Chapter 15: With Uncertain Ends

[Brian]

When the dragon turtle erupts from the sea, sending sprays of water everywhere, Melethos motions for Adjalarr to step back. "Whatever you have to say can wait until the danger of the dragon turtle passes. We may not be out of trouble yet."

[Jeff]

Starg, Kurra, and Sem stop walking at Shorak's gestures. Sem seems the most excited about the huge turtle shape they might be able to spot through the trees, but even he doesn't venture forward. Kurra already has a wand in her hand, but also waits.

From her sheer primal scale, the dragon turtle commands everyone's attention without even trying. If she is angry about being Polymorphed—if indeed she understands what happened to her—it's hard to say.

Jul 9, 2018 8:45:07 GMT -4 Darren said:

"Here are your eggs. And back there lies the remains of the demon that stole them from you. There," he points at the fallen bugbears, "are those whom you have killed who did you no wrong. Take what was stolen from you and go, and we will do the same, and we will all live to see another day."

The dragon turtle's stares at him with her large eyes—each one has the pupil of a dragon, not a turtle, and is larger than Kal's head. A full minute goes by, where the only sound is the lapping of waves and the rustle of the bugbears on the longship—which the great beast gives no heed to at all now. She does look for a few seconds over to where the fiend's skeleton remains to defile the forest, and there's no doubt she can smell it better than anyone.

Then, looking back at Kal, she says something in her deep and ancient voice. And again, it sounds like it's in the Draconic language.

Histra clears her throat. Belarin might be able to read the woman's body language better than anyone—still not quite easy—but only when she is rested and strong. She looks so weary now, and has already been the victim of the dragon turtle's steamy breath. If the dragon attacked again, he doubts Histra would try to defend itself now. "She says... 'Dirt-dwellers took my future-children from me, and dirt-dwellers have yielded them back. I count my fortune unchanged.'"

The necromancer shrugs weakly. Only those who strain to listen cane make out her words. "She has no apologies to make, nor do I think she cares if the yugoloth was not from the land. It was our problem."

There is a long pause. It may be that the dragon turtle is awaiting some reply, if you wish to give one. You're not sure. She reaches out and gingerly gathers to the eggs in a single claw. The frog-men part to give her the room.

[Brian]

Melethos nods. "It looks like we may have avoid a complete disaster," he whispers to Adjalarr. "Though none of us came out unscathed."

[Ken]

"Her children were taken from her," says Belarin. "She won't apologize for doing what she thought was necessary to get them back."

He steps forward and calls out in Sylvan to the frog-men, "Let us be done with blood. But those--" he indicates the remaining bugbears and tieflings "--have suffered a great loss yet they committed no crime. Can you offer gems or other payment to placate them, so that we can be done with violence?"

_____________________

Belarin will try a Charisma (Persuasion) roll to see if he can convince the frog guys to give up something.
1d20(3) + 8 = 11.

[Jeff]

The frog-men issue angry croaks and simply turn away from Belarin dismissively. They don't speak to him and if they understand him—it seems they would have to—they don't show it.

Adjalarr, standing close to Melethos, steps closer to him. Her eyes are narrow at his words, and at the mannerisms of the frog-men. "Your enemy has done this, Condign," she says in Common, not seeming to care if anyone else hears, even as she looks to where the nycaloth's remains still smolder. "And we have helped to dispatch it, gaining nothing for ourselves but the death of one warrior and two guards." Red light sparks in her eyes. "In Fah'lrrg this would be blood for blood. You know this." She looks at his friends, and at the frog-men. "Another death would be demanded as price."

Her red eyes soften. "But we trying to operate under Orvak's wisdom. It is not his way. He led us from Fah'lrrg and from our old masters, and we listen now to better counsel. However, my team demands restitution." She points to Belarin with her blade. "The yugoloth's possessions, whatever has been salved—all of it—for the death of ours." Belarin knows that at least two of the tieflings stood near and watched when he fished through the fiend's pouches and saw him pocket what he found.

Behind her, the other tieflings and bugbears have brought the longship closer to the shore again. The female tiefling who'd been slain by the lightning bolt is being tended to. As for the two dead bugbears, one living bugbear now crouches over their bloody ruins. It has taken the slain ones' weapons and now merely sprinkles sand over the remains.

