Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler I don't have my books in the my dorm room, so it'll be a few days before I can actually level up. Sorry guys!

Vengar sighs softly, not in the mood to be lectured, "I know that Chaffie. I just was referring to people who would take your money and then dump the child back on the street after we were gone. But..." He glances over at the children, contemplating. "But as much as those kids need food and shelter, they also need someone to care for them, to hold them in the night when they have nightmares about what happened...and believe me, with those kind of horrors, not even sleep is an escape." Georgh's sudden appearance surprises the paladin, who almost reflexively immediately grabs the hilt of his sword. After glaring at the newcomer for a moment, he nods slightly, "Yes, we are the cause of this celebration."

Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler I'm not sure what I enjoy more: the clash of Chaffie's and Vengar's ideals or Vengar, upon seeing a guy resplendent in the uniform of his god, responds with the D&D equivalent of, "What's do you want, dickhead?"

Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler In Vengar's defense, with what has happened in the last couple of days with Harmona, Avonathemon, and the coming Gelid, he is not in a good mood.

After examining the book, Yaneth realizes that the arcane ritual binding the book shut is held together by a riddle. On the spine is transcribed the following: It has power enough to smash ships at night. Yet it still must fear Pelor's might.

Chaffie rolls her eyes at Vengar's humanist concerns and is about to retort, but the sudden appearance of another slave of Bahamut gives her a wonderful opportunity to vanish into the crowd; an opportunity which she takes with glee. Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Hey, which one of you mugs wants the Amulet of Survival +3?

Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Not me, I'm going to stick with the Healer's Brooch to give youse guys extra hit points.

Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler I wouldn't mind taking the amulet, as long as no one else needs it more.

Yaneth mutters to herself, then walks back into the inn and sits down at a table. She stares off into the distance as she ponders the riddle. "'...fears Pelor's might...' Night? Darkness? Death? Despair?" She taps her fingers on the table. "Too abstract. It has power, but what kind of power? Why does it crush ships? What is it about the sea and... water..." A grin slowly spreads across her face, and she looks back down at the book. "Ice."

Watching the female human depart without a response, Georgh leaned closer to Vengar and whispered conspiratorially "I think she likes you." before snorting out a laugh. Then, seeming to notice the symbols of Bahamut worked into the man's armour for the first time, Georgh pronounced "well met, brother! I am here because I received a message from our lord that we should meet, though it would seem I am too late for this quest unless there is more to the tales of victory I have been hearing from your Halfling companion since I arrived?"

Taking his hand off the hilt of his sword and shaking Georgh's hand, Vengar nods slightly, "Indeed. Our quest isn't finished. I must apologize if I seemed rude earlier. It has been...a long couple of days, and I'll keep being rude if I don't introduce myself. I am Vengar Lightbringer, the sword of Bahamut." Looking over at the chatty Halfling, he continues, "My friend Reed has probably left out from our tales of victory that we saw the message 'The Gelid is coming' in the ruins of Harmona, and Avonathemon's last words were that the Gelid had returned and that the world was doomed." Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Yaneth should probably take the amulet. I have a +2 version of it already.

No sooner the word is spoken, the sigils on the book flare to life. The book opens on its own accord and begins furiously flipping through hundreds of pages before stopping at a the most recent page. Wednesday, Month of July, 25: It has not rained for months; I am beginning to think Erathis is punishing us. But for what? Our sacrifices have been bountiful and timely, but still she denies us soothing rainfall. I grow weary of these trips to the prison; the Orati air is far too dry, and it is too cold here. Thursday, Month of July, 26: The prisoner spoke to me today. I thought I was imagining it, but she spoke to me, without moving her mouth. It was if our minds were linked. Sunday, Month of August, 3: The prisoner says that she has seen droughts like this before. She wants to help! I am at my wit's end. Surely she has paid for whatever crime she has committed. What harm could there be in releasing her? I must find a way to remove the gem from the amulet... This last entry is undated and reads: The Gelid says the time is almost near to finish it's experiments. Harmona and Relkingham will be the center of her new kingdom, and I will be at her right hand. Going back even further, you realize that this book has been in the hands of several generations of vizier. The earliest date is well over 300 years ago. It reads: I, Daltheus Kalare, am the first of the Wardens of the Vigilant Frost. This journal is meant to document any changes in the prisoner during her permanent incarceration. Only through strength of our will and the arcane magicks in place will this land and our very world be safe.

Practically giddy with the discovery of the hidden journal, Yaneth races over to Vengar. Words spill out of her faster than the paladin can comprehend as she waves the journal over her head wildly. "The book, the book, the book! The viziers, they've been keeping this secret for centuries! This prisoner could be a devil, a corrupted deva, a slave of the Gelid, or even a forgotten angel of Khala! Gods, the sheer depth of this conspiracy cannot be overstated; we have to speak to the Founder, and more importantly, we have to find the prisoner! We can't..." Her words trail off as she notices the dragonborn standing next to him. "Who is this?" she hisses to Vengar as she attempts to compose herself, secreting the journal away in her robes.

Vengar chuckles for a moment, amused to see her so excited. Gesturing toward the dragonborn, he replies, "This is Georgh. He's a fellow crusader of Bahamut. Now regarding this Gelid..." He quietly thinks for a moment, and an idea pops into his head, "Did you ever think that this prisoner...could be the Gelid itself?"

