Session 55

General Summary

• The party and the heads of the four houses had a meeting to go over the situation. Annu recorded detailed notes.
• Dazki admitted to killing Baxton in self-defense and elaborated on the encounter, conveniently omitting the part where it was actually Dwardazik who initiated hostilities.
• As soon as it was revealed that Baxton's corpse at The Red Lady may be a source of Turmoil, Annu and Sorda'an jumped into action with a well-rehearsed containment protocol.
• When Grogery revealed the box of mass destruction to the table, Annu rose from the table, to do something about it, and the other heads of houses freaked the hell out. Annu all but called them a bunch of crybabies and just did his thing to dispose of it.
• The party revealed that Morn'Tharur is guarding another source of Turmoil. Annu intends to retrieve it, but the party convinced him later that evening to let them try their own methods first, before he gets the Fireguard involved.
• Sorda'an would normally be inclined to send the matter of the party's guilt through the legal system, but he's hesitating because of how far Baxton's corruption has spread within the government: practically the whole government would be exposed, and many government functions would slow down or stop for a time. There is an emergency option on the table that would enable Sorda'an to directly issue either a pardon (or a conviction), but there are consequences for doing so.
• Annu, oddly, volunteered to watch over the party for the time being.
• Gilda is going to watch over Rosalin. There's some sort of connection between the two.
• Back at the estate, the party showed Annu the books they had on Turmoil. He didn't explicitly react to them.
• Barry told Dazki that he's convinced that Annu will do very bad things to him, so Dazki has a goal of keeping Annu away from him.
• Talking with Annu, it's becoming clear that Annu isn't actually able to speak freely. For example, he won't discuss illegal activities, and he dodged questions about his origin.
• Grogery revealed that he had recovered Annu's research journal from Baxton's lair. Annu revealed that he doesn't have the authority to take it ("Baxton is still protecting you"), but he got Grogery's permission to take it anyway.
• Annu is convinced that the party has additional "illegal or contraband items" beyond what they have demonstrated.
• He would definitely know about the heretical scrolls that were lifted from his caravan.
• He may not specifically know about the blackmail documents that Dazki secretly lifted from Baxton's safe, but he would have strong reason to believe that they exist.

 

Full Recap

Session opens with the party in the House of Steel building, right before a meeting between the four Ashport Government leaders is about to start.  

...Steel! The House was a Steel!

Meeting of the Minds (Aldrick is Here Too)

  Annu casts an Abjuration spell of some sort as a ritual, to start the meeting. When it's finished, he places a journal and a feathered quill on the table. It begins writing on its own, presumably recording the details of this meeting. Sorda'an is the first to speak:  

