32: The Tower of Mirrors

Hi Mum. I’ve had a think, and I think I’ve sort of lost track of things over the last few weeks. I wanted to come to the Empire for adventure and excitement, and to see the world. And that did happen. And when we got Das moot I was particularly pleased because, as you know, I’ve always loved travelling about on the river. That’s why I joined the river wardens. And I did my river warden vows and my training and stuff. And when we got involved with all the nefarious in Boegenhafen it made sense that I would try to put things right. And that is why I resolved to track down Etelka Herzen.

But since we got Das Moot, I think I’ve been more concerned about trading and making a profit than doing the right thing, even though I’m not really into the finances or negotiations (I can do that anyway – Willow). Perhaps it is Blume’s bad influence, because she is very keen on money and things like that and not so keen on helping people. Anyway, mum, I think the events around Etelka Herzen’s tower, which I’ve rather dramatically called the tower of mirrors, here, has made me re-think things. And to be clear, the tower of mirrors isn’t a clever metaphor about deceit and misdirection, or anything like that, and it’s not the name of a riverside inn. It’s just a tower with a load of mirrors in it.

After investigating the burned-out village we camped in a dell in the forest and were up early to head for the Black Peaks. Guido caught some rabbits and Willow caught lots of mushrooms (I didn’t catch them, I picked them – Willow) and I added some potatoes from our stores so we had a nice cheap breakfast. The dwarfs were happy to chew their stone bread, though and seemed to prefer it to a nice rabbit and mushroom stew which made me feel a bit sorry for them.

The walk to the mine was made pretty boring by Blume and Guido trying to outdo each other about how wounded they had been, even though it was obvious neither of them were in much discomfort. They should really try to be a lot more like halflings and instead of going on about stuff all the time, get to the point more quickly. And then Guido quizzed Blume on which bits of his Myrmidian book she had read, but I don’t think she had read any of it. I don’t think I would have either, but then, I can’t read.

Then Guido tried to hurry us all up by telling us that witches were at their weakest at sunrise. But to be fair, mum, everyone is at their weakest at sunrise, that’s why we make so much fuss of our breakfasts. But Guido mentioning witches was kind of scary, because although we knew Etelka was nefarious and a wizard, I had not really thought of her as a witch before, but now Guido mentioned it, it all made sense. And it all got a whole lot more frightening (I don’t want to be turned into a toad – Willow).

As we neared the mine, we could see the Black Peaks ahead of us. To be honest, thinking about the name Black Peaks, a lot, I had expected something a lot steeper and a lot darker, but really it was just a bit of a hill emerging from the forest.

Dreamy, who was out front scouting, found a wounded dwarf. He looked very poorly and had three goblin arrows sticking in him, and nearby there were four dead goblins so he must have put up quite a fight. He told Dreamy that there were goblins in the mine and that they had been stealing the dwarf gold, and then fell unconscious. Willow ran up to him and managed to stop the bleeding.

I think she was a bit worried about it at first because this was the first really serious wounds she had had to treat. I don’t think she thought she had it in her, but thanks to Dreamy and Guido’s encouragement, and her having read a book about it on the boat, and the field medic training she’d got from the temple of Myrmidia, and some bandages, she was able to stop the bleeding and save the dwarfs life. (I didn’t think I would be able to do it at first, Mrs Chard, but I did. And I think I will become a proper physician as soon as I can so I can help everyone like that – Willow.)

The other dwarfs recognised this dwarf as Durak, a local prospector. Dreamy told one of the dwarfs to stay with him until he regained consciousness and then accompany him back to Slumbol, which sounded like the sensible thing to do. And Willow prescribed him some soup for when he woke up. She also gave the dwarf a survey and told him to ask Durak to fill it out for her. I know dwarfs don’t really do a lot of smiling, but considering the state he was in when Willow reached him, I’d be very surprised if she didn’t get a smily face for this one.

We got closer to the mine and Dreamy had another scout around. He reported that he could only find one entrance to the mine, which was unguarded but had lots of wolf tracks leading to it. And there was a two-storey tower on top of the hill, and it seemed to be guarded by a single goblin, who, Dreamy thought, looked like he was sleeping under a sort of makeshift tent.

We approached the edge of the forest to take a look, and Dreamy tried to get Willow to take a weapon to protect herself. But she didn’t want to, so Dreamy told her about how nasty and dangerous Goblins were, but I think this just frightened her. In any case, he asked Grandug to stay with her and he swore on his honour that he would protect her with his life. And, whatever you can say about dwarfs, when they say something like that, you know they mean it.

The tower looked quite new, and Grundag explained that the dwarfs had built it for Etelka and he said there were lots of mirrors in it, that could be used to see out, or something. I didn’t quite understand it. It was also a bit strange that the dwarfs had built the tower for Etelka, and I wondered whether the dwarfs and Etelka were in cahoots, but I couldn’t really think of a reason why they might be.

