Chin and Pebble in Morad (Spring 835)

Part 1: The Hunt for the Mole Man

As recounted by Pebble over a leg of mutton on a wind-swept steppe

We arrived in Morad not more than a fortnight after our assault on the lair of the defiler. The city in spring assailed me with new sights and, more importantly, smells, the likes of which I had never imagined. For days, it was all I could do to keep from being sick, and I found myself thinking longingly of the mountains and of home. Nights were spent in fitful sleep, unremembered nightmares assailed me, heightened by the constant hubbub of the city’s rodent, and rodent-like inhabitants.

I took the first opportunity to repay mine and Mallard’s debt to the enchantress at the witch market. She appeared overjoyed, a truly hideous thing to behold, upon receiving the daemon amulet as payment. Our debt settled, I sincerely hope to never have occasion to speak to her again.

After the witch market, Chin and I set about locating the thief. We had a name and a short description, and after several weeks of inquisition, we learned that he had paid handsomely to be protected by a gang of thieves known as the Fist. These wretches were, coincidentally, known to Chin. Evidently, the coward had earned a fortune selling snake oil cures during a plague, and had paid a large sum to the Fist to keep him hidden.

As luck would have it, we soon discovered that Chin’s childhood friend is the leader of branch of the Fist in Morad. This leader, Danol warned us away, but we continued to press, leading, eventually, to me being pursued be the Fist across the roofs of the city, in a haphazard dash as a distraction, while Chin ferreted out the coward’s hideout.

Resolute in our determination to repay our debt to the Wind Spirit, we decided to assault the hideout in the early hours of the morning. While I had held back against Danol on the rooftops, I doubted if I could restrain myself if he were to confront us again. For Chin’s sake, I hoped we would not find him that morning.