Sorda'an: This meeting is one of both urgency and confidentiality. Anything that leaves this room does so only because I authorize it, be it information or person. If these terms are unacceptable, you are free to instead be sequestered to a holding area until I deem it sufficient.   Dwardazik: So does that mean we're prisoners?   Sorda'an does not respond, merely waiting for an objection.   Dwardazik: ...I guess that means we're prisoners. Fine with me.   Dazki simply nods his head in acknowledgment at Sorda'an.   Sorda'an: Now, then. I believe explanations are in order. The charges against you are steep, so I suggest you deal with this situation honestly and efficiently.   Dazki: Very well. What are these charges, and what questions have you?   Sorda'an: You know them.   Dwardazik: ...actually, I don't know them all.   Sorda'an: Am I to believe that your possession of that jacket there is a confession of murder?   Dazki: Self-defense, but otherwise yes. I did kill him.   Dwardazik: Is defending the city murder? Honest question.   Aldrick and Gilda give off signs of relief immediately upon learning of Baxton's death, as if a great shadow has been lifted. Sorda'an's nonverbal cue reveals a hint of panic and dread. These reactions are, of course, stifled quickly. Annu, unreadable as always, reveals no emotions, but this information clearly is not a surprise to him, especially given Dazki's message from earlier. Gilda also seems distracted by... something else at the moment.   Annu: You will elaborate in regards to your guilty acts.   Dwardazik: I don't think it's guilty, but I'll tell you all my acts. We did, after all, do it for the good of the city... ah, perhaps one of us should speak for all of us.   Dazki: We went to this lady's (He gestures to Rosalin) fine establishment to speak with Baxton, as we knew he would be there this evening. An altercation broke out, then he cast a spell that caused many of us in the room to have some sort of illusions over them. He started attacking people, together with the simulacra that he had under his control. In order to stop it, I had to stab and kill him.   Dwardazik: I took out those simulacra. If you look at my face, you will see the kind of corruption that those creatures can bring down on people. I'm a hearty dwarf, myself, and even I'm barely standing.   Dazki: ...then, his body melted into a puddle, and then trees started growing out from the puddle!   Sorda'an: What do you mean, "his body melted into a puddle"?   Dazki: His body became a puddle of some weird acidic goo.   Kesmet: Actually, I can help with this. He tries to cast a minor illusion of the scene at the center of the table, but his attempt is immediately counterspelled by Annu. He tries several more times, all counterspelled.   Dwardazik: ...uh, what are you doing over there, Kesmet?   Kesmet: I was trying to show a visual representation of the puddle that Baxton melted into!   Dwardazik: So... (He scratches his head and beard a little)... we have some pretty dangerous suspicions about Baxton and what happened to him upon his death. (He looks to the party and whispers:) is now the time to say it?   Dazki shrugs and nods.   Dwardazik: We believe that Baxton was some sort of possessed creature, obsessed with the research and acquisition of Turmoil, and...   Sorda'an immediately puts his hand up for Dwardazik to stop talking. Sorda'an and Annu both then respond simultaneously with a very heavily rehearsed scene:   Annu, speaking to nothing in particular: Immediate activation of protocol T001 towards designation 39964 Red Lady. Further authorization and sector data incoming from active Steel official forthwith.   Sorda'an, pulling out a bronze hummingbird, simultaneously: Codename serpent, crisis orange. Immediate dispatch to 39964RL in northwest district. Use of Fireguard preauthorized. This is not a drill. Enclose and dispose. The hummingbird flits off through a small grated opening in the war room.   Grogery: By "dispose", do you mean everyone there is going to... uh... be part of the "disposal"?   Sorda'an: Continue.   Kesmet: What was that all about?   Grogery: That was a good question!   Dazki: ...after he melted, and we had reason to believe he was involved with Turmoil, we began searching the area. Grogery, I believe that you are holding onto one part of what we found, and then there was that weird... altar thing that he was using to create his simulacra?   Grogery: Yes, and yes.   Dazki: Would you like to show them what we found locked in his rooms?   Grogery: OK, but... now I'm wondering if I'm going to be part of the "disposal" if I do! He sets the box gingerly on the table and slides it carefully towards Annu.   Dwardazik, immediately pointing to it: That is an extremely dangerous item! It must be disposed of!   As soon as the box is placed on the table, Annu rises from his seat, though the other three do not follow his lead... until the box is opened. But the instant that it is, the other three also rise from their seats. Sorda'an's hand instinctively reaches for the hilt of his saber, and Gilda and Aldrick leave the table completely, backing up several feet in an instant, leaving even their writing implements to fall to the table with a thud.   Annu: Possession of these objects is not permitted. You will relinquish that box and its contents to me for proper elimination.   Grogery: That's what I was doing.   Gilda, in a hysterical sounding voice: You're insane, bringing such a volatile object so near to, not only yourselves, but the most important members of government, in an enclosed space!   Grogery: Hey, it wasn't our idea. You lot brought us in here and wouldn't listen to a word we had to say until just now.   Gilda: Why were you even carrying it around?!   Grogery: What were we supposed to do, leave it unattended around a bunch of civilians?!   Dwardazik: And what if Baxton's agents were to recover it?   Kesmet: OK, let's reset here... you guys, just go ahead, change your drawers, and then come back. You lot brought us in here, started asking us all these stupid questions, I'm trying to give visual aids, you're counterspelling me (asshole), ...   Dwardazik: Yeah, we stumbled upon this huge problem, you can't handle it, and we normal citizens have had to step in and deal with it. Then we present you with this problem, and you throw it off to some other under minions to deal with?   Annu: I agree. These hysterics are unhelpful, Lady Lily. The Turmoil is partially inhibited.   Dazki: We do have knowledge of where there is more.   Annu, summoning an unseen servant to carry the box: I will return in sixteen seconds.   Dwardazik, out of pure spite, begins counting in silence. There's no way, right?   Annu, the servant, and the box leave the room, beyond his magical barrier. Five seconds.   Kesmet, taking his opportunity while Annu is gone: OK, this is my chance. You three! Watch carefully! He successfully depicts the melted form of Baxton, with the trees growing out of him, at the center of the table. There, that's what it looked like. HA, (He turns towards Annu) bitch! (Turning back towards the rest of the government) you three better have remembered that, because once he comes back, he's totally going to start counterspelling me again.   