New Friends and Enemies

Whilst teaching my new Huginn Ranger friend Jobba how to play poker at the 7 Bells, he seemed to catch on rather quickly. Old Jed, his man, and a couple of the locals joined in and Jobba spotted me for the first round with a 5g buy-in, which Jobba actually one so he was up 30g. One of the townies said he lost his dinner so I tossed him 1g so he and his family would not go hungry. The next round was 10g buy-in and I managed to win with the best hand I think I have ever had. Old Jed was not pleased and said he was at his limit for the evening. I split the winnings with Jobba and told him I would pay for dinner.
 
We were about to get up and a Barge Owner by the name of Duldas Vladistime asked if we were up for another round. We agreed to play one more before dinner, which he won, and then he offered to hire us on for 5g a day to guard him and a shipment of wood down Past Stephenstor to someplace called Senyerstad, I think. Just then an associate, Onia, that I had worked with on another caravan that did not go so good, came in to 7 Bells. She was with a tiefling by the name of Jayme that was lacking somewhat in the social graces. She said that they were seeking transport to Stephenstor, so I intorduced her to Duldas. Just then 5 Gypsies, 4 men and a woman , came through the door and took a table next to us in their over-the-top manner of doing things.
 
I managed to notice one of them cut the pouch strings of another patron and pocket the coin pouch. I told the patron that his pouch had fallen and that the gypsy had been kind enough to pick it up for him, hoping that he would appreciate my tact in my attempt to let him save face... the lout denied taking the pouch. I told him that he best give it back and that the 7 Bells was not the type of establishment where such behavior was tolerated. The innkeeper piped in and told him in no uncertain terms to give it back. He fished it our of his pocket and tossed it back to the patron and all 5 of them got up and said they were leaving and that they did not like the smell of pig. As they were headed out I told them that it only smelled that way when they arrived, and that was that.
 
Before leaving I had words with Jayme telling him that he should replace his condescension and gruffness with kindness and he apologized explaining that he was just upset by the appearance of the gypsies. I told him that we could start over and proceeded to head back to the Temple of Rava. Jobba offered to walk home with me and steps from the door of the bells we heard a woman calling out for help. Thinking back to the gypsies I suspected a trap so I went back to get Onia and Jayme. He confirmed the accent as the gypsies and then we were in combat as they were waiting with crossbows. Onia changed into some sort of wolfkin which was alarming to say the least and then Jamie made the area so dark I could not see him or the enemies. Jobba had climbed up to the roof where one of the assailants was to our surprise. They fought and the assailant fell off the roof head first.... he hit the ground with a disturbing crunch at my feet.
 
I was thinking to stabilize the fellow when suddenly the darkness vanished and I could see that is head was crushed on impact. More to the point Jayme said that the gypsy woman was a powerful witch and started to retreat. I called to the others to head back into the 7 bells and then the Witch caused a wall of fire to form in between us and the gypsies. The buildings started to burn and I was worried that the flames would take many homes and lives this evening. I helped out evacuate the people and healed any that were burned. Just when all seemed lost the Magistrate of The Collage arrived and made it rain so hard the the fire was out in minutes. I wept tears of joy and relief and expressed profound gratitude for the lives and properties she saved. I told her that Jayme and Onia had been here and if not for the Darkness that Jayme caused and their assistance in the battle we likely would not be alive to tell the tale.
 
I went home shortly after that and fell asleep almost instantly. We were to meet Duldas at his barge shortly after Dawn. Jobba got there the same time as me but it was a little while before Onia got there. She told us about a fire at the Magisters house and that the witch and here kin had murdered her and possibly Jayme. We asked Duldas if he would give us an hour to find Jayme and he agreed to wait. We headed back to the college and found Jayme in the Lecture Hall. It looked like he had been there all night and did not get much sleep. Onia was able to snap him out of it and we all agreed to help him avenge the death of the Magistrate who apperently was his sponsor and mentor. We made it back to the docks in time to Depart with Duldas on a much needed trip away from a deadly witch and her band of gypsies. I hope that the problem has been dealt with by the Consulate and the Zobeck Guard before we return.