To the amazement of Brod Goodbody, brother of the deceased ex-governor
(pro tem) of the Flinty Hills, the party has taken him into their
confidence and shown him the mithril chest and gems which should've
reached its dwarven destination six years ago.  As a result of this missed
delivery, relations between Clan Stonehammer and the halflings of the
Flinty Hills have been somewhat strained, to say the least.  Now that the
gems have been found by the party, however, they hope to use them to
strike an alliance between the Gambogefolk and the Stonehammers, forming a
strong military force to dissuade the Theocracy of the Pale from making
good on their threats to invade the entire area.  Somehow or other, this
party of adventurers has gotten involved with a weighty political issue.

Eagle:  Why're they so interested in this place, anyway?
Alenniel:  Timber, no doubt.
Brod:  And the gemstones in the Flinty Hills.  There's quite a bit to
  fight over here.
Ozzy:  You should've seen us an hour ago....
Alenniel:  To put it mildly.
Ajax:  (to Brod, with a glance at Eagle) Yeah, there's a bit of concern 
  from some parties that we won't get a reward or anything to compare to 
  this treasure.
Eagle:  Hey, you give up a fortune in gemstones, you expect a little
  something for your generosity, you know?
Brod:  Well, I can't speak for the Stonehammers, obviously.
Ajax:  I mean, that's not your problem exactly, and well, you know... 
  finders keepers and all.  But if it keeps the twicelings out of the area, 
  I'm all for returnin' 'em.
Alenniel:  So, I guess we have our course set for us.  Brod, I don't think 
  anyone would mind you joining us.  They might react better to someone 
  they have met before.  But we do have one stop before we go.
Tasencia:  Yes, we do.  I am very eager to learn more about him.
Ajax:  Who?  Oh, the Elf.  
Brod:  What Elf?
Tasencia:  The Gamboge Elf.
Brod:  (just stares at her for a moment, then bursts into laughter) Gamboge 
  Elf!  That's a good one. (he notices that no one else is laughing) You 
  _are_ kidding, right...?  You don't really take those stories seriously,
  do you?
Tasencia:  Quite seriously, actually.  A local Elven woman named Linderiel   
  told me that the Gamboge Elf, if he exists, might be able to restore me 
  to my true self.
Brod:  (exhales, folds his hands on his gut, and sits back in his chair) 
  Well, if anyone would know about that stuff, it's Linderiel.  No
  offense to any of you, but leave me out of it.  I'd like to finally 
  deliver the Stonehammers' gems, because that's what Osmund would've done, 
  were he still around, but I'm not looking for any adventure or Gamboge 
  Elves or what's-its.
Ajax:  I'm sure he'll still be there after we deal with the Stonehammers.
Tasencia:  I don't think you understand the necessity to reach him.  Ozzy
  will be the only mage.  And he might not be available, if you know what 
  I mean.  
Ajax:  But we might not need your magic.  We need to get the Stone-
  hammers in some kind of alliance.  It's not like you won't still be a 
  halfling next week. 
Tasencia:  That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid.
Brod:  (listening to the conversation with a look of confusion)
Ajax:  (to Brod) Um, I'm sure that didn't sound sensible, but you see, she   
  wasn't a halfling last week.
Tasencia:  I need to find out how to recover my abilities that I was born
  with.
Brod:  (confused) You were born with the ability to use magic?
Alenniel:  No, she was born an Elf.
Brod:  (still trying to work this out) Oh.
Ozzy:  She's an Elf trapped in a halfling's body.
Ajax:  Sounds painful.
Autumn:  Sorry, Ajax, Tas comes first.  What if we do need her magic?  
Rimli:  Bah!  Don' be so nar'ow-mind'd.  We dwarves an' `alflings are aboot
  as `ardy a folk as there be, an' we make do wi' out magic. (he hefts his
  huge axe in one hand) If ya ken wha' I mean, we can take care o' oursel's.
Tasencia:  How very reassuring....
Autumn:  Besides, we have to consider her feelings.  Afterwards, we can 
  return the goods.
Ajax:  The sooner we return the goods, the better.  Who knows what those 
  loopy Theocrats have planned?!
Eagle:  Those Theocrats... the things they do!
Rimli:  Och, why can we nae do both?  M'sel' an' Ajax an' Al an' Brod an'
  Greythur can travel t' th' Stone'ammers an' pay th' lads an' talk t'
  them aboot `elpin' thin's down 'ere an' return.  Meanwhile, Tas, Oz,
  Eagle an' Autumn can go see this Elf or whoe'er and get tha' stuff taken
  care o'.
Greythur:  If the council can stall for time, maybe we can all do both.
Brod:  How's that?
Greythur:  Can you call a meeting and get us an audience with the rest of 
  the council tonight?
Brod:  (shrugs) Certainly-- especially if you have some sort of plan.
Ozzy:  We do?
Greythur:  How long do you think the council can delay answering the   
  Theocrat's emissary?  
Brod:  Tough to say.  The Pale has regularly made bids on this land, but
  lately they seems to be getting more and more insistent about it.  I
