The old city of Camars is in an uproar. Soldiers bustle to and fro, and bats flap overhead. You four squat near an overfull rain cistern just inside where the canal cuts through the city wall. To your left, just across the narrow canal that divides the city, squats the Old Keep, a dark shape on a broad hillside. To your right, the narrow winding Shadow's Way, leading into the dangerous neighborhood called the Shadows Ward.
Thragga points to the plaza called Punishment Square. A crowd appears to have formed there, or was herded there. On a raised dais, a speaker is giving voice to fury, but you are too far off to hear what he is saying.Brion leans against the cistern. "Now what, Kane?"
Kane says, "I'm going to move in a bit closer to hear what's going on."
Khom-Bei says, "Myself, I'd like to avoid large crowds of angry Tol Nedrans, Kane. I'll wait here."
Thragga grumbles, "They're probably calling for our blood..."
Kane says, "Just the same I'd like to make sure they haven't got some one new to hang. The rest of you stay here. I'll go and bring the news back." He moves forward and blends in with the crowd.
Brion jeers, "What, are you two afraid? Come on, we got this far!"
Thragga snaps, "Shut your mouth, or I will shut it for you!"
Khom-Bei says, "Easy, Thragga. Let the boy have his play if he wants."
Brion snickers, rises and dashes after Kane. "I'll show him how it's done..."
Kane edges closer to hear what is being said.
The crowd is eagerly watching, hungry to see a good execution. The speaker rages, "And further, as governor of Camars, he has put the whole city in jeopardy with his incompetence! This cannot stand!" He gestures at the prisoner.
The crowd, sensing blood, sneer at the prisoner, taunting him.
Brion sidles up alongside Kane and the two watch from the edge of the square amidst the crowd. He whispers, "Hey, that's Baron Ingelay, he's governor of the city!"
The speaker gestures emphatically. "None defy the rule of law in Tol Nedra!"
Kane whispers to Brion, "At least this one deserves it."
The speaker bellows: "Anyone harboring fugitives is as guilty as they are! And anyone using one whit less than their fullest ability in rooting them out is as guilty as they are!! What say you?"
The crowd bellows, "Guilty!"
Kane whispers again to Brion, "Let us go. I've seen this scene played out too many times in my life already."
The speaker shouts, "Ingelay allowed the light of the cursed sun to touch the stones of Camar! And he has still not produced the malefactor! For this, Lord Valkris decrees he must die!"
Kane turns to slinks back to his companions.
A boy, no more than eleven by the looks of him, has appeared on the platform. Pale, long-haired, but with eyes that seem centuries old, the crowd applauds as he raises a fist to them.
Brion tugs at Kane's sleeve. "Lord Valkris..." he hisses.
Kane pauses, and says, "But he is only a boy?"
Brion shrugs. "He was once."
The boy roars, "As a peer of the realm, I claim high justice as my right. And I will perform the execution myself!" He steps forward towards Ingelay. The warrior presses a sword into Valkris' hand.
The crowd is shouting now.
Kane knows it is time to go but his is caught up in what is going on in the square.
Ingelay shudders and tries to recoil as Valkris approaches.
Valkris regards the prisoner with cool contempt. The boy smiles, showing his fangs.
Valkris seizes Ingelay's hair. The prisoner closes his red-rimmed Vorghol eyes. Valkris draws the gleaming blade back faster than your eyes can follow and slices the prisoner's head off. Ingelay's body burns to ash and vanishes in a puff of smoke. The crowd goes wild. "Valkris!" they cheer. "Valkris!"
Valkris bellows to the crowd, "Thus to all who do not serve the King! I now take command of this city in his name! Serve Lord Valkris and you will be richly rewarded! Bring me those who allowed the sun to touch the stones of Camars!" The crowd cheers and applauds.
Kane finally pulls himself away from the specticle and heads back to Khom-Bei and Thragga.
The Vorghol boy basks in the adulation.
Kane says, "We must go quickly."
Brion trails along after Kane.
Thragga asks, "What was all the shouting about?"
Kane says, "They executed the governor."
Khom-Bei says, "One of the Dark Ones?"
Thragga spits. "Good. One less for us to kill."
Kane says, "Let's go quickly, I'd sooner be out of here as fast as possible."
Brion rubs his chin. "It's possible this is some power grab by Valkris..."
Khom-Bei says, "Agreed. Let's go."
Kane starts heading in the direction to the smithy keeping to alleys and back streets where possible.
