Chapter Five

## Close Encounters of the Furred Kind

**Moradag 11th of Biriskjur 1770.**

In the woods to the north of Russet, as one day gives way to the next, a group of travel companions find themselves at an impasse over the fate of Bertram Clyde, who they suspect to be a changeling spy.

Bertram lies on the floor, shocked and confused, holding a wound on his head granted to him just moments before, by way of Booker Longsparkle’s thunder-gauntlet. Nixe Airendil looms nearby, shortsword drawn.

Between the man on the floor and his would-be executioners stands Ryan “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, whose precision blast-of-energy had scorched the earth to stave off the killing blow, and Brandyr Greybeard, a perpetual advocate for peace and mercy.

Professor Plymouth Argyle and local trapper, Combine Rostselmash, having yet to choose sides in the matter, watch as the action unfolds, lit only by the stars and the dying embers of the campfire.

A fraught silence hangs in the air for a moment, then Booker acquiesces to stand down and allow Fitz and Brandyr to interrogate the suspect. The dwarven Faenor places his hands upon Bertram’s head and when he removes them, the wound is gone. The flesh knitted back together by holy magics.

Using a combination of gentle persuasion and intimidation (the old good guard, bad guard routine), they managed to confirm that the man was a shapechanger. They learned that there was an original Bertram Clyde, but this version does not know what became of him. They learned that his people, The Quern, have visited other planes and that those planes were destroyed, but he didn’t know how or why.

Lastly, they asked the man if he had killed before, to which he answered *“no”.* They then asked whether his people had killed before. He said that he couldn’t be sure, but *“probably, yes”.*

During this time, another conversation was taking place between Nixe and Combine, who had recently bonded over shared hunting tales. The trapper spoke of Fitz’s demonstration of power that they had witnessed earlier. He rightly stated that they do not permit “his kind” to study magics and that it should be reported to the guard.

Nixe managed to persuade the man that it was merely a trick, like fireworks, an explanation that Combine seemed happy to accept. “*I too move here to get away from laws of city”* said he “*I leave it to you and yours to decide”.*

Distracted by these conversations however, all but Plymouth were caught off guard as three beasts emerged into the clearing. A sabre-toothed tiger, clearly injured and pursued by two erratically aggressive dire-wolves.

Plymouth, acting without hesitation, worked his magic words on the wounded animal and spurred his teammates on in one fell swoop, but soon found himself beset upon by one of the wolves and severely injured. The second wolf launched itself at Booker, but found the gnome too heavily protected within his newly forged armour.

With spear, arrow and blade, Fitz, Nixe and Combine came to Plymouth's aid and made short work of the dire-wolf that assailed him. Brandyr, seeing his opportunity to spare the changeling, used his sorcerous ways to send him a message, telling him to run. All he asked, was that the man not betray them. As Bertram fled into the woods, he sent a message in return; *"thank you".*

The injured sabre-toothed tiger, slammed into the dire-wolf attacking Booker, knocking it prone and clawing at it, before a few choice words from Plymouth sent the oversized cat fleeing into the woods in fear. The rest of the party finished off the remaining beast with relative ease, bursting into a billowing cloud of black pus and bile as it died and confirming what the party had suspected, that they had been afflicted with Lyssa's Blight.

The party made their way back into town, and when they arrived at The Flange and Whistle, they found that their beds had already been paid for by Gart Steakhammer, who had also left a copy of Algar's letter for Brandyr.

Despite it now being on the cusp of daybreak, the group found that they were not ready to turn in for the night, so instead Plymouth took a while to identify the remaining items that they had recovered from Shaft H, discovering that the whip and rings had magical properties. As he worked, they cleared the air about what had just transpired, from Fitz's powers to the escaped changeling and what it meant for the world.

The group ruminated and reminisced. They had accomplished a lot in the last few days and now found themselves looking at some downtime before the Lighting Rail returned to Rime for the journey home.

Next: Chapter Six. Dead Ends