A Load of Bull Part III: Back on the Trail

"There he is!" Gexis Eralasar said, pointing his great axe in the direction of the tavern just as a man in a blue cloak disappeared inside. "Finally, I will have my vengeance and reclaim lost honor in the name of clan Eralasar!"

"Slow your roll there, big guy." Rikin Fogwater chuckled. "We have gotten it wrong before, and as fun as it would be to see you charge in and wreck things, maybe we should proceed with due discretion..."

"I hate to ever utter the words, but Rikin is right." Rhakuri said, looking briefly as if she had tasted sour milk. "Let us err on the side of caution and attempt to keep from alerting our alleged target."

"Well, I, for one, wouldn't mind a hot meal and a pint myself, anyhow." I said as my stomach growled loudly in agreement as if on cue.

Though it had been months since my rampaging smorgasbord in the bandit woods as the king of dinosaurs, my appetite had only just gotten back to normal. Unfortunately, I still couldn't wash the taste of bandit from my memory - an unpleasant mix of unwashed wool pantaloons, dried mud and leather, and, well, bandit. Since that day, the hot summer days had given way to the bright colors of autumn, and autumn fell away with the leaves to winter. Truth be told, I wanted a seat by the warm hearth as much as I wanted food and ale.

We made our way as inconspicuously as possible into the tavern and found ourselves a table in a corner where we could have a decent view of the place. Thankfully there was a very diverse group of adventurers already inside, so no one took much notice when our party strolled in. The din of raucous banter didn't hurt, either.

"Over there! That's him!" Gexis's shout was barely perceptible over the noise around us as he shot up from his seat.

"Who?" I asked, looking in the direction he was looking when I finally noticed the half-elf in a blue cloak he was talking about. "That's no sorcerer - that's Tyrben!"

"Wait, that is Tyrben!" chuckled Rikin. "Well I'll be a kobold's uncle. I haven't seen one of his shows in more tendays than I can remember."

"Tyrben? Am I supposed to know the name?" Gexis's expression softened as he sat back down.

"I haven't seen him yet myself," Rhakuri replied, "but I have always heard he is an excellent bard who puts on a unique performance."

"So, Gexis. You really thought that guy looks like the sorcerer we're after?" Rikin asked with a mocking grin.

"Yeah, what's that all about - you keep being the one to 'spot him' several times now, but it has always been someone else." I said, joining in with Rikin on ribbing our dragonborn friend.

"Half-elves all look the same to me..." Gexis admitted, shrugging.

"Rude." Rhakuri said, kicking Gexis in the shin.

Rikin guffawed.

"Alright, alright." I said, shaking my head and grinning. "How about we order a few pints, keep an ear out for any leads, and possibly enjoy a show since we're here?"

Finding ourselves all in agreement, we ordered some pitchers of ale brought to the table and started looking around at the other patrons in the hopes of unearthing some more information on our target.

Just as we're getting settled with our drinks, a loud strum on a lute silences the entire tavern. Everyone's eyes go to the small stage by the hearth where Tyrben is sitting in all his splendor - his bright blue ensemble of chapeau, cloak and pantaloons contrasting significantly with the browns of wood and greys of stone that made up the construction of the tavern. Even his leather boots seemed to shine - the only thing on his person showing any wear was his lute as he strummed out a riff that reverberated out into the night.

"I must admit this is certainly a spectacle to behold." Rhakuri said.

"Just you wait, he's just getting started." Rikin grinned, then took a long drink from his glass.

Tyrben began finessing the strings of that instrument in a manner like many had never heard - something I later learned was called "shredding" in some style called "djent". The heavy, fast-paced music had the crowd captivated as he belted out lyrics just as brutal. It was magical.

I was still entranced by the show when someone with a hood pulled over their head to conceal their features whispered in my ear and slid a piece of paper under my hand.

"Who was that, interrupting our view of the show?" Rikin asked before taking a puff on his pipe.

"No idea, but they said they have information on the one we seek." I replied as I flipped the piece of parchment over.

"That's the sorcerer's sigil!" Gexis said, rising up from his seat again. "We have to chase after that person and find out what they know!"

We all nodded agreement and I left some coin on the table to pay our tab before we rushed out the door. The hooded figure stood beckoning across a field of snow in front of an old stone house on the other side. Our group started running in his direction, and as we got closer I realized our footfalls were making a different sound than the normal crunch of snow.

"Go faster." I said as cracks started to form beneath us. "Go. Faster!"

We were on a frozen pond. Every impact of our feet on the ice caused the cracks to spread further - and I could swear I heard someone casting from the direction of the structure where the hooded figure waited.

Rhakuri started to call on the blessings of her diety as Gexis hoisted Rikin up onto his shoulder, but things took an even bleaker turn as a fire bolt was cast into the air in our direction.

"Re-Horakhty help us..." Rhakuri managed to get out between breaths.

"If we don't make it out of this," Rikin said, "Casreus, I'm the one who put itching powder in your pantaloons while you went to bathe... and Gexis... I also had 'carnal relations' with your sister."

I burst out laughing despite our situation, fairly sure our smartass halfling was making up the last part.

The fire bolt smashed into the ice with beyond-perfect precision in front of us - a critical hit.

Down into the freezing water we fell.