Phandalin 3

Author's note

:

So this one is going under "NonConsent." And since I do NOT want to ambush anyone who is following the story but may not be into that, I have put up a few warning signs for the scene. At the beginning of that vignette you will see

**Trigger Warning

.

If you do not want to see anything to do with that scene? Then skip to the end of it where it says,

**End Trigger Warning

.

If you want to read the vignette but skip the actual sex scene Read on until you see,

***Trigger Alert

. And just jump to the end of the sex scene where it says,

***End Trigger Alert

.

Thank you

Chapter 9

A cleric of Tymora walked into the Sleeping Giant tap house. Shanjan Kwan thought that sounded like the beginning of a good joke. He was trained as a Necromancer and was a pretty good one, if he did so himself. Not much work for necromancers in Phandalin though. Instead, he had been working as a lumberjack to make ends meet. That is, until a group of adventurers came into town. They had no mage, so he seized the chance. Not a day later the Elf Cleric came to them with a job. Go talk to a banshee about Bowgentle's lost spellbook...

Talk

... to a

banshee

...?

Yeah.

He advised against it.

He was overruled by the others with a "How bad could it be?" kind of attitude. And now he's praying to any god that will listen, that these idiots don't get him killed. Again.

The town of Conyberry, wasn't. It

was

about 12 burned out shells of homes that had been overgrown with greenery at least 50 years ago.

"Found the trail!" Bartle yelled from the far side of the town.

He was their thief and as such was acting as their scout, out ahead of them looking for trouble.

"Any signs of trouble?" Kit yelled back.

She was a fencer of some sort. Her and Devin, a big bruiser of a fighter, made up their assault team. While Gorum the Hill Dwarf Cleric and Shanjan made up their support team. That sounded impressive but Shanjan was more concerned that they were yelling in the middle of nowhere. Like a bunch of juveniles on holiday!

"I am going to die. Again." He said as he shook his head.

"What was that?" Gorum asked.

"Nothing, just thinking." He shook his head once more as they followed the rest of their team into the woods.

The trail ran for quite a distance before Shanjan rounded a bend to hear, "

Foolish mortals. What do you want here

?"

He had been bringing up the rear. And these idiots had charged into her home without so much as a "We found it!"

"

Do you not know it is death to seek me out

?"

Crap. He was just about to rush to the doorway in the wooded dome. When he heard his compatriots give a battle cry. Followed quickly by a very loud shout of primal rage. Shanjan covered his ears quickly. But he soon realized it wasn't the Banshee's scream. Not the death scream anyway. Because his friends were not dead, or at least, not yet. No, they were very much alive as Agatha's shout sent them smashing through her walls. Sailing across the yard, to slam into the forest. He could hear the crunching of breaking bones as they collided with the woods. But they were very much alive when they jumped up and limped away. Without a single glance back toward him from any of them.

Shanjan sighed. "Good team." He nodded to himself. "Yeah, good team." He ended as he faced the doorway.

He took a breath and approached the entryway to the banshee's home. Knocking on the side of her doorway. He asked, "Lady Agatha? My name is Shanjan Kwan. I was hoping you might grant me a moment of your time, My Lady."

He heard a very feminine but very

angry

growl come from the interior.

"I am truly sorry for my associates behavior. I knew they were foolish but I did not realize they were

fool-hardy

..." When no response came he continued. "I never would have brought them with me, if I had known they were going to be so rude to you."

"

... Hmm, well, ...I do appreciate a genuine apology, Master Shanjan

."

"Thank you, Lady Agatha." He smiled. "May I?" He intimated to his coming inside of her home.

Shanjan watched as an apparition materialized into an incredibly beautiful elven maiden. She was floating, an ethereal creature, graceful and... He was in awe.

"

Of course. Please, do come in

."

Shanjan shook himself. "My apologies, Lady Agatha." He gave an embarrassed smile as he entered her home.

Her smile seemed pleased.

"

Would you care for some tea

?" She asked as she motioned him to be seated on her reclining couch.

"I would love some tea, thank you." Shanjan wanted to remain VERY polite.

He watched as, what he assumed was an unseen servant, poured hot water into a finely crafted Elven tea pot before adding the tea leaves.