[Brian]

Jul 10, 2018 10:26:50 GMT -4 Jeff said:

The frog-men issue angry croaks and simply turn away from Belarin dismissively. They don't speak to him and if they understand him—it seems they would have to—they don't show it.

Adjalarr, standing close to Melethos, steps closer to him. Her eyes are narrow at his words, and at the mannerisms of the frog-men. "Your enemy has done this, Condign," she says in Common, not seeming to care if anyone else hears, even as she looks to where the nycaloth's remains still smolder. "And we have helped to dispatch it, gaining nothing for ourselves but the death of one warrior and two guards." Red light sparks in her eyes. "In Fah'lrrg this would be blood for blood. You know this." She looks at his friends, and at the frog-men. "Another death would be demanded as price."

Her red eyes soften. "But we trying to operate under Orvak's wisdom. It is not his way. He led us from Fah'lrrg and from our old masters, and we listen now to better counsel. However, my team demands restitution." She points to Belarin with her blade. "The yugoloth's possessions, whatever has been salved—all of it—for the death of ours." Belarin knows that at least two of the tieflings stood near and watched when he fished through the fiend's pouches and saw him pocket what he found.

Behind her, the other tieflings and bugbears have brought the longship closer to the shore again. The female tiefling who'd been slain by the lightning bolt is being tended to. As for the two dead bugbears, one living bugbear now crouches over their bloody ruins. It has taken the slain ones' weapons and now merely sprinkles sand over the remains.

Melethos listens to Adjalarr. Her words bring back memories of his childhood, and the savagery of the Ebonfire clan. But her words also imply blame, and he will not stand for it.

"I accept no responsibility for the yugoloth or its actions," he returns. "You happened here by chance. We met by chance. We did all we could to save your team. You know that well." His golden eyes flit over to the longboat, the bugbears, and the tieflings, then return to fix on her. His gaze hardens. "Your team can demand all it wants, Adjalarr, but you know you have the weaker hand. Even wounded, my companions are more than a match for you. If I choose, your mission ends here, as does your life." He allows some of the edge to seep out of his voice. "But I am not without compassion either. The demon's great ax is magical. I will give you that as recompense. I suggest you take it and be on your way. It is the best deal you will get this day. Feel free to consult your team, but choose quickly. We leave within minutes."

___________________________________________________________

Not sure if a Charisma(Intimidation) Check is needed, since he is negotiating, but I'll roll one anyway.

Melethos:1D20+7 → 8(1 + 7)#Charisma(Intimidation) Check

Oh, fek.

[Elvis]

"What about the halfdrow?" Thul asks, an unpleasant sneer on his face. He nods towards the arrow-injured rogue.

"You misread the battlefield, Redwoman. He never cast the spell." He looks out at the longboat, "And you didn't heed my warning about bringing your men to shore. Another mistake."

"You can blame anyone you want, but I'm counting two-for-two. Both on you."

Thul says this loud enough for everyone to hear.

"If you think looting a body makes up for your shite leadership," Thul shrugs, "Then, like the Redman said, take the demon's fekking axe and be on you way."

[Jeff]

Adjalarr's eyes blaze now, though her expression looks calm. "The axe, which none have claimed anyway. You regard us so lowly, yes? And now you threaten us." She lets out an angry breath. In Infernal, she adds quieter: "It is just as well. Orvak would see your heart."

She listens, then, to Thul. Then shrugs. "Take your spoils. We need them not."

Histra starts to walk toward Melethos and the tiefling woman, then. As she does, she looks to Adamant.

[Dave W.]

Jul 10, 2018 11:13:14 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra starts to walk toward Melethos and the tiefling woman, then. As she does, she looks to Adamant.

Adamant tilts his head a bit, unsure what Histra wants with him, but he follows her and moves up to Melethos. He was not paying much attention to the tieflings and is surprised how heated it has become.

"I have only heard part of what was said here. I'm sure the heat of the moment some comments may have burned hotter than necessary. And Captain Thul... well he tends to annoy everyone when he talks."

"But we have fought here as temporary allies... it is only Just that you share the spoils." There is a religious feel to how Adamant says the word Just.

"It is also correct that we did not choose this place nor your presence on the field. Had you fled the demon we would not have stopped you."

