Cradle, Chapter 4

“Autumn of 68, Second Age. Fort Yarakir.
Now, I seen the backside of too many battles to ever be eager for bloodshed but I gotta say, it sure feels good to fight, don’t it? Feels better to fight undead. An enemy you know’s evil, ‘stead of one you suspect has a home and a bed and mama someplace, waiting to tuck ‘em in. What feels even better than to fight undead is to win. And that’s what we’ve done here today.
So much politicking and negotiating back in Khûm – and plenty more to come, I wager – and it feels somehow simpler to point your spear at a spooky sonuvabitch and send ‘em screaming into the void. Sure, there’s wounded. Sure, there’s casualties but, end of the day, even if we walk away with pennies, I think the company needed something like this.
The ones still alive, anyway.”
 – Beholder's Log, 55th of Gnoson, Year 68 of Ondûn's Second Age

Victory belonged to the Menagerie. As mercenaries and pirates celebrated, the Commander's Tent had much work to do.

Griffon immediately searched the fortress, eager to find any claim any treasures it might contain before Zelene Silvers could. In his searching, he found a cache of ancient coins, evidence of the banshee's tragic past, a few gruesome scenes and a collection of strange rings on the hands of a staked vampire. When the pirate captain came to congratulate him on his victory, she allowed him and his mercenaries to stay as long as they'd like, a favor Griffon gratefully accepted.

Umber, meanwhile, sought to take more responsibility in the company. He saw to the casualties, speaking words over their pyres, but also visited the infirmary, where both Gargoyle and Vulture were laid up, paralyzed by the ghoul's touch. He promoted a flustered Vurgi, Gargoyle's translator, to head of the clergy and later connected with Dûnya Dragonbane, helping explain how the company's nicknames were handed out.

Remorhaz ran about the island, as was typical, and conversed with many members of the company. He helped Griffon search the fortress, he spoke with Beholder about another traumatized member of the company and he even caught up with Willow to talk archery. Unicorn, likewise, had a busy evening – helping restore both Gargoyle and Vulture, sharing recipes with the latter, paying respects to the dead and catching a quiet moment alone where he could smoke his pipe in peace.

Meanwhile, Dredgar Bracebow was cornered by Yazram Bracebow about the poisoning and given an ultimatum. Feigning incompetence, Dredgar arranged to meet Yazram privately, over dinner, and discuss the matter. During the dinner, Dredgar attempted to poison Yazram but the siege engineer detected the ruse and the two fell to fighting. In the ensuing struggle, Yazram forced Dredgar to eat the poisoned roll and, in moments, Dredgar was dead from mother's worry, a highly lethal toxin found in mountainous Rubicos.

When Girallon brought the dwarf's body to the Commander's Tent, they knew they had a mess on their hands.

Campaign: The Menagerie
Game Date: Gnoson 55, 68 2A
Starting Point: Fort Yarakir 
Characters Present:

• Griffon 
• Remorhaz 
• Umber 
• Unicorn
• Dredgar Bracebow