Aozaki Aoko [523-525] (Patreon)

Chapter 523: Easthaven

“It sounds incredibly arrogant, and also hard to believe,” Edgin remarked. “What kind of ‘dragon’ could be in Icewind Dale? A white dragon?”

“Judging by the description in the letter, it doesn’t seem so,” Aoko shook her head. “A white dragon wouldn’t devour Kadalin magic stones to strengthen itself.”

“So where is his father now?” Simon asked. “The Underdark?”

“The letter isn’t that detailed,” Aoko took the letter out and spread it for everyone to see. “It only mentions a ‘fortress among the mountains.’ There are so many mountains in Icewind Dale; who knows where exactly?”

“I don’t think there’s much to worry about,” Holga said nonchalantly. “There are plenty of people eyeing the Ten Towns now. We can just focus on the matter at hand and deal with the rest one by one. Sooner or later, we’ll figure out the truth behind all this.”

“Sometimes, even if you don’t seek trouble, trouble finds you,” Edgin sighed. “But Holga’s right. For now, let’s look for the missing items in Caer-Konig.”

The commander’s barracks did indeed have a pile of items. Apart from several hundred gold coins stored in Nildar Sunblight’s small vault, they easily found the magical lanterns lost by the Shorard sisters, snow from the Frozenfar Expeditions shop, and a pouch full of pearls that also belonged to them.

Besides these, there were various small items stolen from the people of Caer-Konig. Though none were valuable, for some reason, the gray dwarves searching for Chardalyn magic stones had stolen them all. Aoko suspected they might have some kind of kleptomania.

Aoko’s greatest find, aside from these stolen goods, was a crate of uncharged Chardalyn magic stones in the outpost. This was likely the main reason Nildar Sunblight built the outpost and stole from Caer-Konig.

Nildar himself had carried several charged Chardalyn stones, but these were destroyed during the previous fierce battle. Realizing he was doomed, the crazed gray dwarf activated all his stones at once, causing a brief magical network disruption.

Had Aoko not used her maze to banish him into a temporary demi-plane, the entire outpost would probably have been blown sky-high. This alone was proof of the dwarves’ madness and evil.

“Is there something wrong with these stones?” Simon asked as he saw Aoko silently examining a Chardalyn magic stone.

“This one we got from Hwafo before,” Aoko explained, placing a second stone beside the first. “This one was collected by the duergar. Can you see the difference?”

“The duergar’s Chardalyn stone lacks the aura of the Nine Hells…” Simon paused and then shared his observation. “Is it because these stones haven’t been charged yet?”

“I don’t think so,” Aoko shook her head and placed a stone charged with magic missiles next to the others. “Normal charging doesn’t leave this kind of aura. The one from Hwafo must have been charged by someone connected to the Nine Hells.”

“So that means,” Aoko paused, looking at the group, “the ones collecting the Chardalyn stones are not just the duergar led by the Sunblight father and son. The stone in Hwafo’s possession was likely made by the forces of the Nine Hells.”

“Damn, how come even a backwater like Ten Towns is attracting so many weirdos?” Edgin cursed irritably after hearing Aoko’s deduction.

He couldn’t be blamed. Edgin had returned home to settle down for the sake of his family, seeking a peaceful environment. Yet, peace didn’t last long. Now, in Icewind Dale, from gods to devils, everyone seemed to have gathered, turning the land into utter chaos.

“No helping it. Everyone’s using the Everlasting Rime as an opportunity to stir up trouble. After all, the darkness is the criminal’s best accomplice,” Aoko said indifferently. “Let’s head back to Caer-Konig. I have some ideas for our next steps that I need to sort out.”

Edgin stopped complaining and joined the group in organizing the stolen goods, stacking them on the sleds the duergar had also stolen.

However, since their own sled dogs were still outside the outpost and not enough in number, Aoko had to use summoning magic to call up a few hellhounds.

Strictly speaking, hellhounds aren’t actually dogs—they’re fiends that just happen to look like dogs. But as long as they can pull the sleds, nobody cared what they actually were. The only complaint was the sulfur smell, which they tolerated.

Besides the loot, Edgin suggested taking some weapons from the armory. With so many troublemakers around, Ten Towns needed as many arms as possible. If Caer-Konig didn’t need them, they could be brought back to Targos.

Everyone agreed with Edgin’s proposal. Aoko summoned invisible servants to move crates of the duergar’s crossbows, bolts, armor, and dwarf-forged swords and axes—taking the most useful first. The rest Aoko burned, to prevent other duergar from using them to harm the townspeople.

The group split into three snowmobiles and, once again, used hidden tunnels to return to Caer-Konig.

…

Trovus was amazed that Aoko’s team had not only solved the thefts but also recovered the stolen items. He insisted Edgin drink with him all night, but soon retreated under the murderous glare of the Shorard sisters.

