Session 15 - Take the B-tray to Justice

19th of Marpenoth, 1371 DR
It was good to sleep in my own bed again. This mornin’, before we’d even finished our breakfast, Sergeant Voss and a contingent of men from the garrison were waitin’ to escort us to a meetin’ of the town council called by the Captain to address the matter of the cults in the Dourstone mine. We were given sparkling’, blue sashes to wear on our arms when we arrived at the keep. These sashes identify us as “friends of the garrison” and allow us to bypass the normal line into the keep and all but guarantee us a speedy audience with an officer should we require it.

I grow more pleased with our decision to cultivate a relationship with the garrison everyday.

On our way to talk to the Captain, we also happened to witness Goat’s (that brigand we captured) execution. Pity that. Inevitable, I suppose, but still it’s a bit unsettlin’ to see the finality of the judgment those at the garrison are authorized to carry out.

Met Vulkus Dun for the first time face-to-face today. Guy gives me the willies! He’s got the manic gleam in his eyes of an obsessive zealot. Although we still need to be friends of the garrison, I think it’s best if we steer clear of that man.

After getting’ a quick lesson on protocol, we were escorted into the meetin’. As the leader of the guild, it fell on me to answer the questions of the council. Primarily, this involved dodgin’ clumsy attempts by Sheriff Cubin to get me to incriminate myself or the guild. Everythin’ would have been fine. In fact, I think I could have trapped Cubin in one of his own lies if it hadn’t been for Valcrist and Sparrow nearly derailin’ the whole meetin’ by openin’ their big mouths!

Captain Trask seems to be the only person on the council that takes this subterranean threat to the town seriously. I don’t know why that surprises me, but there it is. Trask dispatched Sergeant Voss and some other men to investigate the remains of the shrines and figure out how to seal off the passages leadin’ into the Underdark. At the end of the meetin’, Dourstone was judged guilty in absentia, Smenk was awarded custodianship of the Dourstone mine (even after his involvement in the presence of the cultists was revealed), and we were awarded an official guild charter! Allustan was appointed as our “advisor.”

Durin’ the meetin’, I basically outed Kullen and Smenk in public. In hindsight, that might not have been my best move, but at the time I believed that full disclosure was the best way to meet Cubin’s obtuseness. It worked well in the meetin’, but I’m sure it’s gonna spell trouble of the streets. The Lieutenant, Dolbrun Trent went so far as to suggest we leave town for awhile and when we come back to consider making peace with Smenk!

The very idea of makin’ nice with that villain makes my blood run cold. I can only hope it doesn’t come to that.

At some point durin’ the after meetin’ activities, Justice arrested Sparrow for some past infraction. Even though she had a writ of pardon, Justice chose the oppressive dogma of his church over those he would call friends. It was as if Tyr himself (or some other mysterious higher power) manifested and forced Justice to decide between losing his Cleric powers or losing his position in the guild. He chose Tyr and we had no choice but to vote him out of the guild for fear he’d turn on any one of us later for some perceived infraction.

We spent the better part of the rest of the day meetin’ with Allustan and tryin’ to figure out how to get Sparrow out of jail. Allustan convinced us that our next course of action should be to investigate goings on near Blackwall Keep. To that end, we will be escortin’ him to the Keep in a few days to meet with an associate of his workin’ out of the Keep. I’m not sure I’m comfortable leavin’ Diamond Lake before securin’ Sparrow’s release.

That night we had a celebratory dinner at the Spinnin’ Giant with the men from the garrison. I asked Allustan to talk to the magistrate about releasin’ Sparrow before returnin’ to Waterdeep, but all Allustan could find out was that the Magistrate had other evidence that had to be considered. It looks like Sparrow will have to be in a cell for at least the next month – pardon or not.

I did manage to woo the gorgeous Lieutenant Machella Venderin. At least, I think it was me doin’ the wooin’. She was lonely workin’ with all those men – men she couldn’t get involved with because of protocol. I’m not sure if what happened between us this night was two people blowin’ off steam in a…sweaty and surprisingly creative fashion or the beginnin’ of somethin’ more between us.

The fact that she left an hour ago (said she had to be back at the garrison by sun-up) with a warm embrace and a passionate kiss, but without a word of what would come next makes me wonder. She is lovely, strong, and smart. I think I could even come to love her despite her seemin’ rigidity – although that rigidity was completely gone as soon as I suggested going back to my room!

Even though I need to leave shortly to go to the monastery, I think I will write her a letter before I leave to let her know I was not thinkin’ of her as a fleetin’ fancy. Even if that’s all I was to her, if I want more of her company in the future, it’s probably best to let her know what I’m about up front.

Oh! Got to remember to stop by town in the mornin’ and see if my gloves are in yet!

What a great start to the day.