Annu then pulls out a scroll and summons what seems to be an air elemental carrying a chest, into which he places the object. Six more seconds.   As the elemental and chest disappear, Annu rejoins the group. And five more seconds makes sixteen. Damn him.   Sorda'an: Let's please return to this discussion, and have some semblance of decorum.   Kesmet: You three are the ones who...   Sorda'an: ENOUGH! He slams his fist onto the table.   Dazki: Yes?   Sorda'an: I believe that we find ourselves now in a difficult situation. Proper protocol would see you, and everybody involved, go through our legal system.   Dwardazik: ...that doesn't seem fair.   Kesmet: We have complete confidence in that system. He rolls Deception, and his eyes.   Sorda'an: The system is plenty accurate, but there's a problem. If my estimations are accurate, many members of government have also been manipulated and must also go through the system. This would uproot a lot of government functions. Because of the nature of the legal processes here, many of the members of the Houses here, who would normally be sent as counsel, are now unfit to do so.   Kesmet: What does that mean?   Dwardazik: Ahh, are they tainted by Baxton?   Sorda'an: ...there is a workaround. An emergency action, one that I can file, for pardon or conviction, bypassing the need for the slower legal system.   Dazki: That sounds a bit like a dictatorship to me.   Kesmet: Just to clarify, I was directing that "bitch!" comment towards Annu. Not anyone else, just him. Yep.   Dwardazik: Well a pardon sure does sound great to me! A welcome change of pace from defending my life against an entire city trying to kill me!   Gilda, smugly: ...oooh, but he doesn't want to do it, though! He doesn't want to call an emergency... do you, Sorda'an?   Kesmet: Are there repercussions against doing so? Repercussions that we are not currently aware of?   Dazki: Perhaps the repercussion is that he has been manipulated by Baxton himself? Albeit not directly, not in the same way as all these others.   Dwardazik: Well, we were manipulated by him too. I'd gather that almost everybody's been manipulated by Baxton!   Grogery: If the taint has truly spread so far, then perhaps the legal system hasn't been all that fair for a while now?   Gilda: Well sure, that's why we have this emergency system in place. But (the smugness returns) he doesn't want to do it... do you, Sorda'an? There's silence, for a beat. You see... in order for him to declare a state of emergency... he needs to notify the Firelord, doesn't he?   Dwardazik: What's wrong with that? Isn't that a good thing? Shouldn't he know about what's going on?   Kesmet: Isn't he even nearby? What with your... building... and all? We'll wait.   Dwardazik: That is his job, after all, isn't it?   Sorda'an, hesitating and choosing his words very carefully: The firelord instructed us to watch over the city.   Grogery: Ahh. So in order to call a state of emergency, you have to talk to the firelord and basically admit that your efforts have led to this massive problem.   Dwardazik, pointing forcefully at Rosalin while addressing Sorda'an: What are you defending? Are you defending your honor, or are you defending your citizens?   Dazki: As a leader, you must occasionally make hard choices and admit your failures. It's the right thing to do, Sorda'an.   Kesmet: And if you don't call it now, you'll just be compounding failures. Do you really want to keep failing, or do you want to do the right thing?   Aldrick, chipper as always: I think it's best that we just use that good ol' legal system! Best not get us all fired, then what would we all do, huh?   Grogery: Well, Annu was on track for getting fired if Baxton had continued his plans. It makes me wonder how much longer the rest of you would have had, if he would have gone even further. How much time do you think you have until the next Baxton comes around, only someone more careful this time?   Dwardazik: Hmmph. Am I misunderstanding the severity of Turmoil, or somethin'? The way I remember it, when we entered the city, we weren't even thinking Turmoil. We thought there was some kind of "plague", which seems to have mysteriously vanished (that was us, by the way), and all the while, you all were just arresting people for the crime of lookin' at the Turmoil! So we solved that Turmoil problem, then we found the source of it and removed him from the equation, and yet you still refuse to call a state of emergency? Fine, then, how's this for an emergency: Baxton was just a minion of a larger plan. One of the weaker ones, no less. We are surrounded by enemies, and we have neither the information nor the means to fight them.   Kesmet: Well I dunno, Dwardazik, we've been doing a bang-up job so far!   Grogery: A bang-up job that's left us pretty... banged up.   Dwardazik: Yeah, one more blow from Baxton's minions, and I'd be a pile of sludge on the ground. Luckily, I'm still breathing. No thanks to the guards, no thanks to any of you four here.   Kesmet: But by all means. If not call a state of emergency, what is your plan?   Dazki: You even have a dead man to scapegoat everything onto!   Dwardazik: Sorda'an... Baxton's a pawn... Sorda'an...   Sorda'an slams his fist on the table one more time, hard.   Sorda'an: I'm tired of all this sneaking and corruption. I'd rather the whole damn beast be dragged into the light. I just want to go back to doing my job.   Dazki: You can do both: declare the state of emergency for us, and drag it out for the rest of the government who got taken in.   Dwardazik: It would be nice to go back to hitting a bar without lookin' over my shoulder to see if any of those crazy "monks" followed me.   Sorda'an, sighing: It seems we've all been made into fools. And you would stake your lives on my decision?   Grogery: Before we answer that, do we really have a choice? You won't let us leave until making a decision.   Dwardazik: We've done everything we've done just to try to survive in this city. If our intentions were impure, you probably never would have found us, and we would probably be more pawns of Baxton, ourselves. I trust that our good nature will show through, here.   Kesmet: Before I trust my life to someone I barely know, I need to ask one question: what do you know of... Dennis, of The Hounds Guild? Dazki audibly laughs at this.   Sorda'an: That is not pertinent to this discussion. As much as you might like to, you are not here to ask questions of me. I am not on trial here.   Kesmet: Well, you asked us if we're going to trust your decision. Maybe I have no choice in that, so whatever, but it would help me to know that no one here is in league with Dennis.   Sorda'an: I must use my extra energy to think about this, and to figure out what to do with those infected with that insidious mark.   Dazki: There is more.   Sorda'an: Oh?   Dazki: We know where there is another trove of Turmoil being guarded in the city.   Dwardazik: It was our only choice! We didn't know who to trust, or what could have happened!   