"And yet, you have done me a personal service. I would thank you if I can. I will tend your men if you allow me, though I can not bring back those lost. I would offer a weregild from what money I personally have though it will not be much." He unties his coin purse and offers it. "It is not intended as an insult, this is all that is mine."

---

So on my sheet Adamant has a purse with:
Copper pieces (crowns) 36
Silver pieces (sovereigns) 42
Gold pieces (galifars) 17

That's what he'll offer.

Maybe a persuasion check?
dlw32:1D20+7 → 10(3 + 7)#Persuasion
well, that's unfortunate... he's sincere but you know, warforged are so hard to read...

[Brian]

Jul 10, 2018 11:13:14 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Adjalarr's eyes blaze now, though her expression looks calm. "The axe, which none have claimed anyway. You regard us so lowly, yes? And now you threaten us." She lets out an angry breath. In Infernal, she adds quieter: "It is just as well. Orvak would see your heart."

Melethos stiffens at Adjalarr's words. His own anger flares inside him. "Regard you so lowly," he says. "It is a shame you judge worth by material possessions. I measure worth by deeds and choices that are honorable." Melethos shakes his head. "I hope to meet your Orvak one day, so that he does look into my heart. Perhaps he could learn something about me that you seem to miss."

[Joe]

Streko steps forward and feels the full glory of Olladra enter his soul. “Stop your childish bickering, both of you! Melethos, you have proven a multitude of times to be a fierce, proud and unstoppable warrior. I assume others of your race are similar in this regard. My Lady, both sides have lost people today and I dare say we have lost more than you can know, but we need not lose any more, at least not now. Not yet. This infernal race to find some object of immense power will see many more deaths before it is over. I pray that Olladra sees fit to spare both our groups from such pain, but I fear neither of us will be so lucky. I cannot thank you enough for your assistance this day and I feel your loss as keenly as I feel ours. Please, allow my brother, Adamant, and I to assist you with your wounded. Let us stop fighting each other. The Gods above and below know there are plenty of other enemies out there whose blood cries out to be spilled. If we cannot part as friends, then at least let us look to one another as potential allies in the great fight ahead. What good is a relic, after all, if there is no one left to claim it?" He glances at Melethos. "Keep both the axe and your personal belongings, my friend. You will need them more than anyone else on this journey."
_______________________________________________________

Streko uses Persuasion on Adjalarr. Streko's Persuasion roll: 1D20+6 → 26(20 + 6)

[Dave B.]

Shorak watches and listens, just shaking his head at the goings on. He looks back towards Sem, Starg and Kurra. Smiling broadly, he waves them forward. Now that the dragon turtle and her minions have returned to the waters, it should be safe for them to return to the ship.

[Jeff]

Adjalarr looks at Adamant's offering of coins. Then she reaches out, slowly, and takes the pouches without opening them or counting. Instead she points back towards the longship, where some of her companions are gathered around the body of the one tiefling who had fallen—slain by the nycaloth's lightning bolt.

"Her name was Damaia. With the help of Orvak, a seer of our people, her will was unshackled from the rajahs who still hold sway in Fah'lrrg—the Demon Wastes, as you call them. But she was always plagued with doubt. I know nothing of the god you serve, but if you make prayers for souls in Dolurrh, make one for her."

She nods at the warforged, accepting it at that. She says nothing about his offer of healing.

Jul 10, 2018 14:18:08 GMT -4 Brian said:

"It is a shame you judge worth by material possessions. I measure worth by deeds and choices that are honorable." Melethos shakes his head. "I hope to meet your Orvak one day, so that he does look into my heart. Perhaps he could learn something about me that you seem to miss."

Adjalarr holds Melethos's eyes for a few moments. "Denying responsibility and devaluing the dead are not honorable deeds. Your words easily made for one who has lost no friends on this field. You..."

At this point the dragon turtle sinks at last into the water and out of sight. The frog-men linger only until she has vanished, like a rearguard. The one who hissed at Thul earlier makes a motion with one long rubbery arm. Their body language is hard to read, but it might just be a lewd gesture. Then it turns and joins its fellows as they back into the water as well, nearly out of sight.

Adjalarr sighs. Streko's impassioned words seem to calm the tiefling woman at first, then:

Jul 11, 2018 0:34:23 GMT -4 Joe said:

"My Lady, both sides have lost people today and I dare say we have lost more than you can know, but we need not lose any more, at least not now...."