Blume and I suggested we could just shoot the guard with our pistols but Guido said that would be too loud and might alert other goblins. So he decided that I would have to sneak up and deal with the guard with my sword while Dreamy covered me with his bow. I’m not quite sure which ancient battle he learned that tactic from but it was an easy plan to have if it meant he stayed safe while I had to do all the dangerous stuff. I know Myrmidians do value the knowledge and experience of their generals, but Guido isn’t a real general and I am a real captain. But we agreed that I was in charge on the boat and he was in charge in battle, so I had to do it.

So Dreamy and I crept up the pathway leading to the tower. We could only really see the goblin’s feet under the tent, and when we were close enough to hear the snoring, Dreamy readied his bow and I kept going. And as soon as Dreamy shot I charged the goblin and stabbed him through his tent. Dreamy’s arrow had hit the mark so I don’t know whether the goblin was even alive when I got to him, but we dealt with it together, anyway. And I had to admit that it was a decent plan. Then we signalled for everyone to join us and opened the door and crept inside the tower.

Inside we found ourselves in a hallway that led to a very brightly lit vestibule and there were doors on on either side of us. Blume said she could hear sobbing coming from the door on the left, and beyond that she thought she could hear some snoring, but I couldn't hear anything, except Blume going on about all the stuff she could hear.

Dreamy moved up to the edge of the vestibule but Grundag explained that all the rooms of the tower were arranged around the vestibule and they had mirrored windows in them so anyone in the rooms would be able to see us coming, but we wouldn’t be able to see them. That also explained why it was so bright, but I didn’t really understand why anyone would build a tower like this, but I guessed it was something to do with magic.

So we decided to try the door to the left. Guido led the way and swished his cloak dramatically as he went. Inside was a couple of the farmers who had no doubt been captured when their village got raided. Guido explained, rather heroically, that we had come to rescue them as he cut their bonds. He told them to leave the tower and go back to where we had left the injured dwarf, which seemed like the safest thing for all of them. But the farmers were clearly upset. They didn’t want to leave and demanded we give them some weapons.

I think Guido was right in not wanting them with us and not arming them, as they might be too noisy or indisciplined, but Blume gave one of them her dagger, and Willow gave the other one hers (I didn’t want it anyway because they are dangerous – Willow). We told the farmers to be careful of the mines as they were full of goblins, but as soon as they heard that, they went straight there, grabbing the dead goblin’s sword as they went. And we never saw them again.

Willow was a bit worried that she had done the wrong thing by giving them her dagger but Grundag said that everyone had the right to look for revenge. Willow asked him if he thought they would die. And he said he did (I think they survived – Willow).

Blume checked the opposite room and could see someone in a bed hiding under the bedclothes, so she pulled the sheets back to reveal another halfling. So that was very nice, to bump into another halfling in such a strange place. And it turns out that this halfling was Dumpling Hayfoot, and you probably know her, mum. We had a quick chat and it turns out that her grandmother is the cousin of Dreamy’s Granny Hartpetal. It’s a small Empire! I think Guido got a bit tired of our chat because he thought we should be going through the tower as quickly and methodically as possible in a military manner. But he doesn’t understand that when two halflings meet, especially when they are a long way from the Mootland, it is important to go through as many friends and relatives as possible to see how much you have in common.

We asked her what she was doing here, and Dumpling said she was the chef for Etelka. We told her we thought she was a witch, but she said it wasn’t so bad working for her, except, since she had left, lots of goblins had moved into the house and they were awful to cook for. She feared they only kept her alive for her cooking, even though they had no appreciation for fine cuisine. She said that Gutbag, the leader of the goblins, had gone off the rails, which made us want to go down to the mines even less.

We were surprised to hear Etelka had left, and Dumpling told us that about five days ago, a weasel-faced man had turned up in a carriage and given her a letter, and shortly after she had set off for Kemperbad in search of bear pills, whatever that was.

I invited Dumpling to come with us, on Das Moot, and she said that might be a good idea, either to work as ship’s cook, or at least to get her away from the goblins.

Dreamy and Guido decided that we needed to search the tower to find out where Etelka might have gone, and hopefully we didn’t need to go down into the mines. And so we entered the bright vestibule, realising that anyone awake in the tower would be able to see us, and we quickly ascended the stairs to the top floor. One of the doors had been badly damaged and it looked like the goblins had been trying to break in, so we decided we needed to break into it, too. After a bit of faffing around trying to force it and pick the lock, Dumpling mentioned she had a key, and went down to her room to get it.

And once we had unlocked the door, we entered a strange study. But in a way we were expecting to find something strange because of wizards. There was a huge stuffed bear standing in the room, and hanging from the ceiling was a large stuffed reptile-like thing. Willow went to pat the bear down to see if it had any pills (I was a bit spooked because I thought it moved – Willow).

