The Dauntless

Dorrak turns back into the portal room and approaches Renali. "Renali, I'm sorry that the portal home for you failed. If it can't be fixed immediately, do you want to stay at the citadel on the other side of those stairs?" he gestures to the ruined staircase. "We just acquired ownership rights to it, and you're welcome to stay there while we work on finding a way home for you."

Renali looks over from the melted slag around the ruined archway. "Hm? Oh, thank you. That would be nice, now that I don't have to keep tabs on the Cinderclaws."

Antoinette places the rolled up deed in the scroll case she stores her paper in. She walks out into the portal area. "In that case, we're headed back to town to officially claim our ownership of the deed. Come along with us and we'll make sure you have somewhere better than a web tent to sleep in tonight."

"Ah... I would rather not if it's all the same to you?" Renali eyes the floor. "I'd like to keep examining the portals. Stonework and magical craftsmanship aren't exactly my forte but I'm skilled enough I can at least figure out what went wrong."

"Not a problem, if you can't get through the ruined stairs, the citadel's a few hours from here outside, you can come there later," Dorrak replies.

The Dauntless return to town and bring the deed to the Office of Ownership at town hall. After a significant amount of confusion on the part of the clerk and a search of the records to find the notarized document confirming the terms of the deed in the office, they're able to affirm the transfer of ownership of Citadel Altaerein into the possession of Antoinette de Valois, Dorrak Hakdarson, Django Lovell and Suki Redscale. In addition, after giving your report to the Council they're satisfied with your work and reward you with 30 gold pieces.

As the group exits the council building, Antoinette looks up to the sky. "It is getting late, but we still have some time. Perhaps we should go back to the citadel and talk to the current residents about our plans to take ownership of it. Then we can spend our first night there as its owners."

By the time you've finished all of your business in Breachill and made the trek back up to Citadel Altaerein, the sun has disappeared behind the Menador Mountains, casting the sky in the deep blues and purples of twilight. As you enter the castle, a glow rises over the walls from the courtyard, and you find, following it in, that the Bumblebrashers have set up camp beneath the stars with a large bonfire set up in the center. The mood is fairly subdued, and in addition to all of the goblins you rescued from Calmont, you see Warble snuggled up next to Chief Helba beneath a blanket in front of the bonfire.

"Good evening," Dorrak calls as they approach, hailing the Bumblebrashers and addressing Chief Helba specifically. "We have good news, and a longer discussion to have. Good news first, the vaults are completely safe, including the tunnels past the ruined staircase."

"Bonsoir, Bumblebrashers," Antoinette says as she walks into view. "The longer discussion concerns the fact that our group now owns this citadel by right of deed. You will not be kicked out or forcibly removed. Quite the opposite. For as long as we own this citadel, your residency here is guaranteed until such time as you see fit to leave. We will be repairing the citadel and turning it into a true fortress once more."

Helba straightens suddenly, causing Warble to start falling before she catches herself, and grins widely. "That's fantastic. Hey everyone!" she shouts, catching the rest of the tribe's attention. "The longshanks cleared the vaults! We can go home!" The other goblins let out a loud cheer, and the mood immediately lifts. Within moments, what was previously a quiet night in erupts into a raucous party.[/b]

"One more thing," Dorrak calls out, his voice deep and carrying well. "There are a few others still here, a pair of kobolds and a bugbear. With your consent, they may need to stay here for some time."

"I mean," Helba shrugs. "We've all been neighbors for months and been fine. It's your castle now, so it's your decision."

"Oh, I hadn't realized. That's fine, we are not kicking anyone out," Dorrak chuckles and shrugs, then waves on for the carousing to continue and moves off to the side, resting and enjoying the atmosphere.

As Dorrak goes to rest Antoinette starts making her way down to the vaults in search of the kobolds.

Pib and Zarf are busy lounging in their lair, a pair of dead, half-devoured rabbit lying on the ground near the side. Pib answers the door when Antoinette answers. "Ah, mighty saviour," he says with an air of gravity that's betrayed by the squeaky pitch of his voice. He opens the door fully and extends an inviting arm. "Have you come to pay tribute to the mighty dragons Pib and Zarf?"

Antoinette smiles as she enters and bows. ”Of a sort. I am here with news of great interest to you two. You see the citadel above you has recently come into the possession of my compatriots and I. We found the deed in a cut off section of the basement. I wanted to inform you that we will be moving into the area above these vaults and repairing the structure, but your lair will remain yours.”

"Ah, good," Pib says. "You will be worthy neighbors, so long as you remember to pay your respect and tribute to your dragon friends."

"But of course," Antoinette says with a smile and a bow. She flicks Pib a gold coin before walking off. "For your horde."

Remembering that there was one other who needed the announcement broken to them, Dorrak walks around the corner to Yoletcha's bed fort. Given his experience approaching it last time, he squats down a few paces away from it. "Yoletcha? Apologies for bothering you, could we talk?"

There's a bit of rustling within the fort one of the many blankets lining the outside is pushed aside, and Yoletcha sticks her head out. "The fuck do you want?"

Dorrak raises his hands peacefully. "Just wanted to let you know that we'll be living here in the citadel now, we own it. You won't be affected at all, we're not kicking anyone out, but there will be some construction and repairs happening."

"... you're fucking kidding me." Yoletcha stares at you incredulous, but when it becomes clear that Dorrak is serious, she grumbles loudly and withdraws her head. After a minute or so of more rustling, she emerges with a bindle over her shoulder and her sword at her hip. "Gods fucking damnit," she grumbles as she makes for the door. "I finally find a good, secure, human-free place and of course they come in and take the place over."

Dorrak blinks in surprise at that sudden decision. "I'm sorry you feel that way," he grimaces. "We don't want to force you out. You are welcome to stay, we can work with you to arrange a way for us both to be comfortable. If you'd rather leave... then I wish you luck."

Yoletcha's only response is a middle finger raised over her shoulder as she exits the building.