezlin's item collection.
  • The cemetery of Nightstone is open to the town and access to the crypt is as simple as asking for a key. There won't be any trouble for the group to go and pay their own respects.
  • He never mentioned any single or couple of books specifically, but especially collected books. He kept all the ones he read during his childhood and this seems to have kicked off his gathering of tomes until he eventually had enough to build a library for.
  • Drezlin always exhibited this obsessive behavior, whether it be towards a type of item, a subject, etc.
  • Drezlin's aunt never was in Nightstone while she was alive. She was already dead when Nightstone was founded and Drezlin had her remains moved. He never made mention of where his home is originally besides "north." His aunt was dear and Morak supposes Drezlin just wanted her close.
    
• Barrett asks for drinks for the group, and Morak gratefully hustles off to fetch those. He's obviously extremely relieved to leave the table at this time and it seems that he's withholding even more information. At this point, everyone exchanges glances about the "For Always" phrasing, as it was on the urn, and Drezlin apparently quite liked to say this - and often.
• The innkeeper almost seems to hesitate in coming back to the table, clearly uncomfortable, but does so, tavern duties outweighing his pause. Funnily enough, even though no one specified what they wanted, Morak remembers what each of them ordered last time. He's clearly good at what he does. Ely pours some of her moonshine into her mug, and Morak also accepts some on her offer.
  
• Elyana asks after the Church of Cyric and if it's impacted Nightstone at all, and Morak says no, but they've had travelers come through and mention it. There have even been a few folk from Waterdeep who have left the city because of it. Casting Suggestion, Ely asks for more detail on Morak's knowledge of the Church and Drezlin's involvement in it (this is detailed in the above list for the sake of clarity).
• It's noticed the entire bar has grown silent, and it's due to every patron trying to listen in on the conversation that Morak is having with the Trollmates. Barrett, saying he'll take care of this, goes over to the bar, behind it, and in front of everyone downs two full mugs of ale and asks, "Alright, what questions do you have?" and the crowd explodes with yelling and questions from every patron present. Barrett says anyone who wants to ask a question, hast to fill their own tankard to give Morak business. In answer to any queries, Barrett downplays the group, talks up Lady Nandar and how the gang being sent was on her order, and gives very "safe" informational answers to everyone. No one notices Barrett's Periapt of Poison that keeps him from getting drunk.
  
• Z goes with Barrett, giving drumming support and between the Bard and Monk, everyone in the crowd is drinking quite a lot and buying each other drinks, making money pour into Morak's business.
• As the crowd gets even more tipsy, Z starts to drop little questions about The Greasy Cat and happens to get an interesting piece of information. One of the patrons had apparently been scammed by this slippery feline fellow, of some coin, and pride. He says this about Rimpkin "You know, I don't think that fellow is who he said he was." This patron thought to mug Rimpkin to get his money back, and so hid under the bridge to jump him as the bard crossed. As he crossed, the patron was about to jump out at him, but hesitated, as Rimpkin looked like a cat, and when the patron leapt out, Rimpkin suddenly looked like Rimpkin again. But right before, he looked like a tiger, and something was weird about his hands - it was like they faced the wrong way, or something. But the patron seems to dismiss this as having been an effect of drinking too much prior.
• The evening begins to wind down. Morak, after talking to the group, is much more morose now after having been reflecting on the loss of who once was a good friend, and he seems to regret saying so much about Drezlin as he did. Dhann shakes Morak's hand, saying thank you, and subtly casts Guidance, hoping the innkeeper feels better. Morak expresses he only wants Lady Nandar to be happy, and his friend to be remembered well. Ely tells him they want the same thing. They finish the conversation in quiet reflection.

-

During a lull in the conversation, Barrett suddenly remembers something of importance and says, "Oh!  I almost forgot to tell you all: when I went back to the library to settle up with Mrs. Rengar, she said, under the circumstances, that we could keep these books until they are "needed."  I made a list of all the ones we took - well, from the first floor anyway - and she said that it was fine, and to consider it an extended loan."
He sips at his drink again, still not used to the fact that the alcohol isn't affecting him.  He wonders, having consumed two or three pints at this point, if he took the periapt off...would the alcohol effect kick in?  He decides not to try it.  At least not tonight. "By the way, while I was searching the first floor, I found these five small scrolls.  They appeared at first glance to be low level spells.  One was Magic Missile and one was Prestidigitation.  Let me see what these other three are..." he says, pulling the five thin, finger-length rolls from his side pouch.

While glancing at the scrolls, he says, "Also, something in the timeline isn't adding up for me.  Melantha told us Drezlin was killed...what, over a year ago, right?  Maybe 18 months?  But this foggy-dreamy-mushroom business stirred up by Deldreg started a mere two or three tendays ago.  Does that mean Deldreg was animated and just hanging around (pun intended) for a year and half...or did someone or something animate him just a few tenday ago?  If so, who and why?"

