Prophecies & Intrigue 8: Hellhounds!

Moving through the crowd easily now as people gawk, stare, and smile but give them a wider berth than before, they make their way down to where the great was laid out. People are happily chatting and the ale is flowing all around but they choose water instead, what a day! Sai and Hung dig into a roast and potatoes rich with flavor and tender add anything, mmm. Hung brings up his annulet, "Malkey, if this is supposed to be put away, and it is the only thing I have that connects me to where I need to go, how will I gain the information I need?"

"Well, just don't whip it out like that, you gotta be subtle. Maybe just flash the tip, you have to get consent before taking out your piece sometimes." Malkey replies. "But your answers are likely over in Xhorhas, that's where they openly practice that religion."

"Xhorhas," Sai pipes in, "I might as well tell you guys, I'm actually trying to get to Rosohna over that way, I've got some business there." She says. She then looks at Hung before quickly adding, "But I also want to help you! I understand more than you know about searching for parents."

"Don't forget about Hupperdook," Malkey adds. "I really would like to know what happened to my wife, my life, my business..." 'and my handy haversack'.

They eat their meal and drink from another endless pitcher of water while looking over the map and the journey that lay ahead for them; Sai and Hung keeping mum on their experiences in the ring at Bumbach's Tavern. As they're discussing their northward trek, the Starosta stands up from the head table with the Hasseldorf's, the VonBrandt's, and the Bumbach's; and begins to speak. "Good evening revelers, I’m happy to have you at my Birthday celebrations. What is a celebration if you can’t share it with those you care most for? This year, I’m happy to proclaim that we have different winners than usual out of a band of adventurers traveling through our town; will the speaker for the Hasseldorf Champion Arkello please come forward!" Her eyes seek and find Sai in the crowd, hand outstretched toward her.

Sai bravely, soberly, and might I add; very articulately goes before the people and introduces the Hasseldorf House fishing champion Arkello, who then comes up and accepts a small golden trinket of a fish and the 50gp grand prize! Malkey and Sai notice Brad off to the side pacing stressfully as a round of applause from the crowd signal the end of the Hasseldorf House champion. The Starosta's eyes keep shifting over to Brad as she tries to move forward and have Sai move on to the Bumbach House champion Malkey, when Brad jumps to the front and exclaims, "Good people of Trostenwald, I love you all but I will have you know we are within corruption, and I hate to say that my family is a part of it! I was asked to throw the fight so you would all be distracted by this event and I was supposed to poison the VonBrandt wells with this.” He holds up a pouch. “I have to speak up, I can’t take the guilt any longer, I went along with this until now because I don’t want her to set her dogs on my family like she did the Canly’s!”

"Guards arrest him for these fallacies, I have no dogs!” Starosta Fryda pipes up and the guards start to close in around Brad as he continues to shout.

“I saw them! You got them from the blonde woman with the red cloak that traveled through here! It was that very day that Mrs. Canly came to her end! These aren’t regular dogs either! Next time you do your corrupt dealings, don’t do it in our house and include us!" He then looks to his mother and father, "Mother, why do you let this man treat you like this, he's cheating on you with the Starosta! You don't deserve that!" He shouts as he's being dragged away by a couple of guards. The crowd starts to murmur and question all the rumors they've heard.

Starosta Fryda nervously starts to back away from the crowd. "Surely you don't believe him..." she says, but it's obvious to her that people are believing it. Hung feels that Brad was definitely stating all truths as Sai tries to calm everyone down to discuss it rationally, Starosta Fryda starts to run. As she's running she turns and utters "Canis Inferarum" and black smoke pours forth from her fingers and takes the form of 2 large pitch-black hounds which take their place between her and everyone else as she tries to make a getaway.

Our brave adventurers jump into action to protect the people and subdue the corrupt and running Starosta and her Hellhounds. 'Poof', Malkey pops out of existence from his seat and appears in front of the Starosta to stop her from advancing and hits her with a chill touch which takes her down to her knees. In severe pain, her nose bleeding profusely; she tries to crawl under a nearby bush for cover and sics the nearest hound onto Malkey, but she doesn't escape Malkey's sharp eyes. He cuts her off and drags her out from the bush where she lay unconscious.

Meanwhile Hung helps to loosen the grip of the guards on Brad as he fights to be released and help against the hounds. Sai projects her echo and quickly takes down one of the foul beasts. Brad is finally freed but doesn't seem to prove as much help against the antagonists as one of the guards accepts his defeat and hands Malkey the manacles for the Starosta before he hoists her upon his shoulder. "Take her to the jailhouse to answer for what she's done," Brad says as he then sits and eats his feast that he had not yet touched due to stress. They all discuss for a moment exactly what went on and the party is surprised to find that the woman that made the deal with the dogs with Starosta Fryda was Jenna! Brad thanks them all for their expertise, strength, and bravery and then leads them to the Starosta's house; which is also the jailhouse and courthouse all in one.

They enter to see a room full of people, the VonBrandt's, the Husseldorf's, and Mrs. Bumbach. Mr. Bumbach is nowhere to be found and Sai grows concerned about this information. They let the party know that Lydia is on her way to awaken the Starosta for questioning, and in the meantime, they decide Brad will become the new Starosta due to his lawful good nature and the care he showed to the people of Trostenwald. The three adventurers decide their work is done here and decide not to find out any further information about the meeting between Fryda and Jenna and head to the Canly's house where they sleep and prep to travel further North.

They wake to another beautiful day in the Marrow Valley and go to the shops and stock up for their journey. They see Lydia, slightly worse for wear as her skills have been needed more than usual, at the 'Herb of Import' shop, "Oh hello, I wasn't expecting to see you again. I'm surprised you didn't stay to question the Starosta, Brad said you had seemed to know the woman she had dealt with. What can I do for you?" They are looking for healing potions, which she has 2 of but they don't have enough gold so they go to the 'One Stop Supply' where they sell off some of their items; Malkey and Sai work together to haggle the best prices including convincing the proprietor that the bone dice are from an ancient civilization. They then purchase their healing potion and head along the Gilded Roadway to the next stop, Alfield; completely forgetting about the 50gp grand prize for the Bumbach House champion.