With Isran’kusha restored, you feel a serenity wash over the lands around Quillpond. A cool breeze settles your minds, and the pain of your injuries subsides somewhat. You set off to make your way back to town with renewed energy.
As the group of you return to town, you find a much calmer and serene scene. Much of the town seems to be gathered in front of Quillpond Hall. The majority of the council stands, huddled, in passionate discussion, at the top of the stairs to the hall. Murg, Margarita Zanatta, and Matilda Bosco wear clearly worried looks on their faces as Emon seems to be working to calm them. Off to the east, you see Gianno hurriedly approaching, as well.
Emon sees Gianno, first, and waves him toward the group.
“It’s back. The blessing of the forest is back.” Gianno yells out over the murmur of the crowd.
Emon’s eyes grow wide, and her expression becomes one of elation as her eyes dart over to your group.
“What happened? Is it done?” Emon calls out to you.
As you approach, you begin recounting the tale of the past hours. The entirety of the town listens intently, its murmur quieting a bit as you go, and as your story draws to a conclusion. The council, as well as the rest of the town thanks you all profusely, offering handshakes, hugs, and claps on shoulders.
“We have a lot to discuss. We will be back to make an announcement shortly.” Emon says as she gestures for the council to enter the hall.
You see Ivis bound up the stairs and place her hand on Emon’s shoulder for a moment before whispering something into her ear. Emon nods and glances past you all as she continues into the hall and pulls the doors closed
As the crowd continues to shower praise, you hear Ivis’s voice from behind you.
“I bet you all need a drink, right?” Ivis Stramn calls from about ten feet away, directing her question to your group specifically. “Come to the Stag. Everyone else, give me an hour or so. I get the feeling that I am going to need to break out the extra drinkware tonight.”
As you follow Ivis, you can see she clearly walks with an impatient and purposeful stride. Moments later, you reach the doors of The Singing Stag which Ivis pushes open and stands aside ushering you inside. After you all pass, she closes the doors without a word before striding past you all and vaulting over the bar. She reaches up and grabs a pair of bottles from one of the high shelfs.
“This calls for the good stuff” she says as she turns back to you. “Also, we have to talk.”
“You mentioned that one of the assholes that attacked Isran mentioned the Staten family in Evershoal, right? That is both great and terrible news.” she says as she pulls up eight small cups from under the bar and begins pouring.
The doors swing open behind you as Ella Strangford and Tharvis Rimple slip quietly inside and close and bar the door behind them.
“Damned Statens” Ella says as she charges across the room, grabs one of the cups from the bar, and downs it in one gulp before placing it gingerly back on the bar.
“Indeed, Ella” Ivis responds as she picks up her own cup and takes a sip. “And that is why we need to talk to you all. The Staten children have been of some concern for a number of years now. A sanctimonious pair of louts, the two of them are. And it seems they tumbled over the cliff into fanaticism. I think I speak for all of us (she says gesturing to Ella and Tharvis) when I say that their fanaticism isn’t something they developed all on their own. Their father is no better and if they found the motivation to come here with followers, where they don’t even seek to trade, to fuck with Isran, then this wasn’t their doing alone.”
“Their father is a right asshole and powerful. Folks think he has been up to something in the past few years but hasn't made any real moves. His progeny doesn’t do anything without his blessing, so it seems that has changed, now.”
“If they are attacking Quillpond just to remove Isran and the Wardens, then there has to be some other motivation behind it. The trouble is that Emmitt Staten is also a particularly persistent asshole. Whatever he and his children are up to is not going to stop with this setback” Ella says as she downs a second cup.
“I know that many of you aren’t necessarily interested in becoming heroes of The Republic of Hallea but I fear that Isran, the Wardens, the Seers, and Quillpond, on a greater scale, will not be safe until we know what they are up to and stop it. Not tonight, and not in the coming days, but soon enough, we may need those of you who are willing to take a little trip to the big, bad city. I understand if you choose not to and it would not be held against any of you if you chose to stay here. However, if you are willing, Ella can set up housing and a stipend for those of you that go.”