#snotgrut

Selene glowered at the small, green-skinned man that walked into the pocket dimension Dwena had created for these… conversations. Snotgrut, for his part, was smartly dressed and keeping a strictly professional air about him. At least until he noticed the broken and scorched furniture that littered the interior of the space. He pouted a little,

"Aw, you could have left me some."

Selene's mouth twisted into an unhappy grimace. She gestured for Chrackle to fly over to the goblin. Chrackle, feeling the full brunt of his mistress' displeasure, did so. He snapped at the fingers that attempted to pet the top of his head. The goblin was truly an idiot if he thought he was getting off that easy. Snotgrut merely shrugged and returned his attention to Selene, his expression falling back into one of neutral acceptance.

Selene glowered at Snotgrut,

"What, in all the Gods' names —?" she started, only to be interrupted by Snotgrut,

"Which ones?" he asked innocently. Selene's glare intensified as her temper flared at the blatant disrespect,

"All of them!" she snapped. She paused for only a fraction of a moment, intending to carry on with her tirade. Snotgrut, however, seemed to have other plans as he begin listing off the names of the many, many Gods he knew about. Despite the pain, or perhaps because of it, Selene immediately cast Silence, cutting off the end of the third God's common name. Her eyebrow twitched as she heard the goblin in her ear, having cast Whisper to get around the bubble of Silence around him, giving her a thumbs up. Snarling, Selene Dispelled Snotgrut's Whisper, replacing it with her own,

"If you don't mind," she spat, "I didn't ask you to name Them!"

The ball of white hot metal in her stomach cooled as Snotgrut's ears dropped and he stopped talking. He nodded in contrition, nervously clasping his hands together before recalling himself and standing to attention. Selene inhaled sharply before waving her hand to Dispell the Silence, ignoring the sharp pain running up her arm at the motion,

"I will repeat again —without the backchat this time — What in all the Gods' names were you thinking pulling that damn stunt!"

A flash of confusion crossed Snotgrut's face,

"Umm… which one?"

The fire flared up in Selene's chest again,

"You know damn well which one." she ground out. Understanding partially dawned,

"Ridding the world of a bad demon?" Snotgrut queried. Selene attempted to reign her temper in,

"By Teleporting directly to him without letting the rest of your companions know what the fuck you were planning?!" Well that was a critical mission failure.

Snotgrut rubbed at his ear,

"I'm sorry? But telling anyone else would have given the plan away." he pointed out. He cocked his head in curiousity, "What would you have done?"

Selene's rant died in her throat at the question. She inhaled sharply,

"Not Teleported my team directly to him without the rest of them having a plan for a start." she sniped. The goblin, in her mind, was treading on increasingly thin ice, but she needed to hear his reasoning.

"Again, telling them anything would have given the plan away. You know what Felix is like."

Selene huffed out a sigh,

"Yes, I know."

Snotgrut shook his head,

"I know we're not entirely expendable, but I've been sworn to protect this city and the lands around it, much as Elowyn has, and as much as you have. We couldn't allow the Balor we ended up dealing with being able to counter anything we did, that would put too many lives at unecessary risk."

The half-raging inferno guttered and died. Godsdamnit, why did the stupid, little goblin have to be right? She narrowed her eyes as Snotgrut smiled,

"I will say, Elowyn did do a wonderful job of distracting him. He's now having a nice chat with Gruumsh thanks to her efforts."

Aaaand the fire was back. Selene glared down unhappily at Snotgrut,

"Ah, yes, about that. How many of those devices do you have?" she asked tersely. Snotgrut pulled a small, metallic ball out of his pocket,

"A few. You can have this one, if you'd like, they're very useful."

Selene's glare deepened,

"And the rest." She somehow kept the satisfied smirk from her face as Snotgrut's expression fell slightly, but he quickly rallied and shrugged,

"I don't have them right now, but if you'd wanted them sooner, all you had to do was ask." His expression brightened, "If it's alright with you, I had some similar devices comissioned, but keyed to here. It should help keep everyone much safer!"

