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Elementals!     Golem

More intriguingly, somebody specifically tracking Darius had been killed by the vampire, removing one concern, perhaps.

Some distance north through the constant buzz of the city, the party arrive at the huge windowless edifice that is the Town Hall. Steps lead up to the entrance, where the large double doors are presided over by a tall metallic Shield Guardian, holding a 10ft long chimaera on a three-collared leash. The black goat and maneless lion heads growl through clenched teeth whilst the dragon head merely watches, head slightly cocked, like a hawk watches a mouse.

It is at this timely moment that Morin informs the party that time here passes relatively quicker than outside; if this is the route out, ten days will have passed.

Unmoved , the party enter, passing 5GP a head to the Shiled Guardian as it holds out its large hand – the coins blink out of existence and the party are allowed entrance.

The inside of the town Hall is a huge, sterile, circular room some 200ft in diameter with the ceiling easily three times that above. It's entirely bereft of decor but for a plush desk and chair about 30 feet in. Two armoured figures, the City Watch presumably, stand either side of the inside of the door and at the desk is a curious looking person, possibly some sort of human half-breed. He has a long, pointed nose upon which his half-moon glasses sit and his greasy hair is swept back to reveal slightyl pointed ears. Long
fingers wrap around a feather quill as he enters information into a ledger, the other hand checking a stack of gold coins and filling the air with clicking echoes.

His voice is harsh and clipped when he speaks, barely looking up, "Good day to you. This all seems to be in order. What is your chosen destination and is it the same for all, please?"

‘Galent in Dhurghumlund’ is given as the destination and the odd bookkeeper, barely looking up, waves vaguely at the wall behind him with a number of doors..

“Third hall from the right, 17th door down on your left, if you please....”

The party are not entirely sure whether these doors were here when they first entered but before they can discuss it, the third door from the right opens to reveal a long white corridor with a multitude of doors on either side: Suva sets off.

Counting to seventeen doors proves unnecessary as the door is marked with a small brass plaque that reads simply, ‘Galent’. Suva glances about him in case of warnings or questions and then pushes the door open.

Fresh, cold air breezes into the corridor; the party have seem numerous strange and wondrous things by now so none is really surprised to see a grey drizzly morning on a green field outside the door. The doorway hangs in the air behind the party, as they step down, impossibly unsupported as it leads back into the hallway. As the last foot touches down, the door closes and with a light
'pop' is gone.

There is a farm nearby and a walled town to the east that is presumably Galent. It’s a couple of miles away but before movement can be made int hat direction, a voice calls out from beneath a gnarled tree.

It's Beryn wearing a broad-brimmed hat, with a slim companion, almost invisible in the gloom and shade - Hogun, the grim. He looks in a very bad mood as he strides forwards, leaning on his staff.

"Come on," he commands, gesturing at the farmhouse, "let's get you in to the warm and have some breakfast and you can bloody well explain who this ACTUALLY is..."

He jabs a finger at Suva as he spins on one foot to lead you all towards the farm through the increasing rain, and you'd almost swear it hissed as water bounced upon it..................

His mood, as it is prone to, soon changes – it turns out that the real Rhadogan, to Suva’s great relief, is alive and recovering from an attempt upon his life in Pen Duras. Beryn seems even pleased with Suva’s actions, aftrer a chat with him, coming forward voluntarily with the truth as he has. In fact his now marshalled ire seems more levelled at himself for being duped and having guessed incorrectly about the Emperor of Karubai’s involvement. Now, it seems, he has no idea who your real enemy – the employer of the werewolf – could be.

An extra day is allowed to recover some energy and the party are fed well before their next task awaits- the second elemental gem that Beryn knew of is now apparently in the hands of some orcs and ogres who interecepted the gem that belongs to the mayor of Galent.

Before the party leave, a number of questions are brought up – Jarek wants to go into Galent for an armourer and can’t see why the local militia can’t handle a few orcs; Morin, perhaps not alone, has some questions about Beryn’s own motives and actions.

Beryn deflects most of the comments and explains about the orcs:

"As to the orcs, the fact is, orcs and ogres were in this country before the dwarves came. An uneasy peace is maintained - mainly because the orcish tribes war amongst themselves so much. If the mayor sends the militia, it would be viewed almost as a declaration of war and Galent would suffer; the militia wouldn't be too keen to go either! However, if a band of adventurers
was to independently liberate the hijacked items..........

"Besides, you owe the mayor: the bull's horn that led you all out of the catacombs - and Rhado...sorry, Suva...and Jiriki in - was loaned from him. " [Morin is at pains to point out that Beryn borrowed this and it is his debt!].

"And one final reason of course: the mayor is not entirely aware of the nature of a certain gem amongst the stolen hoard. Yes, the gem was only part of a large amount stolen. He will have no reason to expect a full return of his treasure so this item at least can go missing. Subtly, I hope," he smiles at Morin and Jarek, "as there is a hostage to free as well. Somebody afraid of water, I am told, which is why the items being brought down from Rin Duras could be hijacked in the first place. They'd usually be sent safely by river."

"And I would rather you made do with what you have for now Jarek: a journey into Galent could jeopardise things at this point. You should have done all this in the City-Between-Places for goodness' sake. You had plenty of time!"

It hardly seems worth arguing the last point and as Morin triesd to gather some information about the owls that Beryn frequently has about him (“”Companions, aids, messengers: they're very versatile creatures. These ones particularly."), the old man’s mood changes and he draws a line across the conversation and finds the party a map for their journey.