The next day after returning from the Strip Hjomler, Gallow and Gareth were deciding when to visit the Stone cloak that had punched Gareth. The same one who had delivered something to a dragon-born patron in the Lucky Dice gambling den. As they made their planes, Harkin walked into the Luna and Hope Inn; with him came the Dragonborn lawyer that had previously aided them. He told them that Lady Lakana had hired him as a retainer to help them as a thank-you for rescuing her. He also gave them each a tin badge that would allow them to carry bladed weapons without the peace bond. The Dragonborn also informed them that their large orc friend would take a bit more work to get released as he had gotten quite uncooperative when they had tried to impound his axe. But that he should be out of prison by the next day or so.
While we wait:
Hjolmir, Gallow, Gareth and Harkin decided to go and have a talk with Verdun Larking later that night. While they waited, Hjolmir, Sir Mintra, and Harkin agreed to continue their research into monsters (Specifically Fay). That stole children. While searching, Harkin noticed that certained page numbers were circled in a dozen books, all containing information about fay creatures or lore. He discovered that these coordinates led to a place east of the Last Stand. However, it was an hour or so until sunset, and they decided to investigate this location after they had had a friendly conversation with Larkin, the Stone cloak dwarf.
Larkin between a Goliath and A Scorpion:
A few hours after sundown, Gallow and Harkin knocked on Larking's door; as he opened it, Gallow cast a spell of charming. Larkin was suspicious when he saw Harkin but changed his mind when he saw Gallow. He let them in to talk, and they told him they knew he was handing things to people down in the Lucky Dice, that he was involved in covering up children disappearing in the Last Stand. Larkin told them he was only delivering payment to informants. When they asked who had sent him, he replied that they did not need to know that. They then told him about Elgath, and as they spoke, Larkin realised that this Elgath had set him up. When they said he was coming after him, he worried. That was when Harkin offered to pay. He took the offer and demanded a 100gp. He eventually settled on 50gp, then told them that the one sending him to pay the informant was Merill, a first Verdun in the Last Stand. After he had told them, he packed his things and left Harlow.
The Goliath come knocking:
Hjolmir, Gallow, Gareth and Harkin returned to the Luna and Hope Inn. They started discussing what to do not long after Rakhnar arrived and told them the Dragonborn from the Iron Fort had let him out. He was given the tin badge, which allowed him to carry an unbound weapon. Just then, the outer door slammed open, and Elgath walked in. He told Harkin, Hjolmir and Rakhnar that he knew what they had done and would teach them a lesson. They had 2 minutes to come outside. Once outside, Elgath told them he would beat them with his fists in front of everyone to make an example out of them. The fight was brutal but short; Hjolmir went down first, then Harkin and finally Rakhnar. After the battle, Elgath told them that Hjolmir and Gallow would accompany him on a job as compensation for what they had done at his home. This was non-negotiable; however, he promised to keep them alive. He stated that a mercenary who can't keep his men alive is useless. He did this in front of a massive gathering of humanoids. When Harking objected, he told him the public was his ally that day. If he fails to keep his word, it would quickly travel by word of mouth, ruining his business.