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.