We looked through the desk and didn’t find anything useful except there was a locked drawer. We had a bit of trouble opening it, but in the end Grundag just broke the lock and opened it for us. Inside there was a vial of dark green liquid, (I took that – Willow) and three letters.

Dear Etelka,

The person bearing this letter is a trusted member of our society. He brings sufficient funds to finance an expedition to the Barren Hills, where lies, according to our researches, that which we seek. The importance of this item to our cause cannot be stressed too highly. You are to leave as soon as possible.

Our agents in Kemperbad will provide all the assistance you require. Once you have the item bring it to us at Middenheim as quickly as possible.

Istak Graksk Tzeentch

Teugen Residence

Adel Ring

Boegenhafen

Dear Etelka,

I have made a breakthrough in my researches. As I suspected, my bargain can be settled by sacrificing seven souls in place of my own. The ritual is complex and beyond anything I have attempted so far, but my skills are progressing at such a rate that I do not fear the challenge.

The ritual resembles the one performed by the High Master on that infamous Hexensnacht. I believe you still possess the scroll we used that night. Might I impose upon you to furnish me with that very scroll? I believe it is essential for proper performance of the conjuration.

I eagerly await your reply.

Johannes

Adel Ring

Boegenhafen

Dear Etelka,

I received the scroll and letter safely from your courier. Please accept my most sincere gratitude for your assistance.

My preparations are now almost complete. I have persuaded the seven heads of other prominent merchant families to participate in the ritual. They are, of course, unaware of its true purpose. I have convinced them that the magic will bring us all success in our commercial endeavours. Yet their venality will be their downfall!

When all is complete, mine will be a double triumph. Not only will their souls pay my debt to Gideon, but I shall also see my competitors’ enterprises in commerce fall to ruin.

The hour approaches. I can scarcely contain my excitement. I will write again to tell you of the ritual’s outcome.

Johannes

When Willow read the surname, ‘Tzeentch,’ everything seemed to go dark for a split second. It was a bit spooky. And after that name the author had drawn a strange sigil which looked a bit like a writhing snake with a single, large eye (It reminded me of the big eye that destroyed Teugen and his daemonic sidekick in Boegenhafen – Willow).

On hearing the Barren Hills, again, we concluded that Etelka was not after Bear Pills at all, and Dumpling had merely misheard. I knew about the Narn river. I know a lot of rivers, mum. I can recount all twenty-three major tributaries of the Talabec, probably. I knew that the Narn flowed into the Stir a couple of days east of Kemperbad.

Guido said we needed to rush straight back to Kemperbad to try to intercept Etelka, and he flicked his cloak and made to leave. Blume decided that this would be a good opportunity to get some expensive clothes and wanted to find Etelka’s bedroom. Guido told her she had five minutes before we were leaving. I think after not even knowing about this for all this time, suddenly being worried about five or ten minutes was a bit extreme, but I could see that Guido was excited to have a sniff of quarry.

In any case, with all the goblins around, I think Blume thought better of it, and left with the rest of us. We grabbed a couple of the dead goblins on our way back to Grissenwald as proof the dwarfs weren’t responsible for raiding the farms.

I wondered whether we really needed to go rushing off after Etelka. We were so close to Nuln, where we had planned to sell the brandy, it would only take two or three days longer. But Guido was adamant, and we knew he didn’t care about making money. I had been very keen to track down Etelka, but then I think I had got carried away thinking of all the profits we might make through trading. It seemed mad to buy the brandy in Kemperbad, and then carry it all the way down the Reik, and then back again to sell it in Kemperbad. Though, at least we could say it travels well.

But then, mum, I had given myself a bit of a talking to, and decided that being a river warden, and protecting the Empire from all the nefarious, was far more important than money. And so I was ready to go straight back to Kemperbad, even if it meant losing all the money on the brandy. I think you should be proud of me, mum. Of course, Blume said there is nothing more important than money.

Dumpling decided she wanted to stay in Grissenwald, after all, but we told her about the Virtuous Halfling, and how they didn’t have a halfling cook, and she agreed it might be good if we dropped her off there, on our way.

We visited Gorim Greathammer in Slumbol and he was delighted that we had the goblin bodies, and also pleased to learn that Etelka had left the mine. Guido told him that now would be the time to fight the goblins for it. And so Gorim vowed to clear all the goblins from Black Peaks.

Willow tried to sell the brandy in Grissenwald but as we thought, we couldn’t get a good price in such an out-of-the-way town, as I doubt they even knew what a good brandy tasted like.

So, mum, we decided that we would leave first thing in the morning, and chase Etelka and her weasel-faced companion back up to Kemperbad. And I will, of course, let you know how that goes in my next letter. But, to be honest, I think we left Grissenwald a better place than we found it, even though we were only there a couple of days. That’s what you get for trying to help people and being brave enough to go up against the nefarious.