How in the Hells was this goblin able to manage to disarm her anger this damn quickly? Selene grudgingly nodded,

"Yes, yes it would." she agreed. A frown pinched her face as the goblin didn't even notice Chrackle biting his ear hard enough to draw blood, obviously still feeling the echoes of what irritation remained. Snotgrut smiled broadly,

"Excellent." he cocked his head again, "How have you been, anyway? You're looking a lot better than the last time I saw you. I don't know if the problems you were having have been taken care of?"

Ah, there was the bristle. Selene nodded shortly as Chrackle fluttered back onto her shoulder,

"They have been. You're dismissed." She arched an eyebrow as Snotgrut produced a bottle from his pack and placed it on the table,

----

Elo: How did none of you hear what I just said? Thazar: I’ve been zoned out for the past two and a half hours. Strucker: I got distracted about halfway through. Schreiber: Ignoring you was a conscious decision.

---

Elo: On a scale from “damn Daniel” to “fre sha vaca do”, how are you feeling? Farren: In between “it’s an avocado, thanks” and “how did you defeat Captain America”, but as a solid answer I would say “I don’t need a degree to be a clothing hanger”. How about you, Milli? Milli: Probably “road work ahead”. Snotgrut: I speak many languages, and this is none of them.

---

Elo: This is a mistake Felix, enthusiastically: A mistake we're going to laugh about one day! Elo: But not today Felix, still enthusiastic: Oh, no. Today's going to be a mess

----

Elo: I learned some very valuable lessons from this. Strucker: I’m guessing they are all horrible distortions on the lessons you actually should’ve taken away. Elo: Death isn’t real, and I’m basically God.

----

Elo: I slept for almost 12 hours but I might still be tired so lets go for 12 more just incase. Farren: Elo, that's a coma. Elo: Sounds festive.

----

Merri: I was arrested for being too cool. Snotgrut: The charges were dropped due to a lack of supporting evidence.

----

Felix: Whaddya call a fish with no eye? Snotgrut, not looking up: Myxine Circifrons Felix: Felix: fsh

----

Snotgrut: Okay. I get it. You've had a really hard time lately, you're stressed out, seven people died- Elo: Twelve, actually. Snotgrut: Not the point. Look, they're dead now and really whose fault is that? Elo: Yours! Snotgrut: That's right: no one's.

----

*Quentin and Felix are doing something absurdly dangerous* Felix: I think Houdini did something like this once! Why, if I recall correctly, he was out of the hospital in no time! Quentin, deadpan: Well that's encouraging.

----

Elo: Snotgrut, keep an eye on Schreiber today. He's going to say something to the wrong person and get punched. Snotgrut: Sure, I’d love to see Schreiber get punched. Elo: Try again. Snotgrut, sighing: I will stop Schreiber from getting punched.

----

*Squad reactions to being told ‘I love you’* Enezeag: Thanks fam! Elo: oh no Felix: *cries* I love you too Snotgrut: Sounds fake but okay Laurence: *A flustered mess* Quentin: can i get a refund

----

Celestia still resounded with the sounds of battle as the last of the demons and assorted gods of domains antithetical to the plane were pushed back to their homes. 

Standing on the edge of a small crater near the shore of the celestial sea were the heroes who had made such a victory possible. Each looked to the others, marvelling at what they had all managed to accomplish in the relatively short time they'd been working with one another. Each of them thought back over the journey they had been on, reflecting on the people they used to be and the heroes that they had become since.

Elowyn

Elowyn cast around frantically for a way to get above the crowd for a better view of what was going on. There were times that being a woodling was a detriment, and this was one of those times. She taps Alphonse’s leg,

“Let me get up there. I need to see what’s going on and try to get these people to calm down.” she tells him. Alphonse shrugs and allows the shorter woman to clamber onto her shoulders. As she starts to order people to evacuate in a more orderly manner, she spots, out of the corner of her eye, two hulking figures storming up the canal, throwing boats and barges to either side as they go.

~*~

Elowyn shook her head at Ionah’s words to her,

“Not naiive, just ever optimistic in some twisted sense. I can’t help but remember how things might have gone. I don’t know you well - I didn’t get a chance - but I know that, at some point, there was Goodness in you. Nobody is so far gone that they can’t come back, not even you.” Ionah laughed at her,

“I was damned a lang time ago. I just simply chose to embrace it.”

