Hello, Everyone!
Last time, our heroes arrived in Pamagos and got to hang out with Paulina and company. Now, they're about to meet with Dynatos Perres, the head of the city, who invited them for a chat.
Dynatos Perres was sitting on his desk, writing a document of some sort, but when they were let in, he put it aside and greeted them with a nod.
“Your successful investigation has opened many doors for Pamagos,” he said, “and strengthened our relations with Myth Adofhaer far more than I’d been hoping. Please, have your rewards.”
He gestured at three pouches on a tray next to his desk. Bruno did not hesitate to take his, Mary and Aurum followed suit.
“Three hundred platinum pieces each,” Mr. Perres said. “And the gratitude of Pamagos.”
Mary’s eyes widened. She had never had so much money for herself. Her mind buzzed with all the books she could afford now.
“Beats a statue any day,” Bruno muttered while they were taking the pouches away.
By their employer’s request, they recalled all that had happened in Myth Adofhaer (safe for anything concerning Mary’s heritage – they seemed to have wordlessly agreed not to mention it to anyone).
“Thank you for taking care of Dorina,” Mr. Perres said. “Her father wrote to tell me she’s doing better.”
Mary thought about the warmth on Dorina’s face when she’d mentioned her employer and looked for a hint of something similar in Mr. Perres’. There was… something... but she didn’t think it was quite the same.
“By the way,” Bruno said, “what happened to the assassins we fought last time we saw you?”
“They’re still in jail,” Mr. Perres said.
“In jail? Didn’t they try to kill you?”
The ruler of Pamagos sighed.
“It’s a complicated issue, Mr. Airhammer. If there wasn’t magic involved, it would have been a clear-cut case and the punishment would have been enacted a long time ago. But as of now, we don’t know--not beyond reasonable doubt--that they weren’t, say, brainwashed via a spell. And until we find out for sure, they’d just be detained.” He leaned forward and looked at Bruno. “I think that’s fair, don’t you.”
Bruno shrugged.
“The children of Terpesh can be quite deceiving,” Mr. Perres continued. “After all, they are led by Frigida Briggs herself.
“Briggs?” Mary said. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Probably because of Rezemius Briggs, the president of Ekoba.”
Right. The person who was said to have killed Ekoba’s previous ruler and usurped the throne for himself, then promptly exuded Ekoba from the Empire. It was fairly recently that Mary’d read about that part of history. The Pamagos Agreement was concluded after Rezemius Briggs’ forces tried to take over Eastern Eratos’ central lands, only to be crushed by a large force of Devoted and Pamagos' militia.
“Speaking of Ekoba,” Aurum said, “we were thinking of going there next.”
“Oh?” Mr. Perres stroked his chin. “That’s quite fortunate. I might have another job for you if you’re headed that way.”
He opened a drawer in his desk and produced some documents. He continued, occasionally checking them for reference.
“See, I’m interested in Ekoba’s current economics. We’ve been trading with them for decades but in the last fifteen years the amount of grain and other goods whey’d been purchasing has steadily decreased. Ten years ago it was about 100 000 tones, and now it’s only 75 000. Varcaria and Greystone have similar data. So, what I want to know is, where do they import from now?”
“Myth Adofhaer?” Bruno suggested. “Zerakas tol?”
“No, it’s not Zerakas tol,” Dynatos Perres shook his head.
“Wait,” Bruno said, as if it had just occurred to him, “aren’t Pamagos and Myth Adofhaer on different sides of the whole Emperor conflict? Why were you so happy that we helped them with their internal problems?”
"We are on different sides. All the more reason to help them. I expect Edmund to send out his invites for peaceful negotiations with the other heads of state any time now. And when Balaine gets his, he will also receive my reminder of our good collaboration. I will twist his arm to have him show up to the negotiations. And his pride will make him do it."
All of a sudden, his hazel eyes had become as sharp as needles. Mary could, for the first time since they’d met, imagine him being the man who people claimed to have said ‘if they want to eat, they’ll comply’ regarding the signing of the Pamagos Agreement.
“Anyway,” he said. “Let me think about how you can help in Ekoba and I’ll come back to you with the details.”
“Do you know of anyone trustworthy there?” Mary said.
She was beginning to get really worried that they were going into a horrible place full of horrible people. Yes, she had been suspicious of the elves, too, but that was different. Hating on the Myth Adofhaerians was kinda fun (because they were rude and arrogant) but Ekoba sounded… dangerous. Everyone they’d heard speak of it had been telling them how awful the place was and how its inhabitants were all criminals and sketchy people. She was desperate to find at least someone they could rely on in this sea of wickedness.
“I’m afraid I have no such intelligence,” Mr. Perres said. “Ekoba is a lawless place, people there are not really what you might call ‘trustworthy’.” He smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, Miss Windfiddle.”
“It’s ok,” she mumbled.
“Now, let’s talk about a more pleasant occasion,” he said, clapping his hands. “I’d be honoured if you three could join me and my wife for dinner this evening.”
“Dinner, huh?” Aurum said, “Will it be like the last time we went out together?”
“Hah, no, not really.” Dynatos Perres chuckled. “What I have in mind this time is no mere tavern. It’s a more… sophisticated establishment. And Elaria is going to be there, too, so you won’t have to worry about protecting me. She’ll have that covered.”
“When you say ‘sophisticated establishment’,” Mary said sheepishly, “do you mean that there’s a dress code? Should we buy appropriate garments?”
“It would be best,” Mr. Perres said.
He gave them the address and they made arrangements for when they were going to meet there. Mary, Bruno and Aurum thanked him and went out.
The bard turned to the other two, sporting the widest smile they’d ever seen him display.
“Shopping!” he exclaimed. “We’re going shopping!”
It might turn out that shopping is Aurum's third most favourite activity :) Let's see how it suits the others, in our next episode.
Until then,
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide, the Glossary and the Map for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: These are my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum and Bruno) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.