The streets and buildings are slick with rain, and deep puddles have formed in the cobblestones. Before you are the ramshackle buildings of the Shadows' Ward--inns, guild houses, homes, and dens of ill repute.
Khom-Bei follows Kane as quietly as he can.
You pause under the eaves of an old tavern. A group of soldiers led by a Vorghol officer patrol near the intersection. The Vorghol eyes Thragga suspiciously.
Brion whispers, "Kane, I know this city...We shouldn't travel like this...if they saw us take Hobb, then the four of us fit the descriptions exactly."
Kane says, "Do you suggest we split up?"
The Vorghol approaches. Two of his men tag along. "You there! Urag!"
Thragga pretends to have not heard him, avoiding eye contact.
Khom-Bei continues walking as if he doesn't know the others.
Thragga mutters in Urag-ta, a language of hard consonants. His axe is hidden under his soaking wet cloak.
The Vorghol asks, "Do you speak Marreith? No? By the Dark Lady, these Urag are as stupid as animals!"
Khom-Bei steps into the shadows of a nearby alleyway and turns to observe the situation.
The Vorghol turns to his sergeant. "Perhaps he would understand better if you beat some sense into him."
Thragga makes a pleading motion with his hands. "This...one...must go now."
Watching alongside Khom-Bei, Brion puts his hand on his forehead. "Thragga's problem is, he's too honest!"
The Vorghol officer grins contemptuously, showing fangs. "'You-um must go.' Like animals, all of them!"
Thragga brushes past the soldiers, gritting his teeth. It is taking all of his control to restrain himself from cutting this Vorghol down.
Khom-Bei turns his cloak inside out and places it over his shoulders before stepping back into the street, yelling; "There you are! Had to go see the execution!"
Thragga looks up at this new possible foe before recognizing Khom-Bei.
Khom-Bei strikes Thragga across the shoulder with the handle of his war hammer: "Move, lummox! You have work to do!"
The Vorghol officer snorts with amusement. "See? Like animals." He tells Khom-Bei. "A word to the wise...keep your animals off the streets or they are likely to wind up as food!"
Khom-Bei turns to the Vorghol officer and bows, grinning widely: "Like animals, they are. Good evening to you, sir."
Thragga grunts as he is struck and shuffles along. He has been a slave once and knows the routine.
Khom-Bei shuffles after Thragga quickly, muttering under his breath.
Kane continues down the street acting as if the whole incident was none of his affair.
Brion slips into the street after Khom-Bei and Thragga. "Real smooth, Thragga..." he taunts.
Kane continues in the direction of the smithy trusting his friends will follow. He pulls his cloak up over his head looking like one who is trying too avoid getting to wet in the rain.
You all duck into a broad alleyway. To your right, through a break in the stone skyline of the walled city, you see the hulk of the huge Temple of Kursa in the moonslight, four narrow towers surmounting a broad base. Sculpted gargoyles hang from the sides of the Temple.
Khom-Bei follows Thragga around a corner before moving alongside the big Urag; "You have my deep apologies, friend. I saw no other way to assure your safety."
Thragga nods. "I should have killed those three..."
Brion smirks. "Is that all you think about? Killing?"
Khom-Bei places his hand on Thragga's shoulder: "Yes, they deserve to die a true death, but we are here to rescue our friends."
You pause as three majestic and fearsome Spectral Legionnaires, on white horses, slowly canter their horses past the mouth of the alleyway.
Kane leans back into the shadows.When they have passed, Kane whispers to the others, "I think Brion was right back there. We should split up and meet at Dras'."
Brion grins at Kane. "Of course I was right!"
Kane says, "Perhaps Brion and I should stroll up ahead of you two. I think you might want to keep your act up for a bit as well."
Khom-Bei says, "Good idea, Kane."
Kane takes Brion up ahead with him. He tries to look like a local hurrying home from the execution.
As you pass Hobb's tavern, boarded up, there are two oldsters sitting on the front porch. One passes a jug to the other.
Kane turns to Brion and says, "Did you see Lord Valkris? Why he'll show anyone who tries to prevent the King's justice a thing or two I tell ya. If you asked me old Ingelay had it coming."
Khom-Bei gives Kane and Brion a half-minute head start and then heads into the street, calling to Thragga: "Come along, now! You've wasted enough time! The stable needs to be swept and the horses fed and... Oh, do hurry, will you?!?"