The owner of the Frozenfar Expeditions shop handed over half the pearls from the pouch as a reward to Aoko’s party, while the Shorard sisters from the Northern Lights inn granted them a permanent 50% discount and a generous sum of gold.

Aoko herself cared little for Faerûn’s currency, but money was still better than nothing, especially since it was a pain to spend the gold bars she’d brought herself.

“I have a few places I want to check out,” Aoko said to the others after the celebration, sitting at the dinner table. “But the top priority now is Easthaven. Not only is Nildar Sunblight’s brother nearby, but I also heard the Arcane Brotherhood sent someone there.”

“For Ten Towns, whatever these people are up to can’t be good.”

Chapter 524: Dzaan

No one objected to Aoko’s proposal. After all, what could be more suspiciously connected to the Everlasting Rime than resurrecting a dragon or a group of evil wizards seeking a lost wizard’s tower?

So everyone agreed—the next step was to investigate Easthaven, at least to find out what kind of dragon the Sunblight dwarves wanted to resurrect. As for the Arcane Brotherhood and the wizard tower, that could wait.

After a few days’ rest in Caer-Konig, Edgin suggested returning to Targos first, but since Targos was in the opposite direction from Easthaven, he ultimately asked Aoko to use teleportation magic to take him home for a quick visit.

His reason was simple: after his wife had been resurrected, Edgin suffered some PTSD. The last time she died was because he wasn’t home, giving the Red Wizards of Thay a chance to strike.

Aoko didn’t mind. She took Edgin, Holga, and a bunch of the dwarves’ crossbows and bolts back, distributing the weapons among trustworthy people in Targos.

Edgin handled the distribution, as he was a longtime member of the Harpers and had a keen sense for intelligence work and judging people’s character.

Kira’s cold had fully healed. The young girl was overjoyed to see her father and godmother return, since she hadn’t left the house since falling ill and was going stir-crazy.

But Edgin and Zia refused to let their daughter go out to play. Ten Towns were still dangerous—even Targos, Edgin’s own home, showed signs of Zhentarim activity. There was no way they’d let Kira go out.

Kira was unhappy about it, but in times like these, a child’s opinion wasn’t important. Besides, Aoko secretly cast a triggered divination spell on Kira so that if she ever left the house, an alarm would notify Edgin and Zia.

Once he was sure his family was safe, Edgin returned the old sled dog “Boy” to Garrett, as the dog was too old for strenuous work now.

With everything arranged, the three rejoined the others in Caer-Konig, gathered Doric and Simon, and set off for Easthaven.

Easthaven lies south of Caer-Konig, both towns on the shores of Lake Dinneshere, but vastly different in scale.

If Caer-Konig was a village, Easthaven was at least a large town—second only to Bryn Shander in Ten Towns.

The town’s name comes from its origins: a group of thieves from the Duchy of Velen refused to submit to the Zhentarim and were driven out, eventually settling in Icewind Dale.

Even now, one of Easthaven’s unique features is the ever-present warning: “Watch your purse!” Pickpocketing is legal here, a homage to the town’s founders.

Aoko’s team took their snowmobiles straight across the frozen lake, reaching the city in an afternoon.

After paying the entry fee, most of the group’s money was stored in Aoko’s extradimensional space for safety, leaving only a little pocket change, as it was better than matching wits with the local thieves.

“Honestly, I’ve never seen a city founded by thieves before,” Aoko whispered to Edgin as she noticed the many unfriendly stares on the streets. “I’m curious—why do so many people still want to come here?”

“You have to understand, whether Faerûnians or Ten Towners, everyone craves adventure and freedom,” Edgin replied carelessly. “Is there anywhere more free than this?”

“Freedom—how much evil is done in your name?” Aoko joked, quoting a famous line, then shifted her attention to a bulletin board that caught her eye.

On it was an execution announcement.

A Red Wizard from Thay was accused of murdering several Chultan adventurers he’d hired. Easthaven’s spokesperson, Danneth Waylen, had issued a temporary decree: the Red Wizard would be burned alive.

This announcement drew a crowd of locals. Everyone was interested; even Edgin stopped to chat with the crowd, hoping for more information.

Edgin’s bardic skills combined supernatural power and charisma. The locals couldn’t resist a Harper bard’s charm, and soon told him everything they knew.

After asking several people, Edgin finally learned the Red Wizard’s name: “Dzaan.”

“That matches the name I heard in Luskan,” Aoko whispered to her companions. “He’s the Red Wizard the Arcane Brotherhood is looking for. He’s been caught for a while, it seems.”

“Villains always stick together,” Edgin grumbled. “He’ll be executed soon. What do we do next?”

“The Brotherhood wants him because he knows something about the ancient wizard’s tower,” Simon guessed. “We should try to get information from him before he’s executed.”

“Killing him and using speak with dead probably isn’t a good idea here,” Doric reminded Simon. “He was sentenced to death for murder, after all.”

