SESSION 18: COLD BLOODED
Early the next morning they awake to the sound of little squeaking noises.
Halee sits bolt upright in bed, trying to work out what it is. She kicks Ansic to wake him but then looking across the room she sees Thomas. He's sitting in the corner on a small stool. And, he's dangling little bits of meat from his fingers. Between his legs, there is a baby crocodile, sitting on the floor. It looks up at Thomas and squeaks as he holds another piece of meat for it to jump up and take from his hand.
"Jeez, Thomas," Halee exclaims, "you scared me. Where did you get that from?"
"From Elder Julich," Thomas responds. "I was talking to him about raising crocodiles and training them and he told me I could have one as a present for what we were doing to kill all the orcs and goblins. He offered to sell me one of his best guard dogs too. A dogs a big responsibility through so I told him I'd get back to him. I'm trying to train him. I haven't named him yet. What do you reckon would be a good name for a crock?"
Ansic stares at Thomas for a second, rubs his head, and then turns over and goes back to sleep. Halee, a bit shocked by it all doesn't immediately respond.
Looking down at the floor Thomas' voice becomes darker, "Halee….Halee I'm not sure if I like it here much. I mean all the halfling slaves. It doesn't feel right. Goblins, yeah ok. You know, they're monsters and evil but halflings. They're mostly neutral, like you and me. And the way they look at Ris. I don't like that."
Risandor sleeps on blissfully, not fully realising there is a protective soul looking after him.
Shuffling his feet Thomas continues, "maybe, maybe we should, you know, help the little fellas. Maybe we could get a little revolt going, help some of them escape to a safer land. What do you reckon Halee?"
Halee immediately reacts, "Hey, hey, hey. Thomas. Lower your voice. I don't like this any more than you but to these people they are doing nothing wrong. And the walls have ears"
"But there are a lot of them halflings. Might be too much for the town to handle. Some would get away."
"I dunno. You might be right but ¾ of them will probably be killed in the process. Did you see how weak some of them were. And anyway do you want Elder Julich to get killed during an escape or a riot? What about Frau Worishofen or Junker Amwolf?"
"No. Guess not. He seemed like a good family man. And Frau Worishofen and Amwolf were nice too. But then they all had slaves too. I don't understand it Halee. How can you enslave someone? It doesn't seem right."
"Let me sleep on it Thomas. I'll come up with something. I don't like it either."
An hour or so later Halee wakes and goes down to collect the breakfast from Eldred Hester. "Did you talk to Thomas?" Eldred enquires.
"Why yes I did." Halee responds. "He's quite fond of Risandor and isn't interested in selling him but he does appreciate you enquiring discretely. Very gentlemanly of you."
Later that day the party visits Fenton at The Iron Shoe. Fenton is his usual gruff but efficient self and is quick to transact with the party. Cord quickly swaps his scale mail armour for a chain shirt. He knows that it'll reduce his AC but he wants the better speed and reduction in dex penalties that comes with the lighter equipment. Risandor buys a buckler and immediately attaches it to his hand and marvels at how it leaves his left hand free for waving and dramatic effect. Why didn't he think of this earlier? Uthalin swaps out his scale mail for a breast plate. Whilst it soaks up most of his funds he knows the extra protection will help in fighting the orcs.
Thanking Fenton, most of the party go back to The Salty Tusk but Risandor and Halee see if they can talk to some of the local faithful to enquire if any would buy potions on their behalf from Heinrich, at a discount. They think about it a while but then work out there aren't a lot of good options. They could just ask a random stranger, but that's high risk because if it fails they might inform Heinrich. They could ask Fenton or Eldred but Fenton's a gruff 
that probably wouldn't do them a favour and Eldred's just as likely to run to Heinrich to let him know that the party of ‘outsiders' is trying to circumvent the rules.
They decide that the safest course of action is for the party members to pony up 50gp each and buy 3 healing potions between them. Risandor and Halee talk about hiring some extra protection, maybe two swordsmen and two archers.
They decide it's late and they'll talk about that tomorrow.
DEW