  really don't know how long they will wait, or what they'll do if they
  get an answer they don't like... but I can take a pretty good guess at 
  that.
Greythur:  And how long is the journey to the Rakers?
Brod:  The mountains themselves are but a few days' journey, but I'd wager 
  it would take closer to a week to reach the Stonehammers themselves.
Greythur:  (thinking) Maybe we should just bring this whole matter
  before the council before we decide. We could certainly use their help 
  with mounts and supplies and make sure they stall long enough to cover 
  our journey. 
Tasencia:  If the Stonehammers have waited six years, they can wait, at
  the most a week longer. 
Greythur:  Yes, but can Greenhaven wait for their help?
Tasencia:  Has Greenhaven been threatened yet?  By force?  I see nothing 
  to show attack yet.  If the Theocrat were to bring troops here, it may 
  take several weeks to enter the Gamboge in force.  The Elven population 
  here would know about it within a day if it was so. 
Brod:  Unfortunately for us, the Pale keeps several thousand troops
  around its borders, not to mention their regular standing armies and any 
  levies they could raise.  It all adds up to a strong, fast military force.  
  Those guys don't mess around.
Tasencia:  The protection of the Stonehammers was only needed to repel 
  an assualt from the humanoids in the surrounding hills and mountains.  I 
  don't see how their help, if they even would, could do much.  
Rimli:  Lemme tell ye somethin' 'bout th' Stone'ammers, lass.  Tha' lot's
  some o' th' finest warriors in all th' Flanaess. (he grins) Exceptin' th'
  Cragbreakers, nat'rally.  An' I ken tha' other allied clans migh' jus' 
  join th' fight, too.
Greythur:  I would really hate to split up our group.
Tasencia:  It would be foolish and dangerous to split up.  The only
  reason we are still standing here today is teamwork and watching each   
  other's back.  We would only be asking for trouble by doing that.
Greythur:  (still ruminating on the dilemma) ...if some of us went to seek 
  the Gamboge Elf....
Ozzy:  I must agree with the halfl-- er, Tas.  We need to back each other 
  up.  Tas needs be able to cast her magic and this Gamboge Elf might be 
  able to help her.  Ajax, you were the one that wanted her to have her old 
  body back, right?  This Gamboge Elf may be able to make that happen.
Ajax:  Oh, so _now_ you care about what body she has!  Your priorties're
  all out of whack.  It wouldn't kill her to be a halfling for another week
  or so.  Besides, maybe some dwarven wizard can help her in the Rakers.
Ozzy:  (doubtfully) Dwarven wizard...?
Ajax:  Okay, so that was a stretch....
Greythur:  Hey!  What about Faerbol Caules?  Where did she stand?  With 
  the Pale or with us?  I can't believe that she would put up with the 
  Theocrat's intolerance.  What forces could she bring to bear to support 
  the demihumans?
Eagle:  Geez, I don't know about that.  We're _already_ supposed to owe her
  a favor.
Alenniel:  How would we even contact her?
Brod:  Now who's _this_ person you're talking about now?
Greythur:  She's a druid, or a sorceress of some kind that we met in the
  woods.  She reincarnated Tas, here.  She used to be an Elf.
Brod:  So I've heard....
Greythur:  (thinking some more) And what about this mixed-race army in 
  Verbobonc?  To whom do they owe allegiance?        
Tasencia:  I would say they are quite out of the picture.  Verbobonc is 
  leagues and leagues from here, and not likely to concern itself with
  affairs in this part of the continent.
Greythur:  The point is, if we can get help from other quarters we can 
  work together to seek the Elf and return the treasure.  
Tasencia:  Our only involvement with the Stonehammers is to return the 
  gems, repair relationships, and see to a comfortable peace about here.  
  Greenhaven will be fine.  The longer we delay, the more there is to
  deal with.  Besides, a journey to the Rakers is going to take time, money
  and a guide.  
Rimli:  Ye've got a guide righ' 'ere! (he points one thumb at himself) Ye
  f'rget tha' I'm from the Griff Mount'ns.  I c'n get us through th' Rakers
  well enough.
Brod:  I'm sure I have a map to their hold somewhere in Osmund's things.
  I brought along everything that looked important.  But you're right, it
  will take time.
Tasencia:  Since the Gamboge Elf is not far, let's go there, return here, 
  and then all journey to the Stonehammers. (she looks up and waits to see  
  someone deny her logic)
Ozzy:  (he simply nods, agreeing with Tasencia)
Brod:  (rubs his chin and thinks) As much as I'd like repay the dwarves as
  soon as possible, I suppose a few days delay would give me time to
  bring this up with the Daethen and the others....
Ozzy:  So, it's settled then.  We're returning the gems.
Eagle:  (noticeably irritated)
Ajax:  Sorry, Eagle, you're outvoted on this one.
Brod:  Let me go down and talk to Gnimsh about this.  It might be good to
  see what the other council members think of this idea.