“That’s not a problem,” Aoko shrugged. “As long as Dzaan isn’t a lich like Szass Tam, I can use enchantment magic to get information from him. If he got caught by the guards here, he can’t be that powerful.”

“Let’s do that, then,” Edgin said. “Let’s find a place to stay, get a map of Easthaven, and figure out where the Red Wizard is being held!”

Chapter 525: Please Teach Me, Master Edgin!

Aoko’s party didn’t linger on the main street. Their equipment was now quite lavish, and though they didn’t fear thieves, it was better not to tempt fate. Finding a place to stay was the priority.

After touring the city by sled for a while, they finally reached the White Lady Inn by the northwest docks, near the town hall in the north.

The inn looked full of historical charm—in other words, it was so old you could smell the mildew. That wasn’t an illusion; they could smell it the moment they stepped inside.

Aoko, taking her first step into the inn, heard the floorboards creak under her feet and worried that anyone heavier might fall right through.

“Oh, hello! I’m Reinaldo, owner of the White Lady Inn. Welcome!” A cheerful halfling jumped down from a box behind the bar and ran over to greet them. “Are you here to stay or to eat?”

“We’ll need two rooms,” Edgin replied. “One with two beds, one with three.”

They would stay in the Leomund’s Tiny Hut later, but appearances had to be kept up.

“Just a moment!” Reinaldo dashed back behind the bar and soon returned with two numbered keys, handing them to Edgin and Aoko. “Your rooms are on the second floor. If you need food, dinner’s served downstairs before 6:00 p.m.!”

Edgin nodded and thanked him. As he was heading upstairs, he noticed a lute hanging behind the bar where Reinaldo worked. He glanced at the owner—perhaps a bard? But he sensed no bardic energy from Reinaldo. Was he really a bard?

Aoko didn’t think much of it. She and the others went upstairs.

After finding their rooms, she went through the usual routine—casting various divination and protection spells to ensure safety—then used Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion in a corner of the room.

Before long, Simon knocked on their door. Holga answered.

“Is Edgin here?” Simon asked, glancing around. “Did he stay downstairs?”

In fact, Edgin was still at the bar, chatting with the innkeeper Reinaldo.

After revealing his Harper bard identity, Reinaldo’s eyes lit up, and he generously offered Edgin a mug of local ale on the house.

Unlike other towns, Easthaven’s trade routes weren’t completely cut off. Even in the Everlasting Rime, they maintained a reasonable standard of living, so ale was still available.

Reinaldo eagerly discussed all things bardic with Edgin, and the two even played a duet on their lutes.

To Edgin’s surprise, Reinaldo wasn’t a real bard—just a fan of bardic culture who lacked proper instruction.

This gave Edgin an idea. His bardic instincts told him that if he helped Reinaldo become a real bard, it would help with both information and their lodging costs.

And in Edgin’s view, Reinaldo’s years of effort and musical skill meant he was just a step away from becoming a bard.

“You—are you serious?!” Reinaldo was so shocked by Edgin’s assessment that he dropped the glass he’d been cleaning. “Please, what must I do? I’ll pay any price!”

He jumped onto the bar and grabbed Edgin’s hands excitedly.

“Calm down, Reinaldo!” Edgin was startled, but quickly reassured him. “You have real talent. You just never had a professional teacher.”

“Please, teach me, Master Edgin!” Reinaldo gripped his hand even tighter, nearly beside himself with excitement.

At this moment, Aoko and the others came downstairs and saw Reinaldo holding Edgin’s hands with an intense look.

“Are we… interrupting something?” Aoko said, backing away awkwardly but politely. “But Edgin, think of your family. Zia is waiting for you at home…”

“It’s not what you think!” Edgin panicked, pulling a hand free and striking a dramatic pose. “I just want to teach Reinaldo some bardic skills!”

“What bardic skills?” Holga asked suspiciously. “You mean the tricks you used to pick up girls at the tavern…?”

I’m doomed, Edgin thought in despair. Holga knew him too well—his heroic image with his teammates was ruined.

After a chaotic round of explanations, Edgin finally calmed Reinaldo down, and Aoko’s group learned the real reason for their fiery interaction.

“…That’s the situation,” Edgin said tiredly, pinching his nose. “While we’re staying at the White Lady, I’ll take some time to help Reinaldo become a real bard.”

“Thank you so much, Master Edgin!” Reinaldo said gratefully. “Your room and board in Easthaven are on the house!”

Who would have thought Edgin was so useful? Aoko was surprised, but it made sense. For someone seeking a path to extraordinary power, room and board was a small price.

“Oh, by the way,” Reinaldo offered the group his best drinks, “tonight, the White Lady Inn is holding a Séance. Would you like to join?”

A Séance? Aoko looked at the halfling innkeeper strangely—was he a cultist in disguise?