Elowyn could barely believe what she was hearing. She truly believed that no one was beyond saving at this point, but how could she get through to someone so broken?

Meredith

Meredith glowered at the ash that was the ghoul who had interrupted her quiet drink. She glances over to the watch officers who had caught the creature, who were having a heated discussion about the woodling going into the sewers alone. She motions to the pile of ash,

"Seein' as that one was headin' doon there, I might as well come with." She said, "There's never just the one, and ye'll want a cleric to help deal with them." She offered. 

~*~

Meredith breathed a sigh of relief as Elowyn coughed raspily and held out her hand,

“I’m so glad that’s so much nicer than the last time I died.” the currently polymorphed woodling wheezes. Meredith chuckles as she pulls her friend to her feet,

“Ye didn’t get any time, hen.” she quips, rounding on the the remaining demons with an angry snarl.

Felix

Felix wrapped his arms around his knees and hugged them tightly. If only he had been strong enough to actually cast anything useful, then maybe Elowyn wouldn't be…. The gnomish man choked back his sobs. Self pity wasn't going to get them anywhere, but what could he possibly do that would be helpful?

~*~

Felix stared at the ginormous pyroclastic dragon and the drakes flying in front of it. The gnomish sorcerer smiled slowly as he cast his spell and began to speak,

“No! You’re the one who should tremble, because I am YOUR DOOM!”

Harbinger reeled back, his scales cracking under the unexpected force projected from so small a creature. Felix's grin widened further as all three draconic creatures fell out of the sky.

Quentin

Quentin yelps in alarm as a sword point is almost driven through his midsection by the woodling woman he had been quietly trying to make his way past,

“Hey, hold on, I’m a friend!” he exclaims, only to receive an annoyed glare from the woman and several of her companions. He bows his head, keeping his arms raised,

“Apologies, an introduction is in order. Quentin Goldenrose, tracker and scout at your service.”

~*~

Quentin groans as his friends are regaled about stories of his youth by his sister,

“Seriously, why do you insist on doing this?” he asks plaintively. Elowyn shrugs as she takes another bite of food,

“It’s an older sibling thing.” she replies, “Just relax and enjoy this. We probably won’t get another chance to do it again for quite a while.” she points out. Quentin quirks an eyebrow at the woodling woman, but can’t find any fault with her assessment.

Snotgrut

Snotgrut frowns in confusion as Elowyn speaks to the goblins the group had captured the previous night. Second chances? What on earth would these idiots do with a second chance? He stays quiet, observing the situation. He doesn't quite understand what the woodling wants to happen, but it seems to be working… kind of. Maybe there's something to this 'mercy' thing.

~*~

Snotgrut hefted out the sword he'd acquired when he'd last visited Arborea. Now that the plainly evil half of him had been destroyed, it didn't seem right to hold onto it any more. The goblin glanced up at the blade and froze. It was glowing.

"Was it doing that before?" Felix asked innocently. Snotgrut whimpered,

"No." He replied, voice small, "It's never done that before." His ears drooped as he continued staring at the blade, the slow realisation of what the Emerald Dragon had 'gifted' him with finally sinking in.

It had taken some time to get the ball rolling, but finally the Toreguarde Council and the Kingdom of Fangthane had finally agreed on how best to go about rebuilding the Dwarven District. Most of the hold-up had, of course, been on the dwarves’ end. Thanks to both the civil war and Ragnarok, the number of fully qualified stonemasons had been severely diminished. Thankfully, with a bit of wrangling it was agreed that the few Master Stonemasons that were left in Fangthane would help to train some of the other citizens of Toreguarde in their craft.