Annu: You will divulge the location of this new source of Turmoil. Immediately.   Dazki: Do you know where Morn'Tharur is?   Sorda'an: No...   Annu: Yes.   Dazki: He is protecting it, unknown to all.   Dwardazik: We didn't know who to trust. He was the only one who seemed capable of guarding it!   Kesmet: Also, not for nothing, he was completely disinterested in this shadowy political business that we've been trying to unravel.   Dwardazik: With the entire city against us, it was the only choice that we could think of. We tell you this in good faith.   Annu: I will take measures to deal with this situation.   Grogery: I greatly hope that those measures do not involve bringing harm to Morn'Tharur, nor the people who live around him.   Dwardazik: Maybe cut down on the fireballs, eh? That place is a bit on the flammable side.   Annu: I am not going to take advice from you at this time.   Grogery: The people there have nothing to do with any of this!   Dazki: We humbly beg you, please, try not to harm those who inhabit the Spire of Beasts. This is not on them.   Annu: Caution is advisable, but I will do what I must to complete my job.   Grogery: I would hope that your job does not involve inciting a mob at the Spire of Beasts against your men.   Sorda'an: Now, then. Any other mysteries that you'd like to pull out? Any other weapons of mass destruction?   Dwardazik: Yeah, now that you mention it! I know he's writing all this down (He points to Annu), so just to put it on record, the Rubymist dwarves have declared war against the Stoneturner Boulderhearths!   Sorda'an: This is irrelevant. I will ask once more, only, that this discussion stays relevant to the topic at hand.   Dazki: Unless you have specific questions, we have no more to offer regarding Turmoil and its presence in Ashport.   Grogery: There was, however, something going on in Muckwater regarding Turmoil. But again, those people had nothing to do with it, and they have already been hurt enough by the destruction that Turmoil can cause!   Dwardazik: That's a good point, should we go on to discuss what happened in...   Sorda'an: I do not care.   Grogery: I suppose you could talk to the others in that area if you need more information about potential sources of Turmoil getting into the city.   Sorda'an: There is a lot for me to consider, and I... I'm not sure what to do about this situation.   Grogery: I would be concerned if you had an immediate idea about what to do...   Dwardazik: Might I offer a suggestion? While we dwarves might have a reputation for meeting our problems head-on, when it comes to matters of dwarven politics, actually moving out in the open can be seen as aggressive and disrespectful. Not a good look for a house to move against another house, especially when our grudges can last as long as they do. What you need is a secret group to deal with whatever problems you have, in private. And unfortunately for us... we're already in the know...   Sorda'an: I think at this point, you ought to hand over whatever evidence you have of your innocence, and then we will figure out what to do with you for the evening. How about that?   Dwardazik: By your will.   Dazki: The only thing I have left to say is that I was the one guiding the actions. If there is to be punishment, lay it upon me.   Dwardazik: I refuse! I won't let Dazki get all the blame...   Dazki: Dwardazik, this isn't your choice. I am making a decision. I'm the one who stabbed Baxton.   Grogery: Aldrick? Do you have a way of contacting Sol DeWork?   Aldrick, cheerfully: No I don't!   Grogery: Do you know anybody who has the ability to contact Sol DeWork?   Aldrick: I'm sure somebody would have done that by now, because I sure as shit have not!   Grogery: OK. When he gets back from his trip, he may feel... confident enough to vouch for us, considering that someone who has been pulling his strings, so-to-speak, is no longer capable of doing so.   Aldrick: Well, he can't vote, because he's out in the ocean!   Grogery: No, but... you can... consult him...   Aldrick: No can do, little lady! ...or is it man? I can't tell with your kind!   Grogery: Also, I have the key to Baxton's room in the Red Lady. Here you go. He hands the key to Sorda'an.   Annu: It is outside of my jurisdiction to demand this. Upon the conclusion of this assembly, I believe that these individuals should not be unsupervised.   Sorda'an gives him a dumbfounded "no shit Sherlock" look.   Annu: I do not know the extent to which the Turmoil may have affected them. With the recent requests to eliminate Turmoil, resources are low. I will offer myself as ward for these individuals for the evening.   Sorda'an actually thinks for a bit... this is clearly not Annu's typical nonsense.   Kesmet: I feel uncomfortable with this, but he makes a good point. We don't even know, ourselves, if we've been affected by it.   Dwardazik: Have ye seen my face lately?   Kesmet: We can even look at it as a blessing, since Annu would be right there in case any more weird shit comes our way tonight.   Sorda'an, after a while: I will allow this.   Dwardazik: It'll be nice to sleep without worrying about a dagger in my back.   Sorda'an: Besides, our holding area is low on space at the moment.   Grogery, sarcastically: I can't imagine why...   Sorda'an: If you've nothing else for me, I feel that we should conclude here. Do not leave the city.   Kesmet: Aww, man! We were just planning a day trip out to sea! Sorda'an shoots Kesmet a fiery gaze.   Sorda'an: Well, I think we all have a lot to think about. Is Baxton's suite roughly in the same state as it was when you arrived? He eyes Dwardazik keenly.   Kesmet: It might be down a door...   Dazki: We salvaged some books. If there is concern about Turmoil infection, we can turn those over at our residence.   Dwardazik: We didn't know we were going to be arrested. I took a couple things of Baxton's, what of it? Mainly some books about Dwarven history, what's wrong with that?   Sorda'an: Fine. I'll find out one way or another.   Dwardazik: Come over and see for yourself!   Sorda'an: This meeting is done now.   Gilda: Fuckin' finally. She puts her spectacles back into her clutch and walks out.   Dazki nudges Rosalin towards the door, urging her to go after her sister.   Annu: The presence of Rosalin Violett is a security risk. She will be escorted to holding with the other affected.   Dazki: Given her... situation... don't you think it would be acceptable for her to have a few moments first?   Annu: I do not understand the reason for hesitation.   Gilda, storming back in: Don't you dare finish that goddamn thought, you filthy trashcan! She's a person, not some animal, and clearly she's been through a lot! She shoves Annu and huffs off. Annu, of course, doesn't actually recoil at all from the shove, as he just floats there, but it's the thought that counts.   Dazki: Perhaps she should be given to the custody of the lady of the House of Gold, for observation, much as we are your charges?   Annu: Unorthodox, but acceptable.   Dazki: Thank you.   Dwardazik: I dunno, it's just more efficient to split up the workload, eh?

