The rest of the week is filled with various actions. The knot is quick to sell off the ill gotten equipment recovered from Branderscar as well as do some long overdue shopping. Emmerick disappears to gather information from the town. Others ask Thrane more questions about what is going on and how the disease will be released. And other sundry actions take place.
The only other major event of the first week is the day of the pit-fight.
Brother Summit "hungry" for combat, goes with Mardus & Quell to the Golden Palace, a hive of scum and villainy in the Red Quarter of town. Having heard rumors that this is the place to get into pit fights, he's not disappointed. Quell acts as fight manager & fast talks with the owner, Master Max, about the rules & getting Summit into the fight. Using the same stage name as back in Farholde, "Empty". Mardus does raise an eyebrow at the overly friendly nature of Quell. A side of the elf he hadn't seen before. Clearly the rogue is comfortable now that he's back home in Ghastenhall.
The negotiations finalized, the three return that evening where Brother Summit fights against 3 savage beasts. First the giant two-headed cobra falls to the monk. The Owlbear who followed fared an equally poor chance against Summit's blows. Some in the crowd notice his fighting stance looks similar to the Monks of the Serene Order. But under the roar of the crowd, Quell & Mardus don't notice their comments. Mardus is too busy shooting out narrations of Summit's fighting style, while Quell chats with Master Max as the fight goes on before them. The last brute to face the monk is an Ankylosaurus. The dinosaurs large stunning tail & think armored skin prove a hard challenge. At one point Mardus is worried about needing to use a Breath of Life spell on Summit if he were to fall. But the Monk perseveres & triumphs.
With the fight over, Mardus takes a battered & bruised Brother Summit back to the manor house to recover. And Quell slips away to find himself at his old stopping ground. The Silver Tankard Inn. Eager to see how his old friend Khyber the elf slips into the tavern. His usual table is empty, and Khyber is no where in sight. He does spot his favorite barmaid, Eve. Part friend, part little sister, it's comforting to see a friendly face, even if under his disguise she fails to recognize him.
He smiles and is a bit surprise to see her flirting so much with a patron. But his smile disappears when he sees who she's flirting with. Emmerick. The Unholy Warrior fails to notice Quell as he sits smiling & chatting up Eve.
Quell wonders in the back & picks a spot near his old table & waits.
The second week progresses along. Much like the first.
Quell continued to watch for his friend at the Silver Tankard, while quietly watching Emmerick maintain a role of wounded veteran and hobnob with locals and flirt with the pretty barmaid, Eve. Quell eventually saw his friend Khyber show up. And though Khyber gave Quell a look and even asked him "Do I know you?" the elf simply shook his head. Afraid to speak & blow his cover. Khyber also noticed the wounded soldier flirting with Eve, which raised an eyebrow on his rugged face. But Quell noted he seemed too busy giving orders to a couple of thugs working for the local crime boss Nicholas Breuder. It seems old Khyber has moved up in the ranks in Quell's absence.
The other Knot members continued their routine. Emmerick gathered information & flirted with Eve, unaware of Quell's ever watchful eye. Other knot members went about their business. Two rumors did cause some of the Knot to investigate. Rumors swirled of murder of woman in Red Quater. That combined with rumors of an older man with a young woman who seemed confused wondering the market place raised concerns among Yvianne & Mardus. So they went snooping around but found little to go on. Consulting with Quell, they decided to dismiss the murders as likely an unfounded rumor. But the story of the older man & confused woman did lead them to a name. Ben. It seems the necromancer who travels with a vampire is in town somewhere.
Also there was more pit fighting. Brother Summit went up against a Wooly Rino that tried to skewer the Monk on his great horn, only to be stomped to the ground & knocked out. A slicer beetle tried to take off a hand but found his pincers weren't sharp enough to bother the punishing kick & flurry of knuckles the Monk had to offer. The charging Dire Lion that attacked the Monk nearly shredded him to ribbons. And Mardus was worried he'd have to jump in and rescue the monk. But the cat eventually fell just like all the others.
All in all, a pretty tame week for the Ninth Knot.
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