“Frankly, I’m surprised they left the place alone for so long.” Meredith commented as she strolled around the ruined district that had once served as her home. Many buildings were still more or less intact, but the interiors were ruined, be it by vandals or by the weather. Yoruk hummed, readjusting his grip on the young dwarflet he was carrying in his arms,

“I’m pretty sure Snotgrut would’ve gone off to ‘have a few quiet words’ with half the Toreguarde Council if they didn’t.” the Paladin pointed out. “He’s determined to make sure that this part o’ the deal goes through afore he pops his clogs.”  Meredith laughed,

“Aye, though if he did, I’m no’ convinced that Elo would’ve stopped him.” The three dwarves rounded a corner and were finally met with the ruins of the temple of Moradin. Dwarves, humans, gnomes and plenty of others scurried back and forth with wheelbarrows, stone blocks and other assorted building materials. The nearby brewery, which hadn’t sustained all that much damage, was more or less completely repaired. The temple, on the other hand, was only just getting started. Meredith frowned and waved down the foreman. The old dwarf in question took a swig from a hip flask and lumbered over to the High Inquisitor,

“Aye, ma Lady, what can I do ye fer?” he asked, bowing deeply. Meredith nodded over to where a group of humans and gnomes had clearly been digging a new foundation but had now stopped,

“I ken the old temple took a load o’ damage, but surely the foundations should’ve been in by now.” she pointed out. The older dwarf tapped out his pipe and refilled it,

“Apparently there was more damage than we thought. The catacombs under the original foundation were filled with a load o’ rubbish and’ some o’ the lads think there might be some sort o’ infestation.” he explained. Meredith grumbled,

“What kind o’ infestation?” she asked irritably. 

“Ach, probably just’ a bunch o’ kobolds. We heard them yapping away not long ago. We’re waiting on some Bashers comin’ over to take care of the problem.” 

“Ye’re WHAT?!” Meredith looked over to Yoruk, who quickly came over to the older dwarf’s side and looped an arm around his shoulder, tightening his grip on his now squirming son.

“Why don’t we go grab a drink and have a natter while ye wait?” he suggested, “I’m sure the lads and lassies workin’ on the foundation won’t mind having an opportunity to take a longer break.” he added, sending Meredith a look before leading the old man away from his now seething wife. When the two men and her son were gone, Meredith tamped down her temper and strode over to the workers, who were currently sitting around the outside of the pit they had been working in, chatting animatedly amongst themselves,

“‘Eyup lads and lassies.” she greeted, “Heard yer foreman was gonna get some Bashers in. Ye ken anything about that?” she asked. One of the humans, a young man that Meredith recognised as one of the younger teens she’d seen being educated in the Shield a few years back nodded,

“We tried tellin’ him to get someone from the Wiggy Watch or the local Shield chapter over instead, but he weren’t havin’ it.” 

“Of course he wasn’t.” Meredith grumbled. It had been a while since she’d had any cause to speak Draconic, but unless the kobolds were moved, they were going to be stuck under the temple’s new foundation. She jerked her head in the direction Yoruk had taken the foreman,

“Well, if any Bashers do happen to pop on by, can ye send them on their way?” she requested, rolling the sleeves of her cloak up and hopping down into the hole in the street. The human nodded and gave the dwarf a quick salute,

“Sure thing ma’am.” he chirped. Meredith gave him a grin, nodded and squeezed down the tunnel leading to the Catacombs.

It didn’t take long before Meredith came across the pack of kobolds that had made their home beneath the ruined temple. It seemed they had made a makeshift burrow under one of the collapsed pillars that a giant had managed to tear down almost eight years previously. The kobold that was standing on sentry duty froze on seeing the semi-armoured dwarf approaching him and lowered his spear in her direction. Meredith stopped immediately and held up her hands,

“I’m no’ here to hurt ye. I just want to have a chat.” she said, hoping her Draconic wasn’t as rusty as she thought it was. The little reptilian creature narrowed his eyes and lowered his spear at her, growling,

“Didn’t think Beardies could talk Dragon.” he yipped, “Go away!” Meredith glanced behind the sentry to find more reptilian heads poking out of the rubble, some of them much smaller than the others. She returned her attention to the sentry,

“I’m no’ here to fight.” she said calmly, “I don’t know how long ye’ve been down here, but ye’re goin’ to wind up trapped if ye stay.” A deeper growl near her ear and the point of another spear poking into the back of her shoulder caused the dwarf to freeze,