Brion gives a laugh. "I should write a song about it."
Thragga grunts. "Yes...boss!"
Kane says, "A song for our noble Lord Valkris, what a wonderful idea!"
Kane says, "Something like 'With a look of dread we severed his head!'"
Brion hums along with Kane.
Khom-Bei shuffles quickly along the street, darting glances in every direction. He says, "Come along, come along, Dras will be waiting and I'm sure the horses are hungry."
Kane sings on, ''He paid the price, with the mighty slice!''
You breeze past the oldsters, but an aged Tobon in a cloak lurks near the front of the tavern, between you and the direct route to the smithy. You recognize him. He is the Tobon who watched when you killed some soldiers a few watches past. Kane threw him a silver drake. His eyes go wide as you approach.The old Tobon says, "You...."
Kane says, "I like it. Let us hurry to be out of this rain. I'm for a mug and a loaf."
The Tobon passes his cane to his other hand and looks up and down the street.
As he passes Kane flings his arm around the Tobon. "Old friend join us in a mug!" and carries him along with him.
The Tobon gasps. "No! No! Don't kill me!"
Kane looks the Tobon directly in the eye and whispers, "Not a word out of you friend and all will be well."
Kane replies "Kill you? Ah yes you're on the wagon, well one small mug won't kill you."
The Tobon is silent a long moment. Then: "You're...Hun.." he is breathless with fright.
Kane says, "You bet I'm hungry. Elsa has a stew on that will make your togue roll my small friend!"
The Tobon swallows again. "Hobb...was my friend."
Thragga hisses, "Kill him, Kane, before he shrieks and summons down the watch on our heads!"
Kane in alow voice replies, "He and his family are safe. Come for a stroll and all will be well."
Khom-Bei shushes Thragga and hurries along to the door to the smithy.
Kane says, "Quiet! No one here is going to die, least of all my Tobon friend here."
The old one consents to walk along with Kane.
The smithy is a low barn-like structure not far off Crafters' Way. The door to the smithy is locked and barred, but a light burns in the loft above.
Khom-Bei steps to the door of the smithy and bangs on it, calling out: "Dras! Ugash! We are here to clean the stables, open the door."
Thragga insists, "I am not cleaning the stables..."
Kane nudges the Tobon and the Urag and moves them over into the shadows. "Let's just see who answers the door" he says to them.
There is a fumbling at the door and a tiny window slides open. A pair of yellow Gholibin eyes peer out. "Khom-Bei? Urag?" squeaks Ugash. He hurriedly works the door lock and flings it open for you.
Khom-Bei moves inside quickly.
Kane ushers the Tobon and Thragga through the door with him.
Khom-Bei says, "Is Verraine safe? How is Dras? Is everyone well?"
Ugash slams the door shut. "What you do here? You crazy!" he says, astonished.
Khom-Bei says, "We needed to know if you were all safe."
Dras comes out from the back of the shop. He seems amazed but says not a word, of course.
Ugash waves his hands. "Safe? Of course we safe! You think we live in Camars for ten years without being safe?"
Kane looks to his companions and motions to the Tobon. He hopes this will remind them to watch what they say in front of him.
Ugash points to the Tobon. "Who he? We closed for business...only open for...cleaners."
Kane says, "Brion, stay with our friend here a bit while we have a word with Master Dras here will you?"
Khom-Bei motions to Thragga as he moves toward the stables:"Come, now, we clean stables and feed horses."
Brion helps himself to a pitcher of wine and passes some to the Tobon. "So...I'm Brion..."
Dras and Ugash lead you out to the stables.
As Khom-bei and Thragga exit to the stable yard, they close the door behind them, having no intention of cleaning up after the horses.
When it is safe to talk Kane starts with an apology. He says, "Dras, Ugash I am sorry for the trouble. We thought to see you on the road since we though your cover was blown." The Tobon witnessed me kill a guard the other day. I had to bring him along so that he would not raise an alarm. He says Hobb was a friend of his."
Ugash is annoyed. "Blown? Only thing that would blow cover, is you coming back here. Camars locked! How you get in, anyway? Never mind, Ugash don't want to know..."
Kane says, "Again I apologize. We were concerned that something bad had happened to you."
Dras offers you a tray of sausage and beer.
Khom-Bei says, "Where is Verraine?"
Ugash squawks, "Verraine left! She go! Ugash tried to keep her downstairs, but she no want to stay!"
Khom-Bei says, "Where did she go, Ugash?"