  The party is escorted out of the House of Steel.  

Strange Deadfellows

The party takes a carriage to their residence, while Annu effortlessly floats alongside them. They arrive without incident.  

Dwardazik: Feels good to be home. So what are we eatin' this evening?   Grogery: I'm rather tired... I probably won't be able to summon our usual fare.   Dwardazik: That stuff is sustenance, but man, I could use some mead.   Kesmet: I still have this fish from earlier today.   Dwardazik: Ugh, leftovers? I want something fresh!   Grogery: I did buy some cooking supplies for Kesmet, if you wanted to try something? I'm actually kind of interested to see how good of a cook you are...   Kesmet: Eh, not right now.   Dwardazik: Come on, Kesmet, make dinner!   Kesmet: I may be a baker, but I haven't actually baked in years because, you know, the revenge scheme and circus. Also, and this part is really important... I am nearly dead.   Grogery: Well, you've been baking all right, just not baking food.   Dazki: Grogery, where did you end up putting those books?   Grogery: They're on the table.   Dazki leads Annu to the books and shows them to him.   Dwardazik: Hey Annu, do you know of any good places to grab some food?   Annu: I do not consume food.   Kesmet: Dwardazik. We are nearly dead.   Dwardazik: If you want a dwarf to get un...dead... (he glances at Annu, realizing what he just said, but moving past it) then he needs to have food and drink! It's been a long day, and I deserve an ale! He slams the table. Ale! Ale! Ale!   Kesmet: Dwardazik. Those are all fair points. But may I offer a counterpoint, which Annu may agree with me on...   Dwardazik: You'd better have "ale" in that sentence...   Kesmet: Uh... no. You see, he has offered to chaperone us. Unless we all go out for ale, which half of us does he go with, exactly?   Dwardazik: Ugh. I'm thirsty! I'm hungry! I'm tired! I'm beaten up! My armor has chunks out of it! I feel like I'm about to faint!   Dazki: Well, quit being grouchy and take care of one of those things then!   Dwardazik: I can't take care of it because I can't go to the damn tavern because, for one, the weakest brawl would probably kill me, and for another, I'm starvin', and...   Grogery: I doubt anyone would make the mistake of picking a fight with you, judging by how we all look right now.   Dwardazik: ...I'm covered in grime, my armor's got chunks out of it, I've been exploded by some crazy black... thingamajig, and I'm...   Dazki: Then stop complaining, go get washed up, and get some food!   Dwardazik: Grrr....   Annu: You will eat. You will sleep. And then you will stop whining.   Grogery: By the way, Annu? He looks at Grogery. You used to be an Elf, right?   Annu: I am an elf.   Grogery: You are an elf... OK. Before you had this position in the government, do you consider that an important part of your life anymore? Or do you consider it to be irrelevant?   Annu, after a pause: What is it you are asking? There have been some things of import, there have been things of no consequence.   Dwardazik, from across the house: Annu, do you want any water?   Annu: I do not consume water. It is unnecessary.   Grogery: Based on the behavior of my high priest, it seems very likely that you are an undead of some description, and a lot of those kinds of creatures aren't the same as the bodies that went into making them. I'm trying to figure out if you see yourself as the same person now that you were back then?   Annu: Even in life, an individual changes who they are. Death is no different.   Dwardazik, from across the house again: Anyone want something to eat? I'm gonna make something to eat...   Kesmet: If you can get me some kind of starch, to go with the fish?   Grogery: I guess, what I'm trying to figure out is, what sort of undead you actually are?   Annu: My nature is of no consequence.   Kesmet: Are you a vampire?   Dazki: Consequence, no. This is more a matter of curiosity. Is knowledge not important? What drives knowledge, if not curiosity?   Annu: I am... unable to disclose this information.   Dwardazik, coming back with a drink or two: You know, we have a custom. When you eat here, you have to share at least something at the table. Or else you get booed.   Grogery: I'm intrigued that he seems unable to disclose this information, not necessarily unwilling.   Dwardazik: So Kesmet, you said you wanted some bread or something? I'll try to work that out.   Kesmet: Or a potato. A baked potato, I can eat that with the fish.   Dwardazik and Kesmet go to start cooking. In the midst of it, Dwardazik has a thought:   Dwardazik: Hey Annu, what do you think of the barricade I made to defend the front of the house, eh? Pretty ingenious, I'd say!   Annu: The defenses of this house are severely lacking.   Dwardazik: WHAT?! Well what would you do, huh?   Annu: Nothing here is warded. Nothing here is reinforced.   Dwardazik: What do ya mean, "nothing here is reinforced"? It's got my name on it!   Annu: Anybody with even minor skill will be able to enter this building and do what they please while inside.   Grogery: I guess... it's a good thing that we aren't important enough to have a lot of enemies?   Dwardazik: Grogery. Have you not noticed that everyone in this city has been trying to kill us?   Grogery: Well, it's mainly guards, and we haven't seen any of them trying to enter this place yet.   Dwardazik: Guards are trying to kill us!   Kesmet: Usually because of Baxton's bullshit, but now that he's gone, we aren't going to be manipulated into doing anything... guardworthy. Annu is here to watch us and vouch for us!   Annu: Where do you store all your illegal and contraband materials?   Dazki: We don't have any illegal or contraband materials. We showed you all the Turmoil-related stuff that we have.   Dwardazik and Kesmet joke around a little bit.   Annu: I have a near certainty that you are housing illegal or contraband items, but it is outside of my jurisdiction to pry any further.   Grogery: What sort of "illegal or contraband items" do you think we have?   Dwardazik: You are not a nice houseguest, Annu. We offer you dinner and, in return, you accuse us of housing "illegal or contraband items"?   Grogery: I'm pretty sure we haven't offered him the kind of dinner he would want... but Annu, what sort of "illegal or contraband items" do you think we would have? None of us are native to this area. If there's some obscure rule that says that fish are "illegal or contraband items", then...   Annu: You hijacked my caravan. My caravan had many items designated for elimination.   Grogery: Oh. Those things.   Dwardazik: Didn't we tell you where they were?   Dazki: We told him where some of those things were. The rest...   Annu: In addition. It is in your nature to take things you find interesting.   Dazki: It is. I am curious by nature. I want to learn.   Dwardazik: If I was going to make Annu some food, I would make it extra spicy.   Dwardazik: Hey Kesmet, before we go to sleep, can you do some of that magical mumbo-jumbo to guard the house? Annu says we need wards or some shit.   Kesmet: I can't do wards, I just shoot fire. And manipulate it in odd, illusory ways.   Dwardazik: Hey Annu, can you cast wards that only work for us?   Annu begins systematically casting Alarm over the doorway as a ritual.   Dwardazik: Wait, Annu, you're not messin' with my barricade, are you?   Annu: I am ensuring that no one enters or leaves this designated entrance without my knowledge.   Dwardazik: Uh... ... ... you know this is our house, right?   Grogery: Well we're technically under house arrest...   Annu: There is no paperwork designating this as your house. You had temporary residence elsewhere, but you have since been evicted. As for this house, the rights for squatters only extend after approximately four months of residence.   Dwardazik: Now you just wait a minute! This is our house! We're not squatters!   Grogery: Well, nobody else lives here, and he doesn't seem to have jurisdiction to remove us from here...   Annu: I am not removing you from this place. I am keeping you in this place, for tonight.   Dwardazik: Isn't that breaking the law?   Kesmet: Hey, where's Barry?   Grogery: Dazki, you should go find Barry.   Dazki: OK, Grogery, can you show Annu where he can find the rest of the stuff from that caravan? You know, the books we found? He leaves to go upstairs.   Grogery: OK. He pulls out the heretical books that they found from the caravan, one by one. Are these the kinds of things you're looking for?   Annu: It would be more efficient if you were to fully empty the contents of your pouch.   Grogery: There's a lot of random stuff in there.   Kesmet: Yeah, if we empty it all out, then we have to put it all back in. That's less efficient overall.   Dwardazik: Yer the kind of person who would tip over an entire bookshelf just to get the books you wanted.   Annu: You also seem to have a lot of free time for people who seem so weak and weary.   Dwardazik: Is that a threat? I think that's a threat! You want to arm wrestle, is that it?   Grogery: That's... probably not a good idea, Dwardazik.   Dwardazik: Don't you tell me what to do! He comes in our home, refuses dinner, says that my defenses, the ones that I built, are inadequate... come on, Annu, let's do this. Arm wrestle, right now.   Kesmet: Please do not assault the government official. We're already in enough trouble that's not our fault.