“You trespassing on our territory.” a new voice rumbled, “You say we get trapped if we stay? No matter, we can make new tunnels.” Meredith internally cursed, realising too late that she was surrounded by a much bigger pack than she had anticipated. She glanced around the cavern, taking note of how many Kobolds there were, debating how brave she was feeling at that moment. She snorted,

“Fair enough point, but we’re rebuilding the Temple o’ Moradin upstairs. If ye dinna like ‘Beardies’ like me, then ye’ve got yourselves into a bit o’ a pickle.” she pointed out. She winced a little as the spear point dug a little further through her vestments worming its way between her pauldron and breastplate. The apparent tribe leader growled as it coaxed her into moving into a corner,

“Well, if you stay down here, then they cannot rebuild above us right?” he sneered. Meredith cursed quietly under her breath. No doubt the kobolds would be more forcefully ‘ousted’ once word got out they were keeping the High Inquisitor of Moradin captive. The dwarf shrugged as she sat down on a large boulder,

“While that might be true, I actually came down here to ask if you wanted to help us.” she said, “We can use all the help we can get, and kobolds are well known for being excellent diggers.”  She added. The tribe’s leader snorted,

“Why would Beardies want the help of kobolds?” he asked as the others yipped with laughter, “Beardies hate us like we hate them.” Meredith shook her head as she gazed at the kobolds surrounding her, looking at them with the divine senses granted to her upon becoming an Inquisitor. The leader’s aura was only barely pink and most of the other kobolds that surrounded her were either the same colour or not even registering. She sighed,

“While that may have been true in the past, that’s really not the case here in Toreguarde.” she replied calmly, “I will be more than happy to sort out somewhere for you all to stay, but you really can’t stay here. I mean, you’re technically defiling sacred ground.” The leader, who was much larger than his tribespeople and tattooed with various markings in red and blue, narrowed his eyes as he regarded the High Inquisitor before him. He marched towards her and pushed his snout against her nose,

“How do we know you will not just kill us instead?” he growled, “We heard another of your kind talk about getting some Bashers.” Meredith grumbled a little under her breath and shook her head,

“While you did hear correctly, I can assure you that I have no desire to have them come down here. I’ve asked the people upstairs to send any Bashers that do turn up away.” Seeing that the surrounding kobolds remained thoroughly unconvinced, she glanced over to the bolt hole, where she spotted the end of a staff,

“Tell you what, if you have a Holy Man or Woman that can cast a spell of Truth-Telling, I will let them cast it upon me and let you question me again.” she suggested. The tribal leader stepped back and gestured to one of the smaller kobolds, who scurried off. A moment later an elderly male kobold, hunched over and leaning heavily on his staff, staggered between the younglings. He peered curiously at the dwarf, 

“You are a strange one, for a beardie.” he croaked, “You have the smell of something like us upon your clothes.” he added. Meredith nodded quickly,

“I spent a little time with some friends this mornin’.” she said, recalling that Cragspine had helped her clean her vestments the other day, “They’re kobolds… kinda… like you.” the leader slammed his spear on the flagstone as several of the younger members of his tribe yipped quietly among themselves,

“Preposterous!” he yelped, “Kobolds never make friends with anyone!” Before Meredith could open her mouth, the elderly cleric in front of her snorted. Then, with a speed that should not have been possible for a creature so old and bent, it turned around and promptly smacked the pack leader on his snout,

“Enough!” he snapped, “You forget your place Fangspear. You asked me to speak to the beardie, so stay there and keep quiet.” He turned back to Meredith and bowed, “My apologies, he is still young and eager to prove he is a good leader.” Meredith bit her lip to keep from laughing,

“Given the long history between kobolds and dwarves, his reaction is not surprising.” she said. The old cleric shook back the sleeves of his robe as he took a proper grip of his staff again. Even in the dim light of the catacombs, Meredith caught sight of the old, faded scars on his wrists. They looked like…

“Beggin’ yer pardon, sir, but the scars ye bear on yer wrists…” she trailed off, uncertain how to word her query. The elderly kobold nodded and looked at the scars, 