At this, she begins to breath heavier. His phrase "both sides have lost people" seems to bother her the most. She looks around incredulously, as if waiting to see what ally of his was killed by a lightning blast or was bitten in half by a monster. But she lets him finish in peace.

Then, before she can fire back with anything else, Histra holds up a hand as if to ask for cessation of further arguments. She looks to Adamant and gives him what he thinks might be an appreciative nod. "We carry the crimes of our fathers," Histra says directly to Adjalarr. "It was one of mine who made an enemy of the yugoloth, and it has therefore persisted in trying to take revenge on me. I am the reason for its presence here, and for the dragon's wrath."

She reaches into a pocket and then holds out a blue, almost shimmering sphere. It looks to be some sort of gemstone or orb. Belarin has never seen it before. "This I also offer for the lives of the fallen. It will help to guard the mind whoever you wish to bear it."

Adjalarr reaches out and takes the curious gem delicately, the tiefling's red fingers brushing Histra's much paler skin.

Then Adjalarr gives a half bow, a gesture that lowers her horns considerably. Melethos hasn't seen this social gesture in a very long time. It is a motion of obeisance and trust. A rare thing among tieflings. Adjalarr does it again towards him.

Now addressing Melethos again, she speaks in Infernal to him. "We will surely meet again on this long road. When we do, let there be a truce between us."

She turns and starts to walk away, as do the other tieflings (though they keep an eye on you all).

At which point Kurra, with Starg and Sem close behind, finally approach Shorak and then the rest of you. Sem's mouth hangs open as he looks at the tieflings and the place where the dragon turtle disappeared—but he still seems too morose for his customary verbosity. Starg gets some appraising looks from the bugbears, but he says nothing. His floating disc is still piled with crates and boxes. It does seem like Kurra is well supplied, with equipment if not with food.

The dwarf woman shakes her head as she takes in the scene—the black blood still spattered on Adamant, Melethos, and Thul, the churned sand, the fiend's gooey skeleton, the obviously scaled Histra, the two dead bugbears, all of it.

"What in the Devourer's deepest ass-crack happened here?" she asks.

---

FYI, while Persuasion checks are not ineffectual, if each character makes a different case and presents a different approach not in tandem—i.e. the party is not presenting a united front—they are much less so.

Dave: Props to you for using the word weregild perfectly. I only knew that word from Tolkien, wherein Isildur claims the One Ring as a weregild for the death of his father at Sauron's hand.

[Ken]

Belarin steps beside Histra and places a arm - gingerly - around her shoulders. "Oh, by the way," he says softly, "this is for you." He reaches into his belt pouch and gives her the pyramidal onyx he'd purchased earlier that evening. To Belarin, it seems like that happened several months ago.

To Sem, Strag, and Kurra, he says, "The nycaloth is dead. But not before trying to start a massive bit of bloodletting between us, those tieflings and bugbears, and a dragon turtle. He never did anything halfway."

[Dave W.]

Jul 11, 2018 10:40:28 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Adjalarr looks at Adamant's offering of coins. Then she reaches out, slowly, and takes the pouches without opening them or counting. Instead she points back towards the longship, where some of her companions are gathered around the body of the one tiefling who had fallen—slain by the nycaloth's lightning bolt.

"Her name was Damaia. With the help of Orvak, a seer of our people, her will was unshackled from the rajahs who still hold sway in Fah'lrrg—the Demon Wastes, as you call them. But she was always plagued with doubt. I know nothing of the god you serve, but if you make prayers for souls in Dolurrh, make one for her."

"I will. Damaia. She will not be forgotten."

[Darren]

Kal watches quietly as the dragon turtle and then the frog men depart. Kal has stood toe-to-toe with a dragon before. This particular experience was nothing.

He turns to regard Melethos and the tieflings in conversation. He nods with approval at Melethos' handling of the situation.

When Sem, Starg, and Kurra approach, Kal gathers them close together. "We must get back to the ship quickly," he says. "Larest is dead. We can talk more about it when we are safely away from here, but for now we have to go. Kurra," he says to the dwarf, "get us there as quick as you can. You are in charge." Kal motions for the rest of his friends to join them. "We are leaving," he says once everyone is gathered. "Do as Kurra says so we can get back to the Dragonfly without delay."