  Upstairs, Dazki has found Barry. He's clearly terrified, his back pressed against some boxes in one of the many unfinished rooms. Dazki sits next to him.  

Dazki: Hey, you doing all right, Barry?   Barry: That... that guy's gonna definitely kill us all. I can't go down there!   Dazki: Oddly enough, he's here to protect us right now.   Barry: He's not gonna protect me! I'm a fish person.   Dazki: Yeah... I don't know, he might be willing to try to help with that, but he...   Barry: No. You have to trust me on this one, man. No funny little hat is going to save me from that guy.   Dazki: OK, then. I trust you. We will keep him downstairs, and you'll stay up here. Are you OK with that?   Barry: ... how was your day... boss?   Dazki: Pretty bad, boss. I had to murder a man.   Barry: Oh, man. That sucks.   Dazki: Yeah, it does. He was a bad man, but... we could have learned more from him.   Barry: Just because you killed a bad man doesn't make you the bad guy. That's what you told me!   Dazki: Of course. Just, whenever I have to do that, it always feels like I've failed somehow. You know? I always try to resolve these situations peacefully. There's a halfling philosopher whose works I've read. One of his quotes that always stuck with me is, "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent". And, well... I'm feeling pretty incompetent right now.   Barry: But... that doesn't make you the bad guy. Remember, like you said? You can, like, kill one bad guy, and then a bunch of other people get to live longer healthy lives!   Dazki: I'm not saying it makes me the bad guy. It's still just not a good feeling to have inside, you know?   Barry: I know.   Dazki: That's what I've got friends like you for, to cheer me up! So thank you, for reminding me that I'm not a bad person.   Barry: ...please don't get me murdered by the guy downstairs.   Dazki: Don't worry, I will not get you murdered by the guy. I will stand between you and him, with my last breath if need be. We're friends. We protect each other. That's what we do.   Barry: OK.   Dazki: So we'll keep him down there. You can probably hide in your room, it might be a bit safer?   Barry: But that's where they'll expect to find a fish person!   Dazki: Then you can head to my room. They'll never expect to find a fish person there!   Barry: Yeah!   Dazki: And then get some rest. I think we all need it right about now.   Barry: You look tired.   Dazki: Yeah. I'll be all right, though. We'll all be OK. He pats Barry on the shoulder and heads back to join the rest of the party.

  Back downstairs...  