“Ah, yes. These are from a long while back. Back when the Usurper Darkhide and the despot King Torg tried to turn our tribes away from Kurtulmack. We were rescued by an unusual lot of adventurers. Some of my kin went with them, but myself and many others decided to continue wearing the shackles as a badge of honour as True Believers.” he chuckled, “Not that it lasted for very long. Most of us died from infection after wearing them for several months.” Meredith mentally thanked Moradin for her good fortune,

“I remember.” she said quietly, “I did wonder what had happened to the rest of you after we let ye all go. It gladdens my heart to see that at least one o’ ye made it.” Fangspear narrowed his eyes in suspicion and gestured for his guards to make ready to attack the dwarf, but a gesture from the elderly cleric stayed their hands. He gingerly reached forward, his fingers glowing with a faint gold and crimson colour, and touched Meredith’s finger. After a moment, he nodded and smiled,

“Ah, you are indeed that same dwarf.” he croaked, “My fellows and I never got around to finding you again to thank you all for your aid that day.” Meredith shook her head,

“No thanks were, or even are, necessary.” she said, “We were only doing what was right.” she looked around the pack, all of which had now appeared outside of their burrow, all forty of them listening intently to the conversation between the beardie and their holy man. The elderly kobold turned to them, glared momentarily at the tribal leader, and addressed them,

“The bearded one speaks true. Kurtulmack has deemed it so.” Fangspear growled a little, but gestured for his men to lower their weapons and bow to the holy man,

“If she does speak true, Craggleback, then what are we to do? Many people hate kobolds. We are safer down here.” Craggleback turned back to Meredith,

“You say that you can help us find somewhere to stay?” he asked. The High Inquisitor nodded,

“While it is true that many people might dislike kobolds, here in Toreguarde you are all completely safe. I swear on my honour that none of ye will be harmed, or even harassed, as long as ye abide by the city’s laws.” Fangspear frowned as he regarded the dwarven woman in front of him,

“The people in this place are very strange.” he muttered. Meredith chuckled,

“Ye don’t know the half o’ it.” she replied.

~*~

Halfway back up through the maze of tunnels and passages, Meredith and the troupe of kobolds following after her practically ran into a whole squadron of SRU officers, headed up by their Captain. Meredith gestured for the kobolds to stop and waited for the reaction of the Woodling who had just appeared in front of her. Elowyn stopped her march forward and stared momentarily at the sight of Meredith along with one of the biggest packs of kobolds she had ever seen. Meredith shrugged as the Captain huffed in irritation and marched up to her old friend,

“What in all the hells did you think you were doing?!” Elowyn demanded, poking her finger at Meredith’s chest, “Yoruk was worried sick and the poor boys that were working on the foundations were convinced you’d managed to get yourself eaten when you didn’t come back up to street level!” Meredith gestured back to the kobolds,

“We had a bit o’ an initial misunderstanding’, but at least my Draconic’s no’ as rusty as I thought it was.” she chirped. Elowyn strained to keep from smacking her head into the palm of her hand,

“An ‘initial misunderstanding’?” she groaned, “Merri, how many times have you gone off on me for going off by myself?”

“Tha’ wis different, we were….”

“I don’t care! You’re supposed to be the sensible one!”

“OK so I might’ve underestimated how big a pack there was but…”

“You were gone for over an hour!”

“Will ye let me….”

“No I bloody well will not!” Elowyn ranted, “Do you even realise how close we got to a Diplomatic Incident? Not to mention the fact that your son has been crying for you for the last half hour.” Meredith opened and closed her mouth a few times before relenting and looking down at the floor guiltily. At this Craggleback gingerly stepped forward,

“I apologise for interrupting, but I do believe the fault is ours.” he said mildly, “It took some time to come to an understanding.” Elowyn glanced down at the elderly kobold and shook her head,

“While I am glad that everything turned out well, the High Inquisitor of Fangthane should not have been down here alone, regardless of the situation.” she replied, sending the dwarf in question a meaningful glare. The Captain turned to her squadron, “Well, we might as well get back up onto street level. Will one of you go find Lieutenant Snotgrut and tell him to call off any emergency measures he might have preemptively put in place?”

