An honourable challenge

Hawk is the first to speak.

"So the women at the brothel are changelings? They're not what they appear to be?"

Avalon does his best to take the information in his stride.

"Oh yes, Changelings can look like anyone they want to within reason. I believe that there is a certain amount of skill involved on their behalf though and it takes practice."

Amelie nods in agreement as the Halfling speaks. Avalon still isn't sure how he feels about the new information though, and decides to change the subject.

"So, what should be out next move? I seem to hold a certain amount of political sway within my house, thanks to the fact that I am Dragonmarked. We could go and talk to someone there, see how they can help us?"

Everyone agrees that it is a sensible suggestion, so Avalon and Dua head over to Starilaskur's House of Healing. Once there they soon manage to get an audience with the acting head of that house, Cade d'Jorasco.

"So let me get this straight," says Cade, "there is an invasion coming, but you don't know when, from where, by whom, why or how?"

Dua and Avalon both wince at Cade's brief but pretty accurate surmise of what they have told him. They reluctantly nod before Cade continues.

"Well, I'd love to be able to help, but since the Daelkyr invasion ten thousand years ago, rumours of an invasion seem to surface every few year or so. War and preparation for war are costly things, and with the Last War only just finishing, no-one will want to hear about an invasion coming, whether it is or not."

"The best that I can do, is to send a report to my contacts within the house, and mention that I have heard a rumour of an invasion. If I’m vague in my report then hopefully people will ask questions of their own contacts instead of pressing me for information that I can't provide. In the mean time, you'll have to continue working on your side of things to discover as much as possible."

Feeling a little deflated but sympathetic to Cade's response, Avalon and Dua head back to the Horn Blowers Inn. They recount their meeting to Hawk, Janin and Vaelas.

"Grrrr, it looks like all our hopes now rely on this Kalashtar finding us an Atavist contact," comments Hawk. "I give up, I'm off to bed."

The others soon retire too. Avalon is the last leave the common room of the Inn, and his Halfling curiosity gets the better of him. He heads back to the brothel up the road and pays for another encounter with the same "brunette Halfling" that he got to know previously.

The night passes and a sunny early-summer morning greets the heroes as they wake. They each take breakfast and then pursue their own goals for the morning, agreeing to meet up and head to the "Humble Host Inn" for early afternoon to meet up with the Kalashtar.

With the exception of Hawk, they all arrive at the inn and take a seat. Noting that the Humble Host is quiet, they comment on it to the barman and he says that is has been quiet all day.

Hours pass and there is no sign of any Kalashtar. The inn does get a little busier, but quieter than the day before. Finally by late evening, when the sun is setting Vaelas speaks up.

"I don't like this. Kalashtar are supposed to be trustworthy and honourable. The fact that this one has not kept his appointment with us is a concern. I wonder if he is either laid dead somewhere as a result of what we told him, or he has sold us out. I suggest that we return to the Horn Blowers inn and keep an eye out for trouble."

They all agree and casting wary glances around them, they head back to their lodgings. They pass the rest of the evening there, noting that the inn is actually quite a bit busier than normal. Amelie comments that she has no idea why, but isn't turning her back on the extra coinage.

As the evening gets late, a human woman enters carrying a basket of flowers. She meanders around the tables in the inn, hawking he wares with little success.

Vaelas offers to buy one, and is only marginally surprised to see a small note of paper wrapped around the flower stem. He closes his hand around it to conceal it from any observers.

Looking back at the flower seller, she winks at him and her face seems to almost shimmer or ripple. He waits until she leaves and speaks quietly to his companions.

"That flower seller was a Changeling I believe. Did you see her face when she winked?"

"No, her face was too well hidden by her head scarf." Replies Janin.

"Well," continues Vaelas, "whoever she was, she gave me a note with the flower. I think we should retire to our rooms and I’ll let you know what it says. Meet in Hawks room in five minutes."

Five minutes later, in Hawks room, Vaelas reads aloud the note that was wrapped around the flower stem.

"You're being followed, expect an attack during the night, I’ll be in touch tomorrow."

The room falls awkwardly silent. Hawk glances out of the window, and looks down onto the stable yard at the back of the inn. There he sees three human men, wearing chain shirts, but carrying no weapons. They are clearly loitering and have a shifty look about them.

One glances up and sees Hawk looking down. The human beckons to Hawk and then makes a throat-slitting gesture with his hand before laughing. Hawk simply scowls back.

"It looks like our night-time attackers have arrived a little early. They're in the stable yard now."

All five of the heroes in the room also then hear the sound of movement on the roof above their room. Dua swallows and then speaks.

"It sounds like another fellow might be on the roof above us. Can I suggest that we continue this talk in my room at the front of the inn?"

They relocate and lock the door behind them. They quickly discuss what to do. Fight? Flee? Fight where? Flee where? After a few minutes they have not reached a conclusion, but they fall silent when there is a knock at the door.

"Who is it, what do you want?" Commands Vaelas.

Janin squats down and peers through the keyhole at a distance. He sees a single human sized figure outside, wearing a chain shirt. Janin does a throat slitting motion with his hand, to imply that it is one of the same men that were in the stable yard moments ago.

A clear, well-spoken voice speaks from beyond the door.

"We have business together. I suggest that you meet us in the stable yard in a few moments so that no-one else needs to be hurt."

"I don't think so, clear off!" Vaelas replies.

There is momentary silence before the voice speaks again.

"Fine, we'll do it your way, but any innocents that die as a result; their blood will be on your hands."

With that, a single set of footsteps are heard walking along the corridor and down the stairs.