Dwardazik: I don't want to sleep downstairs alone tonight.   Annu: My job will be completed more effectively if you all sleep within a small radius of one another.   Dazki: OK, then. To make it easy, let's all stay in the den for the night.   Grogery: I can cast Sending one last time before sleep. Should we contact Sol or Morn'Tharur?   Dazki: Either would be a good choice.   Kesmet: Morn'Tharur, I think. We've freed Sol, and that speaks for itself.   Dwardazik: Whichever one's least likely to send us on a quest to fight something. I'm exhausted.   Kesmet: There's also zero chance that the dragon is working for Dennis.   Dwardazik: That depends. Can Dennis tell a good story?   Kesmet: Dennis couldn't tell a good story to save his skin.   Dwardazik: Sure, but if he could, then couldn't he be working with the dragon?   Dazki: Well, he did tell the story that... never mind. Not going to go there...   Kesmet: Not going to go where, Dazki?   Dazki: Nope.   Dwardazik: I mean, you... nope. I'm not sayin' it either. Nope.   Dazki: ...the lies he's told.   Kesmet: He hasn't even told them well. And yet, people still believe it.   Dwardazik: ...sounds like a good story to me. It certainly seems to be memorable.   Kesmet: You shut it! It is not a good story! It is lazy writing.   Annu: If you do not wish to rest your bodies or your minds, then I will probe you for information.   Grogery: So, Annu... for security's sake, will it be your people who will be sent to retrieve the danger orbs from Morn'Tharur, or will it be Sorda'an's people?   Annu: It is within my jurisdiction to take care of any Turmoil that manifests within the city and eliminate it. Thoroughly.   Grogery: I have an idea that would help things go along more securely, then. If there is a code word that we can know, I can send it to Morn'Tharur, your people can know it, and they can say the code word so that he knows to expect these people to take it away, not some other nefarious agents of Baxton's? It would suck for me to tell him, "hey, some government people are coming to get the box, don't fight them", and then Baxton's people show up instead.   Annu: There have been very few cases of a dragon of considerable size willingly giving up a piece of its hoard.   Grogery: We may have some leverage.   Kesmet: It's not going to be giving up a piece of its hoard, it's going to be trading it. For what may be an even more amazing story that we will tell him.   Grogery: It would help if you could also have something to trade him in return?   Annu: Trading with a dragon is unnecessary.   Grogery: Do you think you're going to be able to take it by force?   Dwardazik: Now just wait a minute, here. That dragon has done nothing wrong! It's a tortured prisoner.   Annu: It possesses an object that is illegal to own within the city of Ashport. If it does not willingly give up this object, then there will be consequences.   Dwardazik: You strike me as the kind of person who would give a guy some illegal item to store securely, and then send the guards to arrest them for having it. Morn'Tharur is doing nothing but guarding the item for us.   Grogery: The only reason we were able to keep it away from Baxton is because we were able to give it to him.   Annu: The dragon is not an employee of the House of Steel, the House of Crystal, the House of Stone or the House of Gold, nor is it an esteemed member of any in the Firelord's house.   Grogery: Isn't he an esteemed resident of what was once the Firelord's house?   Dwardazik: Didn't the dragon say that he was there with the previous Firelord? Doesn't that count?   Annu: The dragon was enslaved ages ago, for the Firelord to show that he was powerful. I found it absurd.   Grogery: Were you not also enslaved by the Firelord ages ago?   Annu, after a long pause: You will sleep. We can discuss more tomorrow.   Grogery: My point is that we can more smoothly acquire this object if we can use a code word.   Annu: Feel free to waste your time. I will not waste the time of my own people.   Grogery: Fighting a dragon seems like a waste of a heck of a lot of time to me.   Annu: Your plan will not work. It merely wastes time.   Grogery: How do you know? You say it's impossible to get a dragon to give up a piece of its hoard, but that strikes me as reductive.   Dwardazik: At least someone is finally acknowledging that the dragon exists...   Annu: I have thought through the possibilities and ran through my catalog. This will not be. However, I have also deduced that there is no way to change the mind of a foolish person. Do what you will, but know that I will do my job.   Grogery: That sounds awfully defeatist. It's no wonder Baxton was able to put one over on you so many times.   Annu: No one has jurisdiction over a corpse.   Grogery: Except, it seems, the firelord.   Dazki: OK, we need to make sure that one of us is up at all times, just to make sure nothing happens.   Annu: I will remain awake.   Kesmet: I volunteer Grogery to do it. He seems the least injured.   Grogery: Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm quite wounded myself! It just doesn't do well to advertise that fact in a room of politicians looking for every opportunity to identify weakness.   Dazki: I will take the first watch.   Grogery: So Annu, you really see nothing in your catalog that we could do, which would resolve this situation without you having to use force?   Annu: Force would not be necessary, if the box were not in the possession of a dragon.   Grogery: Hmm. I didn't think of that... we could all just go down there right now, and...   Annu: You will stay here, and you will rest.   Grogery: You could just follow us...   Annu: You are weary.   Dwardazik: Annu's got a point.   Grogery: Would it be acceptable to you if we are the first ones to go down to meet the dragon, and we are the ones who attempt to convince it to give up the box without a fight? It wouldn't waste your people's time, only ours.   Annu: If you go down to the Spire of Beasts, I will follow.   Grogery: Of course, all I'm asking is for us to have our chance to try to get the box away from the dragon before you send your people.   Dazki: That's what he's saying. His people won't need to go, because we'll be going.   Grogery: This is fine with me, just don't blow up a bunch of civilians again. I just want to avoid a situation where a bunch of Fireguard go down there, indiscriminately pushing people out of their way to get to their singular goal of retrieving that box, when there may be peaceful options available.   Dwardazik: Oh yeah, everyone down there is gonna be pissed.   Grogery: At least nobody will hassle us if we have Annu floating behind us.   Dwardazik: It might mess with our street cred, though.

  Grogery sends a message to Morn'Tharur, and the party goes to sleep.  

First Watch: Dazki. And Annu.

The eyes in Annu's helmet grow a faint yellow. This is different from when he uses it to cast Zone of Truth; it's a different one.   Dazki spends some time conversing with Annu to try to figure out the nature of the topics that Annu is somehow "blocked" from talking about. Annu will not say anything suggestive of illegal activity, or even insinuate as much. He will not, but there is nothing to suggest that he doesn't want to. It definitely seems like he is being prevented from speaking freely, by an outside force.   Dazki spends the rest of his watch making sure that Annu and Barry stay far apart. It's the most boring thing ever: Annu does absolutely nothing.  

Second Watch: Dwardazik. And Annu.

Dwardazik: Hey, Annu. Were you there when Morn'Tharur was friends with the old firelord?   Annu: Morn'Tharur was never friends with the old firelord.   Dwardazik: Oh yeah, not "friends", you're right. You were there, though?   Annu: I've witnessed the dragon once or twice.   Dwardazik: Before or after it was under the spire?   Annu: It was imprisoned there the first time I encountered it.   Dwardazik: Why do you even tolerate the Spire of Beasts, anyway? Doesn't that just seem like an area of a bunch of lawlessness?   Annu: The Spire of Beasts is mostly outside my jurisdiction. The levels of magic in there are low and insubstantial.   Dwardazik: What can you tell me about the Spire of Beasts, anyway, if you were around so long ago? Was it always like this?   Annu: The Spire of Beasts used to be the home of the previous Firelord of Ashport. It no longer is.   Dwardazik: Why would they leave?   Annu: They did not leave. They were destroyed.   Dwardazik: Like in combat?   Annu: Incorrect.   Dwardazik: How were they destroyed, then? A firelord... defeated? What could have such power?   Annu, dodging the question: I recall the first time I met the dragon. I told them that it was a fool's choice to keep such a beast. Unimpressive.   Dwardazik: What does Morn'Tharur have to do with that? No response. Bah, fine. Keep your secrets, Annu. There's definitely more to you than you're letting on, I'll say that much. You're an old creature, you've seen a lot. Older than any dwarf I know of. Surely, you would know the more premium ale to drink?   Annu: I do not like ale. It clouds the mind and the judgment.   Dwardazik: I never said you had to like it. Surely, the Firelord preferred some specific drink?   Annu: I do not know of any of Ashport's Firelords to have partaken in dwarven ale to any excessive degree.   Dwardazik: Hmm. Oh well. Can you tell me how to make this place more secure?

  They discuss strategies for the rest of Dwardazik's watch.  

Third Watch: Grogery. And Annu.