“I’ll do it.” A young woodling dressed in white and gold said, “He’s more likely to listen to me anyway.” Elowyn beamed at her and nodded,

“If you could dear one, that would be very much appreciated.” she said. The other woodling saluted smartly and practically skipped off. Elowyn glanced back at Meredith, sighed and wrapped an arm around the despondent dwarf’s shoulders,

“Come on, don’t want to keep Yoruk and Gavid waiting.” she said. She turned to the kobolds, who hovered uncertainly, “You’re all welcome to come with. I’m pretty sure there’s not much food and water down here and the place we’re going has plenty of both.” There was quite a lot of yipping, but eventually Fangspear nodded and the whole group followed after the woodling, dwarf and other assorted people outside. It was during the climb back up to street level that Meredith finally noticed the faint, persistent voice that was grumbling in her ear.

~Uhh… hullo?~

~Finally!~ a slightly nasally sounding voice snapped in her head, ~I know I don’t normally use this on you, but I thought you would have picked this up at least thirty minutes ago!~ Elowyn caught a glimpse of Meredith’s expression from the corner of her eye,

“If that’s who I think it is, tell him we’re going to the Shield will you?” The dwarf rolled her eyes,

~We’re headin’ to the Shield if ye want to come o’er and dress me doon properly.~ she groused, ~No’ like ye’re the first one to do it theday.~

~Thankfully, unlike my Captain, I knew you weren’t in any immediate danger. That’s the only reason I wasn’t there twenty minutes ago.~ Meredith narrowed her eyes suspiciously,

~An’ how did ye ken that Snotgrut?~ she asked, ~Bearing in mind that if ye even think o’ tryin’ to twist the truth, I’m gonna ken aboot it.~ she reminded him. The High Inquisitor could practically see the goblin squirm as he formulated his reply.

~Well, when I found out what had sent our dear Captain into such a tizzy, I decided that a quick Scry on your location would be beneficial before we acted. Unfortunately, I never got around to telling Elowyn that you were fine before she stormed out with half the officers in the building.~ Meredith frowned and checked the pockets of her vestments. Sure enough, she found a plain, gold ring in the right hand pocket.

~I ken better than to ask when ye managed tae slip that on my person. At least ye used this thing rather than more ‘traditional’ means.~

~Yeah… let’s go with that…~ the goblin ‘muttered’ before quickly shutting off the Message spell in the dwarf’s ear. Meredith, silently fuming, turned her attention to Elowyn as the SRU officers were sent back to their watch house in the centre of the city,

“Captain O’Toreguarde, d’ye ken where I can find one wee, green Lieutenant o’ yours?” she asked with a growl. Elowyn frowned, stopping for long enough for her old friend to catch up and falling into step beside her,

“Do I even want to know why?” she asked slowly. Meredith snorted,

“Apparently, I’m no’ the only one who needs a dressin’ doon theday.” she replied shortly, “I promise, I’m no gonna hurt him… much.” Elowyn pinched the bridge of her nose with a groan,

“Well, if he’s got any inkling that you’re on the warpath, Good Luck. He can vanish faster than a plate of Mrs Higgins’ stew put in front of ‘Arry.” she said. Meredith grumbled a few colourful curses under her breath, “Let me have a word with him after we’re done at the Shield.” the woodling offered, “We’ve got more important things to deal with right now anyway.”

“Ach, I suppose ye’re right. I’m guessin’ that’s where ye sent Yoruk and Gavid?” 

“Yes, I knew Auntie Sel had popped round with Caitr and Bridget and figured it would be best to distract Gavid with some playmates.” Meredith nodded and wrapped a grateful arm around the paladin’s shoulder,

“Ta hen, ye ken, for lookin’ after them.” Elowyn returned the one-armed hug and shrugged,

“If I recall, it’s part of the job description.” she quipped, “Come on, I’m sure Cragspine and the others are going to burst with excitement when they find who we’ve managed to find. I know Aurianna has probably already half-adopted them by now.” she cocked her head momentarily and rolled her eyes, “Scratch that, she’s already fully adopted them. And here I was thinking that dragons hoarded treasure, not kobolds.” she added with a mutter. Meredith couldn’t help the laugh that erupted from her as Elowyn got into a mental bickering match with her soul-bonded companion. The kobolds glanced between each other until Craggleback shook his head,