You all head downstairs and take a table in anticipation of another hearty
meal at the Thorn and Thistle.  Brod leaves the group, yanks Gnimsh away
from the roomful of demanding customers, and has a word with him in
private.  After a few moments, the two part-- Gnimsh returns to his work,
and Brod returns to you. 

Brod:  He's all for it, alright, but he does think the council should talk 
  it over first.  You wait here, and I'll round up Daethen, Brianne, and
  Gwyn. (he exits the inn)

A couple of hours and eight full bellies later, Brod walks back through
the front door with the Elves and human.  Gnimsh catches sight of them,
motions towards the corridor next to the stairs, and delegates his duties
to a subordinate.  Meanwhile, you follow the four others down the hallway
and into Gnimsh's private rooms, where you are shortly joined (no pun
intended) by the gnome himself.  Introductions are conducted between the
thirteen of you, and then you and Brod relate what you have recently
learned and planned. 

Daethen:  (thinks for several minutes after the talking ceases) The Stone-
  hammers....  Dwarven allies would be useful indeed.  With independent
  military backing, we wouldn't have to cede our lands to Nyrond.
Gwynneth:  Isn't there a solution besides war?
Brianne:  It may never come to that.  The only thing that's keeping them at
  bay right now is the threat of Nyrondese cavalry.  As long as we have
  the muscle to back our convictions, we can hold off the Pale.
Daethen:  Exactly.  If we never war at all, so much the better.  What we
  need at this point are the political ties.
Gnimsh:  Elven archers from the southwest, dwarven war machines from the
  southeast... we'd squeeze them like a vice.
Tasencia:  But do you seriously think you could stand against thousands of
  troops?
Alenniel:  More importantly, do _they_ think you could?
Daethen:  Alenniel, surely you must know that a hundred Elven archers can
  defeat a thousand assailants.  
Alenniel:  (nods) True.
Daethen:  And Rimli, I do not doubt that the strength of dwarven infantry 
  is a matter of personal pride for you.  If a hundred Elves can vanquish a
  thousand, surely a hundred dwarves can fare just as well, no?
Rimli:  Aye, tha' we can!
Autumn:  (quietly, to Ozzy) He's good....
Ozzy:  No wonder he's their leader.
Daethen:  Of course, we will have to discuss this matter with other 
  leaders of the Gamboge.  I am but the mayor of one town, but there are
  many settlements here.  In the meantime, seek the Gamboge Elf, if you
  wish.
Brianne:  Nonsense!  Tales for children, nothing more.
Gwynneth:  Oftimes a kernel of truth is at the heart of even the most
  fantastic fables.  (to Tasencia) I, for one, believe he is there, and I 
  will be interested to hear of him when you return.
Daethen:  Well, then-- there it is. (he stands) We all have work to do.