What Ho! ... No, actually you are a Hag! ... What, Hag!

This noon, the 17th December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI, the heroes did briskly investigate the cescendo of their purpose here...

The party took a moment to visit an Apothecary, Rhonda Truemane, a dwarven cutting edge apthecary. She sold to the party 4 Suppositories of Antitoxin, a mold for the medicine, and an icemephit (Chillblain).

Following this the party decided to investigate the home of Tinkle Malovorax, and find out more information about her...

The met Tanicia, the master, Bingo Malovorax's servant. They went and talked to him about his missing daughter, and he took it badly, ending in tears, being consoled by his... servant? lover? something....

From this the team went upstairs to investigate further, reaching her rooms on the second floor. In the first was a library liberally mounded with books, a couple working desks and some mundane art. In the second was the good stuff - incriminating art, religious pictures worshipping Beshaba and a locked box upon the floor.

The party located two paintings, of stunning quality, the first of a Radly Malovorax seated upon a leather throne (actually a privy), and the other of Plink Malovorax as if surprised by a person entering his bedchamber. The former bore the name Asinus upon the reverse and the latter "Formido". Speaking either activated the animated paintings of the deaths of the two Malovoraxs, with sound, motion and, indeed, smell.

This did not go well with two party members, or the members of the household.

Ezquirriel found that he heard the missing, long dead Gnome, Graccus the Procleate, the old school donkey-wagon driver, calling as if trapped in a barrel or pipe. The gnome met his end falling into a sinkhole on a school field trip, and thus into a Hydra lair. His last words were to call for Ezquirriel...

Ollie smelt and saw purple smoke billowing about the bookstacks and took action to smother the flames with a nearby bedsheet. This did not work, but did prompt Urst to rush to the kitchen in search of a means to extinguish the fire.

Flint and Kelx worked wonderfully together to bring Ezquirriel to his senses, preparing to apply field expedient Dwarven Psychotherapeutical techniques to restore the cognitive balance of the afflicted. (A slap up the head, followed by a more involved technique where in the afflicted is strapped down and the blow is administered by a donkey).

After this, in the lockbox, they found that she had left a Blue Trapezoid gem in a bronze setting that glowed an invited the viewer to gaze into its depths (passed on to Capt. Decius later). A letter from Pongo admitting and apologizing for the death of Arexi Malovorax. This led the team to remember the research Arexi had done, and identified an unknown, female heir to the Baronial line, a woman of about 34 years age....

Also a small glass vial with a teaspoon of fine green powder.

Of note too:

- She has copies of the play adverts for the Royal Theater’s upcoming production of Craddicus the Great, opening on Thursday December 20th. She has a receipt for payment for repairs to the box, paid to the Royal Theater, along with directions for the men of the Shop of Carpenter Master Wandle Oaksplitte, with rooms at the Three Torments, in Court Square.

- She has numerous letters and such detailing her, not illegal, cult plans with regards to rigged gambling games and such, sent to Pongo at his home, and Chonco at the Risen Sun, Fallen Moon private club.

After this they went to talk to Captain Decius, and found that the woman claiming to be Tinkle was ... A HAG!!!!

Welp, the Paladins of Tyr who happened to be there to answer the towns call for heroes were on hand to remove her tongue. Decius also revealed that Baron Frodo Malovorax, had, in council, accepted his son's treachery and issued a warrant for his arrest and trial. He had also consigned Pongo and the odious thing claiming to be Tinkle, to be burned at the stake.

The party received permission and a warrant to search the chambers kept by Chonco at the Risen Sun, Fallen Moon private club.

They found a man who had fled, leaving some things behind...

- A letter to his Alarhett, thanking him for dinner, and thanking him for sharing that the town has a plan to save them from famine. In it he wishes his brother “all the luck Tymora’s sister has to offer”. It argues that had they listened to him in chambers they would have sent Chonco to Aquae Alta or Tolosa, where coin, not blood will get that which they need far faster. It is a bitter accusation of the man failing his duty.

- Investigation DC12: Carelessly left on the desk, under a stack of books on wild fungi and such, is a note, written “To Lord Chonco Malovorax, His Private Chambers” from “Lord Lascaneus”, that the “ Cost of the excursion, being of short notice and requiring third party assistance, shall be, including all bribes, and dues, 5,000 gold pieces, deliverable in Gems, on December 16th, to the Temple of Kelemvor, They are to be donated to the attendant with instructions that they are for “The Children of the Temple Mission, Tolosa”. The attendant will let you know the success of the endeavor with the phrase “The moon shines upon the good deeds of the living, as on the fell deeds of the dead”.

- His study contains a horn, with blackened char around the rim. A set of white antlers, sits on a red plaque, the tips of which seem to be blackened with age…

- A thick stack of papers regarding his work as the Temple Watchman for the Shrine of Mielikki, Goddess of the Hunt. A letter at the start to the local priest nominating himself as he is the steward of the local noble hunting estates in his father’s name. It notes a shrine in the nearby estate at Long Ridge as being his work. He names it “Hunter’s Pledge”.

After this they left to take a night's rest. Where in this night nothing happened...

The following morning the party received a messenger from Captain Decius, revealing that the nameless woman adopted by the baron was Castellan Regina D'Catulla.

They paid a Messanger-Urchin a copper for this, and silver for their reply, leading to a number of urchins coming in for work. The last was young girl to whom they gave a fork, food, and five gold pieces. She worships Prince Squirrel now, the dragon prince who showed her kindness in the time of darkness, wickedness and hunger. (see the Urchin Cult of Prince Squirrel)...

The party left for the Hunter's Pledge shrine to Mielikki, and on arrival found that there were a number of dead men and horses belonging to Chonco's personal guard. A medicine check revealed that they had died to Arrow, Sword and Claw. No one did a survival test for further details, nor to see if anyone might still be nearby.

They found a cave, concealed behind an illusion, and entered. There in was a riddle-keyed shield, four ponds, the body of Chonco Malovorax, and, upon a stone bier, Tinkle Malovorax. She cradled the priceless Statue of the Eternal Devotee, at her breast.

The party engaged the chamber, activate the elemental guardians (twice), and used their riddles to disable them (except the one who got beat to death).

As they left, with the two bodies and the artwork, they met some nice folk outside the cave.

Four wolf-men hybrids, clad as knights, in plate armor, bearing a tabard on which, in silver thread, a single wolf, rearing, facing to the right, its background a red-shield. The same motif was repeated on their shields.

Leading them, standing before you, is an older, white haired human male, dressed as for the others, but his plate, rather than steel, is a deep bronze, indeed near black. He applauded the team, and said

"Thank you, my friends"...