When no one immediately responds to his question, Barrett finishes reading the scrolls and sets them down on the table. "Looks like, in addition to Magic Missile and Prestidigitation, we have Arcane Gate, Haste and Acid Arrow."  He frowns, recalling the lessons from Friar Stardust regarding spells he would eventually learn if he progressed far enough in Valkur's service. "I don't think I can use any of these.  Does anyone want any of them?  If not, I'll sell them to Rishaal the Page-Turner when we get back to Trollskull Alley."

“That was very generous of her,” Dhann remarks about the Librarian’s extended loan of the books, and then shakes his head at the offer of scrolls. “I haven’t studied any of those, so I can’t guarantee they would be successfully cast.”

“On the note about the skeleton, though…that also strikes me as odd. I think it’s been about three solid Tenday since Mirt first remarked on the nightmares, but as for a more specific time, perhaps it’s worth asking Lady Nandar for more detail." Stifling a yawn, Dhann rubs at his arm and glances about the tavern, looking a bit concerned. “Even with all the information we’ve gotten today, all I seem to have are more questions.”

Elyana pulls out the two books she found in the library and studies their titles as she takes a swig of Morak's ale. "Well that was nice of her, considering the mess we left behind. But I guess we did help a little." Rascal skitters across a wooden beam and watches them from the rafters. He chirps at her as she begins flipping through the pages of each tome. She raises an eyebrow at him. "Is that so?"

Bouncing off Dhann's response she adds, "From the way the dragon said it, I thought he'd been reanimated and in that library for a very long time. He kept calling it his. Maybe the dreams didn't start immediately because it took time for him to summon that kind of power, given his state." Her eyes gaze up at Rascal who is now chattering at her incessantly. "Yes, yes, I think you're right." She slides one of the books to the center of the table. "I won't have the time or mental capacity to study both of these. So if anyone would like to give C.S.I. Waterdeep a try, please do. And if it would be alright, I think Arcane Gate sounds familiar, I would love to hold onto it, if I could?"

“I was thinking along those same lines, actually. Maybe due to being rendered a skeleton and later bound in chains, away from his original lair, it took quite some time…but I wonder too if it’s not related to-“ And Dhann lowers his voice to continue, “Drezlin being…triggered, to return.” Leaning forward to look at the books, he says, “There’s a lot of oddness happening.”

“I may be interested in this one, actually,” He picks up the investigation book and glances through it, a thoughtful look on his face. He can’t help but think back to the tomes on Shadow within the Bag of Holding…damn. So many questions with so little time. “But I don’t know, though.” Dhann sets the book on the table in front of him with a little sigh. “It’s somewhat difficult to concentrate on the idea of being able to sit and read when there’s so much happening at present.”

The comfortable sounds of the tavern and the darkness outside make him realize just how tired he’s getting. It’s not often one speaks with a dragon, skeletal or not, on top of combat and the amount of investigating they’ve done today. And then with a start, "Wait - that guard at the gate, remember - he told us they think something's died upstream, poisoning the town's well. We can't just leave that unchecked."

Looking over at him as Ely slides her other book back into the Bag of Holding, "Upstream? Hmm. Is that back towards Mirt's Lodge?"

"I think so, yes. Also, that horrible smell in the woods, that had been moving west, Rascal let you know, right? Away from the road." Dhann hands Ely back the investigative book while he speaks. "And perhaps towards the Lodge, as well."

"Thanks" And she slips that book back into the bag as well while thinking aloud, "By my amazing memory, isn't our troll skull from an undead troll? We never checked the cause of that. I wonder if its related to the walking dead smell?"

If a groan of recognition had an expression, it's on the Cleric's face.

"It wasn't undead when we found it, but it could...very well be...now. At least- I don't think it was undead." Dhann leans forward and rubs the sides of his head with stiff fingers. "That feels like it was already over a year ago."

"But the falling off limbs and do I recall a smell?" Ely turns over her flask and empties it out into her cup. "Or maybe that's normal for trolls?"

Dhann's fingers move to press his closed eyes and his brow furrows in an attempt to recollect. "As the only two trolls I've ever seen, they were quite normal by my standards."

She takes a substantial gulp from the cup, sets it down and then lays her chin on her arms on the table. "I guess I could say the same." Elyana sighs. "Honestly. As much as I absolutely enjoy these random trips to Nightstone to take care of other people's problems, I can't help wanting to skip all that and just go home."

Dhann crosses his arms, leaning back in his chair with a small nod, looking thoughtful. Watching what patrons are left in the tavern, he doesn’t say anything else.

-

Next time on...

Business in the library all checked out for now, the Trollmates consider their options. Do they take a crypt dive tonight, or wait until the morning? What might they find down there? And what more can Lady Nandar tell them about her late husband?