"

You are a brave soul, Master Shanjan. To be sitting here having tea... with me.

"

She almost sang the last part. Shanjan smiled.

"Well, I haven't actually had the tea yet. So?" He joked.

"

True

." She laughed.

Soon a steaming cup of tea floated to him. As a small delicate table pushed itself across the floor to offer him sugar.

"May I be so bold as to ask, how long have you lived here, Lady?" He asked as he added sugar to his tea.

Agatha laughed. "

Ahhhh, long enough to have watched the Netherese find the Sarrukh vault

."

"Ha!" He laughed in shock. "You must have seen a great deal of the History of this valley."

"

Mm hm, is that what interests you

?"

Shanjan nodded in reply.

"

I would have thought it was power

."

He gave her a gentle laugh. "No, My Lady. For

power

I practice and study." He smiled.

She leaned close as she said, "

Well answered, Master Shanjan

." Smiling, she leaned back. "

Now, show me this gift you have brought. I must say, I have been extremely anxious to see it

."

"You know of it?"

"

Of course

." She shrugged. "

I like to keep my eye on what goes on around me. I saw that Cleric hire you and your friends.

"

She leaned in toward him as if she had a secret to impart. He couldn't help but lean in as well.

"

The gift, Shanjan.

" She whispered with a smile.

"Oh, right." He dug the silk wrapped parcel out of the inner pocket of his cloak. Before offering it to her with both hands. As the small package floated away, "To be honest, I was not sure if you even wanted it. Sister Garaele said you wouldn't speak to her."

"

Sister Garaele needs a lesson in basic manners

." When she saw him raise an eyebrow at her, she continued. "

Her friends should have never sent a Cleric to speak to a Banshee. She was so prepared for a fight that she simply barged right into my home. Without so much as an

"

i

f you please

."

"Oh, heh. I am sorry, My Lady."

She looked at him as the exquisite silver comb floated free of the silk wrapping.

"

You apologize far too often for the mistakes of others, Master Shanjan

.."

He sighed. "I seem to surround myself with people that make it necessary." He ended with a shake of his head.

Her laughter was melodic as the comb spun gently in front of her. "

New friends might serve you well then

."

His brows rose in mild surprise. "Are you...

looking

for an apprentice, My Lady?"

"

Hm

?!" She hummed in surprise as her eyes quickly flashed from the gorgeous comb to his face. "

Oh! I... Uh, I... I was going to refer you to Pickled Pete. When his caravan returns to town.

"

"Oh... I did not mean to overstep."

"

No, no. It's just...

" She sighed, which he found a little odd. What with her not needing to breathe and all. "

Are you not too old to be an apprentice?

"

"Hurtful."

"

You know what I mean.

" She swatted his shoulder, though he did not feel it.

He laughed. "I do. And I am. I'm not exactly

without

skill. But still, the chance to learn from someone with so much knowledge? The History alone would be worth it."

She shook her head. "

I have never had an apprentice before... But I am starting to enjoy the idea. Hmmm...

" She was pleased to see that he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut in the ensuing silence. "

...Alright.

"

"

REALLY!?

" He beamed a HUGE smile at her. She frowned at him. "Sorry." He cooled his excitement. "Where do I put my things?" He asked, as he looked around her home.

"

You cannot stay here!

" He looked crestfallen. "

Shanjan, I have lived alone for millennia.

" She sighed. "

I am a deplorable roommate.

" That got a laugh out of him. "

You will take this...

" A thin leather bound book floated toward him. "

Take it back to Phandalin and study it. I WILL want it back.

"

"Of course, what is it?"

"

Elephestron's Spellbook.

"

"Who?" He made a face.

She smiled. "

You will find out, it is part diary. And...

" She nodded. "

It will be important knowledge for you to have in a few years.

"

"Thank you, Lady Agatha." He smiled as he held up the book in gratitude.

"

My pleasure. And where as I may not be able to tolerate you living here. You are more than welcome to come visit as much as you want. Or if you should need anything.

"

"That sounds wonderful."

Their conversation continued for another Bell, until Shanjan started to pick up on little queues from his host. It was time to go. He made his excuses for leaving as he did not wish to upset the powerful practitioner. She made sure to give him a note for Sister Garaele. Telling her the last person Agatha knew of that had Bowgentle's Spellbook. And she gave him one last order.