[Dave B.]

Shorak nods. "I agree. Let's get the hells off this beach before someone else arrives who wants us dead." He then leads the way to the boat.

[Brian]

Jul 11, 2018 10:40:28 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Addressing Melethos again, [Adjalarr] speaks in Infernal to him. "We will surely meet again on this long road. When we do, let there be a truce between us."

She turns and starts to walk away, as do the other tieflings (though they keep an eye on you all).

"There will be truce," Melethos replies in Infernal. "May your travels be safe."

He hears Kal's voice, turns, and sees Kurra, Sem, and Starg returning. The absence of Larest stabs at him like a cold blade to the gut. So much has changed. So much has to be decided.

"Back to the ship," he says, repeating Kal's order. "Kurra and the supplies first, along with those who would return first. I will stay behind and wait with the second group."

[Elvis]

Thul assists with loading the supplies onto the boat then steps back onto the dock to wait as rear guard along with the Redman, for the second trip.

[Jeff]

Histra accepts the onyx from Belarin with a ghost of a smile.

Adjalarr turns away and she and her companions return to their longship. The bloody remains of the two slain bugbears remain, and neither the tieflings nor the living bugbears go to retrieve the nycaloth's axe nor ask again about treasure. They're done here. You're not sure what their destination is; didn't they send supplies towards Last Chance with the orc and ogre porters?

Kurra gets right to business after a shake of her head. She gives the fiend's skeleton a single look, then goes to help Thul at the boat, unties her last knots with ease. As she ushers him to load the boxed supplies into the rowboat, she stares out at the quiet and dark waters. "He'll be here soon," is all she says.

Thul finds the boxes she's brought to very heavy. He can handle them, one at a time—some of them feel like they've been packed with rocks alone; but some are lighter. Kurra points at them. "Best to go with just two people and the supplies, no more weight than that on the first go."

Histra stares after the tiefling longship as their torchlights grow further away, then turns to Belarin. She points to the bugbear remains. "I would like to take these with me—for our later protection," she says quietly and now he can see why she wanted to wait until the tieflings were gone. She rolls the onyx around in her hand and gives him a strangely coy half-smile. "Can we arrange this?"

[Ken]

Belarin nods at Histra, and then he calls out to Kurra, "When you send the boat back, please include a large canvas. We need to wrap something up."

Then he walks back toward the nycaloth's skeleton, talking as he does so.

"The axe is still here, and could probably fetch a good price - or be a great piece of barter if we need to trade with a giant.

"Adamant, you have a much stronger stomach than I do. Could you please search through that... glop and let me know whether there's anything of note?" He indicates the congealed mass that was inside the nycaloth's pouch.

Then he gets into a cross-legged position in front of the demon's skull. "He was a powerful foe, with powerful connections. We have a few minutes. I want to know what he knew. Histra, please watch over me, dear."

He closes his eyes and starts enunciating a series of arcane syllables. The sounds are unpleasant. He opens his eyes and points a finger at the skull. "It's your favorite lich-lord. Let's talk, nycaloth."

______________________________

Belarin invokes Whispers of the Grave to cast speak with dead.

[Jeff]

Histra follows Belarin over to the yugoloth's smoldering remains. She stands behind him as he invokes his power. Even as he begins the incantation, he finds the magic not flowing as he expected. But then Histra crouches down, slides his pact blade out of its sheath, and places it in his hand for him. "Even the ir'Serells cannot do this spell empty-handed."

Belarin understands. An arcane focus is still required, if he doesn't have burning incense ready in its place. Such things are required to steady and employ such necromancy.

But then it works. The large skull has no eyes to open, but the lower jaw rattles and rustles as the blackened residue around it breaks apart to allow movement. Academically, Belarin knows that the fiend's true self is gone, departed to whatever plane birthed it. Only the residual energies of its spirit remain to animate the body just enough for this spell. Therefore only an echo of the fiend's personality resides here to call upon its knowledge while it lived.

Instinctively, he knows he may now ask his first question.

[Jeff]

The tiefling longship is now gone, its firelights out of sight.

Over on the beach, the rest of you see a large shape suddenly fade into view as though emerging from a dense fog. But there is no fog: The Dragonfly appears, shedding some form of invisibility. A soft green glow surrounds the whole thing, the same faerie fire that illuminated it gently on the first night you boarded it back in Stormreach. Up on the sterncastle at the wheel, you can see the Captain Bracken standing there...