"...so there I was, holding off the menace of the Kruthik monsters, with my wounded comrades all behind me, my back to the wall, my rapier point forward. The hive master leapt, jaws slavering and agape, and I plunged my blade straight into its maw!" The halfling stabs the air for emphasis, then calms. He brushes imagined dust from his immaculate tunic. "Of course, after that, the remaining twenty kruthiks fell like wheat to a scythe, and I managed to carry poor Vengar all the way out of the cave to Relkingham, all the while keeping the morale of my other fellows up with a witty tune about the saucy ladies of my home town."

Listening over the hubub of the feast, Georgh remarked upon the halfing's tale to Vengar and his drow companion "Why I do believe that's the third time he's saved you from impending doom whilst carrying you to safety now! Such feats for such a talespinner... If I were of a more cynical mind I might think he was exaggerating here and there. Maybe I should hear your version of this tale before I form a conclusion?"

Yaneth ponders Vengar's words for a moment. "It's certainly possible. Though keeping something like the Gelid under lock and chain for centuries..." She taps her chin anxiously. "It would require a great deal of power, probably a locus of immense arcane power. Something capable of a powerful warding. There can't be many places like that around here." Yaneth rolls her eyes at the dragonborn's words. "Reed's mouth runs off so far it's a wonder it can make its way back to his face. The only thing he carried away from that fight was a thick coating of kruthik blood."

As the party continues, the mayor approaches the Vengar and Yaneth. "We can't tell you how grateful we are for all you've done. As promised, here is the gold and a special item from my collection. I hope they serve you well." He lays an ornately decorated short sword onto the table. The hilt has a golden emblem with the seal of Relkingham on it. There are also small diamonds running up and down either side of the hilt, and the blade looks sharper than most you've seen. "My uncle on my mother's side was a great adventurer; he passed this onto me before he passed. I don't have the heart or the stomach for monsters or fighting," he says, smiling sadly. "Civil service is my forte. I think your friend, " he gestures at Chaffie across the room, "might have better use for it." He straightens his robes and slicks back his oiled hair. "You know, we could use stout adventurers such as yourselves as part of the Relkingham guard. Can't be too cautious these days with brigands and cultists wandering about." Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler The gift from the mayor is a +3 duelist's short sword.

"An impressive gift sir" said Georgh, extending his hand once again. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Georgh Baha'klar, sworn to the service of Bahamut and the destruction of his enemies. Word came to me on the wings of a canary that I was needed here and that is a call I cannot help but heed. My halberd is at your disposal if you wish it." Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Screw fighting the good fight; let's just roll the Mayoral Mansion and make off with the loot. If he can afford to give away a +3 item from his "collection" he truly has more gold pieces than brain cells... Also of note: Baha'klar is the "family" name given to those raised by the priesthood of Bahamut in Georgh's home town. I wonder if Vengar recognises the significance?

Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Screw fighting the good fight; let's just roll the Mayoral Mansion and make off with the loot. If he can afford to give away a +3 item from his "collection" he truly has more gold pieces than brain cells... Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler He's spoiled merchant-cum-politician who's never had to perform manual labor in his life; he doesn't have a lot of use for a sword from a dead uncle. Plus, it'd be Dragon-on-"Dragon" action when Vengar found out you were robbing anyone, let alone an employer.

The mayor takes your hand and nods. "I appreciate that, dragon-kin." He looks around, slightly confused and anxious, and asks, "Wasn't there another in your party? A dark-haired elf? Surely, she survived the perils you all faced?"

Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Screw fighting the good fight; let's just roll the Mayoral Mansion and make off with the loot. If he can afford to give away a +3 item from his "collection" he truly has more gold pieces than brain cells... Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler He's spoiled merchant-cum-politician who's never had to perform manual labor in his life; he doesn't have a lot of use for a sword from a dead uncle. Plus, it'd be Dragon-on-"Dragon" action when Vengar found out you were robbing anyone, let alone an employer. Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler I am aware. Hence the

Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Screw fighting the good fight; let's just roll the Mayoral Mansion and make off with the loot. If he can afford to give away a +3 item from his "collection" he truly has more gold pieces than brain cells... Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler He's spoiled merchant-cum-politician who's never had to perform manual labor in his life; he doesn't have a lot of use for a sword from a dead uncle. Plus, it'd be Dragon-on-"Dragon" action when Vengar found out you were robbing anyone, let alone an employer. Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler I am aware. Hence the Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler I know; I was being equally emote-y.

"Ha ha!" Raad guffaws as he manages to best another challenger. "Good try, but you'll have to do better than that!" He takes a swig from a stein that seems small in his large, clawed hand. As he slams the stein down, he sees Vengar and an excited-looking Yaneth through the crowd... next to another dragonborn? Raad rubs his good eye, but the newcomer is still there. "Huh... 'scuse me a moment, gentlemen!" the warlord hauls himself to his feet and makes his way towards his companions.

Nodding at the mayor, Vengar explains, "She sort of...vanished after Avonathemon was slain. I suppose her Raven Queen needed her to fight elsewhere." Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Regarding Baha'klar, if it's a Draconic name then maybe I do since Vengar knows Draconic. Should I roll a religion check for that?