subplotkudzu | Emirkol Part III, Scene 18

Time passes in the caves and basement under the library. Our heroes have their immediate physical needs seen to, and receive thanks from both the Paladins and the Ferrantino library staff. Johann's testimony, along with the obvious corpses of the boar men, confirms that this is a chaos-related activity, and by Emrikolian law all of the pirate's goods (whose original owners cannot be immediately identified, being clearly loot stolen from citizens with no connection to these events) are given over to the town's newest noblemen (and women). While all were aware of this law, the degree to which is might profit them was unguessed by Cybele and Hiram. Martin promises Cybele that he will have some library staff organize it for them and deliver it to their residence (and if his eyes seemed to linger in long gazes with those of his most comely rescuer, again, we might find our way clear to excusing him).

Dietrich, meanwhile, spoke briefly with Johann and, after ascertaining that the gnome was bereft of other commitments or employment within the city, give the fellow his card and offered him the opportunity to apply for a position as the Von Eisenwald manor chef. The gnome was most humbly grateful at the opportunity, and left with all speed to investigate the kitchen that might some day be his and to procure what comestibles would be required to produce a repast that would earn him the job.

During this, Hiram couldn't help overhearing the discussions between Honesto and Portia D'Ferrantino concerning the captured pirate. Honesto, well aware that the evidence found this way would not be admissible in the man's trial without a previous order from the magistrate, nonetheless convinced Portia to perform a divination to read the luckless buccaneer's thoughts - his arguments aided in no small part by Portia's own son being a target of the pirate leader's plot. Eventually under the Loremistress is able to provide the paladin with sufficient landmarks that he feels confident in his identification of the pirate's base of operations within Scornbul.

As they were leaving, Honesto asked his new friends if they might consider one further task for the republic (and, as goes unspoken, the spirit of the emperor). The city guard is capable enough to secure the caves and capture any pirates that return there, but Honesto has concerns that word might slip back to the pirates in the city. Therefore speed was of the essence. He plans for himself, one of this fellow paladins named Theodoro, a handful of guards, and, by their leave our three noble companions, to raid the pirate's base and round up the whole of the gang - including, one hopes, this mysterious Reme. As one would expect, his inquiry is met with uniform agreement.

The small band worked its way through the interconnected maze of Sconrbul's ill planned but vibrant streets, eventually locating the building in a row of double storefronts - seaward is a netmaker's shop, shoreward is the pawnshop that serves as the pirate's cover and fence. The buildings are separated by allies only tall and wide enough for a dwarf or smaller citizen, the upper stories having grown together through profligate woodworking, so there are only 3 means egress - the storefront, the connected netmakers and access to the roof. Honestor's plan is to set the guards as a bulwark at the netmaker's and for the noblemen and paladins to enter through the pawnshop. The only concern is the roof. Cybele volunteers for that duty and, apparently drawing upon the climbing skills of her serpentine soul, all but slithers up the face of one of the adjoining buildings [Honor points at work, making her look good for the paladins] where she took position over the buildings roof entrance.

With that assurance Hiram and Deitrich entered, with the Paladins directly behind. The room is full of oddments and treasures large and small, though few of much value. The men behind the counter go from bickering amongs themselves to trying to shoo away the unwanted interruption to full panic at the sight of the Paladins in the space of a few seconds, with one drawing a weapon and the other two fleeing - two upstairs, one out back.

Hiram's dart did its work again, disabling the armed pirate with the flick of his wrist, but the other managed to momentarily confound pursuit by overturning a dressmaker's dummy into the young actor's path. Dietrich leapt across the room, drawing and skewering the calf of the rearmost man on the stairs to send him crashing down, but the other made the second floor and raised an alarm. The battle was on!

To be continued.