Grogery: What did you do before taking this position? You must have been pretty important. Where did you come from? I can answer similar questions, of course.   Annu: I don't fully understand your question. I came from the House of Crystal, and then the House of Steel, and now we are here.   Grogery: No, originally. Where were you born originally? Were you born in the Windscar, like I was?   Annu: My origin is not the Windscar.   Grogery: Hmm, I guess I'll have to guess... probably not the Waterscar...   Annu: The naming of places was different.   Grogery: What's the modern name for where you came from?   Annu: I am from an area that currently overlaps this country, although genealogy would indicate that my genes are from the Windscar.   Grogery: OK, so your family came from the Windscar, but you were from people who moved out to this area?   Annu, dodging the question: As a goblin, even with your unique set of skills, you will find it difficult to accomplish much. You probably will not succeed without assistance.   Grogery: Very few people of any race succeed at anything big without assistance.   Annu: Untrue.   Grogery: You have your Fireguard assisting you. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to do much without the other members of the council taking care of things that are outside your jurisdiction.   Annu: I am incapable of doing so. Their jobs are outside my jurisdiction.   Grogery: Exactly! So you need their assistance. I'm sure you have wants and desires outside your jurisdiction, you just can't act on those by yourself. I have wants and desires outside of my skillset, and with the help of my companions, those things are not out of reach! ...metaphorically, and physically...   Annu: Desires, unrefined, are a distraction.   Grogery: Without desires, there is no motivation for action.   Annu: What other goods have you confiscated from the area?   Grogery: I showed you the books...   Annu: You are the most lawful of the group, and therefore the least likely to lie to me. What they do not find, at designation The Red Lady, I know where to find them. It would be much more unfortunate to find them secondarily.   Grogery: So. You've found a time where you can talk to me alone so that you can try to get me to agree to things without the advice or consent of the other members of my group.   Annu: You have nobody else to lie for you.   Grogery: What I'm doing here isn't exactly lying. I will have a talk with my companions when we are awake and having breakfast. Is this acceptable to you, or is this just a waste of time?   Annu: And then you will deliver to me the objects you are hiding from me.   Grogery: I never said any of that.   Annu: It would be beneficial to both of us if I were to receive it sooner, rather than later.   Grogery: You'll be stuck with us regardless of whatever happens tonight. We can discuss in the morning.   Annu: Do you have any more questions or comments?   Grogery: I would like to learn more about you, so that I can stop seeing you as a creepy undead thing in a suit of armor, an abomination against life and goodness itself, who once arrested the high priest of my temple. But you don't seem terribly interested in providing that information, even when such a thing could be beneficial to you.   Annu: The priest of your temple was obstructing justice.   Grogery: Because he was not properly informed of the situation! Helping him to understand what was going on would have prevented a lot of things that allowed Baxton to have his way.   Annu: Such maneuvers are also outside of my jurisdiction.   Grogery: What exactly is your jurisdiction?   Annu rattles off an extensive list of things, including committees and other administrative nonsense. None of it sounds interesting at all. Is he doing this just out of spite? Is he even capable of that?   Grogery decides to pull out a book, under the pretense of doing some light reading to keep him awake. It's Annu's journal.   Annu, in a slightly less bureaucratic tone than usual: That object is not your property.   Grogery: Whose property is it, then?   Annu: That document belongs to the House of Crystal. I demand you return it.   Grogery: Again, I can negotiate this sort of thing when the rest of my party is awake.   Annu: There is no negotiation. That is my... that is the object of the House of Crystal.   Grogery: Oh, nice correction there. How did Baxton get his hands on this?   Annu: You recovered the document within Baxton's lair?   Grogery: Yes.   Annu: Is that the only document of that sort that you have obtained from Baxton Mandrim's lair?   Grogery: We showed you the books on Turmoil that we found. But again, I'm not inclined to negotiate with an unknown undead without the rest of my party here.   Annu: It is illegal for you to continue to possess that document.   Grogery: Is this yours, then?   Annu: It is property of the House of Crystal. As head of the House of Crystal, I am designated to return it to its proper location.   Grogery: What is its proper location?   Annu: You are not of sufficient rank to know that information.   Grogery: Oh. If I were to ask you, generally, what this book is about, then would you be able to tell me?   Annu: That document contains information that is illegal for you to know at your current rank.   Grogery: If I know why Baxton was interested in having this, other than maybe to spite you, then it is more likely that we could run into some of his plans that nobody knows about yet. We may be able to use it to figure out what he was doing here, who was pulling his strings, that sort of thing.   Annu: That is not your job. That is my jurisdiction. The deep bass noise of angry Annu is back.   Grogery: Don't you want us to be able to help you?   Annu: ...I am currently not allowed to confiscate such object.   Grogery: All you can do is angrily demand that I give it to you?   Annu: The object will be returned to me, in time. The fact that I know that you have that object will not be good for you.   Grogery: Here's the thing. I am entirely willing to return this to you, but you are showing me nothing in return.   Annu: I am not authorized to make deals with terrorists or thieves.   Grogery: We're not terrorists. Would a terrorist willingly give this back to you?   Annu: I care not of the motivations of terrorists. You will return that book back to me. That document is property of the House of Crystal. You are not permitted to have it. I am not currently authorized to seek additional measures to recover it. You find yourself fortunate: Baxton is still protecting you.   Grogery: Normally, I'd be inclined to just give this book to you as a sign of good will and in the hopes that we could maybe negotiate and accomplish things together that neither of us would be able to do on our own. But you don't strike me as that kind of person.   Annu: I am not authorized to negotiate with terrorists or thieves.   Grogery: Yeah, good will means nothing to you. If I give this back to you, that won't change your opinion of us. You'll still think we're terrorists or thieves. If I gave this back to you, would it change how you react to us? In any way?   Annu: Are you denying my acquisition of that document?   Grogery: I'm not denying it, I'm just asking if it would help us in any way?   Annu: I need to know, officially, for the record. Are you forbidding me from retrieving that document?   Grogery: I am not forbidding you from retrieving that document.   Annu floats over and takes the book.