But more surprisingly, there is another person with him, perched on the bowsprit, straddling it in a seated position. A feminine form, hard to make out any details; she seems to be wearing a form-fitting reddish-brown garment.

The Dragonfly drifts closer, its bowsprit only about seventy feet from the shore, and there it stops. Sem looks in wonder at the ship. "Our ship can turn invisible?" he says with a smile. "I'm glad for something pleasant today, anyway." He climbs into the rowboat, so now it's just him and the boxed supplies.

Kurra looks at Thul. "Go ahead. Take it all aboard, then bring it back." She doesn't seem to care that Sem Darlesh wishes to go first. The gnome seems particularly eager to get off these shores.

Starg approaches Kal. "I am sorry. Many things have come to pass that I had not expected. Especially not Larest...like this."

Tangat sits beside Kal and just swishes his tail, leaning into his friend and master.

[Elvis]

Thul nods and gets into the rowboat.

He pushes off the dock with an oar and heaves towards the glowing boat.

[Ken]

Belarin asks the first question: "Who did you ally with against us?"

[Dave W.]

Jul 12, 2018 11:57:21 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Adamant, you have a much stronger stomach than I do. Could you please search through that... glop and let me know whether there's anything of note?" He indicates the congealed mass that was inside the nycaloth's pouch.

Adamant nods and silently prays again, thanking the Host. He pulls the pouch away from the demon's body and finds a clear piece of ground to dump out the contents. Using a stick he will poke around to see if anything solid remains.

[Jeff]

Jul 12, 2018 12:42:45 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin asks the first question: "Who did you ally with against us?"

The jawbone creaks open and the fiend's disembodied voice, much quieter than it had been in life, says: "The reanimated carcass of the hag who birthed you, were it my choice."

---

Per the spell:

Answers are usually brief, cryptic, or repetitive, and the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to it or it recognizes you as an enemy.

[Jeff]

It takes a little while, but Adamant is able to extract and separate the pouch's contents, all of which, once removed, could be simply rinsed with water to get clean enough to handle properly. He finds:

- 16 platinum pieces.

- Two large, palm-sized dice very likely made of solid bone. It can't be human bone; each die is carved from a single bone. Each carved with a symbol that Adamant suspects is in the Abyssal alphabet. The characters somehow look profane, but he assumes they're simply numbers.

- Some sort of misshapen, rust-colored jerky, and it looks like it's been gnawed on by sharp teeth. Adamant thinks it might be some variety of flesh-and-blood creature's internal organ, but it's shrunken and dried and tough.

- An strangely shaped and also palm-sized prism like an imperfect octahedron but with its angles rounded off. It looks and feels like amber, but it's blueish in color and there is some sort of dark shape embedded within it.

[Dave W.]

Jul 12, 2018 14:24:16 GMT -4 Jeff said:

It takes a little while, but Adamant is able to extract and separate the pouch's contents, all of which, once removed, could be simply rinsed with water to get clean enough to handle properly. He finds:

- 16 platinum pieces.

- Two large, palm-sized dice very likely made of solid bone. It can't be human bone; each die is carved from a single bone. Each carved with a symbol that Adamant suspects is in the Abyssal alphabet. The characters somehow look profane, but he assumes they're simply numbers.

- Some sort of misshapen, rust-colored jerky, and it looks like it's been gnawed on by sharp teeth. Adamant thinks it might be some variety of flesh-and-blood creature's internal organ, but it's shrunken and dried and tough.

- An strangely shaped and also palm-sized prism like an imperfect octahedron but with its angles rounded off. It looks and feels like amber, but it's blueish in color and there is some sort of dark shape embedded within it.

Adamant gathers some seawater and washes the items clean.
- He puts the 16 platinum in his pack for now intending to share it when things settle.
- He wraps up the prism in a bit of cloth and sets it aside. He's eager to share this with Belarin to see what he can make of it, but the human is busy talking to the demon's shade.
- He buries the jerky quietly.
- Then he finds a nice sized, flat rock and uses his hammer to smash the obscene dice to dust.

[Ken]

Belarin chuckles. Then he asks the second question, "There was a female necromancer with a mask in the inn whose roof you were on. Where did she go?"