Khûm – Chapter 12

“Spring of 68, Second Age. The Roofbeams.
Gotta say, don’t know how much longer the troops can be kept in this state. In my experience, the edge of uncertainty ain’t a great place to encamp an army of well-trained professional killers. Sooner or later, us common soldiers need to fight or know that there’ll be no fight.
Them eagles swooping off with the Commander’s favorites is maybe a good sign. Sos Rem coming back down the mountain. Here’s hoping they cracked that good for nothin’ thane and poured some sense in. ‘cause if they didn’t? Dunno how much longer the company – much less it’s Commander – is like to be content sitting on their thumbs.
And lemme tell ya – even with our numbers, you never wanna find yourself in a position where you’re obliged to assault a dwarven stronghold. Never.”
–Beholder's Log, Hemson 50 68 2A

Back in the Menagerie encampment, Remorhaz considered the unconscious form of Mule, felled by a poison arrow from the pine-devils. He butted heads with Chimera when they both received a threatening ultimatum from his dwarven escort – that, should the mercenaries not vacate in three days time, Thane Zazem would pitch his three hostages from Snowperch to their deaths below. While Chimera fumed and raged, Remorhaz resolved to solve one problem at a time and, speaking with witnesses, made an important discovery about the pine-devils.
With the votes of Khosava and Qelha secured, the Commander's Tent descended into the mines in search of Yieldmaster Yekab. Griffon urged his brother to handle this and, as Umber stepped up to the plate, he managed to convince the stingy Yieldmaster of the dragon's greed and its desire to steal even Snowperch's wealth. His votes secured, the mercenaries departed but not before Mouse stole one of his ledgers.
While confident in the votes they'd obtained, the Commander's Tent sought one further insurance. Speaking with Warmaster Dezori, they persuaded her to summon Brother Sorav down to the Guest Gate, when the time for the vote came, to ensure that he couldn't marshal more votes to oppose them. In the meantime, however, the mercenaries frittered their time away in the Commons, playing Golden Goose, looking as innocent as possible.
Thus, when Remorhaz returned to Snowperch, he was alarmed to see Brother Sorav detained in the Guest Gate, promising vengeance. When he reached the Commons, he spoke to Mouse and told them of his suspicions – the pine-devils are not demons or plants at all but kobolds, perhaps Zhoraska's latest brood, that wear costumes of pine needles to hide them in the forest. Mouse expressed indifference at this, seeming not to show curiosity towards their own kin.
Meanwhile, Griffon and Umber sought to attend the Peer Council meeting. To their distress, they discovered that Brother Sorav had not been idle and had indeed convinced several more masters to attend. Yet, in his absence, there was an opportunity. As Warmaster Dezori made her case, both Griffon and Umber spoke up in advocacy for her proposal but were largely shouted down as outsiders and unworthy of attendance. When the thane himself arrived, demanding to know the meaning of this, Khosava put him in his place.
When the final vote was tallied, it was near unanimous – the Menagerie was to be permitted within Snowperch.
It was with a mixture of relief and trepidation that Commander Chimera and the rest of her company climbed the Killing Stair and entered Snowperch, finally free from the predations of the pine-devils below.
Umber was quick to introduce his mother to Khosava, who offered to make the company some siege engines. Mouse finally took a moment to admire their chest – only to discover an unfamiliar lock affixed there. Griffon finally confronted Stirge and, when she confessed that she'd never been loyal to the company, she took her leave. Remorhaz chased after her and got the whole story – a plant by Yorgos of Nyre, she'd worked against the company's interests for years, seeding bad information and doubtlessly leading to hundreds of lost lives. Shocked by this reveal, Remorhaz simply watched his former friend disappear down the mountainside, wondering if he'd ever known her at all.

Campaign: The Menagerie
Game Date: Hemson 50 – 53, 68 2A
Starting Point: The Roofbeams
Player Characters:

• Griffon
• Mouse
• Remorhaz
• Umber