"

Be sure to find Pete when he comes to town. You need to sign on with him and his people.

"

"Why, My Lady?" He shrugged.

"

Just know that it is important. Please do it.

"

Shanjan agreed before saying goodbye. Then he started a very happy two day walk back toward town.

ꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉ

Pete was finally good and solidly drunk.

"

If all of the girls were bells in a tower.

And I was a clapper, I'd bang one each hour

"

Ander shook his head in shame. Well, not really but he felt Pete would want him to play along. Artur and his men had brought their caravan to a secluded courtyard. A place that was easily watched over by the rest of the Guild.

"Why do you have to get so drunk, Pete?"

"Ha!" Pete nodded. "I got a lot of memories I'd like to forget, Love."

"Memories, like what you did for Artur and his people?" Donnabella asked.

Pete laughed harder. "Oh, no no no no. No, that was a GOOD night! A bloody sweaty terrifyin night but a good result... Had Rell at my left shoulder and Artur to my right. An a mob of deranged psychopaths dying by the gross in front of us."

"What happened?" Donnabella asked.

Pete shrugged and almost drained his jug of whiskey. He belched before saying, "The Shadow Thieves and Xanathar's had been going at it. Tryin to figure out WHO would run Waterdeep's crime. Some fool got the idea that Artur and his folks were hiding Xanathar's loot. Me an my five Skulkers were hiding in the shadows, tryin to get a lead on what was happenin. Then suddenly an army of low level thugs are rushing the warehouse Artur's people used as a home. Nothin inside but old folks, women and children."

"I yelled at Morgan to run for the rest o the City Watch. An dropped onto the twits before they could breach the front door. Lost Camile before Artur and Rell showed up with the rest of their crew. We lost a few more of his people as we fought through the evenin. But eventually the Watch showed up, pinning the Shadow fools between us. Leaving a mountain of dead in front of the old building."

Pete shrugged. "Not one of my worst memories... Anyway, in the morning Artur told me he and his people were headed to Goldenfields, to figure out what they would do next. Stayin in Waterdeep just wasn't worth it anymore." He took one last emptying drink from his jug and tossed it. "An that was the last time I saw Artur and his family... Until today."

Then he belched loud, passed out and pissed himself.

ꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉꖅꖅꖉꕢꕤꕥꕤꕢꖉ

Chapter 10

Oscar no thumbs, one of the two surviving members of the Redbrands, loved working at Alderleaf Farm. It was picturesque. Qelline's son, Carp, was easily excitable and fun to harass. It reminded him of how he used to bug his younger cousin's back when he still had a home. The work was not complicated but there was lots of it. And somewhat rewarding at the end of the day. And then there was Qelline.

He knew she was 45. But with her red hair in long braids, dark green eyes and freckles. She didn't look a day over twenty. But then IF the Halfling was forty-five, in human years, that would make her around 30.

"What are you staring at, NO - THUMBS?" She asked.

Cack! He'd been staring again. He shook himself and looked back to the potato barrels he was loading onto her wagon.

"Nothing, Miss."

"Oh! I'm nothing, am I?" She laughed with her hands on her hips.

The little woman knew how to harass him as good as he knew how to harass Carp.

"That's..." He shook his head. "No. You're not nothing."

"Uh huh. What kind of a name is "No thumbs, anyway?" She smiled as she went back to loading barrels with potatoes.

Always the same question with her. The truth was he did not like lying to Qelline. But

THE - truth

would be... Well, he was no more of an innocent than Bran was. He always had a new reason for the name though. Since she never believed the first one, "You know how they say some people are "All Thumbs?" I'm so gifted they say I'm "No Thumbs." He had ended with a huge nodding grin. She had cocked her eyebrow at him saying, "Right." And soon it had become a game.

He laughed before telling her, "Fiiiine. I was once a monkey hunter in Daggerford..." He heard her laugh incredulously as she continued to stow potatoes in her barrel. "AND..." He stressed to be heard over her laughter. "The pay was based on how many thumbs you brought back to the Pest Master..."

"Uh huh, and the fact that they have four..."