Kane says, "More importantly when did she go? I have a feeling I know where."
Ugash says, "She no say. None of Ugash's business! And none of yours either. But she leave this for you." He pulls a small scrap of parchment from his pouch.
Kane says, "She thought we were coming back?"
Kane says, "Here let me have a look at that."
Ugash says, "She tell Ugash, 'They no come back, but if they do, give them this.' Ugash guess that she was smarter than you."
The small parchment is scrawled with a set of symbols. It's a code sheet, the new code Verraine created.
Kane says, "Ugash, do you think she left the city?"
Khom-Bei says, "Thragga, do you think that you could track her?"
Ugash says, "You crazy! Sunlight come to Camars. Makes Lord Valkris mad! Guards go house-to-house after you leave. Looking for spellcasters, Hunters, anyone."
Thragga is devouring sausages. "Huh? Of course."
Ugash says, "I think Northerling bring sunlight here, makes Vorghol mad. Vorghol afraid of sun!"
Khom-Bei laughs; "Yes, Ugash, and someday I shall bring the sunlight back for good."
Kane says, "What should we do about the Tobon? I'm inclined to give him a few silvers and send him on his way." Kane draws a few silvers from his purse and holds them up, "Unless any one disagrees?"
Khom-Bei says, "If he is truly a friend to Hobb, he should be no worry."
In the other room, Brion's singing voice is heard. "Once there was a Dragha, with a prick as long as a whale..."
Brion says, "Come, friend Ceius, sing along!"
Khom-Bei says, "Do you know this Tobon, Ugash? Can he be trusted?"
Dras intervenes. He pulls a hand-drawn map of Tol Nedra from a drawer and lays it on the table before you.
Brion sings the next verse, "When he farted there was thunder, when he pissed, there was hail!"
Khom-Bei steps forward to look at the map.
Dras points to the dark center of the map. The capital. Dolgur.
Khom-Bei looks at Dras: "She headed to Dolgur?
Dras nods. Ugash chimes in, "Dras means, she made more copies of the paper you have. Means to give them to other Hunters. He thinks she starts in Dolgur."
Since no one seems to disagree with Kane's plan Kane ducks back into the other room and hands Ceius the money. "Now be a good friend to Hobb my good Tobon and forget that any of this happened or that you ever saw any of our faces."
Ceius nods. "Is Hobb...dead?"
Kane says, "To this city he is. But no, he and his children are safe. That is all you need to know about them."
Khom-Bei follows Kane into the main room: "Stables clean now. Come along, you great, green oaf."
Ugash says, "You be fools to follow her there. Learn sense! Be smart like Ugash!"
Ceius turns to go.
Khom-Bei heads for the door, motioning for Thragga to follow: "Come along now, more stables waiting to be cleaned, more horses to be fed, come along, come along."
As he passes Kane, Khom-bei whispers: "We will meet at the canal."
Ceius says, "Thanks to you all...for what you do..." he canes out quietly into the night. All the thanks a Hunter ever gets.
Khom-Bei follows Ceius out the door, Thragga in tow.
Brion says, "Now what?"
Kane turns back to Dras and Ugash "Well I guess it's time we get going. My thanks to you both."
Ugash passes you a sack of supplies he has hurriedly gathered. "You fools!" he squeaks as he passes you the sack with dried meats, cheeses, glowstones, and other necessaries.
Kane slips the code sheet into his boot.
Thragga tells Khom-Bei, rubbing his sore shoulder, "You would make an excellent slaver, Northerling."
Khom-Bei chuckles: "That's an odd compliment, Thragga."
Kane says, "My thanks again friends. Brion let's get going." He reaches to clasp hands with Ugash and Dras.
Ugash reaches up to clasp hands. "Stupid Kane!" he says, turning away. Then Dras embraces Kane more warmly.
When released by Dras, Kane takes a step back and nods to the two. Then he abruptly turns and heads for the door. He is not used to showing much emotion.
Dras points to Khom-Bei's greathammer, quizzically.
Khom-Bei hoists the hammer up before Dras and smiles: "Yes, Dras, it works well. Many Dark Ones will come to fear it."
Dras happily claps the shaman on the shoulder.
Khom-Bei returns the gesture and extends a hand to Ugash: "Some day perhaps I shall return. Maybe I will bring the sunlight to Camars again."
Ugash squints up at the shaman and then waves him off. "Go! Be well! You all crazy!"