"

And so one day!

I lost my bag of thumbs."

She was laughing as she stood up and stretched her back. "Of course you did."

He didn't hear the last part. He was trying hard to stop staring at her breasts. He shook himself. "Suddenly everyone was calling me, No thumbs." He smiled and bounced his brows at her.

She grabbed a mallet without looking and hammered the lid onto her barrel. "Of course they did." She smiled back.

"MOM! MOM!" They heard Carp yell in excitement.

Oscar laughed when he saw Qelline give a tired sigh at the sound of Carp's voice. She looked daggers at him. "You, shut up." She told him quietly before yelling, "Yes, dear?!"

Carp came rushing from around the corner. "Mom, the Sisters of Steele are back!"

Qelline nodded and smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Did they find that dwarf they were looking for?" Oscar asked.

"I think so, they have a dwarf with them."

"Well, that's good news." He commented to Qelline.

She nodded a smile back at him.

"Can I go see em, Mom?"

Qelline sighed again. "Just don't pester them. That dwarf's been through an ordeal and the Sisters probably need some rest." Carp nodded several fast nods at her before racing away. Oscar laughed at the dust flying when Carp took off. Qelline shook her head with a smile before asking, "Is it though?"

"Is what?" Oscar asked back as he put his barrel on the wagon and headed over to pick up hers.

"Good news. I would have thought you'd not think much of saving that dwarf."

Oscar made a face. "Why?... Because the goblins had him?"

"Well, yeah. Weren't they friends of yours?"

"Ha! No." He shook his head. "The others said their boss and our boss worked for the same man. But..." He shrugged.

He picked up the heavy barrel and carried it back to the wagon. And when he set it down on the floorboards, the axle broke with a loud snap! Smashing the rear wheel as the wagon's rear corner tried to settle on the ground.

"MOTHERFUCKIN ASS SUCKIN CRAP TOASTED GOPHER SNATCH WORTHLESS LOWSLUNGE CALIMSHAN MADE PIECE OF SHIT!!!!" Qelline screamed.

Oscar was fighting not to smile as he stood there with his arms crossed. Just watching her tirade.

"WHAT!?" She stormed at him. "This isn't funny!"

"No." He shook his head. "No, it is not. But it IS just more work."

"How!? No one around here can fix that?" She was stunned for a moment when she saw him raise his right hand and wave at her. "What?" He was still waving but now he was smiling, which was infuriating. "Speak! What are you trying to say?"

He laughed. "My father was a cartwright."

"Huh?"

He laughed more. "Go get the woodcutter, I'll unload the wagon so it's easier to work with."

It took her a moment to realize he was serious. But as she watched him begin to unload the barrels, she eventually turned and walked quickly to get Mirna. Oscar showed the Widow Dendrar what he would need. Basically a set of splints that he would pin into place to reinforce the axle. As well as smaller splints for the wheel. It would take him the rest of the day to fix it and it wouldn't be as good as new. But it would allow Qelline to use the wagon for a long time before she had to get the axle and wheel replaced. It took some time for the excitement of the Sisters' return to wear off. Even so, it wasn't too long before a small crowd began to gather as he worked to repair the damage.

"So, you're a cartwright?" Daran Edermath asked.

"Well, my father was but he taught me pretty much everything about it." Oscar answered as he continued to clean up the splintered wood from the broken axle. So the splints would fit right.

"Why didn't you mention it?" Daran asked.

Oscar stopped for a moment to think. Then shrugged. "Just never occurred to me, I guess."

Oscar noticed several of them gathered into a group but he couldn't hear what they were saying. And he had more than enough to focus on anyway.

Many Bells later he crawled out from under the wagon and announced, "That should do it."

The crowd had dispersed Bells ago and only Qelline was still watching his work.

"Will it hold?" She asked with more than a little hope.

"Yeah." He nodded with a smile. "Got it greased, wedged and pinned in place. Should hold for a few years if we don't overdo it on the weight."

"Yes!!!" She screamed and jumped up to hug him tight around the neck. "I could kiss you!"

"Yes, please!" He smiled and nodded many times. Just before leaning in to try to kiss her. But she shoved her way out of his grasp before he could connect.